Bike bridge with underfloor heating unveiled in German city

                TUEBINGEN (Germany: Bicycles in south-western Germany are destined for untold luxury: a heated bridge for cyclists only.

One of the world's first bike bridges with underfloor heating has opened in the city of Tuebingen, allowing cyclists to ride across more safely in winter conditions, the city's mayor, Boris Palmer, said, unveiling the steel construction in late July before cycling over it himself.

While heated roads, paths and bridges are not unheard of, and are increasingly being considered in places with heavy traffic and harsh winter conditions, the city's heated bike bridge is a rare sight for cyclists.

In fact, the specialists at the German Cyclists' Club (ADFC) are not aware of any heated bicycle bridge ever having been built before.

Cities across Europe and elsewhere have been rapidly improving their cycling infrastructure, notably with protected bicycle lanes, during a surge in cycling during the pandemic.

However this kind of ice-resistant path is a cut above the rest.

"Heated bridges for cyclists make sense," an ADFC spokesman said. "Road salt cannot eliminate icy roads 100 per cent. It also attacks the bridges."

A further two heated bridges are also set to be built by 2025 as part of what the mayor calls a "super cycle path network" across the city.

"The first cycle bridge marks the beginning of a new era for cycling in Tuebingen," he said, pointing to inspiration from Copenhagen's efforts to make cycling more comfortable than driving a car.

The costs for the first of three planned bridges are about €1.7 million (RM8.5mil), with €22,000 (RM110,000) for the heating elements.

Although the construction of a bridge comes with its own massive carbon footprint, Palmer says this bridge - about 35 metres long and 4 metres wide - is more environmentally friendly than others.

"A bridge like this is a very big CO2 expense. You have to calculate about 500 tonnes of CO2 for the production of this steel bridge. Therefore, the service life is decisive for the CO2 footprint," the environmentalist politician said on Facebook.

Road salt is known to considerably reduce the lifespan of bridges. Defrosting with heating elements, meanwhile, hardly costs any electricity, 70 per cent of which comes from renewable energies in Tuebingen anyway, Palmer said.

With this bridge, he said, the bicycle becomes an "all-season means of transport."

The city administration hopes the bridge will last much longer together with acceptable installation and maintenance costs, and expects that about a quarter of all journeys within the city will be made by bicycle.


Mazda MX-5 is 2016 World Car of the Year in historic double win

                HIROSHIMA: The Mazda MX-5 has been named as the 2016 World Car of the Year as well as World Car Design of the Year award.

It is the first time in the history of the awards that a single model has taken both titles.

The MX-5 is the second Mazda to win the design award, following the Mazda2 in 2008. The third-generation MX-5 was one of three finalists for the same award in 2006, as was the Mazda3 in 2014

Launched globally in 2015, the MX-5 has found favour with customers, thanks to its vastly reduced curb weight, human-centered design and “Jinba-ittai” fun-to-drive feel.

READ MORE: CarSifu reviews MX-5

The new MX-5 has won over 30 awards so far, including 2015-2016 Car of the Year Japan and 2016 UK Car of the Year.

The retractable hardtop version of the model, MX-5 RF, made its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show.

“As our iconic MX-5 roadster approaches one-million units of production, these awards are proof that it is as young, vibrant, fun and relevant as ever, and proof that every Mazda looks as incredible as it drives, and drives as incredibly as it looks. While I accept this award on behalf of the company, I do so representing every Mazda employee, retail partner and customer around the world who has ever felt the joy of driving a pure roadster," said  Mazda managing executive officer Masahiro Moro.


Yes! We want speed cameras on Penang Bridge, say motorists

                GEORGE TOWN: The proposal by the government to have Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras on the Penang Bridge to reduce accidents has drawn overwhelming support from the public.

Some respondents said it was a better idea to have speed cameras than to raise the railings on the bridge to prevent cars from falling into the sea during accidents.

Engineer Kesavan Nair, 37, who travels frequently between Bakar Arang in Sungai Petani and the Penang island, said it was common to see cars speeding at 100kph although the speed limit on the bridge was only 80kph.

“Even when I take the bridge at 11pm, there are still cars going fast. It’s high time to enforce AES as it could prevent speeding along the bridge,” he said yesterday.

Marketing and communications executive Logeiswary Thevadass, who stays in Butterworth but works in George Town, said AES could deter motorists from speeding.

“The speeding does not happen during peak hours as there is heavy traffic. It usually occurs at around midnight when there are fewer cars. They are not only putting their lives at risk but innocent lives too,” she said.

Senior technician Mohd Khairul Anuar said most motorists do not observe the speed limit on the bridge at around midnight.

“Some drivers go very fast. It can be quite scary watching them zoom past,” he said.

After the death of a college student whose car plunged from the Penang bridge after being hit by a speeding car, the Transport Ministry and highway concessionaire PLUS are in talks to install speed cameras along the bridge and on other highways nationwide.

PLUS had previously said it would submit a proposal to the authorities to install speed cameras on all six expressways under its jurisdiction, including on the Penang Bridge.

At present, only CCTVs are installed on the bridge.

Penang Consumers Protection Association president Datuk Koris Setan welcomed the AES proposal, which he said was more effective than raising the guardrail parapet.


BMW reveals 2 Series Gran Tourer

                MUNICH: BMW has put its luxury touch onto its new compact seven-seater 2 Series Gran Tourer that offers a minimum of 645 litres of luggage space, five turbo engine variants and all-wheel drive.

Despite the Gran Tourer measuring 4,556mm-long, 1,800mm-wide and 1,608mm-high, the luggage compartment that can be expanded from 645 to 805 litres with the rear seat slid all the way forward or 1,905 litres when folded down.

BMW will be offering five engine variants for the 2 Series Gran Tourer and its four variants, starting with the Advantage model which comes with a two-zone automatic air conditioning system, park distance control, cruise control with braking function and a multifunctional steering wheel.

The Sport Line model accentuates gets owners exclusive exterior specifications such as special light-alloy wheels and sports seats, whereas the Luxury Line gets chrome applications, select light-alloys and leather appointments.

Lastly, the M Sport model comes with a choice of the M Aerodynamics package, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, M leather steering wheel and M Sport seats to name a few.

To go along with the Gran Tourer’s xDrive all-wheel drive system are BMW’s three and four-cylinder engines that will range in power output from 114bhp to 190bhp.

The Gran Tourer will also have access to BMW’s EfficientDynamics package to allow owners to raise the sporty dynamics of the car.

Other additional features include BMW’s ConnectedDrive, head-up display, Traffic Jam Assistant, “myKIDIO” app (initially available in Germany only), iDrive Controller, Control Display and BMW Kids Cockpit.


Used car marketplace MUV launches website

KUALA LUMPUR: MUV has unveiled its new brand and tagline "Dare to Move", in conjunction with the launch of its new website www.muv.com.my catering to dealers, companies and consumers alike.

MUV, a company under the Tan Chong Group, empowers buyers and sellers with full information, transparency and convenience to change the used vehicle buying and selling experience. Aside from offering a platform for buying and selling used Nissan cars, MUV is also a marketplace for cars of all other brands.

Available on both Apple and Google app stores (B2B only) and the website (consumers, corporations and dealers), MUV provides online dashboards for users detailing vital information on vehicles such as their inspection report, mileage, value and ratings. The mobile app also enables dealers to bid straight from their own mobile devices.

For dealers, the MUV website and mobile app offer users the tools to view, assess and bid for vehicles in real-time. Vehicles are physically available for viewing at MUV Xchange Hubs located at its headquarters in Seri Kembangan, Bayan Lepas and Johor Jaya.

Successful bidders can drive away with their purchase within seven working days once payment has been made.

 Buying and selling used cars is designed to be simple and hassle-free under the MUV concept.

For consumers, Quick Sell@Garage provides a hassle-free way to sell their vehicles directly to MUV. Alternatively, they can sell their vehicles on the MUV Xchange Platform that enables them to get the highest possible price through competitive bidding.

Both options will require the consumer to undergo a 30-minutes free appraisal to obtain an estimated value. In the appraisal, MUV will conduct a 180-point check and advise them on a reserve price to set for bidding.

Sellers typically get 5% to 10% more than the reserve price, said MUV Marketplace Sdn Bhd founder Nicholas Tan, adding that MUV has a huge amount of data of historical used car prices and recent transacted values.

"We have testimonials from happy customers who got more than what they expected from selling their cars."

Since it was set up in July 2013. MUV said it has sold more than RM260mil worth of used vehicles, ran 50 auctions for more than 11,000 vehicles with a hit rate of 75%. MUV has hubs in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor that are capable of housing more than 2,000 vehicles and seating 350 buyers altogether.

 Tan announcing the launch of the MUV marketplace for buying and selling used cars of various makes.

"The used vehicle industry is ripe for disruption. If you look at it, there's billions invested in the new vehicle space and very little in the used vehicle space. We wanted to create a level playing field, a marketplace that brings the openness of information technology with the physical ecosystem of a marketplace - nationwide," said Tan.

The event also saw the launch of MUV's CSR initiative, which unconventionally revolved around animal rescue.

The campaign identified five independent animal rescuers and will sponsor them every month for a year in their efforts to rescue, spay, nurture and shelter abandoned animals.


BMW S 1000 XR and R 1200 RS hits town

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Motorrad Malaysia has unveiled the new BMW S 1000 XR and the R 1200 RS which promise to raise the benchmark for local sports, touring and adventure motorcycles.

The S 1000 XR is powered by a 999cc straight-four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with 160hp and 112Nm torque that delivers a punchy response at low and medium revs.

The twin headlights provided not only high lighting power but also gave the new S 1000 XR its unmistakable face.

The new adventure sport bike can additionally be specified with an optional LED daytime running light positioned in the centre between the two headlight units.

It also comes with riding modes of “Rain” and “Road,” as well as Automatic Stability Control (ASC) featured as standard.

