Porsche 918 Spyder: Wet night demon at Sepang F1 track

                THERE was an excited sparkle in the eyes of Porsche head driving instructor Matthias Hoffsummer as he briefed participants on what to expect at Porsche Asia Pacific’s first-ever E-Performance Nights event in Malaysia.

Hoffsummer’s excitement was infectious as he told participants about the finale for the night laps at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) - a taxi ride in the ultra-rare Porsche 918 Spyder on a wet and rain spattered F1 track.

Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine and a plug-in hybrid system, with a seven-speed Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission, the two-seater halo car with 887hp can do the zero to 100kph sprint in 2.6 seconds and onwards to 200kph in 7.3 seconds.

All 918 units of the limited production super sportscar with a top speed of 340kph have been taken, and it was the first production street-legal car to break the 7-minute barrier on the north loop of the Nürburgring race track with a time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds in September 2013.

That record was held for four years until the arrival of the Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

So, it was with some trepidation that we put on our crash helmets, and awaited our individual turns for a few laps in the 918 Spyder, with Hoffsummer at the wheel.

With raindrops falling, no sooner had we strapped ourselves in tightly in the passenger’s seat, then Hoffsummer gave us a wild grin, and the 918 Spyder pulled away swiftly from the pit lane.

With an astounding 1,280Nm of system torque, the super sportscar got up to high speeds very quickly, albeit with a distinct whirring sound as the electric motors power up and also allow all-wheel drive functionality.

Once the V8 engine started roaring, the 918 Spyder became ludicrously fast and we saw the digital speedometer hitting 256kph on the straight before Hoffsummer braked and tackled a sweeping curve.

There was supreme stopping power from the perforated front ceramic brake discs on the low-slung, mid-engined racer as Hoffsummer confidently took the tight hairpin turns at Sepang.

With less traction on a wet track, we were sure Hoffsummer held back a bit but the two laps on the F1 circuit at ridiculously high speeds was just sensational, especially as the 918 Spyder tore into the bends with tenacious grip and fantastic stability.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

But let’s get back to the E-Performance Nights, which Porsche Asia Pacific organised on two nights in October at SIC for selected guests and media members, to showcase its top echelon of Porsche plug-in hybrid models on the racetrack after dark – giving a taste of Le Mans style driving.

“E-Performance is a core tenet of our future strategy. In 2025, we envision that around half of the new cars we sell will be electrically-powered Porsche models, whether fully-electric or hybrids. The E-Performance Nights event is the perfect way for us to demonstrate our plug-in hybrid models that embody the Porsche DNA, whether it is urban driving in Kuala Lumpur or driving on the racetrack at Sepang,” said Arthur Willmann, managing director of Porsche Asia Pacific.

The Porsche cars brought in for the event also included the plug-in hybrid variants of the Panamera and Cayenne, which the guests drove under the expert supervision of a team of Porsche driving instructors including 23-year-old Malaysian racer Weiron Tan.

After a light dinner, we took a new Cayenne E-Hybrid, armed with a 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 petrol engine and a system output of 462hp.

Its maximum torque of 700Nm is already available just above idling speed; the boost strategy matches that of the 918 Spyder supercar.

The Cayenne’s plug-in hybrid drive enables a 0 to 100kph sprint in 5.0 seconds.

Those are powerful performance numbers, but Porsche Asia Pacific wanted us to check out the electric powered drive character of the Cayenne E-Hybrid (capable of 44km on electricity alone) instead - so we had to be contented with a timed cone-marked slalom in the North Pit at SIC.

We had to do the slalom in the electric “E-Power” mode only, which meant we could not be too hard on the accelerator pedal or the petrol engine would start.

This was where those not familiar with “E-Power” drive modes found it a little disconcerting to start driving, as the car is completely silent and vibrationless.

However, once one gets used to the idea of driving in all-electric mode, this becomes second nature.

As expected, the Cayenne E-Hybrid was very agile around the cones, and we had to keep reminding ourselves not to step harder on the accelerator and go faster in the powerful Cayenne E-Hybrid.

Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

Next, it was time to let our speed demons loose with four hot laps in the all-wheel drive four-door Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which has a staggering 680hp from a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 engine combined with an electric motor.

Even when just above idle speed, the Panamera Turbo offers a massive 850Nm of torque.

That means it can do the zero to 100kph sprint in 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 310kph.

It should be noted that due to its hybrid powertrain, the 2,385kg Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid weights a hefty 315kg more than the 550hp/770Nm non-hybrid Panamera Turbo.

However, with that huge amount of grunt from the hybrid powertrain, it’s a question of keeping the nearly 2.4-tonne car under control and this is where Porsche excels with all its engineering and motorsports wizardry.

While the four-door sportscar can drive on fully electric power for up to 50km, that was not the reason for our four hot laps on a wet Sepang F1 track.

Each session consisted of a group of two to three cars behind the race instructor’s car, and no overtaking was allowed.

In the first warm-up lap, we were told to switch to the performance-focused “Sport Plus” mode where all the battery’s energy is used to boost torque - a strategy derived from the 918 Spyder supercar.

In “Sport Plus” mode, the battery is recharged as quickly as possible to ensure maximum performance..

The result was ferocious acceleration when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal, and in the very tight turns on the rain soaked track, we struggled not to lose control of the rear.

But thanks to all that innovative Porsche driving technology, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid was a very impressive knife for carving up corners frenetically.

The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid underlines the high importance of electromobility to Porsche, as mating internal combustion engine power with the electric motor results in savage performance levels.

Porsche Taycan and future electromobility

Meanwhile, Porsche is set to launch its first pure electric car, namely the Taycan four-door sports saloon, in 2019.

Like the Porsche 919 Hybrid, which has multiple Le Mans victories under its belt, the Taycan (formerly called the “Mission E” concept study) is powered by innovative 800 V technology.

Porsche claims the Taycan’s lithium-ion battery can be recharged in just four minutes, providing enough energy to drive 100km, and the car’s maximum range is over 500km according to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

A system output of over 600hp can accelerate the Taycan to 100kph in well under 3.5 seconds and to 200kph in under 12 seconds.

It looks like 2019 will be the start of an exhilarating electrified journey for the German luxury sports car brand.

While the future is electrification, it definitely won’t happen at Porsche at the cost of performance and motoring pleasure.


Moto Guzzi in Malaysia launches Audace Carbon and V7 III Rough

The Audace Carbon and V7 III Rough (below).
PETALING JAYA: Authorised local distributors of Moto Guzzi motorcycles, DIDI Resources Sdn Bhd, had recently introduced two motorcycles to its line-up - the Audace Carbon and V7 III Rough.

Audace Carbon, also known as Moto Guzzi’s “Muscle Bike,” comes with 1,380cc engine with 96hp and 121Nm of torque and gets a six-speed gearbox and shaft-drive setup.

Audace Carbon is a modern classic that exudes a dark persona, thanks to its matt black theme.

Meanwhile the red coloured cylinder head covers and red Brembo brakes plus red ‘Moto Guzzi’ name on the rims, makes the bike a standout.

This new model is fitted with essential modern rider aids to meet the demands of present day riding needs.

Among the electronic aids are ride-by-wire throttle suite with three ride modes of Sport, Touring and Rain coupled with traction control, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and cruise control.

Audace Carbon is priced at RM123,000.

Meanwhile, the V7 III Rough uses a 744cc engine which delivers 52hp and 60Nm of torque complemented by a six-speed gearbox.

The V7 III Rough offers ABS plus two-mode traction control – dry and rain. The variant comes with knobbly tyres and wire-spoke wheels staying true to its retro look. The V7 III Rough is priced at RM75,000.

However for early birds, the price is RM69,900 for a limited time only.


Renault’s electric Zoe defies virus with a jump in sales

                PARIS: Sales of Renault SA’s all-electric Zoe car jumped 38% in the first half, a rare bright spot amid the grim fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the deliveries were made in Europe, where the Zoe became the best-selling electric car thanks in part to generous government incentives, the French automaker said Monday in a statement.

Renault’s overall sales in the period fell by more than a third, to about 1.26 million vehicles, because of lockdown measures in countries from Italy to Russia. That’s still better than cross-town rival PSA Group, whose sales dropped 46% to 1.03 million vehicles.

"We are starting the second half of the year with a very high level of orders, a satisfactory level of inventory, a rising price positioning across the entire range,” said Denis le Vot, the company’s head of sales and marketing.

Renault was a big beneficiary of subsidies that France — its biggest market — implemented last month to get consumers to switch to cleaner cars. In Europe, customers ordered about 11,000 Zoes in June alone, bolstering Renault’s bid to meet more stringent emissions rules this year.

Renault, like its peers, has been hit hard by Covid-19, which shuttered showrooms and factories around the world. The company has announced a sweeping cost-savings plan, and the French government’s aid is aimed at saving jobs in the industry.

Renault’s sales dropped by a fifth in Russia, its second-biggest market, by 29% in India and by 47% in Brazil, according to the statement. A bright spot was South Korea, where sales climbed 51% as buyers snapped up the company’s newly introduced XM3 SUV.

President Emmanuel Macron has implemented a raft of measures aimed at reviving France’s struggling car industry and drawing manufacturing back to local factories.

The plan includes purchasing incentives for electric vehicles, cash-for-clunkers aid to encourage consumers to trade in older cars and subsidies for struggling auto-parts makers.

Renault’s new chief executive officer Luca de Meo took the reigns this month after the company announced a plan to eliminate about 14,600 jobs and lower production capacity by almost a fifth.

The cuts include trimming 4,600 positions in France, or about 10% of the carmaker’s total in the country. The plan has sparked an outcry from labour unions and criticism from the state, its most powerful shareholder.


Mazda Vision Coupe named Concept Car of the Year

GENEVA: A lot of the interest at major motor shows is inevitably focused on new production models about to be released by major manufacturers.

