Apple puts brakes on car team but keeps eye on road

Apple added a former Tesla executive to a leading role on the self-driving vehicle tech team last year, and the staff cut came with internal re-organisation. — AFP
SAN FRANCISCO: Apple acknowledged Jan 24 that it has trimmed its team devoted to self-driving car technology but stressed that it's still in the race.

Apple’s comment came in response to a CNBC report that the staff of a secretive Project Titan was reduced this week by more than 200 people, some of whom were transferred to jobs elsewhere at the California-based technology group.

“We have an incredibly talented team working on autonomous systems and associated technologies at Apple,” the company said in a released statement.

“We continue to believe there is a huge opportunity with autonomous systems, that Apple has unique capabilities to contribute, and that this is the most ambitious machine learning project ever.”

“As the team focuses their work on several key areas for 2019, some groups are being moved to projects in other parts of the company, where they will support machine learning and other initiatives, across all of Apple,” the statement said.

Notoriously tight-lipped Apple revealed its autonomous vehicle technology aspirations late in 2016 in a letter to the US


Colour shifting: Audi RS7's custom paintwork is worth talking about

                PETALING JAYA: From the DipYourCar channel on YouTube comes a colour-shifting automotive finish on an Audi RS7 that many will find impressive.

It might even blow your mind.

Combining red and black, the pearlescent colour shifts from red and orange to black depending on how the light hits the car.

In the video, DipYourCar founder/owner Fonzie showed how the colour was prepared and sprayed onto the RS7. He said this is arguably the world's first pearl colour that can shift from red to black as shown on a full-scale car.

The RS7 with bronze Vossen wheels lends an ideal canvas to the colour with its extended curves and lines.

Watch and be amazed.


Toyota Gazoo Racing festival and Vios Challenge Season 4 ends on high note

                SEPANG: Suspense and on-track drama from start to finish provided the perfect backdrop for an exciting finale as Season 4 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge racing series drew to a close with the crowning of four overall class champions.

Malaysia’s prince of drift and also Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia ambassador drove to his third overall championship title in the Super Sporting Class for elite drivers.

Meanwhile, Clement Yeo charged to his first ever overall title in the Sporting Class for amateur drivers; actor Shukri Yahaya finally clinched his first overall title in the Promotional Class after four seasons of racing; and young simulator racer Naquib Azlan was crowned the first ever overall champion in the Rookie Class.

The final race of the season at the Sepang International Circuit produced some of the year’s most intense battles on track as no less than three individuals were in close contention for the overall championship title in each of the four classes.

“We could not have asked for a more exciting finish to the season,” said Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Chief Motorsports Officer Akio Takeyama.

“Faced with an incredibly challenging season as a result of the global pandemic, we are thankful that we were able to conclude the championship. The introduction of a night race also made the Vios Challenge even more unpredictable and quite a spectacle enjoyed by both drivers and spectators.

“I would like to thank all the drivers, teams, sponsors, business associates and all personnel involved in the series for their continue support. We will be back next season, and hopefully in an even bigger way!” he said.

The finale was also attended by Youth & Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu who meet young drivers competing in the Rookie Class and celebrities racing in the Promotional Class, as well as presented prizes to the overall champions.

Ahmad Faizal commended UMW Toyota Motor’s involvement in Malaysian motorsports, saying it amplified how corporate involvement can contribute significantly towards revitalising and injecting greater excitement in the sport.

“This is an initiative that is being done independently of any Government support or financial assistance. While UMW Toyota Motor and the brand may have its own objectives to fulfill, it has successfully been able to do so while giving so much back to Malaysian motorsports.

“I’m not only referring to the racing that takes place on the track, but also in terms of giving the motorsports
economy a big boost because events like these create both business and employment opportunities for those in the industry.”

SPORTING CLASS
The night’s race opened in dramatic fashion with no less than 6 cars involved in skirmishes from the very first lap of the race as a result of a wet track.

Clement Yeo made a brilliant start from fifth position on the grid to stay within a car’s length of Panglima City Racing Team’s Kenneth Koh, before eventually passing him for the lead.

Behind, the battle for third, fourth and fifth positions was even more intense which saw 23 Motor’s Ady Rahimy
being the first to be pelted off the track, followed by Team Fokus Tetap’s Lim Chun Beng and subsequently Datuk Ken Foo, A. Shanmuganathan, Eric Yong and Amirul Haikal.

These incidents brought out the safety car six laps into the 20-lap race, reducing what little gap Yeo had built over Koh, and when the race resumed three laps later, all the attention then shifted to Dream Chaser’s Bradley Benedict Anthony and Ady who were trading places for third position.

Yeo paced himself well in the remaining 10 minutes of the race but it was once again Bradley who stole the limelight when he shot pass Koh for second place and that was how the first three places on the podium would be decided.

The race victory sealed Yeo’s campaign to become Season 4’s Sporting Class overall champion which comes with a prize of RM50,000.

PROMOTIONAL CLASS

All eyes were on actors Shukri Yahaya and Zizan Razak who both had their sights set on becoming the
overall champion in the Promotional Class.

The 18-lap race began fiercely with Zizan taking the lead and Shukri in tow while singer Khai Bahar was in third. Positions remained unchanged in the first five laps of the race until Zizan made a mistake by going wide, allowing Shukri to dart into the lead and losing another place to Khai.

Zizan never recovered from that mistake and remained in third while the front two drivers consolidated their lead to being almost 10 seconds ahead.

Determined to win the overall championship now that he was competing in his fourth successive season of the Vios Challenge, Shukri had to dig deep to hold back Khai who seemed to have a quicker pace throughout the night.

The two were only separated by with only 0.3 seconds when the chequered flag came out with Shukri barely ahead.

A penalty meted out to Shukri however, relegated him to second and promoted Khai to race winner, but the overall points he had accumulated throughout the season was enough for Shukri to wrestle the overall championship title in the Promotional Class.

SUPER SPORTING
The battle of the professionals saw an incredibly fierce battle at the front between three drivers, all of whom were in contention for the overall championship.

In the end, it was 23 Motors’ Mitchell Cheah who exerted his dominance to win the 20-lap race ahead of Prima Pearl Auto’s Tengku Djan Ley and Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang in third place. A post-race penalty against Cheah however, promoted Tengku Djan to first place.

“There was tremendous pressure going into tonight’s finale with so much being at stake, but I told myself that I needed to run a smart race,” said Tengku Djan Ley who sealed his third Super Sporting Class overall championship title to win a prize of RM70,000.

“It has been both an incredibly challenging and rewarding season. I started the first two races of the year very well with back-to-back victories but the following two races did not turn out favorably and as a result we lost a lot of valuable points.

“A third place finish in Race 1 yesterday and a race win tonight gave us the result that we needed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank not only my team and sponsors, but also to commend everyone in the Super Sporting Class for a very hard fought season.”

ROOKIE CLASS
The season finale also saw the crowing of the very first Rookie Class champion. Naquib Azlan turned out to the surprising star of the season having participated in a saloon car race with only experience drawn from competing as a simulator racer.

“It was a dream come true. Never did I expect to enter racing in real life and to have been able to perform as well as I did. I am extremely thankful. I have to say a very big thank you to Toyota for having the trust in me and giving us the opportunity, the team, to Alex Yoong who helped all of the rookies throughout the entire journey.
“This is something that no other manufacturer has done and to represent Toyota is such an honor. I look forward to doing this again next season,” said Naquib.

Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K. said the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge is aimed at not only creating a series that is more affordable and accessible to the racing community, especially the younger generation of drivers, but setting out to bring as well as promote motorsports to the masses.

“The Vios Challenge has also become an attractive breeding ground for young racing talent due to its lower cost of entry and one-make format that is greatly centered on honing driving skills and race craft.

“And with four categories of racing, from celebrities to young drivers, and amateur gentlemen racers to elite professionals, the Vios Challenge showcases incredible talent on track for the delight of spectators.

“Throughout the four seasons, the event has successfully attracted more than five million spectators (both on-site and online) which I hope will contribute to growing local awareness, interest and especially greater appreciation for motorsports in Malaysia,” said Ravindran.

UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia he added, remains committed to expand on these initiatives and he called on the support of all stakeholders to bringing Malaysian motorsports to a higher level.

More information on www.toyota.com.my.

RESULTS, ROUND 3, RACE 2SUPER SPORTING CLASS
1. Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel - Prima Pearl Auto
2. Mitchell Cheah - 23 Motors
3. Freddie Ang - Telagamas Toyota

SPORTING CLASS
1. Clement Yeo
2. Bradley Benedict Anthony - Dream Chaser
3. Kenneth Koh - Panglima City Racing Team

ROOKIE CLASS
1. Putera Adam
2. Naquib Azlan
3. Jwan Hii

PROMOTIONAL CLASS
1. Khai Bahar
2. Shukri Yahaya
3. Zizan Razak

VIOS CHALLENGE SEASON 4 OVERALL CHAMPIONS

Super Sporting Class - Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel
Sporting Class - Clement Yeo
Rookie Class - Naquib Azlan
Promotional Class - Shukri Yahaya


Next-generation Ford Ranger introduced from RM108,888

                KUALA LUMPUR: Ford Motor Company, together with its local distribution partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) today debuted the next-generation Ford Ranger that gets improved road and off-road performance, more premium car-like feel and smart driving features.

The on-the-road with insurance prices for new 4X4 line-up are:

> WildTrak – one variant, from RM168,888 (Peninsular Malaysia), from RM174,388 (East Malaysia)

> XLT Plus – one variant, from RM142,888 (Peninsular Malaysia), from RM148,388 (East Malaysia)

> XLT – two variants, from RM124,888 (Peninsular Malaysia), from RM129,888 (East Malaysia)

> XL – two variants, from RM108,888 (Peninsular Malaysia), from RM114,888 (East Malaysia)

 The Ranger Raptor is arriving later this year.

