Mitsubishi ASX driven

With sports utility vehicles (SUVs) becoming as comfortable as sedans, it is easy to see why more of these vehicles roam the roads.The recently launched locally-assembled Mitsubishi ASX holds a few hidden surprises which make it enjoyable to drive.The ASX gives the impression of a car chassis (the Lancer in particular) being mounted on a four-wheel drive transmission, although the vehicle is actually quite wide.Once you start driving, you realise just how spacious the interior is as you stretch from the driver’s seat to grab something on the left door.The interior could be improved upon as the hard plastic dashboard was rather plain looking for my liking.There is also a large sunroof above, which does not open up, but at least lets in more light to make the interior appear bigger.Boot space is decent, with a spare wheel storage, and can be augmented by lowering the 60:40-split rear seats.The car’s documents are stored in a nice pouch in the boot space as well, secured down with netting.The ASX follows the trend, as it is equipped with a keyless entry system and a Start-Stop button.Outside, the SUV boasts rain and light sensors, which initially had me wondering if I had accidentally left my headlights on or mistakenly turned on the wipers.The infotainment system by Kenwood offers a number of utilities such as GPS navigation, USB connectivity for both iPod and MP3 devices.The instrument panel is illuminated in white, with an electronic display for fuel usage and drive modes.Engaging the reverse gear turns on a reverse camera and displays the car’s rear view with red, yellow and green distance markers.Moving on to the ASX’s performance, the vehicle holds a 2.0L MIVEC engine, generating 148hp at 6,000rpm, with 197Nm torque at 4,200rpm.The car’s INVECS-III continuously variable transmission allows the driver to engage the six-step Sports mode for more driving fun.You can also use the paddle shifters on the steering wheel column to change gear position, and a button located near the gear shifter engages the four-wheel drive.Other features which help round out the ASX’s rough-terrain use include a hill-start assist button, along with Active Stability Control (ASC) for wet conditions.That said, the ASX is not exactly the most fuel-efficient vehicle compared with a hatchback or a sedan.To test the car’s fuel consumption, I took the ASX on a long-distance drive from Petaling Jaya to Malacca with a stop-over in Seremban.The return trip eventually saw me refuelling the car to ensure enough petrol in the tank to last the weekend test-drive.Another minor quibble is the infotainment itself, where it was something of a steep learning curve trying to get used to the GPS search function, as well as the occasional slow-to-respond touchscreen.For a driver who just wants a car with four-wheel drive and some little extras, the ASX is a decent choice.The ASX is available in 2WD version.On the road without insurance prices are RM114,743 for the 2WD and RM128,879 for the 4WD.However, features such as ASC, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, paddle shifters, security window tinting, push-start system and panoramic glass roof are only offered in the 4WD version.


Tesla stops taking orders for Cybertruck outside N. America

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc has stopped taking orders for its upcoming Cybertruck pickup truck outside of North America, according to its official website.

The automaker is only taking reservations for the Cybertruck in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the website showed.

Tesla declined to comment on the matter.

Chief executive Elon Musk has said Tesla would start production of the Cybertruck next year at its plant in Austin, Texas.

"We have more orders of the first Cybertrucks than we could possibly fulfil for three years after the start of production," Musk said last week at the FT Future of the Car 2022 conference.

He also said Tesla could stop taking orders as demand for some of its vehicles exceeds production "to a ridiculous degree".

Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019. It previously aimed to begin production late this year but has pushed back the plan to the first quarter of 2023.


2020 pandemic year was Lamborghini's most profitable year ever

                NEW YORK: The year the coronavirus pandemic hit was also Lamborghini’s most profitable year ever.

“We were surprised,” said Stephan Winkelmann, the new (and former) boss of the 58-year-old brand, speaking via a private video call March 15.

“An ideal model mix and the growing customisation of our products pushed profitability to the highest levels.”

By that, Winkelmann meant the wildly successful Urus SUV and the sell-out of high-dollar, low-volume supercars like the US$3.3 million Sian (RM13.6mil). The Italian unit of Volkswagen AG delivered 7,430 cars worldwide in 2020, second only to the 8,250 it delivered in 2019, according to the company.

Lamborghini declined to specify the exact operating margin or percentage of increase from 2019, but said it ended the year with a turnover of €1.61 billion (RM7.9bil), down 11% from 2019; the decline is attributed to the 70-day production stoppages last spring. Comparatively, net profits at fellow Italian brand and rival Ferrari decreased by nearly 13% in 2020.

The US with 2,224 units delivered remains the top market for Lamborghini sales, with Germany coming in second with 607 units sold, and China third, with 604 units sold.

After reporting even stronger sales year over year so far for 2021, China will finish this year in the second position, said Winkelmann.

Chinese car buyers in recent years have developed an appetite for ultra-luxury SUVs from the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and yes, Lamborghini. (Ferrari plans to launch its own SUV variant in 2022.)

In China as elsewhere, those high-performance, mid-six-figure SUVs outsell the rest of the sedans and sports cars in those manufacturer lineups. Last year, the Urus accounted for 59% of Lamborghini sales worldwide.

“Urus is giving us peace of mind in terms of return on investment and also earnings, and the earnings are giving us the confidence to reinvest in the future,” said Winkelmann. “It is clear the diversification we are having with Urus is helping us a lot.”

Winkelmann declined to address speculation about a likely Urus hybrid but said to ask again in a few weeks.

Instead, he said the year ahead will focus on the commercial launch of the Huracan STO and two other cars “based on the iconic V12,” without offering any more specifics.

Lamborghini has seen more customer orders and deliveries of its cars in January and February of this year than it did in the first two months of 2020, even before Covid-19 reached pandemic proportions.

“We have already covered with customer orders nine months of the year for 2021,” said Winkelmann. “So we are looking at the year 2021 in quite a positive bent.”

Lamborghini’s strong income and highly-profitable “limited special series” models, which are positioned like sneaker drops and carry price tags of US$3 million or more, have closely followed the strategy set by Ferrari, which spun off from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis NV) in 2015.

“I don’t think this is something which will happen soon,” said Winkelmann on a possible sale, while noting that the brand is “very well positioned” in the VW group.

According to estimates from Bloomberg Intelligence, a Lamborghini IPO could generate more than €10 billion (RM49bil) of shareholder value for VW.


Right lane between Simpang Renggam-Sedenak closed for 4 months, says PLUS

                KUALA LUMPUR: The right lane between Simpang Renggam and Sedenak, Johor at KM50.15 to KM46.5 of the North-South Expressway will be closed to all vehicles for four months from 11am today until April 4 next year.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) in a statement said the closure is to facilitate the installation of concrete median barriers to replace the current median steel guardrails to prevent cross bound incidents by heavy vehicles.

Throughout this period, traffic on the affected stretch will be redirected to the left and emergency lanes.

“All highway customers heading south are strongly advised to plan their journey using the PLUS App and check the traffic conditions via closed circuit television (CCTV) feeds, while adhering to traffic signages and instructions by PLUS personnel when passing through the said stretch,” the statement said.

With Christmas and New Year round the corner, PLUS Malaysia said highway users should plan their journeys ahead by following the Travel Time Advisory it issues.

Based on the advisory, highway customers from the Klang Valley heading towards destinations such as Perlis, Kedah, Penang, North Perak and Johor are advised to enter the highway before 9am.

Those heading to destinations closer to the Klang Valley or other states are advised to enter the highway after noon, while those from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, North Perak, Johor and other states travelling to the Klang Valley during the same period are recommended to enter the highway before 9am.

Latest updates on the highways can be obtained from the PLUS app, PLUSTrafik Twitter, PUTRI chatbot (a real-time customer texting interface), highway electronic message boards and the toll-free PLUSLine 1800 88 0000.


Kia to offer 'job loss insurance' to new car buyers in Europe

                FRANKFURT: South Korean carmaker Kia plans to offer insurance in Europe which protects clients from having to make monthly payments on a new vehicle if they lose their job, a scheme designed to entice reticent customers back into showrooms after the coronavirus shutdown.

The insurance scheme, which costs €15 to €20 (RM71-RM95) a month, allows new car buyers to delay monthly payments until they are rehired, Emilio Herrera, chief operating officer for Kia Motors Europe, said on Thursday.

“We are in discussions over how to implement it in the majority of markets in Europe. We want it in place as soon as markets reopen in May,” Herrera said.

Santander Consumer Finance provides the insurance for Kia customers in several European markets, including in Germany, Kia said.

Government stimulus measures will also be needed to revive the economy, Herrera said.

“We need to put in place scrappage plans like in 2009,” Herrera said. Combined with measures like unemployment insurance these steps may become confident enough to purchase a car,” Herrera said.

Potential stimulus plans should help cut carbon pollution, but also incentivise customers to buy all categories of cars, not just electric and hybrid vehicles, he said.

“Electrified cars are much more expensive than combustion-engined vehicles,” Herrera noted, adding that in times of a crisis, consumers tend to make conservative buying choices.

The crisis has already hit demand badly, with sales down more than 25% in the first quarter. April will be the worse, showing declines of around 70%, with demand expected to improve thereafter, Herrera said.

In Germany, where smaller car showrooms have been allowed to open for the past week, traffic is 50% below pre-crisis levels, Herrera said.


Foreigners leaving Singapore no longer have to stamp passport from April 22

                SINGAPORE: Starting April 22, Singapore will no longer require all foreign travellers departing the republic to have the departure immigration endorsement or stamp of departure in their travel document.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a post on its website today that this is part of ongoing efforts to streamline procedures at the checkpoints and facilitate more efficient departure immigration clearance.

The ICA said that to further streamline the departure process and make it even more efficient, "all foreign travellers departing Singapore through manned counters will no longer have their departure endorsed in their passports when they leave Singapore from April 22, 2019."

ICA had said previously that all foreigners departing Singapore would have their passports stamped with the date of their departure by the immigration officer at the manned counters.

They do not receive the departure immigration endorsement when they use the automated lanes, it said.