After that though, concept cars are what probably generate the most interest, especially among the public, so being named the "Concept Car of the Year" at the 11th-annual Car Design Night Geneva held this week during the 2018 Geneva Motor Show is quite an accolade. That honour fell to the stunning Mazda Vision Coupe, and it's now the second major design award to be given to this concept that points the way forward for Mazda vehicles of the future.

The panel of 18 judges tasked with coming up with the eventual winner of the Concept Car of the Year Award in Geneva included several individuals who are currently serving as design directors at major global vehicle manufacturers. This latest honor for Mazda's stunning concept follows on from the Vision Coupe being named "Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year" last month in Paris at the 2018 Festival Automobile International.

"Following on the Paris award, we are delighted once again to have Vision Coupe, recognised with a global design prize," said Mazda's managing executive officer in charge of design and brand style Ikuo Maeda.

"It's truly an honour to have this model, which aims to express the essence of Japanese aesthetics, applauded by some of the world's top car designers. The essence of this design concept will be evident in the next generation of Mazda cars, the first of which is due to be launched in 2019."

The Vision Coupe was first revealed to the world in Tokyo last year, and it represents the next phase for Mazda's grandly-named Kodo – Soul of Motion design philosophy. The company's production models have received considerable acclaim over the last few years for their impressive designs, and the Vision Coupe concept suggests Mazda aims to continue in that direction.


Acura to unveil next-generation MDX on Oct 14

                LOS ANGELES: Acura is set to unveil the fourth-generation MDX on Oct 14.

A teaser image and short video of the 3-row luxury SUV prototype  released recently highlighted the sharply sculpted beltline running the perimeter of the wider, lower and longer MDX, connecting the Jewel Eye LED headlights at the front to the Chicane LED taillights in the rear.

The original MDX was the industry’s first three-row SUV to be based on a unibody platform, offering superior comfort, space and driving performance than existing truck-based SUVs.

The model earned critical praise, including 2001 North American Truck of the Year and 2001 Motor Trend SUV of the Year awards.

“We’re accelerating Acura’s commitment to Precision Crafted Performance and this fourth-generation MDX is the most ambitious and consequential redesign of an Acura core model in our history,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer. “This all-new MDX will take us into new territory in terms of performance, prestige and emotional appeal.”

Over the past two decades, cumulative sales have surpassed 1 million units, securing MDX’s place as the best-selling Acura model, accounting for roughly one-third of the brand’s US sales since its launch by Honda's luxury division.


Volkswagen stops orders for some plug-in hybrids amid supply crunch

                BERLIN: Volkswagen will stop taking orders for several plug-in hybrid models from Wednesday, the German automaker said, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine destabilises its supply chain just as chip troubles were beginning to ease.

Orders for plug-in hybrid versions of the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon, and Touareg models will be halted in Germany until further notice and delivery of already placed orders may not happen this year, the company said today.

"Our plug-in hybrids are highly sought after, leading to high order backlog we are working through," a spokesperson said.

"Due to this demand and limitations in supply of semiconductors, we cannot take any further orders for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle models in Germany," the spokesperson said, adding the crisis in Ukraine also played a part.

An uncertain regulatory environment towards plug-in hybrids also influenced the decision, Volkswagen said, with Germany due to debate whether the vehicle type should still receive high subsidies designed to encourage uptake of electric cars later this month.

Volkswagen sales of plug-in hybrids, seen by some as a transition technology to fully-electric cars, grew 61% last year to 309,500 vehicles, compared to 452,900 battery-electric vehicles sold.

But their green credentials are coming under growing scrutiny from environmental groups and regulators who point to studies showing the cars are worse polluters than once thought and should not be treated equally to battery-electric vehicles when designing policy to encourage electrification.

Volkswagen said in February its order books were full but that ongoing chip supply shortages meant it would need to cut some night shifts at its main Wolfsburg plant.

Still, chief executive Herbert Diess said he saw semiconductor supply issues easing and hoped to increase production by the second half.

But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown a new spanner in the works for carmakers across Europe, which rely on raw materials from Russia and wire harnesses from Ukraine to produce their vehicles.


Nissan Teana scales up comfort level

                THE new, third-generation Nissan Teana D-segment sedan offers a nice blend of perky performance, a spacious cabin and a smooth-and-quiet ride.

While its predecessors were also renowned for their strong engines and roomy interior, we feel that the latest-generation Teana has taken its driving performance and comfort levels up by more than just a few notches.

We recently spent three days with the top-grade Teana 2.5XV, which was launched here last June and is priced at RM169,900 on-the-road with insurance.

Assembled at the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies plant in Serendah, the Teana is also offered in two 2.0L variants which are priced at RM139,800 (2.0XE) and RM149,800 (2.0XL).

In our opinion, the Teana 2.5XV has a high level of refinement.

The cabin has nice features such as comfortable leather upholstery, powered front seats, rear air-conditioning vents, an electric adjustable sunroof, a rear view camera system, a rear powered sunshade and a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system with subwoofer and amplifier.

There is a lot of kit here, including dual-zone automatic climate control air-conditioning, keyless entry, push-start ignition and speed-sensitive variable intermittent wipers.

The Teana also has what Nissan calls Zero Gravity Inspired car seats, which are touted as reducing fatigue for occupants and providing the ideal posture to make long drives more pleasant.

According to Nissan, this “fatigue-free” seat technology was jointly developed with Yamazaki Laboratory at Keio University, Tokyo.

Now, we don’t think a 70km journey from Klang to Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Pahang for a meal with some friends can really be defined as a long drive.

But we found high levels of comfort, as well as smooth and responsive acceleration with three occupants in the car, and a quiet ride with little wind, engine and road noise intrusion.

Engine roar was quite muted, even when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal, and the tachometer needle went close to the 6,500rpm red-line.

When we drove at 80kph using cruise control on smooth highways, the tachometer needle was at 1,250rpm.

At 110kph, the tachometer needle hovered around 1,700rpm.

The Teana’s electro-hydraulic power steering which can improve fuel economy, felt a tad light but it was precise.

We like the Teana’s handling stability and ride comfort which Nissan says is also due to the new multi-link rear suspension.

Fitted with Michelin Primacy LC tyres sized 215/55 R17, the Teana 2.5XV delivered smooth, supple comfort over rough surfaces and uneven roads.

There is a deep centre storage box between the two front seats, and we also found more than enough cubby holes to store small items like 600ml water bottles and cameras.

Boot luggage capacity is a cavernous 516 litres.

Also, the Teana continues to maintain its reputation of having best-in-class interior space.

It also has more rear legroom, compared with the previous model.

We also like its space-saving foot operated parking brake.

In summary, we think that the new Teana 2.5XV is quite well-equipped and offers a quiet and large cabin.

This vehicle is certainly a premium executive sedan that would make for long-distance driving enjoyable.


Aston Martin struts out at Harrods

                LONDON: Londoners will be treated to the sight of a special Aston Martin window display consisting of a DB11, V12 Vantage S and Vanquish S in British store, Harrods till March 25.

The three Aston Martin sports cars will take over the storefront of the world’s most famous luxury department store in a month-long celebration of the British heritage of Aston Martin.

The DB11, the first product launched under the company’s "Second Century" plan, is the key model in the DB series.

The new Vanquish S will complete the display, finished in Aston Martin's paint pallete of red, white and blue to celebrate the colours of the country's Union Jack.

“Harrods is one of the world’s most trusted luxury brands and we are delighted to join forces with them to create this unique display,” said Aston Martin executive vice president and chief creative officer Marek Reichman.


Car wheels are set to get bigger, smarter and more sustainable

A futuristic wheel on the Citroën 19_19 concept.
PARIS: An essential contributor to automobile performance, the humble wheel is increasingly a focus for innovation with parts manufacturers competing to create greener and smarter designs.

In the future, we will likely see larger wheels made from recycled materials that are equipped with sensors for a safer and more efficient driving experience.

Wheels that offer more range

In 2019, Citroën caused a sensation with the presentation of its 19_19 concept, which was equipped with extra-large 30-inch wheels developed in partnership with Goodyear.

With extra-long tyre footprints and a reduced surface area in contact with the road, the new wheels helped to boost the range of the electric vehicle. At the same time, they made it more comfortable, with special treading to minimise noise. Two features that could be adapted to wheels for more mainstream models.

Optimised wheel alignment

Better management of tyre contact with the road is key to reducing tyre wear and boosting fuel efficiency.

With this in mind, Australian start-up Doftek has developed the world's first active wheel alignment system, which can adjust alignment parameters to different driving conditions in real time.

According to Doftek, the new system reduces rolling resistance by 10%, keeps tyre temperatures to a minimum, and eliminates uneven wear. In the near future, the system could well become a feature of high-end petrol and electric models.

Smart tyres

Among tyre manufacturers, Goodyear stands out as one of the most innovative.

In 2018, the multinational presented "Oxygene," a moss-filled concept tyre that emits oxygen and generates electricity to power its own on-board sensors.

Going even further, Oxygene also made use of Li-Fi (a communications system that transmits information with light) to interact with infrastructure and pedestrians.

More recently, Goodyear tested yet another tyre equipped with multiple sensors that provide maintenance data. The idea of this latest prototype is to relay this information so that it will be made available to drivers in future car designs.


Volvo rolls out autonomous garbage truck

                GOTHENBURG: When it comes to self-driving technology, Volvo is already looking well beyond passenger cars for life-improving applications.

So, in partnership with Swedish waste collection firm, Renova, the company is already testing an autonomous garbage truck on the road that is capable of automatically stopping at each bin that requires emptying.

