Ducati Streetfighter V4S: A refined beast

                THE 2021 Ducati Streetfighter V4S naked bike is based on the platform of the Panigale V4.

There are similarities between Streetfighter and Panigale as both use the same mini spar frame connecting the fork to the front of the engine and a swingarm is used at the rear.

The Streetfighter carries the same 5.5-inch TFT screen, 16-litre fuel tank and has a tails section that is similar the Panigale's.

Its electronics - traction control, ABS, quick shifter, suspension, anti-wheelie, and engine braking control that are all lean-sensitive - are also the same as the superbike’s.

However, the sitting position of the Streetfighter is much relaxed compared to the Panigale's, similar to many other naked bike brands.

I took the Streetfighter to the foot of Fraser's Hill via Kuala Kubu Bharu.

My route allowed me to encounter as few twisty roads as well as straight stretches that allowed me to test out the Streetfigher's performance and handling.

Every time I twist the throttle, Streetfighter moves on like a missile knowing the target while holding the riding line true be it in the tight or sweeping corners.

The bike is easy to control and its throttle is light and responsive. Simply amazing.

The Streetfighter’s power and torque are something you can handle well despite the whopping a 208hp at 12,750rpm and a maximum torque of 123Nm at 11,500rpm.

In the corners, I was able to flip and dance with the bike graciously.

The bike’s horsepower was not intimidating at all. The front wheel was sticking to the tarmac like a gecko complemented by personalised suspension settings.

Like the Panigale, the Streetfighter comes with biplane wings.

You may ask what is the use of these wings, placed as close as possible to the front wheel near the radiator side panels.

The wings help to stabilise the bike if the owner decides to unleash all the 205hp.

The wing-generated downforce decreases the possibility of front wheel float as there is a tendency to wheel up at high speed.

In addition, the wings also improves stability during braking at the turn-in point and through the corner.

The wings generate 28kg of downforce at 270kph of which 20kg goes on the front wheel and 8kg on the rear.

The wings also help draw heat off the engine.

With all that power on tap, the rider needs good control of this machine.

Ducati has always been associated with the best brake makers which is none other than Brembo.

The Streetfighter is fitted with Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers (M4.30) biting hard on the 330mm disc with 4-piston caliper on the front and 245mm disc with 2-piston caliper at the rear.

Besides the brakes, it gets a host of riding aids such as Slide Control, Engine Brake Control and ABS with a Cornering System for emergency braking at lean.'

I can only assume that when the folks at Ducati came up with the idea to build this Streetfighter; they considered the requirements of speed junkies as well as moderate-skilled riders who are slowly moving up up to fast bikes.

For these ‘speed’ newbies, it is very important to them that they know that the power is within their control without any surprises.

Thus, a rider is able the manage the power delivery of the bike from insanely fast to much slower.

The bike comes with riding modes of street, sport and race. Street mode is recommended when riding on surfaces with poor grip.

This riding mode gives the rider 208hp and progressive Ride by Wire throttle response and a suspension set-up that is well-suited to bumpy or pitted roads.

Electronic control settings ensure grip and stability to maximise safety.

Selecting Sport gives the rider 208hp, with direct sport-style Ride by Wire throttle response and, a sport-style suspension set-up. Electronic controls are set to give riders perfect dry road ride responsiveness.

Rear-wheel lift detection during braking is on and the ABS Cornering function is set to maximise cornering performance.

Like the name suggests, Race riding mode allows riders, including those who are less expert, to enjoy excellent bike performance on high-grip track surfaces.

By selecting Race, the rider can count on 208hp, with direct Ride by Wire throttle response and with a firm suspension set-up to optimise performance.

Race mode sets the electronics at a low intervention level but without lowering safety, with ABS set to Level 2, lift-up control off, and the "slide by brake" function (which lets riders drift the bike into corners safely) on.

I found it easy to personalize the settings to suit my riding style and subsequently restore Ducati-set parameters.

They can also enable ABS Level 1 (intended for on-track use by highly expert riders) which acts on the front wheel only to allow full-on braking performance.

After riding the bike for for two days, I realised that to get the full experience and be able to enjoy what the bike has to offer, one must take it to the racetrack and ride it as it should.

Even though this bike is also designed to be ridden on the streets, but the amount of power that can be unleashed on the
street is only the tip of the iceberg.

There is so much more and believe me when I say that.

This RM145,900 bike is mind-blowing from start to finish, be it the design, performance, speed, road handling, and technology.

SPECIFICATIONSDucati Streetfighter V4SEngine: 1,103cc, Desmosedici Stradale 90-degrees V4, four valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled
Maximum power: 208hp at 12,750rpm
Maximum torque: 123Nm at 11,500rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed
Front suspension: 43mm Öhlins NIX30 fully adjustable fork, electronic compression and rebound damping adjustment with Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 event-based mode
Rear suspension: Fully adjustable Öhlins TTX36, electronic compression and rebound damping adjustment with Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 event-based mode
Front brake: 2X330mm semi-floating discs with radially mounted Brembo Monobloc Stylema (M4.30) 4-piston calipers, Cornering ABS EVO
Rear brake: 245mm disc with 2-piston caliper, Cornering ABS EVO
Features: ABS Cornering EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO2, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control EVO, Ducati Power Launch, Ducati Quick Shift up/down EVO 2, Engine Brake Control EVO, Ducati Electronic Suspension EVO, Ducati Quick Shift
Fuel capacity: 16 litres
Wet weight: 201kg
Price: RM145,900 (without insurance, road tax and registration)


One of Eric Clapton's Ferraris is being sold online

                LONDON: Eric Clapton's Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano F1 which belongs to Eric Clapton is currently being sold by UK car dealer GVE London on British website Auto Trader for £89,900 (RM494,000).

This car, which is model year 2008 and described as in mint condition, shows a bit less than 38,000km on the odometer.

In terms of performance, its 620bhp V12 engine enables acceleration from 0 to 100kph in less than four seconds and to reach a peak speed of 330kph.

It also features tech innovations derived directly from F1 such as its manual transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters or its traction control system. Music fans may also want to note that the car is fitted with a Bose HiFi system.

This is not the first time that the famous guitarist sells a car from his collection. He has also sold a Lamborghini Superleggera.


Iveco showcases prototype of large hydrogen van developed with Hyundai

                MILAN: Italy's Iveco showcased today a prototype of the hydrogen powered eDaily large van it has developed with Hyundai Motor, the first tangible outcome of a wider partnership between the two manufacturers.

Iveco and South Korea's Hyundai Motor in March signed a preliminary deal to explore cooperating on shared vehicle technology, joint sourcing and mutual supply.

In July, they said Iveco would equip its future hydrogen-powered buses in Europe with fuel-cell systems designed by Hyundai's hydrogen mobility brand HTWO.

The new hydrogen powered eDaily, with a range of 350km and a maximum payload of 3 tons, is fitted with Hyundai's 90 kilowatt (kW) hydrogen fuel cell system and 140 kW e-motor, Iveco said in a statement. The vehicle's battery pack is provided by FPT Industrial, Iveco's powertrain unit.

Iveco, the smallest among Europe's large truck and bus makers, pledged to develop a full range of zero-emission vehicles as it separated at the beginning of this year from its former parent company CNH Industrial. It has a joint venture with US group Nikola to produce battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell heavy trucks.

The company also said today it and Hyundai were assessing other collaboration options, ranging from cross-selling products in selected regions to joint developments in vehicle automation and connectivity.

Iveco added that Hyundai was also considering sourcing opportunities from FPT Industrial in the area of next generation conventional powertrains for commercial vehicles.


India wants Tesla sourcing plans, roadmap before any tax breaks

India's Parliament building in New Delhi. — AP

NEW DELHI: India has asked Tesla Inc. to ramp up local procurement and share detailed manufacturing plans before the carmaker's demands for lower taxes on electric vehicles are considered, a person with the knowledge of the matter said.

The ministries of heavy industries and finance sought the details from Tesla in a meeting earlier this month even as the government examines billionaire Elon Musk's demand for lower taxes on EVs in Asia's third-largest economy, the person said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

The departments have also asked Tesla for its thoughts on importing fully built cars versus so-called knocked-down units or partially built vehicles, which attract a lower import levy, the person said.

Tesla didn't respond to requests for comment. Representatives from India's Ministry of Heavy Industries and the nation's Ministry of Finance couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

California-based Tesla wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in July asking for the import duty on electric cars to be reduced to 40% from the current 60% to 100%.

The company also asked for the 10% social welfare surcharge — which is levied on all imported cars and helps fund health and education programs — to be scrapped.

At the meeting, Tesla claimed it has procured components worth US$100 million so far from India and suggested that figure would increase following any tax concessions, the person said.

Tesla also pledged to make significant direct investments in sales, service, and charging infrastructure and evaluate broader investments in manufacturing once it enters the world's second-most populous nation, the person said.

Musk has for several years showed his willingness to enter one of the world's most-promising automobile markets, but complained that Indian rules prohibit him from testing the waters first with imports, as high duties make Tesla cars "unaffordable."


Stellantis ends China GAC joint venture after rebuke

                PARIS: Stellantis announced the "orderly termination" of its loss-making joint venture with Chinese carmaker GAC, which has been producing Jeep vehicles, only four months after saying it would raise its stake in the business.

The U-turn comes after GAC reprimanded the world's No.4 carmaker in January for announcing plans to raise its stake to 75% from 50%, stating the two parties had not yet signed a formal agreement.

"We came to the conclusion that it was better to close the joint venture," a Stellantis spokesman, adding that the venture had been loss-making and that the carmaker could still operate in China through its dealer network.

GAC struck the partnership in 2010 with Fiat Chrysler, which later merged with PSA to form Stellantis.

GAC was not immediately available for comment.