Elon Musk celebrates after dance track enters SoundCloud Top 10

                MIAMI: Tesla Inc.’s stock may have fallen 17% on Wednesday but Elon Musk was celebrating after an electronic dance music track he released last week entered SoundCloud’s global top 10.

"Putting that on my LinkedIn for sure,” he wrote on Twitter.

Musk briefly changed his twitter handle to E "D” M on Jan 31 after he first shared the song he titled ‘Don’t Doubt ur Vibe’ on the music sharing website.


Vespa GTS Super 300 launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Premira, the official distributor of Vespa in Malaysia, has launched the new Vespa GTS Super 300, priced at RM28,202.50 (on-the-road inclusive of GST and insurance).

Naza Premira chief operating officer, Farouk Faisal, officially launched the new Vespa GTS Super 300 which is a reinterpretation a sporty classic design from the legendary Vespa collection.

 Naza Premira COO Farouk (second from left) at the launch of the new Vespa GTS Super 300 posing with members of the band Bunkface.

The premium scooter is powered by a single cylinder 300cc Quasar engine which produces 21.2hp at 7,750rpm and 22Nm of torque at 5,000rpm.

It comes standard with safety features such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS) for both front and rear wheels as well as anti slip regulation (ASR) which enhances the manoeuvrability of the vehicle.

Other features include LED headlamps, electric remote operating system on its saddle, bike finder feature, LCD dashboard screen, a USB port and anti-theft immobiliser.

The Vespa GTS Super 300 is available in four colours: Monte Bianco (white), Verde Speranza (green), Grigio Titiano (black) and Giallo Gelosia (yellow).

“Naza is a progressive and performance based organisation that evolves and embraces change. We are at a phase where we are reviewing and rationalising our two wheel and four wheel divisions to ensure they are in line with the strategy and direction of the Naza Group of Companies,” said Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings, Group chief executive officer, Datuk Samson Anand George.

Farouk said that it has a sales target of 40 units a month.


Mercedes-Benz outlines global electric strategy

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is among one of several sites that will complement the global electric hub network Daimler is building for the production of electric vehicles and batteries.

Other countries in the region that have been identified as pivotal to the success of the network are Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

By 2022, Daimler will electrify the entire portfolio of Mercedes-Benz, offering customers at least one electrified alternative in all Mercedes-model series.

The company is planning to offer more than 50 electrified vehicle variants. To that, Mercedes-Benz will be continuously supporting the development of plug-in hybrids and the introduction of 48-volt-systems. More than 10 models of the over 50 electrified vehicles will be fully electric cars – in all segments, from smart to large SUVs.

Over the next few years, Mercedes-Benz Cars will be investing 10 billion euros in the expansion of its electrical fleet and an additional one billion euros in a global battery production network within the worldwide production network. That way a global battery network is created, which currently comprises five battery factories on three continents.

While the start of production of the fortwo Coupé and Cabriolet at the smart plant in Hambach in 2017 already represent the start of the fourth generation of electric vehicles of the brand, the first electric vehicle of the new product and technology brand EQ will roll off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen.

In 2018, Daimler will complete the second battery factory in Kamenz and intensify preparations for the EQC at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen. In 2019, the EQC will be the first series vehicle of the product and technology brand EQ to roll off the production line at Bremen and at BBAC in Beijing.

Further locations for EQ models are the Mercedes-Benz plants in Rastatt, Sindelfingen and Tuscaloosa (USA), where the model range is extended to include electric vehicles of the compact, upper and luxury class as well as the SUV segment.

“Our electric vehicles will be built in six plants on three continents. We address every market segment: from the smart fortwo seater, to the large SUV," said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain.

"The battery is the key component of e-mobility. As batteries are the heart of our electric vehicles we put a great emphasis on building them in our own factories... The electric initiative of Mercedes-Benz Cars is right on track. Our global production network is ready for e-mobility. We are electrifying the future”.


Volkswagen Care Plus offers discounts and benefits for older VW cars

                KUALA LUMPUR: As a show of appreciation for owners who have stayed with the brand over the years, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is offering 30% savings for maintenance service to Volkswagen Care Plus (VCP) members.

Under the VCP programme, members are entitled to three 20% service discount vouchers. The additional 10% discount is valid from now until Dec 31.

VCP is an exclusive programme that is open to any Volkswagen owner with a vehicle that is five years and older.

There are other benefits such as two-year free roadside assistance and 24 hours on-site battery support.

Owners can easily sign up for the programme at no cost at any authorised dealership.

More than savings, service and repair works at authorised service centres come with the assurance that 100% genuine parts are used, and that repairs are carried out by experienced technicians in accordance with global standards and approved tools.

This promotion is only available through the new Volkswagen Cares app, so download it on the Apple App Store for iOS users, and the Google Play store for Android users.


How Renault, Fiat Chrysler could save through sharing

                PARIS: If French automaker Renault green-lights a proposed merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the companies almost immediately could begin saving money by consolidating components and basic structures on many of their most popular vehicles, an industry analyst said today.

The synergies could multiply if they invite Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co, currently Renault’s alliance partner, to join the merger, according to a former Renault and Nissan executive.

Renault and Italian-American rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are in talks to tackle the costs of far-reaching technological and regulatory changes by creating the world’s third-biggest automaker.

A Renault-Fiat Chrysler combination “would mean a greater sharing of parts (which) could really boost the profitability of Fiat Chrysler’s smaller vehicles,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president, AutoForecast Solutions.

Building similar models on a common vehicle architecture, Fiorani said, “would give both companies a lot more freedom in manufacturing. They could mix brands and vehicle sizes on the same assembly line, switch vehicles between plants to balance production, and even shift production from one country to another, depending on changes in demand, tariffs or other considerations.”

Fiorani said Fiat Chrysler could benefit from sharing the French automaker’s expertise in electric vehicles and powertrains, where Renault and Nissan have jointly invested more than US$5 billion. These are areas in which Fiat Chrysler has little in the way of components or intellectual property.

Another sector that is ripe for consolidation is light commercial vehicles, where Renault and Fiat Chrysler could build a variety of vans in several sizes on common platforms that could be assembled and sold in global markets.

Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen AG began their alliance discussions a year ago by focusing on potential collaboration in light commercial vehicles.

Getting Nissan’s blessing

Fiorani said Renault’s CMF architecture, which was jointly developed with Nissan and underpins many of Renault’s passenger cars and crossovers, could be used by Fiat Chrysler on a wide variety of vehicles. As an example, he said the CMF could provide a new foundation for at least five Jeep models, including the Renegade, Compass and Cherokee, which now are based on four different platforms.

A hurdle to implementing the merger is all the intellectual property - including the CMF vehicle architecture - that is shared between Renault and Nissan, said Patrick Pelata, a veteran of the two automakers’ alliance who was formerly Renault’s chief operating officer.

“They will need Nissan’s agreement for it to be used by Fiat Chrysler,” Pelata told BFM radio on Tuesday. “Nobody’s talking about that right now, but it’s an important subject.”

Renault would not likely be interested in sharing Fiat Chrysler’s body-on-frame platforms, which underpin the automaker’s big pickups and SUVs in North America, Fiorani said.

“But if Nissan is invited to join the merger, that could open up new possibilities,” he said. “Nissan could use Fiat Chrysler’s full-size truck platform for its next-generation Titan and Armada, while Fiat Chrysler could use Nissan’s mid-size truck platform for the next-generation Dakota and Durango.”

Fiorani said it likely would take at least two years after a Renault-Fiat Chrysler merger is approved before the arrival of the first new vehicles built on shared architectures.


Apple Watch, the remote control for your Porsche or BMW i cars

                PETALING JAYA: With the global debut of the Apple Watch last Friday, Porsche and BMW have begun touting the connectivity possibilities Apple's latest offers with their cars.

Drivers can now access Porsche Car Connect functions even more conveniently, without having to reach for their iPhones.

However, the Apple smartphone still continues to manage communication with the vehicle and integrates the Apple Watch as an additional display and control element.

The Apple Watch provides information on the vehicle status and allows certain vehicle functions to be monitored and controlled by tap and gesture input. The “remote” display, for instance, visualises whether windows, doors, boot lid and sunroof are closed; the vehicle can also be locked if necessary by pressure of the finger (“Force Touch” function).

The “Carfinder” function shows the location of the car, while the navigation function guides the driver to the position of the vehicle if required. As soon as drivers are in the vicinity of their Porsche, they can easily identify it on a full parking lot or in a multi-storey car park with the functions to sound the horn and flash the lights.

The key comfort functions of the plug-in models can also be monitored and controlled via the Apple Watch. A brief glance at the wrist lets one check charging status, range and residual charging time. In the “Climate” menu, drivers can activate the preconditioning function with one tap of a finger.

Integrating the Apple Watch adds a new level of individuality and comfort to communication between driver and vehicle via Porsche Car Connect. Porsche Car Connect uses the mobile telephone network and thus permits communication with the car over any distance.

In the BMW camp, the watch operates similarly with the i3 and i8.

Apple Watch users need to download the free BMW i Remote app from the iTunes Store first. Once the app is installed, it will keep users updated on the car’s current battery status, for example, and alert them when the high-voltage unit is fully charged. The app can be used to remotely check and control functions of i models.

In addition, Apple Watch can continue the navigation instructions from the  i3 to the user’s final destination after the car has been parked as well as guiding them back to the car if required. And it also allows the interior temperature to be pre-conditioned.

The new smartwatch features an innovative glance screen for applications which groups together the most important information provided by the app so that it can be viewed at a single glance.

As well as the car’s battery charge, the available range and the timing of updates, the glance screen also shows  i Remote app users whether the car doors are locked.


Special Porsche 911 Carrera GTS created to celebrate 50 years in Taiwan

                TAIPEI: Porsche Taiwan has introduced the 911 Carrera GTS-50 Year Anniversary One of a Kind to celebrate 50 years of Porsche in Taiwan.

The sportscar, developed with the support of Porsche AG and Exclusive Manufaktur specialists in Zuffenhausen, has several unique features. The Irish Green body colour was painted as a symbolic representation of Taiwan as a subtropical island covered largely in evergreen forests.