"There is amazing potential to transform the swift pace of technical developments in automation into practical benefits for customers and, more broadly, society in general," said Lars Stenqvist, Chief Technology Officer, Volvo Group. "Our self-driving refuse truck is leading the way in this field globally, and one of several exciting autonomous innovations we are working with right now."

At the moment, the test truck can perfectly follow the pre-defined collection route, automatically stop if something or someone crosses its path, and can constantly sense its immediate vicinity to ensure it can safely reverse even in built-up urban environments.

There's also the added advantage that an autonomous truck can be pre-programmed to drive in the most environmentally responsible manner possible, placing a premium on fuel economy and waiting until it has passed a row of houses before changing up or down a gear in order to cut noise pollution.

With the truck driving itself, the driver doesn't need to constantly climb up into and back out of the cabin to deal with trash collection. Instead, he or she can walk alongside the truck as it navigates the route.

"One important benefit of the new technology is a reduction in the risk of occupational injuries, such as wear in knee joints — otherwise a common ailment among staff working with refuse collection," said Stenqvist.

However, back injuries caused by manually handling garbage are just as common within the profession, and Volvo is also examining ways that robots could be deployed to collect, empty and return bins to households, automatically.

This project, also in partnership with Renova, has been in development since September 2015 and also counts Chalmers University of Technology and Mälardalen University in Sweden, and Penn State University in the United States as contributors. As well as making the process of waste collection safer for workers, the project is also a chance to examine how people will interact with robot co-workers.

Still, for the moment at least, that project, codenamed ROAR, is yet to move to the real-world testing phase.


2021 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo launched

                MUNICH: The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo comes in five variants (two petrol and three diesel units), all fitted with 48V mild hybrid technology.

All engines team up with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard.

Fitting a powerful 48V starter-generator and an extra battery allows a high level of braking energy recuperation and storage, which is used to supply the 12V electrical system, ease the combustion engine’s workload and give it an extra injection of power.

Fitted as standard are a fully digital instrument cluster and Control Display – each with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches, and new full-LED headlights including adaptive cornering function and the BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling High-beam Assistant with matrix technology.

The outer daytime driving lights now also perform the role of turn indicators. The cornering light and high beam are proactively adjusted using GPS.

Also standard are front powered adjustable seats and Dakota leather upholstery, and rear-axle air suspension.

Load compartment capacity can be increased from 600 litres to a maximum 1,800 litres, as required.

One option is the latest version of the Adaptive LED Headlights with matrix function and BMW Laserlight.

Another option is adaptive two-axle air suspension with electronically controlled dampers, which enables ride height to be adjusted manually.

The market launch of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo will begin in July 2020.

It will be built at BMW Plant Dingolfing, alongside models including the BMW 7 Series luxury sedan and BMW 8 Series luxury sports car.

Model variants at launch:

BMW 630i Gran Turismo:

Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine, mild hybrid technology,
eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
Capacity: 1,998 cc, output: 258 hp at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm,
max. torque: 400 Nm at 1,550 – 4,400 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 6.5 seconds,

BMW 640i Gran Turismo (BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo):

Six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, mild hybrid technology,
eight-speed Steptronic transmission, (BMW xDrive).
Capacity: 2,998 cc, output: 333 hp at 5,500 – 6,250 rpm,
max. torque: 450 Nm at 1,600 – 4,800 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.5 seconds (5.4 seconds),

BMW 620d Gran Turismo:

Four-cylinder in-line diesel engine, mild hybrid technology,
eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
Capacity: 1,995 cc, output: 190 hp at 4,000 rpm,
max. torque: 400 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 7.9 seconds,

BMW 630d Gran Turismo (BMW 630d xDrive Gran Turismo):

Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, mild hybrid technology,
eight-speed Steptronic transmission, (BMW xDrive).
Capacity: 2,993 cc, output: 286 hp at 4,000 rpm,
max. torque: 650 Nm at 1,500 – 2,500 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 6.1 seconds (5.9 seconds),

BMW 640d xDrive Gran Turismo:

Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, mild hybrid technology,
eight-speed Steptronic transmission, BMW xDrive.
Capacity: 2,993 cc, output: 340 hp at 4,400 rpm,
max. torque: 700 Nm at 1,750 – 2,250 rpm.
Acceleration [0 – 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.3 seconds,


Mitsubishi app upgraded with new customer-centric features

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia announced today an improved version of its Mitsubishi Connect My mobile application.

The app already enables Mitsubishi owners to book a service appointment, receive service appointment reminders and check service histories.

Now, the app allows Mitsubishi owners to drop their cars at the service centre and continue to wait in the comfort of their homes as the app provides service status notifications of their vehicle and when it is ready for collection.

Keeping track of the vehicle’s service cost and warranty details could be a tedious affair; hence one of the mobile app’s useful functions is to keep owners informed about their upcoming service cost estimation and warranty details for ease of planning.

In addition, road tax and insurance renewal reminders will also be notified through the app.

Additionally, Mitsubishi owners can request roadside assistance service in a breakdown or accident using the SOS Trace & Track feature.

By tapping on the "SOS" function on the app, the user’s
location can be tracked accurately using a GPS locator and its details will be verified by a customer service personnel from Mitsubishi Motors to send help immediately.

“The pandemic has created great demands on us as a society and despite the challenges; it also allowed us to be more resilient and agile in this new digital technology environment," said MMM chief executive officer Tomoyuki Shinnishi.

"Besides technology on improving customer’s convenience, the safety of our customers and staff is also our utmost priority. With the enhancements of the Mitsubishi Connect My mobile app together with the Mitsubishi Online Showroom, we want to assure our customers that we are engaging with them through a seamless journey from purchase to ownership in a safe environment.”

Other useful functions of the app include staying in touch with the Mitsubishi Assist 24Hrs customer careline (MA24) reachable at 1-800-88-2166. Owners can also have access to a 24-hour breakdown assistance throughout Malaysia as well as emergency services.

The app can also be used to locate the nearest Mitsubishi authorised dealer showroom and service centres with dealer information and navigation sync with the app to help get customers to the dealer of their choice or convenience.

The app is available for download via Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free. Look for "Mitsubishi Connect My".


Used car platform Carro continues strong financial performance

                SINGAPORE: Carro, billed as Southeast Asia’s largest and most profitable online used car platform, has released a strong set of results for its latest financial year ending March 2023 (FY2023).

Carro recorded its best ever full-year positive EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of USD4 million.

In a statement, the group said EBITDA achieved an annualised run-rate of USD35 million and a 4% EBITDA margin towards the end of the last financial year.

Full-year revenue exceeded USD800 million, on the back of a USD1.5 billion Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).

Carro is the parent company of myTukar which is a fast growing digital used car platform in Malaysia.

Founded in 2015, Carro is Southeast Asia's largest used car marketplace.

In FY2023, Carro sold and financed over 120,000 vehicles across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Genie, Carro's fintech business, also recorded strong growth across the region and kept non-performing loans (NPL) at 0.2%, which is significantly below industry benchmarks.

The overall loan book grew to over USD350 million.

Carro recently expanded its reach to Japan and Taiwan.

Headquartered in Singapore, the unicorn startup is supported by more than 4,500 employees across Asia-Pacific and has raised over S$700M from Softbank Vision Fund and several sovereign funds.

Aaron Tan, co-founder and CEO of Carro says, “We are laser-focused on improving profitability and unit economics while optimising productivity and cost structure. It’s not about selling more cars; it’s about capturing more value and recurring income streams. As other businesses continue to focus on GMV growth at all cost, we strategically doubled down on building a sustainable business model and leveraged our ecosystem to drive more recurring ancillaries across the entire ownership and usership lifecycle. Our fintech and mobility business made significant strides in FY2023. We have also laid foundations for stronger growth in our insurtech business via strategic partnerships with ZA Tech and MSIG., as well as aftersales."

Ernest Chew, chief financial officer of Carro says "We expect to achieve 10 times EBITDA this year. Even if we sold zero cars, we would be super-EBITDA positive today. Nearly 60% of our gross profit is from recurring ancillaries. This is the real benefit of a true, sustainable ecosystem-driven business model. We have almost no operational burn currently and EBITDA is positive across all our core markets. We have also built a fortress balance sheet and diversified our lending relationships to 17 financial institutions, who have offered us very competitive cost of financing."


China poses greatest risk to Europe's carmakers, Allianz Trade study shows

                LONDON: Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) pose the greatest risk to Europe's carmakers and could cost them 7 billion euros (RM34bil) a year in lost profits by 2030 unless policymakers take action, according to an Allianz Trade report.

According to the report released today by the unit of German insurer Allianz, policymakers need to meet the challenge with reciprocal tariffs on imported cars from China, do more to develop EV battery materials and technologies, and also allow Chinese carmakers to build cars in Europe.

Europe's carmakers face a dual threat from the prospect of falling sales of their own vehicles in China, where local EV makers have been growing market share, and from rising sales of imported Chinese EVs - made by Chinese or Western carmakers.

Global carmakers have pledged to make a comeback in China with a large number of EVs in a fast-moving market where the pressure to cut prices is getting more intense.

A crowded market for all-electric SUVs in China is putting pressure on local carmakers to export more vehicles to Europe.

Chinese EV imports could cost the European Union over 24 billion euros in economic output in 2030, or 0.15% of the bloc's gross domestic product, Allianz Trade said.

But the "automotive-dependent economies of Germany, Slovakia and Czech Republic could face an even bigger hit" of between 0.3% to 0.4% of GDP, said the report, titled: "The Chinese challenge to the European automotive industry".

"The stakes are high for Europe's automotive industry: four out of five cars sold in Europe are assembled locally," the report added.

"Europe is also the world's export powerhouse in the sector, with car trade generating between 70 billion and 110 billion euros in trade surplus for the European economy every year over the past decade."

The report said the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) had made Europe a target for Chinese exports.

