Apple’s Watch software chief takes over self-driving car project

                LOS ANGELES: Apple Inc. appointed one of its top software executives, Kevin Lynch, to oversee its nascent self-driving car project after the previous leader left for Ford Motor Co.

Lynch, an Adobe Inc. veteran who joined Apple in 2013 to run the software group for the company’s smartwatch and health efforts, replaced Doug Field as the manager in charge of the car work, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The executive first started working on the project earlier this year when he took over teams handling the underlying software.

Now he is overseeing the whole group, which also includes hardware engineering and work on self-driving car sensors, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move isn’t public.

The change marks the latest shake-up in the project’s tumultuous history.

Since Apple embarked on its plan to develop a self-driving car around 2014, the endeavour has seen management turnover, layoffs of engineers and strategy shifts - all while shrouded in secrecy.

Lynch made his name at Apple as a vice president of technology, creating the watchOS software.

He also leads development of health-related software, which includes the Health app on iPhones and apps for research studies.

He still contributes to Apple’s Watch and health software efforts, but has been less active in the development of those products in recent months. Lynch.

It’s unclear if the company will eventually tap a different leader for its car effort - known internally as Project Titan - if it advances far enough for Apple to have confidence in launching a full self-driving vehicle.

Field’s departure for Ford was seen as a sign that an Apple car wasn’t coming in the near future.

Work on the product remains early, with employees inside Apple anticipating that it won’t launch for many years.

Field, who took over the Apple car project in 2018, departed on Tuesday to become an executive at Ford in charge of advanced technology work.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment on Lynch’s appointment.

The choice of Lynch to head the car project indicates much of the company’s focus still remains on underlying software and self-driving technology - rather than the vehicle’s physical mechanics.

Lynch has been a software executive for decades, not someone who oversees hardware teams. He’s also never worked at a car company.

That contrasts with previous executives. The Apple car project’s first manager, Steve Zadesky, was an engineer at Ford earlier in his career.

Field, meanwhile, was a senior executive at Tesla before taking over the Apple project.

Apple does have a few senior managers still on the project that come from the automotive world. The team includes former Tesla executives leading car interiors and exteriors, drivetrains and self-driving software.

Earlier this year, Apple also hired Ulrich Kranz, who helped lead work on electric cars at BMW and co-founded autonomous car startup Canoo. But the company has lost several other managers, in addition to Field.

John Giannandrea, Apple’s head of artificial intelligence efforts, was chosen to oversee Field and the car project last year upon the retirement of former hardware leader Bob Mansfield.

Lynch, however, reports to Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.


Kymco's new scooter sends social media updates to handlebars

                TAIPEI: Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco has unveiled a new retro-style scooter with a built-in screen that lets the rider look up weather conditions and petrol stations in the area.

The 58kg Like II 125i scooter, a re-issue of the first Like model from 2009, can be linked to the rider's smartphone and notify him about missed calls, new messages and updates from his social media accounts.

Behind the Italian-designed scooter's distinctly retro look are anti-lock brakes and a 125cc four-stroke engine with 11.6hp.

The newest Like is available at prices starting at US$3,900 (RM16,000). The slimmed-down Like II 125i CBS, which comes without ABS and networking capabilities, starts at US$3,300 (RM13,407).


XCIENT fuel cell fleet racks up 5 million km

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co today announced that its fleet of XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty trucks in Switzerland has accumulated more than 5 million km in two years.

Starting in 2020, the company exported 47 units of the hydrogen-powered, zero-emission commercial trucks to 23 Swiss companies, which are using them for logistics, distribution and supermarket fulfillment.

"XCIENT Fuel Cell is the world's first heavy-duty fuel cell truck to achieve 5 million km of cumulative driving in real-life customer operation," said Mark Freymueller, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Business Innovation at Hyundai.

"The experience we've gained and the milestone we've achieved in Switzerland will provide good insights to many countries that are preparing to transition to a sustainable hydrogen society. Based on this proven track record of successful operation in Switzerland, we'll expand this business throughout Europe."

In 2019 Hyundai Motor established Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM) in partnership with Swiss company H2 Energy which partnered with H2 Mobility Switzerland Association, a hydrogen fuelling network builder and XCIENT customer, and green hydrogen production company Hydrospider.

The XCIENT Fuel Cell is equipped with a 180-kW hydrogen fuel cell system with two 90-kW fuel cell stacks. The system's durability and the vehicle's overall fuel efficiency are tailored to the demands of commercial fleet customers.

The 350-kW e-motor with maximum torque of 2,237 Nm enables dynamic driving performance. Its seven large hydrogen tanks offer a combined storage capacity of around 31 kg of fuel, while a 72-kWh-powered set of three batteries supports the performance.

The driving range is over 400km per charge in real world conditions. Refueling a full tank of hydrogen takes about 8 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.


Jaguar Land Rover tests first driverless vehicle on public roads

                LONDON: Britain’s biggest automaker, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has tested its first driverless car on public roads, it said on Friday, as carmakers race against each other and tech firms to tap into new technologies.

Last October, a pod heavily adapted from a compact Renault car was the first autonomous car to take to Britain’s streets as part of government-backed trials aimed at seeing more widespread use of such vehicles by 2020.

Politicians are trying to make it as easy as possible to test new driving technologies in Britain, seeking to build an industry to serve a worldwide market expected to be worth around 900 billion pounds ($1.2 trillion) by 2025.

An Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill is currently being debated in parliament to set out how new technologies will operate in Britain.

JLR hopes the testing will allow it to understand more about how self-driving vehicles interact with other cars and road infrastructure such as traffic lights and how models can replicate human behavior whilst driving.

“By using inputs from multiple sensors, and finding intelligent ways to process this data, we are gaining accurate technical insight to pioneer the automotive application of these technologies,” said Nick Rogers, the firm’s Executive Director for Product Engineering.

The testing is taking place in the central English city of Coventry, the historic heart of the British car industry, where JLR is headquartered. Trials will continue into next year.

Major automakers are seeking to head off the challenge not just from each other but also from technology firms such as Alphabet Inc’s Waymo, which is also developing autonomous vehicles.

Waymo said earlier this month that it will launch a ride-hailing service with no human behind the steering wheel and has been testing the fully self-driving cars on public roads in the US state of Arizona.

Warch a JLR video of the Coventry trials


Refreshed Veloster Turbo with new engine opens for booking

                SHAH ALAM: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has opened its order books now for the refreshed 2016 Veloster Turbo which is expected to arrive on Malaysian shores in mid-April this year.

Fully imported from South Korea, the Veloster Turbo is Hyundai’s turbocharged version of the unique 1+2 door sporty coupe. It is the first Hyundai vehicle to be fitted with the 1.6-litre T-GDI engine that features a high-compression, twin-scroll turbocharger combined with the GDI system.

The Gamma 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to use direct injection. This technology helps deliver more power, better fuel economy, lower emissions and higher reliability.

The T-GDI engine offers instantaneous power delivery of 186PS horsepower and 265Nm of torque.  The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch Automatic transmission (DCT).

Apart from a new engine, the Veloster Turbo gets a host of new upgrades including a much sportier look. Among the exciting new features are sport-tuned engine intake and exhaust note, new front fascia, new 18-inch alloy wheels, projector headlights with LED accents, LED rear lamp, a sporty two-tone coloured seat and new exterior colours including Hyundai’s limited edition Matte Grey.

More details on the specification of the car will be unveiled at the launch.

The Veloster,  first launched in Malaysia in 2012, combines the style of a coupe and the functionality of a hatchback, while incorporating an additional kerbside door.

“The Veloster Turbo will continue to appeal to drivers who are looking for a combination of a stylish coupe, powerful yet efficient engine and practical features,” said Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors managing director Lau Yit Mun.

The selling price is expected to start from RM150,000 (price inclusive of GST but excludes insurance).

HSDM offers a 5-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) extended warranty on all its new passenger vehicles. A 24-hour road assist service is also available now for new and existing Hyundai vehicles.

For more information, call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.


BMW aims to double fully-electric vehicle sales in 2021

                MUNICH: BMW said on Friday that it aims to double its sales of fully-electric vehicles this year as the German carmaker and rivals race to release new models to comply with CO2 emissions targets and chase market leader Tesla Inc.

BMW also said that including plug-in hybrids, it aims for a 50% increase in sales of electrified vehicles versus 2020.

It did not give sales volumes for its fully electric vehicles but in 2020 data released on Tuesday BMW said it sold close to 193,000 electrified vehicles - fully electric and plug-in hybrid - last year.

Tesla delivered just under 500,000 vehicles, all fully electric, to customers in 2020.

The BMW Group currently produces 13 electrified models - either fully electric or plug-in hybrid - sold in 74 markets.

BMW said on Tuesday that its global EV sales rose 31.8% in 2020 and accounted for 15% of its sales in Europe, helping the company meet its European Union emissions targets for last year.

By 2023, BMW said it would almost double its line-up of electrified vehicles to 25 models, with more than half of them fully electric.

As well as emissions targets, a growing number of countries will ban the sale of new fossil-fuel vehicles starting in 2030, adding pressure on carmakers to develop electric vehicles.


KL also under MCO, from May 7-20

                PUTRAJAYA: Kuala Lumpur will be placed under the movement control order from May 7 to 20.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Health Ministry had presented a report on the Covid-19 situation in Kuala Lumpur whereby from April 1 to 27, 17 new clusters were recorded.

The number of daily cases also saw a rise in infections.

“After reviewing the situation and following a proposal by the Health Ministry, the government has agreed to place the entire Kuala Lumpur under MCO from May 7 to 20,” he said today.

The news came a day after six districts in Selangor came under MCO from May 6-17. The districts are Petaling, Gombak, Hulu Langat, Klang, Sepang and Kuala Langat.

The standard operating procedure for Kuala Lumpur during MCO is as per what had been announced before.

This includes the prohibition of cross border travel except for emergency and work purposes.

Food premises such as restaurants, food trucks, hawkers and kiosks are allowed to operate from 6am to midnight only.

Dine-ins are not allowed and food served are for delivery and take-outs only.