Also making a brief appearance at the launch today was the high-performance Ranger Raptor variant that will be launched in the fourth quarter of the year.

Bearing the familiar Ford global truck DNA, the new Ranger pick-up truck features a defined new grille, signature C-clamp daytime running lights, elegant side creases and bolder wheel arches.

For the first time, the Ranger WildTrak and and XLT Plus are offered with matrix LED headlights with auto high headlamps.

At the back, the taillights are designed in harmony with the signature graphics on the front.

Powering the WildTrak and XLT Plus is a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine with 210PS and 500Nm of torque coupled to a 10-speed automatic with SelectShift tranmsission.

The other XL and XLT variants use a 2.0-litre single turbo diesel engine with 170PS and 405Nm of torque coupled to a six-speed automatic with SelectShift or a six-speed manual transmission.

Aside from a wider track and longer wheelbase to enhance stability, the new Ranger also gets improved the front approach angle to 30 degrees (up from 28.5 degrees) and rear departure angle to 23 degrees (up from 21 degrees).

The rear suspension dampers have also been shifted outboard of the frame rails to give drivers and passengers a more controlled ride whether the Ranger is laden or not.

The Ranger's off-road recovery is also made easier with prominent dual recovery hooks in the front bumper.

The new model also gets more drive modes than before and up to six depending on the variant.

The modes, which adjusts the Ranger's gearshift mapping, throttle response, traction and stability controls, and anti-lock braking system (ABS) among others, are Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery for road and Mud/Ruts and Sand for off-road on the WildTrak.

Variants from the XL base to the XLT Plus are equipped with four drive modes of Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery.

Inside, the new Ranger features a premium SUV-like feel with a modern cockpit that features a high level of well-integrated technology, clever functional storage, premium soft-touch materials and visual cues so the environment feels comfortable and spacious.

The dashboard features the first-in-class large 10.1-inch or 12-inch touchscreen that complements the fully digital instrument panel and is equipped with Ford’s latest voice-activated SYNC 4A system that supports Wireless Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth And Voice Recognition.

Many of the driving mode controls in the previous Ranger model have been moved from the dashboard and centre console to their own dedicated display on the SYNC screen.

With one button press, drivers can go to Ranger’s dedicated screen for all off-road and drive modes where they can monitor the driveline, steering angle, vehicle pitch and roll angles and other controls.

The screen is also linked to a 360-degree camera in the WildTrak to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain.

Convenience features include wirelessly (on the XLT Plus and WildTrak), a large centre console bin, upper dashboard glove box, door pockets and storage bins under and behind the rear seats.

Also available for the WildTrak is the integrated side-step behind the rear tyres for easier access to the cargo bed.

The XLT Plus and WildTrak also come with a new, tough plastic-moulded bedliner to protect the truck bed from scratches and the owner's knees from kneeling on a steel truck bed.

Aside from cargo tie-down points on strong steel tube rails, the Ranger also gets a new cargo management system designed with dividers to hold various sized items such as timber or toolboxes.

The new WildTrak variant also gets the segment-first Evasive Steer Assist that helps drivers avoid potential forward collisions by assisting the steering when a collision cannot be avoided by braking alone.

The next-generation WildTrak and XLT Plus also come with a new Post-Collision Braking system, which applies the brakes after a collision to reduce the risk of secondary collisions.

Also new are Adaptive Cruise Control with a Stop-and-Go feature, Cross Traffic Alert and Reverse Brake Assist on the WildTrak.

As part of the smart technology safety suite on the next-generation Ranger, the Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) system on the XLT Plus and WildTrak has been enhanced with cyclist and pedestrian detection in addition to providing AEB support at an intersection in some instances.

Available colours are Sedona Orange and Luxe Yellow on the WildTrak – in addition to the existing colours of Arctic White, Meteor Gray, Aluminium Metallic, Lightning Blue and Absolute Black, depending on variants.

Besides the standard five-year/160,000km warranty, customers can extend the warranty period up to seven years for more peace of mind.

Ford Motor Co Asean and Asia Pacific Distributor Markets president Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin said the Ranger had always been a trusted partner to small business owners, families, adventurers, commercial fleets and so many more in more than 180 markets around the world.

“The trend towards pick-ups for more than just work has been growing in Malaysia.

“This is especially true for the upwardly mobile and affluent who used to prefer SUVs but are now gravitating to the Ranger, particularly WildTrak, for its work capabilities, latest technologies, and premium sedan interior,” she said.

“We are confident the next-generation Ranger will fulfil the needs and wants of an even broader range of customers as an all-rounder vehicle for work, family and play,” said SDAC managing director Turse Zuhair.

Customers who purchase the next-generation Ranger will also immediately be part of the Ford Inner Circle in Malaysia – a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons, contributing back to society or going for excursions like the Ford Ranger Getaways with friends and family.

Created exclusively for the Malaysian market, new Ranger customers will receive a privilege key code which offers exclusive discounts to get them started on their Ford Ranger Getaways adventures in addition to invitations to exclusive events.

The latest Ranger is on tour at:

July 23-24 - Kuala Lumpur, Level 5, Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre
Aug 3-7  - Penang, Centre Court, Queensbay Mall
Aug 10-14  - Johor Bahru Toppen Shopping Centre
Sept 7-11 - Kuching, Vivacity Megamall
Oct 5-9 - Kota Kinabalu, Suria Sabah Shopping Centre

Fans can sign up at the “Register” page to score exclusive invitations to the debut tour at a location closest to them.

For details on the Ranger, SDAC and Ford, follow the Ford Malaysia Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and https://www.youtube.com/c/fordmalaysia or visit www.sdacford.com.my.


Tesla Model 3 now production-ready

                SAN FRANCISCO: The new Tesla Model 3 is the company's high-volume production model, which is expected to retail at around US$35,000 and will finally go into production this month now that it's been cleared by the regulatory authorities.

The numbers will still be pretty modest to start off with though, as Musk estimates just 100 cars will be produced in August. After that though, production is expected to jump to as many as 1,500 cars in September and a massive 20,000 cars per month by December.

The first production model off the line, designated SN1, is set to be completed by Friday of this week with the first 30 customers of the model receiving their cars on July 28.

Anyone expecting the Model 3 to be a less luxurious version of the Model S might want to check out some of the statistics before putting their name down on the lengthy and growing waiting list for the new Tesla.

While the Model S is capable of reaching 100kph from a standing start in a staggering 2.3 seconds, the Model 3 will take 5.6 seconds, although that's still pretty rapid by anyone's standard. And while the Model S has a range on a single full battery charge in excess of 249 miles, the Model 3 boasts a more modest range of around 340km

What a Model S will cost in Britain and the rest of Europe has yet to be announced, although anyone wanting to join the queue can do so for a deposit of just £1,000 (around RM5,600), with deliveries for a new reservation estimated to be around mid-2018 or later.


First locally-assembled medium-duty UD Croner truck rolls out

From left: Syed, Awal, Scha and Lara.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first locally-assembled medium-duty UD Croner truck has successfully rolled out of the Segambut-based Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (TCMA) facility.

This makes Malaysia the first country to roll out a completely Knocked Down (CKD) medium-duty UD Croner truck thanks to the partnership between UD Trucks and Tan Chong Industrial Equipment (TCIE).

The deed successfully follows the rolling out of the first locally-assembled heavy-duty UD Quester truck two years ago that's outside of Japan with a private distributor partner.

The rollout of the UD Croner from its local assembly facility comes less than a year after it was launched and unveiled in Malaysia in August last year.

Also, TCIE has announced that it has targeted to roll out 150 units of the Croner this year and will comprise of manual and auto transmission options for the Croner PKE (medium-heavy duty usage with a six-cylinder engine for regional and long haul) and Croner LKE (a multi-purpose model for in-city and city-to-city distribution focusing on transport efficiency).

An investment of RM4.5mil was spent to expand the production capacity of the TCMA facility to include the UD Croner, where part of the investment was also used to include body and paint.

An initial R1.5mil was invested to set up the assembly line to produce the locally-assembled heavy-duty UD Quester trucks two years ago in order to help meet local market needs and increase the company's competitive edge.

On the other hand, UD Trucks contributed to enhancing the capabilities of local engineers by sharing technological know-how with a hands-on approach in training in order to enable efficient management of the expanded facility and to ensure a smooth roll-out of the locally-assembled UD Croner.

“Our locally-assembled UD Croner trucks will not only continue to represent the hallmarks of what UD Trucks stands for, but it will also give operators all that is needed to work efficiently and effectively at an affordable price range," said Tan.

Currently, TCIE has a network of 43 services centres and dealerships nationwide and any purchase of UD trucks will be supported by UD Extra Mile Support services which includes UD Genuine Service and Parts, UD Driver Training, UD Telematics and UD Trust Service Agreements.


ubitricity SimpleSocket 'hacks' street lamp to charge EV

                BERLIN: Why dig up roads, make new connections to the electricity grid and install expensive and often huge public car-charging systems, when you can convert an existing street lamp into a charging station instead?

That's what's currently taking place in the very upmarket London borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Its council is working with two companies, UK-based energy provider OVO and German tech firm ubitricity, to create a network of 50 charging sockets simply by "hacking" existing street lamps that happen to be located next to a parking space.

The ubitricity SimpleSocket charging point can be installed potentially anywhere, as long as there is a power supply. In the case of the street lamps, they're converted so that they use very energy-efficient LED lights, meaning that they have electricity to spare. This extra power can then be used to charge an electric car, provided the owner has the right cable.

"Most residents do not have access to off-street parking to charge an electric vehicle," said Councillor Gerard Hargreaves, Kensington and Chelsea Council Lead Member for Transport. "Retro-fitting street lamps with charging technology allows drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles closer to home, while helping to tackle air pollution in London. Lamp post charging is also more cost-effective and much less obtrusive as the charging points require no additional street furniture."

