GM shows Bolt electric vehicle concept with 322km driving range

DETROIT: General Motors Co on Monday showed its Chevrolet Bolt concept car with an electric driving range of more than 322km and a US$30,000 (RM107,000) price tag, offering a view into where the US automaker is pushing in development of electric vehicles (EV).

The all-electric Bolt is a concept car not currently slated for production, but Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra said the company is committed to developing an affordable, long-range EV, and GM said they could develop the car in as little as 18 months.

"This is a real game changer," Barra told reporters at the media preview at the Detroit auto show. "Trust me, this is no stripped-down science experiment."

She didn't give a timetable for when GM would develop the vehicle, but said it was a natural next step from the Volt.

GM is showing a new version of the Volt on Monday, and the 2016 version will debut this fall.

GM product development chief Mark Reuss said the automaker "has the technology" to deliver a production version of the Bolt electric car within 18 to 24 months.

 The Bolt concept car.

Reuss said the four-door, five-passenger prototype could be profitable, especially if the value of emissions credits it generates under clean air regulations is counted.

The current version of the Volt, which has an electric driving range of about 64km before a petrol engine kicks in, starts at US$34,345 (RM122,000), and analysts have said GM loses money on the car.

The new Volt has an electric driving range of 80km.


2016 LA Auto Show: Carmakers cautious on electric cars

The Chevrolet Bolt EV. - Reuters
LOS ANGELES: Electric cars are taking a back seat to more profitable trucks and sport utility vehicles at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show, a venue that recently has been a showcase for green cars.

Despite Tesla Motors' bold bet on consumer demand for all-electric vehicles, traditional automakers at the show are pushing the trucks and SUVs that generate fat profits, in a reflection of how cheaper gasoline is influencing consumer spending.

To view the upcoming all-electric Chevy Bolt, billed by General Motors as the future of electric vehicles, a potential buyer must first wade through myriad displays of trucks and SUVs at the Chevrolet section.

 The 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2. - Reuters

Underscoring how trucks are still the meat and potatoes of the traditional auto industry – and extremely popular in Southern California – Chevrolet constructed a rugged off-road circuit on Tuesday to show off the power of its off-road pickup, the 2017 Colorado ZR2.

Chevrolet marketing director Steve Majoros told Reuters brands such as the Bolt "are important to our business, important to our image, but they kind of live on the fringes when it comes to volume."

Majoros said there was "a lot of built-up demand" for the Bolt ahead of its Dec 1 advertising launch in key markets.

However, Chevrolet officials won't say how many have been ordered or what planned production volumes are. Suppliers said they expect the Bolt initially will be produced at a rate of about 20,000 to 30,000 a year.

Tesla Motors Inc, Silicon Valley's luxury electric carmaker, says it has had nearly 400,000 pre-orders for its Model 3 sedan due in 2018 and is accelerating production by a factor of five to meet future demand.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, speaking to shareholders on Thursday, noted the predicted low annual volume of Bolt EVs, saying Chevrolet needs to make 300,00-500,000 per year for the car "to make a difference."

Electric vehicles are currently a money-losing burden for carmakers forced to comply with federal fuel efficiency rules and even more rigorous standards in California, which mandates that 15% of carmakers' sales must come from emissions-free vehicles by 2025.

Market demand, however, is shifting toward trucks and sport utilities. The National Automobile Dealers Association says a predicted 17.1 million new car and truck sales in 2017 would favour light-truck sales, for an expected 60% of the market, up from 50% in 2013.

Low fuel prices are behind a five-year decline in green vehicle sales, which is undercutting efforts by automakers to build economies of scale for new technology, said Hyundai Motor America chief executive Dave Zuchowski.

"That's a particularly disheartening metric," Zuchowski told auto dealers at the AutoConferenceLA gathering on Tuesday.

Facing expensive upfront costs and a mostly indifferent public – yet mandated to meet fuel efficiency standards – some brands are experimenting only modestly with electrification.

GMC showed off its Sierra 1500 with eAssist that combines a V8 engine with a 0.45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to improve fuel economy by as much as 13%.

The battery, which adds US$1,125 (RM4,950) to the price, is not large enough to qualify for clean air credits in California.

GMC built only 200 vehicles for 2016 for the California market and most have been sold. It is still weighing how many to make for next year, said Stuart Pierce, GMC senior marketing manager.

"We're trying to gauge receptiveness right now," said Pierce, who added that truck customers "maybe wouldn't be ready to go so far" as a hybrid or fully-electric vehicle.

Audi and Jaguar plan to release electric SUVs in 2018, and BMW will launch an electric Mini in 2019. Audi parent Volkswagen says it will build 30 new electric vehicles by 2025.

But Volkswagen's offering this year at the show? The 2017 Atlas SUV with a gasoline engine.

"We are expanding VW's line-up to meet America's demand for SUVs," said Hinrich Woebcken, Volkswagen of America CEO.


Nissan Navara VL Plus introduced from RM120K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the franchise holders of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, has expanded the pickup truck model lineup with the introduction of the new range-topping Navara VL Plus.

Priced on-the-road without insurance and 0% GST at RM119,869, the VL Plus variant is accompanied by the company’s standard five-year or 150,000km (whichever comes first) warranty.

The new variant arrives with the addition of Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) technology that includes an Around View Monitor (I-AVM) for a 360-degree birds-eye view, seven airbags and a new digital speedometer housed within the Advance Driver-assist Display.

An optional Black Series package is available and will push the price up by RM3,773 to RM123,642.67 and will add on matte black accoutrements including headlamp eyelids, front grille, fog lamp cover, overfender and side mirror caps as well as a blackout front bumper and black sport bar.

In terms of power delivery, the new variant is powered by the same 2.5-litre intercooled turbo-diesel with 190PS and 450Nm of torque that’s mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode while maintaining a rear multi-link suspension (up to one-tonne payload) and the Zero Gravity inspired seats to name a few.

The VL Plus variant will make its appearance at the upcoming Nissan Nationwide Test Drive Carnival at selected showrooms over two weekends, from now to Aug 12 (10am to 8pm), and will be available for test drives.

Meanwhile, there will be attractive deals, prizes and activities being offered during the carnival and includes the Nissan Nurtures Nature eco-friendly activities that involves ‘3R’ environmental philosophy of Reduce, Recycle and Reconnect:
Reduce – Herbs planting activity; grow your own herbs, bring more green into homes
to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and produce more Oxygen (O2).Recycle – Transform waste into usable items; a showcase of using a used tyre that
can be creatively made into a rustic furniture.Reconnect – Retreat to nature allowing its serenity to refresh, rejuvenate and re-energise the body and mind. A series of Eco Talk will be introduced to educate owners and customers on why and how we could play a role in contributing back to the environment.
The Nissan Nationwide Test Drive Carnival will take place from:
Aug 4 to 5ETCM GlenmarieETCM CherasETCM Sungai PetaniETCM TaipingETCM Kuantan*ETCM SemabokETCM MiriKompleks Karamunsing, Kota KinabaluAug 3 to 4East Coast AEON Kota Bharu, KelantanAug 11 to 12ETCM Petaling Jaya *
ETCM PuchongETCM Weld QuayETCM IpohETCM SerembanETCM Johor Jaya *ETCM KuchingETCM Sandakan
* Exclusively with Nissan Nurtures Nature activities.
Eco Talk session is only available on Saturday (Aug 4 and 11).

Meanwhile, the Nissan Roadshow will be held at:
The Spring Shopping Mall, Kuching (Aug 3 to 5)Kompleks Karamunsing, Kota Kinabalu (Aug 3 to 5)Sunway Carnival Mall, Penang (Aug 3 to 5)AEON Seri Manjung, Perak (Aug 6 to 12)Starling Mall, Petaling Jaya (Aug 9 to 12)Kluang Mall, Johor (Aug 17 to 19)AEON Tebrau City, Johor Bahru (Aug 21 to 25)Mid Valley Megamall Exhibition Centre, Midvalley, Kuala Lumpur (Aug 22 to 26 )
“Imagine a whole new driving experience, moving through life with more excitement, confidence and connection to the world around you. Nissan Intelligent Mobility offers that through Intelligent Around View Monitor, which is available on our three best selling models - the X-Trail, Serena S-Hybrid and now the Navara”, said ETCM sales and marketing director Christopher Tan.

For more information log on to www.nissan.com.my or contact the Nissan Customer Care Centre at 1800-88-3838.


Audi F1 deal marks a big step up for Swiss-based Sauber

                LONDON: Sauber's transformation into the Audi works Formula One team from 2026, announced today, is a big step up for the Swiss-based outfit who now have a real possibility of returning to the top of the podium.

The move from midfield to major players will still take time, however.

In a sport where cost caps control spending to make a more level playing field, Audi can only throw so much money at their team to beat the top trio of Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes on the racetrack.

They may have to play a longer game as they build to fighting fitness at a time when other manufacturers — Renault, McLaren and Aston Martin — are doing the same.

Sauber are outliers, with their factory at Hinwil boasting an enviable wind tunnel but far from England's 'Motorsport Valley' where seven of the 10 teams reside along with much of the sport's engineering expertise.

Audi will build the engines in Bavaria and that is familiar territory for Sauber, who entered Formula One in 1993 and whose last stint as a proper works team was with BMW between 2006-2010.

They finished championship runners-up in 2007, thanks to McLaren being stripped of all their points for a spying scandal involving Ferrari data, and were third overall in 2008.

BMW-Sauber also enjoyed a one-two win in Canada in 2008 with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld before the project soured and BMW departed.

After a battle for survival, Sauber were saved with Swedish money and have more recently competed with Ferrari engines as Alfa Romeo in what amounts to a title sponsorship with the Italian Stellantis-owned brand.