With less than a 1% share of the Chinese auto market, Stellantis has been looking to reshuffle its strategy in the country as part of a broader simplification of its global structure under chief executive Carlos Tavares.

In its 2030 business plan released in March, Stellantis said it would adopt an "asset-light" business model in the country, where it also has a joint venture with China's Dongfeng.

The GAC venture, which saw a 50% decline in sales last year, closed one plant in March and the Dongfeng venture recently closed two due to excess capacity.

Stellantis aims for revenues in China to reach 20 billion euros (RM91bil) by 2030, totalling 7% of total expected revenue, a steep jump from the 3.9 billion euros turned over in China, India and Asia Pacific in 2021.

Automakers including BMW and Volkswagen have raised their stakes in joint ventures with Chinese partners in recent years after the country loosened regulations which previously prevented foreign automakers from owning a majority.

Stellantis said in January that its plans to raise the stake were subject to approval from China's government.

Stellantis will recognise a non-cash impairment of around 297 million euros for its first half-year results, the company said.

"The Jeep brand will continue to strengthen its product offering in China with an enhanced electrified line-up of imported vehicles," Stellantis added.


UMW Toyota Motor ends 2021 with 22% higher sales volume

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor wrapped up 2021 as the top non-national automotive brand in Malaysia.

The company achieved achieved a total sales volume of 72,394, to shatter 2020's volume of 59,320 by 22%.

The total sales volume for December 2021 also showed a growth of 0.5% with 9,289 units sold as compared to the 9,246 sold from the same period last year.

Month-on-month, UMW Toyota Motor surpassed the 8,487 sales volume for November by 9%.

Its leadership extends across several categories including the overall non-national, B-segment, pick-up truck and hatchback segments.

The Vios continues to reign as Toyota’s best-selling model which accounts for 31% of sales, while the Hilux remains uncontested as the bestselling pick-up truck in Malaysia since 2005.

 Vios.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the company would like to thank Malaysians and our loyal customers for their continuous support towards its brand and choosing Toyota as their preferred road companion.

“Despite the most of 2021 being a rather challenging year for most sectors, including automotive, the team at Toyota showed resilience by continuously innovating to offer only the best mobility solutions to our customers who are eager to get back on the road upon the lifting of the lockdown in August,” he said.

UMW Toyota Motor is revving up for an exciting 2022 with impressive plans in the pipeline including innovating the future of mobility focusing on sustainability.

This also includes the highly-anticipated UMW Toyota Motor’s first locally assembled hybrid vehicle, Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is scheduled to launch very soon.

UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said Malaysians are in support of green technology and environmental sustainability, and this is evident as the orders for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid are continuing to rise since we opened for bookings in October.

 Corolla Cross.

“This shows that sustainable mobility is the way forward as the world collectively shifts towards clean and renewable fuels, as well as innovative and intelligent vehicles,” he said.

Takeyama also said the launch of the new Corolla Cross Hybrid would mark a significant milestone for UMW Toyota Motor which would also pave the way for the energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) manufacturing industry in Malaysia.

“As Toyota continues to innovate, we aspire to position EEVs as a mainstream in mobility in the near future,” he said.

Toyota is focused on the green agenda, leading the forefront of Hybrid Electric technology with more than 18 million vehicles sold to-date and offering 45 different Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) in the market.


Renault's Russian partner Avtovaz to go it alone

                PARIS: Renault's Russian partner Avtovaz will go it alone without foreign-made car parts, it said today as Russian authorities consider what to do with the French carmaker's Moscow plant after its exit from the country.

Renault became the latest international company to distance itself from Russian partners over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Western carmaker with the greatest exposure to the Russian market said on Wednesday that it was considering taking a €2.2 billion (RM10.2bil) non-cash charge in the first half to write off its assets in Russia.

Avtovaz said today that it would make new models without relying on imported components and would work to rebuild its supply chains.

Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade today said it would decide by the end of next week how to use Renault's plant in Moscow after the carmaker said it was suspending operations there.

The government's comments about the future of the factory come after the Kremlin suggested it could nationalise assets of foreign companies that leave the country.

A decade ago, major automakers saw Russia as a promising growth market with potential to be among the world's 10 largest vehicle-buying nations.

The latest sanctions, and earlier measures imposed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, have ended that dream.

Assessing options

Mercedes-Benz this month said it has 2 billion euros ($2.20 billion) in assets that could be threatened by Russian proposals to nationalise the property of foreign companies that exit the country because of its invasion of Ukraine.

Renault said it would also now assess its options regarding its majority stake in Avtovaz, Russia's No. 1 carmaker.

"We think this strategic move will shift the attention of investors into the core operations of Renault, which have been largely restructured over the past years," JP Morgan analysts said in a note.

Credit Suisse analysts said that a Russian exit for Renault would be a better option than a "wait and see" approach, even if it comes at a cost for the company.

The French state, which owns a 15% stake in Renault, was not behind the carmaker's decision to suspend its Moscow operations, a government spokesman said today.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday accused Renault of financing the war. The foreign minister later in the day welcomed Renault's move.


Nissan redraws India strategy, to focus on premium cars

                NEW DELHI: Nissan Motor Co will produce and sell only premium vehicles in India, while using its sister brand Datsun to crack the mass budget car market, in a revamp of its strategy in the country, a company executive said.

India is one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets but several global automakers, including Nissan, have struggled to boost sales in the country where rivals Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and Hyundai Motor Co together control about two-thirds of the market.

Nissan will upgrade its manufacturing facility, double the number of car dealerships over the next three years from about 270 today and hire more people, Peyman Kargar, senior vice president at the Japanese carmaker, told reporters here.

“India is one of the most important markets for us. We are not at the level we want today. That is why we have identified a very comprehensive plan,” Kargar said.

Several global automakers including Nissan, Renault SA and General Motors have launched budget cars to win over India’s cost conscious buyers but the segment has remained dominated by Maruti Suzuki.

Nissan’s share of India’s passenger vehicles market fell to 1.6 percent in the fiscal year ended March 31, from nearly 1.9 percent a year ago. Total passenger vehicle sales in the country rose 8 percent during the year to 3.3 million units, industry data showed.

As part of its new strategy Nissan, which sells cars including the Micra hatchback and Sunny sedan in India, will launch more sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) under its brand, starting with the Kicks SUV in 2019. It also plans to sell electric vehicles.

It will develop a range of new cars under the Datsun brand, mainly targeted at cost-conscious buyers in smaller towns and cities, where it will launch more dealerships to boost sales, Kargar said.

Nissan resurrected the Datsun brand in 2012 to try to capture market share in emerging markets such as India. It launched three Datsun cars in the country, starting in 2014, that initially boosted the company’s sales but has failed to sustain the momentum.


Crooked JPJ staff will pay, says D-G

                JOHOR BARU: The Road Transport Department will not protect staff found collaborating with syndicates, including the one involved in cloned vehicles.

JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said those involved in cheating the public would have to face the music.

“So far, investigations carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on cloned cars did not point to anyone from the department but to outside syndicates.

“Nevertheless, we have been working with MACC on this for the past six months and they are free to probe anyone,” he said after attending the department’s state-level JPJ Day here yesterday.

Ismail said out of the 167 cloned cars that had been identified, only eight people had voluntarily handed over their cars.

“They include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Odyssey,” he said, adding that those who had yet to surrender their vehicles would face action under the MACC Act and the Road Transport Act.

Asked about the syndicates, Ismail said they were local syndicates which forged documents such as road tax and car grants belonging to vehicles mainly from Singapore.

Asked how people would know if they had bought cloned vehicles, Ismail said people should be suspicious when they purchase a luxury car for between RM20,000 and RM30,000.

“With forged chassis and engine numbers, people would also not be able to renew their road tax,” Ismail added.

The MACC and JPJ recently busted a syndicate that was luring the public to buy cloned luxury vehicles online for three times lower than the market value and seized 153 cars, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Mini Cooper.

On road accidents, Ismail said an average of 18 people died per day on the roads nationwide last year, which amounted to 6,674 deaths.

However, he added that the numbers had decreased from 6,915 deaths in 2013 and 6,917 deaths in 2012.


VW cars 'blessed' by lion dance troupe

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Malaysia recently hosted a “Lion Dance Car Blessing” ceremony for its customers in conjunction with the Chinese New Year festivities.

The event at Volkswagen Wearnes Sungai Besi here was attended by 60 VW owners and their families ranging from members of the Volkswagen Owners Club Malaysia, Beetle Owners Club Malaysia, Jetta Club Malaysia, Polo Owners Club Malaysia as well as Wearnes Sg Besi’s customers.

Customers enjoyed the acrobatic performance from the lion dance troupe which later proceeded to “bless” the individual cars. There was also a “lou sang” session where all guests shouted season’s wishes and greetings for the Chinese New Year, which started today.

Volkswagen Malaysia said in a statement that the event was held to celebrate Chinese New Year  as well as to give back and show appreciation to its customers.

The VW distributor said it would focus this year on improving overall ownership experience for customers.


Cupholder design no laughing matter at Nissan

                LONDON: What's the big deal with car cupholders, you say? Well, it's a big deal if you ask Nissan.

It takes cupholder design seriously. After all, cupholders have become an integral part of any cabin design. And Nissan engineers work hard to make sure travel mugs, drinks bottles and cans remain upright in the Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail.

They even have a set of test cups as part of their commitment to engineering quality when developing new models. Consisting of more than 40 cups of all shapes and sizes, the equipment is used to make sure no one gets scalding hot coffee or sticky soft drinks in their lap or on the car’s upholstery.

Russell Davies, from the customer-oriented engineering department at Nissan’s European Technical Centre in Cranfield said: “Our research shows there is a large variation in popular cups, cans and bottles in different countries, so we test more than 40 different ones to satisfy all customers.”

 Davies showing the test cups used in cupholder design.