In a related development, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said more roadblocks would be set up in the state during the MCO period.

"We will also be patrolling all bazaars, shopping centres and public places to ensure standard operating procedure compliance."


VW to make batteries in Germany, slim down

                BERLIN: Volkswagen will invest almost 1 billion euros (RM4.7bil) in battery cell production at a facility in western Germany and is seeking to simplify the group by spinning off or selling units, the automaker said on Monday.

Volkswagen said in a statement after a supervisory board meeting it would set up the battery facility in Lower Saxony under a partnership and would also begin talks on a planned new multibrand plant in Europe.

The statement confirms a Reuters report earlier on Monday, on the eve of the company’s annual general meeting.

Battery cells are a key battleground in the automotive industry as it shifts to electric mobility. Currently the industry chiefly sources its requirements from Asian manufacturers.

Volkswagen also said it was looking into options for its MAN Energy Solutions business, which makes large diesel engines for ships and power generators, as well as transmissions maker Renk, including joint ventures, partnerships, a full or partial sale.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Volkswagen had approached several companies to gauge their interest in buying MAN Energy Solutions, which is expected to achieve a valuation of about 3 billion euros in a potential sale.

The moves are part of Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess’s efforts to slim down and simplify the group which has 12 brands, trucks, buses, motorbikes, cars and electric bicycles as part of its business.

“Given the ever greater complexity of our industry and the related challenges, it is essential to focus on our core business,” Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch said.

Volkswagen also said it would resume preparations for an initial public offering of its trucks unit Traton, which it put on hold in March due to volatile market conditions.

Proceeds of the offering would be used to invest in the “internationalisation” of the division, said  Diess.


US man kicks Audi R8 V10 for 'being too loud'

Nan Lin, the actor and whose car was attacked. His R8 V10 was modified to produce 770hp. — Nan Lin/Instagram
SAN FRANCISCO: Don't go looking for trouble. That advice certainly went over the head of a man who on Saturday kicked an Audi R8 V10 on the street for "being too loud".

Seriously, if you don't respect other people and their prized possessions, you are just setting yourself up for some pain. On the flip side, people are more irritated than impressed by cars modified to be loud and noisy so that could have been a trigger for a guy who had a lousy day.

Anyway, the Audi owner, up-and-coming actor Nan Lin, was naturally miffed and jumped out of his red car to see if it had been dented or scratched.

An altercation ensued between Nan Lin and the unnamed Caucasian. and fists started flailing on the street of San Mateo in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Asian actor was no pushover and landed a few blows on the other man before members of the public intervened including another man who did a flying tackle into Nan Lin, ostensibly to break up the scuffle.

It would have been all too easy to describe this inflammatory incident as a racial conflict, and indeed social media was quick to oblige. But let's see it for what it is: troublemaker/bully goes looking for trouble, gets more than he bargained for and is shamed for his action. More so when he was seen holding the hand of a young girl, believed to be his daughter, who would have been traumatised from seeing an ugly side of her dad.

Nan Lin later told NextShark, a news publication covering Asian Americans and Asia, to give his side of the story. He admitted the attacker "was probably pissed because of the exhaust sounds". He said he had wanted to detain the man and make a police report against vandalism. Things got out of hand and a fight broke out.

In the end, police arrived, and defused the situation. Both men did not press charges against each other on police advice.

Apart from the 770hp R8 V10 tuned by ESS, Nan Lin — who starred in the 2018 flick Ghostbox Cowboy — also owns a Range Rover Velar.

 Nan Lin's Velar and R8 V10. - Nan Lin/Facebook


Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid launched in Japan

                TOKYO: The new 2.5-litre Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has been launched in Japan, with an all-electric driving range of 95km, and a hybrid fuel economy of 22km per litre.

The RAV4 PHEV has a 55-litre petrol tank and boasts an incredible cruising range of 1,300km when combined with hybrid mode.

Using the newly developed Toyota Hybrid System (THS II), system output is 306ps coupled with powerful acceleration of 0-100 kph in 6 seconds.

READ MORE: The custom Toyota GR Yaris from Japan

It adopts the TGNA platform (GA-K) and is equipped with a high capacity lithium-ion battery installed under the floor in the center of the vehicle.

Thanks to the E-Four electric 4WD system, power is fully distributed between all four wheels.

READ MORE: Toyota in US betting on new hybrid models

Besides providing superior driving stability, a greater sense of stability when cornering, or driving in snow or rain, is enhanced.

Standard kit include a large 9-inch display audio and Data Communication Module, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features.

Safety features include Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Parking Support Brakes (Stationary Objects) that helps reduce and/or mitigate damage from collisions during low-speed driving in parking lots.

The Display Audio displays a panoramic image of the vehicle surroundings with a bird-eye view, supporting rear visibility and enhancing safety by enabling viewing of blind-spots.

The Head Up Display (HUD) helps to prevent driver fatigue by reducing the need for eye movement.


More freebies from UMW Toyota

                SHAH ALAM: Three more Toyota models will be offered with additional accessories at no extra charge, from September 1.

These models – the Toyota Corolla Altis, Innova and Alphard – join the Vios and Hilux in UMW Toyota Motor’s campaign to give customers even more value.

All Corolla Altis variants now come with a free custom-designed Aerokit and DVD-AVN infotainment system, with a seven-inch touchscreen.

The infotainment system has SD card, USB thumbdrive, smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity, and comes with a reverse camera.

Access to internet is available with a wireless broadband service.

Meanwhile, the Innova also gets a free similar DVD-AVN infotainment system, as well as GPS navigation, multiple connectivity options, voice commands and a reverse camera.

A rear entertainment system with a ceiling-mounted eight-inch monitor is also included exclusively for the Innova 2.0G variant.

The Innova 2.0G also gets free accessories such as Toyota Premium and Security Film and a portable tyre pump.

As for the Alphard, it now comes with a specially designed, free TRD Aerokit package that also includes daytime running lights and door visors.

Also while stocks last, a 10.2-inch ceiling-mounted full-colour monitor is offered at no charge.

This complements the standard high-quality audio-visual (AV) entertainment system which has a seven-inch touchscreen with a DVD Player, GPS navigation and a rear view camera.

All Alphards sold by UMW Toyota Motor come with a customised security system that has a top Thatcham 1 equivalent rating.
Additionally, Toyota Premium and Security Film is also provided at no extra charge.


Honda and Fiat Chrysler aim to restart US, Canada auto production in May

                WASHINGTON: Honda Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said they hope to restart US and Canadian auto production in May amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Japanese automaker halted production on March 23 and said it will extend the halt through May 1.

Fiat Chrysler said Monday it “intends to progressively restart its US and Canadian manufacturing facilities beginning May 4.”

US President Donald Trump last week extended the guidelines aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus to April 30.

Several US auto industry executives said it will be nearly impossible for companies to resume production before the end of the month — and there is no assurance automakers will be able to resume production in early May. Other automakers plan to extend current production halts later this week, said automakers.

It will also take auto suppliers time to resume production. In an internal estimate, Ford Motor Co said last week it believed 600,000 US industry auto sales may have been lost in March because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Honda noted many consumers are unable to buy vehicles and said it “must continue to suspend production in order to align product supply with a lack of market demand.” Some states have barred car dealers from selling new cars while “stay at home” order are in place.

Last week, Nissan Motor Co said it would extend its US production halt into late April. Toyota Motor Corp has halted US and Canadian production through April 17.

Ford said last week it was postponing its plan to restart production at its North America.

Ford had been aiming to resume production at several key US plants on April 14, but then said it would now do so at dates to be announced later.

Ford said Monday it is “continuing to assess public health conditions, government guidelines and supplier readiness to determine when the time is right to resume production in our North American plants.”

General Motors Co has shuttered its plants indefinitely and has not provided a date for vehicle production to restart.

Automakers are working on additional employee protections to add when they restart, including new personal protective gear, staggering shift starts, more frequent cleanings and new social distancing rules.

Fiat Chrysler said it will redesign “work stations to maintain proper social distancing and expanding the already extensive cleaning protocols at all locations.”


Tesla unveils supercharging route along China’s famed Silk Road

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc. has unveiled what it claims is the longest supercharging route in China, a 5,000km stretch spanning the vast nation from east to west that’s studded with 27 electric-car charging stations along the way.

A promotional video about the route, which also pays homage to China’s majestic landscape, was retweeted by CEO Elon Musk.

The route covers nine cities, starting from the eastern coastal hub of Zhoushan and stretching to the western city of Horgos bordering Kazakhstan. It loosely follows the same path as the legendary Silk Road, a network of trade routes that for centuries was central to economic, cultural, political and religious interactions.

Tesla drivers will be able to travel to tourist attractions including the Kumtag Desert, the Turfan volcano and Sayram Lake, famous scenic destinations in Xinjiang, all without worrying about their cars losing power.

China, the world’s biggest electric car market, is critical to Tesla, which has a factory here and sells thousands of cars there every month.

The California-based company has already set up around 840 charging stations in China and more than 65,000 supercharging poles covering over 310 cities.

Now there will be one charging station every 100km to 300km along the Silk Road and drivers can charge their cars to run for up to 250km in a single go in just 15 minutes, if weather conditions are supportive.

The video, in Chinese with English subtitles, may also be another effort by Tesla to restore its image in China, which has taken a battering in recent months after some of its cars were banned from military complexes on security concerns and following a high-profile protest by an unhappy customer at the Shanghai Auto Show in April.

Despite those wrinkles, Tesla’s China shipments were strong in May, with the company reporting wholesales of 33,463 locally made vehicles last month, compared with 25,845 in April, according to China’s Passenger Car Association.


Honda Malaysia ramping up stock of Takata airbag inflators

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia will increase the stock availability for Takata passenger front airbag inflators to 55% by the end of November, a month earlier than the expected timeframe announced previously.

The stock will gradually increase to 70% availability by the end of December 2016.

Customers must quickly replace their affected Takata front airbag inflators as the affected (driver/passenger) front airbag inflators manufactured by Takata may deploy with excessive internal pressure when activated.