"The partnership between Audi AG and Sauber Motorsport is a key step for our team as we continue to make progress towards the front of the grid," said Sauber Motorsport CEO and team principal Frederic Vasseur.

"To become Audi's official works team is not only an honour and a great responsibility: it's the best option for the future and we are fully confident we can help Audi achieve the objectives they have set for their journey in Formula One."

The BMW years resonate in the new Audi partnership, with Audi's current chairman Markus Duesmann working as head of Formula One powertrains at BMW in 2007.

Adam Baker, who is now chief executive of Audi's Formula One project, was a race team engineer at BMW Sauber where in 2007 he also became head of the race and test team for the BMW F1 Powertrain.

Then, as now, Sauber offered the attractive prospect of a ready made team without the hassle and expense of starting from scratch.

If there is unfinished business for some, those in charge will need no reminding of what went wrong last time around and how to manage expectations for a marque with plenty of past success to build on.

Audi won the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race 13 times before leaving in 2017 and the Volkswagen-owned brand has a grand prix pedigree dating back to the pre-World War Two period with predecessor Auto Union.

Formula One will have a new power unit from 2026, with the focus on sustainability and a more cost-efficient future, and that will help Audi get up to speed with other engine manufacturers.

Duesmann has said the plan is to be "very competitive" within three years of entry.


F1: Hamilton off to winning start in Melbourne

                MELBOURNE: Lewis Hamilton's world championship defence got off to a flying start on Sunday with a crushing victory for Mercedes in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as Formula One rivals succumbed to a farcical rash of reliability problems.

Pole-sitter Hamilton started from a grid reduced to 15 cars from a possible 20 and cruised to his 34th race win with a 1.3-second gap to runner-up team mate Nico Rosberg.

With Mercedes enjoying a Sunday stroll, Sebastian Vettel finished third -- 34 seconds behind Hamilton -- on his Ferrari debut after winning a battle for the podium with Williams driver Felipe Massa.

Ferrari's cheer was tempered, however, by two botched tyre changes for Kimi Raikkonen, the second forcing the Finn to retire when fifth late in the race due to his left rear wheel not being properly attached.

Interviewed on the podium by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Hollywood 'Terminator', Hamilton said it was great to be back on top.

"It is an incredible feeling to continue winning," he said.

Max Verstappen's record-setting turn as the youngest ever F1 driver ended on a sour note when the Dutch 17-year-old rolled to a stop near the pit entry after complaining of smoke in the cockpit of his Toro Rosso.

Only 11 cars finished, with both Lotus drivers out before the end of the first lap on an embarrassing day for a series that prides itself on being the pinnacle of motorsport.

McLaren's Kevin Magnussen, standing in for the absent Fernando Alonso, and Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat were unable to start after both suffered failures on their formation laps.

The two Manor Marussia cars were scratched on Saturday after failing to participate in qualifying or any practice sessions, while Williams driver Valtteri Bottas was ruled out of the race with a back injury less than an hour before the start.

After a chaotic start that saw Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado crash into the barrier on turn two after being nudged from behind, Hamilton and Rosberg sped away from the chasing pack.

Opening a 15-second gap to third placed Felipe Massa after the 20th lap, Hamilton successfully kept his team mate Rosberg at arm's length.

Following a week of legal battles, Sauber were buoyed by a fifth place finish for Brazilian rookie Felipe Nasr, gaining their first points since 2013.

It was the best finish by a Sauber rookie, with Nasr's team mate Marcus Ericsson and Red Bull's Carlos Sainz also earning their first points by finishing eighth and ninth respectively.

Local hero Daniel Ricciardo had a terrible start and his Red Bull lacked pace but he battled hard to finish sixth in front of home fans.

It was a dark day for Honda-powered McLaren, however, with Jenson Button finishing last of the 11 cars and lapped twice by Hamilton and the leaders.

Force India driver Sergio Perez had an eventful afternoon, being instructed to drop back two places after over-taking illegally when the safety car was out early.

He then overcame a collision with Button in a battle to avoid the indignity of last place.


Biden tax credits aim to jolt electric delivery truck demand

Rivian trucks purchased by Amazon are pictured charging at the Amazon facility in Poway, California in November. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: The United States will introduce incentives on Jan 1 for delivery firms and other companies to switch to electric trucks as part of a broad push to get polluting, workhorse vehicles off roads and out of neighbourhoods.

The first-of-its-kind incentives, established under President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will offer tax credits of US$7,500 or US$40,000 depending on the size of the electric vehicle (EV).

Delivery companies like FedEx and Amazon.com would qualify at the US$7,500 level for many of their electric trucks.

Those tax credits can be combined with voucher programs in California, New York and other states that are spending billions of dollars to convince companies to switch to zero-emissions vehicles.

The IRA's commercial EV credits do not have "made in the USA" rules that apply to passenger cars.

Why commercial EVs included?

The US transportation sector, which includes large and small trucks, buses and airplanes, accounts for more than one-third of the planet-warming greenhouse gases produced in the United States.

In a year marked by yet more floods, hurricanes and droughts linked to climate change, governments and companies have been forced to look more closely at the financial risks and their exposure to liability.

Incentives should help bring EV sticker prices closer to parity with traditional gas-powered vehicles, experts said.

That will "help level the playing field for electric vehicles," said Ben King, associate director at Rhodium Group, a research firm.

Jim Farley, chief executive at electric van market leader Ford Motor Co, this year predicted that IRA tax credits would have a "dramatic impact on the adoption of EVs."

More commercial EV purchases should lower manufacturing costs and vehicle sticker prices - which should attract even more buyers, experts said.

"We're at a tipping point," said Jim Chen, vice president of public policy at Rivian, which has Amazon-branded EVs rolling on streets in more than 100 US cities.

Amazon said it expects the IRA to "transform our collective approach to reducing carbon emissions across sectors."

"We're already hearing from customers that they're excited about this," said Travis Katz, CEO of General Motors' BrightDrop, which counts FedEx, Walmart and DHL Express Canada as customers.

What hurdles remain?

Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske Truck Leasing, said the EV incentives may prompt purchases by early adopters but they are not enough to lure customers off the sidelines en masse.

That is because they do not close the sticker-price cost gap and can come with onerous rules, he said.

"It still doesn't get them over the goal line," said Rosa.


Toyota and Chubu start battery project

NAGOYA CITY: Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Chubu Electric Power) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that the two companies have concluded a basic agreement with the aim of commencing a verification project that entails construction of a large-capacity storage battery system that re-uses electrified vehicle batteries, as well as examination of the recycling of used batteries.

Toyota is actively promoting the use of electrified vehicles and is also pursuing the effective use of batteries and the development of social infrastructure that will support the widespread adoption of electrified vehicles.

The two companies aim to reuse batteries collected from electrified vehicles manufactured by Toyota as a storage battery system for utilization in meeting various challenges posed by the electric power system.

When combined in large numbers, used batteries, even with reduced performance levels, can be re-purposed for energy supply-demand adjustments, frequency fluctuation management, and voltage fluctuation management in distribution systems, all factors that accompany the widespread introduction of renewable energy.

 Example of using the Storage Battery System to solve challenges in the electric power system. Utilization for energy supply-demand adjustment.

The two companies aim to introduce power generation capacity of approximately 10,000 kW, equivalent to 10,000 batteries, in 2020.

The initial stage will involve nickel-metal hydride batteries, which are currently being used in large quantities, mainly in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).

 Utilization to counter frequency fluctuations.

 Utilization to counter voltage fluctuations in distribution systems.

By around 2030, the plan is to include lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

The two companies will consider establishing a mechanism to recycle reused batteries by collecting materials such as rare-earth metals and re-utilizing them.

 Flow of reusing/recycling.


This is the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces in the world

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently celebrated the largest gathering of Rolls-Royces in the world at the 56th Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours and Rally.

The spectacular setting of Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire, provided the backdrop for a record number of motor cars, with over 1,000 heritage and contemporary Rolls-Royces attending for the first time in the Club’s history.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars honoured the occasion with a record display of seven Goodwood-built Phantoms, Ghosts and Wraiths, including several highly bespoke models.

The cars, hosted by a team of experts from the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, drew large crowds throughout the three-day event, with the passion for the brand, particularly for the contemporary models, evident amongst fans, enthusiasts and owners alike.

An increasing number of enthusiasts are choosing to purchase a Goodwood-built Rolls-Royce to complement their heritage collections, either commissioning a new car or purchasing through the company’s Provenance Programme.

This is reflected by the recent launch of the ‘Goodwood Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Register’, which is now one of the fastest-growing sections of the Club.

The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club caters for anyone with an interest in the products of Rolls-Royce.

From just eleven people at the inaugural meeting in 1957, the membership is now approaching 10,000, making it the largest club of its kind in the world.

Membership is open to owners and non-owners alike and members are drawn from all walks of life and from most countries of the world.

“The Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club is a vital custodian of our marque’s remarkable history. Events such as the Annual Concours and Rally serve to give the wider public close access to some of the most important and rare motor cars in automotive history,” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive officer Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes

For more details log on to www.rrec.org.uk.


Giulia GTA: Return of an Alfa Romeo legend

                URIN: Alfa Romeo is bringing back a legend its history: Giulia GTA.

The new Giulia GTA is inspired by its 1965 namesake, the ‘Gran Turismo Alleggerita’, developed by Autodelta and based on the Giulia Sprint GT. Alleggerita is Italian for “lightened”.

The new 4-seat GTA is based on the Giulia Quadrifoglio and is fitted with a more powerful version of the Alfa Romeo 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo engine, now with 540hp.