While Europe remains comparatively open to imported EVs - Tesla, for instance, accounts for 20% of fully-electric car sales in Europe - the United States is "set to be a much tougher market to crack for Chinese vehicles" because of the IRA, the report said.


KIA reveals new UVO Connect ‘Phase II’ features

                SEOUL: KIA Motors is in the midst of expanding its range of UVO Connect services offered to European drivers.

A series of new ‘Phase II’ features are due to be rolled out to many models in Kia’s European line-up over the coming months to help enhance vehicle connectivity and control as well as helping to take the stress out of journeys.

The features of the UVO Connect 'Phase II' helps to provide customers with more accurate journey times, ‘last-mile’ navigation assistance, and a range of features to enhance connectivity and usability - accessible through an enhanced UVO smartphone app or via the vehicle's on-board infotainment system.

“We strive to introduce technologies that make life behind the wheel easier and more intuitive for our customers. UVO Connect, already available across much of our range, is central to this goal, and the new ‘Phase II’ features revealed today will make journeys even easier,” said Kia UVO Connected chief operating officer Pablo Martinez Masip.

The first Kia models in Europe to offer UVO Phase II connected features will be introduced throughout the year, in line with planned model year updates, including the new fourth-generation Kia Sorento.

More accurate traffic prediction
One of the most useful Phase II features to be offered in UVO Connect-equipped vehicles is ‘Online Navigation’.

This service draws on cloud-based real-time and historical traffic data to more accurately predict traffic levels, giving customers a more accurate picture of journey times and estimated time of arrival.

The service differs from traffic prediction tools found in conventional navigation systems, which only rely on in-car route planning and real-time traffic information to estimate journey times.

Augmented navigation
Kia’s new ‘Last Mile Navigation’ feature will help customers continue navigating to their final destination, even after they have parked up and left their car behind.

This offers Kia customers the ideal solution for navigation in towns and cities where parking hubs are often some distance away from shops, cafés and restaurants.

Once the vehicle’s ignition has been turned off, this new feature sends a push notification to the UVO app on the user’s smartphone if their destination is between 200m and 2km away.

The app lets users seamlessly access Google Maps navigation to complete their journey on foot.

Alternatively, users can engage an augmented reality function, ‘AR Guidance’, which opens the smartphone’s camera and blends the image with AR turn-by-turn directional arrows.

Transferring profiles between cars
Customers can also use a new ‘User Profile Transfer’ feature on the UVO app that enables them to check and change their vehicle settings directly from their smartphone, including navigation, radio and Bluetooth preferences, at a time and place convenient for them.

When the ignition is turned on, customers are automatically greeted with their preferred settings, saving time and making each journey more enjoyable.

It also lets Kia owners back-up their in-vehicle UVO preferences via the cloud and transfer settings from one vehicle to the next.

This system will benefit customers who regularly switch between different UVO Connect-equipped Kia cars, for instance, fleet drivers who use pool cars, or families with more than one UVO Connect-equipped Kia in their household.

Range of features to enhance connectivity and usability
Other new features in development for Kia’s Phase II UVO Connect system include a new ‘Valet Parking Mode’ which enables customers to monitor their vehicle remotely when being driven by someone else, as well as locking the system to protect any personal data, such as navigation locations.

This lets them view the car’s location, driving time, driving distance and top speed on the UVO App, helping to provide peace of mind should their vehicle be in another’s care.

The Phase II UVO Connect system will also draw upon a wider range of ‘best-in-class’ data providers for its Kia Live Services functionality, giving customers more accurate information.

Instead of being limited to one data provider, Kia Live Services will bring together data from a range of specialist providers for traffic information, parking availability and cost information, locations and pricing for fuel stations and EV charging points, weather forecasts, and online POI search and speed camera information (speed camera location data depends on market).


Honda snub bursts Takata's financial force field

                HONG KONG: Honda has punctured Takata's financial force field. For the past year, shareholders in the Japanese car parts group have mostly brushed off the growing scandal over exploding air bags which have been linked with at least eight deaths. But the carmaker's announcement, followed by that it will stop using Takata air bag inflators has burst the belief that the supplier is too important to fail.

Mitsubishi Motors is considering switching away from the component as well, adding pressure on Takata.

The US$70 million fine that US regulators slapped on Takata this week is just the beginning of its financial woes. The company will probably face further penalties in the United States plus claims for damages from the families of people killed or injured by its faulty products. Then there's the cost of recalling and replacing inflators in as many as 34 million cars. These liabilities would overwhelm companies far bigger than Takata, which had assets of just 485 billion yen (US$4 billion) at the end of June.

Yet while shares in the much larger Volkswagen have dropped more than 25 percent following its emissions-testing scandal, Takata's market value had until recently hovered around the US$1 billion mark.

Shareholders' indifference appeared to rest on the assumption that its customers don't want to lose one of only a handful of global air bag makers. Honda's public rebuke undermines that belief. Others may follow: Mitsubishi Motors  on Nov. 5 said it was also considering switching suppliers.

Inflators are only one component of an air bag system. So the switch is not immediately fatal for Takata's air bag business, which brought in 38 percent of the company's sales in the year to March. Besides, the long time lag involved in designing and producing new models means Takata will be supplying parts to Honda and others for many years to come.

Yet if Takata's customers have lost faith in the company, they may also be less willing to help foot the bill of recalling and replacing faulty air bags. Takata shares have lost a third of their value in less than two days. Unless its financial force field can be repaired, they will fall further.

In a harshly worded statement on Nov 4, Honda said it would no longer use Takata's front air bag inflators. The carmaker said it was "deeply troubled" by evidence suggesting Takata "misrepresented and manipulated test data for certain air bag inflators". Honda is the biggest customer for Takata air bags and holds a 1.2 percent stake in the company, according to Eikon.


Hyundai invests in smart radar venture

                SAN FRANCISCO: Hyundai Cradle, Hyundai Motor’s corporate venturing and open innovation business, has announced it is investing in Metawave Corporation to build intelligent radars for autonomous vehicles.

Metawave is working on radar sensing by leveraging adaptive metamaterials (conventional materials using engineered structures with unique electromagnetic properties not found in nature) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create smart radars.

“Next-generation radar technology can use advanced algorithms for object detection and classification,” said John Suh, vice president of Hyundai Cradle. “A new radar system that can increase resolution and accuracy with an AI engine will be a disruptive technology.”

Three sensors are the fundamental components of the perception system for self-driving cars today: camera, LiDAR and radar. The camera is the highest-resolution sensor but cannot see objects beyond 50 metres. LiDAR extends the range to about 150 metres, with a fairly high-resolution imaging capability.

Both camera and LiDAR are affected by bad weather and dirty roads. Radar, by its nature, operates at a lower frequency and “sees” objects at long ranges faster and in all weather and driving conditions.

Today's radar cannot cover wide angles at long ranges and lacks the resolution to differentiate between objects. It needs a large number of antennae and expensive chips to run the complex digital signals. This type of system takes time and energy, making it inefficient.

Metawave’s advanced radar platform, Warlord uses just one antenna and pushes the complexity of the analog space, using ultra-fast and precise responses. With Warlord, the antenna itself shapes and steers the beam in all directions using pencil beams, deep learning engines and AI algorithms to recognise objects quickly and send 4-D point cloud to the sensor fusion.


New name, more range: Audi rebrands its e-tron as Q8 with facelift

                BERLIN: Audi is giving its large electric SUV not only fresh design and tech in both the hatchback and Sportback versions, but also a new name, the Q8 e-tron, the German manufacturer has announced.

Audi wants this rebranding to signify its plans to switch the bulk of its offering to electric power, rather than keep electric cars under a separate niche branding.

According to Audi, the Q8 e-tron is set to be significantly more expensive, starting in its home market of Germany at upwards of €74,400 (RM348,000). After pre-orders beginning in mid-November, deliveries are scheduled to begin in February 2023.

Both variants of the Q8 e-tron can be recognised by new details such as a redesigned grille, a two-dimensional Audi logo and lettering on the B-pillar.

But most important for everyday driving is the update to the battery: With a new control system, Audi has increased the usable capacity of the two 95 and 114 kWh battery packs.

Because the car's aerodynamics have also been improved, Audi says the range is increasing to 582km for the hatchback model and a maximum of 600km for the Sportback.

In addition, the Q8 e-tron, which competes with vehicles such as the Polestar 3, the Mercedes EQS SUV and the BMW iX, can now also be charged faster. With charging speeds of up to 170 kW, you can now charge from 10 to 80% in as little as 31 minutes, according to Audi.

And what about the previous Q8, which began its career as the sporty brother of the Q7 with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid? According to Audi, it will continue under its current name for the time being.

READ MORE:  Audi Q8 e-tron highlights


Next-gen BMW 3 Series to get more M-Performance versions

The current 3 Series. The model is still BMW's bestseller.
MUNICH: It seems as if BMW thinks it's impossible to have too many variants of its models, even though some other manufacturers are now keeping things much simpler these days. Then again, when you have a model in your lineup as renowned and important as the standard-setting 3 Series, it probably makes sense to squeeze as much out of it as possible.

And now reports and spy shots suggest that BMW is doing just that with the next generation of the compact sedan, which appears set to get an even greater focus on its performance qualities with more M-division tweaked versions than ever before.

Despite the unstoppable popularity of crossovers and no lack of them in the current BMW portfolio, the 3 Series remains the German automaker's best-selling model. Its continuing popularity is largely down to the way it drives and handles, thanks to its classic rear-wheel drive format and powerful engines.

 The 5 Series in M Performance trim.

It has been revealed the new seventh-generation of the 3 Series will take the model's driver-focused personality to new levels. And the first variant appears to be a rear-wheel drive M340i M Performance with a 360 bhp version of the company's 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine under the hood. After that comes an M340d xDrive M Performance, and this one will feature a 320 bhp take on the 3.0-litre inline-six turbodiesel.