The airbag inflator casing might rupture, which may result in injury or fatality of the driver and passenger.

Honda Malaysia encourages affected customers to make an appointment at any of the Honda Service Central Hubs or Authorized Honda dealers to avoid any setback for these replacements to be carried out systematically.

Halfway to completion

As of Nov 23, Honda Malaysia has replaced more than 62,300 out of the approximate 125,000 affected Takata passenger front airbag inflators, translating to a completion ratio of 50%.

In an additional campaign to ensure further customer safety, another replacement effort involving 147,894 units of Takata passenger front airbag inflators was undertaken on June 23 2016 as a preventive measure.

Honda Malaysia has also taken immediate action to start the replacement activities of these affected units as well.

Honda Malaysia would like to reassure that the stock availability for Takata driver front airbag inflators is at 100%.

All Honda Service Central Hubs and Authorized Honda dealers have sufficient stock to undertake the replacement of Takata driver front airbag inflators and Honda Malaysia once again would like to urge affected customers to make an appointment to replace the affected airbag inflators immediately.

As of Nov 23 2016, Honda Malaysia has replaced more than 175,000 out of the approximate 264,000 affected Takata driver front airbag inflators, translating to a completion ratio of 66%.

Extension of Mobile Hubs in shopping malls

To continue providing more locations and convenience for customers to replace the affected Takata front airbag inflators, Honda Malaysia is extending the current 11 Mobile Hubs at shopping malls to a total of 18 shopping malls until Dec 25 2016.

Customers can check on the latest locations of the Mobile Hubs at shopping malls at www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my

The increase of Mobile Hubs in more shopping malls is in addition to the operations of the Honda Service Central Hubs which have been extended until Dec 31 2016 and the replacement activities that are also available during Honda’s on-ground activities such as Honda Family Road Trip and Honda Mobile Road Shows.

Honda customers can check their vehicles recall status either by logging on to www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my or by calling the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020.


Ferrari Museums welcome over 600,000 visitors in 2019

                MARANELLO, Italy: The Ferrari Museums set a new record in 2019, attracting more than 600,000 visitors, a 12% increase on the previous year.

Both venues experienced strong growth with visitor numbers to the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena jumping in 2019 to over 200,000, whilst the Ferrari Museum in Maranello saw attendances rise to in excess of 400,000 in the same period.

The success of the single ticket for access to both museums – sales of which increased by more than 50% in 2019 compared to the previous year – demonstrates the excellent public response to the increasingly specialist nature of these two structures.

Indeed, the museum in Modena celebrates the figure of the founder, along with the most elegant, exclusive Ferrari Gran Turismo engines and cars, while the museum in Maranello provides visitors with an experience that allows them to discover the history of the Group, of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 and of the most iconic track and road cars that have written the history of the Prancing Horse, and continue to do so today.

In line with its different specialist visitor routes, the Maranello Museum’s first exhibition of the new year will be “Ferrari at 24 Heures du Mans”, which, from January 15, celebrates 70 years of Ferrari victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The new show also flanks the current exhibitions: “90 Anni”, an homage to the Scuderia Ferrari’s history, and “Hypercars”, which features the limited edition special series that have been most influenced by Ferrari’s signature track-to-road technology transfers.


Honda to spend US$40b on EV push, plans 30 models

                TOKYO: Honda Motor Co. plans to spend 5 trillion yen (RM170bil/US$40bil) on its push into electric vehicles over the next decade, as the Japanese automaker with the most aggressive EV moves to back its bold advance into next-generation cars with concrete plans.

It will launch 30 EV models by 2030 with production volume of more than 2 million vehicles a year, Japan’s second-biggest automaker said in a statement today.

It will also build a demonstration line for the production of all-solid-state batteries with a goal to start production in 2024.

Honda declared in June of last year it would phase out sales of gasoline-powered cars completely by 2040, becoming Japan’s first automaker to publicly say so.

In the months since, newly minted chief executive officer Toshihiro Mibe has pushed to hasten the Tokyo-based company’s drive into the increasingly competitive electric segment.

Part of that offensive has involved doubling down on the world’s biggest EV market — China.

In October, Honda announced plans to launch 10 EVs under its “e:N Series” within five years in the nation, with two of those models set to go on sale this year.

Honda also pledged that all models it introduces in China after 2030 will be electric and announced plans for several dedicated EV production plants in the country.

Another Mibe push has been around changing Honda’s long-standing go-it-alone strategy when it comes to developing and selling EVs. Mibe hinted at as much in his first briefing after being promoted to the top role in February last year, saying as Honda pivots toward EVs, “time is of the essence and I would opt to use alliances and external insight to accelerate our shift.”

Last month, Honda announced it’s joining forces with tech giant Sony Group Corp. to develop EVs slated to go on sale starting in 2025.

The two Japanese firms uphold that Honda’s manufacturing prowess coupled with Sony’s entertainment and sensor technologies will be a winning combo in the crowded field.

And earlier this month, Honda and General Motors Co. expanded their existing tie-up with plans to jointly develop affordable EVs in major global markets. The duo plan to introduce their first model -- with a starting price below US$30,000 (RM127,000) — in North America in 2027.

At today’s briefing, Honda, which sources Ultium batteries from GM, said it is exploring the possibility of creating a joint venture with another company for battery production.


Old electric car, bad battery? What to know about used EVs and range

                HAMBURG: If you're looking to switch to an electric car, it doesn't have to be a new one. Used electric vehicles (EVs) are also widely available now, which not only saves you money but is also more sustainable.

But there are a few things you need to pay close attention to.

When buying a used electric car, it makes sense to take it on a long test drive fully charged and with the on-board computer set to zero, which helps to estimate the real range right away, according to EV experts at Europe's biggest car club, Germany's ADAC.

If you have already used up half the charge after 50km, the real range of a fully charged battery should be about 100km, even if the computer still indicates 130 or more kilometres as the remaining range.

If you plan to use the car to drive to work, you need a minimum range of the one-way distance plus some additional kilometres, as long as you are able to recharge the battery at work.

Otherwise, you have to at least calculate with the round-trip distance plus an additional buffer. It’s vital to add these extra kilometres since the real ranges of electric car usually differ from indicated standards between 20 and 40 per cent, according to the ADAC.

As batteries age and the number of charging cycles increase, the range decreases further. In addition, a buffer of 10 to 30 per cent must be factored in - depending on driving behaviour. The outside temperature and whether you're using the heating or air conditioning system can also lower your range.

For example, a range of 200km according to the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) may turn into a real range of less than 100km on a particularly cold day.

The most expensive part of the electric car is the drive battery. Therefore it is important to take a close look at the warranties, service booklet and workshop inspection records. Many manufacturers offer warranties of 8 years or 100,000 to 200,000km.

In many cases, a warranty case exists if the battery falls below a certain limit declared by the manufacturer - for example, 70 per cent. If in doubt, the battery can also be checked at an authorised dealer, says the ADAC.

Another important feature is a fast charging function (DC/Direct Current), which allows you to recharge while on the road, according to the ADAC, predicting that the CCS (Combined Charging System) will become established in the long term.

For charging on alternating current (AC), the Type2 plug is the standard throughout Europe. However, older cars with a Type 1 connector can be charged at public charging stations using an adapter cable.


MotoE set to get rolling by mid-2019

                ROME: The inaugural season of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup is set to begin in Germany by mid-2019 following a revision to its schedule.

The MotoE season will kick off from July 5 to 7 at the HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland in Sachsenring, Germany and will be followed by the second race at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria (Aug 9 to 11).

The third and fourth races will take place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in San Marino and at Riviera di Rimini (Sept 13 to 15) before finally ending with race five and six at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Comunitat Valenciana (Nov 15 to 17).

Unfortunately, Jerez (Spain) will not host MotoE as part of the Gran Premio Red Bull de España and the revised calendar confirms that MotoE will also not race at Le Mans (France).

There will be 18 bikes competing with two distributed to each of the seven MotoGP Independent Teams, while four will be provided for Moto2 and Moto3 teams who choose to enter.

The riders will be contracted by the teams and need to be sufficiently experienced in the world of two-wheeled racing.

The sound of the electric bikes will be undoubtedly quieter than MotoGP bikes but will allow fans to listen to the machines slicing through the air and the squeal of the Michelin (sole tyre provider) tyres as they navigate through the corners.

The Energica Ego Corsa electric bike by Italy-based Energica Motor Company S.p.A. - the first Italian manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles uses a synchronous oil-cooled motor with permanent magnets.

The Ego Corsa stores its power within a 20Kwh battery for its electric motor to produce 120kW of maximum continuous power and 200Nm of torque of 200Nm - allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in around 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of around 270kph.

The bike does not have a gearbox or a clutch and everything is regulated by a ride-by-wire system, which allows the rider to control the bike's torque during acceleration and deceleration based on the regenerative torque or engine braking.

While rolling on Marchesini wheels and suspended by Öhlins suspension system, stopping power comes the Brembo braking system.

For all teams, the bikes provided will be identical although for some parts such as the springs can be swapped to a range of different spring stiffness - depending on the rider’s specific needs.

The bikes will be kept together in a dedicated E-paddock structure, in which each Team will have its own box.

Enel X is the Official Smart Charging Partner of the series and will provide a mobile charging solution - the JuiceRoll, that is composed of a Semi Mobile Unit and a Mobile Unit per motorcycle.

The Semi Mobile Unit will be placed in the E-paddock and will be used to recharge the motorcycle batteries between the sessions.

As for the Mobile Unit, it will follow the motorcycle on to the grid and will be used to top up the motorcycle battery and to provide power for the tyre blankets.

Solar Panels will be coupled with Smart Meters to constantly track the electrical energy used during the event.

Enel will provide a distribution system that will connect JuiceRolls and the MotoE paddock auxiliary’s loads to the grid by integrating the Solar Panels.

The result is the complete electrification of the Moto E event, from the grid to the motorcycle.

The grid will be composed of 18 riders, including female rider Maria Herrera, before splitting up into 12 different Teams.

There will be ten different nationalities lining up in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, from Australia to Brazil including many European countries.