Extensive use of ultra-light materials gives a weight saving of 100kg compared to the Giulia Quadrifoglio, giving it a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 2.82 kg/hp

A GTAm variant will also be available, a version of the GTA with two racing seats, roll-bar and six-point seat belts.

Only 500 units of the Giulia GTA and GTAm will be available.

On the Giulia GTA, the Alfa Romeo engineers have worked to improve the aerodynamics and handling as well as to reduce the weight.

The active aerodynamics were specifically increased the downforce. These solutions contain technical know-how that comes directly from Formula 1, thanks to the synergy with Sauber Engineering and the use of the Sauber Aerokit. The same task is assigned to the side skirts, the specific rear spoiler and the active front splitter.

The titanium Akrapovič central exhaust system, integrated in the carbon fibre rear diffuser, is also new, as are the 20-inch centre lock wheels. Handling at high speeds has been improved by widening the front and rear wheel tracks by 50mm and developing a new set of springs, shock absorbers and bushings for the suspension systems.

On the GTAm, the aerodynamic front has been optimised by adding a larger front splitter and a real carbon-fibre rear wing, which ensure a perfectly balanced load at high speeds.

In terms of performance, the Alfa Romeo 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo engine, made entirely of aluminium and capable of unleashing no less than 510hp in the standard configuration, reaches an output of 540hp in the Giulia GTA.

A new Akrapovič central exhaust system, in titanium and gives the car an unmistakable sound.

An Alcantara trimmed dashboard, door panels, glove compartment, side pillars and the central trim on the seats, characterise the interior.

Alcantara is used even more extensively in the GTAm version, where the rear bench has been removed, leaving room for a fully upholstered ‘basin’, with specific mouldings designed to hold helmets and a fire extinguisher.

The new matt carbon-fibre inserts give the interior a distinctive technical and aesthetic elegance. In the new GTAm, the interior is unique in that it features a roll-bar, no door panels or rear seats and the door is opened with a belt in place of the handle, another touch inspired by the racing world.

The car has been lightened by 100kg. To achieve this the GTA uses lightweight materials such as carbon fibre for the drive shaft, bonnet, roof, front bumper, front wheel arches and rear wheel arch inserts and the shell of the sports seats with six-point Sabelt seat belts in the GTAm. Aluminium has been used in the engine, doors and suspension systems and various other composite materials have been used throughout.

In the GTAm, Lexan – a unique polycarbonate resin which comes straight from the world of motorsport – has been used in the side and rear window frames, further contributing to the weight reduction.

The result is a weight of around 1,520kg which, combined with the increase in output to 540hp, brings the power-to-weight ratio to 2.82 kg/hp, making the Giulia GTAm capable of delivering extraordinary performance.

Its acceleration from zero to 100kph, with the Launch Control system, is just 3.6 seconds. The Giulia GTAm is a two-seater configuration that is road legal, with front splitter and larger visible rear wing in carbon.

In the GTA trim, with the same output, the Giulia offers four seats, no rear roll-bar, a spoiler and splitter optimised for daily use and the same door panels, seats and windows as those of the Giulia Quadrifoglio. The result is akin to a supercar for everyday use.


Musk says Tesla's self-driving software update 'not great'

A Tesla Model S is shown in Autopilot mode in San Francisco. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc's chief executive Elon Musk said the electric-car maker was working on improving the much-awaited update to its self-driving software "as fast as possible."

The billionaire entrepreneur tweeted on Monday that the Full Self-Driving Beta version 9.2 is "actually not great imo (in my opinion), but Autopilot/AI team is rallying to improve as fast as possible."

"We're trying to have a single stack for both highway & city streets, but it requires massive NN (neural network) retraining."

Tesla had recently come under the scrutiny of US safety regulators, who opened an investigation into its driver assistant system because of accidents where its cars crashed into stationary police cars and fire trucks.

Two US senators also called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Tesla, saying it misled consumers and endangered the public by marketing its driving automation systems as fully self-driving.


ICS system effective in reducing accidents when reversing, says Toyota

                NAGOYA: Toyota's latest Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) has managed to reduce accidents involving pedal misapplication and reversing by 70% and 40% respectively.

The Japanese carmaker's ICS system helps to prevent or mitigate collision damage while in parking spaces, especially while reversing, and concluded its analysis of an 18-month survey from January 2015 to June 2016.

A clearance sonar is used by the ICS to detect obstacles during a sudden start caused by pedal misapplication, which helps to mitigate damages from a collision.

The survey involved three of its models (Alphard, Vellfire and Prius - previously launched in 2015), which were equipped with the system included additional sensors with increased detection range and an improved software.

With the improvements, it was found that the ICS was able to reduce collision damage caused by pedal misapplication as well as help to avoid collisions with adjacent vehicles and obstacles.

The system was was also able to mitigate damage when moving at low speeds within a parking lot or pulling into a parking space even without pedal misapplication.


E-hailing drivers association cries foul after Grab misses refund date for extra charges

                PETALING JAYA: Grab drivers are crying foul over the company's alleged failure to refund the additional 5% commission and service fee charges on Monday, as promised.

Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) president Daryl Chong said the company had issued a statement on July 28 that they would refund the drivers on Monday.

"Since then, it has been more than 48 hours, and drivers have yet to receive the 5% refund promised by Grab, " he said in a statement today.

Chong called on the Transport Ministry to look into the matter and take immediate action.

Earlier, The Transport Ministry had issued a directive not to charge commission or service fees exceeding 20%, in addition to the fare from July 12.

Chong noted that Transport Minister Anthony Loke had warned e-hailing operators not to flout the 20% cap on commission ruling.

"Grab, however, decided to continue charging its 'Manual-Accept' drivers 25% commission and service fee from July 12 to July 28.

"The company made a statement via their driver app on July 28 that the extra 5% will be refunded to the drivers on Monday.

"The announcement was also highlighted in The Star on July 29, " he noted.


Proton produces face shields for frontliners

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton has started producing face shields for medical frontliners as the company reinforces its commitment to help fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Malaysia.

The first batch of 8,000 units has been shipped today to hospitals in Kelantan followed by other East coast states.

The local carmaker's employees are in a joint effort against the spread of the virus.

Proton's plant in Shah Alam has come back to some life after it shut operations, since March 18 in compliance with the movement control order (MCO), to produce the face shields.

The process began with designing and testing prototypes and getting feedback from end-users to ensure the final product is capable of meeting their needs.

Meanwhile, the project team planned for a production line that was both safe and efficient to meet with the Covid-19 health guidelines.

About 50 people, picked from a pool of volunteers, now work on an assembly line to measure and cut the various components required before assembly takes place, which can be up to 3,000 units per day.

The company is expected to take 20 days to produce the 60,000 units it has committed to deliver.

While Proton is responsible for the assembly and distribution of the face shields, it has also received numerous contributions from its vendors.

One such contributor is Pos Logistics Sdn Bhd - one of the largest logistics service providers in Malaysia which contributed over 2,000 large carton boxes that will be used to pack the face shields and subsequently for transportation.

Automotive component supplier, Hicom-Teck See Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn Bhd, contributed 1,500kg of polypropylene - one of the main components used to produce car bumpers, which will be used to produce the frame of the face shields.

The original design for the face shield was contributed by Universiti Teknologi Mara.

The Proton Design team then developed the frame based on feedback from end-users and also added the slogan "STAY STRONG! We will get through this!".

“Proton is humbled by the response received both internally and outside of the company to our face shield project. The number of staff volunteering their services was overwhelming, despite the inherent risks involved in leaving home and coming to work. Therefore, we have taken steps to ensure everybody is kept safe by providing PPEs and maintaining a minimum distance between each work station," said Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed.


Mazda CX-5 ends up upside down after trip to car wash

                PETALING JAYA: Sending your car for a wash should not be a traumatic experience but for one woman, it turned out to be a nightmarish moment she will never forget.

She left her Mazda CX-5 at the car wash and went for breakfast on Monday. She returned to find out that her red SUV had turned turtle.

She later found out that a car wash employee had driven her car, which hit another car. It then sped across the road to crash into a second car. The impact caused the CX-5 to overturn.

A video of the accident in Kajang, Selangor, showing the overturned SUV has gone viral.

The unnamed driver had bought the RM130,000 SUV only a year ago.


BMW's all-new 7 Series limo goes electric and packs tons of tech

                MUNICH: The BMW 7 Series has been given a complete makeover for the 2023 model year and the Munich marque's flagship limousine is set to be even plushier and more technologically advanced than any of its predecessors.

The world premiere of the new 7 Series is set for April 20 and the car will go on sale on shortly before the end of the year, BMW said during a test drive event in Munich.

Technical details are still sketchy but the big news is that the 7 Series will be available for the first time as an all-electric car or with a powerful combustion engine. For those who like the best of both worlds, there is a plug-in hybrid too.

Unlike rival Mercedes-Benz, which offers the conventional S-class and the electric EQS alongside each other, BMW is fielding a common limousine with different drive trains.

Among the technical details already revealed is that the i7 electric car will have all-wheel drive with twin motors giving a combined output of 404 kW/550hp. The beefy battery has more than 100 kWh for a range of over 600km.

Charging will take place with up to 200kW, so that within 10 minutes enough electrons will flow to power the car for a good 100km.

Other standard features include 21-inch wheels, air suspension, and rear-axle steering.

The manufacturer has been cagey about pricing but expect to pay six figures for even the entry model.

The Bavarians also want to scrap the previous standard version and offer the luxury saloon in long wheelbase form only. To that end the new 7 Series has been stretched to just under 5.40 metres.