Together with the standard Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), these features allow riders to fully enjoy the motorcycle’s performance with a high degree of riding safety.

The extra ABS Pro function goes a step further to make braking safer while cornering while the latest generation electronically controlled suspension system improves ride quality .

Meanwhile, the R 1200 RS gets a 1,170cc boxer engine using air/liquid cooling that produces 125hp and 125Nm of torque.

The R 1200 RS blends the touring qualities and comfort features of a BMW boxer tourer with the agility and dynamism of a BMW boxer sports bike.

Its seat is ergonomically designed for a perfect bond between the rider and machine and ensures fatigue-free riding pleasure even on long journeys.

The R 1200 RS also gets the latest generation BMW Motorrad Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) for better safety.
The rear suspension is the tried-and-tested EVO Paralevel single-sided swingarm type.

“Carving out a niche for itself as a crossover, the new 1000 XR combines the elements of touring ability of a GS with supersport characteristic of the RR which BMW Motorrad is renowned for,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Alan Harris.

“The R 1200 RS adds new sparkle to the great tradition of sports tourer bikes from BMW Motorrad and while it is a classic representative of the segment, the new RS also serves up a blend of agility and dynamism of the BMW boxer sports machine. It is the perfect choice for a dynamic yet comfortable motorcycling experience - from long-distance journeys on the highways to sporty rides along twisting interior roads,” he said.

The retail prices on the road, without insurance and including GST for the S 1000 XR and the R 1200 RS are RM112,900 and RM101,900 respectively.

Harris also said BMW Malaysia had delivered over 600 BMW motorcycles as of July, surpassing the 581 units sold in the entire 2014.

“With the introduction of these two new premium motorcycles, each catering to a diverse range of customers, I am confident that BMW Group Malaysia will continue to grow as we mirror the success of our global counterparts,” he said.

BMW R 1200 RS

BMW S 1000 XR


Novitec widens the appeal of the Ferrari 488

                MUNICH: German tuning firm Novitec, renowned for its wide-body customizations has stretched the latest V8 Ferrari in terms of size and performance.

The company plans to build just 22 examples of what it's calling the N-Largo -- 11 in coupe form and a further 11 as droptop spiders. But both versions will come with the same customary widened stance, made-to-measure body kit and a major increase in horsepower.

The N-Largo outputs a massive 772hp, compared with the 670hp that the standard 488 delivers, plus 892Nm (132Nm more) of torque. Together they give the car a 0-100kph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 342kph - that's a 14kph upgrade.

The global aftermarket tuning and automotive customization industry is one of the reasons Ferrari held out so long before finally calling time on naturally aspirated V8s in favour of turbocharging as a means of maintaining performance while increasing fuel economy.

With turbos already fitted to the engine, turning power up to 11 becomes a comparatively straightforward process. However, for every increase in horsepower, there needs to be an equal increase in air flow, engine cooling, braking or aerodynamic stability, something that a number of companies will overlook.

Thankfully, Novitec isn't one of them. It has ensured that there is a greater, freer flow of air to the engine bay and the brakes to ensure this extra power delivers extra fun rather than reduced reliability. It's also why it's added a new exhaust system and dropped the car's ride height.

But the best feature is that this boost in performance can be turned off or on via the steering wheel-mounted Manettino switch, further reducing any unnecessary strain on the engine when simply cruising or driving around town for example.

This nod to practicality and protection is also why the car comes with a hydraulic lift kit, to ensure those larger front and rear spoilers don't clip curbs or get caught on things like speed bumps.

Unfortunately, there is no horizontal equivalent that can pull the car's sides in on narrower roads; because with the larger front and rear track and carbon fiber body, the N-Largo is 2.09 meters from side to side, in other words, it's wider than a Range Rover.


Proton X70 selling briskly on Shopee

                KUALA LUMPUR: One year after it was launched in Malaysia, the Proton X70 is raising eyebrows on its first anniversary by becoming a hit on Shopee.

Over 200 units were booked in the first few days of the e-commerce platform’s 12.12 Birthday Sale.

As a special incentive, customers using Shopee are able to place a booking for just RM99 instead of the usual RM1,000 booking fee.

The first 50 Proton X70 customers who successfully register their vehicle before 31 December 2019 will also receive RM2,000 of Shopee vouchers and enjoy additional ongoing promotions for the month by Proton.

Due to the success of the current promotion with the Proton X70, Proton has also increased its product offering to include the Proton Iriz, Exora, Persona and Saga on the platform.

“Our campaign with Shopee offers ease and convenience for consumers and also puts them in contact with our network of outlets for after sales services,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.


UMW Toyota taking orders for up-rated GR Supra from RM590K

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota has introduced an updated version to its GR Supra that's on its way and it isn't limited to just a power upgrade.

Currently, the Japanese brand is welcoming orders for this up-rated GR Supra and interested parties can place a booking at selected authorised Toyota GR Garage showrooms found throughout the nation.

In terms of cost, the GR Supra is priced on-the-road without insurance from RM611,880, but thankfully - with the current sales tax exemption, that figure drops down to RM589,987.

The 3.0-litre inline-six turbocharged engine under the long hood of the sports coupe has been "beefed-up" with an additional 14% hike in power output.

That means, there's now 388PS on tap from 5,800 to 6,500rpm while torque remains at 500Nm, only this time it peaks at 1,800 and continues all the way to 5,000rpm instead of its initial 1,600 to 4,500rpm previously.

In doing so, Toyota's engineers decided to add a new dual-branch six-port exhaust manifold instead of the initial two-port to help improve heat management due to the performance gain before installing new pistons to reduce the engine’s compression ratio from 11:1 to 10.2:1.

And to manage power delivery is the familiar eight-speed automatic transmission from German transmission specialist ZF.

The powerplant upgrades allow the GR Supra to shave 0.2 seconds off its century (0-100kph) sprint time at 4.1 seconds.

To complement the added power, its chassis has been tweaked to further resist the onset of roll through the addition of a new Performance Rod (thicker anti-roll bars in "normal" speak) which increases lateral rigidity and thus enhance cornering stability. This is all thanks to the feedback garnered from high-performance drivers it seems.

Other than that, the GR Supra also receives red-coloured brake callipers that now bear the Supra logo upfront while other technical specifications and features remain the same.

For those planning to have their Supra draped in Deep Blue Metallic exterior finish, think again because this particular colour has been axed from the list.

However, there are seven other colour options to choose from such as Prominence Red, Lightning Yellow, White Metallic, Silver Metallic, Ice Grey Metallic, Black Metallic and Matte Storm Grey Metallic.

In terms of standard fitment, the GR Supra still has its Adaptive Variable Suspension and Electronically-Controlled Limited-Slip Differential (LSD) as well as other safety systems that include Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Intelligent Parking Sensor with Emergency Braking Function and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to name a few.

Within the driver-centric cabin, driver's get to keep their eyes on the road thanks to the inclusion of a heads-up display while being comfortably seated in an electronically-powered seat that commits their driving position to memory while enjoying the sound quality of the 12-speaker JBL audio system.

For more information, log on to www.toyota.com.my or call toll-free 1-800-8-TOYOTA (869682).


Ford takes stake in Indonesia nickel project to ensure supplies

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. will take a direct stake in a battery-nickel plant under construction in Indonesia, deepening its role in the supply chain as carmakers try to secure materials for electric vehicles.

The US automaker joins PT Vale Indonesia and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. as investors in a project to make an annual 120,000 tons of nickel chemicals for EV batteries, according to a joint statement from the companies. The Pomalaa plant is expected to start commercial production in 2026, with total investment at 67.5 trillion rupiah (RM19.8bil).
The statement didn’t disclose the amount of investment.

Global carmakers are racing to ensure long-term flows of materials like lithium, cobalt and nickel as demand balloons. While direct investments in mines or refineries are still rare, General Motors Co. has invested in a US lithium miner while Tesla Inc. is interested in buying a lithium producer.

Indonesia is becoming a major source of battery-ready nickel following a wave of refinery investments in the minerals-rich country, mostly by Chinese companies. Ford, which plans to make 2 million EVs a year by the end of 2026, already had an agreement with Huayou to take battery materials derived from the Pomalaa plant.

"This framework gives Ford direct control to source the nickel we need - in one of the industry’s lowest-cost ways - and allows us to ensure the nickel is mined in line with our company’s sustainability targets,” Lisa Drake, vice president for Ford Model e EV industrialisation, said in the statement.

Pomalaa is a long-delayed project, and an example of earlier efforts to use "high-pressure acid leaching” technology, or HPAL, to make nickel chemicals from low-grade ores. There are now a number of HPAL plants ramping up in the Southeast Asian nation, but there are still concerns about their environmental credentials.

"The technology remains difficult to develop and ramp up and manage, compared to other conventional nickel production methods and processes,” said Allan Ray Restauro, analyst at BloombergNEF.


France expects Renault to name new CEO in days

                PARIS: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said today he expected carmaker Renault to name its new chief executive in a few days.

Le Maire also said on French CNews TV that media reports that some Nissan executives wanted to break up the alliance with Renault were “malicious”.

Nissan said today it was “in no way” considering dissolving its alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors and that the alliance was the source of Nissan’s competitiveness.

The 20-year alliance is “solid, robust, everything but dead,” the chairman of Renault, Jean-Philippe Senard, told Belgian newspaper L’Echo.


Tesla plans to locate China design centre in Beijing, says city govt

                SHANGHAI: Tesla plans to place its China design centre in Beijing, a government document issued by the Chinese capital said.

Tesla said in 2020 it planned to open such a centre in the country to make "Chinese-style" vehicles but has not said where it would be.

Last year, Reuters reported that the studio could be in Shanghai, where its factory is located, or Beijing.

The Beijing municipal government in late January made the disclosure in a work report in which it listed key projects for the city in 2022.

It briefly listed a number of electric vehicle facilities that it said it would push forward with construction this year, without giving further details.

