Targeted subsidies for diesel to be implemented next year, says minister

                KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of targeted subsidies for diesel is expected to begin next year, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.

He said the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) agreed in a meeting on May 17 that an integrated database should be prepared to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the initiative.

He said the discussions involved his ministry, the Finance Ministry, Transport Ministry and Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry.

"All agencies and ministries already have their own databases, we just need to coordinate and make sure they are accurate and effective when it (targeted subsidies for diesel) is implemented," he said.

Salahuddin said this to reporters after attending the launch of the 2023 Franchise International Malaysia Exhibition and Conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.

In February, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan was quoted as saying that the government could save up to RM17bil if the T20 income group was not given petrol, diesel and liquid petroleum gas subsidies.

Asked about the implementation of unsubsidised petrol stations in Kelantan following the pilot project in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian in Perlis, Salahuddin said the programme was aimed at curbing the issue of leakage and smuggling of diesel and petrol at the country’s borders.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry was finalising the implementation of unsubsidised petrol stations in several other states.

He said the project under the Border Economy Programme could save the government's oil subsidy allocation, besides providing more revenue to the country through sales tax imposed on foreign vehicles.


Toyota’s January output climbs, while Honda, Nissan report drops

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. reported a slight drop in global sales in January due to lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and a chronic shortage of semiconductors for automobiles, the Japanese automaker said.

Sales, including Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., fell 3.6% from a year earlier to 795,847 vehicles, while production rose 8.4% to 819,727 units, the world’s No. 1 automaker said today.

The shortages were worse a year ago, resulting in an output increase last month, Toyota added.

The numbers come about a month before Lexus chief Koji Sato is set to take over as Toyota’s chief executive officer in April, as production recovers from pandemic lockdowns, supply chain issues and a stubborn component shortage.

Last week, the company announced its biggest wage hikes in two decades, meeting union demands quickly and in full for the third year in a row.

Domestic sales and production rose year-on-year for the third month in a row, with Japan sales climbing 18% to 186,998 units, Toyota said.

Toyota’s third-quarter profits surpassed estimates but the carmaker kept its conservative outlook for the fiscal year ending March in line with its previous forecast for operating profit of ¥2.4 trillion (RM79bil).

Honda Motor Co.’s global production fell 22% to 280,757 vehicles, declining for the third straight month, the company said.

Output expanded in North America but fell sharply in Asia, especially in China where production was less than half that of the prior year.

Nissan Motor Co.’s global output shrank 25% to 224,236 cars in January, the carmaker said. Global sales declined 26% to 228,557 units.


Bentley to speed transformation to full-electric models in 2030

                CREWE: Like many major manufacturers, Bentley Motors is also taking the next step in motoring evolution towards electrified cars seriously.

The company has committed £2.5bil (RM14bil) for the next 10 years to ensure sustainability at the Crewe manufacturing facility.

The investment programme will also result in a complete transformation of Bentley's entire product portfolio and the historic Crewe Campus into a ‘Dream Factory’ by embedding an industry-leading greenfield facility into a world-leading, next generation digital, low environment, high-value advance manufacturing facility.

Among the latest initiatives will be an extension of on-site energy production at Crewe, aiming to increase the number of solar panels from 30,000 to 40,000 in the next two years.

Under the company's Beyond100 strategy, Bentley expects its first Battery-powered Electric Vehicle (BEV) to be launched in 2025 with a new BEV model to be introduced each year until 2029.

By 2030, all Bentley models will be fully BEVs and carbon neutral end-to-end.

For time being, Bentley will be launching five new hybrid variants this year.

Bentley Motors chairman Adrian Hallmark said Beyond100 is the boldest plan in Bentley’s illustrious history, and in the luxury segment.

“It’s an ambitious and credible roadmap to carbon neutrality of our total business system, including the shift to 100% BEV in just eight years.

“Our aim is to become the benchmark not just for luxury cars or sustainable credentials but the entire scope of our operations.

“Securing production of our first BEV in Crewe is a milestone moment for Bentley, and the UK, as we plan for a long-term sustainable future in Crewe,” he said.


Vision Gran Turismo is Ferrari's first virtual motor sports concept car

                MARANELLO: The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo is Maranello’s first concept car designed specifically for the Gran Turismo videogame series.

It is a futuristic single-seater sporting a more extreme version of the V6 also adopted on the recently-launched Ferrari 499P.

Unveiled during the Gran Turismo World Finals in Monte-Carlo, the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo will become available to all users of GT7 from Dec 23.

The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, a closed-wheel single-seater, is the first Ferrari concept car created specifically for the virtual motor sport world.

The car’s design has its roots in Maranello’s unparalleled racing tradition, with the number 75 on its flanks reflecting that noble heritage.

The launch of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo in fact brings the 75th anniversary celebrations of when the marque’s first-ever racing car, the 125 S, exited the iconic factory gates in 1947, to an official close.

It also represents a futuristic design manifesto for Ferrari’s road and racing cars, embodying the maximum expression of formal beauty and innovation, and providing a stimulus for both the engineers and drivers (real and virtual) of tomorrow.

The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo’s design was penned by the Ferrari Centro Stile under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, and takes its inspiration directly from legendary 1960s and 70s’ Ferrari Sports Prototypes, which enjoyed huge success in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans (won by the Prancing Horse a total of nine times), and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The design of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo was conceived around the idea of a speed form with geometric, sharp, angular lines that underlie a organic shape.

The architecture centres around an aerodynamic concept based on two side channels. This solution has been patented by Ferrari and directs the airflow from the front underbody, around the cockpit and over the side pods.

This solution generates efficient aerodynamic downforce thanks to the variation in momentum and the suction created by the central part of the underbody.

The rear aerodynamics were developed using concepts inspired by the Ferrari 499P, particularly in terms of the diffuser and the rear biplane wing. Lastly, the front S-Duct and the integrated air vents on the wheel arches further boost aerodynamic efficiency and high-speed stability.

The Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo sports the same 120-degree 3-litre turbo V6 architecture adopted on the 296 GTB, 296 GTS and 296 GT3 that also powers the new 499P.

However, in this installation, there were no technical regulation constraints to comply with, so it was further honed to unleash extreme performance.

In this particular configuration, the engine is tuned to deliver a massive 1030 cv at 9,000 rpm, with an additional 240 kW (326 cv) available from three electric motors, one on the rear axle and one on each of the front wheels.

Ferrari worked with Gran Turismo to ensure that the engine sound of this innovative powertrain is faithfully reproduced to give SIM racers an even more realistic racing experience.

The bodyshell of the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo appears as if suspended over the flat, carbon-fibre underbody which incorporates all the car’s technical components.

The chassis is designed to emphasise the car's lateral dynamics in on-the-limit handling.

The powertrain layout guarantees an optimal front-rear weight balance and an extremely low centre of gravity to the benefit of the AWD.

The suspension is designed to maintain the tyre contact patch to ensure maximum traction, thereby allowing the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo to deliver 1,100 Nm of rear torque from the combined ICE and MGU-K to the road.

The car also boasts hybrid technology that benefits from the unique expertise in electric boost and energy recovery strategies Ferrari has developed in Formula 1.

The interior design is an extension of the exterior, with a purist, minimalist approach delivering optimal functionality and driver ergonomics.

The dashboard lines are clean and spare and, just like the see-through engine cover framing the hybrid V6 powertrain, incorporate transparent high-tech materials to reveal the mechanical components of the steering wheel.

The HMI is designed for immediacy and ease of use so that the driver can always focus on the road ahead.

The full-scale design study will be displayed in the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from Dec 15 to March 2023.


Safer Mercedes-Benz car care with Cycle & Carriage's contactless services

                KUALA LUMPUR: In view of social distancing required to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Cycle & Carriage has rolled out a slew of contactless services to ensure the timely maintenance of Mercedes-Benz cars are not neglected.

In addition, the services would also ensure a safer experience for Mercedes-Benz owners.

Drop & Go

Designed for busy owners, they just need to visit their preferred Cycle & Carriage Autohaus and leave the car and key at the Drop & Go service.

Once the vehicle is ready for collection, the owner will be notified by a Cycle & Carriage representative.

Monthly check-up through door-to-door service

Owners can fix an appointment with the Cycle & Carriage Door to Door Service and a representative will pick up and deliver the Mercedes-Benz to his/her preferred authorised Autohaus within a 30km radius.

The car will also be insured during the pick-up and delivery by Cycle & Carriage for the owners' peace of mind.

Quick fixes at home with Cycle & Carriage’s Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile Service

Owners can request for the service brought to his/her home with the Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile by Cycle & Carriage.

Currently available only at Alor Setar, the Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile offers a series of quick-fix maintenance such as battery replacements, oil change, and wiper blade, air filter or combi filter replacements.

The Star Mobile service also provides thorough disinfection of the car upon completion of the service.

Emergency Car Maintenance and Care through Service 24h Roadside Assistance

Cycle & Carriage has also set up the Service 24h Roadside Assistance teams that are trained to handle round the clock unexpected emergencies with the assurance of the highest standards of support services.

Arranging for the Drop & Go, Door-to-Door Service, the Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile and 24h Roadside Assistance is now made easier through Cycle & Carriage customer care at 1800-22-8000.

For more information on Cycle & Carriage's services, visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/.


BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha team up to improve m-cycle safety

                BORDEAUX: BMW Motorrad, Honda and Yamaha have come together to enhance Cooperative-Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS) applications in powered two-wheelers.

They are also working together to form a grouping called Connected Motorcycle Consortium.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed by all ACEM (European association of motorcycle manufacturers) members in 2014, C-ITS features will be introduced from 2020 onwards. To accelerate this process, the three manufacturers will begin their cooperation in C-ITS now.

The new cooperation was announced on Tuesday at the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, the world’s largest event for intelligent transport systems and services.

The three partners also urged other motorcycle manufacturers to join the consortium to further increase safety in powered two-wheelers.