Several versions of the plug-in hybrid model are expected to have an electric range of around 100km. For petrol-heads there will be various six and eight cylinder petrol engines although these will not be offered in all markets.

The interior is a celebration of digitalisation, with a large digital gauge display offering crisp resolution and quick responses.

An optional rear-seat entertainment system will be available and it features a giant 31-inch display that comes down from the ceiling of the car. Thanks to onboard 5G connections, rear-seat riders can stream Netflix films and browse the web while on the move.


Snow drifting the Lamborghini Huracan Performante

LIVIGNO (Italy): Watching a Lamborghini Huracan Performante drifting in the snow is one of the best cures for boredom.

Youtuber NM2255 Car HD Videos uploaded the video showing off the LP640-4 tackling the snow at the Italian ski-resort during Lamborghini's 2018 Winter Academia.

The Academia hosted Lamborghini owners in a 12-hour course with professional racing instructors who taught them how to go sideways and even, do donuts in the snow. What fun!

Compared to the standard Huracan, the Performante is lighter and the engine makes 29 more horsepower for a total of 631hp at 8000rpm.

In fact, the Performante established a new production-car record of 6 minutes, 52.1 seconds at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.


Conversations with Jenson Button

                CarSifu had a rare opportunity to meet with a McLaren-Honda Formula One (F1) Team driver from England, who stands at around 181cm tall, weighs a modest 70kg, still has his boyish good looks at 36 years old, became a world championship in 2009 and has a fixation on competing in triathlons. It’s none other than one Jenson Button.

The slender man appeared magnanimous with his comedic personality prior to the interview as we exchanged a few jokes before hand.

His smile says it all, showcasing a level of confidence above all that says he’s feeling like a million dollars (although he’s worth much more than that), but ultimately he looked ready to take on the tough weekend ahead of him as he lines up on the grid for the 300th time.

But with Button’s recent announcement that he’ll be taking a year off from the sport next year (2017) and the end of the F1 season closing in by the end of November, we can only imagine the real excitement deep within him.

What’s going to happen next year?
Well, I won’t be racing next year and my aim was to have a year out of the sport. I might still be at a couple of races or doing stuff on the simulator. Whatever it is, I’m always there to help develop the car and the team as a whole, but I’ll mainly be away having fun, living my life by my schedule and training hard.

What’s the first thing you’re going to do once the season ends?
I’m definitely going to spend time with my family and that includes my friends. I spend so much time away from home, I probably get to see them five or six times a year and four of those times are at races. But I’m not the same person when I’m at a race because I’ll be very focused - in a way selfish. Last year was the first time in five years I got to spend Christmas with them so it’ll be quite nice to spend my time with them next year.

With more time on your hands, what are your plans?
I would definitely be looking for my next race in a triathlon, I really love the sport. For me it’s something I’ve done for the last eight years and it was something that I could really sink my teeth into by training for and be competitive in. So the aim for next year will be to up my game and qualify for the world championships, which I’ve done a couple of times, but this time I can hopefully get to go as well.

What about racing on your free time?
I might also still go racing, I’m not too sure just yet. Maybe in rally cross, Super GT or even karting, but whatever the case may be, I’ll only do it if I think its going to be fun.

What’s your fixation on competing in a triathlon?
It’s mentally very tough. It’s not just a physical thing and I think it prepared my very well for Formula One. It also took my mind off the bad races I had previously. But more importantly it’s the competition. People always say beating your own time is the most important thing, but for me it’s not. It’s beating everyone else (laughter).

Which part of competing in a triathlon do you enjoy the most?
It changes all the time, but the bit I enjoy the most would be cycling and I’ve trained a lot with other racing drivers, MotoGP riders, pro-cyclists in Monaco where I live, like Alex Wurz for instance. It’s a good group of people with lots of stories that we have of each other and it also keeps you fit at the same time.

And just like that our ten minutes was up with the Briton, who went on to finish the 2016 Formula 1 Malaysia Grand Prix in ninth position collecting two points, while his team mate Fernando Alonso managed to secure seventh, adding six points to the tally.

Button currently holds 15 points, placing him in 15th place within the driver’s standings, while the team resides in sixth place within the constructors’ championship with 62 points.


Govt to seek public understanding on fuel price float

                PUTRAJAYA: There will be more engagements with the public to make them better understand what happens when fuel prices are floated next month, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants the ministry to explain to the people on this so that they could have a clear perspective on the matter,” he said.

Among others, the people should be made aware that some sectors in society will be paying less than the pump price because they receive financial aid.

“We are estimating about eight million people from the B40 and M40 groups to be given the subsidy,” Saifuddin told reporters after attending the ministry’s monthly assembly.

The new petrol subsidy scheme, which will take effect in January, will float the price of RON95 petrol and see eligible recipients receiving between RM48 (motorcycle owners) and RM120 (car owners) every four months.

The targeted subsidy scheme will only be given to car and motorcycle owners based in Peninsular Malaysia who are recipients of Bantuan Sara Hidup (living allowance aid).

For Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, there will be no subsidy scheme but the price of RON95 in the two states and the Federal Territory will be capped at RM2.08.

Saifuddin said the Prime Minister also wanted the ministry to closely monitor the current prices of

goods, especially essential items, so that traders would not simply use fuel prices as an excuse to hike prices.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/12/10/govt-to-engage-public-on-floating-of-fuel-prices#FRmk7IXehHDogEYR.99


Knee airbags don't work, say US safety experts

                WASHINGTON: Airbags are essential, lifesaving devices that have prevented tens of thousands of deaths. More airbags, one might assume, would provide even greater protection.

That isn’t always the case, a recent IIHS study shows. One increasingly common type of airbag — the knee airbag — has a negligible effect on injury risk and, in fact, may even increase it in some cases, researchers found.

Knee airbags usually deploy from the lower dashboard and are intended to distribute impact forces to reduce leg injuries. They may also help reduce forces on an occupant's chest and abdomen by controlling lower body movement.

To find out if knee airbags improve safety, IIHS researchers examined both crash test data and information from real-world crash reports.

For the first part, they looked at injury measures from more than 400 frontal crash tests conducted as part of the IIHS vehicle ratings program to see if injuries were less likely when vehicles were equipped with knee airbags.

To look at real-world outcomes, they compiled crash reports from 14 states and compared injury risk in vehicles with knee airbags with risk in vehicles without knee airbags.

Knee airbags had only a small effect on injury measures recorded by dummies in IIHS driver-side small overlap front and moderate overlap front crash tests. In the small overlap test, knee airbags were associated with increased injury risk for lower leg injuries and right femur injuries, though head injury risk was slightly reduced. The airbags had no effect on injury measures in the moderate overlap test.

In the analysis of real-world crashes, knee airbags reduced overall injury risk by half a percentage point, from 7.9 percent to 7.4 percent, but this result wasn’t statistically significant.

“There are many different design strategies for protecting against the kind of leg and foot injuries that knee airbags are meant to address,” says Becky Mueller, an IIHS senior research engineer and co-author of the paper. “Other options may be just as, if not more, effective.”

One reason some manufacturers have been installing knee airbags is to help vehicles pass federally mandated tests with unbelted dummies. It’s possible that knee airbags would help unbelted occupants in real-world crashes.

The IIHS study didn’t look specifically at crashes in which people weren’t using seat belts, and dummies are always belted in IIHS vehicle ratings tests.


Swipe, steer, click: Are steering wheels getting too complicated?

                BERLIN: Indicate, turn on windscreen wipers, beep: Most steering wheels do more than just setting the direction of the car.

But with as many as 36 functions on some Mercedes steering wheels, this part of the car has grown particularly complex in recent years.

Without taking your hands off the wheel, you can now turn down the volume, skip to the next track, answer a call and then ask for driving assistance.

But car companies aren't stopping there, and Mercedes has also furnished these high-tech wheels with touchscreen buttons, allowing you to swipe through a menu shown in the car's cockpit.

The 10x10 mm surface lets you access a central media display, which, when used alongside its voice control function, means you can drive the car while almost never lifting your hand off the steering wheel.

Function overload

"We don't want to overload the steering wheel, which is why, in the future, we probably won't add any new switches or functions to it. The driver shouldn't be distracted from driving," says Mercedes engineer Marcus Fiege.

Engineers fear adding more functions could overload the steering wheel and make drivers struggle to do basic tasks without making mistakes.

Their goal is, instead, to enable barrier-free operations for all drivers, including those who can't or don't want to speak. This is why future steering wheels will include touchscreens with sensors built in to detect where it is drivers place their hands, so as to ensure a safer driving experience.

Expect more lights

Engineers at German car parts maker ZF recently demonstrated how they envisioned the future of steering wheels. Their steering wheel concept is still round, but also boasts a wide screen and lights at the rim.

"You’ll find this steering wheel in automated cars in around five years time," says ZF developer Marc Schledorn. It lights up in red, yellow and blue around the rim, offering the driver visual prompts.

An airbag is installed behind the display pad, and is still able to inflate from that spot in the event of an impact.

The steering wheel of all level-three automated vehicles must be within reach of the driver at all times, meaning it cannot disappear behind the dashboard.

Schledorn explains that future steering wheels will be able to retract slightly, giving the driver more space.

With steer-by-wire technology, the steering commands would no longer be transmitted mechanically, but electrically.

"This way, the movement of the steering wheel can be decoupled from the wheels during automated driving, so that the steering wheel no longer turns at the same time," says Schledorn.

Health-sensing steering wheels

ZF are also planning to add more sensors to their steering wheels. One would be installed to allow the car to know whether the driver has their hands on the wheel.

Another would monitor the driver's vital functions, enabling the car to measure the driver's heart rate during the drive.