However, the colour is also an acknowledgement of the Lizard Green 911E, which was the first Porsche sold in Taiwan in 1972.

The side skirts of the anniversary vehicle are graced decorative Matte White Taiwan outline side pattern with Porsche logo, representing the silhouette of the Formosa’s coastline which is characterised with magnificent coral reefs in the South and breath-taking scenic routes on the north-east.

The front passenger-side dashboard trim contains the 911 Carrera GTS and 50 Years Porsche in Taiwan embossing.

Further specific features are the Turbo S Exclusive Design wheel with central lock – painted in Black with design line in Irish Green.

On the interior, the door sill guards in aluminium with "50 Years Porsche in Taiwan" designation (front).

A special badge of the Taiwan coastline and “50” lettering is embossed on the storage compartment lid. Exteriorly, “Porsche” lettering in matt black is integrated in the taillight strip.

This one and only 911 Carrera GTS-50 Year Anniversary One of a Kind will be put up for auction in the coming months.

The proceeds made from this event will be donated to Porsche Taiwan’s “Dream Together” charity partners as their way to express gratitude for the local community and paying it forward to the Taiwanese society.

Taiwan was one of the earliest Asian markets to be introduced to Porsche.

General importer Universal Motors, owned by the Tang family, brought in the 911E, the first Porsche to the island.

Porsche Taiwan is currently headed by Christian Nater, who has recently been appointed to the post.

 Nater is the new Porsche Taiwan CEO.


China’s megacity drivers leading new push to cheap EV batteries

                SHANGHAI: Electric-vehicle manufacturers in China are seen turning to cheaper batteries to slash costs and meet the needs of drivers in its megacities who don’t need to travel huge distances.

There’s been resurgent interest in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries since the middle of 2019 when China started to rein in subsidies that had spurred adoption of more expensive, longer-range units using materials such as nickel and cobalt.

The cost-competitiveness, safety and low sensitivity to commodity price dynamics of LFP batteries are boosting their popularity in the country, according to a report by BloombergNEF.

China’s biggest maker of new energy vehicles, BYD Co., said its latest cobalt-free battery will be in a new sports-utility model from the middle of this year. Its Han SUV — with range of more than 600 kilometres (373 miles) per charge — will use a LFP battery that matches the range of nickel-cobalt batteries, the company said in a statement.

"It’s simply because LFP batteries provide the best value,” Gao Yuan, vice president of Chinese battery cathode producer Pulead Technology Co., said by Wechat.

"Also, the visibility of costs is much better. If you ask someone what they think the cobalt or nickel price is going to be in 2025, you would get a long list of caveats.”

LFP batteries can be some 20% cheaper than those using nickel, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The LFP chemistry mix is cheaper because it’s simple to synthesise and uses low-cost materials, while other battery types using variations of nickel, manganese, aluminum and cobalt are more complex and use metals with volatile prices.

A building resurgence in LFP in the top EV market shows how battery technology and consumer preferences are far from settled as governments and automakers worldwide navigate the decades-long electrification of the global vehicle fleet.

Nickel-rich batteries have been favored because they enable longer distances between charges -- tackling so-called "range anxiety” that allegedly puts people off electric cars. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and BYD have both developed new battery pack designs that can increase the driving range of vehicles using LFP, which improves the chemistry’s competitiveness, according to BloombergNEF.

"For megacity people, in Beijing, or in Shanghai, a 150-kilometre, driving range is often enough” and that can be served by LFP batteries, Gao said.

Still, the renewed interest in using LFP batteries may not prove permanent. Demand will rise in the medium-term, according to Morgan Stanley, but ultimately the technology will be replaced as nickel-cobalt batteries become more advanced, with costs expected to fall as much as 20% in the next 3 years.

Elon Musk’s Tesla is in advanced talks with CATL on taking supplies of LFP batteries as it seeks to lower costs, Reuters reported earlier this month. The US company declined to comment.

A spokesperson for CATL said "we are able to provide clients suitable and competitive solutions.”
China’s EV sector is suffering from a wider slump in auto buying that was evident even before the coronavirus outbreak halted swathes of the country’s economy.

The government may prolong remaining subsidies that were due to be phased out by end-2020, people familiar with the matter said last month. But that would still leave intact the cuts that were made last year.

"We have seen a rebound in LFP interest since last fall because now it’s driven by the market and not by government incentives,” said Pulead’s Gao.

"Subsidies were designed to encourage cars with longer driving range and higher-energy density batteries.”


Updated Lexus ES 250 starts from RM296,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: Lexus Malaysia has updated its ES 250 executive sedan line-up with refreshed outlook, greater comfort as well as an elevated level of safety.

The company has also added a new variant of F Sport to the line-up of Premium and Luxury offering.

The F Sport, which offers added distinction, is priced from RM345,134, while Premium comes at RM295,663 and Luxury at RM329,910.

Prices are on-the-road without insurance and are SST exempt until the end of the year.

The new ES 250 retains a sleek coupe-style silhouette while the signature spindle grille gets its design elements changed and has fewer vertical bars.

For the F Sport, it's grille has a mesh pattern composed of interlocking L elements with a dark metallic finish.

The Premium now gets the Bi-LED Projector headlights with a new inner bezel design, while the ultra-compact 3-beam LED projector headlamps of the Luxury and F Sport have a new and distinctive Daytime Running Light design.

The Premium and Luxury maintain their 18-inch alloy wheels while those on the Premium have a new design with a Dark Grey Metallic Finish.

The F Sport gets larger 19-inch alloy wheels with a Dark Premium Metallic finish and exclusive exterior fittings that include a rear spoiler.

Inside, the advanced cockpit design has been updated with a new full-colour 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display (8-inch in the Premium) that has been repositioned 112mm closer to the occupants and turned 5 degrees towards the driver.

The system also includes Navigation services for the Luxury and F Sport.

Aside from USB Type-C ports, the new ES 250 also comes with a Nanoe-X negative ion generator that improves cabin air quality – the first Lexus model to introduce this feature as standard.

The F Sport gets a classy light-emitting analogue clock on the dashboard with its own unique L-shaped graphics, while the meter has an electric movable metal ring with a 3-D effect first featured in the Lexus LFA supercar and later used in other F Sport variants.

This top variant also gets a leather 3-spoke steering wheel, dimpled leather-trimmed shift knob and sporty aluminium pedals and footrest.

Powering the ES 250 is a 2.5-litre DOHC A25A-FKS petrol engine with multi-hole direct injectors which delivers 204hp and 247Nm of torque.

Transmission is a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic that uses an ultra-thin torque converter and a multi-plate lock up clutch to give the direct feel of a dual clutch system with the smoothness of a traditional torque converter automatic.

A 0-100kph sprint can be done in 9.1 seconds with a top speed of 210kph.

While the MacPherson strut front suspension and trailing-arm double-wishbone rear suspension are retained, the ride comfort and handling have been improved by increasing the rigidity through adding a brace to the rear suspension.

The Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) is standard and the Pre-Collision System (PCS) has been enhanced for better detection.

The other elements of LSS+ are Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Stop & Go Function; Lane Keeping Assist; Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA); and Adaptive High-beam System (AHS) which now uses advanced BladeScan technology.

Also standard are a security system with inclination sensor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Parking Support Brake (PKSB).

The Premium and Luxury are offered with the two new colours of Sonic Iridium and Sonic Chrome in addition to the regular Sonic Quartz, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Ice Ecru Mica Metallic and Deep Blue Mica.

The F- Sport, meanwhile, can be ordered with two exclusive colours of Heat Blue Contrast Layering or White Nova Glass Flake in addition to Sonic Iridium, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Sonic Chrome and Red Mica Crystal Shine.

Lexus Malaysia president Ravindran K said the ES 250 is one of the most accomplished executive sedans on the road and elicits admiration for its impeccable engineering and styling that satisfies any discerning taste.

“Combined with the Lexus attention to detail and constant quest for excellence, the improvements to the updated model will invariably retain the Lexus ES 250 as the choice sedan to arrive in,” he said.

Lexus Malaysia deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said the ES 250 showcased the ability of Lexus engineers in creating a well-balanced and refined automobile that appeals to a wide audience.

“It is a finely-developed automobile that brings luxury motoring to anyone who appreciates excellent engineering in a vehicle that can be depended on it as a chauffeured automobile or a daily driver,” he added.

The new 2021 ES 250 is officially available at all six authorised Lexus Malaysia outlets nationwide.


WATCH: Aznom traces birth of Palladium in video

                MONZA: Aznom has released a video that explains the genesis of the name Palladium for its tough one-of-a-kind limousine.

The video traces the history of the project, from the initial idea to the final construction of the Italian hyper-limousine.

Giving insights to the company's first car project were CEO Marcello Meregalli, project leader Matteo Bertanelli and chief designer Alessandro Camorali of Camal Studio.

Aznom is based in Monza, and is a boutique company known for its special packages and customisation of high-end vehicles, as well as for the successful design and manufacturing of selected “one-off” cars.


Insurance service platform Sureplify opens first physical store

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sureplify Sdn Bhd has opened its first offline insurance service counter at Ampang Point shopping centre in Ampang, Selangor.

Sureplify is an online platform for insurance services from various insurance providers.

Sureplify’s current top insurance providers are Tune Protect, Hong Leong Assurance, Lonpac, AXA and MSIG.

Services available at Sureplify service counter:

● Auto Insurance Purchase Service
● Auto Insurance Renewal Service
● Travel Insurance Purchase Service
● Term Life Insurance Purchase Service
● Road Tax Renewal & Free Delivery Service (terms & conditions applied)

Located next to Pos Malaysia on the first floor at Ampang Point, the Sureplify service counter opens from 10am till 10pm.


Eighth Porsche Experience Centre worldwide opens in Italy

                STUTTGART: Porsche has opened its eighth Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) worldwide in Franciacorta, Italy.

The new brand experience venue covers 60 hectares and includes the Autodromo di Franciacorta handling circuit.