“A cupholder may be something you take for granted, but you’ll notice it very quickly if it doesn’t work as it should!”

Cupholder evaluation is not just a static process done in a workshop. Nissan’s test cups are taken to the test track and put through their paces as new vehicles perform lap after lap. Attention to detail is everything and a strict testing procedure ensures a quality performance. Each car is driven to the limit of its grip under acceleration, braking and cornering to verify cupholder performance.

“It’s amazing how much detail goes into something so simple,” said Russell. “If you look at the shape and contour of the cupholders in the Juke, you’ll see how the design is graded by width to the bottom. Whichever cup you prefer, it will fit snugly into the holder and not rattle around or tip over.”

Russell and the marketability team are constantly looking at new storage trends. For example, while mobile phones have recently been getting larger again, cans were getting narrower as energy drinks grew in popularity. Nissan was among the first to address the issue, and work with design colleagues to enhance its interior storage solutions.


Hyundai Motor and Samsung keen to tie up in mobility business

                SEOUL: Heirs of South Korea's top two conglomerates — Samsung and Hyundai Motor — discussed possible cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) and mobility businesses, Yonhap news agency reported, according to the groups today.

Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae Yong shared his views on future mobility solutions with Hyundai Motor Group executive vice chairman Chung Euisun following his visit to the automaker's Namyang Research & Development Centre in Hwaseong, south of here.

Lee was accompanied by Samsung Electronics' chip business chief Kim Ki Nam, Samsung SDI chief executive officer Jun Young Hyun and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology head Hwang Sung Woo.

They reportedly exchanged ideas with Hyundai officials on the automaker's urban air mobility strategy and robotics technology. Samsung executives also inspected Hyundai's autonomous driving vehicles and hydrogen-powered cars in development, industry sources said.

Lee's visit comes two months after Chung made a trip to Samsung SDI Co's EV battery plant in Cheonan, 90km south of here, where the two moguls discussed electric car battery technology.

Samsung SDI is a Samsung subsidiary that makes EV and smartphone batteries.

Industry insiders said the latest meeting will be a good opportunity for the two to seek collaboration in the fast-growing mobility sector.

Hyundai is seeking to sell more than 1 million EVs and take a market share of at least 10 per cent by 2025.


7 things that can screw up your car's paintwork and how to fix them

                PETALING JAYA: You might have heard or read about the odd tips about how to protect your car’s paintwork.

Ford pointed out that some of your daily routine may be damaging the paint job without you even realising it. Innocent everyday happenings like accidentally spilled fuel or cheeky finger writings can leave long-lasting stains and scratches on the surface of your car or, even worse, cause corrosion.

“There are so many things that happen every day that can damage the paint on your car, which many people are not aware of,” said Ford chief engineer for vehicle operations Richard Burt. “Luckily, you can easily prevent these elements causing permanent damage to your car’s paint job by making sure to be proactive about cleaning away any spills, splatters and muck promptly and properly.”

Ford has put together some of the established information on maintaining that shine on your car for as long as possible.

Here are some of the ways you may be ruining your car’s paint – and Burt’s tips on how to avoid them:

1. Splattered bugs
Bugs might be tiny but can do actual damage to the paint on your car. Insects are surprisingly acidic, and if they are not properly cleaned off the surface of your car, they can actually etch into the paint.

Tip: Don’t put off cleaning splattered bugs from your car for too long — as time goes on, they become more difficult to remove. If you act quickly, all it takes is a little bit of bug and tar remover, a soft wash cloth and some elbow grease.

2. Spilled fuel
Though most people want to make sure they get their every cent’s worth when topping up their gas tank, filling it to the brim actually increases the chance of having gas overflow and spill onto your car. If left alone and not quickly wiped away, the spilled fuel can seep into the top coat of the paint causing it to lose its shine, and leaving a stain on your car’s finish that is very difficult to remove.

Tip: To avoid leaving a brown fuel-coloured blemish around the gas tank cap on your car, if you dribble gas down the side of your car, try to clean it as soon as possible with a fine microfiber cloth. It doesn’t hurt to use a little instant detailer as well.

3. Bird droppings
Not only are bird droppings ugly, they can actually do some serious damage to your car’s paint job. With a diet full of berries, seeds and even bits of gravel, these acidic and grainy droppings can stain, dull and scratch your paint, and take the gloss off if left lingering on your car too long.

Tip: Spray a bit of wash solution onto the affected areas and use a soft microfiber cloth to gently wipe away the droppings. Use a lifting motion to avoid dragging any grit across the paint.

4. Stone chips
Loose stones, pebbles and stone chips are everywhere on the road. These tiny pieces are kicked up from the ground and peck at the sides your car. This can chip the top paint coat and sometimes even go all the way down to the lower layers of paint, exposing them to weathering they are not equipped to handle.

Tip: It’s best to treat these chips as soon as possible to prevent the affected spots from rusting.

5. Fingerprints
We’ve all used our fingers to write a funny message or draw a goofy doodle onto a dirty car (or two) before. Little did we know that these innocent acts of jest, though oddly satisfying, can ruin the paint on a car. Dragging your fingers across the paint acts like sandpaper, grinding the dirt and debris into the paint and leaving wiry markings that will last long after the dirt is gone.

Tip: The easiest way to avoid this is not to do it, but it’s still bound to happen. You can use a duster to wipe down your car every day to prevent accidental sanding, or if you need to remove small scratches, you can use a little bit of polish – just remember to wash your car before polishing.

6. Ash
Malaysia gets plenty of that either from illegal local land clearing or those happening annually, which blows in from Sumatra or Borneo. Murky air can leave behind a layer of ash and soot on your car. Though many people would be immediately inclined to wash this away with some water, mixing water with ash can actually create powerful alkalis that can ruin your car’s finish.

Tip: The easiest way to avoid this is to keep your car covered if you leave it parked outside. To get the ash off, gently dust the ash away with a car duster.

7. Dirty washing accessories
Regardless of how many times you wash your car, if you are working with dirty wash accessories, you can cause permanent damage to the paint. Even if you are cleaning with the softest and finest microfiber cloth or sponge, the moment it drops on the ground it will pick up microscopic bits of grit, sand and dirt, which can’t be entirely washed off. If you continue to wash your car with dirty accessories, you might be left with wiry swirls and scratches on your car.

Tip: If your washing cloth or sponge drops onto the floor, just grab a new one. It’s always useful to keep a spare cloth or two beside you to avoid scratching your car with dirty accessories, and having to detail or repaint it. If you can take your car to a get a touchless wash, that’s even better: A touchless wash removes any chance of microscopic pieces of dirt and grit from coming in contact with your car.


Mercedes-Benz unveils first-ever luxury motor yacht

NICE: Luxury car marque Mercedes-Benz has celebrated the world premiere of its luxury motor yacht "Arrow460–Granturismo” on France's Côte d'Azur, setting the vessel out on its maiden voyage off the coast of Nice.

The 14-metre long, 960hp "Silver Arrow of the Seas" combines the performance of Mercedes-Benz sports cars with unique innovations from the boat industry and marks the latest chapter in the brand's expansion into sectors outside of automotive.

The unveil follows other highly-anticipated launches by fellow luxury brands such as Aston Martin and Bugatti, which also recently unleashed their boat interpretations sporting their signature design styles.

Commenting on the debut of the "Arrow460–Granturismo,” Silver Arrows Marine Chairman Ron Gibbs said: “Almost everything about Arrow460-Granturismo is unique, from its concept to the smallest bespoke detail. It is a motor yacht with a personality that truly embraces life, combining the best marine engineering with the inspired innovations and elegance that the world associates with the Mercedes-Benz name. By merging marine and automotive worlds, with their respective design language, technologies and ideas, we have created a new standard of motor yacht, unlike all others.”


Honda invests in China's CATL to jointly develop EV batteries

                BEIJING/TOKYO: Japan’s Honda Motor Co Ltd will buy a 1% stake in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and the two will jointly develop EV batteries, the companies said today.

The move comes at a time when auto manufacturers and EV battery makers are joining forces in pursuit of an electric future. CATL, based in Ningde, said last year it would develop batteries with Honda and also supply batteries to Tesla, Toyota and Volkswagen AG.

Honda and CATL said in a statement they would develop battery technologies and research a battery recycling business. Honda will launch its first EV with CATL’s battery in China in 2022 and will expand the partnership with stable EV battery supply globally in the future.

READ MORE: A million-mile battery from China could power your EV

Honda has struck a number of partnerships to make electric cars, including a joint venture with China’s GAC under which the Japanese automaker began selling its first all-battery EV, the Everus VE-1 SUV crossover, in China last year.

It has also tied up with Hitachi Ltd’s auto parts subsidiary to develop, produce and sell motors to be used in petrol hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric cars.

For the North American market, Honda has partnered with General Motors Co to develop two new EVs. The two are also working to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology.

CATL is building a battery plant in Germany and is considering expanding to North America. It has an office in Yokohama near Tokyo.


No toll hikes this year, says Works Ministry

                KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no toll fare hike this year as the postponement of the toll rate increase, which was implemented throughout 2021, will continue for 2022, says the Works Ministry.

Last year, the government postponed the scheduled toll rate increase for three highways for the period from Jan 1 to Dec 31, and also postponed the toll fare hike for 26 other highways, said the Ministry.

“The government has decided to restructure the toll rates and this is to be negotiated with the highway concessionaires and must be finalised before 2023.

“Throughout the negotiation period, the gazetted toll rates are maintained and the postponement of the toll rate increase will be continued for 2022,” said the Works Ministry in a parliamentary written reply.

This was in response to a question by Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Puchong) who asked the Works Ministry to state the status of toll fare hike which was postponed in 2021 and whether the hike will be implemented in 2022.