These M Performance models mirror the strategy already employed with the latest 5 Series, which has this type of model bridging the gap between standard models and the range-topping M5 sedan. The idea is that the new M Performance derivatives would directly take on the likes of the Audi S4 quattro and the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic all-wheel drive performance models.

As well as the additional performance over and above the standard models, they would also come with their own unique styling cues, chassis tuning, as well as some relatively high levels of standard features and equipment. Unsurprisingly, these models will also form the basis of the 4 Series two-door coupe models that will follow in 2020, but the new 3 Series will arrive first as a 2019 model.


BMW M8 Gran Coupe to make world premiere at 2019 LA Auto Show

                MUNICH: Concluding a press release outlining their recent series of successful launches, BMW confirmed that the M8 Gran Coupe will make its world premiere at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

As of now in the 8 segment - a designation denoting high prestige within the company's vehicle portfolio - BMW has launched the 8 Series Coupe, 8 Series Convertible, M8 Coupe, M8 Convertible, i8 Roadster, and i8 Coupe.

The brand announced last Friday that the seventh member of the lineup, the M8 Gran Coupe, will make its world premiere in Los Angeles, come November.

Though almost no details were disclosed about the model, it's a four-door version of the standard M8 Coupe which is powered by a 4.4-litre V8; the engine can propel the two-door car from 0 to 100kph in 3.0 seconds, thanks to its power output of 600hp. The extra weight that comes with converting the coupe to a gran coupe is expected to slow the car slightly.

The new model, with both the prestigious "8" and motorsport "M" designations, gives clients another vehicle option tailored to their needs.

The BMW M8 Gran Coupe will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show this year, which runs from Nov 22 to Dec 2. The price has not yet been disclosed, but it will likely be in the same ballpark as the M8 Coupe, which starts at US$133,000 (RM560,000).


Acura enters metaverse with Integra NFT and virtual showroom

                LOS ANGELES: Acura marked the debut of the next generation 2023 Integra with the launch of its first NFT and by becoming the first automaker to open a digital showroom in the metaverse.

The first 500 customers to reserve the 2023 Acura Integra at Acura.com/Integra-Reserve1, get the chance to claim a limited edition NFT, exclusively designed by 3D artist, Andreas Wannerstedt.

Following the release of the Integra NFT, Acura will open a digital showroom in the metaverse on March 22, called Acura of Decentraland, where fans can immerse themselves into a virtual world of the next gen Integra and the Acura brand. www.acuraverse.com

Visitors are not required to have NFT ownership for entry to the Acura of Decentraland digital showroom when it opens in conjunction with the first-ever metaverse fashion week.

In celebration of Integra’s return to the Acura lineup last week, the brand dropped its first NFT, with the opportunity available to the first 500 customers who reserve their vehicle.

Once a customer reserves an Integra, they will have the chance to claim their base NFT, which will upgrade into a unique Integra NFT upon delivery of the customer’s purchased Integra vehicle.

The unique Acura NFT will feature the surreal textures and colours Wannerstedt is known for, and each will be a unique artistic representation of the next gen Integra.

The new Integra returns an iconic nameplate to the Acura lineup. Like the original Integra, which helped launch the Acura brand in 1986, the all-new Integra is a compact premium sport sedan with a striking five-door design, emotional performance and fun-to-drive spirit.

With a powerful turbocharged engine making 200hp, an available six-speed manual transmission and limited slip differential, the Integra was developed with enthusiast drivers in mind. It's sold in the States for US$30,000 (RM126,000).


Economic uncertainties and fear of losing jobs may dampen car sales

                PETALING JAYA: While the automotive sector may have received a shot in the arm in the form of a sales tax exemption, it might not be enough to cause consumers to make a dash for car showrooms.

Unlike the previous “tax holiday” in 2018, which spurred vehicle sale, analysts and industry observers said the uncertainties of the current global economy may outweigh any plan for big ticket purchases including a new car.

RHB Research Institute head of research Alexander Chia said the tax exemption would help the auto industry, which was otherwise quite bleak as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Although the big question is, with consumer sentiment down, how many will step up to buy a big ticket purchase when jobs are at risk?

“The market reaction may not be comparable with the goods and services tax (GST) discounts given post the 14th general election, ” he said in a StarBiz exclusive.

An industry observer said the latest tax exemption “looked good on paper.”

“There is definitely a need to pump prime the economy and it’s certainly an appetiser for customers looking to buy a car.

“However, in light of the current uncertainties, rising unemployment rate and many fearing they could lose their jobs over the next few months, I doubt many people will be thinking about wanting to own a new car.”

Nevertheless, many car companies will be vigorously pushing sales.

“I think the competition among auto players is going to get brutal and exciting, ” said another industry observer.

Meanwhile, Raj, a 42 year-old executive, said he had planned to buy a new car back in January. However, the model he wanted was not available at the time and he chose to delay the purchase – something he now considers a blessing in disguise.

READ MORE:
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“With all that’s been happening, I’m glad I didn’t buy the car. It’s a long-term commitment and I prefer to be more liquid for now.”

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.

The sales tax exemption is expected to see buyers saving several thousand ringgit to more than RM10,000 in their purchases.

When the former (Pakatan Harapan) government came to power in 2018, it announced a three-month tax holiday from June 1 to Aug 31, with GST being zero-rated during the period.

The three-months tax break spurred car sales, with total industry volume (TIV) growing 3.8% to 598,714 units in 2018, exceeding the Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) forecast of 1.5%.

After TIV hit an all-time high of 666,674 units in 2015, it dropped almost 15% in 2016 before contracting further in 2017 to 576,635 units.

For this year, MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said it is still too early to determine if the tax break will spur sales.

“It will depend on whether the incentives will entice buyers, the item is a necessity or if an individual can hold on to their existing vehicle. Furthermore, car companies will also be having their own promotions and incentives, ” she said, adding that banks are also stringent in granting loans.

Meanwhile, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd president Ravindran K. said the recently announced tax exemption is good news for the auto industry.

“The full savings will be passed on to customers and we expect that the reduced prices will help to revitalise the automotive industry, ” he said in a statement.

He added that the company has new models planned for launch this year.

“With the tax exemptions, we will be making the relevant adjustments to the retail prices of all our models and apply them by June 15.”

UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said the Malaysian auto industry has been greatly affected by the long period of inactivity during the MCO.

“Apart from lost sales and production, there is also consumer sentiment which is uncertain of the future. Therefore, we appreciate the support from the government to help boost the industry.”

Last month, the MAA announced that it was revising downward its 2020 TIV forecast to 400,000 units from 607,000 previously. The 400,000 units forecast would represent a 34% contraction from 2019’s 604,287 units. It also marks the first time in 13 years since the TIV failed to surpass the 500,000-unit mark.

Total vehicle sales plunged 99% year-on-year to 141 units in April, as the government’s MCO forced all automotive companies to cease operations during the month.

Year-to-date April, total vehicle sales for 2020 stood at 106,601 units, compared with 192,971 units in the previous corresponding period.


Mercedes-Benz once again world's most valuable luxury car brand

                BERLIN: While US electric car manufacturer Tesla has been hogging the headlines lately, Mercedes-Benz has been singled out as the world's most valuable luxury car brand for the sixth year in a row.

The marque with the three-pointed star slots in at number eight in the latest global brand rankings published by renowned US consultancy Interbrand – a position it has held since 2018.

According to the ranking, which includes brands from all industries, Toyota is still the most valuable carmaker overall in seventh place, just ahead of Mercedes-Benz, which is why the Stuttgart maker refers to itself as the world's most valuable luxury carmaker.

Estimated brand value at Mercedes-Benz has risen 3 per cent since 2020 to US$50.9 billion. The German automotive company is also the only European brand in the top 10.

The ranking comes after Elon Musk's EV giant Tesla managed to touch US$1 trillion in market capital, despite being the lowest revenue-making company in the S&P 500 index.

The company reached the milestone after ride-hailing service Hertz ordered 100,000 Teslas to add to its fleet.

Interbrand rates Tesla at number 14 in the line-up, behind BMW in 12th place, with Apple, Amazon and Microsoft occupying the three top slots. And yet the analysts see Tesla as "the real champion" of the ranking, recording a "near-tripling of its brand value."

The US brand consultancy Interbrand lists the top 100 of the most valuable brands worldwide and is widely considered a competitive benchmark and an important indicator in industry circles.


Over 20K new Myvi cars booked

                PETALING JAYA: The demand for the All-New Perodua Myvi reached a new milestone today as over 20,000 cars were booked just within a month from its open for booking day and so far, Perodua has delivered 4,500 of the amount.

“The focus now is to ensure delivery of the All-New Perodua Myvi within an acceptable time frame. We thank the public for choosing the Myvi as the car of choice,” said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Datuk Dr Zahari Husin.

Zahari added that other Perodua models also received good demand, particularly with the offers presented by Malaysia’s Most Preferred Compact Automotive brand.

Read our review of the all-new Myvi here.

For December, Perodua is offering an exclusive offer for Axia, Bezza and Alza (for selected variant only) with a rebate of up to RM 2,000.

Perodua also encourages its customers through its ‘Jom Singgah’ campaign to visit authorised Perodua showrooms and service centres nationwide and enjoy a fun-filled day with special promotions and great offers.

This campaign runs from Dec 8-10, 2017.

“Please speak with our authorised sales and service advisors about the many deals in store for you as they would have the latest and correct information about our offering.

"Please get an opportunity to test drive our all-new Myvi 1.5 and 1.3 and feel the experience,” Zahari said.

Perodua has sold 184,707 vehicles in the first 11 months of 2017, a jump of 1.2% from 182,485 sold in the same period last year.

Perodua has 181 sales and 214 service centres nationwide.