To take advantage of the network, an electric car owner will need to purchase a cable from OVO, which comes with an integrated electricity meter. This will allow the company to bill users on a monthly basis as part of their existing utilities usage (if they use OVO as their home energy supplier). It will also allow users to decide how their energy is generated as OVO attempts to source as much of its energy as possible from greener, renewable sources.

"We're proud to be delivering on this industry first," said ubitricity Founder Knut Hechtfischer. "[Our] smart charging solution allows customers to use their energy supplier when charging, rather than billing being decided by the charge point. This puts customers in the drivers' seat when choosing where their electricity comes from, including 100% renewable sources."

Though the scheme is still in its very early stages — the work isn't expected to be completed until the end of January 2018, OVO and ubitricity are already examining ways of using this technology to allow electric car owners to put power back into the UK's national grid.

"We want to remove barriers to electric vehicle adoption by providing innovative, simple and widely available urban charging solutions at a cost well below that of running a traditional car, and by giving people more control over their total energy usage," said Tom Pakenham, OVO's Head of Electric Vehicles. [That's why we] will introduce a V2G (vehicle to grid) charger in 2018 that will enable drivers to sell energy to the grid from their electric vehicles — ultimately generating their own clean power."


Refreshed 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan arrives in US

                WASHINGTON:  The refreshed Volkswagen Tiguan for North America now boasts sportier exterior styling, comfort features and smart driving technologies.

The 2022 Tiguan will be offered in four trim levels and 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

Also standard across the line-up are a 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 TSI engine with 184hp and 300Nm of torque, delivered from just 1,600rpm, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The sports utility vehicle (SUV) feature a distinctive bumper and broad grille complemented by standard LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs), and illuminated light line flanking the VW logo.

READ MORE: VW debuts refreshed Tiguan Allspace in Europe

The top two trims feature updated sporty R-Line design elements on bumpers and side sills.

It gets the newly centered Tiguan lettering on the rear that matches Volkswagen family styling such as the Arteon's.

Available eight exterior colors include new Oryx White and Kings Red Metallic while all trim levels receive new wheels, ranging from 17-inch to 20-inch aluminum-alloy designs.

Inside, the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster now comes standard with an 8-inch display (10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro is also available), as does Volkswagen Car-Net with in-car Wi-Fi capability when owners subscribe to a data plan.

From the second trim in the revised line-up, MIB3 infotainment comes standard along with wireless charging and wireless App-Connect for compatible devices.

Heated front seats are now standard, with heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats as available options.

Tiguans from the second trim up come with a next-generation Climatronic Touch interface for climate control and power tailgate, while R-Line models get a leather-wrapped steering wheel with touch islands and sliders.

Additional available features include leatherette or leather seating surfaces, power driver and passenger seats, panoramic sunroof, Fender Premium Audio, and 15-color ambient lighting.

The IQ.DRIVE driver assistance suite will be standard on all but the base model.

IQ.DRIVE includes Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring), Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor), Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Go, Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance), and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency).

Base Tiguan come standard with Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert, and can be optioned with the IQ.DRIVE package to round out the feature set.

Other available driver assistance technologies include Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights), Park Assist (Parking Steering Assistant), and Dynamic Road Sign Recognition.

The new Tiguan is expected to reach US dealers in the third quarter.


Pirelli expects more predictable F1 after 2020 tyre decision

                LONDON: Formula One is likely to be more predictable this season after teams opted to stick with last year’s tyre specification, according to Pirelli’s racing head Mario Isola.

The 10 teams voted unanimously last month to reject new tyres that the sport’s sole supplier had been developing for 2020.

The sport is facing significant upheaval in 2021 with new regulations and teams were reluctant to devote more resources to modifying aerodynamics at a time when they were already stretched.

Isola said all the teams were now familiar with the 2019 tyres and there would be no learning curve, as in the past, and nor should there be any struggle with the warm-up phase.

“The only negative side I can see is that we take out a bit of unpredictability. That is something that sometimes is spicing up the show,” he said during a visit to the Autosport International show in Birmingham.

“We see that every time there is something the engineers cannot predict, we have better racing... so without the element of the tyres, we are taking out a bit of unpredictability.

“We know that teams are focusing on one-stop strategies as much as possible. They have also some good data from 2019 so it will be probably slightly easier for the teams to make a strategy.”

Isola expected cars to be quicker due to continued development, probably in the range of 1-1.5 seconds a lap on past trends, and Pirelli would have to raise starting pressures as a consequence.

How much would depend on performance estimates provided by the teams.

“We are now receiving simulations on the expected performance and we will make our calculation in order to give them the feedback on what is the level of the increase in pressure,” he said.

“It could be in the range of probably a couple of psi (pounds per square inch).”

New races

Formula One has two new races this season on the calendar, in Vietnam and the Netherlands, subject to circuit homologation.

Isola said Vietnam’s layout, a street circuit with long straights, could be compared to Azerbaijan’s Baku race with obvious weather differences.

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort poses specific problems, with an 18 degree banked final corner putting more load on the tires, and Pirelli was still waiting for teams to provide simulation data.

“I read many comparisons with Indianapolis. The circuit is different, the length of the corner with banking, so we need to see simulations and what we have to do to react to this new configuration,” said Isola.

“Our first priority is to guarantee a product that is safe and reliable.”

Formula One is switching from 13 inch to lower profile 18 inch tires in 2021 but the F2 feeder series is making the change this year. Isola said the feedback from a development test had been good.

“Obviously, they are a lot more reactive compared to 13 inches because of the reduced sidewall, they are more precise, the braking phase is very positive. They didn’t find an issue with the kerbs,” he said.

“One question mark was what happens when they hit the kerbs like they do now with the 13 inch tire but that was positive. We are happy with the current situation.”

He said all 10 Formula One teams had confirmed they were preparing a "mule" car for testing the 2021 tyres later in the season.

Isola said work done on the scrapped 2020 tyres was not all for nothing, with some of the ideas and concepts still useful for 2021.


Upcoming VW T-Roc R spotted testing on the track

The T-Roc debuted in 2017. The performance T-Roc R version is due in 2019.
WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is working on a sporty, performance version of its crossover, which has now been spotted in full camouflage speeding around the Nürburgring race track in Germany, as seen in a video shared by YouTuber, Automotive Mike.

From the look of the video, the T-Roc R appears to have a larger radiator grill, thicker bumpers and two dual exhausts at the back.

Since the T-Roc shares a technical platform with the Golf, there is a strong chance that it could get the same four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as the Golf R, which boasts 300hp (although the next generation could push up to 400hp) and 4Motion all-wheel drive.

The T-Roc R isn't expected to land in dealerships until 2019.


2016 Geneva Motor Show: Aston Martin starts new chapter with DB11

GENEVA: The DB11 is finally unveiled. The first product launched under Aston Martin’s “Second Century” plan showcases a fresh and distinctive design language, pioneering aerodynamics and is powered by a potent new in-house designed 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine.

Built upon a new lighter, stronger, and more space efficient bonded aluminium structure, the DB11 is the most powerful, most efficient DB model in Aston Martin’s history. As such, it is the most significant new Aston Martin since the introduction of the DB9 in 2003.

DB11 shows off a series of fresh design signatures. Amongst these are the front-hinging clamshell bonnet, LED headlights and accentuated lines of the grille. The profile is dramatic, thanks to the roof strakes that flow uninterrupted from A-pillar to C-pillar. The clean lines continue at the rear, with a sloping decklid that blends into sculpted tail-lights to create a new graphic.

Managing airflow was vital in the development of the DB11. Airflow over and through the bodywork aided stability while preserving the car’s surfaces. Front-end lift is reduced by the gill-like Curlicue which releases high-pressure air from inside the wheel arch via a concealed vent within the redesigned side-strake.

Meanwhile, rear-end lift is reduced by the Aston Martin AeroBlade; a virtual spoiler fed by discreet air intakes located at the base of each C-pillar. Air is ducted through the bodywork, before venting as a jet of air from the aperture in the rear decklid.

The DB11 gets a new 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12. Designed in-house this new engine develops 600bhp and 700Nm of torque, making it the most powerful production DB model ever. It has a top speed of 322kph and a 0-100kph time of 3.9s.

The car offers multiple driver-selectable dynamic modes - GT, Sport and Sport Plus which progressively heightens the response of the engine. Other standard features are 8-speed automatic ZF transmission, electric power steering and torque vectoring.

Aston Martin has relied on Daimler AG as technical partner in the DB11 development. The instrument cluster now comes as a full-colour 12” TFT LCD display;a second, centrally-mounted 8” TFT screen is used for infotainment.

The new satellite navigation and audio system is controlled via a rotary control, with an optional touchpad offering character recognition, multi-touch and gesture support.

A newly implemented auto-park assist feature and 360-degree birds-eye view camera helps provide safe maneuvering at slow speeds and is also operated via the car’s infotainment system.

Aston Martin bills the DB11 as a grand tourer as it’s characterised by wider door openings, significantly increased occupant space - especially head and legroom in the rear - fully integrated rear ISOFIX mounting points for a pair of child seats plus a luggage compartment large enough to accommodate two large holdalls plus carry-on baggage.

As is common for luxury cars, the interior can be customised.

“This is not only the most important car that Aston Martin has launched in recent history, but also in its 103-year existence,” said Aston Martin chief executive officer Dr Andy Palmer.

The car will retail in Britain from £154,900 (RM896,000). First deliveries of the DB9 successor is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2016.


Jaguar Land Rover to train 29,000 workers to handle electric cars

                LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc said it would teach 60% of its global workforce to develop, manufacture and service electric vehicles as the carmaker tries to set itself up for a post-fossil fuels future.