The Works Ministry added that based on the concession agreement signed, should the government implement toll fares lower than the agreed rate or abolish toll collection, the government would have to pay compensation to the concession company.

Last year, the government postponed the scheduled increase in toll rates for three major highways, which was supposed to take effect on Jan 1, 2021, involving Shah Alam Highway (Kesas), South Klang Valley Highway (SKVE) and East Coast Highway Phase 2 (LPT2).

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the Cabinet made the decision in view of the rising cost of living.


BMW to check trademark case over Google’s Alphabet

                BERLIN: Germany’s BMW said Tuesday it was checking the “trademark implications” of Google naming its new parent company Alphabet, which is the registered name of one of the auto maker’s subsidiaries.

Internet giant Google has founded Alphabet as a holding company to group its search engine and other projects such as research arm X Lab, investment unit Google Ventures and health and science operations.

The move surprised Munich-based BMW, which has for years run a subsidiary with the same name that provides corporate car fleet services.

It has the Internet domain name www.alphabet.com while Google’s new parent company has the address www.abc.xyz.

“It’ll be necessary to examine the legal trademark implications,” a BMW spokesman told German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche. She repeated the comment to AFP, stressing that this would be a “routine procedure”.

BMW said it had not been contacted by Google before the surprise announcement of the new parent company.

BMW along with Germany’s Audi and Daimler announced Monday they had teamed up to buy digital mapping service HERE, a competitor of Google Maps, for 2.8 billion euros (US$3.1 billion) from Nokia.


Waze and Apple CarPlay finally integrate

                KUALA LUMPUR: Users of popular GPS navigation software for smartphones and tablets - Waze, now have a reason to rejoice, because it has finally integrated with Apple CarPlay for iOS 12.

Now, users driving cars equipped with CarPlay will be able to download the Waze app and navigate to their favourite places seamlessly.

Simply connect the iPhone to a CarPlay supported system using a USB cable or wireless connection (if available), drivers can search for destinations, select a preferred route and report traffic issues, among others.

At current, Malaysia is home to 5.9mil monthly active users that generally use the app on their smartphones.

The integration ensures that Waze’s features are specially tailored to the operating system and user interface of CarPlay with the full 'Waze' experience that includes setting destination for Home, Work and Favourites.

Additionally, the app can help to organise the needs of a driver in one comprehensive viewing screen before heading out, such as the ability to check for alternate routes and adjust sound settings.

Reporting too, is made easier in trying to help others on the road with a visual reporting menu, while visual and audio alerts help the driver to stay informed and keep both hands on the wheel.


Miros invites public to weigh in on motorcycle e-hailing

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) is carrying out a survey on road users’ perceptions on the viability of motorcycle e-hailing services from today until Sept 7.

According to a statement issued by Miros today, the online survey can be accessed via http://its.miros.gov.my/kajianteksimotosikal/ which targets motorcyclists and members of the public to gauge road users’ acceptance of the viability of motorcycle e-hailing services in the country covering several aspects including road safety, legislation, traffic flow, economics, social security, health, culture and shift in transportation modes.

"The findings from this study will be presented to the Transport Ministry to outline the mechanism for the implementation of motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia.

"As such, members of the public are invited to participate in this study to voice their views on the implementation of motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia, ” the statement read.

The study was carried out following the Cabinet’s decision on Aug 21 to allow for the implementation of motorcycle e-hailing services in the country based on a Proof-of-Concept.
However, the decision will only be finalised after a review of other important aspects conducted.


Shell Rimula contest winners will head to Hungary

                PETALING JAYA: This year’s Shell Rimula global promotion edition is offering another unique and extraordinary reward for local hardworking truckers - an exclusive trip to Budapest, Hungary to experience the FIA European Truck Racing championship.

Guests will get exclusive race access at the Shell Hungary Truck Prix held at the Hungaroring race circuit.

On race day, they will be hosted in the VIP Shell Rimula hospitality suite where they will be able to watch the excitement unfold on the race track.

They will also have behind-the-scenes access to gain a true appreciation of what it takes to be a member of a successful truck racing team, speaking to the race engineers about the demands placed on the vehicles during a race and over the course of a European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC) season.

The following day, guests will return to the track for a money-can’t-buy experience to take part in the Shell Rimula Truck Racing Challenge.

They will put their own teamworking skills to the test in a series of challenges to test their truck racing team potential and see if they can succeed in becoming the coveted Shell Rimula Truck Racing Team Champions!

Under the guidance of professional teams, guests will master race driver tactics, truck control and accuracy tests, mechanical tasks and engineering skills.

Shell Lubricants marketing manager – Southeast Asia, Alex Lim, said,”This year, Shell Rimula is once again looking to reward the many hardworking truckers with another memorable experience. Our annual global promotion has become a much-looked-forward-to event that enables us to reach out to our customers and reward them for their loyalty to Shell Rimula.

“This year, the contest runs from April 15 to July 15, and is open to all customers who purchase any pail or drum of Shell Rimula R4, R5 or R6 products.”

According to Shell Rimula Global brand manager Seow Lee Ming, the company understood what drove our customers’ businesses and their long term goals, hence is able to deliver business value.

“Shell Rimula is constantly leveraging on our technological leadership to help truckers as well as heavy equipment owners and operators attain new levels of operational efficiency. It is about less downtime and more ‘done time’. Our range of leading products can help you achieve just that,” she said.

Seow elaborated, “For example, our flagship fully synthetic Shell Rimula R6 LM offers up to 56% better protection against engine wear, lower exhaust emissions, longer oil drain intervals and up to 56% cleaner pistons.”

Shell Rimula understand that truckers have individual motivations that push them to succeed. Just as truck drivers around the world strive to be the best they can for their future Shell Rimula is committed to constantly innovating, investing heavily to ensure its heavy-duty engine oils are tested in some of the world’s hardest working vehicles and driving conditions.

It’s these learnings that are then applied to benefit Shell Rimula customers and offer them one of the most advanced lubricant products available for all heavy-duty vehicles.

For details on the 2015 Shell Rimula Global Promotion, go to www.shell.com.my/rimulagp.


Financing the Mercedes-Benz E300

                PETALING JAYA: Agility Financing is now available for the new Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid.

This is the latest E-Class variant to be offered with the hire purchase-based instalment plan developed by Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Aligned to the needs of Malaysian customers, Agility Financing is designed to provide financial flexibility, affordability and security.

Through this risk-free financing, customers can be confident in the future value of their Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The instalment of a four year Agility Financing plan, based on a 20,000km mileage per year for the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, is at RM4,868 per month.

In comparison, the monthly instalment for a five-year conventional financing plan (assuming a prevailing interest rate at 2.4%), would be RM5,731.

Mercedes-Benz guarantees the future value of your car based on the length of term agreement and preferred mileage.

For driving enthusiasts with a higher mileage preference, Agility Financing offers attractive plans covering 25,000km and 30,000km per year with the option to choose from a one-year to a five-year financing tenure.

“Agility Financing has gained great interest since its launch and we are happy to expand its offerings to a wider range of Mercedes-Benz models. The positive take-up rates are attributed to customers who have personally experienced the peace of mind Agility Financing brings to the table. For car enthusiasts, a seamless financing experience is key to enjoying the best and latest Mercedes-Benz products,” said managing director Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, Hilke Janssen.

Agility Financing puts the customer in control by providing options to settle or extend a financing contract or even return their vehicles and upgrade to newer models at the end of an agreement. Return features are subject to fair wear and tear conditions and kilometre restrictions.

Prospective Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid customers have until Sept 30 2015 to enjoy special offers under Agility Financing.


Lime scooters hacked to play offensive sexual messages to riders

                BRISBANE: Someone's been up to some mischief in Brisbane: eight Lime scooters had to be removed from the city's streets after the scooters' internal files were hacked to play offensive sexual messages.

The company's electric scooters, which are designed to play an audio recording when locked and unlocked, were hacked so that users were confronted with inappropriate messages when starting their trip in the Australian city.

"Okay, if you’re going to ride my ass then please pull my hair, okay?" one scooter says in a video circulating social media. Footage from local broadcaster 7 News Brisbane showed a row of scooters blaring out the offensive recordings.

Not all of the hacked recordings are quite as explicit, with one other reportedly saying: "No, where you go?" when the scooter was returned.

The Californian company, which has rapidly been adding fleets of scooters to cities across North America, Europe and Australia, said it was "disappointing" that someone had hacked the scooters' internal audio files. "It's not smart, it's not funny," Lime said in a response to the Brisbane Times.

Funny or not, the prank is more than an embarrassment to Lime, and reveals the potential safety risks posed by flawed software in fast-growing mobility startups.

Lime's software already came under scrutiny in January when the company's scooters, which can travel up to 25kph, started inadvertently braking and throwing riders off in several cities.

After numerous reports of injuries, the company later said it had fixed the error and admitted that risks like these, while small, could not be entirely eliminated.


How San Francisco's robot taxis are becoming mobile weather stations

                SAN FRANCISCO: Waymo has long sought to understand how weather can affect the performance of its autonomous vehicles.

Just as a human can quickly reduce speed or adjust braking depending on whether it's raining or not, or whether visibility is good or bad, Waymo's driving system must also be able to react to the slightest change in weather conditions.

Unfortunately, the weather can alter the car's perception of the environment. Wet roads can create reflections on the cameras, for example, while fog, mist and rain can slightly affect the data readings of the different sensors.

Waymo is now able to measure the presence (or absence) of raindrops on the windows to assess different weather conditions.

By combining data from the hardware sensing suite with data from weather visibility sensors, the vehicle can analyse the weather around the vehicle in real-time to establish whether it’s foggy or raining, for example, and to what intensity. Waymo's automated driver can then adapt to the identified conditions.

These mobile weather stations also provide an accurate view of the climate evolution over the whole of San Francisco.