Besides Tesla, it also mentioned Xiaomi Corp's planned car plant and Toyota Motor's fuel cell research centre.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Local media and the Wall Street Journal earlier reported on the Beijing government document.

Tesla started delivery vehicles from its Shanghai factory at the end of 2019 and is ramping up production amid surging sales.

The country has also become an export hub for Teslas headed to Europe and other markets.


Kia XCeed to get fully-digital instrument cluster

                LONDON: The all-new Kia XCeed urban crossover will get Kia’s first fully-digital 12.3-inch Supervision driver instrument cluster when it is launched across Europe later this year.

Due to be fully revealed on 26 June 2019, the XCeed crossover utility vehicle (CUV) represents a sporty alternative to traditional larger SUVs.

The swept-back, coupé-like appearance of the new Kia XCeed is a product of the brand’s European design centre in Frankfurt, Germany.

The XCeed’s new 12.3-inch Supervision instrument cluster has a high-resolution 1920x720-pixel display and replaces the conventional speedometer and tachometer dials.

Between the two digital dials is a multi-function display, controlled via the multi-function steering wheel.

In this portion of the cluster drivers can see turn-by-turn navigation instructions clearly in their line of sight, as well as audio information, phone calls and contacts, and in-depth trip information.

This includes live and average fuel efficiency levels.

The system also displays vehicle diagnostics alerts, and enables pop-up notifications linked to the car’s various active safety and driver assist technologies and live traffic and navigation system.

The multi-function central display also shows cues from the car’s Driver Attention Warning system, advising drivers to take a break if it detects signs of fatigue.

When the driver parks and switches off the car, the new cluster also plays a short graphic of the car in motion, and displays a summary of the drive.

This shows the time and distance driven, the average fuel efficiency achieved, and the estimated distance remaining based on current fuel levels.


Chaotic execution of new emission rules blamed for plunge in China auto sales

A woman covering her face and hands to protect from sun exposure and pollution day on a street in Beijing. — AFP
SHANGHAI/BEIJING: Shanghai-based Buick dealer Ron Li in late April found himself in an unfamiliar quandary: how to sell off almost 80 sedans and sport-utility vehicles crowding up his dealership lot.

The crux of the problem: a June 30 deadline for cars built to so-called China-5 emissions standards to be sold. After that only vehicles meeting new standards could be put up for sale.

People were still coming in but weren’t buying the stage-5 cars, Li said.

“Customers didn’t know how long they could drive China-5 cars or whether they would be able to resell them in the future. And to be honest, we didn’t know either.”

To cope, his dealership in May slashed stage-5 vehicle prices by as much as 30%, participating in what dealers and industry executives have called unprecedented widespread discounting as China’s auto sales headed for their worst ever monthly drop.

Encouraged by a central government eager to combat smog, Shanghai is one of 15 cities and provinces to implement new stage-6 standards ahead of the original July 1, 2020 deadline.

Tough sell

Checks by Reuters with employees at about 20 dealerships in Shanghai, Beijing and the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which have also brought forward the implementation of new standards, found that stage-5 cars had been a tough sell.

Some offered discounts of more than US$2,000 when compared to the same model that meets stage-6 standards. One Peugeot dealership in Shanghai even went so far as to offer a free 301 compact car for customers who bought a 5008 SUV.

While a slowing economy and the trade war with the United States were initially held responsible for slides in sales since April, most of the blame is now being laid on the poorly managed fast-tracking of new rules by the 15 cities and provinces, which account for more than 60% of sales in the world’s largest auto market.

The sales crisis, which saw May sales plunge 16% from a year earlier, is prompting downward revisions to forecasts for China’s 2019 auto sales that most analysts had thought would be flat or show mild growth.

Now, most expectations are for an annual decline in sales of around 5%, which would follow a 2.8% decline in 2018 when sales contracted for the first time since the 1990s. But Yale Zhang, an analyst at Shanghai-based Automotive Foresight, believes the fall could be closer to 10%.

“Those unsold China-5 vehicles in key areas will be sold to other regions and sales in those areas will be hit as well,” he said.

Scourge of smog

In China, smog has become a major source of public discontent and Beijing declared a “war on pollution” five years ago, seeking to mitigate the environmental damage done during four decades of breakneck economic growth.

To that end, it has aggressively pursued the adoption of the electric cars and its stage-6 emission standards are regarded as the most stringent in the world.

The central government ramped up its anti-pollution drive last year, urging local authorities to implement stage-6 standards ahead of time. The southern province of Hainan was the first to jump on the bandwagon, saying it was thinking of doing so as early as November 2018.

This set off a round of announcements from other provinces and cities which began bringing their implementation dates forward - though the timing varied from January to March to July. Some, including Hainan, later postponed after local dealers complained they wouldn’t be able to sell off inventories.

Confusion ensued and it was not until last month that authorities clarified that buyers of stage-5 cars would be able to resell them.

Dealers will also need to bear the cost of shipping unsold stage-5 cars to other cities and provinces where implementation comes later, while automakers have had to contend with headaches related to rolling out stage-6 models to market in time.

“Why can’t companies be allowed to arrange production and new product rollouts according to the rules?” Shi Jianhua, a senior official at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, told a news conference in June.

“The implementation date of China-6 rules was fixed, so why has it been accelerated in a way that doesn’t give companies sufficient time?” he added in rare criticism of government moves.

Struggle to install add-ons

While carmakers do not necessarily have to make fundamental changes to engine technology to meet the new standards, they have to add catalysts and come up with better filtering systems that trap exhaust gases and particulate matter. In some cases, such changes might take a few years to design and execute, engineers told Reuters.

The problem is “the cost and the amount of time it takes to design specific components into the design of a given engine,” said a China-based engineer at General Motors Co, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The process to gain regulatory approval for car models can take six months to a year and vehicle testing agencies such as the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (Catarc) do not have enough labs to meet the sudden surge in demand, multiple industry sources said.

Catarc did not respond to a request to comment.

That’s meant carmakers have produced fewer stage-6 compliant vehicles than hoped for.

Just 21% of cars sold in May met stage-6 standards but this has to rise to 50% if supply is to meet demand, Jefferies said in a research note last month.

Volkswagen AG, the biggest foreign brand in China, said in an emailed statement all its existing model lines will meet stage-6 standards in key regions from July 1.

“Currently, we have a reasonable stock of China-5 vehicles and are reducing this, for example by reallocating the models nationwide,” it added.

A Ford Motor Co representative said almost all of its line-up was stage-6 compliant. GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A representative for Geely said all of its gasoline models met stage-6 standards, while a spokesman for Toyota Motor Corp said the Japanese automaker had the technical reserve to meet the new standards and the switch to stage-6 rules would not have a big impact.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd is widely regarded within the industry as the most prepared international car manufacturer, having stated that as of February 90% of its China car manufacturing met stage-6 standards.

By contrast, local carmakers such as GAC and Great Wall Motor Co Ltd still had models waiting to be verified in June, according to the government’s Vehicle Emission Control Center.

For some customers, however, the confusion surrounding the switch to new emissions standards was a win for them.

“I know cars well. These China-5 vehicles are technologically advanced enough. Why shouldn’t I buy a new car with big discounts?” said Jiang Lingfeng as he checked out a stage-5 Regal sedan at the Buick showroom in Shanghai.


Go electric with next national car, say some Malaysians

                PETALING JAYA: The announcement that the Pakatan Harapan government aims to set up another national car company since Proton has been acquired by China’s Geely met with a mixed reaction, but some Malaysians had a good compromise: Make sure it’s electric.

Speaking during a dialogue at the 24th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia on Monday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the new government is thinking of starting another national car company, perhaps with an Asian country such as Thailand, South Korea or Japan as a partner.

Malaysians took to social media to either pan or praise the idea, and on Facebook, some are proposing that the new national car be fully electric.

Nurizam Khalid proposed aggressive tax incentives for electric cars, while Christopher Ng said he would support the idea if the hotly discussed national car company is “all about electric cars”.

Mohd Shafiq Aizat said he could see a real future for the national car company if it was “full electric”.

“If it run(s) on normal petrol, why bother? Petroleum is going to be out sooner than later. And don’t forget climate change.

“More cars, more pollutants thus expedite climate change on this planet. Most developed nations are trying to save this planet,” he added.

Edwin Choo, meanwhile, accused proponents of the idea of a new national car of being stuck in the 1980s – the era in which Dr Mahathir first launched his pet project, Proton – urging an emphasis instead on new industries.

“Electric vehicles, hybrid technology and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are the new frontiers ... open your minds and embrace this whole new concept instead of sleeping,” he argued.

The Barisan Nasional government led by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rolled out tax incentives for hybrids and electric vehicles in 2011, but removed them in 2014, except for locally assembled hybrids and electric vehicles.

The government then was aiming to have 100,000 electric cars on the road by 2030, and 125,000 charging stations to be built nationwide.


All new Honda Odyssey MPVs sold in US to get 10-speed automatic transmission

                LOS ANGELES: For over a third of its lifetime, the Honda Odyssey has been the top-selling MPV in the US.

To celebrate this and its 25-year anniversary, Honda announced that not only will a special edition accessory package launch with the 2020 models, the entire lineup will be getting a series of standard updates.

Starting with the 2020 generation, all Odyssey will come equipped with 10-speed automatic transmission as well as Idle Stop technology. Previously, only the Touring and Elite trims had both of these specs, and the LX, EX, and EX-L lacked Idle Stop and had 9-speed automatic transmissions.

As part of an opt-in special 25th Anniversary Package, Honda has refinished a series of exterior details in chrome including the roof rack, body side moldings, and rear bumper protector. Special 25th Anniversary badges can be found on the exterior and a set of 19-inch wheels are optional with the package.

The 2020 Odyssey will be hitting dealerships tomorrow along with the 25th Anniversary Package. If the optional wheels are included, the package adds US$2,800 to the final price.