Four former MotoGP riders including Sete Gibernau (two-time MotoGP runner up), former-FIM Moto3 World Champion Nico Terol (2011) from Spain, 125 World Champion Mike di Meglio (2008) from France, two FIM Endurance World Champions of Josh Hook (2017) and Kenny Foray (2014) as well as former European Moto2 Champion Eric Granado from Brazil.

The exact cause(s) of the fire that destroyed the majority of the equipment for the Cup still remains under investigation.


Reopening of Damansara Link delayed until December

                PETALING JAYA: Motorists from Petaling Jaya seeking to use Damansara Link on SPRINT Highway to head towards Kuala Lumpur will have to wait longer as works will only be completed by December.

The prolonged closure of the interchange leading to Jalan Maarof since last October is worsening traffic congestion.

In a statement to StarMetro, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said the part of Damansara Link that is closed to traffic is expected to reopen in December.

The road project is to facilitate the construction of a 1.34km three-lane flyover to Jalan Semantan.

A City Hall spokesman said the road project was extended due to several factors, including bad weather and delay in the shipment of materials. The spokesperson advised motorists to use alternative routes in the meantime.

The closure was announced on Oct 28 last year.

The road project was initially slated for completion by the end of this month.

Since the closure, Damansara Link (from Petaling Jaya and Jalan Bukit Kiara) to Jalan Maarof and Jalan Johar has been lined with traffic barriers, especially near the construction area.

Petaling Jaya resident Calyn Ng, 42, has to take a long detour to get to work in Bukit Bintang.

“I used to be able to take the interchange and head towards Jalan Semantan but nowadays, I have to drive through Bangsar,” she said.

Ng said there had been an increase in traffic in Bangsar now that more motorists were using the route.

Bukit Damansara Residents Association president Datuk Sufian Majid urged relevant parties to expedite the project.

“There must be a clear deadline to prevent further delays,” he said.

He also highlighted that parts of the construction zone were poorly lit at night, with some traffic barriers placed haphazardly.

“This is a safety concern,” he said.

Sufian added that nets should be placed to catch possible falling debris from the construction site.


Millennium Welt Kuantan is the latest dealer representative for BMW Motorrad

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia has appointed Millennium Welt as its newest representative for the BMW Motorrad brand in Kuantan and the East Coast Region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “We see great potential for growth in the East Coast for premium motorcycles and Millennium Welt has been a valuable partner for us in delivering the promise for BMW premium experience to our customers in Kuantan.

"We are confident they are the choice dealership to help us further cement our position in the region, now extending the impeccable premium experience to motorcycle enthusiasts in the East Coast as well.”

Owen Riley, Head of BMW Motorrad Malaysia, meanwhile said, “With Millennium Welt Kuantan’s appointment, we look forward to welcoming more riders from the East Coast region to Make Life A Ride. The East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia with its great windy roads down the coast is perfect for motorcycle riding but more importantly, the area delivers over 50 motorcycles annually and has the potential to grow steadily year on year.”

Millennium Welt is no stranger to BMW Group Malaysia with a proven track record as a representative of the brands BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad in Seremban as well as a representative of the BMW brand in Batu Pahat and Kuantan. At the BMW Group Malaysia’s 8th Dealer Awards ceremony held earlier this year, Millennium Welt took home 13 awards, including the BMW Excellence Club Award.

Bryan Wong, Managing Director of Millennium Welt Group of Companies said, “As the official dealership for the BMW brand in Kuantan since 2016, we have built solid credibility with our customers in Pahang and its surrounding areas. Riding on this momentum, we believe the addition of BMW Motorrad to our portfolio of premium vehicles will translate into a higher number of deliveries in the area.”

Millennium Welt Kuantan now offers a wider range of products and services consisting of BMW and BMW Motorrad models, as well as MINI Service.

By consolidating the sales and service of BMW automobiles and BMW Motorrad under one roof, Millennium Welt Kuantan will be able to communicate a more focused brand identity to the market. This also enables BMW to serve its customers more efficiently through a more streamlined channel.

Millennium Welt Kuantan operates from the 28,000 sq ft showroom facility, capable of displaying up to five BMW vehicles and eight BMW Motorrad motorcycles.

The showroom is located at 32, Jalan Teluk Sisek, 25000 Kuantan, Pahang.


Limited-production Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition unveiled from RM158,388

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) has unveiled the new limited-production Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition.

Priced from RM158,388, on-the-road without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia, the pick-up truck comes in two colours of Saber and Absolute Black.

The Ranger WildTrak Sport gets new front grille design, ebony black wing mirrors, black lift handle, black door handles and 18-inch black alloy wheels.

 Turse (left) and Phat Fabes with the Ranger WildTrak Sport.

Inside are new illuminated front scuff plates with logo, leather embossed seats and steering wheel with stitching.

The Ranger WildTrak Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre bi-turbo engine that outputs 213PS and 500Nm of torque mated to 10-speed automatic transmission for on- and off-road performance.

In addition, special edition unit continues to lead the segment with a suite of smart technologies, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning and Assist.

Backed by Ford’s new five-year manufacturer’s warranty or 160,000km (whichever comes first), customers will also get an 18-month free service package for added peace of mind if they purchase the pick-up truck before Dec 31.

The Ranger WildTrak Sport was unveiled at Ford’s first-ever ‘new normal’ roadshow today, running from Dec 8-12 at Ground Floor, Luxe Wing, 1Utama Shopping Centre, here.

Radio DJ, Phat Fabes was the host for this reveal.

“As the country transitions to normalcy, we see the introduction of our new Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition timely, being a perfect addition to our already renowned Ranger portfolio where customers use it for work, family or play,” said SDAC managing director Turse Zuhair.

The first ‘new normal’ roadshow will allow anyone nationwide to be part of the new Ranger WildTrak Sport reveal that is broadcasted from 1Utama via Facebook Live on Ford Malaysia Facebook page.

Customers who book the Ranger WildTrak Sport within the 5-day roadshow will stand a chance to walkaway with a local Getaway, regardless of if they book it at the roadshow or at their nearest Ford Authorised dealership.

The public can also participate in the #FORDeverysecondcount social challenge to win Ford exclusive merchandise.

The #FORDeverysecondcount challenge represents resetting of life’s priorities as the country transitions to normalcy.

The challenge aims to inspire people by asking them to make a montage of 1-second footages expressing the type of life they want to live from now on, and to include the #FORDeverysecondcount and #fordmalaysia hashtags.

To Live the Ranger Life and find out more about the Ranger WildTrak Sport Special Edition, WhatsApp Chat a Ford Ranger Specialist or visit www.sdacford.com.my.


Kia Stinger ready to rumble from RM240K

                KUALA LUMPUR: The arrival of the Kia Stinger marks Naza Kia Malaysia's (the official distributor of the Korean car brand) entry into the sport sedan segment.

Two rear-wheel driven variants are being offered, starting with the entry-level GT-Line that's priced on-the-road without insurance at RM239,888 and is followed by the range-topping V6 GT variant that's similarly riced at RM309,888.

Both variants are offered in four colour choices of Hi Chroma Red, Deep Chroma Blue, Panthera Metal and Aurora Black Pearl.

“The Kia Stinger is the culmination of years of passion and commitment fuelled by the brand’s bold and adventurous spirit to amalgamate nimble performance and unyielding style," said Naza Corporation Holdings group CEO (Automotive Group) Datuk Samson Anand George.

At around 1,700kg (kerb), the GT Line uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged Theta II T-GDi engine producing 251hp at 6,200rpm and 353Nm of torque from 1,400 to 4,000rpm - helping it sprint from 0 to 100kph in 6.0 seconds.

Although weighing at roughly 100kg more at 1,800kg (kerb), the more potent 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 Lambda T-GDi engine produces 365hp at 6,000rpm and 510Nm from 1,300 – 4,500rpm to dispatch the century sprint in just 4.9 seconds.

As standard, an eight-speed second-generation Kia automatic gearbox with shift-by-wire technology and equipped with paddle shifters have been fitted to manage power delivery to the rear wheels.

The transmission (with five driving modes of Smart, Eco, Normal, Sport and Sport+) also features the Korean carmaker's first use of a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) torque converter for the 2.0-litre variant.

This helps to reduce torsional vibrations through the drivetrain - a technology more typically found in aviation and racing-engine applications.

Externally, the Stinger has a 2,905mm wheelbase, while measuring in at 4,830mm-long, 1,870mm-wide and 1,400mm-tall.

The signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille at the front is flanked by LED headlamps, while ‘gills’ have been placed just aft of the front wheel arches to help reduce wake turbulence as air passes over the car’s flanks.

At the rear, the boot is able to hold up to 406-litres of cargo and is capable of accommodating a full-sized luggage or golf bag.

The car has been further equipped with an electronically-controlled suspension system that is made up of a front MacPherson setup with large diameter shock absorbers, high-strength wheel bearings and an aluminium strut brace.

The reinforced five-link rear suspension is mounted to a stiffened rear subframe for greater durability.

Stopping power comes from the quad-piston (front) and dual-piston (rear) calipers that bite down on the 345mm (front) and 330mm (rear) disc brakes - partially hidden by the 18-inch alloys wearing 225/45 series tyres.

The more potent GT gets larger Brembo 350mm (front) and 340mm (rear) disc brakes instead, with grip coming from a set of 19-inch wheels fitted with 225/40 (front) and 255/35 (rear) Continental ContiSportContact 5 tyres.

Inside, LED lights slowly illuminate the blacked-out (red package for GT) cabin that reveals the leather-upholstered seats (Napa leather for GT), colour heads-up display, eight-way powered driver's seat with four-way mechanical lumbar support, flat-bottom multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel and paddle shifters.

Also included is an 8.0-inch floating touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard that provides access to the 15-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system as well as navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, reverse camera and 360-degree camera system

A 7.0-inch TFT LCD landscape cluster display sits between the gauge displays and shows performance data that includes G-forces, lap times and engine-oil temperature (GT variant only) as well as trip computer, driver settings, navigation and diagnostics.