Over time, Waymo has been able to develop an accurate fog map of the city, showing how coastal fogs that arrive from the Pacific Ocean progress before dissipating in the morning.

In future, the idea is to create similar weather maps for Phoenix and other cities that Waymo will enter.


Perodua boosts green initiative with Laman Hijau

                PETALING JAYA: Perodua has given its green initiative a boost with the recent soft launch of Laman Hijau, representing its commitment towards green and sustainable operations.

Located within its headquarters and manufacturing campus in Sungai Choh, Laman Hijau is an open recreational area for staff that incorporates greenery and fountains powered by solar electricity.

“This green initiative includes the installation of solar panels on the roofs of our manufacturing facilities, which we will further install on most of the buildings within our campus. Our new staff locker room facility, named Lemari, also makes use of a green wall for natural insulation,” said Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Perodua’s 400-acre (162-hectare) campus comprises a corporate building, a research and development facility, two vehicle manufacturing facilities, a parts centre, a training centre and a children’s day care centre.

Perodua’s green initiative began in June 2017 with the announcement of its ECO Garden, set to be launched next month.

The 1,500 square-metre garden utilises recycled waste materials in its construction, solar energy and a diverse variety of plants and trees, amongst others.

“Our industry is an energy- and resource-dependent one. It is therefore critical that we never stop finding new ways to use energy more efficiently if we want to do our bit towards a cleaner, leaner and greener Malaysia for us all,” said Zainal.

The President and CEO explained that apart from environmental sustainability, the green initiative also includes continuous safety and operational improvements to ensure everything moves harmoniously within the Perodua Group.


Can Japan overtake the US as the place to test autonomous driving tech?

                TOKYO: Following Toyota and Nissan, Bosch is the latest car company to realise the benefits that Japan offers as a location for developing and testing autonomous driving technologies in real-world conditions.

The company is setting up a dedicated facility in the country with the aim of having a highway pilot system - that can take over the driving on freeways - ready for production vehicles by 2020.

"Because people there drive on the left, and because of the complex traffic conditions, Japan provides us with valuable insights for development," said Dr Dirk Hoheisel, a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

The US has established itself as the country for carmakers looking to develop autonomous driving technologies in real-word conditions. The subject even made President Obama's State of the Union address on January 14. America is allocating US$4 billion in funds specifically for automated vehicle research and development, but the focus is on easing congestion and pollution and reducing the number of road traffic accidents.

"Meeting the challenge of a transformation to a cleaner and more modern transportation sector requires infrastructure that reduces congestion not by just paving new lanes, but by making better use of the lanes and capacity we have. Autonomous vehicles offer us a realistic way of doing that," said the head of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Anthony Foxx.

According to UN figures, 1.25 million people around the world are killed each year in road traffic accidents, and 90% are caused by human error. "In critical traffic situations, the right support can save lives," explains Hoheisel about the technologies Bosch is developing.

Autonomous driving is also predictive, considerate driving, and US studies show that the types of autopilot technologies that will soon be production realities could offer fuel savings of up to 39%; less fuel burned means less pollution generated.

However, allowing semi-autonomous cars on the road for testing and clearing the regulatory and moral issues surrounding the technology so that it can become a consumer reality, is another matter.

During the Tokyo motor show, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn underlined this problem. "No one can put autonomous driving technology on a car and let you benefit from it without the regulator accepting it," he said.

And that is one of the major reasons why Japan is set to become a very attractive location for taking semi-autonomous technology to the next level. "I think that if there is a government that is ready to launch it then it will be Japan," said Ghosn.


Build more segregated motorcycle lanes and cut speed limit, Govt urged

                KUALA LUMPUR: Build segregated motorcycle lanes like those along the Federal Highway and lower the speed limit for motorcyclists.

These were among the suggestions social activist and Alliance for Safe Community chairmanTan Sri Lee Lam Thye proposed to the government to check road fatalities nationwide.

Such safety measures could be introduced in the 12th Malaysia Plan, which will take effect next year.

“The best example of such live-saving lanes is certainly along both flanks of the Federal Highway stretching from Petaling Jaya to Shah Alam and up to Klang. The Federal Highway is, without doubt, one of the busiest with traffic virtually round-the-clock but according to statistics, an average of only two fatal crashes involving motorcycles has been recorded annually.

Enacting a law to reduce the speed limit of motorcycles would also minimise injuries and deaths among riders and pillion riders.

Acknowledging that building such dedicated lanes around the country would be expensive, Lee said that for a start, the police and Transport Ministry could confine motorcyclists to riding only on the left-most lanes of highways and roads, with double-lines on the roads to separate them from other vehicles.

“In this way, the two-wheelers are barred from riding on the fast lanes competing for space with the bigger vehicles, which is obviously the main cause for the horrific high death tolls among motorcyclists and pillion riders,” he said.

This approach would be an interim step before rolling out segregated lanes, he added.


Hyundai Sonata's new Bose system promises life-like audio experience

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor announced that the new-generation Sonata, scheduled to go on sale later this month, will also be available with the Bose Premium sound system created by Hyundai and Bose engineers to provide an exceptional audio experience to customers. This marks the first time the two companies have joined forces.

Professional sound engineers at Hyundai and Bose aimed to replicate music in the vehicle to sound as close as possible to the way the artist intended. The resulting audio system produces crisp sounds for a high-quality entertainment experience.

The Bose sound system in the new-generation Sonata is equipped with 12 speakers, each contributing to create overall premium sound quality. Impactful low-frequency performance is delivered by a combination of Bose Super65 speakers in the front doors and a 9-inch Bose neodymium woofer positioned on the rear deck.

Balanced sound reproduction is then delivered by a 3.25-inch neodymium mid-range speaker in the center of the instrument panel; four 2.5-inch Twiddler speakers – one in each corner of the instrument panel and one on each side of the rear deck; and two 5.25-inch wide-range speakers – one in each rear door. Higher frequencies are delivered through two 1-inch neodymium tweeters – one in each front door.

The system is driven by a Bose digital amplifier with 12 channels of custom equalisation and digital signal processing.

Speaker locations have been optimised through tests and analysis of interior space by a joint team of engineers. The resulting Bose Premium sound system offers a rendition that is comfortable to the ear under all circumstances, even in high volume and speed environments.

With each speaker specifically designed to produce a clear tone, the whole set of speakers combine to deliver a rich, vibrant experience that is almost identical to the artists’ original sound.

According to Hyundai, music and sound played in the new Sonata is immersive and enveloping, thanks to Bose Centerpoint surround technology and Bose SurroundStage signal processing, which put every occupant at the centre of the audio experience regardless of where they are positioned in the cabin.

Bose Centerpoint technology uses a proprietary algorithm to analyse a stereo signal and converts it into multiple channels for surround-sound listening in the front and rear seats. Bose SurroundStage circuitry ensures a balanced 360-degree sound field for each seating position so all occupants receive full music immersion.

To help preserve the quality of the listening experience, the Bose system is also equipped with Dynamic Speed Compensation, which automatically adjusts the volume and tone of music based on vehicle speed and reduces the need for drivers to make adjustments on the road.


Lavonne Tan finds her old Civic still a 'reliable drive'

                PETALING JAYA: With the 10th-generation Civic due to launch next month, Honda Malaysia is cranking up the buzz machine by looking back at the Civic generations, using owner testimonials to lend some credibility.

One such owner who shared her car ownership experience was Lavonne Tan Ca-Men (pic).

Tan, 26, decided to buy the 8th-generation in 2008 as she was led to believe that it was a reliable car. She also wanted a car that was comfortable to drive and looked good. She said she found all these qualities in the Civic then.

READ MORE:10th-gen Honda Civic drive in Thailand

“The moment the people at the Honda dealership in Jalan Ipoh (in Kuala Lumpur) told me the car was ready to be collected, I felt joy in finally owning the Civic. It was a memorable moment."

“Over the years, the Civic became family to me. It is a hardy car that goes the distance. It has never given me any major problems and my aftersales experience at the Jalan Ipoh dealership has been pleasant. They are accommodating and attentive to my needs. I love the exterior, the long dashboard and the speedometer of the Civic. Handling was exceptional."

An avid badminton player who also hits the gym regularly, Tan said her Civic was also part of her active lifestyle.

When asked to describe what Honda means to her in two words, Tan said: "Reliable drive!” That's an endorsement that should encourage more people to buy Honda cars. And Honda couldn't be happier.

> Lavonne Tan's story has proven to be one of the more popular topics on CarSifu's Facebook page, drawing over 1,200 views in a matter of hours.


Ducati Streetfighter V4 makes global debut

                ROME: Ducati Motor Holdings has finally given its much anticipated Streetfighter V4 (SFV4) super-naked bike its official global unveiling via live stream amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Practically a stripped-down version of the Italian bike maker's Panigale V4 superbike, the SFV4 is also available as more tricked-out V4 S variant.

As standard the SFV4 comes slapped with a full-LED headlight - much like the Panigale V4, that takes after the grin of the comic-book character infamously known as The Joker.

The headlight - surmounted by a 5.0-inch TFT screen and flanked by biplane wings, looks embedded into the dual-layer fairing that incorporates the air-box and LED cooling intakes while a rear deflector helps to attract air away from impacting the fuel tank.

The aerodynamics were developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimally place the winglets in order to reduce front wheel lift and produce up to 28kg (20kg front, 8kg rear) of downforce at 270kph

This helps to improve stability during braking into corners before spitting out the other end.

Additionally, the winglets are said to help draw heat away from the 1100 Desmosedici Stradale engine while increasing water and oil radiator cooling rate by 2% and 10% respectively.

The SFV4 features the use of the company's MotoGP-derived front-Frame that weighs just 4kg and uses the engine as a load-bearing member by attaching itself to the upper crankcase of the front cylinder bank and the cylinder head of the rear bank.