The British company said it would train 29,000 of its own employees as well as workers in franchised dealerships.

A majority of the company’s retail technicians will be taught to repair and service electric vehicles during this financial year, JLR said in a statement Wednesday, adding that almost 10,000 of the workers are in the UK.

Automakers around the world have been working to re-skill workers as they ramp up electrification plans.

In July, Mercedes-Benz Group AG said it would spend more than €1.3 billion (RM5.8bil) on training staff through 2030.

JLR has previously announced plans to completely ditch combustion engines at Jaguar, the smaller of the two brands, by 2025, while Land Rover will get its first fully electric model in 2024.

The carmaker has struggled in recent months as semiconductor shortages hobbled deliveries of its luxury SUVs and sports cars.


McLaren ends P1 production

                LONDON: Production of the Mclaren P1 has come to an end following the rollout of the 375th and final example.

This brings the curtain down on the most technologically advanced and dynamically accomplished supercar McLaren has made.

With the last P1, the Ultimate Series continues in production with the limited-edition P1 GTR. Production of the track-only, 986bhp model is due to complete early in 2016.

The final production example of the P1 is finished in pearlescent orange, achieved through a unique tinting process. The colour echoes the shade of the 64th and final McLaren F1 roadcar, chassis #075, which went on to inspire Volcano Orange, available today across the McLaren Automotive range.

It features subtle styling elements in raw carbon fibre weave, with the finish only visible externally on the splitter, diffuser and the aerodynamic blades along the lower body, while the super-lightweight wheels are finished in silver.

The cabin gets bespoke styling touches from the team at McLaren Special Operations (MSO) including gloss black detailing for the switchgear, instrument bezels and air conditioning vents. The lightweight carbon fibre-shelled racing seats include further MSO craftsmanship, with the final McLaren F1 roadcar again the inspiration for the final design. Upholstered in black and orange Alcantara, the contrasting details are carried across to the stitching on the steering wheel.

From launch, the model was designed with one goal: to be the best drivers’ car on road and track.

Production started in 2013, with all cars sold prior to the first car being delivered, and the first car – finished with Ice Silver paintwork and extensive levels of visual carbon fibre – rolled off the production line during the 50th anniversary celebrations of McLaren in September 2013.

The powertrain comprises a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine with a lightweight, electric motor which, together, produces 903bhp at 7,300rpm, and 900Nm of torque.

Through the seamless integration of the 179PS (176bhp) electric motor, 130Nm of torque is available immediately, providing ‘torque fill’ to offset any turbo lag as a result of the larger turbos fitted to the combustion engine.

The P1 goes from standstill to 100kph in 2.8 seconds, with 200kph reached in 6.8 seconds and 300kph achieved in 16.5 seconds – a full five seconds quicker than the McLaren F1.

Top speed is limited to 350kph. This performance is kept under control through a bespoke braking system, developed for the P1, using materials previously used on the Ariane space programme. Formula 1 technology and expertise ensure optimal performance in every area, providing progressive and predictable braking in the most extreme of conditions, such as high speed track work.


Ex-BMW design chief Karim Habib now with Infiniti

                HONG KONG: Guess where Karim Habib has landed? The former BMW design chief is now heading Infiniti Design.

He will be based at the company's technical centre in Atsugi, Japan and lead the global design teams in Japan; Beijing; San Diego and London. He will report to Alfonso Albaisa, newly appointed Nissan senior vice-president for global design.

"Karim is very skilled at capturing the heart and passion of a brand while at the same time giving each design its unique character. I look forward to Karim inspiring our teams to shape the next generation of Infinitis," said Albaisa.

At BMW, Habib was responsible for production and concept cars such as the X1, the X2 Concept and the CSL Homage. Before this, as head of advanced design for Daimler, he worked on the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class as well as the new Smart. He started his career at BMW in Advanced Design where he was responsible for the design of the previous 7 Series and the Concept CS.

Habib is qualified as a mechanical engineer and has a design degree from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, in the United States.

BMW has recently appointed Jozef Kaban to replace Habib.


Nur Amira came for a walk and left in a Proton Suprima

Ahmad Fuaad and Nur Amira posing with the Suprima S 1.6 Standard CVT.
KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Amira Jamahuni was thrilled to bits at the Anak-Anak Malaysia Walk 2016. After all, she won the top prize – a Proton Suprima S 1.6 Standard CVT – in the lucky draw.

“When my name was announced, I screamed from the bottom of the stage and then squeezed through the crowd to get on it,” she said.

Nur Amira, an executive with a construction company, said: “I am so excited. I totally did not expect this,” said the 29-year-old after the lucky draw session at Bukit Bintang Convention Centre here yesterday.

Initially, Lady Luck had almost deserted her. Nur Amira said she had taken part in the walk with a colleague, whose children wanted to go home right after the event. “They wanted to leave but then we decided to wait until the grand prize winner was announced. This is the first time in my life that I have won a lucky draw.”

Nur Amira, who could barely contain her excitement during the interview, said she planned to give her Perodua Myvi, which she bought five years ago, to her parents. “My parents both share a car but now, they can each drive their own car,” she added.

Proton chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Mohd Kenali chose the lucky winner and presented the mock key.

READ MORE:
What's the best way to minimise Proton's losses?
Proton Persona to launch in August, followed by Saga and MPV
First drive of Proton Persona
First drive of Proton Perdana to Malacca
More Proton service centres adopt 7-day operations


Daimler to launch new global Hackathon series from Nov 16

                STUTTGART: The third edition of the global Hackathon series DigitalLife Campus will be launched at Hack.LAMobility on Nov 16/17 in Los Angeles – this time in cooperation with moovel.

Daimler AG has been using the hackathons since 2016 to bring the innovation culture of the digital natives into the company and has now assumed a leading role as the organiser of hackathons among automobile OEMs.

Primarily aimed at students and junior staff, the event series organised by DigitalLife@Daimler invites young bright minds to design the mobility of the future. Participants rack their brains in hackathons at tech events on three continents, each in cooperation with internal and external partners from the company group.

The final of the new series will take place at the Tech Open Air Festival 2019 in Berlin at the beginning of July.

"Hackathons are a great format to bring Daimler and young talented people together. These young people like to code and have a fresh view on the topic of mobility", said Markus Hägele, Head of DigitalLife@Daimler.

"The young professionals of tomorrow can get to know us as a potential employer and can get a feel for what is important in industry and whether it would be a professional field where they could realise their talents. We learn what is important for them when it comes to the mobility of the future, and we benefit from how they instinctively and assuredly deal with digital technologies. The innovation culture of today and tomorrow is shaped by the digital natives. Our task is to have this feed into our corporate culture even more."

The hackathons are organised by Daimler employees who act as mentors and offer input, advising and supporting the idea teams during the hackathons.

At the previous series, over 500 participants from 10 countries at 10 hackathons in Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin and the Silicon Valley, among other places, developed more than 50 innovative ideas and prototypes. Some of them now work at Daimler.

A week after the launch in L.A., the DigitalLife Campus will continue from Nov 23-25 in Helsinki at the JUNCTION. Daimler is one of the sponsors at the European hackathon with around 1,300 participants, and challenges the hackers to two mobility challenges. There will be two more hackathons in Europe and Asia in 2019 before the final in Berlin.

More information on this event are available at the Daimler microsite.


Toyota leads global car sales in October

                TOKYO: Toyota outsold Volkswagen for the fourth straight month in October to remain the world's top-selling automaker so far this year, after sales at the German carmaker suffered following the diesel emissions scandal.

Toyota said on Friday its group vehicle sales totalled 8.35 million in the January-October period, more than the 8.26 million vehicles delivered by Volkswagen during the same period. Toyota has continuously out sold Volkswagen on a year-to-date basis since July.

Earlier this month, Volkswagen said its Volkswagen brand sales fell 5.3 percent year-on-year in October, the first full month after Europe's biggest automaker admitted that it cheated diesel emissions tests in some of its cars sold in the United States since 2009.


Petrol bottled and resold

An operator selling petrol by the roadside in Jalan Teluk Kumbar, Penang.
 BALIK PULAU: It is an offence to bottle petrol and resell it without a licence – but try telling that to the people of Teluk Kumbar near here.

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has found sundry traders in the rural town reselling the fuel in bottles, and there seems to be a ready market for it given the distance to the nearest petrol station.

Deputy director Mohd Nor Musa said an enforcement team found a roadside trader offering bottled petrol yesterday at slightly higher than the pump price.

The trader had several 1.5L plastic bottles of petrol in the back of his small lorry.

“He is deaf and a senior citizen. He sells bottled petrol as a convenience to the townsfolk for a small profit.

“He didn’t know that as petrol is a controlled item, he was committing an offence. We advised him to stop it,” Mohd Nor told The Star yesterday.

With the nearest petrol station many kilometres away, bottled petrol makes life easier for the people of Teluk Kumbar, especially motorcyclists, said a villager who did not want to be named.

“Even though it costs a bit more, we don’t mind,” he said, adding that a 1.5L bottle of petrol costs RM5.

Going by this week’s RON95 price of RM2.17 per litre, 1.5L would cost RM3.26 at the pump.

“The traders will also sell smaller amounts at RM2 or RM3 to motorcyclists,” he added.

Another local who gave his name as Pak Mat said there were several stalls in the area reselling petrol.

He claimed that the majority of the operators were disabled people. “This is possibly the only job they can do. We don’t mind supporting their business,” he said.


Inside China's electric drive for swappable car batteries

                DETROIT/BEIJING: A year ago, Tesla dismissed the alternative path of electric car battery swapping as "riddled with problems and not suitable for widescale use".

It seems Beijing disagrees.

In fact, China is pushing hard for swappable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) as a supplement to regular vehicle charging, with the government throwing its weight behind several companies advancing the technology.