The new PEC in Franciacorta is located in Castrezzato (Brescia), a scenic area of northern Italy.

The location is not only appealing because of its proximity to Lake Iseo and the airports of Milan, Bergamo and Verona but also because the vineyards in the surrounding area have made the Franciacorta name world famous.

The new Porsche Experience Center consists of two main areas: the customer centre and the drivers’ paddock. The customer centre has a futuristic appearance and an eye-catching curved structure.

It covers an area of around 5,600 square metres and includes a central space, or agora, from which various areas can be accessed: training rooms, a showroom for picking up vehicles, a panoramic restaurant and bar overlooking the handling circuit, a shop and an area for children.

There is also a business centre with a meeting room. The paddock, with its 29 garages, is dedicated to motorsport events, such as the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia.

The heart of PEC Franciacorta is its handling circuit, which has three different training areas. The 2.5-kilometre, highly technical main circuit has a variety of corners and chicanes that are suited for fine-tuning driving skills.

A low-friction handling circuit made of polished concrete allows Porsche drivers to practise in extremely slippery conditions. On the low-friction circle, controlled oversteer can be perfected with the ideal combination of throttle and steering on wet, polished concrete.

The cars’ braking-system efficiency and their stability during emergency manoeuvres can be experienced in the dynamic area.

An off-road course with ramps, curves and a gravel track allows drivers to experience the off-road performance of the Cayenne and Macan SUVs.

Vehicles with driving aids are available for people with disabilities. Franciacorta also boasts a simulation lab for virtual reality and esports, equipped with eight latest-generation simulators and an e-kart track. A training centre from Porsche Italia for training dealers will also be completed by the end of the year.

In addition to Franciacorta, there are PECs in Leipzig, Silverstone, Atlanta, Le Mans, Los Angeles and Shanghai, and, since October 2019, at Germany’s Hockenheimring. A further PEC is set to open in Tokyo in October this year.


Ford in Malaysia announces service promotion

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, today announced its service promotion for the year end starting Nov 23, 2020 to Feb 15, 2021.

When customers book a service during the service promotion period, customers can take advantage of savings up to 20% on vehicle maintenance on selected parts and engine oils.

A savings of 10% on labour fees for lubricant, brake and timing belt packages can also be enjoyed.

Furthermore, customers can benefit from a 27-point vehicle inspection conducted by Ford- certified technicians to ensure their vehicles are in tip-top condition at no additional charge.

For customers who spend more than RM350 in a single receipt, they will receive an exclusive multipurpose bag which can be used for their daily activities 2.

“As the country looks forward to a new year and the hope of coming out of the pandemic, a focus on better health will continue to be a top priority for many people. Likewise, we encourage all our Ford owners to ensure their vehicle health is also being taken care of going into the new year by taking advantage of these service deals,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.

Book an e-Service appointment online via our website: sdacford.com.my/book-a-service-form or Customer Care Hotline at 1300 38 3181.


Why car companies are placing a premium on premium SUVs

                LOS ANGELES: As recently as 10 years ago, the luxury SUV segment consisted almost solely of the Range Rover and the Mercedes G-Class, but as 2017 draws to a close, the full-size, fully premium SUV market is now one of the fastest-growing and most competitive of all vehicle segments, particularly in the US. And at this year's LA Auto Show, which opens its doors to the public on Dec 1, it is about to get even more competitive still.

One of the biggest new car reveals at this year's show — in every sense — will be the new Range Rover SV/Autobiography. Reputed to provide sumptuous space for up to seven passengers, the company promises that it will set a new benchmark in the luxury SUV segment.

However, in recent years, that benchmark has been moving higher and higher as more car companies join a segment Land Rover used to be able to call its own.

For years, data on both sides of the Atlantic has been plotting consumers' movement away from mass-market sedans, coupés, compact hatchbacks and even minivans towards crossovers and SUVs. However, by the start of 2017, the same behavioural shift had well and truly arrived at the very highest end of the luxury automobile market. Over the course of 2016, for the first time in history, luxury SUVs outsold luxury sedans in the US.

According to Edmunds, SUVs accounted for 55% of the luxury car market in 2016 and by the time 2017 becomes 2018 that market share could well be past 60%.

And as a similar pattern is emerging in China, the world's largest single automotive market, it's little wonder that every major marque, mainstream or premium is rushing to get a piece of the action.

The latest upmarket SUVs from Cadillac and Lincoln have been a quantum leap forward in terms of genuine luxury and sense of occasion as has the latest generation Ford Expedition.

And at this year's LA Auto Show we will also see the North American debut of the new Infiniti QX80 fresh from its global unveiling in Dubai. It boasts three rows of seats and an attention to cabin detail in terms of leathers, woods, stitching and appointments that is clearly inspired by the likes of Range Rover and Bentley.

Lexus, Toyota's luxury arm, is also hyping up a new elongated version of its already popular RX,-the RX 350L. It will boast greater luxury and again, room for seven to travel in luxury. It will be making its global debut in LA, as will Subaru's first ever full-size SUV, the Ascent, a vehicle it hopes can move it further into the premium segment.

But that's just the start. LA may signal the end of the automotive events calendar for the year, but by March of 2018 when the Geneva motor show comes around, the premium full-size SUV market will have swollen even more to accommodate the BMW X7, Audi Q8, a new Mercedes G-Class and last, but by no means least, the first ever Rolls-Royce SUV.

 The new QX80. The Ascent (also below).


Isuzu says no plans to relocate factory from Thailand to Indonesia

                TOKYO: Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors said today it was not planning to move a factory to Indonesia from Thailand, a day after the Indonesian industry minister signalled it would.

"While our company continues to focus on Indonesia as a major market, there are no plans to relocate a Thai factory to Indonesia," an Isuzu spokesman said.

The company had made no announcement on the matter, the spokesman added. Isuzu already has a factory in Karawang, Indonesia.

Indonesian Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said on Wednesday that Isuzu planned to move the factory and could start production as early as next year.

A senior industry ministry official maintained late on Thursday that Isuzu would be relocating its factory to Indonesia.

"Maybe they haven't really communicated it. But it's confirmed they want to relocate UD Truck (their truck factory)," Taufiek Bawazier, a director general at Indonesia's industry ministry, told reporters.

Shares of some Thai auto parts companies sold off on Thursday following the comment from the Indonesian industry minister.

Isuzu began building trucks in Thailand 60 years ago.


Toyota opens another KL showroom

Ravindran and UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama (right) attending to a couple who are Toyota customers.
SHAH ALAM: A new Toyota showroom has opened in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.

UMW Toyota Motor already has a 2S centre at a separate address, but it is being upgraded to cater for aftersales service.

The Toyota distributor spent RM1mil to develop the showroom. It will have the usual amenities such as display space for three cars, customer lounge and free WiFi.

“The growing number of Toyota vehicles means we have to expand facilities," said said UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran Kurusamy.

"The existing 2S outlet requires additional capacity ... we are expanding the outlet to cater for aftersales. Meantime, we have opened the new showroom to cater to those who wish to view and purchase Toyota vehicles.”

The new showroom is located at Pusat Komercial Jalan Kuching, Jalan Kepayang. The 2S centre is at Kawasan Perusahaan Segambut.

Under Toyota's "Care that Amazes" aftersales programme, new cars come with a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage subject. Warranty is transferable. Free road assist is also provided in the first year of the car.


Booking opens for the all-new Isuzu D-Max, estimated prices from RM89,000

                PETALING JAYA: Isuzu's highly-anticipated third-generation D-Max pick-up truck is arriving in Malaysia later this month, much earlier than its speculated launch next year.

This latest model made its global debut 18 months ago in Thailand and is estimated to be priced from RM89,000 to  RM145,000 depending on the variant subject to government approvals.

Isuzu Malaysia's dealership throughout the country are accepting pre-bookings now.

Isuzu Malaysia’s Light Commercial Division chief operating officer Masayuki Suzuki said the fast-tracked launch of the all-new D-Max was made possible through the support of Isuzu Motors Ltd that views Malaysia as a strategic market.

“We are extremely thrilled that this impressive all-new Isuzu D-Max has been made available in Malaysia much earlier than expected.

"As the fifth country in the world to launch this model after its global introduction in Thailand, it stands as testament to the strong commitment from Isuzu Motors towards ensuring that the Malaysian market enjoys the latest selection of choice Isuzu vehicles,” he said.

The new D-Max has been extensively developed to exceed the normal perimeters of a pick-up truck while adding an emotive dimension to its highly dependable and impressively-capable character.

Developed on a design theme of bold and sporty, the all-new Isuzu D-Max presents a strong road presence from its masculine frontal design and purposeful outline that exudes a more athletic and dynamic stance.

With its larger overall dimensions that include a longer wheelbase, more spacious cabin and larger load bed, the D-Max affords owners with all-round improvements to its comfort, space and versatility making this a more desirable truck for every purpose.

Available in a variety of configurations including single or double cab guise and powered by a choice of the award-winning RZ-4E 1.9-litre powerplant or a revised 4JJ-3TCX 3.0-litre engine, the new D-Max range is set to be a game changer for the brand.

Scoring the maximum five-star safety rating in the 2020 Asean NCAP tests, the new D-Max offers a new level of safety to offer improved protection for occupants as well as other road users.

Aiding drivers will be a host of Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) available in selected variants.

For details or to be among the few to take early delivery of this new game-changing pick-up truck, visit the Isuzu D-Max Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ISUZU.DMax.Malaysia/


Toyota's new Land Cruiser makes world premiere

                DUBAI: The new Toyota Land Cruiser made its world premiere here today.

In this 70th anniversary year of the legendary Land Cruiser, Toyota has completely redesigned its character by merging technologies accumulated over many years with the latest advancements to lighten it and lowered its centre of gravity. The new Land Cruiser also has a new powertrain, and new exterior and interior designs.

Toyota will be launching it worldwide starting in this summer.

In creating the latest model, Toyota sought to uphold the three pillars of the Land Cruiser success: "reliability, durability, and off-road performance".