The crankcase is where the rear suspension attaches itself as a single-sided swingarm pivot mount.

Moreover, the struts alongside the engine have been shortened, making bike design more compact, especially in the rider's seat area.

Completing the chassis is the under-seat Trellis subframe, attached to the Front-Frame at the top and bolted to the head of the rear cylinder bank below.

The rear suspension linkage mechanism is attached to the engine via a forged aluminium bracket and reacts to movements imparted by a cast aluminium high-truss swingarm.

The steering geometry features a 24.5-degree rake and 100mm trail and as standard, 201kg (wet) SFV4 is suspended by a 43mm big piston Showa fork at the front and a Sachs shock at the rear while rolling on aluminium alloy wheels.

The engine, designed around the V4 MotoGP engine with the same 90-degree V4 engine configuration that's been rotated rearward by 42-degrees for an extremely compact setup that has a lower centre of gravity.

The 1,103cc engine produces 208hp at 12,750rpm and 123Nm of torque at 10,000rpm which drinks from a 16-litre aluminium tank and extends under the thicker more comfortable saddle to house all the electronics and battery.

Compared to the previous Streetfighter with a 1,099cc L-twin engine power was only rated at 155bhp at 9,500rpm and 115Nm of torque at 9,500rpm.

The standard SFV4's engine comes fully equipped with the usual slew of full ride-by-wire elliptical throttle bodies with power managed by a six-speed manual gearbox.

The gearbox is further equipped with Ducati's up/down quick shifter, a hydraulically controlled slipper and a self-servo wet multi-plate clutch to help send power to the chain-driven rear wheel.

The ponies are released by a standard 4-2-1-2 system that has two catalytic converters and two lambda probes

Opting from the SFV4 S variant means power gets bumped up to 220hp (+12hp) and 130Nm (+7Nm) by fitting a 6kg-lighter full-racing Ducati Performance exhaust system designed by Akrapovič.

Also, riders get a choice of three riding modes of Street (155hp), Sport (208hp) and Race (208hp).

 From left Ducati Streetfighter V4 S and standard V4 variant

Suspending the SFV4 is an adjustable 43mm Showa Big Piston Forks and houses chrome sliders with Brembo radial calliper mountings while a Sachs steering damper completes the front-end package.

The rear uses a fully adjustable Sachs shock absorber and is attached to the engine via a forged aluminium bracket.

The SFV4 S instead, makes use of Öhlins goodies that include the front NIX-30 fork and rear TTX36 rear shock absorber as well as an event-based steering damper - all of which are controlled by the second-generation Smart EC 2.0 system with a new Objective Based Tuning Interface system.

As standard, the SFV4 uses 17-inch cast aluminium wheels wearing specially designed 120/70 (front) and 200/60 (rear) Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tyres.

The tyre compound mimics the Panigale V4's Supercorsa SP race replica tyres - only it now has better low-temperature performance for improved versatility.

Opting for the SFV4 S means the wheels get lightened to a three-spoke Marchesini forged aluminium alloys.

Braking comes from two front Brembo Stylema monobloc callipers - each with four 30mm pistons, a two-piston rear calliper that bites down on the dual 330mm (front) and 245mm (rear) discs.

To improve safety and stability, the SFV4 is equipped with the ultra-light 9.1MP control unit that barks commands at the anti-lock braking system with the company's Cornering EVO system as well as the traction control Evo 2 system, slide control, wheelie control Ebo, power launch, quick shift up/down Evo 2, engine brake control Evo and electronic suspension Evo.


McLaren to sell its supercars in India’s price-sensitive market

                NEW DELHI: McLaren Automotive Ltd. is trying to win over buyers in India, a market infamous in the automotive world for being demanding on price.

The British luxury-car maker is looking to tap into the country’s growing affluent class with its first showroom in Mumbai, due to open in October, it said in a statement Monday.

McLaren will sell a wide range of models including the GT, 720S and 765LT vehicles and its first hybrid car, the Artura.

Breaking into the country may be a challenge.

The value-conscious market is dominated by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s low-cost vehicles. Automakers including Ford Motor Co. have struggled to gain a foothold in India, where high tariffs make imported cars more expensive.

Ford shut its car factories in India last year after General Motors Co. stopped selling vehicles there in 2017.

Toyota Motor Corp said in 2020 it won’t expand further in the country due to the high tax regime.

Tesla Inc. wants the Indian government to lower taxes so it can sell imported cars to test the market before committing to building a factory.

McLaren said it has selected Infinity Cars, which also distributes brands including BMW, Lamborghini, Porsche and Ducati, as its first retail partner in India.


Ministry to develop online system to cancel registration of vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is developing an online system through an application or other digital methods to cancel the registration of motor vehicles, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, said the system is aimed at facilitating individuals who wish to dispose of old or damaged vehicle by cancelling the registration without having to be present at the Road Transport Department counter.

"Old vehicles are then disposed of by solid waste disposal companies or authorised automotive treatment facilities recognised under the rules set by the relevant agency.

"Through this initiative it is hoped that it will be able to solve the issue of dumping broken and old vehicles in the country," he said during a question-and-answer session at Dewan Rakyat today.

He was replying a question by Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) who wanted to know the government's efforts to manage the disposal of broken and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Hasbi said the Road Transport Department is ready to cooperate with relevant government agencies to study the long-term direction to deal with environmental pollution from abandoned vehicles.

"This includes studying the concept of disposal of old vehicles. The implementation of this disposal system can contribute to increasing the level of road safety and reducing pollution from old vehicles.

"It will also boost demand for vehicles that will contribute to the sustainability of the country's automotive sector," he said.


Volkswagen says next generation of combustion engine cars to be its last

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen will begin rolling out its last generation of combustion engine cars in 2026, in its latest green pledge as it looks to turn the corner on the "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal.

The carmaker, which last month announced a 44 billion euro electric offensive by 2023, said it would phase out its diesel and petrol cars as it looks to meet the emissions targets of the 2015 Paris climate deal by 2050.

Michael Jost, Volkswagen's strategy chief, told an industry conference on Tuesday that the firm's employees were working on "the last platform for vehicles that aren't CO2 neutral".

"We're gradually fading out combustion engines to the absolute minimum," he said at the conference near the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The group, whose brands range from luxury Porsche and Audi to the budget-conscious Skoda and Seat, has set itself the ambitious target of offering more than 50 electric models by 2025, up from six today.

Jost said that last generation of vehicles would begin to roll out in 2026 and predicted that the last vehicle with a combustion engine would be sold around 2040, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, whose car conference he spoke at.

In November's announcement the group said its "electric offensive" would focus on electric, self-driving and connected cars as well as mobility services like car sharing.

The move underscores just how serious the automaker is about closing the gap with Asian competitors and US tech giant Tesla who have had a head start in the e-car race.

Volkswagen's pivot towards e-cars has in part been spurred by efforts to shake off its ongoing "dieselgate" scandal.

The group was forced to admit in 2015 that it had installed cheating software in 11 million diesel vehicles designed to dupe pollution tests.

Suspicions of trickery later spread to other carmakers too, badly hurting the industry's reputation.

The saga also fuelled a backlash against diesel, with a string of German cities now facing driving bans for the oldest, most polluting diesel cars.

Faced with increasingly angry drivers, the German government has come under pressure to avoid the bans but its efforts to get carmakers to commit to cleaning up engines have had limited success.

The "dieselgate" fallout has so far cost VW more than 28 billion euros in fines, buybacks and compensation and the company remains mired in legal woes around the world. (Bloomberg News contributed to this story)


Auto industry on path to recovery bookings

                PETALING JAYA: Selected automotive players are already seeing strong pick-up in bookings, an indication that the industry is on the path to recovery.

MIDF Research said Bermaz Auto (BAuto) saw almost a tripling in daily bookings compared to post-movement control order (MCO) levels, while UMW is seeing early signs of improvement in booking levels.

“Our channel checks with selective industry players suggested possible early signs of improvement in sales. BAuto (which sells Mazda cars), for example, saw a strong rebound in daily bookings post the automotive tax-holiday announcement on Friday last week," MIDF Research said in a note.

“To give a feeler, pre-pandemic daily bookings stood at 30 to 40 per day (in line with 900 to 1,200 monthly sales), while post-MCO daily bookings declined to 20 to 25 per day.”

However, it said daily bookings ballooned to around 60 per day in the earlier part of this week, implying an almost doubling in daily bookings against pre-pandemic levels and a tripling against the post-MCO daily bookings.

“The new price list for Mazda has yet to be officially released but we understand that the CX-5 and CX-8 CKDs will see a 3.4% to 3.9% price reduction (this is before taking into account dealer discounts).

“Our chat with UMW, meanwhile, suggests that UMW Toyota is also definitely seeing improvements in daily bookings, though detailed numbers are not forthcoming yet at this juncture.”

In the Short-term Economic Recovery Plan announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last week, locally-assembled cars will be fully exempted from sales tax while for imported cars, the sales tax will be cut from 10% to 5%, beginning next Monday to Dec 31.

Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB) said the introduction of the tax exemption is a timely inducement to spur sales decimated by the MCO exercise since March.

“We are positive on this, for it will spur purchases and reduce inventory build-up. Sales were severely curtailed during the MCO period. We draw parallel of this ‘tax incentive scenario’ to the situation back in June to August 2018, when the 6% goods and services tax was zero-rated.

“Mazda’s vehicle sales were the strongest during the three-month period then, with sales surging by 89%, 71% and 143% year-on-year to 1,500 units, 1,200 units and 1,900 units, respectively.”

MIDF Research, however, said it is difficult to ascertain if this strong sales trend is sustainable.

“Notwithstanding damaged consumer sentiment given the impact of lockdown measures to contain the pandemic, we re-iterate that the strong combination of tax-holiday induced demand and robust liquidity created for consumers from various stimulus measures.”