BMW introduces sportier version of X1

                LONDON: BMW has revealed a sportier version of its compact X1 SUV, bringing a range of styling changes and greater performance.

Known as the M35i xDrive, it’s the first time the X1, which is BMW’s most compact and affordable SUV, has been available in a sportier "M" guise.

Using the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as BMW’s M135i hot hatchback, it develops 296bhp and 400Nm of torque, with drive being sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.

BMW claims it can reach 0-100kph in 5.4 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250kph. Pressing on the left-hand gear shift paddle for at least one second also provides a boost function when the car switches to its sportiest settings.

It also adopts other performance features, including an M-specific chassis and the option of upgraded brakes. A sports exhaust is also fitted, which BMW says says "delivers an emotionally rich soundtrack". Four exhaust tips immediately give it a racier look.

Adaptive sports suspension is also included as standard, which lowers the M35i by 15mm compared to the regular X1.

To help it stand out from the rest of the X1 line-up, the M35i gets a sportier design including larger front air intakes, extended side skirts and 19-inch alloy wheels. The grille also features a horizontal double bar pattern, which is typically only found on BMW’s most powerful ‘M’ models.

Inside, the M35i adopts the same "Curved Display", comprising a large digital dial display and touchscreen into one piece of glass, as the regular X1.

The M35i is also one of the first BMWs to feature its latest operating system on its iDrive system, which brings a newly designed home screen that aims to speed up the controls of key functions.

It also features an Alcantara-covered instrument panel, M-specific graphics and part Alcantara seats.

Expect it to start from around €58,000 (RM295,000) when sales begin later in the year. — PA Media


Honda BR-V gets two new colours

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today announced two new colours, Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic, for its Bold Runabout Vehicle (BR-V).

The new colour options will replace the existing Passion Red Pearl and Modern Steel Metallic colours respectively.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Hironobu Yoshimura said Meteoroid Gray Metallic is available on the Accord, while the colour and Ignite Red Metallic are offered with the City, City Hatchback and Civic models.

“These colours have been receiving good response from the market. In view of the good acceptance, we now continue to expand the new colours to the BR-V full seven-seater crossover.

“The Ignite Red Metallic further elevates the attractiveness and bold appearance of the BR-V, while the Meteoroid Gray Metallic enhances its rugged look. We are confident that the introduction of the new colour options will further excite customers who would like to purchase the BR-V,” he said.

Since its launch in June 2020, the facelifted BR-V has sold more than 5,700 units as at April 2022.

Offered with stylish SUV design, exciting driving performance and excellent versatility, the BR-V is  spacious and can easily carry bulky items or belongings for the entire family.

It still has 223 litres of trunk space when all seven seats are occupied.

The BR-V is powered by a class-leading 1.5L SOHC i-VTEC engine coupled with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) that generates a maximum power output of 120PS.

Enhancing the exhilarating and engaging driving experience in the BR-V is the Paddle Shift, which is available in the V variant.

To provide more comfort and convenience to BR-V owners, Honda Malaysia has made Auto Air Conditioning, Smart Entry and Push Start Button as standard features across all variants.

For details on the new colour options in the BR-V, visit any of the 102 Honda authorised dealerships nationwide or call Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020.


Elon Musk’s fortune jumped RM149.34bil in a day on Hertz order

                NEW YORK: Elon Musk’s personal fortune jumped by US$36.2bil (RM149.34bil) on Oct 25 after Hertz Global Holdings Inc placed an order for 100,000 Teslas and filings showed a fresh tranche of options in his moonshot pay package vested.

It’s the biggest one-day gain in the history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, eclipsing Chinese tycoon Zhong Shanshan’s US$32bil (RM132.75bil) surge last year when his bottled-water company, Nongfu Spring Co, went public.

Musk’s net worth of US$288.6bil (RM1.19 trillion) is now greater than the market value of Exxon Mobil Corp or Nike Inc.

Tesla Inc shares rose 13% on news of the Hertz order, pushing its market value past US$1 trillion (RM4.14 trillion).

About two-thirds of Musk’s net worth is tied directly to shares and options in the electric-car company, of which he is co-founder and chief executive officer.

Musk is increasingly pulling away from his fellow mega-billionaires when it comes to the size of his fortune. Amazon.com Inc’s Jeff Bezos ranks second with US$192.6bil (RM799bil), according to the Bloomberg index.

Musk’s extraordinary jump in wealth comes as Democratic lawmakers, with US President Joe Biden’s support, draw up a plan to tax unrealised gains of the very richest Americans.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, is laying out the so-called billionaires’ income tax, which would be aimed at those with US$1bil (RM4.14bil) in assets, or three consecutive years of US$100mil (RM414.85mil) or more in income.

The stock-based nature of Musk’s fortune has made it possible for him to gain billions of dollars in paper wealth and become the world’s richest person while having few liquid assets.

He accepts no salary from Tesla and part of his stake is pledged as collateral for personal loans, according to company filings.

He told a federal jury in 2019 that despite his multibillionaire status, he didn’t have much cash. Last year he announced on Twitter he planned to sell his homes and “almost all” his physical possessions.

Even before the Hertz deal, Tesla shares have climbed in recent weeks. The auto maker’s stock price is up 45% this year, more than double the gain of the S&P 500 Index, as investors continue to reward green technologies.

A surge in Tesla stock isn’t the only source of wealth gains for Musk.

The seventh tranche of Musk’s massive 2018 stock option package vested in the third quarter, according to a regulatory filing Monday, adding about US$8bil (RM33.18bil) to his net worth.


VW already sold out of some electric models for the year

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen AG said strong demand for its electric cars means the maker of the Porsche Taycan is already sold out of some models for the entire year.

While some models won’t be available again until 2023, there are long wait times for a range of others, chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said Tuesday. He did not say which models they were.

The demand is improving returns of battery-powered cars that are now expected to reach parity with combustion-engine vehicles ahead of schedule.

“We see better scale, we see better margins, we see high customer demand,” Antlitz said on a call with reporters.

“Originally, we thought it takes two to three years until we see the parity of ICE and battery-electric vehicles.”

VW’s group sales of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles last year jumped more than 80% to about 762,000 units.

Europe’s biggest automaker is pushing ahead with the industry’s biggest rollout of electric cars to challenge Tesla Inc.

While the pandemic and crippling shortage of semiconductors have hampered the effort, VW last week outlined a robust outlook for the year that impressed analysts amid multiple supply pressures and uncertainty over the war in Ukraine.

Russia is a key exporter of host of inputs, including nickel and palladium as well as steel, while the ability of manufacturers to pass on higher costs to consumers is limited.

Car prices have already rocketed as the chip shortage idled plants amid strong vehicle demand. Disruption from the war in Ukraine has forced VW to shut plants more recently.

“Raw materials are clearly a headwind for us,” Antlitz said. “There might be also the time when we need to pass on some of the increases to the market.”

In 2021, Volkswagen’s most popular battery electric vehicle (BEV) model worldwide was the ID.4, which lived up to its name as a world car in its first year on the market.

The ID.4 was the most frequently delivered of the 263,000 BEVs with 119,650 units sold, followed by the ID.33 (around 76,000), the e-up!4 (41,500) and just under 18,000 units of the ID.6, which Volkswagen offers only in the Chinese market.

In Europe, the ID.4 topped the BEV charts in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Ireland. The all-electric SUV was also successfully rolled out in the United States with nearly 17,000 units being handed over to customers. In China, the vehicle already ranks second among all-electric SUVs.


2018 Maserati Ghibli S: Suave, powerful and stylish

                THIS Ghibli S is the more powerful, faster version of Maserati’s best-selling sports sedan which was upgraded for 2018 with some exterior re-styling and more importantly for driving thrills, a re-tuned Maranello-built Ferrari 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine that delivers more power.

In recent years, the Italian luxury sports marque has upped the ante for its rivals with stylish, sharp-looking machines kitted with very impressive driving technology and high-end leather clad interiors.

The Ghibli S is a prime example of how buyers are getting their money’s worth for a performance-oriented European stallion that doubles up exceedingly well as a daily commuter, and showcases the emotional appeal behind Maserati’s historic success and record sales over the last few years.

Exterior

The 2018 re-styling of the Ghibli isn’t just for show; Maserati claims that the updated exterior and new bumpers have improved aerodynamic efficiency by 7%.

Adding even more value are standard features on the Ghibli S like Adaptive full LED headlights with glare free Matrix high-beam, a first for Maserati, with integrated DRLs (daytime running lights) and AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting System) which provides better road illumination and comes on automatically when driving in bad weather.

The car has a certain debonair sports coupe persona, despite its four-door sedan design, and we like Maserati’s customary three air vents on the sides as well as the muscular rear end.

The quad chrome exhaust tailpipes accentuates the sporty appeal of the car, while the front end has a prominent grille with the iconic trident badge centred among concave vertical fillets.

Interior

In the cabin, the Ghibli S has a luxurious ambience with plush black leather upholstery and red stitching, Alcantara covered roof lining and body pillars, and chrome trim.

The car also has an air quality sensor, which is said to improve cabin air quality, while the rear air-conditioning vents helped to cool us down on a hot day, as we drove up to Bukit Tinggi towards Berjaya Hills Golf and Country Club.

There are lots of standard interior comforts including powered ventilated front seats, electric steering column adjustment, and 8.4-inch touchscreen mated to a rotary controller and a high-end 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system with a 1,280 watt amplifier.

These nice features are the norm for a luxury sports saloon, and the Ghibli S ticks all the right boxes with an uncluttered-looking interior and premium cabin craftsmanship and detailing.

Practicality

While it’s certainly not as roomy as the flagship Maserati Quattroporte flagship saloon, the Ghibli still provides comfortable head and leg room.

We had three tall adults in the car, and found more than enough rear headroom despite its coupe-like looks.