Four companies - automakers Nio and Geely, battery swap developer Aulton and state-owned oil producer Sinopec - say they plan to set up a total of 24,000 swap stations across the country by 2025, up from about 1,400 today.

Battery swapping allows drivers to replace depleted packs quickly with fully charged ones, rather than plugging the vehicle into a charging point. Swapping could help mitigate the growing strains placed on power grids as millions of drivers juice up, yet specialists caution it can only take off in a big way if batteries become standardised industry-wide.

If China is successful in making swapping successful on a large scale, though, the shift could undermine the business models of global brands like Tesla, Volkswagen and General Motors, whose EVs are designed for and powered by their own proprietary batteries and, in Tesla's case, its own charging network.

Even slight changes of fortune in the country can have significant consequences for these carmakers, whose futures rely on achieving success in the world's largest car market.

The Chinese swapping plans, announced piecemeal in recent weeks and months but not widely known outside the domestic auto sector, are part of Beijing's broader plan to make 25% of car sales fully electric by 2025, or more than 6 million passenger vehicles based on current forecasts. Estimates vary widely as to how many will have swappable batteries.

The Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT), a major supporter of battery swapping, did not immediately respond to a request for further comment about China's battery swapping strategy

Furthermore, big Chinese players are also looking overseas.

Ningde-based CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd), the world's biggest battery maker, told Reuters it was developing swapping services not only for China, but "to meet the demand of global markets".

"We are accumulating experience in the Chinese market and at the same time communicating closely with overseas partners. You'll receive more concrete information soon," said CATL, which supplies about half of China's market and more than 30% of the battery cells used in EVs globally.

Nio, among China's top EV makers, plans to offer U.S. customers battery-swapping services by 2025, the company's North American head Ganesh Iyer said. It has more than 800 swap stations in China and has just set up its first in Europe.

'Never going to happen'

Such plans clash with the views expressed by global EV pioneer and leader Tesla in March 2021 when it dismissed the viability of large-scale battery swapping in China. It trialed swapping in the United States years ago and abandoned it.

Industry executives are divided over whether China's push can overcome the reluctance of European and U.S. automakers to abandon their own battery designs and adopt standardized ones.

"You'll never ever get carmakers to agree to swappable batteries," said Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin and currently head of EV maker Switch Mobility.

John Holland, wireless EV charging company Momentum Dynamics' commercial director for Europe and the Middle East, said convergence on batteries created a quandary for automakers.

"Then how do you differentiate your product?"

Tesla, GM and Volkswagen say they are not exploring battery swapping right now.

A GM spokesman said swappable batteries "are not part of our strategy at present."

A VW spokesman said the company originally considered battery swapping to avoid waiting times at charging stations, but that advances in fast charging and the lower costs of non-swappable batteries had led it to shift focus to the latter.

"Nevertheless, our strategists closely monitor and evaluate the competitive environment and all developments in this area," the German carmaker said.

A Tesla spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Swapping and regular grid-charging both have critics and cheerleaders in a rapidly evolving auto tech arena.

The ease of exchanging batteries in e-scooters has been demonstrated in Asia and Europe, but the challenge is adapting the technology to larger and more complex cars, trucks and vans.

Concerns about the length of swapping times have also faded, with Nio saying it has automated the process so it takes as little as 90 seconds.

Yet the more familiar grid-charging side has a huge head start, and is bolstered by the fact there's already billions of dollars' worth of charging infrastructure built globally.

Automakers are also rolling out EVs with improved batteries that boast longer ranges and shorter charge times, which could make swapping obsolete.

'Biggest game in town'

In China, MIIT released the global auto industry's first standards for swapping technology last year. They went into effect in November, specifying safety requirements, test methods and inspection rules for EVs with swappable batteries.

The ministry aims to have more than 100,000 battery-swappable vehicles and more than 1,000 swap stations, in total, in 11 cities by 2023; stations in the bigger cities will accommodate both passenger and commercial vehicles, while outlying provincial cities will focus on electric heavy-duty trucks.

Yet a key uncertainty for China's ambitions is whether enough carmakers adopt standardised batteries, an obstacle that scuttled attempts at battery swapping in the last decade - yet, if overcome, could propel the technology to a viable scale.

There's a long way to go. Even the swapping option offered to customers by Nio uses the company's own batteries, thus limiting the service to people driving Nio cars equipped with the company's proprietary batteries.

CATL, which helped Nio develop swappable batteries, has signed up China's FAW Motor as the first customer for its new Evogo battery swapping service and expects to extend the service to other Chinese automakers.

CATL wants domestic firms to accept its standard battery design so its stations can service models from multiple brands, according to a person close to the company who declined to be named due to commercial sensitivities, adding that it expected more car brands to adopt its standardised designs.

The company is "the biggest game in town" for EV batteries, said Tu Le, managing director of Sino Auto Insights.

"They can offer a large footprint for swapping stations and a low cost to use those stations," he said.

Meanwhile, among those Chinese companies building out swap station networks, Shanghai-based Aulton New Energy Automotive Technology has said it is working with automakers to develop standardized batteries, and with Sinopec to install stations at 30,000 Sinopec gas stations in China by 2030.

Aulton didn't respond to a request for comment.

Magic in America?

While international carmakers may resist swappable batteries, they are reliant on Chinese sales to fund their costly transition to electric and will have little choice but to adapt to the market there, according to many industry experts.

Furthermore, if Beijing ultimately mandates swappable batteries "and starts saying, 'okay, the only car you're allowed to produce is one that meets the standard' . . . you would have to comply to stay in business" in China, says John Helveston, assistant professor at George Washington University's School of Engineering.

Some advocates of swapping are looking beyond China.

Battery swapping "is too convenient, too economical and too logical for this not to happen at scale in Europe and the United States," said Levi Tillemann, head of policy and international business at San Francisco-based battery swap startup Ample.

"It's a sort of magical thinking to imagine that this is a uniquely Chinese phenomenon," he added.

Ample, one of just a handful of battery swapping developers outside China, has raised US$275 million from investors, including energy companies Shell, Repsol and Eneos, boosting its valuation to US$1 billion.

It is running pilot programs with Uber and car rental startup Sally, and says it is collaborating with several unnamed automakers.

"With a relatively small number of vehicles that are heavily utilised, we can deploy and operate a battery swap system profitably," Tillemann said. "So fleets are a prime target for us."


Volvo enhances aftersales with 'Customer Lifetime Parts Warranty'

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia today unveiled a new warranty programme known as the "Customer Lifetime Parts Warranty" to give Volvo customers peace of mind throughout their vehicle ownership.

Under the warranty programme, customers who have bought and installed Volvo genuine parts at an authorised Volvo dealership from Oct 1 would be eligible to participate in the programme.

The warranty begins on the part's purchase date and is valid as long as the car falls under the ownership of the registered car owner.

In the event that customers require repair or replacement for any genuine Volvo parts due to a material or manufacturing defect, Volvo Car Malaysia will repair and replace the part free of charge.

On the other hand, customers with older Volvo car models who have not visited an authorised Volvo dealership for more than two years need to bring in their car to undergo the Volvo Health Check.

This requirement allows customers to be eligible to participate in the warranty programme while ensuring that the vehicle is in good condition and has not been modified or tampered with in any way.

Customers will then be able to buy parts under the warranty programme and is required to send the car to any Volvo authorised dealership for subsequent service to ensure that the warranty remains valid.

The Customer Lifetime Parts Warranty excludes the regular wear and tear parts as outlined in the warranty manual.

"This new offering is part of our commitment to provide the best after-sales services for our customers," said Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Charles Frump.

"Customer satisfaction have always been a pivotal aspect for Volvo, and through this warranty programme, our customers can now enjoy the benefits of decreased maintenance costs and experience the quality offered by Volvo, in the years to come.”

In February 2021, Volvo Car Malaysia announced a revised extended warranty programme to a factory five-year/unlimited mileage for all privately owned Volvo cars registered from Jan 1.


Ducati DesertX gets new 2023 RR22 Matt Saturn Grey livery

                PETALING JAYA: Ducati in Malaysia has unveiled a new livery of RR22 Matt Saturn Grey for the DesertX adventure motorcycle.

The new design which elevates the DesertX to new heights of style, joins the original Star White Silk colour scheme that accompanied the bike's initial launch.

 DesertX in RR22 livery with the RS Q e-tron.

The new RR22 Matt Saturn Grey option is priced at RM115,900, while the Star White Silk comes at RM112,900.

The new livery was originally intended as an exclusive one-off colourway for a track day collaboration with Audi and former MotoGP star Danilo Petrucci in Sardinia.

Drawing inspiration from the Audi RS Q e-tron - a groundbreaking electric-drivetrain vehicle that impressed at the Dakar rally with four stage victories and 14 stage podium results - the RR22 livery is a visual masterpiece crafted by Ducati's Style Center designers.

The new livery comes in a captivating black, grey, and red colour scheme, featuring graphics that pay homage to the advanced technology of the RS Q e-tron.

The stunning design is completed with a striking red accent integrated into the black saddle, adding an extra touch of flair.

Beneath its remarkable livery, the DesertX RR22 retains its renowned features, powered by the reliable 937cc Testastretta engine, delivering a satisfying 110hp.

With its 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, ample ground clearance and impressive 9.1-inch front and rear 8.7-inch suspension travel, the DesertX provides an unrivalled capability for conquering any terrain.

This is further complemented by DesertX’s comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art rider aids and Brembo braking system.

All Ducati and Scrambler Ducati models will be made available for ownership via an exclusive financing option – Ducati Corse Credit.

The financing plan incorporates features that make Ducati ownership more seamless:
> Tailor-made for Ducati and Scrambler bikes
> Flexible repayment scheme
> Faster approval
> Interest rate as low as 4.88%
> 10% downpayment option

To receive timely updates and for more information about the Ducati brand, products and events, follow Ducati Malaysia on Facebook or Instagram.