At Volkswagen, future steering wheels will feature a new control panel on both sides that offer sensitive operation and haptic feedback, control technologies which will soon appear in the ID3 electric car and later in other models.

In its latest models, sensors in the steering wheel can check whether or not the driver is touching the steering wheel.

"With hands-off detection technology, we ensure that the driver keeps their hands on the steering wheel, even in semi-autonomous mode," says VW developer Roland Otte. If the driver does not touch the steering wheel for more than about ten seconds, a series of warnings will alert them.

No steering wheel display for VW

While other manufacturers appear keen to pack new functions onto the wheel, VW is still sceptical about this trend.

At present, VW engineers see no advantages in having a monitor in the middle of the steering wheel.

"The driver would struggle to focus on it, as your eyes would have to switch quickly from far to near vision. That's only a strain," says Otte, added that integrating an airbag is very tricky.

"Volkswagen would rather cut down on the number of control functions featured on the steering wheel so as to make driving simpler. To this end, its vehicles will rely more on gesture and voice control," says VW developer Pedro Almeida.

Voice control will be better and more intelligent, he say, so that it can more readily and safely help the driver.


BMW does a 'Waltz' for 2021 Christmas flick

                MUNICH: BMW has roped in actor Christoph Waltz to star in a short Christmas film.

In the BMW film, the Academy Award winner meets two old acquaintances: Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and the BMW iX.

They are supported by Alex Hirschi, known as Supercar Blondie, star designer Alexa Chung and Kai Langer, Head of Design BMW i who also appear in the clip.

Waltz's partnership with the BMW Group was started by Zipse.

The company works with pioneers from ecology, social sciences, fashion, sports, music, film and other cultural disciplines. The goal is to create a deeper understanding of the needs, desires and trends of the future.

Zipse invited Waltz to speak with designers, technology developers and strategy experts from the BMW Group.

The clip weaves in a cat-and-mouse game into a Christmas setting.

The BMW Christmas film wouldn't be a real Christmas film without a happy ending. How the story ends is revealed at the end of the clip.

One giveaway: It's also about an Aventurine Red BMW iX that leaves nothing to be desired.


Future Hyundai and Kia EVs will allow performance tuning from smartphone

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group has announced that future Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles will feature technology which allows drivers to adjust seven major performance features through smartphones.

The industry-first innovation allows drivers to adjust maximum torque output, ignition, acceleration and deceleration abilities, regenerative braking capacity, maximum speed limit, responsiveness, and energy use on climate control.

As electric vehicles continually expand their market share, especially in rental or car-sharing industries, the new technology will allow drivers to use their custom settings in whichever electric vehicle they drive by downloading their profile from the server.

The application provides optimised settings for a designated destination by analysing the remaining distance and electric energy requirement. It can also accommodate sportier driving by recommending tailored performance settings.

Beyond the driver’s seat, users can share their customisation settings online as well as try out other users’ custom settings. Customers can also apply recommended settings by the brands based on the condition of roads, from country roads to the city centre or mountain ranges.

Hyundai will use blockchain technology to prevent security issues while users upload and share their custom settings on the server.

In the process of uploading and sharing custom settings, the system encrypts major performance parameters in a blockchain network by creating new data blocks and stores them in the distributed data storage system to block unauthorised manipulation.

Hyundai's "smartphone vehicle pairing-based performance adjustment technology" is possible due to electric vehicles’ distinctive properties which set them apart from combustion engine vehicles.

Zero-emission vehicles offer unique freedom to modify the drive experience because altering performance doesn’t change the carbon footprint. As such, electric vehicles provide drivers more leeway in applying such technology.

“As Hyundai Motor Group is planning to deploy 44 eco-friendly models by 2025, including 23 electric vehicles, we see the potential of technologies and services inherent in non-combustion vehicles,” said research fellow JeongSoo Eo from Hyundai Motor Group.

“By developing paradigm-shifting mobility technology like this one, we will continue to strive to improve user experience for electric vehicles customised to individual preferences.”


BMW M2 takes on BMW two-wheelers

                PETALING JAYA: Line up a powerful bike against a BMW M2, and it's a no-brainer which is going to win.

The superior power-to-weight ratio of the bike is going to make mincemeat of the car. But how about if you narrow the unfair advantage by using a heavier bike PLUS a full-grown pillion rider on board?

This video from carwow shows a BMW M2 racing against the BMW S1000 RR first followed by the K1600 with two onboard.

Just so you know the key figures to note are as listed: the M2 with power-to-weight ratio of 229hp/tonne is going up against the S1000 RR with 990hp/tonne and the K1600 with 454hp/tonne.

Find out what happens at the end and draw your own conclusions.


Bentley appoints Robin Page as new design director

                LONDON: Bentley Motors has announced the appointment of Robin Page as the new design director, starting Sept 1.

Page has over 30 years’ experience in automotive design, most recently holding a number of roles in the Volvo Car Group. This included Volvo Head of Global Design and UX where he was instrumental in creating the design language for Volvo’s electric future.

Before his time at Volvo, Page was Head of Interior Design for Bentley between 2001 and 2013, where achievements included the interior design for the iconic first generation Continental GT, the pinnacle of luxury, Bentley Mulsanne, and the State Limousine for the royal monarch.

Page will report directly to Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s chairman and CEO.

Working at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, UK, Page will lead a team of 50 design experts with responsibility for the exterior, interior and colour and trim design for the full current and future Bentley product portfolio, concept and showcars.

Page succeeds Tobias Sühlmann who leaves the luxury marque to pursue other opportunities.


Who could resist this stylish electric microcar?

                PARIS: The Microlino, a modern and electric version of the Isetta — the legendary microcar that caused a sensation throughout Europe in the 1950s — stands out thanks to its ultra-compact dimensions and sleek retro styling.

One of a kind, this compact electric vehicle is now finally available for pre-order after years in the pipeline.

The Microlino is a 2.52-metre-long microcar that's smaller than a Smart EQ fortwo and not much bigger than a Citroën Ami.

It is the work of a Swiss start-up called Swiss Micro Mobility Systems, a specialist in electric kick scooters that presented a first concept version of the car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.

Six years later, production of the Microlino is finally launched, and the first models should be delivered this summer in Switzerland.

This 100% electric two-seater microcar has a 12.5 kW (17 hp) engine and a top speed of 90 km/h. It comes with one of three different Lithium-ion battery options, ranging from 6 to 14 kWh, and delivering an estimated range of 91 to 230 km. In all cases, it can be fully charged in four hours.

The vehicle is available to pre-order from €12,500 (RM59,000).

Note that an initial limited edition of 999 vehicles is reserved for the very first buyers, who signed up several years ago.

These all come with a sunroof, a high-end plant-based leather and suede interior, and Bluetooth speakers.

For everyone else, three editions are planned (Urban, Dolce and Competizione) and an online configuration tool will allow buyers to customise their model before placing an order.


LG partners with Microsoft to enhance vehicle tech

                LAS VEGAS: LG Electronics (LG) and Microsoft entered into a memorandum of understanding to enhance and further grow LG’s autonomous vehicle and infotainment system business.

Under the terms of the partnership, LG will accelerate the transformation of its existing digital platform for the vehicle industry, seen as key growth engines for the company, by leveraging Microsoft’s Azure cloud and artificial intelligence technologies along with LG’s future self-driving software.

LG will apply Microsoft’s AI knowhow to its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Driver-Status Monitoring Camera (DSM) and Multi-Purpose Front Camera products and incorporate Microsoft’s virtual assistant solution in LG’s infotainment systems.

And with Azure Data Box service, data captured on the road can be uploaded automatically to create a library that helps the self-driving software grow even smarter.

In addition, LG plans to build innovative digital development and testing grounds employing state-of-the-art technology. High performance computing (HPC) and graphics processing unit (GPU) supported by Microsoft Azure will drastically reduce the time required for LG AI self-driving software to learn and evolve.

Road and traffic patterns in cities that would normally require more than a full day for self-driving systems to comprehend would take only minutes with Azure.

And Azure can help AI self-driving software learn diverse patterns displayed by drivers as well as recognize and distinguish between pedestrians and other objects.

By embedding AI self-driving software enhanced by Azure within the ADAS, performance of the DSM and Multi-Purpose Front Camera can be dramatically improved.

In addition to its ability to train AI self-driving software, Azure also features a voice-enabled virtual assistant solution. With help from Azure, LG’s vehicle infotainment system will allow drivers to easily and quickly check traffic conditions on the road, search for nearby restaurants, call up favorite songs and more.

“Our expectation is that the combination of Microsoft’s advanced cloud infrastructure with LG’s fast-growing automotive components business will accelerate the self-driving auto industry as a whole,” said Kim Jin-yong, president of LG’s Vehicle Component Solutions Company. “We’re confident that the combination of Microsoft and LG technologies will create a new benchmark in autonomous auto AI.”

“Together LG and Microsoft can help shape the future of transportation,” said Sanjay Ravi, general manager, automotive industry at Microsoft. “Working together, we can empower automakers to deliver differentiated mobility experiences, create new services and revenue opportunities, and to build safer, more intelligent and more sustainable vehicles.”


Audi plans three electric car models by 2020, says paper

                INGOLSTADT: Audi aims to have three electric car models by 2020 and for electric vehicles to account for 25 to 30 percent of its sales by 2025, chief executive Rupert Stadler told a German newspaper.

Audi's electric cars push, reported by Reuters earlier this week, is part of a strategic overhaul following the emissions scandal at parent Volkswagen.

Under the plan, which Stadler presented to Audi managers this week, the group will focus more resources on electric cars, digital services and autonomous driving.