The Ghibli is a five-seater but four occupants would definitely find more elbow room especially with the rear centre arm rest (which has a cleverly designed recess and two cup holders) folded down.

Small items can be stored in door bins and a climate-controlled centre box between the front seats, and there are front seatback nets as well.

There is also a spacious 500-litre boot and 60/40 folding rear seats, and a front compartment with a phone tray, USB slot and SD card readers in this low-slung sports sedan.

Safety

- Seven airbags
- Front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera
- Surround view camera
- Forward Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning System
- Blind Spot Alert
- Rear Cross Path Detection
- Tyre sealing compound and electric air compressor (Fix & Go Tyre Kit)
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Automatic hill holder / Hill Descent Control (HDC)
- Limited slip differential (LSD)
- Maserati Stability Program (MSP)
- Brake Assistance System (BAS)
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- I.C.E (Increased Control & Efficiency): specific software for reduced consumption and better vehicle dynamic management in all conditions

Equipment

- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Keyless entry system
- Soft door close
- Electronic power boot
- Electric Power Steering (EPS) with speed sensitive feature
- Skyhook adaptive damping system
- Automatic headlamp activation and rain sensor
- Automatically dimming powered/heated side-view mirrors with puddle lamps
- Power rear sunblind
- Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)
- SPORT control: Sport mode set up
- Adaptive Full LED front headlamps with integrated DRL and AFS module
- 18-inch collapsible spare tyre
- Front and rear electric windows with anti-pinch sensors
- Electronic Steering Column Adjustment
- Powered ventilated front seats (8 ways + 4 ways for lumbar support) with 2 memories for driver’s side
- Italian Leather interior upholstery
- Alcantara roof lining & pillars
- Maserati “Active Shifting”, aluminum gear shift paddles on steering column
- Front armrest with twin mechanical opening and storage compartment
- Rear armrest with 2 cup holders
- Dual zone automatic climate control
- 8.4-inch touch screen display with rotary control and Navigation System
- Bluetooth, SD card reader, USB, Aux-ln,
- Bowers & Wilkins high-end surround sound System

Performance

The upgraded Ghibli S now delivers 430hp at 5,750rpm and 580Nm peak torque from 2,200 to 4,000rpm – 20hp and 30Nm more than the previous model year from a 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Those are very respectable power numbers for its segment, and propels its 1,810kg kerb weight from0 to 100kph in 4.9 seconds.
On the drive up to Bukit Tinggi towards Berjaya Hills Golf and Country Club, we kept the car in Sport mode which resulted in a more aggressive, high-energy exhaust tone.
Power delivery is linear and the 8-speed automatic is smooth and responsive, with crisp gear shifts in Manual mode.
This is the sort of car that is great for a dynamic uphill climb on a winding road, with a thrilling exhaust roar and gratifying sprint speeds each time we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal.

Ride and handling

On the road curves of Bukit Tinggi, the Ghibli S handled like a top class dancer and we liked the communicative Electric Power Steering (EPS) that replaced the previous hydraulic power steering.
The EPS has razor-sharp steering feel, and running on ultra high performance Pirelli P Zero tyres (sized 245/40 in front, and 285/35 for the rear) wrapped around 20-inch wheels, we found excellent grip during sporty driving.
The Brembo brake package provides impressive stopping power while driving dynamics and performance are also improved, thanks to a Bosch-developed Integrated Vehicle Control system (IVC) for better vehicle instability.
The Ghibli S comes with a Skyhook adaptive damping system, and front all-aluminium double wishbones with a rear multi-link suspension, and on the dynamic uphill drive on a twisty route, the car still delivered a high degree of ride comfort.

Fuel Consumption

- 9.6 litres per 100km (combined cycle)

Reliability

- 5-year unlimited mileage warranty
- 5-year or 100,000km (whichever is first) free service

Price

The car is priced at RM718,800 (excludes road tax, insurance and registration)

Summary

Italian flair and style with a rich motorsports heritage and the Trident logo are reflected in the Ghibli S, which we found to be a finely honed, involving machine for keen drivers.
A sumptuous leather upholstered interior, with classy Italian craftsmanship and a well-engineered suspension system with adaptive damping, meant we enjoyed every moment.
The potent Ferrari-built V6 engine with 430hp/580Nm is another draw, and while it’s always a joy to go charging down a highway or toss the car around on a twisty backroad, we confessed that just being cocooned in the plush cabin on an amiable drive was a very pleasant experience.
The Ghibli S is a powerful hot rod with beguiling handling, but we are sure many owners would also be charmed by its high level of ride comfort and finer qualities.


E-scooter operator Beam held free safety course for 50 riders

                KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore-based e-scooter operator Beam held its first local training course on how to use the vehicle last Sunday at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya.

The course trains e-scooter users how how to ride the machine safely.

Around 50 people attended the free course.

The course provided step-by-step lessons on proper e-scooter usage, parking methods, safety rules, and the importance of adhering to local micro mobility laws.

Beam e-scooters are available to rent for Malaysians above 18 years old. Beam charges 60 sen per minute as soon as the ride starts. Every e-scooter comes with a battery that can take riders as far as 60km.

The e-scooters have a 25kph speed limit even when going downhill.

The e-scooters have built-in GPS trackers that will cause the machine to slow down and sound a loud alert should a user take it beyond its riding jurisdiction.


George Clooney hurt in Italian scooter crash

Clooney hurt his leg when a Mercedes car allegedly crashed into him. — Reuters
ROME: Hollywood superstar George Clooney was treated in hospital on Tuesday for minor injuries after a scooter accident in Sardinia, Italian media reported.

The “Ocean’s Eleven” actor hurt his leg when a Mercedes car allegedly turned without giving right of way and collided with his scooter, Italian press agency AGI said.

Clooney, 57, was reportedly thrown from his two-wheeler on to the windscreen of the vehicle in Costa Corallina on the island’s northeast coast at around 8am (0600 GMT). The car driver called an ambulance which took Clooney to hospital, AGI added.

His wife Amal, a human rights lawyer, rushed to Clooney’s side in hospital, according to local newspaper La Nuova Sardegna, who reported he was later discharged and advised to follow a course of physiotherapy.

A CAT scan revealed no broken bones, just minor trauma to one knee, Italian news agency ANSA said.

The northeast coast of Sardinia is popular with the rich and famous, although Clooney is on location on the island to film a new mini-series “Catch 22”.

Clooney is known to adore Italy and owns a number of properties in the country. He officially married Amal in Venice in September 2014 a few days after a lavish party in Lake Como.

AGI said part of the road was closed following the collision. Police told AFP they were unable to comment while operations related to the crash were still under way.

Clooney broke a rib in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey in 2008, while his then-girlfriend Sarah Larson suffered a broken foot.

> Watch Twitter video on the George Clooney accident


Kawasaki Z250SL now available

PETALING JAYA: Those looking for an affordable motorcycle that is not too tall will have much to cheer as Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd unveiled its Z250SL on July 14.

The latest addition to the Z series comes in the form of a naked 250cc single-cylinder motorcycle that enthusiasts here have been waiting for months.

Ladies as well as other smaller built riders will appreciate the offering that comes in the form of a slim, lightweight and compact motorcycle, which makes it highly-suited for urban commuting or as a highly-maneuverable track machine.

The four-valve DOHC engine is fuel-injected to optimise combustion efficiency, and is liquid-cooled (with fan kicking in when required).

The quick revving engine delivers a healthy dose of both power and torque, and when it comes to the latter, it's 22.6Nm arrives at 8,200rpm - 1,800rpm ealier than the Z250’s 21Nm @ 10,000 rpm.

The Z250SL promises of robust mid-range torque as well as a healthy does of top end power.

The engine is bolted to a high-tensile tubular steel frame that gives it the skeletal look (also called trellis frame), lending a refreshing charm to the bike that has a six-speeds manual transmission.

The promise of maneuverability is also given by the 148kg dry weight, which is 20kg less than its twin-cylinder Z250.

“We aim to sell around 1,500 units of the Z250SL per year,” said general manger and director of Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Jeffrey Lim.

The bike is available in either black or orange and is priced at RM15,738 (nett).


What you lose when you don't adjust your car seat correctly

                MUNICH: The potential for improvement is high: Surveys show that most drivers don’t sit optimally in their car seats. This not only affects comfort, but more importantly, safety.

If the backrest is set too flat, there’s an increased risk of injury to the neck in the event of an accident. And if the seat is positioned too close to the steering wheel the deployment of the airbag could also cause injuries.

For those reasons, people should pay close attention to the driver’s seat before buying a car, German technical inspectorate Tüv Süd advises. That includes testing out the seat by sitting in it.

It’s important that the seat height, the seat angle, and the length of the seat surface can be individually adjusted to the body shape. If the seat has pronounced lateral support, all the better because then the body is prevented from slipping.

If the seat in the model of car you want to buy doesn't quite fit, optimised seats can be the solution. Some manufacturers offer these in addition to the standard seat at extra cost.

Third-party seats and conversions are also possible but these can be expensive. Alternatively, those who are flexible in their choice of car can look for another model.

You can also make the seat in a car you already own as safe as possible. Tüv Süd advises that the backrest of the seat should be positioned almost vertically.

The headrest should be adjusted so that its upper edge is at the height of the crown of the head and its distance from the head does not exceed 4 cm - advice that applies to all of the car’s occupants.

Passengers can adjust the backrest further back, but the belt should always be tight against the body. Otherwise, there is a risk of the submarining effect where people slide under the seat belt in rear-end collisions.

Drivers should make sure that their legs remain slightly bent when the clutch pedal is depressed; a flat hand should still fit between the thigh and the seat.

A driver sits optimally when they can rest their wrists on the steering wheel with their arms outstretched and with their shoulder blades still in contact with the backrest.

They should also be able to see all of the instruments, especially the warning lights and speedometer. If the steering wheel can be adjusted, this can be helpful.