Honda selling Civic Type R crate engine

                LAS VEGAS: Honda has announced at the SEMA show that the Civic Type R's 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine – the motor that makes Type R the fastest front-wheel-drive production automobile in the world and the most powerful Honda ever sold in America – is now available as a crate engine for purchase.

For years, Honda racing enthusiasts in the US watched with envy, as Europe- and Asia-based amateur racers were able to load their cars with Civic Type R crate engines. The wait is over. The 306-horsepower (SAE net) K20C1 engine that powers the new Civic Type R will now be available to US grassroots and professional racers for verified, closed-course racing applications through the HPD Honda Racing Line programme.

The Honda SEMA exhibit will feature a host of specialty and production-based Honda-powered racing machines, on two and four wheels, including the Global Rallycross (GRC) Civic; Team Honda Research West (THR-W) Endurance Civic Type R; new Honda-powered F3 race car; Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Civic Si; 50th Anniversary Baja Ridgeline; Honda's Powersports product line-up; Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Accessories and the new Honda Genuine Accessories Civic Type R Red Carbon Kit.

The Civic Type R's 2.0-litre DOHC direct-injected i-VTEC Turbo powerplant produces 306hpat 6,500 rpm and a peak 401Nm of torque from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm.

The Honda Racing Line programme, which has offered racing performance parts to Honda racers for years, will sell the K20C1 turbocharged crate engine to racing enthusiasts in the United States for US$6,519.87 (around RM28,000).


Cars racing to become 'mobile phones on wheels'

                BARCELONA: The car of the future will let you pay for petrol or parking directly from your vehicle and receive traffic alerts and restaurant recommendations from your onboard digital assistant.

Connected cars - or "mobile phones on wheels" - will be able to do those things and more, including communicate with each other on the road and with the infrastructure around them through their computer networks.

And they will, of course, be able to drive themselves.

Prototypes, fitted with the next generation 5G wireless communications network, turned heads at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

But as the excitement and novelty over connected cars grows, vehicle, tech, and telecom firms are struggling with how to handle the inevitable legal and ethical issues.

Add to that the risk of cyber attack and reliability issues surrounding a fast and stable internet connection and connected cars face many obstacles before they can ever be set loose.

"Connected cars pose a significant risk from a cybersecurity perspective," said Jeff Massimilla, head of cybersecurity at General Motors, during a discussion at the MWC.

READ MORE: HARMAN devises onion-like security system to check car hacking

This is the industry's biggest worry: hacking.

A hacker could easily take over a car's network and disable brakes, the transmission, or simply shut the car down.

And that worry is hardly unfounded: Connected cars were hacked in 2015 during testing.

According to data presented Monday by Masayoshi Son, chief executive of telecoms giant SoftBank, cyber attacks against connected objects - objects with Internet connectivity - have multiplied by four and five times between 2015 and 2016.

To mitigate the risks, telecom and vehicle firms have teamed up to enhance collaboration.

"We cannot do it alone," said tech executive Ogi Redzic, who heads the connected vehicles services at Renault-Nissan.

Renault-Nissan partnered with Microsoft last September, and its cars plan to use Microsoft Cortana as a digital assistant.

Three years ago, Volkswagen acquired Blackberry's European research and development centre, a group of 200 engineers, to update its connected software.

The success of connected vehicles will also hinge on the ability of an Internet network to enable lightning-quick downloads or support split-second activities, such as the automatic traffic movement of driverless cars.

The current 4G standard enables fast broadband access via mobile smart phones, but government and manufacturers see the next generation enabling connection speeds of up to 1,000 times faster than current ones.

"When there will be many (connected) cars on the roads, there will be flow and bandwidth issues to make the system work," said Guillaume Crunelle, an automotive analyst at Deloitte.

The new, fifth generation of mobile networks is expected to enable communications between cars and infrastructure, automated manoeuvres such as overtaking and braking, and emergency warning and call systems, among others.

Commercialisation of 5G is not expected to start before 2020, however, as companies and governments negotiate to try to standardise norms between different countries for smooth 5G use worldwide.

 Prototypes, fitted with the next generation 5G wireless communications network, turned heads at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

"The 5G vehicle reacts swiftly in case of accident and transmits the information to neighbouring cars," said Changsoon Choi, a senior manager at SK Telecom.

Driverless cars will require better GPS-tracking systems and the creation of more detailed digital maps in order to avoid possible obstacles.

In terms of infrastructure, "there are enormous investments to be made so that a vehicle can communicate with a parking system, traffic lights, road signs" said Mouloud Dey, the director of innovation and business development at analytics firm SAS.

"We still have no idea who will finance that type of thing."

Driverless cars also pose moral and legal dilemmas.

Will vehicles be designed to protect their passengers at all costs, even if they have to plough through a crowd of pedestrians to do so?

Who will bear the responsibility of an accident? The manufacturer, the vehicle owner or the network provider?

"We show a certain leniency to human driving errors that we won't necessarily show for a machine," Crunelle said. "We will have to make a decision on the life and death of some."

"I don't know who on the regulatory level will want to take on that responsibility."


Honda HR-V Turbo V: Serving up a kick

                OUR stint with the latest Honda HR-V Turbo might not be over a longer distance against the HR-V e:HEV RS hybrid during the recent east coast drive but it still left us comparatively agog on the surge of turbo power every time we needed it.

Since we had our first taste of turbo power way back in 1980 (and in our very own two-door liftback 1.3 turbo), our fascination with the strong surge of forward momentum has remained to this very day.

More recently though, we were in the midst of upgrading vehicles late last year and were eyeing the new HR-V as a potential candidate.

But hints of the new model arrival, much less the model options, were not forthcoming (many car companies are wary of us media people, especially those looking for scoops, and being a potential customer made little difference) leaving us to settle for a rival brand, albeit a pre-owned one.

Needless to say, we were looking forward to driving the HR-V Turbo having already enjoyed this exciting Honda power in the Civic RS Turbo much earlier in the year.

We were somewhat disappointed to be given the HR-V hybrid as our first acquaintance for the drive but that only built up our anticipation when our turn came in the Kuantan-Kuala Dungun segment the following day.

The new HR-V Turbo models are the E and V variants in the four-model line-up, with the HR-V hybrid being the highest-spec RS version.

Thus, after being pampered in the HR-V hybrid, it was a bit of a downer to learn that the HR-V Turbo V variant wasn’t equally equipped with standard fittings.

It doesn’t mean the HR-V Turbo V is bereft of all the finer things in life; it was just that we were exposed to a much better equipped vehicle earlier.

The V model range used to be the top honcho before Honda Malaysia introduced the RS variant to take over as the top-spec model.

Externally, the HR-V Turbo V variant is about on par with the hybrid model in features except that it has red and clear lens for the rear LED (light emitting diode) Combi lights against a smoked and clear lens for the hybrid.

Another item missing is the hybrid’s Hands-free Power Tailgate with Walkaway Close convenience but the tailpipe chrome finishers add a sporty touch to the Turbo V.

Stepping inside, the two are again evenly matched for equipment though the Turbo V gets steering wheel paddle shifts while the hybrid gets a Deceleration Selector Paddle for the electric power recovery mode function.

However, the Turbo V has a Single Auto air-conditioning system against the hybrid’s Dual Auto function while the irony is that the latter gets Sport foot pedals but not the Turbo V.

Both models get the full audio bits and the entire suite of passive and active safety features that include six airbags, seatbelt reminders all round, Vehicle Stability Assist, Agile Handle Assist, Emergency Stop Sensing, Honda Sensing for a wide range of functions, among others.

It’s the power department that makes the HR-V Turbo V the more exciting one with the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine delivering 181PS and 240Nm of torque that is almost as good as the hybrid electric motor’s (253Nm).

In performance, Honda says the Turbo V scoots from 0 to 100kph in 8.8 seconds against the hybrid’s 10.7 and has a top speed of 200kph (170kph).

The trump card for the hybrid is of course the average fuel consumption that is rated at 4.1 L/100km while the Turbo V holds its own at 6.5 L/100km.

The driving best summed it all up with the Turbo V feeling like a ‘normal’ car during acceleration unlike the hybrid with the sharp-pitched engine whine that came on when required to charge the battery to power the electric motor.

And of course, there was that good surge of turbo power that we needed on open roads to overtake slower vehicles.

It didn’t feel any inferior to the Civic RS Turbo in standing or passing acceleration as both vehicles come with a similar engine system and this was despite the HR-V Turbo V being a heavier vehicle.

In road dynamics, the HR-V Turbo V was right at home for the tight corners and sweepers and we enjoyed driving it as much as the HR-V hybrid under such circumstances.

Both models come with Continental UltraContact 225/50 R18 tyres but the Turbo V has a spare tyre while the hybrid doesn’t because of the huge battery placement at the rear.

If we were given a choice, it would be the HR-V Turbo V for its exciting acceleration and cheaper price of RM134,800 on-the-road without insurance (RM6,000 cheaper than the hybrid).

That might explain why the HR-V Turbo V is the top seller as of end-September with 52% of the 7,000-plus vehicles sold against the hybrid’s 12%.


VW rocs and rolls further into the SUV market

                COMO (Italy): Volkswagen is confident that its all-new Volkswagen T-Roc will seriously shake up the compact SUV market thanks to strong styling on the outside and a raft of premium, class-leading driver safety systems on the inside

Despite being the world's leading automotive company in terms of total sales thanks to its ownership of everything from Audi and Bentley to Bugatti, Lamborghini and Skoda, Volkswagen's core brand has been surprisingly bereft of SUVs and crossovers. But that is all about to change and the new T-Roc should be seen as the company, best known for the all-conquering Golf hatchback, putting the rest of the industry on alert.