For safety, both Stinger variants have been equipped extensively and includes seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, traction control, cornering brake control, vehicle dynamic control dynamic torque vectoring control hill-start assist, blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning.

“Driven by Kia’s motto ‘The Power to Surprise’, the Kia Stinger ushers in a new era of innovation for the Korean brand while preserving its DNA to deliver the best performance, comfort and features. With that, we believe the Kia Stinger will elevate the brand’s identity and will be a revolutionary benchmark for the future of Kia vehicles,” added Samson.


Maserati to electrify Alfieri, launch new sub-brand for EV models

Maserati Alfieri concept.

MODENA: Despite its models perhaps not being as familiar to most as those from the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari, Maserati is without doubt one of the most evocative and exotic names in the global auto industry.

And the future is sounding extremely bright for the legendary Italian brand after its parent company FCA announced what it has in store for Maserati as part of its latest five-year plan including sporty luxury EVs and powertrains from Ferrari.

The most headline-grabbing part of the plan is the long-delayed new flagship Alfieri sports car going electrified, so there will eventually be hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions of this exciting new model.

 Alfieri Spyder concept.

But there's plenty more for Maserati fans to get worked up about with the arrival of a midsize SUV, all-new versions of the Quattroporte and Levante, and the news that the entire portfolio is set to be electrified by as soon as 2022.

It was also revealed by Maserati chief Tim Kuniskis that Ferrari is actually going to be providing all future powertrains for the new models. That doesn't just mean the internal combustion engines either. Ferrari will be supplying the powertrains for the hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully battery-electric models too. There will also be a new Maserati Blue brand name the fully electric models will be marketed under.

The current plans therefore make provision for a total of four EVs, which will be the Alfieri, an Alfieri cabriolet, and the new versions of the Quattroporte and Levante. All four will be built on a lightweight aluminium modular platform and feature all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, 800-volt battery technology, rapid charging and long driving ranges on a full battery.

Although the Alfieri is yet to be launched, it's a name that may well be quite familiar as it originally made its debut as a 2+2 sports coupe concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

At the time it was intended to have turbocharged Maserati V6 and V8 engines and be rear-wheel drive, but on the way to production the car hit a number of snags and now Maserati has had a complete rethink of the concept.

Even if there's still some time to go before the Alfieri goes on sale it sounds as though it will be worth waiting for as it's predicted to have a top speed of more than 300kph and a 0-100kph time of just 2.0 seconds.


Nissan expands safety feature to more cars

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor Co Ltd has announced that it will expand its innovative Forward Emergency Braking to more models in its lineup.

In Forward Emergency Braking, if the system determines that the odds of collision is high, or that a collision will occur, the warning lamp and buzzer will urge the driver to take evasive action to avoid collision, and if in case the driver is unable to safely decelerate, the emergency brake will automatically apply to avoid or reduce the damage caused by collision.

This represents a major step toward implementing the technology to nearly all of its vehicle categories in Japan, including electric and commercial vehicles, by fiscal 2015.

Developed under Nissan's Safety Shield concept, Forward Emergency Braking is currently available in six models: the Skyline, X-Trail, Serena, Note, DAYZ, and the DAYZ ROOX.

Three of these models—the Skyline, X-Trail and the Note—have been specially recognized for their excellent safety features and were chosen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victim's Aid under its Preventive Safety Performance Assessment program to receive the highest rating possible: the JNCAP ASV+ (Japan New Car Assessment Program, Advanced Safety Vehicle+).

Nissan is aiming to have Autonomous Drive technology phased into practical application by the year 2020.

Plans are to adopt the traffic-jam pilot, allowing safe autonomous drive on highways, by the end of 2016, multiple-lane autonomous drive technology, which autonomously conducts evasive actions and lane changing, by 2018, and intersection autonomous drive, allowing autonomous crossing of cross-roads and intersections without driver intervention, by 2020.

By incorporating Forward Emergency Braking into its models, Nissan is getting closer to offering fully autonomous vehicles, as the company has already started delivering many of the inherent safety technologies that will be featured in them to its customers, such as Forward Emergency Braking, Camera Recognition and Control Automation.

Other non-safety related features have also already made their way into many Nissan models.

These include the Around View Monitor, Intelligent Parking Assist, and the Smart Rearview Mirror.


Mitsubishi Triton Athlete: Verve escalated

                THE Mitsubishi Triton Athlete is the flagship variant but that status doesn’t make it any less of a tough pick-up truck than the lower ranked line-up; what it means is that it would do an equally good job but at a more comfortable pace.

This is our third acquaintance with the Triton in as many years, bar the pandemic “era” when drive impressions as we knew it were almost non-existent, and our first full drive impression with the flagship Triton Athlete.

Our previous dalliance with the Triton was more than two years ago in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, but the fun part over slippery off-road trails was covered in a manual transmission model.

As such, we didn’t gain the benefit of experiencing the Hill Descent Control (HDC) under challenging conditions but only simulated ones in Bangkok a few months earlier in 2018 during the world launch.

The recent media drive to the Janda Baik area was focused on the introduction of the flagship Triton Athlete to replace the previous flag bearer in the Adventure X.

Although the off-road trails were less challenging, despite them being subjected to an overnight rainfall, it gave us a better impression of how the HDC works with the pace being electronically controlled going down a gradient.

The first downhill slope was too mild and the pace was way too slow but subsequent ones were steeper and allowed us to use the Hill Descent Control with absolute confidence.

Selecting Hill Descent Control was simple; come to a stop with the Triton Athlete, move the gearshift to N(eutral) and press the HDC button; the HDC light would come on in the instrument panel and you are good to go.

As usual, we were quite nonplus about why the Triton Athlete in front of us had the brake lamp activated during that manoeuvre; with HDC activated, one is supposed to go downhill without touching the brake pedal.

Our only job was to manoeuvre the pickup with the steering wheel; could it be a lack of confidence by the driver in front?

We found the pace controlled by the vehicle electronics comfortable as we descended the not so slippery gradient and that confidence in the Triton Athlete’s prowess negated the need to step on the brake pedal.

The HDC is part of the Triton’s Super Select 4WD-11 along with selections for gravel terrain and mud or snow; selection must always be done when the pickup is brought to stop, Neutral is engaged and the respective off-road mode is chosen.

This is usually done when four-wheel drive is engaged either in HLc for higher speed runs or LLc (lower speed) for a creeping pace over tough off-road terrain.

Doing it on the fly, as we did once to disengage HDC had the light remaining lit on the instrument panel, albeit to tell us that it was off.

Pressing the button again when the Triton had come to a stop and Neutral was selected did the HDC light goes off.

Over the few mud pools that we came across, driving through them with Mud/Snow mode selected made it less of a slip sliding experience.

We forgot to select Mud/Snow once, leaving the mode in Gravel, and we could feel the Triton squirreling somewhat as the tyres appeared to be hunting for traction over the soft and gooey earth.

When the correct mode was selected, covering the mud sessions was a lot less dramatic as the Triton didn’t slip slide over the slippery surfaces but sailed through with relative ease.

By the way, we were going off-road with on-road tyres but given the conditions in the Janda Baik drive, they performed well up to the mark, even when going up slippery river banks.

The Triton Athlete also took to stream fording with relative ease, given that the stream bed was mostly firm with a rock foundation. In ride comfort, the Triton Athlete lived up to expectations from the driver’s and front seat passenger’s perspective, which is consistent with the experience gained in our Kota Kinabalu off-road excursion.

The rear might be served by leaf springs but they are suitably tuned to offer a reasonably comfortable ride off-road to complement the front wishbones (we could vouch for that too as a rear seat passenger in Sabah).
In manoeuvrability, the best-in-class small turning circle of 11.8m allowed the Triton to make tight turns at one go most of the time, instead of having to stop, reverse and steer through.

For driving comfort, the driver’s seat in the Triton Athlete is electronically selected and there is a host of safety warning systems to remind one of the other traffic that the road is shared with.

The gloss black trim package and rear body decals give the Triton Athlete its tough and macho visual elements to complement its bold front, which is also suitably accented with the black theme.

Power from the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine with Variable Valve Timing was adequate for on- and off-road driving; it delivers 181PS and 430Nm of torque.

The six-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode made driving less of a hassle off-road while on-road gearing was good for effortless but illegal speed cruising on the highways if one wished to tempt the speed radar.

Safety features include Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Auto High Beam (AHB) and seven SRS airbags.

Also available as standard are All-Round Monitor (ARM), Driving Video Recorder (DVR), and an Apple Carplay and Android Auto ready audio system with a 7-inch touchscreen.

The Triton Athlete might cost a pretty penny compared to the “lesser” model variants at RM141,500 (on-the-road without insurance) but is worthwhile option for supervisors to go surveying construction or estate sites in relatively good comfort.


VW Passat Elegance upgraded for 2022

                PETALING JAYA: VW in Malaysia announced this morning that the Passat Elegance has received some upgrades.

New to the facelifted model variant are 18-inch Bonneville alloy wheels and haptic-touch air-cond control.

In addition, wireless Android Auto joins the existing wireless Apple CarPlay to make for a more versatile infotainment setup.

To mark the upgrade, the Passat Elegance now comes with the new Volkswagen badge.

All these come with an RM800 uptick in price to RM183,680.

No change to engine stats. It continues to be powered by a 2.0 TSI turbocharged engine, paired with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG), that produces 187hp and 320Nm of peak torque.


Not possible to abolish toll within 100 days, says EPF chief

                KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to abolish toll collection cannot be achieved within 100 days as outlined in Pakatan Harapan's (PH) manifesto, according to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) CEO Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

He said the government had other priorities in terms of monetary needs to be addressed at this time.

Moreover, the toll abolishment involves a complicated process and various parties.

"We have given some suggestions and ideas (to the government) but ultimately, any toll restructuring is indeed a zero-sum game where one needs to make a payment whether or not it provides a balance between the users and the concessionaires," he told reporters after delivering his keynote address at the Economic and Leadership Forum 2018 here on July 28.