“In order to speed up more motorcycle-specific safety developments, we intend to cooperate to promote a successful implementation of C-ITS in motorcycles and scooters,” says Tetsuo Suzuki, operating officer at Honda. Takaaki Kimura, chief general manager of technology centre and executive vice president and representative director of Yamaha added: “Our companies are already active members of the Car2Car Communication Consortium, in which we work with car and truck makers and other stakeholders on common specifications and standards. We came to realise that the specific requirements of motorcycles are beyond the scope of this consortium, however. The next logical step is to enter into a cooperation dedicated solely to the challenges relating to powered two-wheelers.”

“Our aim is to promote a timely and comprehensive use of cooperative ITS systems in powered-two wheelers offering the potential to improve safety. We therefore encourage other companies to join us,” said Prof Dr Karl Viktor Schaller, executive vice president development BMW Motorrad.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) require the integration of information and communications technology including transport infrastructure, vehicles and users. Basic applications currently exist in GPS navigation systems, where real-time traffic information is provided such as rerouting advice based on traffic jams ahead. For road transport in particular, interoperable networked wireless communication between vehicles can enable road users to make coordinated and informed decisions about their route as well as allowing safer manoeuvring in busy urban environments.

ITS technologies are expected to generate particular safety benefits in regard to powered two-wheelers (PTWs), not least by offering a level of electronic communication which can be shared between riders and drivers of other road vehicles.

The three companies have already gained experience of connected vehicle technology in several European field tests. Together with car makers and major suppliers, BMW Motorrad participated in simTD, a large scale field test carried out on connected vehicles in the greater Frankfurt area in Germany. Honda and Yamaha participated in DRIVE C2X, a Europe-wide ITS field test project.

In view of the challenges experienced in these real world tests, the three manufacturers are now joining forces to evaluate the principles of cooperative intelligent transportation systems (C-ITS) to enhance motorcycle safety.

Motorcycle ITS systems will be different from those for cars.  ITS systems designed for cars cannot simply be transferred to motorcycles. Due to the limited space available, electronic systems have to be smaller and be resilient to water, dust and vibration.

Since motorcycles exhibit different motion dynamics, software development and algorithms need to consider special requirements.


No new directives on inter-state travel requirements, says Cheras OCPD

                KUALA LUMPUR: There are no new directives on the requirements for interstate travel permits despite a notice on a police station door demanding strict proof.

Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Mohamed Mokhsein Mohamed Zon said the notice – a photo of which has gone viral on social media – did not reflect any new directive on the permission needed for interstate travel.

"The requirements for such permits remain the same. "Those who wish to travel interstate must have valid reasons and furnish proof as per the Covid-19 standard operating procedures," he said when contacted today.

"I have always reminded my men to check the validity of the interstate travel request.

"Those who wish to make such trips must show us proof such as supporting documents, whether it is for work or other urgent matters," he said.

Last week, TV host-entrepreneur Neelofa and her husband PU Riz caused a stir for allegedly violating the Covid-19 SOP by travelling to Langkawi.

While photos of the couple seemed to indicate that they were vacationing, Neelofa had explained that she was in Langkawi for work.

The police have since recorded the statements of the couple.


Asean NCAP gave zero star to this car and another ...

                HO CHI MINH CITY: Fresh from reports that five cars in India had registered zero star for crash safety, Malaysians now learn of two cars that have earned similar disrepute in Asean.

The Kia Morning and Hyundai EON earned zero star for Adult Occupant Protection. The Morning scored 1.48 points and EON 0.00 points (an absolute zero-star car). For Child Occupant Protection assessment, both of the models achieved 1-Star rating at 27% compliance.

The Morning (otherwise known as Picanto) from Indonesia and EON from the Philippines were tested on April 14 and May 10 respectively. Both were without airbags.

Asean NCAP announced the results at the fourth edition of Asean Automobile Safety Forum 2016 held here on Tuesday. The other models tested were Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Navara, Suzuki Ertiga, Suzuki Ciaz and Isuzu MU-X. Four received 4- Star and one model received 5-Star. The X-Trail earned 5-stars in adult protection, while the 4-star achievers in this category were the Navara, Ertiga, Ciaz and MU-X.

"We are sad to share that in the history of Asean NCAP, we had a new car in the Asean market that failed to score any single point out of 16.00 points assessment criteria. This is similar to the test conducted by Safer Cars for India project with Global NCAP in which the EON received 0-Star with similar points at 0.00 from the maximum of 17.00 points," said Asean NCAP chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon.

"A lot of latest technologies had become matured and saved thousands and probably millions of lives. With the strong push by the relevant authorities and the pressure from the consumers, I strongly believe the day where there are no zerostar vehicles on our road will soon come true.”

The Morning and EON are among the popular cars in their respective countries. In 2014, the Morning has a sales volume of 11,000 in the Indonesian market whilst Hyundai EON, available in the Philippines market, reached a sales number of 4,000.


Dr M: Third national car project needed to drive Malaysia's engineering capabilities

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is reviewing the national automotive policy, which may include imposing conditions on the import of foreign vehicles.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) said today that while the Government agrees with the practice of free trade, other countries worldwide impose conditions for their own markets.

He cited the example of European emission standards, which defines acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles.

"But here, any cars produced, even those made out of Milo tins can enter the Malaysian market, so it is very open.

"Any car producer can enter our markets – that is the problem we are facing.

" As such we are looking into imposing certain conditions to disallow cars from (arbitrarily) entering local markets.

This will allow brands like Proton to capture the local market, said Dr Mahathir, answering a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong who asked for elaboration on the Government's plan on a third national car project.

Dr Mahathir said the national automotive policy would also be reviewed to ensure that local national car manufacturers like Proton and Perodua remain competitive.

He also said that the automotive industry is vital for a country's growth and that a new national car project would help boost Malaysia's engineering capabilities.

In June, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia should have a third national car, a suggestion which was met with some criticism from both politicians and the rakyat.


China sets 2019 deadline for automakers to meet green-car sales targets

                BEIJING/SHANGHAI: China has set a deadline of 2019 to impose tough new sales targets for electric plug-in and hybrids vehicles, slightly relaxing an earlier plan to launch the rules from next year that had left global automakers worried about being able to comply.

Car makers will need to amass credits for so-called new-energy vehicles (NEVs) equivalent to 10 percent of annual sales by 2019, China’s industry ministry said in a statement on Thursday. That level would rise to 12 percent for 2020.

A single vehicle can generate multiple credits meaning the proportion by NEVs by volume would likely be lower.

The targets, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), closely mirror previously announced plans, but remove an explicit 8 percent quota for 2018, in effect giving carmakers an extra year grace period.

The quotas are a key part of a drive by China, the world’s largest auto market, to develop its own NEV market, with a long-term aim to ban the production and sale of cars that use traditional fuels announced earlier this month.

Global automotive manufacturers, however, had urged a softening of the proposals for all-electric battery vehicles and electric plug-in hybrids.

Under the rules, car makers will receive credits for new-energy vehicles including plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars that can be transferred or traded. Firms with annual sales volumes above 30,000 units will need to comply with the targets.

These credits - which will vary depending on the range and performance of the vehicle - will be used to calculate if firms have met their quota, a system which would likely mean the actual proportion NEVs made up of total sales was lower.

“The rules could result in the production of more than one million EVs annually in China by 2020, or about 4 percent of sales,” Simon Mui, a transport and energy exert at the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council wrote in note.

Carmakers were in general positive about the move.

“We welcome the Chinese auto industry’s shift towards greater adoption of NEVs and will comply with relevant regulations presented by authorities,” Ford Motor Co said in a statement responding to the announcement.

General Motors Co said it would “strive to comply with the NEV mandatory requirements”, though it added “continued joint efforts by the government and companies are essential to build broad-based consumer acceptance for NEVs”.

“GM has sufficient capacity to manufacture NEVs in China,” it said in a statement.

Japan’s Honda Motor Co Ltd said it planned to launch an electric battery car in China next year and would “try to expand our lineup of new energy vehicles” to meet the quotas.

China is keen to combat air pollution and close a competitive gap between its newer domestic automakers and global rivals. It wants to set goals for electric and plug-in hybrid cars to make up at least a fifth of Chinese auto sales by 2025.

Reuters reported in August that China would delay the implementation of the NEV quotas until 2019, giving global automakers more time to prepare.


Aston Martin Valkyrie's true power figure revealed

Aston Martin Valkyrie in 90% production-ready form with Serena Williams.
LONDON: There's been quite a bit of conjecture recently surrounding the exact amount of power the engine will produce in the upcoming Aston Martin Valkyrie. But an apparently inadvertent tweet by engine supplier Cosworth appears to have revealed the final figure as being a staggering 1,130bhp.

The tweet has since been deleted. However, before it was taken down the message was spotted by Road and Track, so now the world knows how much oomph the new Aston will have, regardless of whether the company was ready to reveal the fact or not.

At the time, the Valkyrie was first being mentioned by the British sports car maker it was being suggested it would produce around 1,000bhp. That would have been impressive enough, but then a couple of weeks ago it was being claimed the final figure might be as high as 1,100bhp. But now it seems the final figure for the Cosworth 6.5-litre V12 will be 1,130bhp, which would therefore see the Valkyrie claiming the crown for being the most powerful naturally aspirated road car in the world.

 The Valkyrie showing off its gull-wing doors.

When Mercedes-McLaren revealed its Project One hypercar would have at least 992bhp under its hood it sounded mighty impressive, but it now seems relatively pedestrian at the side of this beast of a car from Aston Martin.

A close-to production-ready version of the Valkyrie was last shown in a promotional shot with legendary tennis star Serena Williams. When that image was taken it was said the car was around 90-percent production ready, with the remaining 10 percent set to be made up of final tweaks to the car's aerodynamics and development of the lights and other road-essential features.