“For those travelling during the school holidays, we wish you a safe journey and for our customers, please come and visit our service centres to ensure your vehicles are in the best condition for a long drive,” Zahari said.


Paris suburb pioneers 'noise radar' to fine roaring motorcycles

                PARIS: Motorcycles thundering through residential neighbourhoods, revving their engines and waking up every child in the street, may soon be a thing of the past in France. A Paris suburb is trying out a new system that can identify noisy vehicles, pinpoint their location and automatically ticket them.

The device, which the mayor calls a "noise radar", has been installed on a lamppost in the centre of Villeneuve-le-Roi, a town next to Paris Orly airport.

It will be activated as soon as a new government draft law permitting such systems is passed, said mayor Didier Gonzales. The town will link the sound recordings to police CCTV cameras and automatically issue tickets to offenders.

"Noise is the bane of modern life and a major health issue. It hurts people like secondary smoking does," said Gonzales, who is also head of noise pollution agency Bruitparif.

The draft law, expected to be voted on this autumn, will allow local authorities to experiment with systems to record and fine riders who exceed noise limits. France already has legislation limiting vehicle noise, but it is hard to enforce as it relies on police catching offenders individually.

"We have nothing against Ferraris or Harley Davidsons, but their owners sometimes like to demonstrate their vehicles' power and the noise really troubles residents," said Villeneuve official Remy Jourdan.

Acoustic wake

The new device, developed by Bruitparif engineers, has four microphones that measure decibel levels every tenth of a second and can triangulate where a sound originates.

It displays a picture of an acoustic wake as a trace of coloured dots behind a moving source of loud noise, such as a souped-up motorcycle.

"With this tool, it is not possible to dispute who made the noise," said Gonzalez.

Nearly 40 of the devices have been in operation for several months near busy bars in Paris entertainment areas, and another 17 have been installed at major building sites, Bruitparif director Fanny Mietlicki said.

Bruitparif is now beginning to track vehicle noise and also installed one in Saint-Forget, a hilly rural area near Paris popular with motorcyclists. In September it will install two in central Paris.

So far, the system is in trial mode only and no fines have been issued, but Villeneuve is in contact with the transport ministry to activate it as soon as the new law is passed. The government plans a two-year try-out period to test technology and define the noise levels that will trigger fines.


Plug-in cars come under fire for emitting more carbon emissions than advertised

                FRANKFURT: Plug-in hybrid cars put out far more CO2 in real-world driving than in tests that determine emissions compliance and ratings advertised to consumers, according to a group urging governments to roll back support for such models.

Three of the most popular plug-in hybrids - BMW’s X5, Volvo’s XC60 and Mitsubishi’s Outlander - exceed their advertised carbon-dioxide emissions ratings by as much as 89% when tested on a fully charged battery, Brussels-based Transport & Environment said last week.

The advocacy group doesn’t accuse automakers of wrongdoing but says its study exposes flaws in existing laws.

“Plug-in hybrids are fake electric cars, built for lab tests and tax breaks, not real driving,” Julia Poliscanova, senior director for clean vehicles at T&E, said in a statement.

“Unless you drive them softly, carbon emissions can go off the charts.”

Sales of cars powered by batteries that offer limited electric range and are supplemented by an engine have surged this year in Europe, helped by government incentives.

France, Germany, Italy and Spain have spent more than €436 million (RM21.bil) subsidising plug-in hybrids during the first nine months of this year, T&E said, citing an estimate from Schmidt Automotive Research.

Automakers also have embraced plug-in hybrids as a way to lower the CO2 ratings of the fleet of vehicles they sell.

Brussels-based T&E said it is “highly unlikely” BMW AG and Volvo Cars would meet EU targets this year if emissions tests were more representative of what occurs in real-world use.

A spokesman for BMW said there has always been differences between how much cars emit in testing and in real-world driving, and that both policymakers and the industry doesn’t want the gap to increase.

Volvo said its cars generate close to zero emissions when driven in electric mode, which drivers use about 40% of the time.

A Mitsubishi Motors Corp spokesman said independent tests can produce unreliable figures and the company contests any findings where it has no oversight of methodology.

T&E commissioned Emissions Analytics, a British testing firm, to conduct on-road tests of the BMW, Volvo and Mitsubishi models.

The researchers found that while all three drive close to their stated range in electric mode under mild or moderate conditions, faster acceleration quickly depletes their batteries and causes the engine to kick in.

The X5, XC60 and Outlander can only travel between 61km and 86km before exceeding their official emissions ratings, according to the study.

The criticism by T&E comes ahead of potentially significant reviews of Europe’s emissions laws in 2021.

The European Commission will formulate new measures to hit its climate-reduction goals by midyear.

Officials also will review rules that give manufacturers credits towards their fleet-wide CO2 targets based on sales of plug-in hybrids.


First Lotus Evora 400 rolls off the line

                LONDON: Today marks the first Lotus Evora 400 to roll out of the British carmaker’s Hethel assembly facility.

A select few comprising of the senior management, manufacturing and engineering staff witnessed first-hand as the very first Evora 400 was driven off the assembly line and being the first, it will be used as a promotion car from now on.

The Evora 400 finished in metallic black, was first seen during this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Its performance has eclipsed its predecessor - the Evora S, in terms of performance by clocking in six seconds faster at the company’s Hethel test track with a time of one minute 32 seconds.

The Evora 400 can sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 300kph, thanks to its supercharged mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 395bhp and 410Nm of torque – all housed within its new aluminium chassis.

Production of the Evora 400 will see the first batch head for the European market, with deliveries commencing in August this year.

As for the Chinese and North American markets, they will receive the Evora 400 as a 2017 model year in early 2016.

The Evora 400 is currently priced at £72,000 (RM432,00).


Honda Civic Type R enlisted for police duty in NSW, Australia

                PETALING JAYA: It seems that law enforcement agencies have taken a liking to the Honda Civic Type R.

One of them is the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force, which has received a single unit from Honda Australia, wearing the full police livery that includes the Eyewatch programme logo.

That means it won't be used as a high pursuit vehicle even if it has the credentials to do so.

The Eyewatch programme was created in 2012 to connect local communities with their police via social media in seeking advice or sharing local information.

The programme also helps to create awareness about local crimes, incidents and emergencies, provide crime prevention and safety tips as well as seek community assistance in locating missing or wanted people.

The car will be used by the NSW Police Force Eyewatch programme at schools and community events across New South Wales throughout 2019 to help create awareness about the social media programme for the next 12 months and is a way for Honda Australia to give back to the community.

As a powerful car, the Civic Type R has impressive performance stats. Its 2.0-litre VTEC turbocharged FK8R engine produces 310PS at 6,500rpm and 400Nm of torque from 2,500 to 4,500rpm.

“Honda Australia is delighted to partner with the NSW Police Force and take an active role in raising awareness of the Eyewatch program to help make our communities safer,” said Honda Australia director Stephen Collins.

Aside from the Aussie scenario, the hot hatch has also been offered to the Malaysian police for evaluation by Honda Malaysia. Two units decked out in full police livery have been issued to them to try out for up to six months.

READ MORE:
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It was confirmed by Bukit Aman Strategic and Technology Department (StaRT) director Datuk Sri Tajudin Md Isa who said that two vehicles were given to them to test for a three to six month period for technical assessment purposes and suitability for its enforcement team. After which, the vehicles will be returned without any costs, as reported by Berita Harian.

The police are not short of workhorse cars.

Earlier this month, Perodua announced it had donated three Bezzas to Selangor police for use as patrol cars.

In July last year, the Malaysian police force acquired 15 units of the 2.4-litre Mitsubishi Outlander thanks to PLUS Highway concessionaires which bought the vehicles and presented them to the police for traffic law enforcement on its highways.


BMW CEO says sees Toyota alliance going beyond 2025

                FRANKFURT: BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse on Thursday said he would seek to strengthen bonds with Toyota and wants the current alliance between the German and Japanese carmaker centred on fuel cells and convertibles, going beyond 2025.

“In the next decades, we would do well to strengthen bonds,” Zipse told the Automobilwoche Kongress on Thursday.

The alliance which currently includes a co-operation deal on fuel cell cars and joint development of a sports-car, should continue beyond 2025, Zipse said.

Fuel cell cars, which are powered by hydrogen, may benefit from a concerted push by policymakers, to industrialise the production of hydrogen, Zipse said.

Separately, Zipse said BMW is seeking ways to save costs by slimming down its portfolio of models.

“Coupés, convertibles and roadsters, we will see what will be left,” Zipse said, commenting about one of the areas where BMW is reviewing its product offering.


Proton Perdana and how it came to be

 The current Perdana.

One of Proton’s job is actually to be the official car for the government of Malaysia, and of course, the chosen ride for the Prime Minister and the rest of the cabinet members. A tough job because Proton do not really have a luxury car to offer. What has been done before was to offer stretched version of the Saga and the Wira.

Still, it was not fit enough for the image the government was aiming for. The break came when Proton realised that in the early 1990s, the Malaysian economy had an average 8 per cent annual growth, which opened up a small space for a luxury D-segment market.

Back then, the D-segment was dominated by the Toyota Camry, Nissan Cefiro and the Honda Accord. With Mitsubishi onboard as its technical partner, the logical option was to rebadge Mitsubishi’s own D-segment, which was not sold in Malaysia. That was how the seventh-generation Mitsubishi Eterna became the Perdana. It was launched to the public in January, 1995.

 First-generation Perdana.

Just like the Proton Wira, the Perdana did not go through any big modification. Proton realised the market was small and the volume would not justify a huge R&D investment, plus the Perdana was dabbling in a market new to Proton.