"I think the government also wants to be fair because toll removal and compensation to the concessionaires will transfer the burden to taxpayers, and I think that (being fair) is the priority of the government," he explained.

The EPF has a 49 per cent stake in toll highway operator PLUS Malaysia Bhd, while Khazanah Nasional Bhd's unit UEM Group Bhd owns the remaining equity.

He also said Malaysian investors needed to have confidence in the market and the government, being aware of this, did not want to do anything that could hurt it.

Meanwhile, during the question and answer session, Shahril said the Malaysian economy was expected to remain volatile this year, at least until October.


MIT report suggests that price of EVs won't match traditional vehicles for 10 years

                BOSTON: The MIT Energy Initiative predicts that EVs will not cost the same as petrol-powered models for at least a decade.

MIT's Technology Review reported Tuesday that the sticker prices of EVs aren't likely to match those of their petrol-powered counterparts as long as they're powered by lithium-ion batteries.

This news comes originally from the MIT Energy Initiative, which stated that, "it's likely to take another decade just to eliminate the difference in the lifetime costs between the vehicle categories" due to factors like fuel and maintenance costs.

The lengthy time duration predicted for the disparity in retail pricing will slow the EV revolution and likely result in governments having to push stricter mandates regarding climate pollution in order to encourage quicker adoption of EVs.

The main issue is that the decline in the cost of lithium-ion batteries is expected to lull over upcoming years as they "approach the limits set by the cost of raw materials."

On the contrary, other research groups predict that the prices of EVs and traditional vehicles could be on par with one another within the next five years. These, however, fail to take into account the shifting price of battery constituents when calculating the final battery price.

Lithium-metal, solid-state, and lithium-sulfur batteries could eventually be used as lithium-ion battery alternatives, but it's still too early in the stages of development for all these technologies to definitively determine their potential.

Despite these complications with existing and developing options, the MIT report suggests that the increasing number of automobile manufacturers launching EVs at varying prices will support the revolution and make it accessible for a wider range of clients.


Jay Chou poses with daughter in front of US$1.7mil Koenigsegg

Jay is known to be a sports car enthusiast. — Jay Chou/Instagram
PETALING JAYA: Taiwanese star Jay Chou posted a photo of himself and his daughter, Hathaway, sitting in a Koenigsegg Gemera sports car on Tuesday, drawing much attention from his fans.

The 42-year-old pop star was wearing casual but chic clothes for the occasion while his five-year-old daughter Hathaway, who was sitting in the back seat, was wearing a leather jacket and sported a ponytail.

The caption reads: “My girl thinks this car is good enough.”

Responding to Jay’s post, many said they like his new car too. One commented: “I also think this car is good; Can I be your girl?”

Jay’s record label JVR Music later explained that Chou didn’t buy the car and it was a private visit to try it.

It is reported that the Gemera is limited to 300 units worldwide and is the world’s first four-seater plug-in hybrid sports car. The vehicle costs US$1.7mil (RM6.8mil).

As a car enthusiast, Jay reportedly spent NT$65mil (RM9.3mil) on a Batmobile.

He has shown off several limited edition sports cars in the past few years, and it is estimated that there are at least 20 of them, totalling over NT$500mil (RM72mil).

In December 2018, Jay's actress wife Hannah Quinlivan was reported to have given him a 650hp/850Nm Lamborghini Urus on his 40th birthday.

The Gemera, however, has far more impressive stats. Unveiled in March 2020, the so-called Mega GT has a combined output of 1,700hp and over 2,000Nm of torque. It can seat four tall persons comfortably as the Koenigsegg video above shows. Its hybrid powertrain comprises a 2.0-litre 3-cylinder engine and three electric motors. – The China Post and Taiwan/Asia News Network with additional reporting


BMW Group Malaysia launches Safety 360-degree Program

                CYBERJAYA: BMW Group Malaysia today introduced #SafetyStartsWithYou, a series of Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos directed by BMW Shorties Finalist Mallory Lee, as part of the premium automaker’s annual BMW Safety 360º Program.

Featuring children between the ages of 4 to 9 years old, the series serves as a reminder to adults to be safer on the roads, especially this Hari Raya when the Balik Kampung season starts, highlighting some of the most basic road rules, etiquette and practices to stay safe on the road. The series includes five 30-second videos promoting the use of seat belts and child car seats, signal indicators, as well as adhering to the traffic light, speed limit and not using phones while driving.

Former Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai revealed that in 2016, a total of 7,152 people died in road accidents in the country where 80.6% of which were caused by human error .

According to the current Transport Minister Anthony Loke, a total of 6,740 road fatalities were registered in 2017.

The World Health Organization for 2013 also reported that Malaysia ranked the third highest globally for road-related deaths.

#SafetyStartsWithYou highlights some of the most common causes of road accidents including:

1. Distracted driving: #DontTextandDrive
According to MIROS, the use of mobile phones while driving is a contributing factor to road crashes among motorists in Klang Valley. A study reported that 43.4% use their phones while driving, 61.9% when stopped at red lights, and 53.6% when in traffic jams1. Although more than 80% agreed that using phones while driving can increase the risk of crash involvement and reduce the driver’s ability and concentration2, distracted driving is a cause that many are guilty of. The “#DontTextandDrive” episode reminds us that the road requires our full attention and that no call, message or notification is too important. It can wait until you reach your destination.

2. Non-observance of speed limit and traffic lights: #LimitYourSpeed and #SlowAtYellow
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) announced that in 2017, it issued 11,556 summonses for speeding and 1,540 for beating the red light in just five days of implementing the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) and Demerit Points for Traffic Offences System (Kejara)2. By December 2017, JPJ has issued 417,684 traffic summonses comprising of speeding and traffic light offences3. These offences will be highlighted in two episodes respectively with a key reminder that patience makes a difference between life and death.

3. Changing lanes and signal indicators: #FlipToSaveLives

Many of us are guilty of not using our signal indicators before turning or changing lanes. This is one of the many behaviours in reckless driving. As seen in an episode of #SafetyStartsWithYou, the use of signal indicators is easily re-enacted by children. It is hard to understand why it is one of the most neglected responsibilities by many drivers. The simple act of flipping the signal indicator can avoid accidents like being rear-ended, sideswiped, or t-boned by a car.

4. Child car seats: #TimeForChildSeatsNow
The BMW Safety 360° Program has made child car seats its central focus for the pass few years and will continue to advocate for the use and correct installation of child safety restraints. According to the World Health Organization, if correctly installed and used, child safety restraints in automobiles can reduce infant death in car crashes by 71% and toddler deaths by 54%1. More so, it has been a prevalent fact that about 73% of fatal accidents involving children were caused by parents neglecting safety5. In the #TimeForChildSeatsNow, parents are reminded that they should not wait for a law requiring children to be placed in child car seats. Instead, parents should recognise that this is an important move to make if they are truly thinking about the safety of their children.

The #SafetyStartsWithYou series was directed by Mallory Lee who directed the winning short film for BMW Shorties 2017 People’s Choice Award, “Gold! There’s Gold in the River”.

Mallory was also a BMW Shorties Finalist in 2014 with “A Gift” and a nominee for several BMW Shorties 2014 supporting awards with the short film “Hello Angel”.

Harald Hoelzl, managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, said, “For more than a decade now, the BMW Shorties has been a tremendous success in its aim to discover and develop talent for the film industry. Our winners have grown from aspiring film talents to well sought-after filmmakers in the industry.”


Full report on Honda HR-V drive in Chiangmai

Honda's  success with the CR-V (Comfortable Runabout Vehicle) that had seen its sales outperforming that of cars in the US market last year, among strong achievements in other markets, has led the carmaker to look down the line. That is, a compact version to expand the market potential further.

This has spawned the creation of an all-new model, the Honda Vezel, which was displayed at the Tokyo International Motor Show 2013 before being sold in Japan.

For markets outside Japan, Honda decided to give the Vezel Crossover or SUV (sports utility vehicle) a different name based on feedback from the regions that its range of vehicles are sold.

The name HR-V (which Honda Malaysia wants to interpret as Hip & smart Runabout Vehicle) was eventually chosen although this model is not a direct evolution of the earlier model, which had a model span of about seven years (1999-2006).

The new HR-V is developed from the extended floorpan of the Jazz and City while the earlier model was developed from a different platform (that of the Honda Logo, a compact hatchback sold in Japan).

This has given the HR-V a wheelbase of 2,610mm or 10mm longer than the current Jazz although by body dimension, the HR-V is a much bigger vehicle being a Crossover.

It would be more relevant to see how compact it is against the CR-V although the HR-V is only 10mm shorter in wheelbase: at 4,294mm in length, the HR-V is 296mm shorter, 48mm narrower at 1,772mm in width and 80mm shorter in height at 1,605mm.

More importantly, it is lighter too, varying from 1,255kg to 1,292kg depending on models,against the CR-V that ranges from 1,490kg to 1,560kg.

That is because the HR-V is designed to be powered by a smaller displacement engine of 1.8-litre, this being the one similar to that in the Civic 1.8: a four-cylinder single overhead camshaft 16-valve engine with i-VTEC (intelligent variable valve timing).

The Thai version is rated at 141PS at 6,500rpm and 172Nm at 4,300rpm, while the HR-V for the Malaysian market would be tuned differently to accommodate the lower Euro fuel quality and thus has slight power output differences.

Honda Malaysia is opting for the front-wheel drive model although the AWD (all-wheel drive) variant may be brought in later if there is a demand for it while the transmission is the continuously variable transmission (CVT).

We were part of the Malaysian media team that was given a “teaser” drive in three variants of the HR-V in Thailand, covering slightly more than 220km on a roundtrip between Chiangmai and to Chiangrai.

It takes on an individual look that should stand the HR-V out on its own against the CR-V and give it the ‘hip’ image that might appeal to the younger group that is targeted at.

The sharper waistline adds a more aggressive stance and we like the way the rear door handles are located; at C-pillar or the point where the door tapers towards the C-pillar.

We recalled having seen this door handle location on the Alfa-Romeo 156 model and this styling should still be a nice novelty today.