Stadler told daily Heilbronner Stimme in an interview published on Saturday that Audi's offering of electric cars would also include small vehicles in the A-segment.

The company also plans to set up a subsidiary, to be called SDS Company, to develop an autonomous car.

"This is about a robot car that may not even need a steering wheel or pedals, so it's ideal for urban traffic," he said, adding Audi was still looking for joint venture partners who would help with the technology.

In return for stepping up its focus on electric vehicles, autonomous driving and digital services, Audi will seek to reduce complexity in other areas, Stadler said.

"We have discussed what would happen if we dropped the two-door version of the A3. I think we would barely lose any customers. We'd rather invest the money that is freed up in new models and other derivatives," Stadler said.

A company source said management would also reduce orders assigned to external development service providers and shift funds from that area towards electric cars, autonomous driving and digitalisation.

Weekly magazine Automobilwoche had earlier reported that Audi was cutting budgets for external projects.

In addition, CEO Stadler said fuel cell cars were a "must", though he said he could not yet say how large demand would be.

"That is less a question of technology, we are already quite good at that. It's rather going to be a question of infrastructure," he said.

Audi's technical development chief Stefan Knirsch told Stuttgarter Zeitung in a separate interview published on Saturday that he expected Audi would not start serial production of a fuel cell car before 2020 because of the lack of charging stations.


Electric vehicle industry prizes steel over aluminum, says US steel supplier

                NEW YORK: Electric-vehicle makers are choosing steel over aluminum as the preferred metal for automotive bodies, says the top executive at the largest steel provider to the US car industry.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. chief executive Lourenco Goncalves said EV companies are going "all-in” on steel as they build out plans for the transition away from combustion-engine vehicles.

The comment is significant given Cliffs’ visibility in the auto market, where the company supplies steel to automotive giants such as General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz AG.

Goncalves’s remarks came during a wide-ranging discussion at a steel conference in Atlanta. The CEO also spoke about upcoming labour negotiations with the United Steelworkers.

Goncalves said he doesn’t see any difference of opinion with USW officials and expects they’ll avoid a strike and get a deal done.


MINI USA drops Super Bowl campaign video

                NEW YORK: BMW's iconic small car marque MINI is readying a push for the big time with an all-star ad challenging viewers to defy labels previously associated with the compact runabout.

Sports stars Serena Williams, Abby Wambach, Randy Johnson and Tony Hawk are joined by Hollywood film actor Harvey Keitel, musician T-Pain, budding race car driver Michai Stephens, and gentle giant Michael Whinnet in the 30-second commercial.

Each describes the car in terms that may or may not be familiar.

Another eight clips are made available on MINI USA's YouTube channel, in which each participant talks about the labels that have been applied to them, rightly or wrongly, and the aspects of themselves they see in the MINI Clubman.

"This idea is about fighting stereotypes about the car, but also stereotypes and labels in general," said the ad's Creative Director, Mark Krajan, in a behind-the-scenes video.


Dutch to cut speed limits to reduce emissions

Rutte says the lowered speed limit was necessary 'to stop the Netherlands from coming to a halt'. — AFP
AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands will cut daytime speed limits on motorways to 100kph to deal with a pollution crisis that has sparked protests by farmers, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday.

The government is grappling with how to reduce emissions of nitrogen and ammonia after a court ruled earlier this year that its current policies breach European Union rules.

The new speed limit, expected to be introduced in 2020, will be the joint lowest in Europe along with Cyprus. Cars will be allowed to drive at the current limit of 130 kph only at night, between 1900 and 0600.

"No one likes this," Rutte told a press conference, saying it was a "rotten measure".

But he said it was needed "to stop the Netherlands from coming to a halt".

In May, a Dutch court ruled that the government was breaching EU rules to protect nature reserves from gases such as ammonia and nitrous oxide.

Major building projects for roads and airports have been put on hold in the eurozone's fifth biggest economy as the government seeks ways to meet the court order.

It has also brought in changes to farmers' working methods, for example for animal feed - sparking huge protests involving thousands of tractors, one of which caused the country's biggest ever traffic jam.

The new speed limit is partly designed to show the farmers that other parts of society must also take some of the pain of dealing with the crisis, Dutch media said.

The speed limit cut was opposed by Rutte's centre-right VVD party - which was dubbed the "Vroom-vroom" party after it successfully campaigned to have the national limit raised to 130 kph in 2012.

But Rutte compromised with more environmentally-minded parties in order to preserve his fragile ruling coalition.


Nissan Serena e-POWER goes on sale in Japan

                YOKOHAMA: The Nissan Serena e-POWER will go on sale in Japan today, touting driving performance of the e-POWER electrified powertrain with the family-friendly features of the Serena MPV.

The two-wheel drive vehicle is available in four trims with prices starting from 2.9 million yen (around RM110,000).

The Serena will be the second model with the e-POWER system, which has been a hit with consumers since it was first introduced in the Note in Japan in 2016.

Nissan plans to launch more e-POWER models globally as part of its Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision for changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society. Nissan says the Serena e-POWER is both fun and comfortable to drive. The 100% electric motor drive system treats drivers to powerful acceleration, and the vehicle’s e-POWER Drive mode adds the convenience of being able to speed up or decelerate by using only the accelerator pedal.

The e-POWER system – which includes a small petrol engine that charges the battery – ensures high fuel economy at 26.2 km/l (JC08 standard).

￼￼￼First introduced in 1991, the Serena has evolved over the years. The Serena e-POWER marks a major technological update, with the addition of e-POWER, e-POWER Drive mode and other features such as Manner Mode – which enables the vehicle to drive quietly at night by limiting the use of the petrol engine that charges the battery.

Drivers can access the Manner Mode by using the vehicle’s Charge Mode to charge the battery in advance.

The MPV also comes with safety features such as ProPILOT autonomous driving technology for single-lane driving on highways.

With additional equipment including Intelligent Emergency Braking, Lane-Departure Warning System, High Beam Adjust and Emergency Assist for Missed Pedal Application (optional), Nissan claims the vehicle Serena abides by Japan’s highest safety standards.


New Michelin racing tyre contains 46% recycled materials

                KUALA LUMPUR: Michelin has unveiled a racing tyre containing 46% sustainable materials that it claimed would still deliver superior on-track performance.

It is being tested with the GreenGT Mission H24 hydrogen-powered prototype developed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

According to Michelin, the high content of sustainable materials in the tyre was made possible by increasing the tyre’s natural rubber content and using recycled carbon black recovered from end-of-life tyres.

Other bio-sourced or recycled sustainable materials used in the tyre include everyday items such as orange and lemon rind, sunflower oil, pine resin and recycled steel from aluminum cans.

Michelin unveiled the motorsports tyre at the 2021 Movin’On global sustainable mobility summit, held from June 1-4. The summit was organised in a hybrid format blending physical locations - Singapore, Paris and Montreal - with digital presence. Michelin is a co-organiser of the summit.

The tyre maker said it aims to use 100% sustainable materials in all its tyres by 2050. This commitment will reach an initial milestone in 2030, with a group-wide target of having 40% sustainable materials in its tyres.


Designworks helps prepare e-mobility for long distance travel

                MUNICH: Designworks has been commissioned by Ionity, to help design a European high-power-charging (HPC) network for electric vehicles.

Ionity is a joint venture (JV) between BMW Group, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen AG - each with an equal share in the business and welcomes further partners interested in expanding the network over the medium to long term to pursue the objective of making e-mobility ready for long-distance travel.

From June 11 to 15, Ionity and Designworks will jointly present the design of the new charging poles at CEBIT, Europe’s Business Festival for Innovation and Digitization.

Designworks has been briefed by Ionity to design the charging station architecture, the charger pylons, and the digital interaction concept.

The designers’ commission consists of furnishing the JV with a recognisable, welcoming and leading-edge visual identity in Europe, whilst significantly improving the electric charging experience.

The goal is to dispel concerns about range and make e-mobility more attractive for long-distance travel.

"For selection of the design partner, our criteria included a comprehensive understanding of future mobility as well as experience outside of the automotive industry, competence in both analogue and digital interfaces, pronounced intercultural expertise, and the ability to develop concepts with a view to future contexts," said IONITY CEO Michael Hajesch.

"In creating the first Pan-European HPC network, we are looking to give electro-mobility a boost toward a breakthrough in Europe. Design, with the tremendous potential it has to reach people and influence them in a positive manner, is a key factor for us here," he added.

Using Ionity’s corporate identity and the core issues of e-mobility as a starting point, the design team developed an independent aesthetic vocabulary intended to establish IONITY's fast-charging stations as beacons along Europe’s principal transport routes.

In alignment with the spirit of e-mobility, the charging station-architecture transmits a sense of space that is open, light, clear, and user-friendly.

The design must be highly inviting in character with the essence of hospitality integrated into an architectural ambience radiating a special kind of appeal in both day and night.

The design aesthetics of the charging station can also be seen in the charging pylons.

Streamlining all elements down to their geometrical foundation, well-defined, large radii, taut surfaces, and balanced proportions contribute to the overall inviting impression and give the charging pylon a welcoming appearance.

In an intuitive manner, the clear design conveys the user friendliness and speed in charging, which has significantly increased in comparison to today’s standard.

The seamless integration of a touchscreen user interface, holder, and charger plug contribute to this clarity, reinforcing the message of an uncomplicated user experience.

At night, the charging pylons will be illuminated with what appears to be a free-floating light ring, seated on top of the slender charger’s body, using light or colour changes to communicate information about charge status to users.

"In order to create holistic experiences, it is imperative to give product and interaction design equal attention and to ensure an integrated process," said Designworks president Holger Hampf.