"The T-Roc sets a new benchmark in the booming SUV segment. With its functionality, dynamic handling and technology, the T-Roc embodies all good Volkswagen qualities. It marks a milestone in our SUV offensive," said VW's chairman Dr Herbert Diess while unveiling the car to the press in Como, Italy.

In other words, the T-Roc will be the first of many new crossovers and SUVs of all shapes and sizes that the company will be launching between now and the end of the decade. And, as it's where the greatest demand and competition appears to be, VW is starting with the compact SUV class where Nissan is currently king.

To ensure the car stands out, VW has gone for an almost aggressively sporty exterior look. The car has a very high waist line and bulging wheel arches, while the roof follows an exaggerated coupé curve.

Yet despite this compact muscular exterior, VW claims the car has class-leading interior space; with all seats in use there are 445 litres of luggage space and with the rear seats folded flat it jumps to 1,290 litres.

But more importantly, it is in a class of its own when it comes to luxury appointments, connectivity and active driver aids. Even the base model will come with pedestrian monitoring and emergency autonomous braking, plus a lane-keeping assist system and VW's post-collision braking system which stops the car from moving immediately after an accident to prevent further injuries.

However, move up the range or pick up the options book and there are 10 further high-tech systems on offer, including adaptive cruise control, park assist, blind spot monitoring and traffic jam assist for taking over the stop -start driving nature of being stuck on a congested highway.

As for engines, there will be an initial choice of three turbocharged petrol or diesel units along with the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and either fully manual or paddle-operated dual-clutch transmission.

The T-Roc is positioned between the Golf and larger Tiguan.

It will go on sale in November and the base model will cost from €20,000 (RM101,000) in its native Germany.


Audi and VW tweak logos to promote social distancing

                PETALING JAYA: As Malaysians have just received news that the movement control order (MCO) has been extended to April 14, everybody has to play their part by staying at home, washing their hands regularly and keeping a safe distance from each other.

Social distancing applies to keeping oneself at least one metre or three feet away from the next person while in Europe and the US, it’s as far as two metres or six feet in order to avoid infection or infecting someone with the Covid-19 virus.

To promote and remind people of this new social responsibility, German auto makers Audi and Volkswagen have cleverly used their respective logos to create some space from each other.

Audi’s four rings pull apart from each other while the V and W from the Volkswagen logo separates vertically.

Audi's  animated logo can be viewed on its main website at audi.com.


Volvo S90 flagship sedan refreshed

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia has updated the S90 plug-in hybrid with higher levels of chrome-accented exterior and a refreshed interior with a cleaner overall look.

Featuring Scandinavian luxury at its finest, the S90 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus which is priced at RM358,888 (on-the-road without insurance), is now available at RM339,315 after sales tax exemption.

 Akhtar (right) with Volvo Car Malaysia product manager Sharon Wong,

The tail lamps of the S90 Recharge T8 are now similar in design to the recently launched S60 T8 R-Design, marrying luxury with a little sportiness.

The inclusion of vertical air blades on each side of the Sensus user interface, perforated front seats and sunroof raises the bar on elegant aesthetics.

The Sensus panel comes with two front USB ports and supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity.

The upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system that consists of a total of 19 speakers with an output of 1,400W to provide true high-end, in-car audio performance.

It's exclusive Nautilus speaker technology, delivers clear and immersive listening experience.

In addition, the new double-dome aluminum tweeters and the new generation mid-range speaker cones in Continuum™ composite, resulting in a more refined, pure and natural sound production.

Powering the S90 Recharge T8 is Drive-E powerplant consisting a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and electric motor combination that outputs 407hp and 640Nm of torque.

A 0-100kph sprint can be done in 4.7 seconds and top speed is capped at 180kph.

The hybrid battery pack is the 11.6kWh lithium-ion type.

Also included is Volvo’s Intellisafe system that comes with Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), City Safety, Cross Traffic Alert, Front and Rear Warning and Mitigation Support, Lane Keeping Aid and Pilot Assist, among others, elevating safety to a higher level.

A non-hybrid S90 T5 is priced at RM328,888 and will be available from June 2021 onwards with sales tax exempted pricing to be announced later.

The S90 T5 uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivering 254hp and 360Nm of torque, completing the 0-100kph dash in 6.8 seconds with a top speed also capped at 180kph.

Volvo Car Malaysia marketing and public relations director Akhtar Sulaiman said: “The Volvo S90 is the embodiment of luxury for us and now with its recharged design, we want to redefine the concept of ‘travel in style’ and showcase that ‘luxury’ can also equate to ‘safety’."


Higher pressure Delphi system cuts particulate emissions by up to 50%

                VIENNA: Delphi Technologies has announced a new 500+ bar GDi system that can reduce particulate emissions by up to 50 percent compared to state-of-the-art 350 bar system without expensive engine design modifications.

In a paper presented at the May 16-17 Vienna Motor Symposium, it said reducing the number of exhaust gas particulates, including those smaller than 23 nm, will help manufacturers meet increasingly stringent future global emissions standards.

Reducing engine-out emissions cuts tailpipe emissions in the crucial period before catalyst light-off and reduces the need for costly aftertreatment systems. This reduces emissions in regulated testing including RDE (Real Driving Emissions).
 The 500+ bar GDi injector.
At the end of 2016, London-based Delphi Technologies entered production with its industry first 350 bar GDi system, which reduces exhaust particulates by up to 70 percent compared with industry-standard 200 bar systems.

“The industry has long recognised that increasing injection pressure to 500+ bar could substantially cut engine-out particulates while improving CO2 emissions and fuel economy,” said Delphi Technologies chief engineer in gasoline systems Walter Piock.

The challenge has been to achieve such pressures without increasing the drive loads from the pump. As most engines power the GDI pump through the camshaft drive, a conventional approach would usually require a costly redesign and strengthening of the camshaft mechanism.

“By designing an innovative new internal sealing system for our GFP3 500+ bar pump, in some applications, we have designed a downsized plunger diameter which prevents increasing the loads in the drive mechanism,” said Piock.

With the new Delphi Technologies system, engine designers can benefit from 500+ bar injection pressures without having to make costly changes to the majority of existing camshaft drive systems.

With combined demands for improved urban air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions, the fuel injection system is an important building block for meeting future legislative targets. Delphi Technologies’ 500+ bar system can help vehicle manufacturers meet both challenges.

According to Piock, “Our 350 bar GDi system reduces exhaust particulates by up to 70 percent compared with industry-standard 200 bar systems and we are going one step further with our new 500+ bar GDi system which further reduces these emissions by up to 50 percent compared to the 350 bar system”.

To complete the new 500+ bar system, Delphi Technologies has developed all system components including Multec 16 injectors, pumps, forged rail as well as the appropriate engine control system and software. These components, which further improve durability and reliability, also require no or only minor physical changes to existing engines because they match existing packaging constraints and interfaces. The 500+ bar system could be used in production from 2022 onwards.


Smoother  journey ahead with ZF

Germany's ZF Group leads the way forward in driveline and chassis technology

The best automatic gearbox is the one that the car owner forgets about, according to ZF Asia-Pacific vice president (powertrain technology) Dr Harald Massmann.

"The car owner won't even notice it is there; the best automatic transmission is fuel efficient, smooth and just works without fuss, all the time. Yes, you can say this is ZF doctrine when it comes to making automatic passenger car transmissions," he said during a recent media briefing by the ZF Group in Shanghai, China.

 Audi A8 with ZF 8HP, and Porsche 911 Targa 4S with ZF 7-speed DCT at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit.

The highlight of of the briefing was the German automotive supplier's award-winning 9-speed automatic transmission (9HP) for passenger cars.

Designed for vehicles with a front-transverse engine, it is the world's first 9HP for passenger cars and was first unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Auto Show.

ZF's 9HP can be found in the Jeep Cherokee and Range Rover Evoque, as well as the 2015 Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan.

With two model ranges, the compact 9HP covers a torque range between 200 and 480Nm.

With the 9HP, fuel consumption can be up to 16% lower when the front-wheel drive vehicle is driven at a steady 120kph, compared with today's typical 6-speed automatic transmissions.

"About 75% of all passenger cars worldwide are front wheel driven – with numbers increasing sharply. That is why we came up with 9HP for front wheel drive," said Massmann.

 The 9-speed automatic transmission (left) and Automated Manual Transmission from ZF.

Massmann pointed out that the 9HP uses a torque converter, and "drivers set great store by the starting and manoeuvring comfort provided".

Journalists at the ZF event were also took cars such as the Audi A8 L, Porsche 911 Targa 4S and Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk on short laps at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit.

Besides chassis and suspension components, and steering systems, ZF supplies the transmission systems for these cars.

These are namely, the 8-speed automatic transmission in the A8 L, the 7-speed double clutch transmission (Porsche Doppelkupplung - PDK) in the 911 Targa 4S and the 9HP in the Cherokee Trailhawk.

Global footprint

Germany’s ZF Group is among the top 10 largest automotive suppliers worldwide, with products ranging from transmissions and steering systems as well as chassis components and complete axle systems and modules.

The global player in driveline and chassis technology is famed for supplying innovative passenger car technology to automotive marques such as Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Maserati, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce.

 ZF Asia-Pacific vice president (powertrain technology) Dr Harald Massmann

The technology company is present in 26 countries, with 121 production companies.

The ZF Group has a strong global footprint; be it a new axle plant for passenger cars in Beijing, or in the field of commercial vehicles; the production launches of Traxon - the automatic truck transmission system, as well as low-floor technology and transmissions for city buses in Asia and South America.

In Asia-Pacific, the ZF operates many plants – in addition to its 23 production locations in China, the group has six in India, and two each in Australia, Malaysia, and South Korea, and one in Thailand and Taiwan, respectively.