According to Tüv Süd, anyone who takes a close look at their seating position will drive more comfortably and prevent tension.

The wrong seating position, on the other hand, can be torture for the head and neck, especially on monotonous highway journeys where the posture hardly changes.


Toyota Hilux derived firefighting truck to extinguish EV fires

                LONDON: The British-built Hiload 6x6 firefighting truck, engineered by Prospeed Motorsport in York, England, was developed to tackle EV (electric vehicle) battery fires and assist with fast response occupant extraction.

Its engineering led approach uses a Toyota Hilux as a donor, fitted with an entirely new chassis to avoid a compromised ‘cut and shut’ of the original frame.

The Hiload 6x6 rapid intervention vehicle (RIV) has a unique ability to access underground and multi-storey car-parks, and it can carry crew, water and innovative fire extinguishing equipment to previously inaccessible locations.

With the replacement chassis and a torque splitter system, the 6x6 has rated 5,600kg gross vehicle weight (GVW), which offers 3,000kg payload.

That’s almost triple the standard 4x4 Hilux’s capacity, and the load-space is also extended by 1,230mm.

Although longer, the Hiload’s height is just 1,850mm - less than some large SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and low enough to allow access to the majority of parking structures. It also results in a lower centre of gravity and better stability in high-speed manoeuvres.

Among the other equipment which the increased payload helps carry, the Hiload can be fitted with the Coldcut Cobra system for extinguishing EV battery fires.

The Cobra Ultra High Pressure Lance (UHPL) system uses an abrasive suspended in water to pierce a hole through floor pans and inject water at 300bar – more than 100 times the pressure of the air in a typical car tyre – throughout the module casing.

This water cools directly inside the battery and thus prevents propagation and further possibility of a thermal runaway.

Unlike alternatives which involve pumping thousands of litres of water into the vehicle in an attempt to cool the whole battery, independent tests from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency showed the Coldcut Cobra system could prevent cell propagation within 10 minutes, using just 240 litres of water – that’s less than a bath-full and 20% of the Hiload’s tank capacity.

A unit is currently being trialled in the Czech Republic, and it is already part of one EV car manufacturer’s firefighting fleet.

Prospeed are also working in the defence market to offer a 4x4 Hiload with a 5,000kg GVW and a 6x6 Hiload with 6,500kg GVW as part of a light utility vehicle fleet, which will replace ageing Land Rover Defender and Pinzgauer fleets.

The company can ship the 6x6 conversion as a module for final assembly in an export market. The design can also be licenced for higher volume production.

Away from urban car park environments, the enhanced traction and reduced ground pressure resulting from a 6-wheel drive set-up can also prove invaluable for tackling fires in remote and challenging environments such as forests and heathland. The Hiload can get to these fires faster while carrying more crew, water and equipment into wild terrain.


KTM Motohall museum to open in Austria

                VIENNA: Austrian motorcycle and sports car maker KTM will open a new museum on May 11, focusing on the brand's history next to the company headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria.

Built on a 10,000-square-meter site, the KTM Motohall will feature three exhibition levels showcasing the brand's core values as well as its emblematic models and racing champions.

To start, visitors will be able to see the complete design process of a KTM motorcycle, from initial sketches to the finished product.

Next, an exhibition of around 70 of the brand's motorcycles charts the key technical evolutions emanating from the KTM workshops.

Finally, a spectacular 360-degree video installation celebrates the champions of racing who have left their mark on the sport and on the KTM brand.

Visitors can also visit a working restoration workshop in the basement, where they can see older cycles being restored by experts.

Various festivities are scheduled for the weekend of May 11-12, 2019, following which KTM Motohall will be open each week from Tuesday to Sunday.

Tickets and guided tours can be booked on the official KTM Motohall website: ktm-motohall.com.


Chinese electric car maker to put 'Weltmeister' on road next

                BEIJING: WM Motor Technology Co, one of a new breed of Chinese electric car companies, will use its company name “Weltmeister” as its brand and plans to start taking orders for its first product, a sport-utility vehicle, from April.

The Shanghai-based startup plans to start producing its first car at a new plant in Wenzhou during the second quarter of next year, Freeman Shen, WM Motor’s founder and chief executive, told Reuters ahead of a media event.

The exterior design for the SUV was presented at the event in Shanghai on Monday. WM Motor also unveiled a logo for the brand that will adorn its cars.

The brand name “Weltmeister” is German for “world champion” and reflects the rising challenge to traditional carmakers from startup companies.

 The EX5 is displayed at the WM brand launch on Monday. - All pix by Reuters

WM Motor is one of several largely Chinese-funded EV startups betting on the benefits of local production to compete with companies such as Tesla Inc, which has to import cars from the United States and pay a 25 percent import duty.

Tesla’s “mass market” Model 3 sedan starts around US$35,000 (RM143,000) in the United States. Tesla has discussed the need to set up local production in China but has yet to announce any plans.

WM Motor plans to start delivering its first car, due to be priced below 300,000 yuan (RM185,000), to buyers in the second half of 2018. WM Motor aims to sell 100,000 cars a year with three models within 3-4 years of the planned 2018 launch, Shen said.

WM Motor plans to introduce the three electric vehicles by 2020, Shen said. To match that ambition, the assembly plant in Wenzhou has a potential annual capacity of 100,000 vehicles.

Other Chinese EV startups include Future Mobility Corp Ltd with its Byton brand, Singulato Motors, and Nio.

Nio has said it plans to start delivering its first “volume car,” an all-electric sport-utility vehicle called the Nio ES8, to buyers by June next year.

Future Mobility has said it plans to start delivering its first car, also an SUV, during the fourth quarter of next year. Singulato plans to start delivering its all-electric SUV, dubbed the Singulato iS6, to buyers before the end of 2018.


Bentley’s RM8mil Bacalar doubles down on fully bespoke supercars

NEW YORK: Organizers killed the Geneva Auto Show because of coronavirus fears, but had the show run, it would not have made any difference for aspirants to Bentley’s new grand tourer.

The £1.5 million (RM8mil) Bentley Bacalar, which had been set to debut as Bentley’s crown jewel at the annual car show, instead emerged via live video feed on the morning of March 3. Bentley is making only 12 of them, each engineered to their individual owner’s taste. They have already sold out.

But don’t despair. A roomy two-seater with a 650-bhp W12 engine, Bacalar is just the first of what will be a new portfolio of cars sprung from a nascent division at Bentley called Mulliner Coachbuilt.

The new division is a logical move for the company that has said more than 90% of all its vehicles are customised.

It’s joining arch-nemesis Rolls-Royce in strengthening its in-house bespoke division, but they’re not the only ones to capitalise on the luxury market’s appetite for individuality. Aston Martin has a similar in-house bespoke program, called Q by Aston Martin; even Porsche has expanded its longtime Exclusive Manufaktur customisation program based in Zuffenhausen, Germany, to coincide with the launch of the Taycan.

Bespoke Bacalar

The new Bacalar doubles as a marketing device that hints at the capabilities of the 40 artisans at the Crewe, England-based Mulliner shop. It shows that those workers can conjure delightful automotive elements from raw materials such as local wool, ancient river wood, and even rice-the paint on the Bacalar comes from the ash of rice husks, a sustainable way to achieve a rich metallic finish on the exterior of your sublimely exclusive coach.

The exterior of the all-wheel-drive, eight-speed Bacalar is defined by its wide stance, clamshell rear, and Barchetta, or roofless, body.

It’s a polarising style but one that comes by its design honestly: It shares no construction or panels with any other vehicle at Bentley and instead-with its protruding front nose, tall grille, and wraparound feel-summons the vibe of the EXP 100 GT concept car the company showed last year.

There’s even the open-top feel of the Birkin Blower Bentley of the 1920s-the modern McLaren Elva, Porsche Speedster, and Ferrari Monza cars have this, too.

About the only thing that the Bacalar does share with its Bentley brethren is a door handle, with keyless entry, like the one on the Continental GT.

The interior displays a wraparound cockpit and semi-enclosed luggage compartment behind the seats.

As you might expect, you can also buy a set of luggage designed exclusively by Italian leather-goods maker Schedoni to fit inside the particular dimensions of the car.

The Mulliner connection

Bentley brass, along with leaders at archrival Rolls-Royce, have commented publicly about the vast margins available for hand-crafted, highly bespoke vehicles.

The Mulliner division in particular derives from a long tradition of coachbuilding at Bentley, which uses the institutional memory and skills of a former saddle shop formerly run by the eponymous family and which has existed since the 1500s.

The family rose to prominence in the 1760s for its work building and maintaining carriages for the Royal Mail postal service; in 1923, it created a bespoke two-seat Bentley for the 1923 Olympia Show in London, the first of more than 240 bespoke automobiles Mulliner created for Bentley during that decade.

The two houses went on to create such famous cars as the 1952 R-Type Continental and formally merged in 1959. Now, Mulliner builds Bentley’s most exclusive vehicles like Bentaygas with picnic baskets inside and Flying Spurs that bear specific family crests and totems.

But the Bacalar takes that concept a step further, whether it’s Beluga-coloured leather seats or British woods or natural yarns for trimming textiles.

You can also request the gear shifter be made in wood or metal or covered in carbon fibre, get leather door straps, request singular piping made by hand in a nearby countryside district, and have a unique-to-you analog clock in the dashboard.

It will all be on high display, too, since the car comes without a top-everyone will be able to see each detail from the piping to the floor mats as the car passes by.


Auto sector gets nod to operate during MCO but must get permission first

                PETALING JAYA: The automotive industry is one of several non-essential services qualified to resume business during the extended movement control order (MCO).

This means companies that are involved in the exports of CBU vehicles, trade in components and aftersales support can resume business.

However, they are required to apply online from 9.00am on Monday (April 13) on the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s website www.miti.gov.my for permission to operate during the MCO period.