According to Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer, the Valkyrie that's been co-developed with Red Bull F1 team will eventually be able to lap the Silverstone racing circuit "as fast as an F1 car." No prices have been revealed yet for the car that will be built in a production run of just 175 units, but a figure of somewhere between £2 million and £3 million (between RM10.6mil and RM15.9mil) each is being suggested, and first deliveries are expected to start in 2019.


Cycle & Carriage Ipoh hosts Luxury Living and Mercedes-Benz Star Experience

                IPOH: In line with its commitment to delivering exceptional journeys, Cycle & Carriage recently treated its customers in Ipoh to a taste of the luxurious Mercedes-Benz ownership experience with the Mercedes-Benz Star Experience.

The immersive lifestyle and educational event curated specially for Mercedes-Benz owners was held in the Cycle & Carriage Ipoh autohaus, one of the oldest Cycle & Carriage stops catering to customers in the northern part of Malaysia.

Cycle & Carriage general manager and head of aftersales SV Balasubramanian said the event exemplifies the company's commitment to curating only the best experience for customers and, more importantly, providing them with a profound understanding of the exceptional services offered at Cycle & Carriage.

The experience commenced with a Mercedes-Benz electric mobility presentation, which gave customers an inspiring look into the brand's relentless pursuit of innovation.

Also demonstrated was Mercedes Me Connect, a groundbreaking technology that allows Mercedes-Benz owners to effortlessly access and control their vehicles remotely using a smartphone.

In line with the company's vision for an electrified future, customers had the chance to embark on an exclusive workshop tour where they experienced firsthand the latest service and repair technologies for the Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid and Mercedes-EQ series.

Guests also witnessed the expertise of a skilled service professional who performed fixes on a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, highlighting the commitment to unparalleled craftsmanship.

Cycle & Carriage product experts provided customers with an exclusive in-car tour of the latest Mercedes-Benz cars, unveiling the vehicle's remarkable and easy-to-learn features.

They also explored the enhanced offerings of the Mercedes Me service, enabling a deeper understanding of the luxurious and seamless digital experience available for an exceptional drive on the road.

The experience was paired with a deluxe gastronomy experience of a lavish three-course chef-curated lunch, in addition to visiting a range of captivating lifestyle pop-up booth activities throughout the impeccably designed Cycle & Carriage Ipoh autohaus.

These activities included an interactive golf simulator, a premium hair styling experience, and Inside Scoop ice cream for those seeking a sweet delightful indulgence, in line with the brand's dedication to exceptional living.

Also provided was an extensive display of Mercedes-Benz merchandise and an exclusive 20% discount to bring the luxury living home.

Visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/ or https://www.facebook.com/cyclecarriagemy to stay up-to-date on the latest Cycle & Carriage happenings.


Buy batik reusable facemasks at Volvo showrooms for a good cause

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo showrooms in Malaysia are not just selling cars these days.

Starting this month, you will find the Swedish automaker also selling batik reusable facemasks at its outlets nationwide.

The Volvo Batik Reusable Facemasks come in a set of three, with two available size options – medium and large. Each set of anti-microbial masks comes in three colour variations, which are Dark Blue (sunflower), Navy Blue (stargazer lily), and Sky Blue (jasmine). They retail at RM99 per set.

The masks were the result of a collaboration between  Volvo Car Malaysia and two local companies, Three Little Ahmads and NanoTextile.  The three-way partnership produces reusable fabric masks with a unique Batik Tekap pattern as a tribute to the Malaysian art heritage.

Each mask is designed and assembled by hand. It is made up of 100 per cent cotton, is anti-bacterial, water-repellent and provides bacterial and viral protection for up to 100 gentle washes.

NanoTextile is  the company making the masks using nanotechnology to reduce the penetration of tainted droplets and infections from viruses or bacteria. The addition of a PM 2.5 filter provides a fifth layer of protection and has been tested to effectively filter out 90 per cent of viral particles.

Locally designed by Three Little Ahmads – a Malaysian-founded children’s clothing brand and social enterprise – the masks are ethically sourced, made and produced by single mothers, women in rural neighbourhoods and GIATMara vocational alumnus, who lost their jobs after the factories they worked in failed following the Movement Control Order in March 2020, resulting in some of them having to pawn off the jewellery they had received as dowries to make ends meet.

For each face mask produced, an individual from this target community would be fairly compensated. To date, the income from the production of these masks have not only provided these women with a stable source of income but also earned them enough to buy back all their jewellery from pawnshops.

“This collaboration truly falls in line with Volvo’s core philosophy of ‘Omtanke’, which is a Swedish word and Volvo’s brand ethos that means ‘to care’ and ‘to be considerate’," said  Volvo Car Malaysia  marketing and PR director Akhtar Sulaiman.

For more information about the masks, go to www.volvocars.com/my/volvo-branded-face-mask or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG for more updates.


Shell Malaysia expands into parking business with 50% stake in Pixelbyte

ParkEasy is an app-based platform that lets drivers park quickly in shopping malls and other locations. It is also the only service in Malaysia to offer a pre-booked slot for EV charging. — Photo from ParkEasy
KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd is buying a 50% stake in Pixelbyte Sdn Bhd, the company operating ParkEasy.

ParkEasy is a mobile application software that not only lets drivers park quickly in shopping malls and other locations, but also the only service in Malaysia to offer a pre-booked slot for EV charging.

In a statement, it said this investment will be Shell’s first investment in a local Malaysian tech start up. This investment gives Shell an immediate path to an established parking and e-mobility platform in Southeast Asia.

Shell’s general manager mobility Seow Lee Ming said decarbonising mobility and enabling better services to its customers through digital innovation are core to its ‘Powering Progress’ strategy.

“We intend to make investments that will help us serve our customers better through the energy transition and pressures of modern living.

“We value this opportunity to partner with a young Malaysian start-up, and believe our combined strength will help us develop superior mobility products and services for our customers,” she said.

ParkEasy will continue to operate under its existing management and name. Over the last 3 years, ParkEasy has grown its business from a parking reservation app to include other offerings such as sales of its proprietary smart parking solutions and electric vehicle charging bay management systems.


Winner of 'Join Ducati' gets Hypermotard 950 with custom livery

                ROME: The winner of the recent "Join Ducati" competition has been named and the lucky guy will be taking delivery of a brand new Hypermotard 950 that bears a special custom livery straight from Borgo Panigale to the United States.

The winner, Jose Carlos Sagarminaga, is a 34-year-old Californian Ducatista who already owns a Hypermotard SP that he uses on the track and is also a member of the Ducati Owners Club of Sacramento.

The Hypermotard 950 is an exclusive replica of the concept that debuted during the 2019 Concours of Elegance to which Ducati decided to make it available to its community by transforming it from concept to prototype.

The bike features graphics created by the Ducati Design Centre and was inspired by the graffiti of the metropolitan area, created only for the contest and personalised with the autograph of Andrea Amato - designer of the livery.

The contest also offered three lucky individuals the chance to attend the Ducati MotoGP Experience with a partner at the next upcoming European race weekends (which will be updated once the 2020 calendar has been confirmed).

This includes accommodation, access to the most exclusive areas of the circuit and a meet-and-greet session with Ducati Team MotoGP riders.

Also up for grabs were fifteen 1:8 scale reproductions of the Hypermotard 950 Concept and 10 Redline B2 backpacks made by Ogio exclusively for Ducati.

To join, participants in the competition uploaded the registration document of each Ducati motorcycle currently owned to a dedicated 'Join Ducati' website.

The Italian bike builder announced that it may look to repeat its initiative over the coming months and that fans should register themselves, if they haven't already done so, with the MyDucati programme that already has over 155,000 members to receive upcoming news, events and promotions.

The programme has a reserved area in which customers can manage their garage by accessing all the information on their bikes, update their profile and personal preferences to take part in initiatives of their interest and receive exclusive content.


Porsche marks the end of petrol-powered Boxster with 718 Spyder RS

                BERLIN: Porsche has topped its 718 line-up with a new 718 Spyder RS – the final petrol Boxster before the model is electrified.

Weighing in at 1,410kg, the 718 Spyder RS uses the 4.0-litre engine from the 911 GT3, bringing 493bhp and 450Nm of torque, which helps this mid-engined roadster to go from 0 to 100kph in 3.4 seconds. It’ll hit a top speed of 308kph, too.

All versions use Porsche’s dual-clutch gearbox – or PDK – for super-fast gear shifts.

In terms of design, the front end mimics that of the hard-top 718 Cayman GT4 RS, bringing a bonnet made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and additional air ducts to help keep the brakes cool.

It also features a manually-operated soft-top hood, which is made up of two parts – a ‘sun sail’ and a weather deflector.

Both can be removed entirely and either left at home or stored in the car, while the "sun sail" can be used on its own to protect the car’s occupants from the sun’s rays while still allowing a "largely open" area behind.

The entire roof system weighs 18.3kg, which is 16.5kg less than the standard 718 Boxster.

Inside, there’s a sports steering wheel covered in a grippy Race-Tex material, while the standard-fit bucket seats are also made from CFRP but trimmed in black leather.

Andreas Preuninger, head of GT Cars at Porsche, said: “The 718 Spyder RS raises driving pleasure to a new level for open-top cars.

“The combination of our unmistakable GT3 engine, the close-ratio transmission, compact dimensions, low weight, road-optimised racing suspension and maximum openness offers an extremely compelling and unfiltered driving experience.”

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS is available to order now with prices starting at €155,575 (RM761,000) in its home market. — PA Media


Welcome to Land Rover Experience Drive Days

                We all know its just a matter of time before the zombie apocalypse is upon us and if you’re going to survive in this harsh environment, you need a vehicle that is just as robust and versatile, not to mention powerful enough to get you out of hairy situations.

Sure, you can opt for a bare-bones 4X4 vehicle to get you across all sorts of terrain but if style and comfort is still a priority, then you need to get on a luxury Land Rover.

Take your pick – the Range Rover Evoque, the Range Rover Sport, the Range Rover Vogue – and you’re going to need some Defenders to act as scouts too.