Toyota adopted the new GA-F platform based on TNGA while keeping the frame structure, which is the foundation that protects the Land Cruiser's essence.

Furthermore, Toyota redesigned the Land Cruiser's character by merging technologies accumulated over many years with the latest technologies,

The frame itself was redesigned to reduce weight and increase rigidity.

Various steps were taken, such as the reduction of the total weight of the vehicle (by 200 kg) including the frame and the body, lowered centre of gravity, weight distribution, and improved suspension structure.

Based on these improvements in features, as well as through improvements obtained through actual driving tests by evaluation members, including in-house drivers with advanced or master-level technical skills and drivers who had participated in the Dakar Rally, Toyota aimed to create a car that is easy to drive and does not easily tire the driver both on-road and off-road.

A newly developed V6 twin-turbo engine (3.5-litre petrol and 3.3-litre diesel) is used to achieve class-leading driving performance and drivability that surpass those of a conventional V8 engine.

 Diesel engine and (below) the petrol variety.

In terms of environmental performance, Toyota is aiming to globally reduce CO2 emissions by 10% a year compared with the previous model by combining the newly developed Direct Shift-10AT (10-speed automatic transmission) with lighter body weight.
On the exterior, the new Land Cruiser has pursued functional beauty in line with the Land Cruiser's heritage, such as light positions and bumper shape that are unlikely to be damaged during off-road driving.

On the interior, a horizontal instrument panel is created that easily captures the vehicle's position even during off-road driving. Additionally, Toyota pursued operational comfort by positioning switches that can be intuitively operated according to function, and using shape and colour designs that improve operability.

As for the package, placing priority on off-road performance, the vehicle size including the total length, total width, and wheelbase, as well as both the departure and approach angles have been kept the same as the previous model (excluding some grades).

The new Land Cruiser has adopted the latest Toyota Safety Sense active safety package with additional advanced functions.

Two functions have been added to the pre-collision system that helps avoid a collision or reduce damage by detecting pedestrians (daytime and nighttime) and cyclists (daytime).

The first is a function that detects oncoming vehicles at intersections and oncoming pedestrians crossing the street when the vehicle is turning in either direction.

The second is an emergency steering and crash avoidance function, which assists with steering and lane keeping and is triggered when the driver performs a steering maneuver to avoid collision.

Furthermore, the new Land Cruiser has adopted the new Parking Support Brake, which helps prevent accidents by recognising obstacles in front and back of the vehicle in a parking lot, approaching vehicles when the vehicle is backing, and pedestrians.

Since its launch in 1951, the Land Cruiser has continued to be viewed by customers as a safe and secure vehicle.

A total of 10.4 million units and over 300,000 units a year have been sold in 170 countries and regions all over the world.


German court delays ruling on diesel ban to next week

                LEIPZIG: A German court has delayed a ruling on whether major cities can ban heavily polluting diesel cars, which could hit the resale value of up to 15 million vehicles in Europe’s largest car market and force automakers to pay for costly modifications.

Judge Andreas Korbmacher said on Thursday the country’s highest federal administrative court would rule on Feb 27 on an appeal brought by German states against bans imposed by local courts in Stuttgart and Duesseldorf over poor air quality.

“We still see a considerable need for guidance,” he said before breaking off the Leipzig court hearing, responding to a question on whether the European Court of Justice (ECJ) may have to be consulted on the matter.

The ECJ was not immediately available for comment.

European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Thursday the commission was not in charge of traffic regulations in cities. “We don’t view this as a case when we have community competence or we have something meaningful to offer.”

There has been a global backlash against diesel-engine cars since Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating US exhaust tests, meant to limit emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide (NOx), known to cause respiratory disease.

While other countries are also considering restrictions on diesel cars, bans in the birthplace of the modern automobile would be a new blow for the car industry, and an embarrassment for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, which has backed it.

The Leipzig court is due to rule on whether bans imposed by local courts are legal after environmental group DUH sued city authorities. The DUH is also seeking bans in other German cities.

“Everything is still open, but we are much more optimistic,” DUH chief Juerger Resch said after Thursday’s proceedings, noting the judge had made clear that European pollution limits were non-negotiable and must be complied with quickly.

“We are convinced that the court will make its own decision. And we also want a national decision.”

Germany has long promoted diesel to help cut carbon dioxide emissions and meet climate change goals, but the Volkswagen (VW) scandal has pushed its carmakers to step up spending on electric cars, as well as investments into making diesel engines cleaner.

During proceedings in Leipzig on Thursday, lawyers discussed whether the government would have to introduce a new way of labeling cars to enable authorities to enforce any bans.

Merkel’s government, which has come under fire for its close ties to the car industry, has lobbied against bans, fearing they could anger millions of drivers and disrupt traffic in cities, with public transport not in a position to take up the slack.

Meanwhile, authorities in Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens have said they plan to ban diesel vehicles from city centres by 2025, while the mayor of Copenhagen wants to ban new diesel cars from entering the city as soon as next year.

A small group of protesters from Greenpeace gathered outside the Leipzig court, with images of lungs painted on their chests and holding up signs reading “Clean Air Now”.

“Because the government has failed to do anything for years about exhaust problems in the cities, judges have to decide today how residents will be protected from bad air,” said Greenpeace transport spokesman Benjamin Stephan.

 Greenpeace activists wearing white morphsuits with lungs painted on them and hold a poster reading 'We have the right to clean air' as they stage an action against particulate matter and health burden caused by diesel exhaust on Feb 19 in Stuttgart. — AFP

Air quality has been a broader issue in the European Union, leading to a meeting last month between Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella and representatives of nine countries that face legal action over the problem, including Germany and France.

A spokesman for the commission said on Thursday the countries had submitted additional information and the commission would come back to the matter in mid-March.

The threat of bans has prompted a big fall in sales of diesel cars in Germany, down to just a third of new car sales in January from almost half before the VW scandal.

“Diesel might get its final kiss of death (from the court ruling),” Evercore ISI analysts wrote in a note to clients.

In an attempt to avert bans, Merkel’s government agreed a deal with carmakers last year to overhaul engine management software on 5.3 million diesel cars as well as funding for cities to help cut emissions by taxis and buses.

Environmental groups have called software updates insufficient and have lobbied for cars applying the latest Euro-6 and older Euro-5 emissions standards to have their exhaust treatment systems upgraded.

Evercore ISI has said it could cost up to 14.5 billion euros (RM70bil) to retrofit Germany’s Euro-5 diesel fleet, and as much as double that if the entire diesel fleet is affected.


Meet the Nissan Qashqai Black Edition

                LONDON: The Qashqai has been Nissan’s best selling model in Europe and it hasn’t released a “Special Version” until now.

The Qashqai Black Edition is the first Special Version introduced since the model was launched in 2013.

Offered in a limited production run, the Black Edition is on sale and priced in Britain from £27,310 (RM143,000).

Based on the Tekna grade, Black Edition enhancements include 19” Black Ibiscus alloy wheels, Pearl Black metallic paint, front and rear styling plates and “Black Edition”-badged door entry guards.

The model also gains a panoramic roof with one-touch shade, making it the only Qashqai with a glass roof as standard – typically a £400 option on Tekna models.

Nissan’s suite of advanced safety and driver assist systems – collectively known as Nissan Safety Shield – are included on the car as standard. These include Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Forward Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Moving Object Detection and Driver Attention Alert.

Additional specification includes full black leather upholstery, Intelligent Park Assist, bi-LED headlights and the state-of-the-art NissanConnect infotainment system. Based around an integrated seven-inch high-resolution touch-screen, it includes DAB digital radio and satellite navigation. Nissan’s pioneering 360º Around View Monitor – to help with low-speed manoeuvres – is also fitted as standard.

The Qashqai Black Edition is powered by the dCi 110 6-speed manual 2WD, which delivers 4l/100km combined fuel economy and CO2 emissions of just 103g/km.

The multi-award-winning Qashqai continues to be the best-selling crossover in Europe. Since production began in 2013, a new Qashqai has been built every 62 seconds, or 58 per hour, at the plant in Sunderland, Britain. In September 2015, the Qashqai became the fastest ever British-built vehicle to smash the half million production mark.


MINI updates Cooper S Clubman (F54) and unleashes JCW variant from RM299K

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Malaysia refreshes the Cooper S Clubman and introduces a more potent John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman performance variant.

At RM298,888 (on-the-road without insurance), the latest Clubman is also accompanied by a four-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service and a five-year roadside assistance package.

Colour options include Indian Summer Red (new), New British Racing Green, Pepper White, Thunder Grey, Melting Silver and Starlight Blue.

Powered by a 2.0-litre (1,998cc) turbocharged engine producing 192hp from 5,000 to 6,000rpm and 280Nm of torque from 1,350 to 4,600rpm, the engine has been gifted with an automatic start-stop system.

Thanks to a seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch sports transmission, accelerating from 0 to 100kph takes 7.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 228kph - all while capable of consuming just 6.2 litres per 100km.

While rolling on 18-inch two-tone British spoke wheels with 225/40 series run-flat tyres, the front-wheel-driven Clubman can be further identified with a MINI Yours badge, piano-black roof and power-folding external mirror caps.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been equipped for the automatic headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights, Union Jack-designed rear light clusters and white dynamic indicators.

Access to the Carbon Black interior upholstery with an Anthracite headliner can be granted via a keyless-entry system with push-start button to reveal a 360-litre (expandable to 1,250 litres) boot as well as Frozen Blue illumination and Velour floor mats - all from the MINI Yours custom parts bin.

Owners will also find fitted, as standard, an interactive LED ring on the central instrument display, automatic dual-zone climate controls and electronic parking brake and steering system.

Also included are adaptive cruise control, powered sports seats with memory function, paddle-shifters, anti-dazzle rearview mirror and automatic wipers.

Entertainment comes from a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system with Active Sound Design that's controlled by a 6.5-inch MINI Visual Boost LCD touchscreen display with a five-key controller, remote services, teleservices, navigation, connected services, intelligent emergency call, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and Apply CarPlay.