Also, ZF’s customers include important transport operators in Asean, such as SMRT Corp Ltd and SBS Transit in Singapore, Rapid KL in Malaysia, and TransJakarta in Indonesia.

"Asia-Pacific is the growth engine for the world's automotive industry," said ZF Asia-Pacific president Rudi von Meister.

"We want to apply our strengths to Asia Pacific - these include a focus on global sourcing, high and consistent quality of products, a design to market doctrine - where we adapt product costs, performance and life span for the requirements of local markets," said von Meister.

Efficient power transfer

The demand for automatic passenger car transmissions has risen sharply in the past decade, noted Massmann.

 ZF Asia-Pacific president Rudi von Meister.

"Modern automatic transmissions make for more comfortable driving, and also help in fuel efficiency," he said when speaking about ZF's second generation of the 8HP, the 8-speed automatic transmission.

The new 8HP from ZF is more fuel efficient by 3%, without taking into account the vehicle's optional start-stop function that offers even greater fuel savings potential.

ZF is offering the 8HP for input torques between 220 and 750Nm.

Meanwhile, ZF also offers the second generation of its 6-speed automatic transmission (6HP) which is said to combine seemingly conflicting properties such as driving fun, high performance, and economical driving at the same time.

This 6HP is produced in seven variants, at a ZF transmission plant in Shanghai.

Customers of the 6HP include the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), Jiangling Motors (JMC), Great Wall Motors (GWM), and Ford Australia.

Another highlight from ZF is the world's first manual transmission with 7 gears (7MT), which celebrated its premiere in 2012 in the Porsche 911.

Meanwhile, hybrid transmissions and hybrid components from ZF show their advantages in numerous current volume production vehicles.

 Range Rover Evoque with ZF 9-speed automatic transmission (9HP) at the Shanghai Tianma Circuit.

For example, the hybrid version of the 8HP is in the BMW Active Hybrid 7 and the Audi Q5 hybrid quattro.

The ZF hybrid module is also installed in the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid.

Malaysian market

On the local front, ZF entered the Malaysian market in 1981, and today, supplies products to the port and transportation industries, and automotive OE (original equipment) segment.

ZF Sales & Service (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has a comprehensive range of OE products covering 95% of the automotive and marine independent aftermarket.

For the aftermarket parts business, the company recently expanded its Sachs range of shock absorbers to cater for more Japanese and Korean passenger car models.

There are ZF absorbers available for 90% of Proton and Perodua models, as well as selected Japanese and Korean cars in Malaysia.

ZF is also a supplier of transmissions, low-floor axles for buses and rail shock absorbers to Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, which owns and operates rail and bus services in the country.

These products include the ZF EcoLife 6-speed automatic transmission for inner-city line buses.

Benefits of the ZF EcoLife, which is fitted in more than 500 buses in Malaysia, include better braking performance due to an integrated primary retarder, fuel savings of up to 5%, improved acceleration, smooth gear changes, reduced noise, and longer oil change as well as extended service intervals.

In November 2013, ZF Chassis Systems Sdn Bhd also opened a plant in Kulim, Kedah to supply complete front and rear axle systems to BMW Malaysia.

 The 2015 Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan uses the award-winning 9-speed automatic transmission (9HP) from ZF.

Meanwhile, ZF's operations in Malaysia will see some changes in 2015 due to recent corporate manoeuvres on the global stage.

Robert Bosch GmbH is taking over joint venture partner ZF's 50% stake in ZF Lenksysteme, which produces steering systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles at 20 locations worldwide including Penang, Malaysia.

ZF Lenksysteme's subsidiary ZF Steerings (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has a Penang plant, set up in 1984, that supplies steering solutions to automakers such as Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Perodua.

Also, ZF Group's ongoing merger with Livonia, Michigan-headquartered TRW Automotive Holdings Corp will change the new combined group's business structure worldwide.

In global terms, this merger which is due to be completed in the first half of 2015, will create a new giant in the automotive supplier industry.

The merged companies will have total annual sales of about 30 billion euros (RM129bil) and 138,000 employees.

With the merger, sales for the ZF Group will more than double in China and the United States, the two largest automotive markets in the world.


Tokyo Motor Show 2019: New Honda Fit/Jazz unveiled

                TOKYO: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled the world premiere of the all-new Fit known locally as the Jazz at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019.

The all-new Fit will be exhibited at the Honda booth for the duration of the show October 25 – November 4, 2019 and it is scheduled to go on sale in February 2020.

A spacious cabin and excellent usability has been the hallmark of each successive generation of Fit and this 4th-generation all-new Fit was developed with the intention of becoming the globally-accepted standard for compact cars.

The all-new Fit will come in five different variants - Basic, Home, Ness, Crosstar and Luxe.

The hybrid version of the all-new Fit will be the first Honda compact car equipped with the 2-motor hybrid system as part of Honda’s e:HEV models.

e:HEV is a newly-established name for Honda’s 2-motor hybrid system.

The all-new Fit features a new front pillar design for better mitigation of collision damage.

The newly-designed front pillar is also wider with superior frontal visibility compared to previous models.

Inside, the instrument panel features a flat-topped design which emphasizes horizontal and straight lines.

The all-new Fit will also be the first Honda model to feature a new-generation body stabilizing seat which stabilizes the body and makes long distance driving less tiring.

Present at the unveiling was president and representative director, Honda Motor Co. Ltd, Takahiro Hachigo.


Hitachi empowers over-the-air software updates in Honda Legend

                TOKYO: The new Honda Legend, which has Level 3 autonomous capability, will use Hitachi's Autonomous Driving Electronic Control Unit.

Along with Hitachi's OTA Unit, both parts would enable the Legend to update vehicle control software over the air.

The components were developed through a Honda-Hitachi joint venture company called Hitachi Astemo.

Hitachi Astemo said it saw the need to cater to future vehicles that would increasingly be built with more autonomous features.


Audi adds Apple Music to a wide range of its models

                INGOLSTADT: Audi is integrating Apple Music, a music streaming subscription service, directly into select models.

Adding Apple Music into the infotainment system gives users the ability to access their subscription directly and intuitively from the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) screen using in-car Internet data.

The new Apple Music integration allows customers to access their personal Apple Music account directly from the Audi infotainment system, with no Bluetooth or USB connection required.

After linking an active subscription to the vehicle, Apple Music subscribers can access Apple Music’s full catalogue of 90 million songs, and tens of thousands of playlists, including hundreds of new mood and activity playlists, personalised mixes, and genre stations – all ad-free.

“Integrating Apple Music into the Audio infotainment system marks the next step in the collaboration between Audi and Apple,” said Audi product marketing head Christiane Zorn.

“For our customers, it means that we are offering them direct access to their own personalized listening experience. This is our understanding of a premium digital in-car experience."

The Apple Music integration will be included in nearly all Audi vehicles in Europe, North America and Japan starting with the 2022 model year.

The integration will be rolled out to vehicles already on the road via an automatic over-the-air update.

To activate Apple Music, customers simply need to open the app in their Audi’s infotainment system and follow the on-screen instructions to log in with the Apple ID they use for Apple Music.

To finish the setup process, they simply need to enter a verification code that is sent to their phone. For Audi owners in Europe, cellular data streaming costs incurred are conveniently billed via a data package available from Cubic-Telekom. The first three gigabytes are free of charge.

Audi vehicles also come with Apple CarPlay support. Drivers can connect their iPhone wirelessly (or via USB) and get directions optimised for traffic, make calls, send and receive messages and listen to music simply by tapping the touchscreen display or using Siri voice control.


Fiat 500X Fulham FC Special Edition announced

                LONDON: A new special edition Fiat 500X was recently launched in London to celebrate the continuing successful partnership between Fiat Chrysler Motor Village UK and Fulham Football Club (FC).

Motor Village UK is the official car partner to Fulham FC and offers exclusive deals to club season ticket holders on new Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Abarth cars.

The Fulham FC special edition version of the Fiat SUV features distinctive styling details, exclusive black, white and red paint finish and unique ‘FFC’ badging, along with a host of 500X standard equipment.

It will be sold through Motor Village UK, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles UK’s flagship dealer.

A limited run of 15 examples will be created, designed exclusively for Fulham FC season ticket holders and will be priced at £21,365 (RM123,000) on-the-road.

The special edition Fiat is being made available in two different styles – City Look and Off-Road Look.

The car is currently based on the 500X Pop Star version and comes with alloy wheels, front fog lights with cornering function, rear parking sensors, climate control, six airbags, cruise control and 5.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, Bluetooth, USB port and aux-in jack among others.

The SKYbet Championship football club is also holding a prize draw in which one lucky winner will get to drive a new Fiat 500X Fulham FC Special Edition for two weeks.

The lucky winner will have the keys handed over to them by the team’s players, while signed footballs and shirts will be provided as runners-up prizes.


JPJ offering 70% discount on all summonses, compounds

                BATU PAHAT: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is offering a 70% discount on all summonses and compounds issued by the department for the whole of April in conjunction with its 72nd anniversary celebrations.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi announced the discounts on Monday after launching the JPJ Day national celebrations at the Batu Pahat Mall here.

“After discussing the matter with JPJ director-general Datuk Shaharuddin Kalid, the discount period begins today (Monday), and road users need to come to JPJ counters to obtain their discounts," said Ab Aziz.

READ MORE: Update - JPJ frontlline staff in the dark on discount offer, motorists seeking to pay up see red The 'FB' series is open for bidding now.

However, he added that the discount would not apply to fines issued through the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas).

Ab Aziz added that bidding for the Putrajaya-issued “FB” vehicle registration plates began on Monday and will last until April 16. He said the results of the bidding will be announced on May 14.

Ab Aziz also said interest for the series would be quite immense, given the similarity between the plate series and the acronym for Facebook (FB).