There’s no denying the capability of the Land Rover Defender when it comes to off-roading.

You don’t even have to drive the Defender as showcased by instructor Dr Zaini Shaarani, who was one of the first Malaysians to take part in the Camel Trophy expedition back in 1986.

Zaini started the Defender, put it in first gear, locked the differential and went for a brisk walk with it side-by-side initially and then he climbed in and steered it up and down the slope and through deep waters and elephant steps without any fuss.

And when you get to the more upmarket models like the Range Rover Sport, Vogue and Evoque, these cars are equally competent in handle the rough terrain as some of them are equipped with hill descent control, air suspension, traction control, terrain response, 4X4 information display and dynamic stability control.

And while these cars come with a hefty price-tag, it was evident that they not only look good and are comfortable to drive on hostile terrain.

Yes, including the Evoque.

So for the owners of the Evoques out there who haven’t taken your car off-road, you’re missing out on a lot of fun.

Some Evoque owners did turn up as well as owners of other Land Rovers (500 of them altogether) and under the expert guidance of certified Land Rover instructor Kenneth Yap, they had the opportunity to learn about the various unique features and systems that enable their vehicles to tackle both city roads and the toughest off-road terrains with aplomb.

According to Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) managing director Syed Mudzhar Syed Ali, the event was meant to help owners and prospective buyers appreciate the Land Rover brand and experience the fullest off-roading capabilities of its vehicle line-up.

“We have a growing number of customers who are new to Land Rover.

"We are perhaps the only premium luxury brand that can offer the perfect combination of iconic design, enabling technology, on-road refinement and extraordinary off-road capabilities with every product.

“But best of all, we have a heritage, built over seven decades, that makes Land Rover stand apart from the rest.

“We also want them to be able to appreciate the on and off-road attributes that are unique to their vehicles.

“Such knowledge will hopefully help them tackle unforeseen difficult situations safely and confidently, and with no or minimal damage to their vehicles,” he said.

Participants were also taught the basics of off-road driving such as understanding vehicle dimensions and clearance limitations, how to ascend and descend hills, tackling ruts and ditches, traversing slopes, and crossing deep waters and elephant steps.

The instructors also shared the “Fragile Earth” philosophy, which stressed that good off-road driving meant getting to a destination without harming people and damaging the environment and the vehicle.

This meant that drivers should always look, assess the risks and then only drive. Looking would require one to alight from the vehicle if needed.

The next step would be to assess the risks and consequences such as potential threat to safety or damage to the surroundings.
Finally, it would be to drive as slowly as possible but as fast as necessary to the destination.

Guests and members of the media were also given a sneak preview of the soon-to-be-launched, all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport mid-size luxury SUV.

Yet another versatile vehicle for the whole family which can also go off-roading.

You may scoff at my prediction of the zombie apocalypse but as the Boy Scout motto goes “Be Prepared” because you never know when you’ll need to get behind the wheel of a Land Rover.


Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206): Moving up in class

                THE latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class is no longer the entry-level premium sedan as that role is taken over rightfully by the A-Class; which is just as well seeing as how the C-Class has grown so dimensionally big that it almost as big as an older generation E-Class.

This newly minted model status is fully endorsed by Mercedes-Benz in its description of the latest C-Class (W206) as a mid-size sedan when highlighting the nameplate’s best-selling status in the last 10 years with global sales exceeding 10.5 million units.

Its step up the ranking ladder is also matched by its inclusion into the hybrid power circle, albeit a mild hybrid, and this encompasses both models; the C 200 Avantgarde Line and C 300 AMG Line.

In engine output, there is plenty to offer given the mild hybrid and turbocharged design, combining to provide a strong lift in power acceleration while adding seamless and low-speed performance to gain good fuel mileage benefits.

 C 200.

Output figures are understandably impressive; the C 200 gets 204hp and 300Nm from the 1.5-litre engine while the C 300’s 2.0-litre block delivers 258hp and 400Nm. Both engine are the four-cylinder cylinder type.

Adding to that is the second-generation starter-generator or motor unit, that delivers an additional 15kW (20hp) and 200Nm that come in useful during hard acceleration.

 C 300.

And while we are on a power binge, those eyeing the C 300 might like to know that the turbo system would provide a 20kW (27hp) overboost for a while as you accelerate hard.

We had these power figures in mind when we took off from Empire Damansara for our drive to Desaru, Johor; more so as we started with the better-endowed C 300, power-wise, for the 400km plus journey.

 C 300.

For the most part, we had the engine running at 1,500 to 1,800rpm, which was comparatively low but not unusual given that the transmission is a 9G-Tronic unit with nine speeds!

And if you think we were keeping mainly to legal speed limits, yes, we were with the engine running at 1,500rpm.

 C 300.

It takes a lot of discipline not to ‘push’ the engine harder past 110kph but the C 300 certainly felt doing 100kph or lower in less premium cars even when it was going much above the legal speed limit.

In fact, it was just the same driving the less powerful C 200 on the return journey the following day; we covered similar road speed within the same engine speed range.

 C 300.

The C 200’s performance belied its small 1.5-litre displacement and if we were to feel any lack of engine pace, it was when we were following cars up an incline on a busy section of the highway.

For an idea of these cars’ performance potential, Mercedes-Benz says the C 200 would scoot from rest to 100kph at 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 246kph (you wouldn’t think a 1.5-litre car could do that, do you?) while the 2.0-litre C 300 is obviously quicker at six seconds and 250kph.

 C 300.

Despite our fairly robust speeds, we were impressed with the mileage as the transmission and engine combined well to give good fuel distances; we still had more than 400km to go based on what was left in the fuel tank (slightly above half for both cars).

The seats were well designed to accommodate our 165cm frame nicely, both in the back or lumbar (four-way) support as well as that for the thighs; we hardly felt fatigue at the end of each drive.

 C 300.

On both occasions, we used the navigational equipment that came standard and we could also select the navigational display for the driver monitor – located between the tachometer and speedometer.

The interior sees a major change from the previous generation with a huge 11.9-inch tabloid size multi-information display heading the centre console where previously a long rectangular unit sat atop the centre dash area.

 C 300.

The entirely digital driver display is even bigger being a 12.3-inch unit although it doesn’t look it with its slim rectangular design.

It was also a relatively quiet drive as wind noise was curtailed in all critical areas although at higher speeds, you might hear some rustle around the roof area.

 C 300.

It’s the road noise that impeded some, varying in pitch according to the types of road surfaces but then again, except for one particular highway section that was the loudest, this was easily tolerated as we could still enjoy our music and the navigational advisory.

We didn’t have many areas where we could check out its dynamic quality although we did wander onto a short B-grade road with a few twists and turns with the C 200.

 C 300.

It took the few corners without much of a sweat and both cars felt pretty comfortable and planted on the road along fast sweepers on the highway.

The latest C-Class comes with a full suite of safety and assistant features which includes Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Brake Assist.

Orange lights lit up on either door mirrors when each detected a vehicle in the blind spot area and a red warning light on the driver display panel when we got too close to the vehicle in front (the distance varied based on the road speed).

 C 200.

We liked the new look of the C-Class as its styling toed the current family profile – bold three-star logo with wings on the front grille and bumper with a mid upswept section to highlight the underspoiler and central vents.

At the rear, the sharpish triangular combination lamps give a cleaner look while providing a nice symmetrical balance with the rear reflectors and twin chrome exhaust tailpipes.

 C 300.

Its higher level of electronic features are persuasive factors to upgrade for existing C-Class owners although its mid-size status might divert younger folks to look at the A-Class sedan instead.

The C-Class variants we drove were fully imported, carrying prices of RM288,334 and RM330,681 (on-the-road without insurance) for the C 200 and C 300 respectively.

However, the imported range is sold out although cheaper locally assembled (CKD) variants are in the pipeline but you would have wait till the second half of the year to get them.


Citroen boss sees an end to the SUV

                LONDON: The boss of Citroen has said he believes SUVs will lose their mass appeal as buyers look for more efficient, environmentally-friendly cars in the coming years.

The rise in popularity of crossovers and SUVs has been well documented, with manufacturers increasingly offering a wide choice of the models to cater to buyers’ tastes.

SUVs are now the most popular new car bodystyle in much of Europe, North America and Asia.

However, Citroen’s global CEO, Vincent Cobée, says he believes “there’s an end to the SUV”, as environmental concerns and efficiency become more important in the coming years.

Speaking at the launch of Citroen’s new electric e-C4, a saloon with SUV-like styling cues, Cobée said: “This car is anticipating something we believe in, and that is that there’s an end to the SUV.

“The more you will be concerned about fuel efficiency, about electric transition, the more we can come back to more aerodynamic silhouettes.”

Citroen only has two SUVs in its line-up – the C3 Aircross and C5 Aircross – although it offers SUV-inspired styling on models such as the C4 and C4 X.

Cobée acknowledged that Citroen would keep “some of the interesting values of SUVs, especially the higher seating position and versatility of the vehicles”.

The top executive wouldn’t say when he expected SUVs to decline, but he hinted that the 2035 deadline, when many mainland European countries will switch to only selling electric models, would likely be the catalyst for them coming to an end.

Citroen is keen to promote sustainability and in 2022 revealed its Oli concept car, which is set to become even more important for the French firm in future years.

It showcased the advantages of keeping a car’s weight down and using more recycled materials to help reduce the environmental footprint of each vehicle produced. — PA Media


Photojournalist Annice Lyn explores Malaysia with Porsche Cayenne

                KUALA LUMPUR: Photojournalist and former national figure skater, Annice Lyn, is no stranger to blazing her own trail.

From a young age, she honed her passion for figure skating into a professional career, and afterward, she traded her skates for cameras, standing out as a sports documentary photographer and visual storyteller.

She is a Canon Malaysia EOS Youth ambassador and co-founder of Women Photographers Malaysia. Major publications have featured her work as a photographer including TIME, National Geographic, the New York Times, Prestige, and Tatler Asia.