Stepping inside, we were impressed by the roomy interior: even if there is a tall driver or front passenger and the seat is adjusted to its rearmost, we found the legroom still good when sitting at the rear.

The rear 50:50 split seatrests also came with some limited tilt (or rake) adjustment to make travelling that little bit more comfortable for the rear folks.

Another useful feature is the High Deck Centre Console with Storage space, which although is not entirely new in concept, it does offer merit in keeping items such as handphones out of sight from thieving eyes.

On the other hand, it might not be as easy to reach without taking your eyes off the road and that can be a safety issue.

With the better power-to-weight advantage the HR-V enjoys over the CR-V (1.8 to 2.0-litre model), the uptake of speed on accelerator input is generally quicker, especially during overtaking.

The CVT roar, which is a characteristic of its design, might have intruded into the passenger compartment during hard acceleration but it was largely tolerable.

For normal driving, the CVT operation stayed quiet and best of all, smooth in moving from ‘gear to gear’ as it is electronically selected.

We like the way that the CVT is engineered to “downshift” when we lift the foot off the accelerator when approaching a tight corner or slower traffic.

There was no hard retardation but a gentle slowing down motion that provided for smooth coasting without needing to hit the brakes, unless we had to for some reason or other.

The one-touch turn indicator was also a useful feature: just tap on the indicator either up or down as per the direction you want to go and the appropriate side indicators will blink for a short while to tell others of your intention.

Good body aerodynamics also speak volumes as we could converse without raising our voices (we had three on board) at speeds beyond 140kph.

We could hardly hear the wind turbulence - either front or rear - which was being generated around the body and this experience was a strong testament to its good insulation from external noises.

For the winding stretches, some of which were taken at a quick trot, the HR-V displayed a steady footing with little body roll, shoring up our confidence although we were driving on unfamiliar territory.

Interesting features include the auto brake hold feature.

Once selected, it will hold the brakes when you come to a stop in a stop-and-crawl situation, releasing them when you step on the accelerator.

The HR-V also comes with Electric Parking Brake that is activated and deactivated through a button on the base of the gearshift console.

At the time of the drive, we were not told of the price but were left speculating on what could be an attractive one between that of the top City model and the Civic.

With few peers in the market, Honda Malaysia could just be on the roll again in 2015 with the HR-V, adding strongly to its ambition to sell 85,000 cars.

Bookings had been said to be most encouraging (running into the hundreds) during the pre-launch road shows, especially when the price is not even known yet.


2018 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards: Volvo XC60 T8 is Car of the Year

The Volvo team celebrating after their XC60 plug-in hybrid was crowned the 2018 Car of the Year.
PETALING JAYA: Volvo Car Malaysia won top honours at the 2018 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards with the Volvo XC60 T8 premium compact SUV (sport utility vehicle) taking the coveted “Car of the Year” title.

The fuel efficient 2.0-litre XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid priced at RM343,888 (flagship Inscription Plus variant) also won the Best Mid-size Luxury SUV/Crossover and Best Hybrid Vehicle categories.

The second-generation Volvo XC60 T8 features a clean, attractive Scandinavian exterior and a thoughtfully designed and detailed, roomy interior and is fully loaded with high-end materials, top safety technologies and a powerful, smooth powertrain.

Another Volvo plug-in hybrid, namely the 2.0-litre S90 T8 luxury sedan clinched the Best Mid-size Luxury Executive Car and Most Well-Specced Mid-size Luxury Executive Car awards.

Award judges were impressed by the competitive prices, premium features and innovative safety technologies that Volvo Cars are renowned for as well as the refined driving qualities of both plug-in hybrids from the Swedish marque.

The first and second runners-up for the “Car of the Year” award were the Mazda CX-5 2.5 GLS and Peugeot 3008 respectively.

This is the third edition of the awards, organised by Star Media Group, that honour the best passenger vehicles in the market and recognise the automotive industry as one of the key pillars of the economy.

READ MORE:
2018 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards: Why cars won
2018 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards in pictures Transport Minister Anthony Loke (fourth from right, back row) with Star Media Group management as well as heads of companies and senior executives from the automotive industry at the 2018 Carsifu Editors' Choice Awards. - GLENN GUAN/The Star Volvo's Stegland highlighting the winning features of the XC60 plug-in hybrid after the SUV took CarSifu's 'Car of the Year' title.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Lennart Stegland received the “Car of the Year” trophy from Transport Minister Anthony Loke at a gala dinner yesterday at Dorsett Grand Subang hotel.

For the awards, a total of 54 vehicles were nominated across 32 categories.

Petron Malaysia is the official fuel partner while Toyo Tires and Silverstone are official tyre partners for both the 2018 CarSifu Auto Show and Editors’ Choice Awards.

Dorsett Grand Subang hotel is the venue sponsor for the 2018 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards.

Another big winner was the Mercedes-Benz S 450 L luxury sedan which won two awards - Best Large-size Luxury Executive Car and Most Well-Specced Large-size Luxury Executive Car.

Mercedes-Benz cars also won another two awards, namely Best Business Ride by the Mercedes-Maybach S 560 and Best Luxury Lifestyle Coupe/Cabriolet by the Mercedes-Benz S 560 Cabriolet.

Mazda cars were also notable winners, with the Best Mid-size SUV/Crossover going to the Mazda CX-5 2.5 GLS, Most Well-Specced Large-size Car won by the Mazda6 2.5 GLS and finally, Most Well-Specced Large-size SUV/Crossover clinched by the Mazda CX-9.

Naza Kia Malaysia was also proud that the Korean marque's Picanto won the Best Economy Car (1.3-litre and below) while the Kia Stinger 2.0 GT-Line took the Best Large-size Car award.


Mercedes-Benz attempts to lure in buyers with 48-hour test drives

                LONDON: Following in the footsteps of Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz has introduced 48-hour test drives in Britain.

The longer period is to enable "customers to experience their potential new car in the real world", said Mercedes-Benz in a statement.

However, the extended test-drive offer only runs until July 31. In Volkswagen's case, its 48-hour test drive is ongoing and limited to the e-Golf electric car.

The Mercedes-Benz's 48-hour test drive initiative excludes AMG models, the new GLE, the new A-Class sedan and V-Class Marco Polo.

In the A-Class, B-Class and CLA, customers can experience the all-new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, with a touchscreen interface and "Hey Mercedes" which uses intelligent voice recognition to control key features.

"Our retailer partners offer this extended test drive exclusively to our customers, and it allows them to experience one of our latest cars on their terms," said Mercedes-Benz Cars UK marketing director Rob Halloway.


Jan 19-25: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol, and diesel will remain unchanged for the Jan 19-25 period.

The Finance Ministry said today that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

"To protect consumers from the effects of a rise in global oil prices, the government has maintained RON95 petrol at the ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre although the retail prices of the two products have exceeded the set ceiling prices," it said.

The weekly retail prices are set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Motion Simulation Room redefines full-motion simulator

                LONDON: Motion Simulation Room, owned by Motion Simulation, has opened a new facility to house its latest first-of-its-kind full-motion race simulator in the United Kingdom (UK) that promises to provide a unique race car driving simulator experience unlike anything before to the public.

Located on the Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire, England, a minimum payment of £15 (RM90) to Motion Simulation Room allows users a short practice session (membership packages available) - so long as they're of a minimum height of 150cm

Each of the six full motion TL3 simulators are capable of generating up to twice earth's gravity (2G) of acceleration and are able to produce life-like movement across the three axis of yaw, pitch and roll.

The hand-built simulators utilise the world's first spherical screen that's 2,134mm-tall and has a 200-degree wrap-around effect to deliver visuals from a six million pixel image for an unbelievably realistic and immersive driving experience.

It also features professional race pedals, controls, full force-back steering and at the press of a button, the cockpit becomes fully-adjustable, allowing the driving position to be altered from that of a Formula 1 to a GT or road car - something no other simulation centres can currently offer.

In order to create the simulator, the company took five years to design, test and collaborate with simulation experts, international race teams (including a Formula1 world championship team), commercial and ex-military pilots.

The founder of both companies, Johnathan Bell, said that although Motion Simulation has been providing simulators to race teams over the last few years, he now wants to provide everyone with the opportunity to experience it at Motion Simulation Room.

Users can experience the world’s most famous race circuits, and there will be a variety of sessions available to suit driver experience and ability.

Be it a solo race-session or among a group of friends/colleagues, there will be a lap time leader board available that shows the fastest circuit times among others.

Through its parent company, Motion Simulation Ltd, the company uniquely designs and manufactures its own simulators – meaning that the design and functionality is cutting edge and always sets new standards in driving experience.

Both companies were founded by , an ex-racing car owner and driver, with a deep understanding of car set up and design innovation.

"With track days and circuit hire becoming unrealistically expensive for many people now, our facility offers the perfect chance to experience a range of exciting race cars, safely and conveniently,” said Bell.

For more information, log on to www.motionsimulationroom.com


Facelifted Isuzu MU-X seven-seater SUV debuts

                SERDANG: Isuzu Malaysia unveiled the new, facelifted MU-X seven-seater SUV which comes in two variants - 2.5L 4x2 and 2.5L 4x4 - and is priced at RM176,640.40 and RM183,000.40 respectively.

All prices are on-the-road inclusive of GST without insurance.

The vehicle was launched at the inaugural History Convention 2017 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) today.

 From left, executive director of Isuzu Malaysia, Hajime Machimura and chief executive officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Kenji Matsuoka.

Present at the launch was Education Deputy Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan, chief executive officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Kenji Matsuoka and executive director of Isuzu Malaysia, Hajime Machimura among others.

“Our vehicles have always been designed on our three key principals in fuel efficiency, reliability and durability. The thousands of hours spent by our engineers in refining the MU-X has resulted in this pinnacle engine build, and enable us to provide 5 years unlimited mileage warranty,” said Matsuoka.

The new facelifted MU-X now features:
a new facade with blue spectrum bi-LED projector headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights and auto levellingsoft touch interiorwood pattern panel door trimquilt pattern leather seats6 airbagsHill Descent Control18in wheels

The powertrain consists of the 2.5 liter VGS Turbo Intercooler diesel engine mated to a 5-speed automatic which delivers 136PS and 320Nm of torque.