Other aspects of the industry such as physical dealerships are unlikely to re-open as it would mean encouraging mass movement of people, which runs counter to the purpose of the MCO. This does not stop such dealerships from communicating with prospective customers through online channels to provide further information and test-drives of cars after the MCO is lifted.

Should qualified applicants get the official approval to operate, the health and safety of their workers remain a top priority, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Azmin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, warned that permission given to industries will be revoked immediately if the businesses did not comply with the stated standard operating procedures.

The same requirements apply to selected non-essential and professional services.

The list from the International Trade and Industry Ministry includes industries such as machinery and equipment, aerospace, construction projects, social health services including traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, hardware and electrical shops, opticians as well as full-service laundrettes and hair salons/barber shops (haircuts only).

The MCO was extended yesterday for the second time to April 28, as announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, which has severely impacted economic activities.

“The decision was made after we realised the need to open up more economic sectors as the Covid-19 pandemic is not only affecting the health of the people but is also affecting the economy, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“We found that the level of compliance from the government’s decision to allow several critical manufacturing and services sectors to operate during the first phase of the MCO had been good.

“Nevertheless, the government continues to monitor the compliance of the conditions as stipulated by the Health Ministry and also to ensure that health screening and preventive measures are implemented for the safety of employees and customers.

“This step is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the country’s economy post-Covid-19, to prevent the loss of jobs among Malaysians and to ensure that the rakyat continue to have access to basic needs and critical products throughout the MCO period, ” he said.

Azmin is also co-chair of a Special Cabinet Committee to Mitigate the Impact of Covid-19 on the Economy and Labour Market, which later made proposals to the Cabinet.

He said among the considerations the Cabinet took into account before deciding on which industries could operate were the stability of export activities, survival of SMEs, and the size of the workforce.

Muhyiddin stressed that the decision was not a case of easing the MCO, but one where the approved businesses must follow strict procedures.

“I must emphasise that while we allow some sectors to re-open, this does not mean that we are relaxing the MCO. The order is still being enforced and orders issued by authorities must be followed, ” he said.


GM, Ford and Toyota join to advance self-driving testing, standards

                DETROIT: Three major automakers said today they were forming a consortium to help draw up safety standards for self-driving cars that could eventually help create regulations in the United States.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp said in a statement they were joining forces with automotive engineering group SAE International to establish autonomous vehicle “safety guiding principles to help inform standards development.”

The group will also “work to safely advance testing, pre-competitive development and deployment,” they added.

Regulators in the United States have been grappling with how to regulate self-driving cars, with other countries watching closely to see how implementation of the emerging technology pans out.

Last year, US lawmakers, unable to agree on a way forward, abandoned a bid to pass sweeping legislation to speed the introduction of vehicles without steering wheels and human controls onto roads, but may resurrect the effort later this year.

The new group, dubbed the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium, will begin by deciding priorities, with a focus on data sharing, vehicle interaction with other road users and safe testing guidelines.

Randy Visintainer, chief technology officer at Ford’s Autonomous Vehicles unit, said the goal was to work with companies and government “to expedite development of standards that can lead to rule making.”

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asked the public if robotic cars should be allowed on streets without steering wheels or brake pedals as they try to set the first legal boundaries for their design. NHTSA’s existing rules prohibit vehicles without human controls.

The regulator will for the first time compare a vehicle in which all driving decisions are made by a computer versus a human driver.

Concerns are mounting about automated piloting systems.

A fatal 2018 accident involving a self-driving vehicle operated by Uber Technologies Inc and two deadly plane crashes involving highly automated Boeing 737 MAX airliners have put a spotlight on the ability of regulators to assess the safety of advanced systems that substitute machine intelligence for human judgment.

The new consortium cited as a successful model a standards group that helped create a collection of some 4,500 aerospace standards covering airframe, engine and other aircraft parts.


Mercedes A-Class L Sedan makes world debut in Beijing

                STUTTGART/BEIJING: Shortly before the first A-Class hatchbacks reach customers in Western Europe in May, a new variant of the compact-class family - in the guise of the A-Class L Sedan - will already be celebrating its premiere at Auto China (25 April to 4 May 2018) in Beijing.

Othere Mercedes debuts in Beijing included the C-Class sedan and Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury.

The notchback A-Class L Sedan being presented features a 6cm longer wheelbase (2789 instead of 2729 mm) and is a variant developed solely for the Chinese market. This A-Class model is being produced exclusively at Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC), a joint venture between Daimler and its Chinese partner BAIC Motor.

The market launch in China is scheduled for the second half of 2018. A version of the sedan tailored to the needs of customers outside China will likewise launch in the second half of the year.

The new model promises a high level of safety thanks to the driving assistance systems featuring S-Class functions and the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. One highlight is the intelligent voice control of the MBUX system with natural speech recognition: it is proficient in various Chinese dialects, including Sichuanese and Cantonese.

“With our Chinese customers’ wishes and needs in mind, we developed the A-Class L Sedan for the local market, which is the first and only long wheelbase model in the premium compact car segment,” said Hubertus Troska, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Greater China.

“This long wheelbase version offers added space, with a rear compartment dedicated to meeting local preferences. And given our customers in China are young and connected, our new, intuitive MBUX telematics system gives them a highly individualized digital experience."

In 2017 China was once again the largest sales market for Mercedes-Benz and smart. Customers in mainland China took delivery over 610,000 vehicles last year, more than ever in a single year (+25.9%). In total, around 430,000 units were produced locally in 2017, which corresponds to more than two-thirds of the total sales volume in China.

More than six million compact models have already been delivered to customers in around 170 markets. Following the success of the last compact-class generation – Mercedes-Benz sold more than 620,000 compact vehicles globally in 2017 alone – currently the company is gradually extending the new compact-car family to eight members. The A-Class hatchback and the Chinese variant of the A-Class Saloon are the first two representatives of the new generation.

The compact sedan has very short overhangs at front and rear, which, in combination with the side feature line, reinforces the sporty image. As on the hatchback model, the front end design looks very progressive. Contributing to this impression are the low, drawn-out bonnet, flat headlamps with chrome elements, and torch-like daytime driving lights - plus the diamond radiator grille with single louvre, chrome pins, and central star. There is a choice of Sedan and Sport Sedan versions, with the latter featuring powerdomes on the bonnet.

The greenhouse, which sits far back, and the compact rear end emphasise the sportiness of the vehicle. The wheels (in sizes 16 to 19 inches) fit flush in the wheel arches, which, like the strongly pronounced shoulders in the rear area, gives the vehicle a square stance on the road.

The two-piece tail lights emphasise the width. The reflectors have been repositioned lower down in the bumper to allow the tail lights to benefit from a particularly flat design. Rose gold is an exclusive paint finish planned for the Chinese market.

The interior architecture along with the displays and controls is an avant-garde USP in this segment. For the first time a cowl above the cockpit has been completely dispensed with. As a result, the wing-shaped main body of the dashboard with its trim level extends from one front door to the other with no visual discontinuity.

Below this main body is a low-lying section, the so-called wing. The wing appears to float, as there are no connections or shape transitions to the surrounding area. The ambience lighting with up to 64 colours reinforces this effect and is a new interior experience, also for Chinese customers. The wing also forms the basis for the turbine-look air vents, which are embedded in trim, and the completely free-standing widescreen display.

On board is the MBUX multimedia system - Mercedes-Benz User Experience - with unique learning abilities thanks to artificial intelligence. The popular WeChatMyCar app is integrated. MBUX makes it possible for the first time for two or more users to connect simultaneously to the system.

When developing the Chinese A-Class L Sedan (length/width/height: 4609/1796/1460 mm) a focal point was the kneeroom for rear passengers. As a result, at 2789 mm, the wheelbase is 60 mm longer than in the hatchback model (2729 mm). The boot has a capacity of 420 litres.

At the market launch, the A-Class L Sedan will be available in China with the state-of-the-art all-aluminium four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.33 litres with power outputs of 100hp and 161hp (with cylinder shut-off); following later will be the 2-litre four-cylinder engine with CONICSHAPE trumpet honing and CAMTRONIC variable valve timing. In China, the latter engine has an output of 188hp. The 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission comes as standard.

The A-Class L Sedan will also boasts the latest driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support, giving it the highest level of active safety in this segment with functions adopted from the S-Class.

Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC), a joint venture between Daimler and its Chinese partner BAIC Motor, has produced Mercedes-Benz cars since 2005 and engines since 2013. In 2017 more than two-thirds of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in China were produced locally. BBAC has more than 11,000 employees. The current product portfolio comprises the C-Class Saloon with short and long wheelbase, the E-Class Saloon with long wheelbase, the GLA, and the GLC.

Did you know that…

…in terms of production figures, BBAC is the world's largest Mercedes-Benz plant for passenger cars? At the same time it is the only Mercedes-Benz location in the world, which produces front and rear-wheel-drive passenger car models as well as engines on one site.

…the share of female buyers of the A-Class in China is 50 percent? As such it is one of the highest shares in the whole of the Mercedes-Benz range. By way of comparison, in Europe around four out of ten buyers of the A-Class are female.

…in China around one third of the buyers of an A-Class from the previous model generation were below 30 years of age? For 40 percent of the buyers in China, the A-Class was even their first ever car. In Europe, too, the A-Class has made a significant contribution to the rejuvenation of the brand: the average age of European drivers of the now outgoing A-Class generation is currently more than ten years younger than for the preceding model series compared with the year 2011.

…the Concept A Sedan gave a glimpse of the next compact-class generation and the A-Class Saloon around a year ago? The show car celebrated its world premiere at Auto Shanghai in April 2017.

… to date more than six million Mercedes-Benz compact vehicles have been delivered to customers throughout the world? The A-Class, which turned 20 years old last year, accounted for more than three million of the vehicles sold.