Annice recently hooked up with Porsche Malaysia, which has offered her the Cayenne and let her explore obscure and beautiful landscapes across Peninsula Malaysia.

A firm believer in the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words", the Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna began a nationwide journey through redeveloped heritage sites and immersed herself in local culture to capture people and landscapes.
 Annice.
She started her journey by making a beeline out of the city. “I still get excited every time I travel, even if it is now part of my work."

Up, and slightly to the left from Kuala Lumpur – the 340hp Cayenne is eagerly unleashed on winding, hilly roads until asphalt ends and the dirt begins.

The SUV itself is historic in its own way; it's the first Porsche model to be locally assembled in Malaysia and the first outside of continental Europe.

The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) of the RM575,000 Cayenne cushions the bumps, regardless of terrain, until the car arrives at a unique tunnel-like entrance with stalagmites and stalactites.

This is Gua Kajang, near the Unesco heritage site of Lenggong Valley – an area that reveals traces of Malaysia’s ancient history.

“Through projects that I’ve been a part of, I discovered a hidden gem in Lenggong Valley. With so much history to uncover and so many possibilities to explore, it offers a surreal sense of escape into a different world," says Annice.

On the road again, a local vendor selling various knick-knacks flashes a bright and cheerful smile her way. Annice is instantly transported to her childhood days, rekindling memories when such vendors were a common sight across Malaysia.

She is on her way to Kuala Sepetang, a picturesque fishing village formerly known as Port Weld, and the quiet roads punctuated by road signs and the occasional street-side store offer Annice a chance to reflect on the philosophy of mindfulness and gratitude for the simpler pleasures in life.

In an idyllic setting that exudes kampung-chic, Annice meets the locals and listens to the stories surrounding their culture, and the importance of preserving traditions.

“The friendly locals welcomed and invited me to learn the traditional art of mat weaving. It is such an intricate process. Handcrafted by the locals, each mat is unique and resembles the personalisation of the Cayenne: tailored to every individual.”

Back to the comfort driving mode in the Cayenne, on the return leg of the trip, Annice makes a detour to the city centre, Kuala Lumpur. These days, the capital of Malaysia is more well-known for its tall skyscrapers and teeming nightlife, but – if one bothers to look – there are plenty of historic sites to explore.

Located off Merdeka Square, Rumah Tangsi is a beautifully restored heritage mansion, recognisable thanks to its colonial buttercream-coloured façade. Completed in 1905, which was once a townhouse for businessman Loke Chow Kit, is now a hub for the arts.

Just 10 minutes away, another restored building awaits: the 112-year-old Sentul Depot was, for a time, one of the largest railway engineering workshops in the world, housing the most advanced locomotives and railway carriages.

Today, engineering of a different kind takes place within its walls, as creators from all over Malaysia display their wares at weekend makers’ markets.

“As a visual storyteller, I believe that photography is a tool that allows me to capture the present and preserve the past. I’m glad that these historical sites are given the appreciation they deserve, and the community is able to breathe new life and purpose into these century-old buildings.”

The last stop on Annice’s journey is the refurbished Zhong Shan building – a testament to the country’s emerging arts scene. Built in the 1950s, the building is home to the likes of art collectives, letterpress printers, independent booksellers, and underground musicians. The narrow corridors are peppered with deep conversations and unbridled passion for the various trades that are plied here.

She also explores a contemporary letterpress stationer – The Alphabet Press. Annice says, “Although hand-applied printing is a traditional technique used centuries ago, the fine craftsmanship results in works that exude a sense of understated elegance. This is not unlike the intricate detail inside the Cayenne, where fine materials and exquisite craftsmanship is also on subtle display.”

As Annice makes her way back to the Cayenne, she is overcome with gratitude. “This place gives me a sense of belonging and a strong connection to it. I have worked here for more than three years, and this feels like coming home.”

“Rediscovering my roots as a Malaysian, this adventure with the Cayenne gave me a different point of view – and I can’t wait to share it.”

Follow Annice Lyn’s journey across Malaysia in the Cayenne on Porsche Malaysia’s Facebook, Instagram pages and website at https://dealer.porsche.com/my/malaysia/en-GB/Cayenne-explores-Malaysia-with-Annice-Lyn.


Tesla's Musk suggests turning Berlin car plant into 'mega rave cave'

The land outside Berlin is being cleared to build the Tesla battery plant. — dpa

BERLIN: In what would likely be a world first for a car factory, Tesla's newest plant may end up doubling as a massive nightclub.

Tesla boss Elon Musk is apparently considering bringing the spirit of Berlin's famous clubbing scene to his company's new factory outside the German capital.

"Tesla should have a mega rave cave under the Berlin Gigafatory [sic]," the celebrity entrepreneur who founded the electric car maker wrote on Twitter early Tuesday, asking netizens to respond in an online poll.

The new site, dubbed a gigafactory by the Silicon Valley giant, is to start producing around 500,000 battery-powered cars annually starting next year, under the plans. It is located in Gruenheide in the rural state of Brandenburg which surrounds Berlin.

Around 400,000 people had weighed in on Musk's rave suggestion within around five hours, with 89.3 per cent saying they would like to see the car factory double up as an underground party location.

"With an epic sound system and woofers the size of a car," Musk added.

As with many of Musk's tweets, it is unclear whether his suggestion is meant to be taken seriously.

Musk is known for his irreverent approach to Twitter communications — something which has landed him in legal trouble in the past, for example when he called a British diver who saved trapped Thai schoolboys from a cave "pedo guy," or in making subtle reference to marijuana when discussing the company's share price.

Many hotspots in Berlin's vibrant club scene are already housed in disused factories.

With or without its own on-site clubbing location, the Tesla factory in Brandenburg is already causing some concern among locals, particularly environmentalists.

A spokesman for the state environment ministry noted on Monday that over 360 people have officially challenged the plans to build the plant. Construction has not yet begun at the site.


2015 Tokyo Motor Show in pictures and videos

                TOKYO: The 44th Tokyo Motor Show today threw its door open to the world's media with carmakers eager to showcase their technological prowess and capabilities and of course own takes on the future of mobility.

Take for instance, Nissan's recently unveiled IDS concept that features an extremely aerodynamic shape for its compact dimensions and using carbon fibre for its construction as well as a 60kW/hr electric drive unit.

 Nissan Motor and Renault chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn speaking about the Nissan IDS electric hatchback concept at the 44th Tokyo Motor Show.

Furthermore, the IDS is also able to communicate with people with its outward facing display screen that flashes messages such as “After You” to people.

Additionally, there’s an “Intention Indicator”, which uses an LED strip to help indicate to people that the car is aware of them.

When the driver selects Piloted Drive and turns over the driving duties to the vehicle, the car's performance — from accelerating to braking to cornering, imitates the driver's own style and preferences.

The height of its full carbon fibre body has been limited to 1,380mm to help minimize aerodynamic drag (Cd) and Nissan even placed the tyres closer to the corners of the car to maximize interior space while enabling a wrap-around cabin design.

Following in the footsteps of the IDS is an all-electric minivan also with suicide doors that’s dubbed by Nissan as the Teatro for Dayz.

Inside, the seats and steering wheel are LED screens that can also be found on the rear bumper, which displays the vehicle's status updates.

It is fundamentally a vehicle for socialising and for staying connected to social media, because for some people driving a car is equated to time away from friends and the Teatro for Dayz addresses just that.

"The generation getting their first driver's licenses has always been connected through digital devices, email, social media and so forth. What moves these digital natives is capturing experiences in photos and videos and sharing them.

"Friends respond with `likes' and share the experience further. What's important is not whether something is experienced personally or virtually. What matters is the process of sharing," said Nissan's product planning general manager Hidemi Sasaki.

Sasaki calls this particular generation "share natives", because their excitement comes not from ownership of material objects, but from using things to connect with friends and their share enjoyment.

Moving away from autonomous driving, Subaru unveiled its Viziv concept that’s a compact hybrid SUV with a downsized turbocharged engine that makes use of the company’s newly revised symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

Coming out of Germany, Mercedes-Benz showcased its Tokyo Vision, which is an extremely futuristic silvered-up self-driving car that's equipped with blue LEDs all around to help communicate its intentions to people.

But, the difference is that this concept, where passengers are seated face-to-face, can be taken control of on command, which means a seat and a steering wheel will unfold from out of nowhere.

It also comes with 980km of range, which is a combination of 190km in electric mode and another 790km with a hydrogen fuel cell.

Furthermore, it also comes equipped with a three-dimensional hologram projection system for apps and maps, while the windscreen shows off an equalizer whenever its occupants listen to music.

Off to where the lions roar, figuratively speaking, and it’s the French-made Peugeot 308 GTi that’s a high-performance variant of the 308-range, which undoubtedly wants to reign supreme in the hot hatch category with the help of its motorsport partner - Peugeot Sport.

With a six-speed manual managing power delivery to the front wheels, two levels of outputs will be offered –250hp and 270hp, which is being produced by one 1.6-litre turbocharged engine found in the smaller 208 GTI.

The more potent 270hp variant receives a Torsen limited-slip differential for better handling by sending more torque to the wheel with more grip that will allow it to accelerate out of bends faster than usual.

It’s suspension will be equipped with MacPherson struts at the front with specially-tuned springs and shock absorbers, while the rear axle features a twist-beam system.

The on-board electronics for the power steering, stability control and traction control have also be revised to take into consideration of the added power.

Weight has been shaved off thanks to the semi-hollow suspension components, carbon ceramic brake rotors for the 270hp variant, which is partially hidden by the 19-inch wheels with 235/35 Michelin Super Sport tyres.

The 250hp-variant gets its front and rear track-width widened and gets equipped with 18-inch wheels with 225/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres instead.

The French carmaker says the 250hp version is able to hit 100kph in just over 6.2 seconds, while the 270hp variant does it in just over 6.0 seconds with top speed for both limited to 250kph.