"The design of IONITY´s charging poles conveys the value of this approach: We have involved customers in the design process and thought about every analogue and digital detail until we reached a solution that will truly enable a new kind of charging experience" he explained.

Ionity plans to have 400 stations along Europe´s major highways up and running by the end of 2020.

The charging stations, each of which will be offering up to six chargers are equipped with the latest e-charging technology.

They will be easily accessible by the public situated at a distance of approximately 120km from each other.

Ionity uses the European charging standard "Combined Charging System" (CCS) with a charging capacity of up to 350kW and thereby will provide cross - brand compatibility with most present day and future electric vehicles.


Man draws penises over potholes in NZ to force authorities to fix roads faster

                AUCKLAND: A man has been drawing penises over potholes to force the government to fix the roads faster in the city of Auckland in North Island, New Zealand.

Geoff Upson, a road safety campaigner, said that police actually contacted him last week after a civilian had complained about his penis drawings, according to The New Zealand Herald on May 4.

He has since admitted to being the man behind the graphic drawings and was told that police would work with Auckland Transport (AT) on the matter.

Upson said that he has so far made around 100 drawings over problem areas since as early as 2018, when he made his first penis drawings on a road near his home in Waitoki.

He said he had complained 20 times to AT, which is responsible for Auckland’s transport services, to have the roads fixed back then, but was ignored, according to the report.

Now, he still draws penises around potholes to get government attention, but assures that he does these things safely, adding that he wears high-visibility safety vests when doing so.

AT spokesman Natalie Polley, meanwhile, said that Upson was not only putting himself at risk but also potentially distracting drivers.

Upson is also expected to pay the expenses for the removal of the penis graffiti and traffic management, which would be around NZ$2,500 each (RM7,419), according to the report.

This is not the first time such tactics were used, however, as a man in England had also drawn penises over potholes two years ago.

The UK protest was successful as the roads were fixed within the week, according to the BBC on April 26, 2019. – Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network


Black is black, except on cars: uni black is the darkest finish

                BERLIN: Dream cars always glow jet black in advertisements — but anyone who wants their car to look that black should pay attention to little differences when ordering their lacquer finish.

That’s because only uni black can normally provide this effect, says lacquer and car care expert Christian Petzoldt.

Luckily uni black usually costs less than a metallic or pearl variant. That’s because every admixture of effect pigments reflects light — regardless of whether it's small mother-of-pearl particles for a pearling effect or pieces of metal for metallics.

“With a bit of distance, the car’s painted surface appears muddy grey,” says Petzold. “The particles are missing a bit of black the moment an effect pigment is there.”

Today, there is hardly any differences in terms of care and durability for uni varnishes. As is usually the case with metallic or pearl varnishes, uni varnishes are also protected with final coat of UV protection, meaning bleaching effects no longer occur.

Still, traces of mechanical damage are visible more quickly on deep black uni varnishes than on metallic varnishes. “Fine scratches are less clearly visible thanks to the fine metallic or mother-of-pearl pigments than with uni varnish,” says Petzoldt.

To help ensure uni black stays deep black for as long as possible, car owners should regularly renew the car’s paintwork preservation so they don’t need to resort to drastic measures in the future. They should also work with mild finishes and soft tools whenever possible so that fewer micro-scratches are left behind and less of the varnish is removed, says Petzoldt.

That’s because if you remove too much from the surface, you risk damaging the durability of the underling varnish coat. “And the entire layering of varnish is no thicker than a finger nail on a modern car,” says Petzoldt.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: New concept car and LS among Lexus exhibits

                TOKYO: A new Lexus concept car will make its world premiere at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show.

The luxury division of Toyota did not disclose further information on the concept car but said more details will be announced on Oct 25 at the show's opening.

The concept car could either be a performance version of the LS known as the LS F or a three-row RX.

The new Lexus LS model, which will launch soon, will be among 11 production models on display at the show.

The LS is to be joined by the "LC" luxury flagship coupe, which launched in March, the partially redesigned "CT" compact hybrid hatchback, and the "NX" luxury crossover, among others.

Now in its fifth generation, the LS sports a coupe silhouette while preserving ample interior space and promising a more-emotional experience. It is powered by a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 416hp and 601Nm of torque. Relaying power to the rear wheels is a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

The LS will also have a number of advanced safety technologies such as the standard Lexus Safety System+ or the optional Lexus Safety System+ A, which offers additional safety equipment. A hybrid version is also available.


2017 turbocharged 1.6L Hyundai Tucson with 7DCT arrives at RM145,588

                SHAH ALAM: The Hyundai Tucson sport utility vehicle (SUV) with the powerful 1.6L turbo direct injected (T-GDI) petrol engine has arrived, priced at RM145,588 (on the road without insurance).

The turbocharged 1.6L T-GDI petrol engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) and delivers 177ps at 5,500rpm and a maximum torque of 265Nm from 1,500 to 4,500rpm.

According to Hyundai, when compared with rival continuously-variable transmissions (CVT), the Hyundai-developed 7DCT can handle more torque with minimal power interruption throughout the powertrain operating range during acceleration, and offers better durability.

“With the launch of the 1.6L T-GDI variant and more variants to come, we hope to expand our SUV offerings and cater to more market segments. We will be introducing more Tucson variants in the coming months,” said Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) managing director Lau Yit Mun.

The T-GDI engined Tucson has newly designed rims for a sporty look, LED positioning headlamps with Static Bending Lights, an Auto Hold function that automatically holds the brake steady once the vehicle has come to a complete stop, and a smart powered tailgate which opens at the approach of the key-holder.

Concerning safety, the Tucson benefits from a body structure featuring 51 per cent ultra-high strength steel for improved torsional rigidity and impact resistance.

Safety features include six airbags, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Automatic Vehicle Hold.

Optional accessories include two leather packages for seats and interior door trimmings (colour options: red and white), body kit and 19-inch rims.

All Tucson variants are entitled to 50,000km free service with three-year validity.

HSDM offers a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty on all its new passenger vehicles.

A 24-hour road assist service is also available for new and existing Hyundai vehicles.


Hyundai announces Special Service campaign

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM), the official distributor of the South Korean brand in Malaysia, is offering owners a service package with a free vehicle health check.

“We understand that most car owners have not had the chance to drive much during the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period," said HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung.

He added that even if the vehicle has been parked in the same spot for weeks, oil leakages or other underlying problems that owners may not be aware of may appear.

The service promotion is valid now until July 30 and customers are entitled to a 20% discount on selected genuine parts as well as a 10% discount on labour charges.

There will also be a free gift provided for all lubricant service work, or RM300 spent on any repair work.

Customers concerned about their health and safety can request for the KLIMA Fresh car disinfection service which is now available at all authorised Hyundai service centres.

"For optimal health, customers should bring their vehicles in for a service to ensure that everything is in order," said Lung.

For more information, log on to www.hyundai.com.my or call 1300-13-200.


Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and Super Sport 300+ unleashed at Nardò

                PETALING JAYA: There's nothing quite like getting a pair of Bugatti Chirons and letting them run free on what is considered the fastest circuit in the world - the Nardò proving ground in Apulia, Italy.

The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and Super Sport 300+ will be able to go up to over 300kph on a circuit which theoretically enables speeds over 400kph and test drivers need not steer up to 240kph due to its low parabolic profile.

The centrifugal force is compensated and drivers have the sensation of driving in a straight lane.

The circular track is 12.6km long and four kilometers in diameter. The outer edge tilts towards the centre by more than 12 degrees which makes it ideal for top speeds.

The infield of the high-speed circular track accommodates a 6.2-kilometre handling course – designed for adaptations to the vehicles’ dynamics and suspension while 70 kilometres of track are available for extensive testing.

“The Nardò test track with the high-speed circular track and the handling track is ideal for us. Here we can extensively enhance the Chiron Pur Sport and Chiron Super Sport 300+ at different speeds – and at high temperatures,” says Stefan Ellrott, Head of Development at Bugatti.

“Our hyper sports cars must not only operate flawlessly at moderate speeds and temperatures, but also at speeds beyond 300kph, as well as in cold and hot conditions.”

In addition to the Pur Sport, the development phase of the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the new longitudinal dynamics force within the Chiron family, is also in full swing.

Derived from the record-breaking vehicle, which was the first series-production car to reach speeds of 490.484kph, in summer 2019, the engineers are developing a very fast special edition limited to just 30 vehicles.

Bugatti only electronically limits its top speed at 440kph.


BMW Credit Malaysia is 10 years old, treats top customers to dinner

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Credit Malaysia recently held an appreciation dinner to thank its top customers and corporate partners in conjunction with the company's 10th year anniversary in the country.

The event was held at The Glass House at Seputeh restaurant here.

BMW Credit Malaysia CEO Tobias Eismann said the company has expanded over the years to support BMW Group Malaysia as well as offer premium financial products and mobility services.

"This is realised through ... the Full Circle programme and the Ultimate Protection Program Plus programme, which have helped complete the premium ownership experience and promise of the brands represented by the BMW Group.”

Partners for the dinner were Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd and Tokio Marine Insurance Group.


A deal with Putin leaves Renault trapped in Russia

                PARIS: Volkswagen AG, BMW AG and Toyota Motor Corp. have idled Russian plants and suspended shipments to the country as part of a broader retreat by global corporate giants.

The one automaker with the most to lose, Renault SA, has remained conspicuously silent.

The French company has lost nearly 30% of its market value in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensuing economic sanctions.

Russia is Renault’s second-biggest market, and it’s paying a heavy price for a US$1 billion deal sealed in 2007 with a top ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Renault’s majority control of AvtoVaz, the Soviet-era maker of Ladas, and reliance on Russia for about 12% of its revenue are now matters of investor concern.