The research house added that a low interest rate environment are strong catalysts to drive a rebound in vehicle-buying sentiment.

“As we had highlighted in our recent sector upgrade, the three-month tax-holiday in 2018 lifted total industry volume during the period by 21,000 units per month, relative to our conservative assumption of 7,800 units per month increase from the tax-holiday in the second half of 2020.”


JPJ takes action against 40 vehicles retrofitted with LED, HID headlights

                SIBU: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) Sibu branch has taken action against owners of 40 vehicles found to be retrofitted with light emitting diode (LED) and high intensity discharge (HID) headlights during Ops Silau in Jalan Oya on Wednesday (May 17) night.

Its head Mohamad Faizal David Jemat said the owners have been ordered under Section 61(1) of the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987 to change the vehicle lights to the original one installed from the factory.

According to him, any owner who failed to do so within 10 days from the date the notice was issued would be charged with failing to comply with the notice.

Meanwhile, he said, vehicles fitted with HID type headlights were also issued the same notice along with a notice prohibiting the use of the vehicle and were subject to a summons.

"After it has been changed to the original light (as installed from the factory) the owner must immediately bring their vehicle to the nearest JPJ counter for inspection and verification purposes.

"If the owner fails to do so within the 10-day period that has been set, they will be charged with the offence of failing to comply with the notice," he said today.

Faizal said, retrofitting LED and HID lights is an offence under Rule 94 of the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 and can be fined up to RM2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months under Section 119(1) of the Road Transport Act (APJ) 1987.

"We have received many complaints from the public regarding many vehicles in the town with white lights that dazzle and affect the vision of other drivers.

"This can endanger the safety of the driver himself as well as other road users.

"Operations like this will continue from time to time in addition to daily operations to raise awareness among vehicle owners in this city not to modify vehicles that violate the law and endanger the safety of other road users," he said.

Faizal said, vehicle owners can refer to the JPJ Automotive Engineering Unit before making modifications to their vehicles to avoid legal action.


Malaysian rider Zaqhwan picked for Honda Asia-Dream Racing team

                BANGKOK: Honda Group of Companies in Asia & Oceania has officially introduced its new Honda Asia-Dream Racing team - a new motorcycle racing team comprised of members from the company's racing teams and companies across Asia and Oceania.

Honda companies in the region have been involved in various motorsport activities to develop team members and young riders, ranging from organising local racing programs to participating in international races with their own team at the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in the AP250 and SS600 class, as well as the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race.

 Zaqhwan

Malaysian rider Zaqhwan Zaidi has been picked to ride the CBR1000RR SP2 machine and will compete in the Superbike class in the Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) All-Japan Road Race Championship (ARRC) for the 2018 season before moving into the inaugural ASB1000 class at the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship in 2019.

Prior to the formation of the new team, Honda’s ASEAN racing team - Satu Hati Honda Team Asia, has been actively competing in the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance Race since 2012.

Now, the team will expand its competitive horizon to include the Superbike class in international championship races within Asia.

 Tamada

Former MotoGP and World Superbike rider and current team manager of Satu Hati Honda Team Asia Makoto Tamada will helm the new team before taking on the MFJ All-Japan Road Racing Championship (JRR) in 2018 in the JSB1000 class, including the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race.

In 2019, the team will change its focus to winning its inaugural FIM ARRC participation in the ASB1000 class.

The collaboration among the Honda Group of Companies in Asia & Oceania include
AP Honda Co., Ltd. (Thailand), Boon Siew Honda Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt., Ltd. (India), PT Astra Honda Motor (Indonesia), Honda Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Vietnam), Honda Philippines Inc. (The Philippines) and Honda Australia Motorcycle and Power Equipment Pty., Ltd. (Australia).


Bookings open for upgraded Toyota Alphard and Vellfire

                PETALING JAYA: Bookings are now open for the upgraded Toyota Alphard and Vellfire, which will soon be launched in Malaysia.

The new MPVs will go on sale with prices starting from RM383,000 for the Vellfire (one variant) and RM465,000 for the Alphard (two variants).

The upgrades are mainly in safety and connectivity. Both models now get Toyota Safety Sense (TSS); Parking Support Brake System; 9-inch AVX Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-teady connectivity; front and rear digital video recorder; Vehicle Telematics System; and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

TSS is a suite of advanced safety systems that provide driver assistance to avoid accidents or reduce their severity if they occur. These include Pre-collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Lane Tracing Assist, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

With Parking Support Brake System added to the 2020 models, drivers have the support of an intelligent parking system to detect objects in the surrounding areas of the vehicle during the parking process. Should any object be detected, the brakes will be automatically applied and the engine power cut back so that collisions can be avoided. Even if a collision does occur, the early action of the system can reduce damage.

Besides the Panoramic View Monitor that enables the driver to view all round the vehicle, the front and rear digital video recorders constantly record the views ahead and behind. In the event of an incident and dispute, the recordings would be useful evidence for the vehicle owner.

The Vehicle Telematics System for the Vellfire and Alphard is a connectivity feature that uses GPS/GSM to track the location of the car at all times. This can aid recovery by the police if the vehicle is stolen. The system can also monitor and record vehicle speeds and other operating conditions that the vehicle has been subjected to, with data sent by email to a designated user.

Design-wise, the Alphard retains a luxurious and commanding presence. The Vellfire's design varies from the Alphard with an emphasis on "cool and modern taste".

Like all other models imported by UMW Toyota Motor, owners of the Vellfire and Alphard will enjoy a full factory warranty for peace of mind and available of replacement parts when required.

Customers can choose from four exterior colours for the Vellfire and Alphard, which are fully imported from Japan.

The colour options are Luxury White Pearl CS GF (only for Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge and Alphard 3.5L); Burning Black CS GF (only for Vellfire 2.5L); and White Pearl C, Graphite Metallic and Black (available for both Alphard and Vellfire).


Aston Martin to roll out new two-seater Vantage in June

                LONDON: The Aston Martin DB11 will soon be getting a little brother. In June the British sports car manufacturer will start deliveries of its new Vantage model.

Although the Vantage will use the same platform as the DB11, it is not only much smaller, but above all more assertive and agile, the manufacturer says. And at a starting price of 190,000 dollars, it will also be cheaper.

The model will initially be available as a two-seat coupe – unlike the four-seat DB11 – with a V8 engine. In April 2019, the open-top Vantage Volante will follow.

Aston Martin has also confirmed that the use of a V12 engine in future Vantage models is at least technically possible.

Weighing little more than 1.5 tonnes and measuring only 4.47 metres in length, the Vantage and its 510-horsepower 4.0-litre engine can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of around 315 km/h.

The Vantage is slightly slower at full throttle than the DB11, but thanks to a different gear transmission ratio in the rear-mounted eight-speed automatic, it does enjoy better acceleration performance. Fuel consumption values provided by Aston Martin are 10.3 litres per 100km.


2017 Geneva Motor Show: Techrules debuts Ren supercar

                GENEVA: Chinese automotive research and development company Techrules had a world premiere of the final production design of its first series hybrid supercar at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Ren is its first production vehicle, and features its proprietary Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) technology.

The aerospace-inspired design has a striking modular three-cockpit design that was crafted by world-renowned automotive designers, Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro.

A sense of drama is assured by the distinctive fighter jet-style canopy that rises up to enable occupant access and futuristic elements such as the front laser headlights and ‘star-burst’ reversing LEDs.

The wraparound cockpit and passenger pod spaces are finished using the finest Italian leather (cuoio italiano and alcantara), with seat cushions finished in a denim produced by the high-end designer clothing company, PT (Pantaloni Torino).

Ren is the world’s first electric production supercar to feature the ground-breaking Techrules-developed Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) system, previously introduced at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

The flagship version – with a battery capacity of 25 kWh and with two motors at the front and four at the rear – delivers maximum power of 960kW (1,287 hp/1,305 ps) with a range of 1,170 km from 80 litres of diesel fuel (NEDC).

The TREV system still has the potential to deliver 2,000 km from 80-litres of fuel, depending on the vehicle it is used in.

The Electric Vehicle-only range is targeted at 200 km, subject to the battery and electric motor configuration specified.

The TREV system can be run on both liquid and gaseous fuels.

In testing, diesel has proven to provide the best performance capabilities.

William Jin, the founder and CEO of Techrules, said: “Thanks to the unique modular design of the Ren chassis and powertrain, we have a perfectly engineered vehicle to deliver our TREV technology in the most efficient way, according to the exact requirements of the customer.”


New Mitsubishi Triton Knight debuts at RM138K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia introduced the new Triton Knight today.

Limited to 120 units, the Triton Knight is based on the top-spec Triton Adventure X variant.

The Triton Knight is made available only in White Diamond and packs on extra accessories.

Aesthetic wise, the Triton Knight is accentuated by a grey coated front bumper garnish and hood protector for a more aggressive stance.

The tougher outlook is further complemented by exclusive Knight body stickers and side window deflectors.

In the cabin, the Triton Knight comes with scuff plates and exclusive red-stitching carpet mats with Knight embroidery.

Similar to the Triton Adventure X variant, the Triton Knight gets an All Round Monitor (ARM), a feature that uses multiple cameras around the vehicle to create a bird’s-eye-view to aid parking and manoeuvring.

For added peace-of-mind driving, the Triton Knight gets Driving Video Recorder (DVR).

It also comes with 7-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready.

Priced at RM137,900, the Triton Knight is priced the same as the current Triton Adventure X, but adds free accessories for a limited time only.

Some of these accessories are offered by Mitsubishi authorised dealers. It also comes with the best-in-class warranty of 5 years or 200,000km.

MMM current year-end promotions include loyalty programme for Mitsubishi owners. Customers who buy selected Triton variants will be entitled to up to RM3,000 cash rebates on top of on-going promotions.