With controversy currently surrounding Volkswagen and its diesel emission claims, the company has unveiled its Tiguan GTE plug-in electric hybrid that first made its debut at last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

The GTE gets a solar panel roof that is said to help add an extra 1,000km of driving range per year and has been slated to go on sale by late 2016.

A familiar 1.4-litre turbocharged engine will be found paired to a electric motor - capable of providing 50km of electric range,  for a combine output of 160kW.

 The M4 GTS. In the background is the MINI stand where the MINI Convertible is showcased.

From BMW comes the world premiere of the M4 GTS and MINI Convertible.

With a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission managing power to the rear wheels, the 500hp/600Nm M4 GTS is able to catapult to 100kph from standstill in 3.8 seconds while top speed is limited to 305kph.

Only 700 units will be sold and was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the M3, which has been in production since 1986.

The new MINI Convertible, available in petrol and diesel versions, showcases a striking new exterior and interior design.

New to MINI Convertible are a fully electric roof that is quieter and smoother than the previous model, a fully integrated rollover protection system and more rear space than ever before.

 The MINI Convertible.

Power goes to the front wheels, with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. Offering increased efficiency, optimised acoustic and vibration response and enhanced shift comfort, a gear sensor enables active engine speed adaptation for especially sporty shifting when accelerating and increased comfort when shifting down.

Back to Japan and Suzuki unveiled its little Mighty Deck "Kei" concept car, which is described as a "fun-oriented minicar".

The Mighty Deck has a minimalist design, which means its does not have the usual boot, but instead has a storage space beneath its open rear deck and even comes with a retractable soft-top roof.

Inside, it features a central digitised dashboard that displays the current weather and other driving information within the driver's field of vision, while a separate screen on the centre console displays other information including navigation and infotainment.


India's Tata Motors to rename hatchback that sounds like Zika

                MUMBAI: The rapidly-spreading Zika virus has found an unlikely victim - Indian carmaker Tata Motors Ltd.

The carmaker said on Tuesday it had decided to rename its soon-to-be-launched hatchback Zica, short for Zippy Car, after the mosquito-borne virus was declared an international health emergency.

Tata Motors, part of the Tata Group, one of India's largest conglomerates, said it would decide on a new name for the hatchback after a few weeks.

It is due to showcase the car in the biennial New Delhi motor show starting Wednesday.

 The Tata Zica.

The World Health Organisation has said Zika is "spreading explosively" and could infect as many as four million people in the Americas.

Tata Motors is seeking an image makeover with the curvaceous hatchback, which is being endorsed by world soccer player of the year Lionel Messi.

India's fifth-biggest automaker, which owns the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, has struggled to dispel perceptions of cheapness since releasing its Nano cars seven years ago costing under US$3,000 (RM12,600).


VW approves further projects in Ford alliance

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen said its supervisory board had approved several projects in a multibillion-dollar alliance with Ford Motor that was first announced last July.

The German carmaker said various contracts between the two companies were nearing completion and would be signed soon.

Among the shared projects specified by VW are a midsize pickup to be developed by Ford; a city delivery van to be developed by VW; a larger commercial van to be developed by Ford, and a new electric vehicle for Ford of Europe, to be built on VW’s electric vehicle architecture.

Regarding official approval of the agreements, a Ford spokesman on Thursday said, “We look forward to jointly providing an update soon.”

VW’s statement said “further projects are to follow, as is the investment in Argo AI,” the self-driving software company backed by Ford and which eventually will be jointly controlled with VW.

VW’s planned US$3.1 billion investment in Argo “remains on track and is expected to close soon,” Argo said in a statement.

On the China front, Volkswagen has become the biggest shareholder of electric vehicle battery maker Guoxuan High-Tech Co Ltd with a 26.5% stake, Guoxuan said in stock exchange filings on Thursday.

Reuters reported the Volkswagen is in final talks to invest in the Hefei-based battery company on Wednesday.

Guoxuan said it will restart share trading on May 29. Volkswagen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Subaru Levorg wins Japan Car of the Year 2020

                TOKYO: The Subaru Levorg has been announced as the winner of the Japan Car of the Year 2020.

According to the awards steering committee, reasons for the Levorg’s win stemmed from the car’s award- winning Subaru Global Platform, as well as its employment of a new body, new 1.8-litre boxer turbo engine, and revised suspension, brakes and steering.

Also highly praised by jurors was the new EyeSight X driver- assist system that now incorporates 4 cameras, a 360-degree field of sensing and 3D high-precision mapping data that now allows drivers to cruise "hands-off" in heavy traffic at up to 50kph.

The new Levorg is currently on sale only in Japan but the carmaker has plans to launch in Europe and Australia.

In the first of two voting procedures, the award’s 60 jurors selected the 10 Best vehicles of the year in late November from over 30 contenders.

After attending a 10 Best drive day at Sodegaura Forest Raceway near here, jurors voted again to select the year’s best car.

The Levorg was adjudged the winner with 437 votes, beating the Toyota Yaris with 320 votes and the Honda Fit with 300 votes.

Polling 141 votes, the highest for a foreign brand, the Peugeot 208/e-208 was named the Import Car of the Year 2020-2021.

The Land Rover Defender came in 5th place with 105 votes, the Audi e-tron Sportback posted 65 voted for 6th, Mazda’s MX-30 received 63 voted for 7th, BMW Alpina B3 polled 25 votes, BMW’s 2-Series Gran Coupe got 24 votes and the Nissan Kicks finished with 20 votes.

In the special awards categories, the Mazda MX-30 received the Design of the Year trophy, the BMW Alpina B3 captured the Performance award, the Audi e-tron picked up the Technology trophy and the jointly produced Nissan Roox and Mitsubishi eK Cross Space won the "K-car" (660cc) category.


Moon shot: Toyota and Japan space agency plan lunar mission

                TOKYO: Toyota is teaming up with Japan's space agency on a planned mission to the moon, with the Japanese auto giant expected to develop a lunar rover, officials and local media said today.

It will be the car manufacturer's first full-fledged entry into space exploration, after the company jointly developed a small robot sent to the International Space Station.

"We are planning to co-operate with Toyota in an exploration mission to the moon," said a spokesman with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa).

Details will be announced by Jaxa and Toyota Tuesday next week when the space agency hosts a symposium in Tokyo, said the spokesman.

Toyota also confirmed plans to announce a joint project with Jaxa "on mobility and a space probe" but declined to comment further.

Jiji Press news agency said the car giant is expected to jointly develop a "mobility method" to be used on the lunar surface for the mission.

The mission is part of renewed global interest in the moon, sometimes called the "eighth continent" of the Earth, and comes 50 years after American astronauts first walked on the lunar surface.

Before humans set foot on the lunar surface again, Nasa aims to land an unmanned vehicle on the moon by 2024.

So far, only Russia, the United States and China have made the 384,000-kilometre journey and landed spacecraft on the moon.

Last month, Israel launched a spacecraft that aims to join them.

In 2017, Japan revealed plans to put an astronaut on the moon around 2030.


BMW races ahead as VW sales hit 10-year low in 2021

                BERLIN: Volkswagen Group posted its lowest sales figures in 10 years in 2021 at 8.9 million deliveries, the carmaker said today, and it said it expected supply chain conditions to remain volatile in the first half of this year.

By contrast, luxury carmaker BMW saw record deliveries of 2.21 million vehicles from the BMW brand, a success attributed in part to its ability to adapt to supply chain shortages.

The Volkswagen brand saw an 8.1% drop in sales to just under 4.9 million units, with the biggest fall in China at 14.8%, although battery-electric vehicle sales in the country quadrupled.

"Under unusually challenging circumstances, Volkswagen reached a satisfying sales result," sales and marketing chief Klaus Zellmer said. "However, the huge effects of chips on production were not able to be fully compensated."

BMW rival Daimler reported last Friday that Mercedes-Benz sales dropped 5% in 2021, losing its crown to BMW for the first time in five years as the premium carmaker with most vehicles sold worldwide.

Performance for the premium carmakers was weakest in Europe, with the BMW and Mini brands registering just 3.9% growth and Mercedes-Benz an 11.2% drop.

North America was a strong market for all three carmakers. Mercedes-Benz registered 0.4% growth in the United States and BMW 19.5%. Volkswagen saw 13% growth in the region.

Sales of hybrid or fully-electric vehicles rose across the industry, particularly in Europe, where they constituted between a fifth and a quarter of deliveries - but remained a small proportion of total global sales.

At the Volkswagen Group, for example, battery-electric vehicles constituted 5.1% of deliveries - double last year's figure, but a fraction of the carmaker's 2030 target of 50%.


Shell and carmakers aim to go the distance with highway charging

                LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell has partnered with top carmakers to deploy ultra-fast chargers on Europe’s highways, stealing a march on rivals in the race to remove one of the biggest obstacles facing the electric car sector.

Shell’s agreement with IONITY - a joint venture between BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen - will initially bring high-powered docks to 80 highway sites in 2019, it said in a statement.

Power giants including France’s Engie and Germany’s E.ON, as well as niche players such as US start-up ChargePoint, are all building vehicle-charging networks in Europe, but Shell says the IONITY technology is key to addressing the problem of journey distances.

While electric vehicles still account for only a small fraction of the global car market, the pace of growth and a sustained period of low crude prices is prompting oil companies to reassess century-old business models as the world move towards cleaner modes of transportation.

Under Shell’s most aggressive projections the company expects the global electric vehicle fleet to grow from about 1 percent of the entire auto fleet today to 10 percent by 2025, displacing oil demand equating to about 800,000 barrels per day.

Rival BP said in August that it was talking to electric car manufacturers on deals to offer battery recharging docks at its stations.

The number of electric vehicle charging points in Europe nearly tripled from 2014 to 2017 to reach almost 120,000, according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory.

However, manufacturers have struggled to offer solutions for getting drivers to go beyond short journeys, mostly within cities, because of battery limitations, a lack of charging stations and long charging times.