Safety-wise the MU-X features:
anti-lock braking system (ABS)Traction Control SystemElectronic Stability ControlElectronic Brakeforce DistributionBrake AssistHill Start Assist (HSA)
Entertainment-wise, all variants now come with 8 speakers.

The 4x4 variant comes with an 8in DVD touchscreen while the 4x2 variant has a 7in DVD touchscreen.

The MU-X comes in four colours:
Havana Brown MicaSilky White PearlTitanium Silver MetallicCosmic Black Mica


Pos Malaysia to resume road tax, driving licence renewals from Monday

                KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia will resume road tax and driving licence renewals at all its post offices from Monday by appointment.

It said that customers can book an appointment through the Outlet Finder feature at www.pos.com.my or Pos Malaysia's mobile application starting today, adding that the appointment was necessary to avoid overcrowding at their premises.

"A customer is permitted to book only one appointment slot per day and perform a maximum of three transactions per appointment,” it said in the statement on Saturday.

Pos Malaysia also urged customers to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as wearing a face mask, checking body temperature, scanning of MySejahtera code and observing the one-metre physical distancing rule at the premises and avoid visiting its outlets if they were feeling unwell or experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.

Customers can also extend their enquiries to AskPos on www.pos.com.my or via their Pos Malaysia mobile application.


New Porsche Panamera fast and refined

                The Porsche Panamera has been a marvel the day it was launched in April 2009 at the Shanghai International Automobile Show; it had to uphold the sports car tradition that Porsche is established for, yet provide the luxury in ride to fulfil its four-door coupé expectations.

It was Porsche’s attempt to gain a strong foothold in China where the customers generally prefer four-door cars and this huge market potential persuaded the sports carmaker to go against the grain by introducing the Panamera, much to the dismay of purists.

Now with the second generation model, which has grown bigger, Porsche continues to extol the Panamera’s extraordinary qualities with the Two Trails drive in Taiwan, particularly in the touristy Sun Moon Lake area.

The Two Trails drive was organised for the regional media to highlight the contrasting qualities continued in the latest Panamera in terms of performance and luxury.

It was held in Taiwan because this country was the first, apart from China, in the Asia Pacific region to receive this model.

While the basic body profile does not look like it has deviated much from the old, significant detail changes were made to add a fresh perspective to the second generation model.

Based on the extended 911 styling concept, Porsche says the latest Panamera was ‘redesigned and redeveloped to the last detail’.

The shape of the headlamps is fuller and more rounded but what gives it a novel touch are the new four-point LED (light emitting diode) daytime running lights; the main lights are also LEDs.

Underlining the front is the lower apron that is provided in a singular matt black finish to provide an open jaw look, which tends to heighten the car’s sporty appeal.

It is said the rear plays an equally important role in immediate visual recognition of the car and the new rear light cluster design works well to this effect; the slimmer clusters connected by a thin LED strip, which stands out more at night, stamps its individual impression.

Dimensionally, the second-generation Panamera is 34mm longer at 5,049mm, 6mm wider at 1,937mm and 5mm taller at 1423mm.

An interesting note is that the characteristic dynamic roof line is achieved by reducing the section towards the rear by 20mm without sacrificing good headroom for rear passengers.

A more significant change is the wheelbase of 2,950mm, which is longer by 30mm due to the front wheels being moved further forward, reducing the front overhang for a more prestigious dimension.

More sections of the body, including the bonnet, boot roof and wings, are made entirely of aluminium and the side windows are redesigned to create a stylistic affinity with the Porsche 911.

Stepping inside the new Panamera, which continues to seat only four with the centre console running into the rear seats, the new touch is the digitalisation of the Porsche interior that began with the 918 Spyder.

One could configure the central 12.3-inch touchscreen according to his needs and the air-cond is activated via this accessory; no more switches and rotary dials.

The instrument panel features a central dial with smaller overlapping ones; taking central role is the tachometer that remains an analogue item while the others are digital.

For the Two Trails drive, two Porsche Panamera models were provided; the Panamera rear-wheel drive and the Panamera 4S all-wheel drive.

The Panamera is powered by an existing 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged power unit that delivers 330PS from 5,400 to 6,400rpm and 450Nm of torque developing early from 1,340rpm and holding till 4,900rpm.

Channelling that output to the rear wheels is an eight-speed PDK automatic with paddle shifters for the option of manually selecting the gears.

The all-wheel drive Panamera 4S gets the new 2.9-litre V6 biturbo engine or more specifically, a turbocharger for the top-end and supercharger for low-end performance.

Despite a slightly smaller engine displacement, the output is higher with 440PS at 5,650rpm to 6,600rpm and 550Nm torque that peaks at a higher 1,750rpm and plateaus till 5,500rpm.

It is also supported by an eight-speed PDK automatic transmission with the engine output being channelled to the respective wheel as and when the driving dynamics require it.

Porsche gives an idea of the Panamera 4S performance as 4.4-second 0-100kph sprint and 289kph top speed and the Panamera’s as 5.7 seconds and 264kph.

Whatever the claims may be, on the road these Panamera four-door coupés are fast as they should be in the Porsche tradition as we discovered in the two drives that we had the pleasure of.

The morning session was for us to enjoy the luxury side of the new Panamera, taking mostly to the highways, and we started with the Panamera 4S.

When the dynamic setting was in Normal mode, we felt a bit of body roll driving through the twisty bits but when the Sport setting was selected, the new Panamera felt like the Porsche that we had expected it to be.

We affirmed that strong dynamic quality of this Porsche when we had to pass an unladen truck that was being driven quickly in the winding sections; we had to exceed 100kph to do so but the Panamera felt as firmly rooted to stoke confidence.

During the driver change, we checked out the rear seat to see if it was comfortable and we were not disappointed.

While the car rolled nicely over bumps in Normal mode, it was only slightly firmer in Sport and good ride comfort was still enjoyed.

This was clearly a four-seater as the legroom and headroom, along with elbow room, were generous to measure up nicely to its luxury image.

The afternoon session was the fun one as we drove around the Sun Moon Lake or some 30km of twisty winding roads a la Cameron Highlands at fast speeds when the roads were clear of traffic.

Although both the drives were done convoy style, the pace Macan GTS led us on a full trot where possible to allow us to explore the Panamera’s high dynamic qualities.

We had switched to the rear-wheel drive Panamera for the second session and we couldn’t have enjoyed driving this Porsche more.

The electric steering gave us adequate directional feel to charge confidently into a corner, steer through it and power out to the next one.

For some reason, we found the Panamera a more confident car to drive through the bends than the more powerful Panamera 4S.

Power delivery was more immediate as we could feel the turbocharged V6 unleashing its high torque output to give us good traction for the tight turns, save for some front tyre squeals to echo the exuberance.

The Panamera 4S was by comparison a little more laidback in power flow and it seemed to upshift quicker, probably because it was meant to be luxurious in feel.

The Porsche Stability Management system also made the Panamera a nimble car through the corners as if we were driving the Cayman.

Both Panamera models had 265/45 ZR19 tyres in front and 295/40 ZR tyres at the rear although the Panamera 4S we drove came shod with Goodyear Eagle tyres and the Panamera ran on Pirelli P Zero.

Models aside, the new Panamera is every bit a Porsche should be in the dynamic drive category and just as comfortable as you would expect of a four-door Coupé.

We also had a chauffeured night drive to gauge the new headlight technology, in particular the night vision assistant that uses a thermal imaging camera to detect people and large animals and display a colour warning indicator.

The Panamera and Panamera 4S have been available in Malaysia since last month, costing RMRM890,000 and RM1.1mil respectively.


Catch the Nissan GT-R Heritage exhibition

                PETALING JAYA: In conjunction with the motorsports theme, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) is showcasing the GT-R Heritage Exhibition at ETCM Jalan Raja Laut from Sept 23 to Oct 2, 2016 with the aim to ignite the motorsport spirit and to recognize the years the Nissan GT-R have been the flagship as the brand’s performance vehicle.

The highlight of the GT-R Heritage is the display of three motorsport legends - the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33, R34, and GT-R R35. As the icon for Nissan, the GT-R has achieved fame and success on both the road and track.

Taking a closer look at the cars, visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view one of the 250 units of limited edition Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 M-Spec Nur that was built and design to commemorate the success of the Nissan GT-R R34.

Coinciding with the motorsports spirit, ETCM today carried out the Prize Giving Ceremony for the Central Region winner, 35-year old Kavitha A/P Rajamanikam, who bought a Nissan Almera 1.5E AT at ETCM Jalan Raja Laut during the “Passion to Win” Campaign.

 Kavitha (second from left) and Ang (second from right) at the prize giving ceremony.

The campaign enables five lucky winners who purchased and registered a Nissan in August, as well as a lucky winner for the Facebook caption contest to have the opportunity for an all-expense paid trip to the 2016 Super GT Round 7 in Buriram, Thailand.

The remaining winners are Jefery Fernandez A/L Freddy, who bought a Nissan Almera 15E AT; Rossuriana Binti Busu, who bought the Nissan X-Trail 2.0L; Wong Yun Kang, who bought the Serena S-Hybrid; and Chua Yew Kwang who bought the Nissan X-Trail 2.5L, whilst Ong E-Laine won the Facebook “Passion to Win” caption contest.

"On behalf of ETCM, I would like to thank all our customers for the support that they have given us. The great response we received in our August Campaign has motivated us to extend and further uplift the Nissan Motorsports spirit with the showcase of the GT-R Heritage Exhibition at ETCM Jalan Raja Laut (KL) showroom.

Keeping our customers happy is a priority for us, and with the Super GT Thailand Trip, we hope to delight our lucky owners with such a thrilling experience”, said ETCM Executive Director Datuk Dr Ang Bon Beng.

Members of the public are invited to visit our showroom at ETCM Raja Laut (KL) to explore the GT-R Heritage Exhibition.

For more information, visit this website.