For safety, the Clubman comes equipped with six airbags, anti-lock braking system with brake assist, cornering brake control, electronic brakeforce distribution and dynamic braking lights.

Further bolstering safety are dynamic stability control, traction control, an electronic differential lock control, pull-away assist, reverse camera, flat-tyre indicator and Attentive Assist.

As for the performance-oriented John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman variant, the engine's output gets bumped up to a whopping 306hp from 5,000 to 6,250rpm and 450Nm from 1,750 to 4,500rpm.

Just like the output, the price too gets similarly bumped up to RM358,888 and includes all warranties and services found with the standard Cooper S Clubman.

With the up-tuned performance figures, acceleration from 0 to 100kph now takes 4.9 seconds and the top speed has been electronically limited to 250kph. Fuel consumption now stands at 7.7 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

Now managing power to ALL4 wheels is an eight-speed transmission instead which has decided to tag its friends along - launch control and mechanical differential lock.

Due to the added performance, the wheels and braking system gets up-sized to 19-inch wheels wearing 225/35 run-flat tyres that try to partially hide the massive 18-inch discs with Chili Red callipers before dropping 10mm in ride-height due to the JCW Sport springs.

For better differentiation from the standard Clubman is the use of many JCW parts that include a 95mm exhaust system, aerodynamic kit, front and rear badges, rear spoiler side scuttles and a panoramic sunroof as well as Chili Red colour for the bonnet stripes, mirror caps and what's left of the roof.

The interior is upgraded with a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen MINI navigation system heads-up display and wireless charging, multi-function JCW leather steering wheel and a reverse camera that now possesses dynamic lines.

Other changes include JCW dial design, sports seats and door sill strips to act as constant reminders for its occupants that this is no ordinary Clubman.

MINI Cooper S Clubman

MINI JCW Clubman


Ford to introduce new F-Series Super Duty lineup

                DALLAS: Ford is introducing its latest lineup for its F-Series Super Duty trucks in the United States and has been considered the best-selling truck range for the last 42 consecutive years.

“Ford truck customers are building a better world with Super Duty and we’re helping them work even harder with the most available diesel towing, payload, torque and power you can get in a heavy-duty pickup,” said Super Duty chief engineer Mike Pruitt.

“We’re excited to be in the nation’s largest truck market at the State Fair of Texas announcing we’ve surpassed the kilo-torque barrier and made it standard with every pickup truck featuring a Power Stroke diesel engine.”

The new 2020 F-Series Super Duty pickup owns six key best-in-class heavy-duty pickup truck claims for full-size pickups over 8,500 pounds (3,856kg):

> Best-in-class maximum available diesel gooseneck towing of up to 37,000 pounds (16,783kg)

> Best-in-class maximum available diesel fifth-wheel towing of 32,500 pounds (14,515kg)

> Best-in-class maximum available diesel conventional towing of 24,200 pounds (10,977kg)

> Best-in-class diesel power and torque with available 6.7-litre Power Stroke diesel V8 delivering 475hp and 1,050 ft.-lbs (1,423Nm) of torque.

> Best-in-class gas (petrol) power and torque from all-new available 7.3-litre V8 delivering 430hp and 475 ft.-lbs (644Nm) of torque.

> Best-in-class maximum payload capacity of 7,850 pounds (3,561kg) with standard 6.2-litre gas (petrol) engine.

To put the capability of Super Duty into perspective, its maximum available towing figure means a properly configured F-450 could tow about as much weight as 31 American quarter horses at 1,200 pounds.

For 2020, maximum towing capacity increases across all Super Duty pickup series – F-250, F-350 and F-450 – versus the outgoing model.

The 2020 Super Duty with Tremor Off-Road Package will have a maximum towing capacity of up to 15,000 pounds (6,804kg) for conventional trailers and 21,900 pounds (9,934kg) for gooseneck trailers with the available diesel.

Additionally, it can take on a maximum payload of 4,210 pounds (1,910kg) with the all-new 7.3-litre gas (petrol) engine that is available.

With 19 million miles (30.78mil km) of accumulated testing, the Super Duty is touted to be able to stand up to the harshest conditions and heaviest work.

Also, every aspect has been torture tested — including its high-strength steel boxed frame, high-strength military-grade aluminium-alloy body and integrated gooseneck hitch mounts.

Even the all-new 7.3-litre gas (petrol) V8 has been rigorously tested as has the available third-generation 6.7-litre Power Stroke diesel and all-new 10-speed heavy-duty TorqShift automatic transmission which is available with all engine options.

The brand with the Blue Oval says that its F-Series Super Duty trucks command the highest market share at over 62% in the mining industry, 50% for emergency vehicles, and more than 47% in construction (IHS Markit TIPNet U.S. registration data, January 2017 through June 2019).

The new Super Duty has been introduced with a new Pro Trailer Backup Assist system which helps the driver negotiate large trailers into tight spaces.

Drivers use a knob instead of the steering wheel to easily maneuver the trailer via the reverse camera with Trailer Reverse Guidance lines that shows the trailer's angle and direction and provides steering suggestions.

Ford is the only manufacturer to provide Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance technology that accommodates all trailer types – conventional, fifth-wheel and gooseneck designs.

The 2020 Super Duty also comes with FordPass Connect with an embedded 4G LTE modem, Wi-Fi access for up to 10 devices to help keep the crew connected as well as wireless charging and USB-C ports.

Standard features on XLT and above Super Duty trim levels include Lane-Keeping Alert, Blind Spot Information System with Trailer Coverage.

Also included are Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and second-row seat belt pre-tensioners (standard on all Super Duty models).

The 2020 Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks are built at the company's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. Trucks start shipping to dealers by year-end.


Ford must rethink its brand for China as EVs boom, says CEO

                DETROIT: Facing a booming and hyper-competitive market for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, Ford Motor Co needs to reshape its brand for the world's largest car market, Chief Executive Jim Farley said.

"We're going to have to rethink what the Ford brand means in a place like China," Farley told reporters on Thursday evening in Detroit, speaking on the sidelines of a charity event.

"It can't be like middle of the market. It's totally over-filled."

He was not asked and did not provide details on what a brand reset would entail.

Ford-brand sales were down in China in the first quarter, along with sales and market share for other established, global automakers as sales of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles boomed, led by China's BYD.

Farley, who had just returned from a trip to China, said it was notable the only premium brands succeeding in China were all-electric from the start, with a focus on technology, the "digital experience" of drivers and services.

He mentioned domestic players Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto as companies that were getting it right.

Even state-owned automakers in China had created new brands for EVs, he said.

"The differentiation really comes down to technology and services," he said.

"They're all beautiful. All of these vehicles are so beautiful. Go to China."

Farley said Chinese automakers also faced intense competition in the market for two-row, SUV-styled electric vehicles, a segment where Tesla also competes with the Model Y.

"They have so much overcapacity in the two-door crossover that the amount of money those companies are losing and burning is incredible," he said of the Chinese brands.

"That's why they're going big on Europe. Europe is a premium export market. They're all going there."

Farley, who appeared by video at the Shanghai auto show this week, said BYD, which sells the most-popular EV in China and dominates the market for EVs and plug-in hybrids, had a singular lead in controlling all the key elements in its supply chain.

"There is one huge company that is so impressive, BYD. They're in a totally different world than Tesla," he said.

"They're totally vertically integrated, completely, all the way to batteries. No one is doing that on the globe."

BYD used this week's Shanghai auto show to unveil an entry-level EV dubbed the Seagull that shocked analysts and industry executives with its combination of design, battery range and price.

The entry-level hatchback will start from 78,000 yuan (RM51,000), a sharp discount from EV global brands' prices.


Norway set to become world's first country to achieve 100% electric car sales from 2022

                OSLO: From the spring of 2022, all new car sales in Norway could well be electric, whether 100% electric or plug-in hybrid models.

This would make the Scandinavian country the world's first to switch completely to a new, fully electric era.

According to an analysis of sales figures from recent years, published by the Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF), the very last sale of a new combustion-powered car, whether gasoline or diesel, is expected to take place in April 2022.

The government had originally set 2025 as the target date for the complete end of new gasoline and diesel car sales, but Norwegians have evidently been much more responsive, faced with an increasingly wide and efficient selection of alternatives.

In the first nine months of 2021, the combined sales of gasoline and diesel vehicles fell below 10% of the market share.

The top 15 new car sales in Norway today are almost exclusively electric vehicles, with the exception of one model.. .a plug-in hybrid.

For the record, the best-selling conventional internal combustion engine car in Norway in 2021 is currently the Volkswagen Tiguan, which only appears in 38th place.

Of course, the used car trade will not make the market for internal combustion engine cars disappear overnight. In fact, these cars still represent nearly 85% of the cars on the road in the whole country.

The fact that Norway is set to become the first country to sell only electric models is hardly a surprise. The country has always favoured the development of electric cars, notably by very quickly introducing a tax incentive for buying "clean" cars and by developing major charging infrastructure.

Although less marked, the trend is broadly echoed elsewhere, especially since the majority of car manufacturers have announced that they will move entirely to electric vehicles by 2035 or 2040 at the latest.


3-seat McLaren hybrid hypercar to be named Speedtail

                LONDON: McLaren has announced that the car it previously referred to as BP23 will be named the McLaren Speedtail.

The world’s first Hyper-GT and McLaren’s next entrant to its Ultimate Series, the Speedtail will achieve the highest top speed of any McLaren yet, with the capability to exceed the 391kph peak speed of the legendary McLaren F1 road car.

Its design, teased in a series of sketches, will be flowing and highly streamlined, incorporating new materials to facilitate possibilities for tailoring through McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

The news follows the announcement by McLaren Automotive CEO, Mike Flewitt, during the Geneva Motor Show press conference that a public reveal of the McLaren Speedtail can be expected this year. The 106 customers who have reserved one will be invited to see it first.

The next addition to the McLaren Ultimate Series will be both the fastest-ever (in a straight line) and the most luxurious McLaren. Featuring a three-seat cockpit design with a central driving position – the same layout as the F1 – and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, the McLaren Speedtail will deliver the unparalleled blend of extreme performance and sporting luxury that befits its status as the ultimate road-going McLaren.