With the IONITY technology, cars with advanced charging capacity of up to 350 kilowatts will take as little as five to eight minutes to charge, Shell said. It can take several hours to charge a regular electric car today.

“Customers want to go on long journeys in their electric vehicles and feel confident that there are reliable, comfortable and convenient places to charge them quickly,” said Shell’s head of retail Istvan Kapitany.

The 80 charging stations will be deployed in Belgium, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

With an additional 20 stations expected to be added in Germany, about a quarter of Shell’s stations along highways in Europe will offer high-power electric charging within two years, Kapitany told Reuters.

Shell will invest in changing power supplies to its stations to meet growing demand, he said, declining to disclose the size of the investment or terms of the IONITY deal.

The IONITY partners joined forces with a plan to build a pan-European network of 400 charging stations by 2020.

The initiative is latest in a number of small Shell investments in charging technology in recent months, including the acquisition of Dutch-based NewMotion, owner of one of Europe’s largest charging networks.


2017 New York Auto Show: Genesis unveils GV80 concept SUV

                NEW YORK: Genesis has unveiled its progressive GV80 Concept SUV at the New York International Auto Show.

The new fuel cell concept SUV continues to build on the global brand’s expressive and refined ‘Athletic Elegance’ design direction.

The GV80 Concept is the brand’s first interpretation of a versatile luxury SUV.

“The GV80 Concept is a SUV that alludes to the confidence and evolution of the Genesis brand,” said Genesis design head Luc Donckerwolke.

The front of the GV80 Concept showcases the signature Genesis crest grille proudly presented by the lower grille surround, which establishes a dominant center spine that runs through the length of the vehicle.

The diamond motif mesh grille and wide-set horizontal quad headlamps that encase jewel-like graphics assert the SUV’s powerful stance.

Laser fiber optic technology in the tail lamps produces a Genesis lighting signature at night.

The interior cabin greets passengers with a bridge instrument panel that stretches from door to door creating a welcoming and spacious ambience.

A wide 22-inch curved display set in the instrument panel cascades into the driver’s cluster, which combines the precision of a classic speedometer with the immersive flow of information from a digital display.

The horizontal 22-inch curved OLED infinity display presents two distinct zones, providing separate driver and passenger experiences.

An ash wood lower center console integrates the high-tech controller and polished linear metal inlays with capacitive touch capabilities.

The top of the interactive multi-function controller features a concave gorilla glass touchpad and knurled metal wheel with handwriting recognition.

Through touch control, each metal string allows direct access to the most commonly used functions including Navigation, Entertainment, Communication, and Environment (or customized driver settings).

By tapping these metal strings, passengers gain separate control of a mini-view on the right side of the wide display without disturbing the driver.

The GV80 features exquisite semi-aniline leather interior, with quilted diamond stitching on the interior door panels, seat inserts and center console side.

The meticulously-wrapped rich leather on the upper instrument panel is contrasted with distinctive Architexture suede on the instrument panel bridge.


Cupra races the Ateca around Paris rooftop with a view of Eiffel Tower

                PARIS: Cupra recently demonstrated the power of the Ateca on a rooftop racetrack in France's capital city.

On a racetrack built in six days on the eighth floor of a building here, Cupra's Ateca sprinted across the French capital's skyline with an Eiffel Tower backdrop to demonstrate the crossover's agility.

Cupra opted for this location — 27 metres above the ground — because, though the Ateca was inspired by racing, it was designed for urban transportation.

The model's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine puts out 300hp and can accelerate to 100kph in 4.9 seconds.

Back in October, Cupra performed a similar stunt with Ateca after unveiling the Tavascan Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This experience was on the rooftop of the exhibition centre Expo Porte de Versailles Parc des Expositions.

Though the Ateca crossover SUV originally launched under SEAT in 2019, it was launched again as a Cupra when the brand was created to serve as Seat's high-performance vehicle division in 2018. Despite the model technically being under two years old, it's due for a mid-cycle refresh.

Based on images of the upcoming model in camouflage spied by Motor1, little is due to change. Apart from small changes in the details, the slimmed-down shape of the front end appears to be the biggest change.

Though Cupra has not been public about this generation's launch, seeing that it's already being tested out in the wild suggests that it could be unveiled in the next few months.


Genesis ‘looking into’ launching smaller model to Europe

                LONDON: South Korean premium firm Genesis has said it is considering introducing a smaller model for the European market as the brand looks to boost its sales.

Genesis was launched in much of Europe in 2021, with the firm exclusively selling larger saloons and SUVs to date. Its smallest car so far has been the mid-size electric GV60 SUV.

In Europe, however, it’s often the smallest models from premium brands that are the most popular – such as Audi with its A3 and BMW with its 1 Series. Genesis has been exploring the idea of introducing smaller models since 2019, when it revealed the ‘Mint’ concept car as its vision of what a luxury city-focused model could look like.

Four years later, Genesis is yet to confirm its production but has said it continues investigating the viability of a smaller car.

Marc Choi, vice president and product officer of Genesis, said: “We are looking into expanding our models. One of the key requests we get, especially from Europe, is a smaller segment model, such as Mint. We are looking into a more compact car for the European market, but the time is to be decided.”

Genesis has also hinted at its intent to develop sportier models. Earlier this week the firm revealed its GV80 Coupe Concept – a model that looks close to production, and is said to hint at a more "emotional and performance-oriented car".

Choi ruled out creating a "high-performance sub-brand" – such as Audi’s RS division – but hinted at Genesis-only performance powertrains.

He said: “At Genesis we want to be differentiated and not just carry over what Hyundai and Kia use, but how can we set ourselves apart from sister brands? So we’re going to be looking into more performance motors for our car. That will be a high-performance powertrain, rather than smaller battery sizes.” - PA Media


Boston company's kit makes plug-In hybrid Ford F-150 now possible

                BOSTON: The Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck was once again the biggest-selling vehicle in America last year.

Ford continues to exploit the popularity of this vehicle by introducing more and more variants and options all the time, with a diesel engine option being the biggest addition this year.

Despite hybrid and electric propulsion systems becoming increasingly popular in American cars these days, they have yet to find their way into pickup trucks. However, a Boston-based company called XL has now made a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the F-150 a reality.

Ford might not offer an F-150 PHEV at the moment, but XL is a big player in hybridising fleets of vehicles and it has now announced the F-150 has been added to the roster of vehicles it offers upgrades for.

Although it probably sounds fairly revolutionary for a plug-in hybrid powertrain to be offered for the F-150, XL already converts Ford Super Duty trucks and Transit vans, E-Series Cutaway vans, Chevy and GMC vans, shuttle buses, box trucks and other commercials.

What the company actually does is take a regular F-150 with either the 2.7-litre EcoBoost or the 3.3-litre base engine, and upgrades it to a plug-in hybrid. Although, XL doesn't actually do it, the fleet operator's own mechanics carry out the work.

What XL does is to supply a ship-through kit it claims takes less than a day to install. It can be added to trucks with two or four-wheel drive, and with any cab and bed configuration. The upgrade kit itself contains a 15 kWh battery, a traction motor spliced into the driveline, the regenerative braking components, and the technology to make it all work together with the Ford's existing systems.

There are no claims at the moment about what the kit does for the trucks' horsepower and torque, but the result most commercial operators will be interested in is the 50 percent increase in fuel efficiency it delivers.

And there's further good news with confirmation the truck's OEM warranty is unaffected by adding the conversion kit, and XL also offers a three-year, 75,000 warranty on the components it supplies.


Miros blows away  'exploding petrol tank' myth

                PETALING JAYA: A text message circulating on smartphone messenger apps claiming that fully-filled petrol tanks are likely to explode during the current heat wave has been debunked.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Prof Wong Shaw Voon said that such rumours were untrue, and that current research and technology had devised safety measures to ensure tanks can carry petrol safely.

"The automotive industry… would usually design parts which can withstand various environments. For example, even in Malaysian weather, it does not get as hot at the weather in the Middle East or even summer in the United States," he said.

"There has been a lot of requirements in place, and cars are made safer and safer. Even when pumping petrol into vehicles in normal use, it is very unlikely to create an explosion," he said.

"There is also an auto shut-off mechanism in the pump design which will stop filling after reaching the tank limit," he said.

Prof Wong, however, said some motorists continued to fill their vehicle fuel tanks even after pumps automatically shut off to maximise fuel tank capacity, a practice he discouraged.

"You should not go beyond the third stop or else there may be a spillover of petrol," he said.

The fake text message in question falsely advised the public to fill their fuel tanks to half their capacity, saying that the heat will cause full fuel tanks to explode.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Sani Harul also rubbished the message claiming there had been five instances of vehicles with full tanks exploding due to the heat.

Proton is one car maker which has been a target of such misinformation.

It said it was concerned by photographs being circulated on social media of an Exora bursting into flames at the Cheneh exit along the East-Coast Highway Phase 2 (LPT2) on Feb 17.

“In the postings, some of the netizens claimed that the Exora was faulty due to an increase in temperature as a result of over-filling of fuel, causing the car to catch fire, while others speculated that the incident was due to a leaking fuel tank,” the company said in a statement on Feb 18.

Proton said it is investigating the matter closely and has got in touch with the owner of the vehicle to ensure the well-being of the owner and his family and to get the full details about the Exora.

“We are taking the necessary measures and urge the public not to speculate on the situation,” it said, according to a Bernama report.

The national carmaker said it does not compromise on quality that could cause its engines or cars to malfunction.

The Exora is the first national Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV), with more than 140,000 units sold worldwide.


Prizes galore for Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

                SHAH ALAM: In its 10th instalment, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest offers an Apple iPad Mini as the Gold prize and a mountain bike as the Silver prize at the national level.

The Bronze winner wins two tickets to Legoland Johor.

The work of the national winners will automatically be submitted to the next stage – the World Contest.

The contest runs till February 12, 2016.