Cutting ties with the venture would come at a tremendous cost, and prospects for a broader economic slump across Europe risk derailing its already-tenuous turnaround efforts.

"It would be perfectly legitimate for Renault to consider an exit from AvtoVaz,” said Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois. "Renault could take the loss, but an exit would be a tough decision.”

Russia accounted for about €5 billion (RM23bil) of Renault’s revenue last year, and roughly €315 million (RM1.4bil) of operating profit could be at risk, Bloomberg Intelligence estimates. Renault shares continued their downward slide that started last week falling as much as 7.5% Friday to the lowest since November 2020.

As a flood of companies worldwide pull back and unload assets in Russia, Renault and the French government — its most powerful shareholder — have kept mum on AvtoVaz.

So has the other partner in the venture, Rostec State Corp., a Russian government-owned defence conglomerate headed by Sergey Chemezov, a close ally of Putin.

"Renault has promised to abide by sanctions,” Gabriel Attal, the French government spokesman, said Thursday on France Info radio.

A spokesman for AvtoVaz declined to comment beyond operational issues.

Renault continues to monitor the situation, according to a spokesman.

Risks abound

Renault’s foray into Russia a decade and a half ago was decided at the highest political levels, and any exit would be politically fraught.

If the company stands pat, it could have a hard time collecting money from a business it’s sunk more than US$2 billion (RM8.4bil) into over the years.

"One risk for Renault is that capital controls could prevent it remitting profits or cash from AvtoVaz and its other Russian operations,” said Redburn analyst Charles Coldicott.

Back in 2007, Putin dictated Renault’s initial deal for a 25% stake in AvtoVaz under former leader Carlos Ghosn.

The accord was backed by France and spearheaded by Chemezov. The Rostec CEO’s close ties with Putin trace back to when they lived in the same Dresden apartment complex in Germany during the 1980s as the future president worked as a KGB officer.

"When we decided to move into Russia and make this alliance with AvtoVaz everything was fine,” Ghosn said Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg TV. "It made a lot of sense.”

Ghosn, who was ousted from his role in 2018, said he was surprised that Renault’s current management hasn’t communicated on the situation.

"I’m stunned by the fact that it’s complete silence.”

Following Renault’s initial investment in AvtoVaz, subsequent increases in its shareholding were also piloted by the Russian state. Russia now accounts for about 18% of the company’s total vehicle sales. AvtoVaz in 2021 sold about 385,000 Ladas, mostly in Russia.

AvtoVaz’s reliance on the domestic market means a deep economic slump would spell trouble. "Historically, during times of recession in Russia AvtoVaz has been heavily loss making,” Coldicott said.

Founded with the help of Fiat SpA in 1966 when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, AvtoVaz’s Ladas had almost 80% of the market during the Communist era and still command about a fifth of the Russian market.

Renault has refurbished its massive Togliatti plant on the banks of the Volga River and redesigned the cars to try to reverse local consumer perception of shoddy workmanship and style.

Turnaround plan

Brightening prospects in recent years for Lada formed part of Renault chief executive officer Luca de Meo’s revival plan for the group. He forecast an "incredibly profitable” business model for the Lada and Dacia budget-car brands, with shared manufacturing processes and technology.

The war in Ukraine isn’t the first time AvtoVaz has tripped up Renault.

Within a year of its initial investment, the financial crisis saw AvtoVaz’s value plummet and Putin pressed Renault to come to the rescue.

Ghosn’s move to take a controlling stake for Renault and Japanese partner Nissan was aimed at gaining a foothold in one of the biggest emerging growth markets — the so-called BRICs at the time — after mostly missing out in the others.

Then in 2014 a first round of sanctions hit after Putin annexed the Ukraine region of Crimea. Renault acquired a controlling 51% stake in 2016 after Ghosn pledged to do "whatever it takes” to back the loss-making venture on the verge of collapse.

The ongoing war in Ukraine is now posing a new and perhaps more serious threat to the carmaker because of the potential to reverberate beyond Russia’s borders.

"Renault’s turnaround plan is predicated on a recovery in the European auto market,” Houchois said.

"The longer the crisis continues, the greater the likelihood of a recession in Europe.”


Ford plans self-driving car for ride share fleets in 2021

                DETROIT: Ford plans to offer a fully automated driverless vehicle for commercial ride-sharing in 2021, the automaker announced Tuesday, expanding its efforts in driverless cars and ride sharing - two areas where rivals have already made inroads.

To help speed development of self-driving cars, chief executive Mark Fields said Ford is hiking investments in Silicon Valley technology firms, tripling its investment in semi-autonomous systems, and more than doubling the size of its Palo Alto research team while expanding its campus in Silicon Valley.

"We're not in a race to be first," Fields said at the company's Palo Alto research and development lab, adding he was not concerned that rival General Motors had made a high-stakes play in ride services with its US$500 million investment in Lyft in January.

Ford does not yet know whether it will partner with Uber, Lyft or others, with Fields saying "all options are open and on the table." He said Ford may choose not to partner, and roll out such services on its own.

Ford's announcement leaves many crucial strategy details still undecided. Yet Ken Washington, Ford's vice president of research, said it was important to signal that Ford intends to win in this space, even with key elements still unknown.

"We're saying to partners, we are the winning partner. It's not a hollow promise, it's a real intent," Washington said.

Ford chief technical officer Raj Nair said the company likely will not offer a similar driverless car without steering wheel or pedals to consumers until 2025 or later. Launching a self-driving car first for ride-sharing is a better way to reach the mass market and make the cars more affordable, he said.

In a philosophy shared by Alphabet's Google, Ford does not intend to develop incremental autonomous systems that would occasionally require drivers to take the wheel, instead committing to a full self-driving car.

"We abandoned the stepping-stone approach," Fields said, saying there are too many risks involved in the safe "hand-over" of driving responsibility between car and driver.

The death of a Tesla driver in May who was using the company's "Autopilot" system but had his hands off the wheel has underscored the confusion over drivers' responsibilities in a semi-autonomous car.

Ford also said it had, along with Baidu Inc - China's largest Internet company - jointly invested US$150 million in Velodyne, which makes laser-based sensors that are a major building block in self-driving cars. Nair said Ford's investment was US$75 million.

Earlier this year, Ford invested in Silicon Valley firm, Civil Maps, for advanced mapping for self-driving vehicles.

Ford rivals, including General Motors and Uber Technologies, are also developing self-driving vehicles for use in ride services.

Ford said it expects to deploy 30 self-driving Fusion Hybrid prototypes this year, and 90 next year.

Nair said Ford, with its investments and its acquisition of SAIPS, an Israeli machine learning startup, now have the tools in place to develop a fully driverless vehicle, but said "there's still a lot of engineering development" between now and 2021.


New Ford S-Max arrives with massaging seats

KUALA LUMPUR: The all-new seven-seater Ford S-MAX is launched today in Malaysia, priced at RM234,988.

Packed with smart technologies, the MPV is touted as designed for family convenience, and is the most powerful MPV in its class, thanks to a new fuel-efficient 2.0L EcoBoost engine that delivers 237hp.

Ford said the MPV is the first locally to offer a smart seating system that creates extra room at the touch of a button. In addition, it is the only MPV in its class to offer heated and cooled, 8-way powered massage.

The Easy-Fold second and third row seats provides 32 seating and load-space combinations. The system allows each rear seat to be folded flat from a push-button control panel, while the second-row and third-row seats can be folded flat at the touch of a button making instant room for sports gear or bulky DIY purchases.

With Ford Multi-Contour Seats, which include an Active Motion massage function, the S-MAX can reduce fatigue, aches and pains for the driver and front passenger by keeping muscles and blood vessels stimulated with the unique wave motion delivered by inflatable cushions within the seats.

The system monitors pressure in the individual cushions to feel like a single roller subtly stretching the back, and two intensity settings can be selected from the central touchscreen.

Safety kit package includes seven airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking and ISOFIX child safety mounts. The S-MAX was also recently awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating by the Euro NCAP independent crash test authority.

Ford’s SYNC 2 voice-activated connectivity system (the latest is SYNC 3) that helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. The advanced system features a high-resolution, 8-inch colour touch screen and voice control for hands-free operation of audio, temperature control and connected mobile phone functions.

The S-MAX uses camera, radar, and ultrasonic devices to help improve driving safety. Other safety aids are adaptive LED headlamp and glare-free highbeam technology (adjusts the headlight beam angle and intensity); Lane Keeping Alert and Aid (alerts driver of unintended lane changes and actively steers the car back into place); Driver Alert (reminds drowsy driver to take a break); and Curve Control and Roll Stability Control systems (enhance vehicle stability by adjusting engine torque and braking to help drivers maintain control)

The  S-MAX is available in a choice of white, silver or grey body colours.


'BMWs shouldn't enjoy same fuel subsidy as Kancils', says minister

                KUALA LUMPUR: A fuel subsidy scheme where the rich will pay more compared to the lower income group is being considered, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

The International Trade and Industry Minister said the ministry was mulling a targeted fuel subsidy to benefit the lower income group.

"Those with a BMW cannot receive the same subsidies as those with Kancil," he told reporters today.

READ MORE:
Thoughts on making fuel subsidy work in MalaysiaWill targeted fuel subsidies work?

He said they had discussed this at a recent meeting on ways to ease the impact of rising global crude oil prices, particularly on the lower income group.

"We talked about the review in a special retreat recently," he said.

He noted that the government was still seeking a suitable restructuring mechanism for the purpose.

This, he added, was necessary following a drastic increase in the fuel subsidy projection from RM11bil last year to RM28bil in 2022.