It was an instant hit - waiting list was up to six months and soon, Proton conquered nearly half of the 2.0L market even though the RM85,000 sticker price was a lot higher than the Proton Wira 1.6L. Two years later, it went through a minor facelift with some chrome parts attached and the interior got some new plastics.

In 1998, Proton launched two hot models - the Satria GTI, and the second-generation Perdana. The new Perdana is based on the old one, but received various changes, including a 6A12 2.0L V6 engine from Mitsubishi. hence the name, Proton Perdana V6.

READ MORE:
First drive of 2016 Proton Perdana
Latest Proton Perdana launched The second-generation Perdana had an Alfa Romeo-inspired grille.

The boost in performance came together with Lotus-tuned suspension, which also helped to reduce the NVH levels of the car. Even the looks were improved, thanks to a bodykit, new alloy wheels and a new steering wheel. It was a huge success, and the Perdana V6 was soon exported to Brunei and Singapore.

In 2003, the Perdana V6 received a major facelift - the Alfa Romeo-inspired grille, newer bumpers, wheels and the interior too (panels and seats mostly). The suspension set up has been retuned again while the gearbox received a new algorithm, giving its fuzzy-logic system a boost. Proton continued to sell the Perdana V6 until 2010.

 The third-generation Perdana was a rebadged Accord and had a short run. It was only sold to the Government.

In 2013, Proton launched the third-generation Perdana. It followed in the footsteps of the first Perdana, badge engineering but this time around, it is based on the eighth-generation Honda Accord. A modern platform with equally modern engine and transmission, this Perdana received minor exterior treatment and was sold only to the government.

Phase two of the third-generation Perdana was launched to the public last month and it certainly wowed the market. Using an upper body which was designed completely by Proton in-house designers, the Perdana is Proton’s latest offering and it comes with a host of modern technologies and features.

With two variants available, the Perdana 2.0L and the Perdana 2.4L Premium, the model is priced attractively. The Perdana 2.0L starts from RM113,438 while the 2.4L Premium is from RM138,438 (prices are on the road with insurance and GST).

 The latest Perdana continues to bank on the Accord but has a throroughly revised bodywork.

Below are the many features that you get with the latest Perdana

> Modern, reliable and fuel efficient power>plants (the 2.0L provides 154 hp and 189 Nm while the 2.4L offers 178 hp and 222 Nm.
> Modern 5-speed automatic transmission (the 2.4L gets paddle shifters)
> A double wishbone front suspension coupled with an independent multi-link rear set up
> 17-inch alloy wheels for both variants (the 2.4L gets dual-tone finishing)
> 70-litre fuel tank, lesser refuelling stops
> HID with auto-levelling function (2.4L variant)
> LED daytime running lights (DRL) for both variants
> All LED rear light combi for both variants
> Full bodykit with rear spoiler (for the 2.4L version)
> Dual-zone air conditioning system for both
> 8-way power driver seat with lumbar support (both)
> 4-way power front passenger seat (2.4L variant)
> 6.2-inch TFT touchscreen audio system with Bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity
> a GPS navigation system (2.4L variant)
> 6-speaker audio system (the 2.4L adds a subwoofer)
> Dual front SRS airbags and dual side airbags for both
> ABS with EBD for both
> Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for the 2.4L variant
> Reverse camera for both
> Isofix anchorage points on both versions
> Six colour options for both
> Security tint film is also standard in both variants

Proton is selling the new Perdana at a price similar to a C-segment sedan, promoting its flagship as offering good value for money while displaying high kerb appeal.


UK police fine PM Sunak for failing to wear seat belt

Sunak appears to not be wearing his seat belt, in an unknown location in England, Britain in this screen grab taken from a social media video on Jan 19. — Rishi Sunak via Instagram/via Reuters
LONDON: UK police have issued Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with a fine after he filmed a clip for social media that showed him in a moving vehicle without wearing a seat belt.

"You will be aware that a video has been circulating on social media showing an individual failing to wear a seat belt while a passenger in a moving car in Lancashire,” Lancashire police said in a statement.

"After looking into this matter, we have today (Jan 20) issued a 42-year-old man from London with a conditional offer of fixed penalty.”

While the police statement didn’t name the premier, Sunak, 42, has already apologised for failing to wear his seat belt while filming the clip.

"The prime minister fully accepts this was a mistake,” his office said in a statement Friday after the police notice. "He will of course comply with the fixed penalty.”

It’s the second time in less than a year that Sunak has received a police fine, after he was also penalised in April for being present at a gathering to mark former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s birthday in June 2020, in breach of Covid-19 regulations.

Penalties for failing to wear a seat belt are typically £200 (RM1,062) - a sum the premier can easily afford.

A millionaire himself, Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, whose stake in Infosys Ltd. - the Indian tech giant co-founded by her father - is worth hundreds of millions of pounds.


New electric cruiser aims to make short-haul flights redundant

                HAMBURG: A spacious new electric car aims to revolutionise intercity travel by appealing to travellers who want to avoid climate-damaging short-haul flights and crowded airports.

The slippery shape of the Budget Airline Car concept has three rows of large separate seats with adjacent cabin baggage storage and is designed for long-distance cruising rather than flat-out performance.

Thanks to an efficient electric motor, the concept vehicle produces only two percent of the emissions per passenger compared to short flights.

At 5 metres the Budget Airline Car is as long as the Tesla Model X, Nio ES8 or Volvo XC90, but its 1.8 metre width and 1.5 metre height make it markedly more aerodynamic and thus more energy efficient.

Passengers would share the driving and have access to the Internet through shared service platforms. A suite of advanced driver assistance systems would aid safety, with autonomous drive available at a later stage.

The concept was designed during lockdown by the UK-based agency Car Design Research (CDR). The car is not earmarked for production but showcases new ideas and technology.

Design associates Yichen Shu in China and Aditya Jangid in India also came up with subtly different exterior design themes which show how the car might be marketed as an alternative to flying with today’s budget airline brands.

The makers say the design could realise a totally new way to travel in comfort from city to city in a "white space" which is conceptually distinct from other cars.

"Today's cars are evolving in their design far slower than the changes in the lives and sensibilities of the people who use them," said CDR. "Yet, if embraced, these changes could unlock the potential for truly new types of cars designed for life in the mid-21st century."

Some governments have already banned or restricted short-haul flights (in Austria, France and the Netherlands).

Greenpeace has said that if Europe could replace almost all of the top 250 short-haul flights with rail or other zero-emission forms of travel this would save some 23.4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. This is as much as the annual CO2 emissions of Croatia.


Aston Martin DBX – Intrepid Aura, available from RM958,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: After the launch of Aston Martin DBX in Malaysia last month, Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur is introducing the customised  DBX – Intrepid Aura.

As the luxury marque's first sports utility vehicle (SUV), the DBX is available from the base price of RM818,000 excluding duties and taxes.

The DBX – Intrepid Aura, meanwhile, starts from RM958,000.

Colour options are Yellow Tang, Ceramic Blue, Stratus White and Lime Essence.

Among the customisation are gloss black side window surround, roof rails and grille, smoked rear lights, gloss black mirror caps, 22-inch sport satin black wheels, Aston Martin wings and rear wordmark in black chrome.

For the interior, the refinements are dark satin chrome interior jewellery pack, embroidered Aston Martin wings logo, black Alcantara headlining, piano black wood veneers, metallic black Caithness leather, obsidian black carpet and electron yellow seat stitching.

As the new kind of Aston Martin, the DBX is founded on the same principles of beauty, luxury and driving dynamics, yet redefined, ready for anything, powered by the spirit of adventure.

Built on brand new, all-Aston Martin architecture, DBX is designed to carry occupants in true Aston Martin style, with the ability to go where no Aston Martin has gone before.

Brimming with the latest safety technology, the DBX is comfortable and delivers an engaging driving experience across all terrains.

Beautiful, sumptuously luxurious and able to thrill from the moment it's twin-turbo V8 fires up, the DBX maintains a proud heritage as an Aston Martin DB.

The "DB" initials belong to David Brown, the man who defined what an Aston Martin should be and whose vision continues throughout the company to this day.

It was David Brown himself who had the idea for a luxury SUV in the 1950s.

He even built a prototype years before anyone else and the DBX remains true both to his name and vision of creating an Aston Martin for multiple terrains.


Audi to showcase TT clubsport turbo at Worthersee

                INGOLSTADT: Wide add-on parts, a powerful rear wing and a power output of 592bhp are what the Audi TT clubsport turbo is made of.

Inspired by the successful Audi 90 IMSA GTO of the late 1980s, the clubsport also possesses a new feature under the hood – an electric twin-turbo system for its five-cylinder 2.5-litre TFSI engine with 650Nm of torque from 3,000 to 7,000rpm mated to a manual six-speed transmission.

While bathed in Ferro Titanium, the car stands 4,330mm long, 1,970mm-wide (140mm wider than standard) and has a track width of 1,736mm (front) and 1,729mm (rear).

Weighing in at 1,396kg, the car gets to 100kph from standstill in 3.6sec and onwards to 310kph, thanks to its electrically driven compressor (e-turbo) that boosts torque by up to 200Nm and lets it cover up to 16m within the first 2.5sec.

This operating principle for the additional e-turbo makes it possible to design the conventional turbocharger more specifically for high charge pressures and consequently for high engine power and without any perceptible delay.

A dedicated 48V electrical sub-system, developed by Audi, supplies electrical energy to the turbocharger via a compact lithium-ion battery in the luggage compartment and gets charged by recuperation when coasting. A DC/DC converter provides the connection to the 12V electrical system.

In an acceleration duel, the TT clubsport turbo is able to pull away from a counterpart with an identically powered engine but without an e-Turbo.

The TT clubsport turbo uses Audi’s legendary Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with a multi-plate clutch mounted on the rear axle for better weight distribution and gets electronic stabilization control and torque vectoring.

Other mechanical parts include a free-flowing exhaust with a side pipe to the ambient air, coilover suspension with an electric lifting function along with racing-type parts such as the muffler and radiator.

The car rides on 20-inch wheels with a six twin-spoke design with 275/30 series tyres that partially hide lightweight carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs.

The TT clubsport gets a host of carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts from the air inlets, large front splitter side panels, side sills, rear diffuser and the manually adjustable rear wing.

Inside, the black Alcantara and CFRP combination for the cabin has been fitted with ultra-high-strength titanium tubes along with a pair of lightweight racecar bucket seats upholstered in coral orange Alcantara and comes equipped with four-point harnesses.

Following the colour concept are the air vents and gear shifter with an aluminium gear shift level that travels in an open shift gate, while a multifunction steering wheel with four satellite buttons allow the driver to control all key driving parameters.

“The electric biturbo signifies a new dimension in driving enjoyment (by) boosting sprinting ability and torque and enables high peak power,” said Audi technical development board member Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg.

He added that they are also close to production readiness with this technology for their TDI engines.

The Wörthersee Tour in Reifnitz, Austria will take place from May 13 to 16, where Audi will be showcasing the TT clubsport turbo concept.


Drift Mode: An accidental Ford Focus RS feature draws fire

                PETALING JAYA: The Ford Focus RS is designed for driving pleasure with four drive modes to choose from. But the drift-happy ability of the car in Drift Mode has got Ford into a sticky situation in Australia where safety experts there are urging Ford to withdraw the car from sale.

Although Ford has introduced a disclaimer when the Drift Mode is switched on, that was not enough to placate the Pedestrian Council of Australia. “A disclaimer is not going to stop an idiot from trying this on public roads,” council head Harold Scruby told news.com.au recently. The disclaimer warns the driver that Drift Mode is only to be used on a race track or controlled environment.

Australia has tough laws against reckless driving, which includes drifting. In most Australian states, police could confiscate an offender’s car, and also his driver’s licence for up to 12 months.

The third-generation all-wheel drive Focus RS has a 345hp 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine (the same engine as found in the RM489K Mustang), achieving 0-100kph in 4.7sec and can reach a top speed of 266kph. This makes it the fastest accelerating RS model ever. The engine also delivers 440Nm of torque and is able to overboost to 470Nm for 15s.

The A$51,000 (RM156,000) RS optimises acceleration by introducing Launch Control technology to an RS model for the first time. The model also debuts new Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring, for outstanding traction and grip with unmatched agility and cornering speed.

READ MORE: Ford Focus RS travels on one of Europe's greatest driving roads

RS chief engineer Tyrone Johnson set out to develop a ground-breaking all-wheel drive hatch from the start and the industry-first drift mode was created by chance. In this mode, up to 70% of the power is routed to the rear wheels to enable the RS to perform a controlled power oversteer.

Although it was a hoot to have it during the development phase, it wasn't intended to reach the production car. But when Ford global technical and development chief Raj Nair saw what the RS could do in drift mode, he greenlighted it into production. And that is how it is and the feature continues to be a source of glee and a point of contention.

As we wait for the RS to hopefully reach local shores this year, here's CarSifu's contribution to the Ford entry with the current Focus going up against the VW Golf and Peugeot 308 THP


Just the ticket: a look at the history of speed limits

                PARIS: The first internal combustion-propelled car may have chugged out of Karl Benz's workshop back in 1886, but it took until 1901 for a US state to decide that the automobile could be dangerous if driven at speed. And in reaching this conclusion, on May 21, 1901, Connecticut became the first US state to introduce speed limits for the car of 19kph in the city and 24kph in the countryside.

The law may sound rather draconian by today's standards, but compared to what was going on in Britain at the time, a 24kph upper limit was massively progressive.

Thanks to myriad workshop tinkerers and other self-taught engineers that earned the country the title of workshop of the world, in Britain in the late 1800s there were a host of self-propelled vehicles on the road - powered by everything from steam to electricity - and they were considered so dangerous that the Red Flag act was passed, stipulating that around town these vehicles could only travel at 3kph and in some cases with a person walking in front waving a red flag to warn townsfolk.

And it was in Britain, in Kent in 1896, that a certain Walter Arnold driving a Benz Motor Carriage became the first ever recipient of a speeding fine. Arnold was caught doing 8mph - four times the speed limit - and the car was apprehended by a policeman on a bicycle.

Meanwhile, the first paper speeding ticket was issued in Ohio in 1904 to Harry Mayers for travelling at 19kph.

Racing forward to today and the speeding ticket has become part of modern life. In the US, 41 million tickets are issued every year, while in England in 2014 alone, 115,000 drivers were caught with an automatic speed camera and fined over £100 (RM560) via the courts. The true figure is much higher but there is no data available for motorists who immediately pay a fine, only for those who decide to fight or ignore the initial charge.

The speed camera has revolutionised how quickly and how many drivers are caught and fined every year, and it's one of the automotive world's biggest ironies that the Gatso Speed Camera was invented by a racing driver.

Dutch rally driver Maurice Gatsonides was also a dab hand at inventing and was trying to find a way of recording his cornering speed. In creating the Gatso camera, he also created what some believe is a licence for authorities to print money. One Gatso camera installed on a busy road in Worcestershire, Britain, issued £1.6mil (RM9mil) in fines within its first nine years of operation.

Still, if you want to avoid a speeding fine but are completely unable to resist the need for speed, even in 2017 there are still some roads left where speed is limited solely by your car's mechanical capabilities.

The most famous is the German Autobahn where, when all six lanes are open, there are no limits, and the Isle of Man. The home of the TT races, it still has no official limit when the roads are not in urban areas. However, the fact that none of these roads are multi-lane highways will help curb some drivers' excesses. In Australia's Northern Territory there is also a 200km stretch of the Stuart Highway that has no official speed limit and takes drivers to either Alice Springs or Barrow Creek.


Bidding period for 'FF' series number plates extended until today

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has extended the bidding period for the "FF" series of number plates through the JPJeBid system by one day to 10pm today.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this was after taking note of public complaints about the unstable JPJeBid system, which was experiencing high traffic.

"To be fair, JPJ has extended the bidding time for 24 hours," he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Loke said he had held a meeting with the ministry's digital advisory committee (JPD) to get advice on improvements and would work to improve the digital systems for JPJ and other agencies under the ministry.


Highway project suspended until safety assured

                KUALA LUMPUR: A stop-work order has been issued and an immediate safety audit ordered on the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) site where a crane toppled, killing three workers, injuring two others as well as a member of the public.

The last is a Malaysian man who was the driver of a car, and he has been described as “gravely injured”.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said only rescuers would be allowed at the scene, a SUKE site in Cheras.

“The contractor and their safety team must also come up with suggestions for better safety measures if they wish to continue with the project.

“The road here will be closed while an alternative route is being located. If no route is found, they have to explain to us how they will ensure safety while construction work is ongoing.

“Maintenance work was being carried out when the crane collapsed. Now the priority is to stabilise the site, ” he added.

Fadillah, who visited the accident site yesterday, said an investigation to be conducted by the Malaysian Highway Authority and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) would also check why the roads were not closed to the public before such heavy construction work was carried out.

The former is the regulator for the building of all highways while CIDB is the authority overseeing all construction site operations.

The minister said he was angry and saddened by the multiple accidents at construction sites, causing the loss of lives, despite continuous warnings to contractors.

“We are authorised to blacklist or suspend contractors from any future Works Ministry tenders for at least two years if they are found not to have followed the SOP (standard operating procedure).

“We will investigate whether the SUKE contractor in the latest accident followed the SOP.

“I want strict action to be taken if the contractor is found to have been negligent in safety, not only of their workmen but also of the public.

“If the construction has to be halted to complete the investigation, so be it, ” he said.

He pointed out that all contractors were required to have insurance policies for the safety of the public and their workmen prior to starting work, to enable compensation should accidents happen at a work site.

Earlier, Fadillah presented “letters accepting tenders” for projects worth about half a billion ringgit to contractors at the Works Ministry.

The seven major projects for other ministries include Central Spine Road Package 4, Penang Hospital staff quarters, Maktab Rendah Sains Mara in Dungun, Sarawak Islamic Skills Development Institute Phase Two, and the upgrading of the National Mosque.

In the SUKE incident, a Malaysian motorist was badly injured and two construction workers died after falling 120m to the ground.

This is the second incident this year involving SUKE.

On March 3, a portion of a bridge under construction fell after it was hit by a trailer carrying heavy machinery, trapping five people in a factory van travelling on the MRR2 Highway near Bandar Tasik Selatan.

Two women were killed and three people seriously injured.

Projek Lintasan Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Sdn Bhd confirmed, after that incident, that the trailer that impacted scaffolding belonging to the SUKE construction site was a private vehicle and was not involved in or affiliated with the construction of the highway in any way.

An investigative team has been ordered to conduct a comprehensive probe into the latest incident, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim.

He said the investigative team from the Federal Territories and Putrajaya Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) would conduct a comprehensive probe to determine what led to the incident and whether there were any breaches of the law under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.

He said the FT and Putrajaya DOSH had issued a stop-work order at the project site, for the team to conduct its investigation.

“According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, it is the duty of the employer to protect the safety, health and welfare of each of their staff while on duty, as well as the public, at the workplace under their control, ” he said.

Awang said employers had full control over all activities at their work site, and that included conducting an effective risk analysis before allowing any of their employees to start work.

“This is to reduce risks and avoid any untoward incidents.

“The Occupational Safety And Health In Construction Industry (Management) 2017 also requires every party, including clients, designers and contractors, to act responsibly at work sites, from the design stage of the project, ” he said.

A SUKE representative confirmed the incident, saying: “The incident may have occurred after one of the gantry crane components fell during maintenance work. The exact cause is still under investigation.”