Open to all children from the ages of 4-15 years, participants will be divided into three age groups: under 8 years, 8-11 years, and 12-15 years.

All submissions will be judged based on the main criteria - originality and creativity.

The National Contest winners will be announced in April 2016, while the World Contest winners will be announced in September 2016.

First held in 2004 by Toyota Motor Corp in Japan, it is one of the largest children’s art contest in the world.

“Malaysian children are very creative. Last year, we received more than 1000 entries and the judges were enchanted by the imagination and artistic skills of the children. By channeling this creativity to the automotive sector, we hope to shape the future of car designs,” said UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ismet Suki.

For details on how to enter the contest, log on to www.toyota.com.my.


Electric-car startup Lucid to follow Tesla into energy storage

                LOS ANGELES: Electric-vehicle startup Lucid Motors Inc is following Tesla Inc.’s footsteps into the energy-storage business.

The Newark, California-based company is developing home batteries — similar to Tesla’s Powerwall — and utility-scale devices, chief executive officer Peter Rawlinson said in an interview.

They will have the same battery-cell modules the company is installing in its debut EV, the Lucid Air.

"There is a multiplier effect: They are cost-effective to make,” so they can be used in stationary storage systems, said Rawlinson.

The energy-storage systems are an extension of the same technology but may require lower-performance cells than the cars, Rawlinson said. Lucid has an agreement with LG Chem Ltd. for the cells in its battery packs. The company aims to have a prototype of a commercial system installed at its headquarters by the start of next year that will store power generated from solar panels on the facility’s roof and provide electricity during peak hours.

Lucid is also in preliminary talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund about an industrial-scale energy-storage system, Rawlinson said. The goal is that Saudi Arabia could store solar-generated power in Lucid’s batteries, helping the country to shift from dependence on oil and diversify its economy.

The fund — which invested more than US$1 billion in Lucid in 2018, giving it a much-needed injection of cash and credibility — declined to comment when asked about any energy-storage discussions.

"It’s a natural place for us to help our investors and work with our investors,” Rawlinson said.The company is often compared with Tesla, in part because Rawlinson was chief engineer on Tesla’s Model S between 2009 and 2012.

But Lucid has catching up to do in both EVs and energy storage. Tesla has been offering storage products since 2015, when it introduced the Powerwall. It doesn’t report revenue data for batteries alone but recorded US$1.5 billion in sales last year for batteries and solar arrays. By comparison, Tesla earned US$20.8 billion in automobile revenue in 2019.


Some Hyundai and Kia cars to get solar charge-ups from 2019

                SEOUL: Kia Motors and Hyundai Motor have today announced plans to introduce "solar roof" charging technology on selected Hyundai Motor Group vehicles.

Electricity-generating solar panels will be incorporated into the roof or the bonnet of vehicles, and will support internal combustion, hybrid and battery electric vehicles with additional electrical power, increasing fuel efficiency and range.

The solar charging technology is being developed to support the vehicle’s main power source, improving mileage and reducing CO2 emissions. The system will have the capability to charge the batteries of eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, helping to improve fuel efficiency.

Hyundai Motor Group is developing three types of solar roof charging systems: The first-generation system is for hybrid vehicles, while the second-generation technology brings a semi-transparent solar roof system to ICE vehicles. The third generation of the technology will see the introduction of a lightweight solar roof for battery electric vehicles.

The first-generation system, which will be applied to hybrid models, is created out of a structure of silicon solar panels that are integrated into a standard car roof. This system is capable of charging 30 to 60 per cent of the battery over the course of a normal day, depending on weather conditions and other environmental factors.

The second-generation semi-transparent solar roof will be applied to ICE vehicles, representing a world-first application for the technology. The semi-transparent technologies can be integrated with a panoramic sunroof, letting light through into the cabin, whilst charging the vehicle’s battery at the same time. Applying solar charging systems to ICE vehicles will help them comply with ever more stringent global environmental laws regulating CO2 emissions.

The third-generation system, is currently in testing. It is designed to be applied to the hood and roof of eco-friendly battery electric vehicle models in order to maximize energy output.

How Hyundai solar panel technology works

The solar charging system is composed of a solar panel, a controller and a battery. As the panel absorbs photons of light from the sun, it creates electron-hole pairs in silicon cells, enabling current to flow and generating electricity.

When a 100W solar panel is equipped, it can produce up to 100 Wh of energy (in ideal conditions: summer noon, 1000 W/m2 intensity of radiation). The controller features Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which controls voltage and current to increase the efficiency of electricity harvested by the solar panel. This power is converted and stored in the battery, or utilized to decrease load on the vehicle’s alternating current (AC) generator, thereby increasing vehicle range.

“In the future, we expect to see many different types of electricity-generating technologies integrated into our vehicles. The solar roof is the first of these technologies, and will mean that automobiles no longer passively consume energy, but will begin to produce it actively,” said the developer of the technology Jeong-Gil Park, Executive Vice President of the Engineering and Design Division of Hyundai Motor Group. “It is an exciting development for us, designing a technology for vehicle owners to help them shift from being energy users to being energy producers.”

Hyundai Motor Group will launch the first generation of this technology into its vehicles after 2019 to help meet global regulations targets and improve vehicle fuel efficiency.


Volvo owners can soon get a fast charge at US Starbucks

                NEW YORK: Volvo Car USA and Starbucks have teamed up to set up the first public electric-vehicle charging network at the coffee company’s US stores starting this summer, powered by ChargePoint.

Volvo Car USA will install as many as 60 Volvo-branded, ChargePoint DC fast chargers at up to 15 Starbucks locations along a 2,172km route from the Denver area to the coffee company’s Seattle headquarters.

Plans include a charging location about every 160km, well within the battery range of most electric vehicles.

The effort could make charging Volvo pure electric models as easy as going to Starbucks.

ChargePoint’s DC fast chargers can bring the Volvo C40 Recharge, for example, from a 20 percent to a 90 percent charge in about 40 minutes.

The idea is that while their cars are recharging outside, drivers and their passengers can relax comfortably inside with their favorite Starbucks beverage.

Drivers of Volvo Recharge models with Google embedded can use the ChargePoint app integrated into their vehicle’s in-dash system, while other drivers can use the ChargePoint smartphone app, to find and access the ChargePoint charging stations at participating Starbucks locations.

While all EV drivers will be able to use these stations for a fee, drivers of Volvo Cars will get the added benefit of having access to these stations at no charge or at preferential rates.

Installations on the route are expected to be complete by the end of 2022, giving EV drivers traveling between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest a string of familiar, reliable, clean and safe places to recharge themselves and their battery-powered vehicles.

“Volvo Cars wants to give people the freedom to move and lower their impact on the environment,” said Anders Gustafsson, Sr. Vice President Americas and President and CEO, Volvo Car USA. “Working with Starbucks we can do that by giving them enjoyable places to relax while their cars recharge.”


Mercedes to launch vehicle-charging network, starting in North America

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz is poised to invest billions of euros to build 10,000 fast-charging points in North America, Europe and China by 2030, the luxury carmaker said on Thursday.

The carmaker will start construction in North America this year, targeting 2,500 charging points at 400 locations across most US states and Canada by 2027, it said at the CES car show in Las Vegas which runs from Jan 5-8.

It will split just over one billion euros (RM4.6bil) in investment required by 2030 for North America with Goldman Sachs spinoff MN8 Energy, a renewable energy producer and battery storage operator, and is partnering with charging network company ChargePoint for technological know-how.

MN8 chief executive Jon Yoder said the company expected to make a profit within five to seven years, possibly earlier if it received subsidies or if utilisation rates are higher than expected.

Discussions are ongoing with potential partners for the network buildout in Europe and China.

The United States has around 140,000 public EV chargers, according to July 2022 data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Surveys show consumers around the world are discouraged from buying EVs because of a dearth of charging infrastructure.

In Europe, where Mercedes-Benz is already part of a charging joint venture with Volkswagen, BMW, Ford and Hyundai called Ionity, infrastructure is further along, with around 375,000 charging points available at the end of 2021, according to a McKinsey Study.

Still, the region requires at least 3.4 million charging points by 2030 to meet an expected rise in demand, the study said.

Separately, Mercedes-Benz has applied for certification in California and Nevada for Level 3 automated driving, enabling its electric vehicles to take over driving at up to 60kph on suitable motorway.


Covid-19: Mazda suspends plants in Japan, Mexico and Thailand

                HIROSHIMA: Due to issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, Mazda will suspend production for 13 days and operate day-time shifts only for eight days at the Hiroshima and Hofu plants from March 28 to April 30.

In a statement, Mazda said it would adjust production at its facilities globally due to the difficulties in procuring parts, the plummeting sales in overseas markets, and the uncertainty of future sales.

For overseas plants, the Mazda production site in Mexico will shut down for 10 days from March 25 onwards, and AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co Ltd will suspend production for a similar period starting from March 30.

Mazda sales operations will continue in certain countries including Japan and China.

Mazda is also adopting infection prevention measures such as teleworking and sterilization at Mazda offices and dealerships.


Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro to land in Malaysia in June 2023

                KUALA LUMPUR: Showroom units of the Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro are expected to arrive in Malaysia in June 2023.

In a statement, the Chinese automaker said it will host more exciting events in Malaysia for up-close user experiences, and "Malaysian consumers will have opportunities to have captivating driving experiences."

The Tiggo 8 Pro has 12 ADAS (advanced driver-assistance system) features such as automatic start-stop, ACC (adaptive cruise control), AEB (automatic emergency braking) and FCW (forward collision warning).

The Omoda 5 offers 17 ADAS features, including Lane Keeping Assist and RCTA (rear cross traffic alert).

Both cars have the Cerence voice recognition system, which enables convenient and quick control of multimedia functions and air-conditioning.

The Omoda 5 adopts Chery's new design language known as “Art in Motion”, a design concept that aims to strike a balance between dynamism and stillness.

The Tiggo 8 Pro is designed for the lifestyle of urban elites.