In addition, any pick-up truck owners who buy selected Triton variants are also entitled to additional RM2,000 cash rebates on top of current promotions.

The Triton is powered by 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine, which produces 181 PS max power and 430 Nm max torque with Variable Valve Timing technology. The new Triton also comes with 6-speed AT transmission.
For control, the Triton is fitted with Super Select 4WD II for optimum traction and handling characteristics in any given terrain.


Facelifted Kia Picanto getting ready to ship out to Europe

                SEOUL: Kia Motors has made substantial upgrades to its smallest model and yes...the little Picanto is getting a facelift and its first stop will be Europe in the third quarter with its refreshed GT-Line and the sports utility vehicle-inspired X-Line model variants.

The updated Picanto is touted by the South Korean carmaker to play host to new safety and telematics technologies often found in larger and costlier vehicles while having lower emissions and sporting updates to its interior and exterior.

The Picanto will be fitted with the company's ‘Phase II’ UVO Connect telematics technologies to help enhance the vehicle's connectivity and control.

Kia's UVO eServices is a subscription-free infotainment and telematics system that allows users to make hands-free calls on their smartphone, stream music, navigate to a location and perform vehicle diagnostics via voice commands.

As an added option, the Picanto can be had with a new Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) which means no clutch-work for drivers when changing gears

At the front of the GT-Line and X-Line variants, the "Tiger-Nose" grille now features a new textured surround and open-link appearance with a chrome-effect surround that forms a sweeping shape extending into the lower part of the redesigned headlamps to give the car a wider stance.

Each side of the grille features a red highlight on the GT-Line models or black trim for the X-Line model to resemble air intakes.

Both versions of the car now feature redesigned headlights and four-bulb LED daytime running lights while the rear sports newly designed LED combination lights and a slimmer fog light design.

At the rear, both variants feature refreshed front and rear bumper designs with sharper creases in the bodywork for a more contemporary appearance for a more rugged appearance while the enlarged intakes take responsibility for the sporty touch.

New buyers will be spoilt with 10 colours to choose from and two alloy wheel designs (a 14-inch 16-spoke design or a 16-inch two-tone diamond-cut design wheels).

Inside, the cabin features items that include a larger 8.0-inch ‘floating’ widescreen audio-visual navigation (AVN) system and a high-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster.

Depending on trim level and market, the cabin is offered with black fabric or synthetic leather seats with black, silver or gloss black accents found on the door, dashboard and around the gear selector.

Moving away from standard fitment, there are special feature packs available to provide some semblance of personalisation.

For instance, the Lime Pack provides a black single-tone interior with lime contrast stitching and white seat bolsters, silver metal painted transmission and air vent surrounds, and silver-and-lime accents in the doors.

In the Orange Pack, features include a black single-tone interior with orange stitching and cabin highlights as well as black-and-orange door accents.

With the Red Pack, models are finished in black upholstery with red seat-bolsters, as well as gloss black highlights and red-and-black door accents while the Green Pack offers green highlights throughout the cabin and silver-and-green door accents, as well as stylish denim-effect seat upholstery.

Europe will have two engine options to choose from, starting with the 1.0-litre T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engine producing 100PS and a naturally-aspirated (NA) 1.0-litre engine with 67PS.

Among other innovations, the 1.0-litre T-GDi engine features a more efficient 350 bar high-pressure fuel injection system while the NA engine replaces the outgoing multipoint injection engine with new dual-port fuel injection technology and an optimised injection timing sequence for better fuel efficiency. They also feature improved exhaust gas recirculation lines, and optimised intake valve timing, for maximum fuel efficiency improvements.

Both engines are equipped with a new Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS), which provides more effective combustion chamber cooling.

The updated Picanto is the first model equipped with Kia’s new Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The AMT is based around a five-speed manual transmission with clutch and gear shift actuators to automate clutch operation and gear shifts. Using a single dry clutch, the AMT is a cost-effective option for customers who favour the convenience and ease-of-use of an automatic transmission, without sacrificing the fuel efficiency of a conventional manual transmission.

The 8.0-inch ‘floating’ touchscreen satellite navigation system replaces earlier 7.0-inch system and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard along with the new Bluetooth multi-connection which allows users to pair up to two mobile devices at the same time – one for hands-free phone and a media use; the other for media use only.

Through the UVO system, drivers will have access to live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest, fuel prices, and details of potential on- and off-street parking – including price, location and availability.

Using the UVO app - compatible with Android and Apple smartphones, it enables owners to activate a range of functions and features remotely (country-specific) such as inputting route directions to their car before a journey, vehicle location check and access vehicle reports and diagnostic notifications.

Furthermore, the Picanto will be one of the first Kia models to offer the brand’s latest ‘Phase II’ UVO Connect telematics features, providing owners with several new benefits to enhance their user experience, on-board and via Kia’s UVO smartphone app.

The upgraded Picanto features several the of the brand's latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and depending on specification, it can include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with vehicle and pedestrian detection, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Lane Following Assist (LFA) to name a few.

The LFA uses the front-facing camera and sensors to monitor road markings, controlling the Picanto’s steering to keep the car in the centre of its lane while the Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) alerts the driver and stops the vehicle if it detects another vehicle approaching from the left or the right when reversing out of a parking space.

Also equipped for added safety are items such as Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Stability Management (VSM), Torque Vectoring By Braking, Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Straight-line Stability (SLS) systems as standard.

Again, depending on specification and market, up to seven airbags could be found within the cabin as well as Isofix child-seat tether and anchor points.


Volvo Cars appoints new US chief to turn sales around

 The Volvo S60 Cross Country was recently introduced at the 2015 Detroit auto show.

STOCKHOLM: Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars announced the appointment of a new chief executive for North America tasked with reviving the company’s flagging US sales.

Despite generally booming car sales in the United States - helped by falling fuel prices - sales of Volvo cars in the country dropped by 8% to 58,000 in 2014.

Lex Kerssemakers, a Dutch national with 16 years experience in the company, currently responsible for product strategy, will oversee the company’s “US Revival Plan” which targets annual sales of “over 100,000 cars in the medium term,” the company said in a statement last week.

 Kerssemakers

To do so, Volvo plans “a renewal of the entire product range by the end of 2017,” it said.

“The US is a key market for the development of the group and today we get back onto the front foot. Volvo is not only in the US to stay, it is in the US to prosper,” Kerssemakers added.

He will also be responsible for opening up “the full potential of the Canadian and Latin American markets”.

Volvo increased its sales by 9% last year to 465,866 cars worldwide on the back of soaring sales in China and strong European sales.

The iconic Swedish brand was sold by the US car maker Ford to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2010.
It has no manufacturing in the Americas and exports cars from its factories in Sweden, Belgium, and soon from China where it has three plants.

Kerssemakers replaces Volvo’s interim US chief executive Tony Nicolosi, appointed in 2013 to replace another American national who held the post for just over two years.


Road tax renewals more accurate to gauge number of vehicles in Malaysia, says Liow

                PETALING JAYA: Road tax renewal records should be used to give a clearer picture of the number of vehicles still in use in the country, says Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai.

The former transport minister was referring to a recent report that said there were over 33 million registered vehicles in the country.

Liow said this figure was an exaggeration as it included vehicles from before Independence.

"I am sure the number of vehicles on the road is not more than the population as it includes registered vehicles from the British colonial days.

"The report has a misleading heading as it does not portray the true picture of the vehicle population," news portal FMT quoted him as saying today.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim had said recently that the department had administered 33.05 million vehicles in the past 75 years since it was incorporated as the Registrar and Inspector of Motor Vehicles.

"The government should set the facts right and the JPJ should provide the true picture by using the latest road tax renewal records to confirm the numbers.

He added that a "death certificate" for inactive or disused vehicles could also be created to know the exact number of active vehicles in the country.

Former Road Safety Department director-general Abd Ghafar Yusof said it was the usual practice to include pre-Independence numbers in the country's statistics on vehicles.

"This practice was there until I retired (in 2016) and I don't understand why it is still being used today," he said.

He added that the figure was used to calculate the ratio of road deaths versus number of vehicles in the country.

"I have asked the Transport Ministry several times to use the latest road tax renewal database to go along with the reported number of road accidents and fatalities as one of the indexes of road safety," he said, adding that the suggestion had yet to be adopted.


Cycle & Carriage and AmBank organises a Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh BEV drive

                IPOH: AmBank recently collaborated with Cycle & Carriage for a drive of a convoy of Mercedes-EQ cars from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh.

The participants were introduced to the convenience of charging their battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and also informed about Green Financing, a hire purchase loan that offers special financing rates on EVs.

The participants were also briefed on climate change, resource depletion, and other sustainability challenges related to achieving a low-carbon future.

The cross-city journey started off at Cycle & Carriage Mutiara Damansara, onwards to an exclusive dining experience at Cycle & Carriage Ipoh for lunch.

The participants later checked into nature-inspired The Banjaran HotSprings Resort Ipoh, for a luxurious overnight stay before returning back to Kuala Lumpur.

The event was designed to reward discerning clientele comprising both AmBank Signature Priority Banking and Cycle & Carriage’s customers.

Such exclusive events are catered for AmBank Signature Priority Banking customers by invitation.

“In line with our commitment to create exceptional journeys for our customers, we hope this exclusive experience will give them a taste of sustainable luxury living that does not compromise on sustainability for the sake of future generations,” said Thomas Tok, CEO of Cycle & Carriage Malaysia.

AmBank managing director of retail banking Aaron Loo said, “In an era where mobility is also hinged with sustainability, we are proud to work with Cycle & Carriage in encouraging more Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts in Malaysia to opt for the range of EV models by offering them highly attractive EV hire purchase products under our Green Financing portfolio which is aligned with our broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspirations.”