10 key features of a fully autonomous vehicle

                PETALING JAYA: HD maps, Lidar,  gyroscopes, accelerometers, radars and associated technologies are bandied about freely in the media when driverless cars are talked about. But when is a vehicle truly automated?

Not only does the public need to know but insurers need to nail down the definition. This is to ensure consumers understand the functionality and capability of the vehicle and their own responsibilities, and for regulators and insurers to classify and insure vehicles appropriately.

While most road accidents today are caused by human errors, it doesn't mean that accidents won't happen with computer-controlled cars. Only much less so.

The Association of British Insurers has identified 10 key features and performance criteria required of a truly automated vehicle:

1. Naming: clearly describes automated capability
2. Law abiding: complies with a country's traffic laws and the Highway Code
3. Location specific: functionality is limited to specific types of roads or areas via geo-fencing
4. Clear handover: transfer of driving control follows a clear ‘offer and confirm’ process
5. Safe driving: vehicle can manage all reasonably expected situations by itself
6. Unanticipated handover: adequate and appropriate notice must be given if the vehicle needs to unexpectedly hand back driving control
7. Safe stop: vehicle executes an appropriate ‘safe stop’ if unable to continue or the driver does not take back control
8. Emergency intervention: vehicles can avoid or prevent an accident by responding to an emergency
9. Back-up systems: safeguards step in if any systems fail
10. Accident data: record and report what systems were in use at the time of an accident

“We recommend that this is also criteria that government and vehicle manufacturers could use to define what is and isn’t safe use of an automated car,” said Association of British Insurers senior policy adviser for motor and liability Ben Howarth.

“These descriptors will shine a light into the potentially dangerous grey area semi-automated vehicles could create," said British motor insurers’ automotive research centre Thatcham Research director Matthew Avery.

"It is also important to shift the focus onto the safe performance of a vehicle’s automated system. We will therefore assess new vehicles against these criteria to determine if a car is assisted or automated and to drive standards in automated performance."


Aussies can buy emoji licence plates from March 1

                BRISBANE: Boring old numbers and letters not enough for you? Australia is becoming the first country in the world where drivers can personalise their licence plates with emojis.

Vehicle-owners in the state of Queensland can add emojis to their licence plates from March 1, the Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) service said today.

To start, drivers can choose from five kinds of digital icons with heart eyes, sunglasses, laugh-out-loud, winking or classic smiley faces, according to the Queensland Department of Transport contractor.

And even though they will be displayed on official plates, the emojis will just be for decoration — they won't be part of the car's official registration.

The white-on-black plates will have a mix of three letters, two numbers and one of the five emojis. The emoji plates will cost A$475 (RM1,383).

"With demand for personalised plates continuing to rise, we knew that we had to give our customers more ways to differentiate themselves when they’re on the roads and let their personalities shine through," says Taylor Clifford from plate manufacturer PPQ.

"Emojis are an increasingly popular way for people to express their feelings – we are able to use them to respond on social media and in text messages. Why not give people the chance to add a little fun to their plate!"


Land Rover reveals new edition of Range Rover Evoque SUV

                LONDON: Land Rover revealed its 2020 Range Rover Evoque Thursday, "the luxury SUV for the city and beyond," in a world premiere in London's East End.

Though not vastly different from its predecessor, the 2020 Evoque does sport new gadgetry and sustainability elements to bring the luxe level up a notch.

Based on exterior design, it's difficult to tell the 2019 model from the latest one if not placed right beside one another - the 2020 model is just a hair longer to offer passengers more legroom and trunk space.

The interior, on the other hand, received a handful of tech and material updates - in fact, a great deal of the inside was "crafted from eucalyptus, wool and recycled plastics."

Land Rover claims that 53 plastic bottles go into every vehicle upholstered in a textile made from recycled polyester microfibres.

And because one isn't enough, the new Evoque comes with two HD touch screens equipped with Apple CarPlay and 4G Wi-Fi. The rear-view mirror has been digitalised, and the headlights are now LED.

Plus, the model sports a wide span of smart and contemporary tech settings including adaptive cruise control with steering assist, all-terrain progress control, heads-up display, and all-over cameras to help drivers be aware of their surroundings at all times.

The vehicle is even said to recognise you based on the presence of your phone and key: in response to your approach, the seat, steering wheel, and more will adjust to fit your particular driving habits.

The model can support a variety of powertrains from four-cylinder diesel or petrol engines to a mild-hybrid electric alternative.

The 2020 Range Rover is available for order in the UK starting at £31,600 (RM171,000). More information is scheduled to be revealed about additional market availabilities and pricing in February at the Chicago Auto Show.


Hertz in talks with Tesla for EV delivery timeline, says WSJ

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc and Hertz Global Holdings Inc are working out how quickly the rental car company can receive deliveries from its large order of Tesla's electric cars, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Tesla and Hertz did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Last week, Hertz said it placed an initial order of 100,000 Teslas.

Interim Hertz chief executive Mark Fields said the order will primarily be Model 3 vehicles. The announcement, triggered a meteoric rally in the carmaker's stock helping the company surpass US$1 trillion (RM4.2tril) in market value.

However, Tesla boss Elon Musk took to Twitter on Monday to say that his company had not signed a contract with Hertz, spurring a brief halt in Tesla's stock rally.

In response to Musk's comments, Hertz said in a statement that the deliveries of the Teslas had already started.

"We are seeing very strong early demand for Teslas in our rental fleet, which reflects market demand for Tesla vehicles," Hertz said on Tuesday.

The company has already started advertising its Tesla fleet on websites and in a series of YouTube commercials featuring National Football League quarterback Tom Brady.

Shares of Tesla, which were up 2.3% at US$1,242 (RM5,158) in premarket trading, have rallied adding about US$350 billion (RM1.4tril) to its market value since Oct 20, when it reported robust third-quarter results.


Detroit's blue skies clouded by worries about fuel economy

                Auto industry executives see nothing but blue skies in the US market, especially compared with troubled Western European economies or slumping emerging markets.

There is just one, increasingly vexing problem: The vehicles American consumers will pay a premium to own are not the fuel-sipping small cars or electricity-powered models that they have been lavishing capital on to meet government emissions regulations.

Instead, what is selling as gas prices fall are big trucks, SUVs and high-performance luxury cars.

The disconnect between sales trends in the United States and regulatory demands is the hot topic among executives gathered for the annual Detroit auto show.

"It's the CO2 stuff that's wagging the dog more than anything else," said Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne, who tends to say out loud what other industry executives say in private.

FCA loses money on electric cars it sells, he said. But FCA will not stop working on future electric cars because of cheap gas. Oil prices fluctuate, but the US government has not changed its requirement to build vehicle fleets that will average 54.5 miles per gallon (4.3l/100km) by 2025, he said.

"It is making our life a lot more complicated," Marchionne said.

Marchionne called on the US government to give automakers more time to comply with the 54.5-mpg standard.

Officials at other automakers hint that the US Environmental Protection Agency could flex its rules to give them mileage credit for installing autonomous driving features - which could save fuel - or advanced safety systems, without taking the politically awkward step of abandoning the headline fuel economy target.

The EPA is required to review during 2016-2018 whether the 54.5-mpg goal is achievable at reasonable cost by 2025. Work on that review is already under way.

"When we set the 2025 standards for light-duty vehicles, we expected automakers would comply primarily by improving conventional gasoline vehicles, and that has proven to be the case," the EPA said in a statement.

The EPA expects automakers will shift 2 percent of their fleets to electric vehicles and 5 percent to hybrids to comply.

"We believe hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles are important for the long term, as nearly all experts expect gasoline prices to rise again," the EPA said.

The tension between government greenhouse gas regulations and market demand is not unique to the United States. Fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions mandates are roughly the same in the world's major auto markets.

But consumers in the two biggest markets - China and the United States - are gravitating towards larger, more luxurious vehicles.

With US$2 a gallon gas, says Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, it would take 14 years for the buyer of an electric car in the United States to be repaid in fuel savings for the higher cost of the battery electric systems.

Tesla Motors Inc CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday used an appearance at the Automotive News World Congress conference in Detroit to urge his established rivals to invest more in electric vehicles.

"You won't regret making those decisions," he said.

Automakers insist they are trying hard to promote cleaner, electrified cars, in part by dropping prices and swallowing more of the extra costs of the batteries required to extend zero emission driving range. General Motors Co, for instance, debuted in Detroit a prototype of an electric car it said could run for 322km and sell for US$30,000, as well as a new generation of the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt.

Daimler AG's Mercedes Benz brand said it plans 10 plug-in hybrid models over the next several years.

Steve Cannon, head of Mercedes' US sales arm, said pricing for the hybrid versions of core models such as the Mercedes S-class or E-class will not be substantially higher than for conventional gas-burning models.

"The trick is to sell these in volume" to drive down costs and achieve the 54.5-mpg federal mileage target, he said.

However, Cannon says selling plug-in hybrids "in the face of US$1.80 a gallon gas is scary for all of us."

Dave Zuchowski, head of Hyundai Motor Co's US arm said his company plans plug-ins and a battery-electric vehicle as part of a 12-model product blitz during the next three years.

But if Hyundai had the capacity, Zuchowski said he could sell up to 100,000 more SUVs in the United States.


BMW adds beacon of hope for bikers

                MUNICH: Motorcyclists can now spec their new BMW with an Intelligent Emergency Call system.

In the event of a serious accident, the system automatically sends out an SOS alerting the emergency services and giving them the bike's exact position.

If the accident is not severe, the system will prepare to call for help, but will only do so if the rider doesn't cancel the command within 25 seconds.

A rider witnessing an accident can use the sytem to call for help, and do so in his or her native language, no matter where in the world they're riding.

Emergency call systems are scientifically proven to save lives by reducing the response time of emergency services and altering them ahead of time as to the severity of an accident.

From 2018 they will be compulsory on all new cars sold in Europe.

However, the compulsory fitting of these systems to powered two-wheel vehicles is still in the consultation stage.