The entire production of the McLaren Speedtail was allocated before the car was officially announced in November 2016. Production is due to begin at the end of next year, with every McLaren Speedtail personalised to each owner’s taste by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the division of McLaren Automotive responsible for bespoke customer commissions.


Pros with nerves of steel test-drive cars for automakers - VIDEOS

                MUNICH: The tyres squeal, the brakes smoke - and behind the wheel, there’s not a young lout but a professional test engineer, pushing the car to its limits on behalf of the manufacturer.

For some, it’s the absolute dream job - but it can be hard work too: test drivers can travel hundreds of kilometres in a day, before reviewing the vehicle and recording their overall impressions.

Manufacturers and suppliers differentiate between two types of test drivers. The first are endurance test drivers, who stick to a script, performing specific driving profiles behind the wheel of different cars, in some cases racking up nearly 600km per day.

Endurance testing allows automakers to simulate and evaluate the durability of the car, spotting parts that fail in long use. These drivers tend to come from workshops in company research departments.

The second kind of test drivers are research engineers who are trying out components that they themselves have developed to see if they work. Their job is to develop, control and optimise specific systems for vehicles and they will be paying attention to just that one component while driving.

These test drivers thus tend to be mechanical or automotive engineers.

"Test drivers need to have a good feel for the car," says Ulrich Pfundmeier, head of testing and technology at BMW of Germany.

Through various stages over the course of years, the test drivers learn how to drive quickly, consistently and safely, while always staying close to a car’s limit. "Only then can the car be correctly calibrated and fine-tuned," says Pfundmeier.

So how does a car handle, or how is its suspension? What needs to change in order to improve its overall performance?

Research engineers and test drivers play an important, long-term role in fine-tuning improvements in a vehicle’s capabilities, and especially for more stressed components such as the spring and shock-absorber system.

As a key precondition to become a test driver at Mercedes-Benz, for example, candidates must have received vocational training with a background in the automotive sector, along with at least five years of professional practice; once on board, students take driver safety training and theory classes.

After this training, prospective drivers must then ride along with an experienced colleague for four weeks, and may only drive with the colleague next to them in the front seat. At this point, the test driver will be granted an entry-level driver’s licence - with additional training on the way.

"Test drivers generally need to be above-average drivers, understand complex systems in the vehicle, have a good ear and feel for the car and must be able to anticipate critical traffic situations," says Koert Groeneveld of Mercedes.

Testers often work as part of three-shift operations, and can accumulate up to 80,000km of travel in a year in some of the world's most exciting car models, on both test tracks and public roads.

Their main task is to confirm the results of bench testing or driving simulations.

"The individual tasks are monitored by systems in the car. The results taken from the vehicles are then collected online at our development centre and evaluated," explains Groeneveld.

Even car-parts suppliers and tyre manufacturers such as Continental employ engineers with an automotive background to test drive vehicles.

According to Enno Pigge at Continental, they must each be experts in their respective test discipline, must record their unprejudiced impressions and results after driving a vehicle, and must also have a good understanding of the parts being tested, such as tyres, brakes or driver assistance systems.

Continental provides an internal training course for prospective test drivers to gain the necessary qualifications. Over the course of two to three years, candidates are trained in the intricacies and precise evaluation of tyres.

"Test drivers are rather the hard-working, level-headed test engineer than they are race-car drivers," explains Pigge.


California allows digital licence plates, with US$1,100 price tag

                SAN FRANCISCO: California’s roads just got a little smarter with the passage of a bill that paves the way for the sale of digital licence plates across the state.

The technology allows for emergency messaging like marking the car stolen or indicating an Amber Alert, and can be personalised through an app with touts like “Go Warriors” or “Go Lakers” to cheer on the local sports teams.

The pesky task of car registration also will become easier with DMV auto-renewals, eliminating the need for registration cards and stickers.

California-based startup Reviver is the only company offering digital licence plates right now, and they’re expensive, costing up to US$1,100 (RM5,161) for four years for a hard-wired version. (The cost for a traditional licence plate, registration card and sticker totals US$69, according to state’s DMV.)

A battery-powered version is available for around US$20 per month subscription, or US$215 a year, for four years.

The devices have raised privacy concerns because of the sensitive data they can aggregate, which could have the potential to be hacked and tracked.

Organisations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit digital rights group, have been fighting for years to restrict police from using automated licence plate readers to surveil neighbourhoods for location data that can detect travel patterns of targeted vehicles.

But that’s not stopping the charge forward.

In 2016, Reviver began testing the devices in California and has since began selling in Arizona and Michigan, where digital licence plates are already approved. The company also has plans to expand into Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Texas as more states adopt the technology.


Ford set to resume F-150 Lightning production on March 13

                WASHINGTON: Ford Motor Co said on Friday it was on track to resume production of F-150 Lightning vehicles on Monday after the No. 2 US automaker recalled 18 electric trucks due to a battery cell manufacturing defect.

The recall announced Friday stemmed from production over a four-week period starting at the end of last year. Ford said it had recently established "that 18 vehicles containing cells from that four-week period had made it to dealers and customers."

Ford said it will replace the battery packs in the 18 vehicles but said it is not aware of any fires or any injuries related to the recall.

The automaker previously announced it planned to restart production Monday after it halted output after a EV battery fire in early February.

Ford said an EV truck caught fire Feb 4 during a pre-delivery quality inspection in a company holding lot in Dearborn, Michigan and spread to two other trucks. The automaker halted production the next day.

The automaker said Friday "the root cause identified was related to battery cell production at the SK On plant in Georgia. SK On is the automotive battery unit of SK Innovation.

Ford said together with SK On it had "confirmed the root causes and have implemented quality actions."

Ford said Friday it still has not set a date for resuming deliveries but said production is on track to resume Monday with a "clean stock of battery packs."


Volvo EX90: Up the game

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo. Safety. The two terms have become inseparable.

You have probably heard that word association a million times. And indeed, it has been drilled into the public consciousness over the years.

The creator of the three-point safety belt, inflatable curtain and blind spot detection system continues to build on its core strength to lend added gravitas.

While realistically accidents will still happen as a result of human errors, Volvo on its part sets an exceptionally high safety bar as it strives to make cars that are as difficult as possible to be seriously injured or to die in, with autonomous technology seen as the great leveller.

In recent years, the idea of going electric has been a rallying cry within Volvo corridors, gaining momentum with each product launch.

Volvo has gone on record to say that it will make only battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2030 and be a climate-neutral company by 2040.

In the interim, it aims to have half of its sales comprised 50% of BEVs by 2025. Volvo's Malaysian unit is more ambitious, aiming to hit BEV sales of 75% by that time.

In 2023, that will culminate with the series production of the EX90, the all-electric version of the XC90. To be built at Volvo's plants in China and US, the future EV flagship will hit showrooms in early 2024. (estimated US$80,000 or RM355,000)

Malaysian customers will have to cool their heels as the EX90 is only expected to be available at the tail end of next year.

In the EX90, all the know-how have come together to forge a brand new product that takes lessons from the past and strides into the future with new confidence.

Company CEO Jim Rowan said the EX90 "is the safest car Volvo has ever produced.”

Starting with the EX90, Volvo will reveal one new fully electric car each year.

A group of Malaysian media members were recently in Gothenburg to get up close and personal with the EX90.

The EX90 will initially be available with dual motors — one on each axle for an all-wheel drive setup, and powered by a 111 kWh Li-ion battery pack.

The base version drums up 408hp and 770Nm of torque, while a more potent one releases 517hp and 910Nm of torque. Range is expected to be up to 600km. Charging from 10% to 80% takes around 30 minutes.

The most advanced Volvo car yet will launch as a seven seater but it could actually be configured as a 5-seat vehicle with a rear-wheel motor. But Rowan said that is not in the pipeline for now. At present, only the XC40 and C40 BEVs are available with rear-drive motor.

The EX90 shown to the press was a life-size mock-up model purely used for static display.

The EX90 boasts a characteristic Scandinavian design where form follows function.

The front shows off a powerful, compact and athletic look, while the side reveals a stretched clean surface without any clutter. The rear emphasises the width of the vehicle, which is actually wider, longer and rides lower than the XC90.

Headlight design is a conversation piece with double-stacked "Thor's Hammer" LED daytime running lights opening up at night to reveal the main lamps. Animated light graphics, also seen in the taillights, lend an exclusive feel.

Safety tech have become smarter and more personal.

The EX90 has an invisible safety shield enabled by the latest sensing technology, inside and outside. State-of-the art sensors like cameras, radars and lidar are connected to the car’s high-performance computers, where NVIDIA DRIVE runs Volvo Cars’ in-house software to create a real-time, 360-degree view of the world.

Sensors also contribute to improve the reliability and overall performance of the assisted driving function Pilot Assist, with a new steering support while changing lanes.

As the first Volvo to be defined by its software, the EX90 offers a number of innovations. They include an in-car radar to monitor driver engagement; occupant sensing; bi-directional charging; Dolby Atmos surround sound technology; and ability to use a smartphone as a car key.

Special sensors and cameras, powered by an in-house developed algorithm, gauge eye gaze concentration.

The technology allows the EX90 to understand when the driver is distracted, drowsy or otherwise inattentive, beyond what has been possible in a Volvo car to date.

It’ll alert the driver, first softly nudging, then more insistent. And if the unthinkable happens, and he falls asleep or is taken ill while driving, the EX90 is designed to safely stop and call for help.

Volvo's rear-seat reminder tech is the most advanced in the industry. Using a cabin radar, it is sensitive enough to detect the gentle breathing of a sleeping child.

If the driver forgets another person or pet is in the back seat, the EX90 would respond by not allowing the car to be locked, whilst it would remind the person to check for occupants. At the same time, the climate control system would remain activated to maintain cabin comfort.

In addition, the displays in the centre stack and in front of the driver provide information in a smart way that can be customised. Volvo shunned the videogame and smartphone premise in the design of the infotainment screen, resulting in a flat interface that present key information in a simple format without making the driver feel overwhelmed.

The electric SUV is also built to be future-proof. Its advanced sensor set including lidar prepares it to be the first Volvo that’s hardware-ready for unsupervised driving in the future.

The Swedish trip was also an opportunity to quiz the company's top executives.

As electric propulsion is at the heart of new energy vehicles, Volvo aims to develop the key components in-house.

"So we heavily invest in that," said Rowan.

 Rowan (left) and Annwall.

"We used to buy the motors and inverters. We now make them ourselves including the battery management system."

Volvo expects to eventually make a large percentage of its own batteries through a joint venture with battery manufacturer Northvolt.

Apart from the traditional sales channels, Volvo is invested in car subscription and expects it to grow further.

"Subscription is promising everywhere," said co-deputy CEO Bjorn Annwall.

"Our problem is not the demand for the service. It's more a matter of how quickly we can scale up in a profitable way.

"We need to set up the right digital infrastructure, have the right credit scoring of customers and efficient operational processes when cars are handed back."

With Volvo being 82%-owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group since 2010, the arrangement has been fruitful with a collaborative culture in place.

Annwall said the Geely family is an ecosystem of independent companies, which all look after their own future.

"It's encouraged that if a win-win opportunity (between companies) arises, we look into it whether with Geely, Zeekr, Polestar, Lynk & Co or Radar.

"For certain technical solutions, we leverage on each other's underpinnings."

With that said, Volvo is not taking any detour from what it has always stood for.

"Volvo is about safety, sustainability and giving people the freedom to move. That's our brand and that's our demographic that we go after," said Rowan in parting.

READ MORE:
Ice track driving with all-electric Volvo C40 and XC40
Volvo EX90 production delayed to 2024 by software issues


Honda has developed an air filter that works like a face mask for your car

                TOKYO: Some of the cars made by Japanese brand Honda will soon get an air-filtering device capable of blocking virus from entering the car and also of catching virus droplets inside the cabin. Honda even claims that the solution could destroy Covid-19 virus cells in the process.

Honda claims that this system, called "Kurumaku," will be able to eliminate 99.8% of virus droplets circulating inside the car in only 15 minutes.

Unlike other "air purifying" systems deployed by competing automakers that prevent 0.3 micron particles from entering the car, Kurumaku destroys nanoparticles that circulate inside the cabin.

It's worth noting that Kurumaku won't remove traces of virus on hard surfaces, which normally are eliminated after around 24 hours

The automaker explains that the new system needs to be replaced every year, or every 15,000km in order to remain efficient.

Honda will launch Kurumaku as an accessory in its compact N Box, exclusively in Japan, for 6400 yens (around RM250). Other models are also set to soon have it as an option.


Five new food and beverage brands at PLUS highways' R&Rs

Fourth from left: PLUS Malaysia Bhd managing director Datuk Azman Ismail, chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim, Malaysia Highway Authority director-general Datuk Aziz Abdullah together with senior management of Family Mart, Sushi King, Daily Fresh, Bon 900 Cafe and My Laksa as well as PLUS Malaysia chief commercial officer Christine Liew (far right).

SETIA ALAM: PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) recently welcomed five new food and beverage brands namely Family Mart, Sushi King, Daily Fresh, Bon 900 Café and My Laksa which joined more than 20 major food and beverage brands now operating at PLUS R&Rs (Rest & Relaxation) areas and lay-bys.

“The fact that these brands are happy to become our business partners says a lot about the quality of our highways and R&Rs,” said PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail.

“The business partners that Plus works with are pivotal to our success as well as the happiness of those who patronise our R&Rs. Most importantly, PLUS provides a wide range of selection of retail offerings that is competitively priced and accessible to every Malaysian from all walks of life” stressed Azman at the company's first ever business partner conference held at Setia City Convention Centre.

The event saw the participation of more than 450 business partners nationwide and the launch of PLUS' Business Partner Incentive Programme (BPIP) in recognition of top performers.

Also present were PLUS chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim, chief commercial officer Christine Liew and Malaysia Highway Authority director-general Datuk Aziz Abdullah.

The BPIP is one of the key initiatives introduced by PLUS to recognise business partners who put customers at the heart of everything they do.

This is reflected in their demonstration of high customer service excellence standards, food quality, and compliance to SIRIM’s 5S quality standards.

The awards were presented for individual business owners as well as a grand prize for the Best Overall Performing R&R in Malaysia going to Seremban NorthBound R&R.

A total amount of awards and prizes worth more than RM70 000 were given out with RM10,000 to the Best Overall Performing R&R.

In his speech, Azman noted that over 1.5 million motorists use PLUS highways for their daily commute

"There are over 1.7 million motorists on PLUS highways during weekends. In the 29 years since we opened our first R&R in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, we have grown from strength to strength with 700 F&B outlets at 24 R&R's, 46 lay-bys and four overhead bridge restaurants," he said.


India pushes back six-airbag rule by a year to October 2023

                NEW DELHI: India will require all passenger cars to have a minimum of six airbags from Oct 1, 2023, a year later than originally planned, the road transport minister said on Thursday.

The move, aimed at improving safety in a country that has the world's deadliest roads, was initially planned for Oct 1, 2022, but faced resistance from some carmakers.

"Considering the global supply chain constraints being faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic scenario" the rules will be implemented from October 2023, Nitin Gadkari said.

Draft airbag rules were made public in January and were expected to be finalised a month later but faced resistance from carmakers including Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti said the move would increase vehicle prices and drive out a chunk of buyers.

In India, the world's fourth-largest car market, the majority of cars sold are priced below US$15,000.

Two airbags - one each for the driver and front passenger - are already mandatory.

The government estimates adding four more would cost no more than US$75 (RM348). Auto market data provider JATO Dynamics, however, estimates it could increase costs by at least US$231 (RM1,071).

Several carmakers typically offer six airbags in higher, pricier variants, but not the base model.

"Safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority," Gadkari said.

Mandating six airbags is part of a renewed push by the road transport ministry to improve safety after Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, died in a recent car crash.

India had a death on its roads every four minutes, the World Bank said last year.

Gadkari said earlier in September he hoped efforts to improve road safety would halve road accidents and deaths by the end of 2024.


Dress up new BMW M5 with M Performance Parts

                LAS VEGAS/MUNICH: With the M5 unveiled in August, BMW is moving on to introduce a range of M Performance Parts accessory range at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Some of the parts make the F90 M5 look better while others improve aerodynamics, cooling and performance.

Most of parts will be available as retrofit components when the vehicle is launched in March 2018, with further products following in July.

Aero kit
The M Performance aerodynamics components are all made from lightweight carbon fibre and are elaborately handcrafted. They comprised a newly designed front attachment, side sill attachments, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, a carbon fibre rear spoiler Pro and a rear diffuser.

Also available are carbon fibre front and air breather trim side grilles bearing the M logo, M Performance carbon fibre mirror caps and M Performance side sill foils.

The new BMW M Performance coilover suspension developed specifically for the M5 ensures excellent road-holding and increases driving dynamics resulting from a more direct connection of the vehicle body with the road. Moreover, red coil springs also add further visual highlights. The spring plates are adjustable.

If that's not enough, there's carbon-ceramic brakes to add to the shopping list. To whet the appetite, the sports disc pads are based on highly durable, motorsports-proven racing brake pads and offer advantages such as a shorter braking distances, better brake response as well as higher thermal resilience.

Sports exhaust option for North America only
A sports exhaust system, which will be on sale exclusively in the United States and Canada, guarantees an emotional motorsport sound. The end muffler is made from titanium with carbon fibre tailpipe trims additionally available. Optimised exhaust gas routing with reduced counter-pressure enhances the beefy V8 TwinTurbo sound.

Not enough toys yet? Then BMW wants to foist the M Performance Drive Analyser on you. It records and evaluates all important vehicle dynamics data. The system offers comprehensive, professional possibilities to record and analyse, which can be evaluated and displayed on the smartphone. The Drive Analyser determines a variety of relevant indicators such as diverse engine data, speed and peak values, engaged gear, use of accelerator pedal and brakes as well as lateral acceleration.

The results can be shown on the smartphone as videos or graphic representations via the free M Performance Drive Analyser App. Customers seeking to capture their drive on film can order the Trackfix action camera holder, which can be mounted in the threaded bush of the towing lug either at the front or rear end of the vehicle.

Custom parts have also seeped into the engine bay with the optional carbon fibre engine cover extension kit.

Other nice bits are M body stripes, M Performance steering wheel, carbon fibre steering wheel cover, carbon fibre shift paddles and a carbon fibre gear shift lever cover, M Performance floor mats and LED logo projector.

M5 MotoGP Safety Car
The new M5 will be deployed as the MotoGP Safety Car

Since 1999, BMW M has been the “official car of the MotoGP” and affiliate partner of MotoGP organisers Dorna Sports. Like the predecessor model, the M5 MotoGP Safety Car is equipped with a multitude of M Performance Parts so that it is able to fully meet the special demands on a lead vehicle in professional motorsport.

These also include M Performance aerodynamics components as well as the BMW M Performance sports exhaust system made from titanium. The BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car will make its first racetrack appearance at the 2017 season final in Valencia, Spain, in November. During the 2018 season, it will spearhead the M MotoGP Safety Car fleet.

The latest M5 will also see active duty in the world of video-gaming, “Need for Speed Payback”, when it is released on Nov 10.

M5 essentials
The new M5 gets a newly designed M-specific four-wheel drive system, which guarantees optimised driving dynamics through improved handling and traction.

The standard M5 delivers 600hp and a maximum torque of 750Nm, offering a significant increase in performance vs. the predecessor models.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 kph with the new 8-speed Steptronic transmission featuring Drivelogic is 3.4 seconds. The suspension features M-specific kinematic and elastokinematic elements to help optimise driving dynamics.

Weight is also a crucial factor in terms of performance: This has been further reduced, among other things, by a roof made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic.