Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI up for grabs in 'Win the Icon' contest

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is giving Malaysians the opportunity to drive home a brand-new Beetle 1.2 TSI in its "Win the Icon" Instagram contest.

The contest is open to all Malaysians with a valid driver's license and will run from now until Nov 30 with the winner to be announced in December.

Participants only need to test drive a Volkswagen model at any authorized dealership and document their experience in a one-minute video.

Furthermore, participants will need to complete the slogan "My #BetterExperiencedThanExplained story is…".

Also, follow and tag @VolkswagenMalaysia as well as ensure that the Instagram profile has been set to "public" before posting it up.

The Beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1938 and, to date, over 21.5mil units have been sold globally to make it one of the best-selling cars of the 20th century.

However, after three generations, Volkswagen decided to cease production of the Beetle in July 2019.


Budget 2023: Govt to hasten adoption of green vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2023 provides more incentives to spur the adoption of green vehicles, in line with the country’s target of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050.

To encourage the use of electric vehicles (EVs), the government has proposed to extend import and excise duty exemptions for imported EVs by a year to Dec 31, 2024.

Also, there will be a approved permit (AP) fee exemption for EV imports till Dec 31, 2023.

Manufacturers of EV charging equipment will enjoy a 100% income tax exemption for 10 years (assessment years 2023 to 2032), as well as 100% investment tax allowance.

Meanwhile, GLCs and GLIC are committed to make investments of up to RM50bil in 2023.

These include green procurements of up to RM330mil alongside providing infrastructure for EVs.

Also, to support Tuba Island, Langkawi as the first low carbon island in the country, a sales rebate of up to RM4,000 will be given to rental motorcycles’ operators who replace their petrol-powered two-wheelers with electric motorcycles.

The automotive industry will also get a boost from the 50% excise duty exemption for the purchase of CKD (completely knocked down) or locally assembled vehicles used in the tourism industry, such as buses and passenger cars for rental.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser welcomes the extension of the duty exemptions for imported EVs, alongside incentives for EV charging equipment manufacturers.

In a statement, de Visser points out that the group continues efforts to expand its BMW i Charging network – now spanning over 400 charging facilities across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak – with partners Tenaga Nasional Bhd, EV Connection (JomCharge) and Siemens.

“We also believe in developing local talents capable of bringing the technology further in Malaysia.

“With our BMW High Voltage Expert certification, we aim to create a world-class EV-ready workforce within the country,” he adds.

The group’s all-electric BMW i fleet in the country consists of the iX, iX3, i4 and soon, the i7.

He points out that the group’s approach to electrified mobility and sustainability remains a collaborative one.

“Our environmental, social and governance goals has always been centred around the belief that it is a shared responsibility, and we remain ready to cooperate with local likeminded partners in Malaysia to develop action-based solutions on issues that affect us all,” says de Visser.

READ MORE:
MAA's take on EV growth in Malaysia
Porsche-Shell plan to lay fast charger network from Singapore to Bangkok gets under way


Infiniti QX80 lands in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: The huge Infiniti QX80 sport utility vehicle (SUV) has arrived here, and is priced at RM799,000 on the road without insurance.

Imported from Japan, with a luxurious cabin for eight people, the QX80 has a powerful 5.6-litre V8 engine with VVEL (variable valve event and lift) technology and direct petrol injection, which produces 405hp and 560Nm of torque.

The V8 engine is mated to a smooth 7-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and manual shift mode with Downshift Rev matching.

Exterior features include lightweight 22-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels, large stainless rear bumper scuff protector and a power rear liftgate.

The QX80 is offered with standard four-wheel drive, featuring Infiniti's proven All-Mode 4WD system.

The system distributes torque to all four wheels when road conditions warrant (up to 50% can go to the front wheels on demand), helping to enhance traction.

When off-road conditions become even more challenging, a multi-mode terrain switch with Snow, Mud and Rock settings changes the engine torque, 4WD and VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) parameters.

"The QX80’s majestic presence and gigantic size makes it the largest SUV officially available for sale in Malaysia," said Infiniti Business Unit head Christopher Tan.

"It’s the perfect luxury SUV for CEOs, captains and leaders of industry who demand the best performance and security in their SUVs," said Tan.

With the QX80, the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system is introduced for the first time ever on a Infiniti vehicle.

The system helps reduce body lean while turning, for a more comfortable ride.

Utilizing hydraulic cylinders located at the shock absorbers (connected via cross piping and two accumulators), it adjusts roll stiffness by allowing transfer of fluid between the left and right sides of the vehicle through passive weight transfer during normal driving.

Besides the semi-aniline leather-appointed seating, climate-controlled (heating and cooling functions) front seats are standard.

Entertainment gadgets include a Bose Cabin Surround sound system with 5.1-encoding, 15-speakers, single in-dash DVD/CD player with MP3 playback, USB connection port and Bluetooth.

It also includes an 8-inch high resolution color touch-screen display, dual 7-inch color headrest monitors, two pairs of wireless headphones, and wireless remote control.

The system allows playback of games or movies in the rear.

The two 7-inch color monitors include an auto-bright system that adjusts for daytime, clouds/evening and night/tunnel lighting.

Safety technologies include Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Emergency Braking, Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Backup Collision Intervention (BCI), Intelligent Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Distance Control Assist (DCA), Around View Monitor, and Moving Object Detection.

Four exterior colours are available – Majestic White, Graphite Shadow, Dark Currant and Black Obsidian.

> CarSifu has just tested the QX80. Watch out for the review coming soon.


New Toyota Prius to arrive as hybrids lose shine to battery EVs

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. is about to take the wraps off a revamped Prius, the latest iteration of a car that normalised the idea of owning an environmentally conscious vehicle more than two decades ago.

Leonardo de Caprio drove one. Owning a Prius was cool, even a status symbol, and the less-frequent and cheaper trips that owners made to the gas pump were revelatory.

Over the years, hybrid drivetrains found their way into other Toyota products. Other carmakers rolled out the technology, making it a routine aspect of driving for millions.

Even though the gas-sipping hatchback — with its combined combustion engine, electric motor and battery powertrain — paved the way for Teslas and other fully electric vehicles, it’s the less-hip option these days.

Prius sales have tapered off during the past few years. After peaking in 2010, when more than 500,000 units were sold worldwide, there’s been a gradual slide.

Customers bought just short of 86,000 Priuses last year. Other Toyota hybrids, such as the RAV4, do more volume.

But consider this: Toyota has sold 4.75 million Priuses to date. That’s no easy feat. Tesla only just passed the 3 million mark for cumulative production of all its vehicles: the Roadster, Model S, X, 3 and Y.

Toyota will unveil the new Prius on Wednesday at an event here. Official tweets from the carmaker, as well as other images floating around, suggest a sportier look. The tagline “Hybrid Reborn” is being used. Motor Trend even asks: “Is the Next-Gen Toyota Prius Actually Kind of Hot?”

To a certain extent, it probably doesn’t matter whether the new Prius becomes a top-selling model again. Sure, Toyota would like that, but hybrid technology is now spread across its product line, including the Lexus brand.

And EVs have become the next hot thing. Upstarts and legacy OEMs have taken control of the narrative, whipping up expectations that the fully electric era is now upon us.

While almost everyone agrees that EVs are the future, the big question is when.

Some argue it’s already here.

Others, including Toyota, have been penalised, in terms of public opinion and the stock market, for saying that it’s probably still a ways off.

But keep in mind that of the 70.6 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2021, only 4.5 million were battery-electric, according to data compiled by BloombergNEF.

Meanwhile, Toyota is still tweaking with the hybrid formula, one that it believes will be an important bridge to an all-EV future.

The Crown, a higher-end model that’s being introduced to the US market after selling for decades in Japan, features what the carmaker is calling Hybrid Max.

The new drivetrain combines an turbo-equipped engine, two electric motors and a six-speed transmission. It’s a hybrid that feels like a muscle car.

Will the new Prius have the same technology? Maybe. Will Toyota continue to bet on the Prius and hybrids? Definitely.


Proton's January sales eroded by flash floods

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton sold only 4,453 cars in January as a result of the knock-on effect of the severe flooding in Selangor at the end of 2021.

After ending the previous calendar year with its highest annual sales figure since 2014, volumes for the first month of the new year have dropped due to a lack of available stock.

The figure of 4,453 included export sales, and was a reduction of 25.3% from the same month in 2021 and equivalent to an estimated domestic market share of 11.3%.

Parts supply issues affected production of all models.

While Proton’s production facilities in Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim were unaffected by the floods in
December, the company’s vendors were not as lucky.

Many have production facilities in Shah Alam and were thus hit by rising flood waters. This had a direct effect on production volume in January, leading to a shortage of units to fulfil orders.

The situation was further compounded by minimal carry-over stock from the previous month as the company worked to close the gap between supply and market demand.

“After a successful end to 2021, January was a very tough month for Proton," said Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah.

"Our short supply situation became magnified by the lack of units being produced, creating a severe shortage for our dealers. Thankfully, production for all our models resumed in January, though some required more time than others.

"We are, however, confident of meeting our targets for 2022 based on market projections as well as our sales and marketing plans for the rest of the year.”

Among all models, the X50 and X70 were the firsts to resume production and this was reflected in their January sales volume.

A total of 2,601 units of the X50 and 799 units of the X70 were delivered last month and although the individual totals were modest compared to the previous month, combined they helped to position Proton as the number one SUV brand in Malaysia.

One and a half months after the December floods took the nation by surprise, over 1,200 flood affected Proton vehicles have been received at authorised service centres.

They are then divided into four categories, depending on the severity of the damage suffered, before assessments are made and repairs get under way.

“Proton would like to remind all customers with flood damaged cars to send their vehicles to our network of
authorised service centres to enjoy benefits such as free towing and car wash services as well as discounted
parts and labour charges.

"We are also thankful to the government for the RM1,000 assistance voucher, which has proven to be invaluable for many of our customers,” said Roslan.


With Maybach brand, staid Mercedes says it now wants to shock

                STUTTGART: Maybach has big plans for the maximalist coaches it’s made occasionally for the past 113 years, a line that now includes the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and Mercedes-Maybach GLS.

There’s the two-tone, 18-foot-long Mercedes-Maybach S680 sedan developed by Virgil Abloh, the late head of menswear for Louis Vuitton, which goes on sale globally later this year with a limited run of 150 units.

Also by Abloh, in conjunction with Gorden Wagener, the charismatic chief design officer for Mercedes group: the electric off-road concept called Project Maybach.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Maybach’s new "Haute Voiture” concept unveiled on May 18 promises bouclé door panels reminiscent of Chanel suits and a launch date next year. An electric Mercedes-Maybach SUV will soon follow.

Plus there’s a new business plan at Mercedes-Benz that focuses on higher-end, higher-margin vehicles like those from its Maybach division, which boasts a fresh young chief executive officer just a few months into his tenure.

With all that excitement, Maybach, it seems, could be poised for a resurgence.

"There has been a restart,” Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius says during an interview in Monaco on May 18. "This is the rejuvenation of the Maybach brand.”

Try, try again

Named after Wilhelm Maybach, a prolific engine designer and one of Gottlieb Daimler’s earliest collaborators, and founded with his son Karl in 1909, Maybach grew synonymous at the time with speed, power, and prestige.

By 1921, it was making cars like the 5-meter-long Maybach 22/70 HP W3 and the opulent Maybach SW 42, which featured such novelties as electrically operated windows.

After World War II, during which Maybach produced most of the engines for Nazi Germany’s tanks, the company continued making diesel engines, but infighting and disorganization caused it to implode.

In 1960, Daimler-Benz AG acquired Maybach Motorenbau GmbH mostly to own the rights to the engines.

In 1997, after decades of dormancy, Mercedes presented a Maybach concept at the Tokyo Motor Show and said it would produce a pair of Maybach-branded sedans within the next five years.

The Maybach 52 and the Maybach 62 arrived in 2002, but the cars looked bloated and self-serious, and the brand later admitted it had lost $439,000 on each of the cars it sold.

In 2011, Daimler announced it would sell off the remaining models, effectively tranquilising Maybach for the time being.

The signature two-tone saloons entered a long hibernation from relevancy since Jay-Z and Kanye West featured a dismembered 2004 Maybach 57 in the video for their song Otis in 2011.

Then came the latest shift. Mercedes revived the Maybach badge at the 2014 Los Angeles auto show with the new Mercedes-Maybach nameplate, essentially a rebadged version of the Mercedes S600 flagship sedan.

These modern Mercedes-Maybach vehicles were designed primarily for chauffeured trips and came cocooned so densely in creature comforts they feel closer to the business suite of a private jet than a car.

Fully reclining seats, beverage chillers, retractable work tables, and DJ-caliber headphones for the entertainment system are de rigueur.

Since then, sales have steadily risen. Last year, Mercedes-Maybach sold 15,730 units worldwide, up 50% from 2020 and boosted primarily by China, where its cars sell at a rate of more than 900 a month.

"The brand is doing fantastic,” says Daniel Lescow, the new head of Maybach, during dinner in Monaco on May 17. "There is so much potential. We spend zero media money on it.”

While he declined to talk specifically about order rates on the newest Maybach vehicles, he characterised them as "in high demand.”

Shock tactics

Maybach says it has a plan to conjure something that will appeal to the world’s moneyed class even if it can’t draw from an esteemed (or, at least, consistent) pedigree. First, it keeps the cars just out of reach.

"The purpose of Maybach is not to churn out new models even every year,” Kaellenius says. "You’ve got to keep it special. Lower volume, discerning customers. Every now and then, we will sprinkle the Maybach manufacturer brand on top of a few (Mercedes) products.”

And then it punches you in the nose. Stylistically speaking, of course. The Mercedes-Maybach Haute Voiture, so named after a play on haute couture and the French word for "car,” is a prime example.

The white faux-fur mats that line its floors are so long and shaggy Penny Lane herself would approve. The rose gold studs lining the arctic white seats and matching Champagne flutes in the rear recall the visual cues of a bridal shower brunch.

Intricate stitching across niveous leather seats and Maybach logos festooned across the car scream for attention like a teenager on a sugar high.

Proudly unapologetic? That’s the whole idea.

"Some people may say it’s terrible, but that is exactly what we should do as a luxury brand-it’s a shock,” says Steffen Köhl, the director of advanced exterior design during an interview at Mercedes’s design studio in Nice, France. "Disruptiveness and contradiction are a source of creativity.”

The shock comes as much from the size and price of the vehicle as it does from all of the extra cosmetic and personalisation options available.

A Mercedes-Maybach S-Class starts at $185,000-$74,000 more than the regular S-Class. And it’s bigger. Maybach sedans offer a wheelbase 18 centimeters (7.1 inches) longer than that of the standard S-Class.

"Maybach wants to express wealth through footprint, how big the object is,” says Frank Stephenson, a Moroccan-born American automobile designer who’s worked for BMW, Mini, Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and McLaren. "It’s almost cartoonish.”

There’s no question such pizzazz helps ensure the cars appeal to Chinese buyers, who tend to pay for more outré designs and skew far younger in age and far wealthier in pocketbook than do the consumers of Mercedes vehicles.

The average age of a Maybach buyer in China is mid-40s, and across the brand it’s largely under 50, which is younger than the average Mercedes buyer.

"The Chinese market is a younger market, which is not bashful about showing its wealth, and the Maybach certainly does that,” Stephenson says.

"They tend to have a disproportionate sort of demonstration of wanting to show their wealth-and it’s garish. There are a large number of people there who would order a Maybach with gold wheels on it, if they could, or in all gold plate.”

It’s an attitude that’s spreading, if you ask the folks at Mercedes-Benz. The power to surprise is Maybach’s best chance of grabbing car buyers’ attention-regardless of the locale-they say.

"China is the biggest car market in the world. And it’s also the biggest luxury car market in the world. And naturally it’s the biggest Maybach market in the world,” says Kaellenius.

"But the United States is very important. Western Europe is important. Korea is important. Japan is important. Middle East is of course important.

"There are other markets around the world that crave the same type of vehicles.”


Korean socmed abuzz with claims of BMW iDrive crashes in province

                SEOUL:  The BMW iDrive 7 system tends to go haywire when passing through the South Korean province of Gangwon, according to a report by car news website autoevolution.

The report — citing BMW car owners airing their grouses on Korean social media — claimed that other than the iDrive crashing, CarPlay stops working, emergency services are disabled, navigation is no longer available and systems like auto-braking are turned off.

Such symptoms point to a networking issue in the province.

An owner of a 2020 530i said the iDrive crash typically happens after using CarPlay for a long period of time, with the screen turning black and then rebooting automatically after some 20 seconds.

The problem apparently boils down to a corrupted modem that seizes up when nearing Gangwon, said autoevolution.

BMW seems to be the only cars affected by what is known locally as the Gangwon Disease. Affected car owners are still waiting for a permanent fix.

Gangwon, located east of Seoul, is known for its natural beauty.


2018 Audi A6 sedan: Fuel-saving mild-hybrid technology

                INGOLSTADT, Germany: Now in its eighth-generation, the all-new Audi A6 has a stunning arsenal of technology including dynamic all-wheel steering with mild-hybrid engine, all-digital MMI touch response system with Audi connect and a wider array of driver assistance systems.

There are two engine options - one diesel and one petrol.

Paired with a seven-speed S tronic transmission and Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the 3.0 TFSI petrol variant is a turbocharged V6 engine that generates 340hp and 500Nm of torque, allowing the business sedan to accelerate to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds.

Meanwhile, the 3.0 TDI engine variant develops 286hp and 620Nm of torque, and is paired with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

Both engine options for the new Audi A6 come with Audi’s new mild-hybrid technology (MHEV), where a belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery.

At speeds between 55 and 160km/h, the four-door coupé can coast in freewheeling mode with the engine deactivated and then restarted comfortably via the BAS.

When decelerating, this engine is also able to achieve a recuperation performance of up to 12kW, recharging the lithium-ion battery.

The start-stop function now activates at 22km/h, with the engine getting restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front of the Audi A6 starts moving.

The MHEV technology reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.7 liters per 100km.

In terms of dimensions, the new Audi A6 is 4,939mm long (+7mm longer than its predecessor); 1,886mm wide (12mm wider); and 1,457mm in height (2mm higher).

With the top-of-the-line version, the HD Matrix LED headlights, there are a total of five horizontal lines that form the daytime running light signature, emphasizing the width of the front.

Compared with the outgoing model, it offers more interior space and leg, head and shoulder room.

Boot space is unchanged at 530 litres, but this time, it offers more loading width – two golf bags can be accommodated horizontally.

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In the cabin, Audi’s new MMI touch response operating concept replaces the rotary push-button and conventional buttons of before with two large, high-resolution touch displays.

The driver manages the infotainment on the top display, which is displayed over a 10.1-inch screen diagonal screen if MMI navigation plus has been specified; specifying MMI Navigation plus also includes the famed Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch display.

The bottom 8.6-inch display, located in the console in the centre tunnel, is used for the climate control and for the convenience functions and text input; the driver’s wrist can sit on the selector lever of the automatic transmission.

 Cockpit

The all-digital operating system allows central vehicle functions to be placed in the required position in the MMI screen using drag-and-drop – similar to the user experience with smartphone apps.

The MMI touch response operating system with haptic and acoustic feedback provides rapid, intuitive operation; users hear and feel a click as confirmation as soon as their finger triggers a function.

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Karma Automotive develops new E-flex platform

                LOS ANGELES: Southern California-based Karma Automotive has announced the introduction of its E-Flex Platform.

Touted as a highly versatile chassis that will offer new electric vehicle mobility solutions that can range from autonomously-driven utility vans to ‘every-day’ driver vehicles and even high-performance supercars.

The company said that its highly-flexible platform currently supports its 2020 Revero GT extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).

As part of the project, additional EREV platform offerings, platforms for battery-electric-only vehicles (BEVs), and ‘proof-of-concept’ vehicles will be showcased in time.

The goal of the project looks to demonstrate the company's growing capabilities and highlight its latest E-Flex Platform’s core high-tech applications including autonomy, software and hardware, artificial intelligence and advanced transportation solutions.

The company said that it recognized a high demand within the electric vehicle market to develop a new electrified platform with increased versatility.

Prior to the new platform, it said that the cost required to develop, test, certify and build a new EREV or BEV platform could require an investment of up to 1.0bil (RM4.3bil) for manufacturers.

It added that its platform will allow vehicle manufacturers faster entry into the electric vehicle market at a substantially reduced development cost.


Toyota offers new PHV power service

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota will be teaming with five Japanese power companies to offer the new PHV Connected Power Service.

This service will provide customers of the new Prius PHV, with various benefits depending on their vehicle EV-mode cruising distance, as well as the amount of home charging.

This service seeks to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles by encouraging customers who drive the new Prius PHV to use the car's EV-mode for longer driving distances.

This is part of Toyota's coordination with other industries using the mobility service platform, which is a core element of our connected strategy. The five power companies are Tohoku Electric Power Co., Ltd., TEPCO Energy Partner, Inc., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., and Shikoku Electric Power Company, Inc.

Specifically, the EV-mode cruising distance, amount of electricity charged in one's home, as well as other information which are acquired by the data communication module (DCM) that is installed in the Prius PHV, are provided by Toyota to the respective power companies for customers who have submitted service applications.

Customers can check this information themselves via the related websites, and depending on the content, power companies are able to award customers with points.

Customers can in turn, use these points to pay their power bills, or exchange them for various products. Information about the PHV Connected Power Service will be provided to customers via a dedicated website that will be launched simultaneously with the new Prius PHV, and dealers will provide fliers which introduce the contents of services offered by individual power companies.

Toyota will continue to strive to ensure the safety and security of our customers while exploring potential partnerships with other industries and companies, with the utilization of data obtained from vehicles to develop attractive products, as well as to provide after-sales service.


China fines auto chip sales companies for pushing up prices

                BEIJING: China market regulator said today that it fined three auto chip sales companies for driving up prices, in a move to help auto production in the world's biggest vehicle market.

The State Administration for Market Regulations said on its website that it fined three local companies a total of 2.5 million yuan (RM1.6mil).

The companies are Shanghai Chengsheng Industrial Co Ltd, Shanghai Cheter and Shenzhen Yuchang Technologies.

The regulator said it would continue to closely monitor the price in chip industry and crackdown on illegal market behaviours to maintain market order.

A prolonged global chip shortage has affected major automakers, including Ford Motor, Honda Motor, General Motors and Volkswagen, forcing many to idle or curtail production.


New-gen Porsche 911 Carrera debuts

                STUTTGART: The Porsche  911 has been the world’s best-selling sports car for decades. Now, the new generation has arrived, and highlights include innovative twin-turbocharged flat-six engines, an advanced chassis with an even greater spread between performance and comfort, and a new infotainment system.

The new engines in the new 911 Carrera set benchmarks in terms of performance, driving pleasure and efficiency.

The new option of rear-axle steering, available on the Carrera S models for the first time, further extends the range of dynamic virtuosity. The fastest lap time around the North Loop of the Nürburgring is reduced to 7 minutes and 30 seconds – 10 seconds faster than before.

Many exterior features of the 911 Carrera have been visually refined: these include new headlights with four-point daytime running lights, handles inset to the door panel without recess covers, a redesigned engine lid with vertical louvres and new tail lights – including the now characteristic four-point brake light Porsche motif. Inside, a new Porsche Communication Management with an enhanced multi-touch display console offers an expanded range of functions and simplified operation.

The new engine generation with twin turbocharging now featured in the 911 Carrera has raised power, efficiency and also intensified the emotional driving experience. As is typical of the 911, at the rear of the Carrera lies a 3.0-litre flat-six engine, developing 370 hp (272 kW). The 3.0-litre flat-six in the Carrera S now delivers 420 hp (309 kW). In both cases this represents a power boost of 20 hp (15 kW) over the prior model. The 911 Carrera S produces more horsepower courtesy of turbochargers with modified turbine compressors, a specific exhaust system and tuned engine management.

The new Porsche engines are characterised by significantly increased torque (60 Nm in each case), and with maximum torque of 450 Nm and 500 Nm respectively delivered constantly from 1,700 rpm up to 5,000 rpm in both cases, thus ensuring responsive performance. At the same time, with a maximum engine speed of 7,500 rpm the new generation clearly exceeds the top revs of conventional turbo engines – and, of course, both are underscored by the typical sonorous Porsche flat-six engine sound.

Every new 911 generation boasts enhanced performance and efficiency compared with their predecessors. The 911 Carrera Coupé with Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) and Sport Chrono Package sprints from zero to 100kph in 4.2 seconds – making it two tenths of a second faster than its predecessor. The 911 Carrera S with PDK and Sport Chrono Package achieves this benchmark in just 3.9 seconds (also 0.2 secs swifter). This means that it is the first 911 in the Carrera family to undercut the magic four second mark. And the top speeds of both models have also increased further: the 911 Carrera now has a top speed of 295kph (an increase of 6kph), while the 911 Carrera S now reaches 307kph (an increase of 5kph).

The Porsche 911 has always balanced performance and efficiency, sportiness and everyday usability. The new engines further extend the span of these apparent contradictions. Depending on the model, the 911 is now almost 12 per cent more efficient.

In conjunction with the optional Sport Chrono Package, the 911 Carrera now features a ‘mode switch’ on the steering wheel, derived from the hybrid mode switch of the 918 Spyder. The mode switch consists of a rotary control with four positions for the driving settings “Normal”, “Sport”, “Sport Plus” and “Individual”. Depending on the car’s specification, the latter setting enables drivers to configure their own individual vehicle set-up; eg Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), PDK transmission shifting strategy and sports exhaust system.

In combination with the PDK, the mode switch has an additional “Sport Response Button”. When this is pressed, the drivetrain is pre-conditioned for maximum acceleration for 20 seconds, in anticipation of an overtaking manoeuvre, for example. For a short time, the optimum gear is engaged and the engine management adjusted to an even more spontaneous response.

For the first time, the new PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) chassis, which lowers the ride height by 10mm, is a standard feature of every Carrera model. It further improves stability during fast cornering. At the same time, new dampers enhance comfort thanks to an even more precise response characteristic as well as improving body control during dynamic driving.

The new wheel designs with five slim twin spokes carry tyres with reduced rolling resistance and enhanced performance.

The active rear-axle steering that is available as an option for the 911 Carrera S is chassis technology adopted from the 911 Turbo and 911 GT3 (and 918 Spyder).

It further enhances the turn-in behaviour of the 911. In addition, it makes for high driving stability when changing lanes at high speeds. It also ensures greater manoeuvrability in city traffic thanks to the turning circle reduction of 0.5 metres. The improved handling is transmitted to the driver via the new steering wheel design, based on that fitted in the 918 Spyder. The basic steering wheel has a diameter of 375 millimetres; the optional ‘GT sport’ steering wheel measures 360mm.

For unlimited everyday practicality, customers can choose a hydraulic lift system with integrated lifting cylinders in the struts of the front axle. Pressing a button increases the ground clearance at the nose by 40 mm within five seconds and thus prevents the vehicle underbody from hitting the ground, when traversing steep garage exits for example.

The new 911 Carrera models feature a development of the Porsche Communication Management System (PCM) including Online satellite navigation and voice control. The PCM can be operated by performing multi-touch gestures on the seven-inch display, similar to operating a smartphone. User inputs by handwriting are also possible. Mobile phones and smartphones can now also be connected via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.  Also new is the option of connecting an iPhone to the PCM to use Apple CarPlay.

Real-time traffic information is available for significantly improved route navigation. It gives the driver a quick overview of the traffic situation and guarantees dynamic adaptation of the route to this information. Google Earth® and Google Streetview® are also being integrated for the first time to offer better orientation.

An extended range of new and improved assistance systems are available on the new 911. The optional automatic speed control can now also brake moderately when the pre-set speed is exceeded, for example when driving downhill. Furthermore, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) option now has a coasting function in conjunction with the PDK transmission. When driving in a queue the clutches are disengaged, thus saving fuel with unpowered coasting. The optional Lane Change Assist monitors traffic behind with radar and uses LED lamps in the left and right of the mirror triangle to warn the driver about approaching vehicles in the blind spot. In addition, Porsche increases active safety with the multi-collision braking system as a standard feature.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera models will be launched in Germany on Dec 12.


Volkswagen to refit cars affected by emissions scandal

                BERLIN: Volkswagen announced plans on Tuesday to refit up to 11 million vehicles and overhaul its namesake brand following the scandal over its rigging of emissions tests.

New chief executive Matthias Mueller said the German carmaker would tell customers in the coming days they would need to have diesel vehicles with illegal software refitted, a move which some analysts have said could cost more than US$6.5 billion.

Europe's biggest carmaker has admitted cheating in diesel emissions tests in the United States and Germany's transport minister says it also manipulated them in Europe, where Volkswagen sells about 40 percent of its vehicles.

The company is under huge pressure to address the worst business crisis in its 78-year history, which has wiped more than a third off its market value, sent shock waves through the global car market and could harm Germany's economy.

"We are facing a long trudge and a lot of hard work," Mueller told a closed-door gathering of about 1,000 top managers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters late on Monday.

"We will only be able to make progress in steps and there will be setbacks," he said, according to a text seen by Reuters.

Volkswagen did not say how the planned refit would make cars with the "cheat" software comply with regulations, or how this might affect vehicles' mileage or efficiency, which are important considerations for customers. It said it would submit the details to Germany's KBA watchdog next month.

Manipulating emissions results allowed Volkswagen to keep down engine costs in a "clean diesel" strategy that was popular in Europe and at the heart of a drive to improve US results.

Mueller was appointed CEO on Friday to replace Martin Winterkorn. German prosecutors said on Monday they were investigating Winterkorn over allegations of fraud.

Volkswagen sold 10.1 million vehicles in the whole of 2014.

The company said last week it would set aside 6.5 billion euros (US$7.3 billion) to help cover the cost of the crisis.

But analysts think that may not be enough, as it faces potential fines from regulators and prosecutors, as well as lawsuits from cheated customers.


Toyota joins electricity trading using blockchain for EVs

                TOKYO: The University of Tokyo, Toyota Motor Corp and Trende Inc will jointly conduct tests, from June 17 at Toyota's Higashifuji Technical Center on a next-generation electricity system (P2P electricity transactions) that enables homes, businesses, and electrified vehicles connected to the electricity grid to trade electricity using blockchain.

The objective of the test is to verify the economic advantage of having prosumers, who generate electricity with their own distributed power supply, trade electricity with electricity consumers, via an electricity exchange market, at prices that reflect supply and demand conditions, and to assess the feasibility of a two-way, self-autonomous electricity supply system that allows direct trading with other prosumers.

Specific steps of the test include the establishment of an electricity exchange accessible by households and businesses participating in the test, and the installation of an AI-powered electricity management system (an electricity trading agent) in each household and business.

The electricity trading agent places orders to buy and sell electricity in an electricity exchange based on electrical consumption and forecasts of electrical power to be generated by solar panels at households and businesses.

Electricity transactions between individuals are implemented using a defined algorithm that matches buy and sell orders that are collected in the electricity exchange from each household and business.

This is the world's first test for electricity trading between individuals that incorporates PHEVs as a distributed power supply, in addition to solar panels and secondary batteries.

The test aims to verify the economic advantage of having electricity consumers and prosumers trade electricity through market transactions.

It will also simulate electricity consignment fees based on distance5, and verify an algorithm for predicting the electricity demands of electrified vehicles, which have varying electrical consumption levels based on cruising range.


JPJ begins testing automated driving e-testing system

                PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) aims to implement its automated driving test or “e-testing” system for driving schools nationwide by June.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Shaharuddin Khalid said under the new system, learner drivers would no longer have a JPJ officer seated beside them during the driving test, as it would be done remotely.

“During the driving tests, the candidate will still have to go through the normal circuit.

“However, the examiner will no longer be in the car and will monitor the test from a control room at the driving institute.

“If the candidate hits a pole or commits any other mistake, the officer in the control room will know immediately.

“Through this initiative, we will be able to increase the integrity of our department.

“This is part of our digitalisation effort,” Shaharuddin said after attending the department’s monthly assembly here.

He said the automated system would also be able to reduce waiting time for learner drivers as dates for driving tests could be secured faster.

“One of the complaints we continue to receive is that students find it difficult to secure test dates as there are no testers.”

The DG said the e-testing system was currently being implemented as a pilot project at three driving institutes in Johor.

Besides automated driving tests, the JPJ’s theory tests would also be fully computerised.

Shaharuddin also said a total of 122 driving institutes in the country have applied to open computerised examination centres at their premises.

On the Chinese New Year celebrations, Shaharuddin said some 2,200 JPJ officers have had their leave frozen for a two-week festive Ops.

As part of the operations, he said JPJ would put officers in express buses to nab drivers who commit road offences such as speeding, using mobile phones while driving and overtaking at double lines.

“We will have at least two officers in a total of 148 express buses to keep a lookout for these offences. They will only nab the driver at the end of the journey,” said Shaharuddin.

Bus drivers will also be screened at bus terminals to check if they have valid licences and were fit to drive, he added.

“The JPJ, with the help of AADK (National Anti-Drugs Agency), caught a bus driver who tested positive for drugs before he was going to drive away,” said Shaharuddin.

On the car child-seat ruling, Shaharuddin said JPJ would continue its advocacy approach for the festive season.

“Since the ruling became mandatory on Jan 1, we have issued 525 notices to drivers whose children were not kept in child seats.

“The JPJ will gather some data by mid-year to see how many road users have complied with the ruling,” he said.


Nissan will not fill COO position left open by Gupta's departure

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co has decided to not fill in the chief operating officer position vacated by Ashwani Gupta under a new management structure, the Japanese automaker said today.

Responsibilities previously carried out by the operations chief will be taken over by other executives, it said.

Hideyuki Sakamoto, executive vice president in charge of manufacturing and supply chain management, will be responsible for purchasing. Chief financial officer Stephen Ma will take over operations performance duties.

"In response to the constantly evolving market conditions, we will introduce a flatter and agile leadership structure, which will further empower regional and functional leadership," Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida (pic) said in a statement.

Nissan said earlier this month Gupta would leave the Japanese automaker to pursue other opportunities, following an announcement he would not be reappointed to the board of directors at the end of his term. His last day at Nissan was Tuesday.

Japan's No.3 automaker is investigating accusations that Uchida carried out surveillance of Gupta, Reuters has reported.

Nissan is in the midst of finalising the terms of a sweeping reset of its decades-old alliance with Renault SA.

Gupta had clashed with Uchida over Uchida's desire to close the negotiations with Renault quickly, with Gupta urging more caution over terms of the deal, people with knowledge of the talks have told Reuters.


Volkswagen's Herbert Diess cements support in boardroom deal

Firmly in the driver's seat now. Diess gains full support to proceed with his goal to beat Tesla at the auto electrification game.
FRANKFURT: Volkswagen's supervisory board on Monday announced a deal to end infighting over top jobs and strategy that risked toppling chief executive Herbert Diess, saying the boss's strategy had their "full support".

Diess, 62, has come into conflict with VW's powerful worker representatives over his plans for the massive carmaker to shift towards electric vehicles and break decades-old power structures that many observers blame for its "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal.

The company said in a statement that the supervisory board "unanimously resolved to give its full support to the strategy, in particular the orientation of the company towards electromobility and digitalisation.

"In the upcoming years, the board of management... will implement the strategy with Herbert Diess at the top," it added.

Press reports suggested that Diess had demanded an extension of his contract beyond its current end date in 2023 as proof he had the non-executives' backing.

While the company did not grant the former BMW executive that vote of confidence, it did confirm his nominees to top roles.

 Antlitz, one of Diess' men, is promoted to take over control of the group's finances from June 2021.

Arno Antlitz, finance chief at high-end subsidiary Audi, will take control of the entire group's finances from June.

Meanwhile Thomas Schmall will move from Volkswagen Components to take responsibility for "technology" across the group, while Murat Aksel will become group head of purchasing on top of the same role at the VW brand.

Diess' push for change at VW has seen him lock horns with Bernd Osterloh, the head of the group's influential works council.

As recently as June, an attack by union representatives cost the chief executive his role as head of the flagship VW brand, after they accused him of "massive failures of management" in launching two crucial new models.

Now there is "total agreement between the supervisory board, the board of management and the employee representatives" on VW's objectives, Osterloh was quoted as saying.

VW is pumping more than €35 billion (RM173bil) into electric vehicles and plans to sell 26 million cars from a range of 70 electric models by 2030.

Diess has publicly stated his objective is to catch up with US competitor Tesla.

Also in Monday's statement, the supervisory board said sportscar maker Lamborghini and motorcycle company Ducati would both remain part of the VW group, although press reports and analysts regularly suggest the two world-famous brands could be sold off or floated separately on the stock market.


BMW Malaysia introduces Limited Editions 320i and 330i from RM262,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia has unveiled new limited editions of the 320i M Sport Edition as well as the 330i M Sport Edition, both locally-assembled and complete with additional equipment to enhance the premium driving experience of the best-selling sports sedan in the premium segment of the Malaysian automotive industry.

The recommended retail pricing for the 320i M Sport an 330i M Sport, with BMW Service and Repair Inclusive as well as Sales and Service Tax (on-the-road, without insurance) are RM262,800 and RM304,800 respectively. 320i.

The new 320i M Sport Edition will arrive with the M Sport Package, complemented by new 18-inch M light alloy wheels in Double-Spoke Style 790 M to further enhance the sporting appeal of the latest variant.

Inside, the new variant will also be equipped with the variable sports steering and M leather steering wheel, along with Individual Roof-Lining Anthracite.

Meanwhile, the 330i M Sport Edition will get the electrical glass roof feature and Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, for maximum enjoyment in every drive.

 330i.

Also adding to the sporting appeal of the 330i M Sport are the new 19-inch M light allow wheels in Double-Spoke Style 791 M.

Exterior colour offerings for both Limited Edition variants include Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Mineral Grey as well as the M Portimao Blue.

Interior upholstery is offered exclusively in Leather Vernasca Black.

 330i.

Buyers of both cars can also obtain the Easy Drive Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia where 320i M Sport and 330i M Sport Editions can be owned with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM2,663 and RM3,237 respectively (based on estimates of an 80% loan on
a five-year tenure).

Buyers will also receive the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:

> BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme,
> BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline,
> The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App - BMW Privileges Card, and
> BMW Service Online


Keanu Reeves will build a US$78,000 motorcycle for you

Hollinger (left) and Reeves. - Arch pic
NEW YORK: Don’t mistake Keanu Reeves for some nice-guy motorcycle dilettante. He doesn’t care about your trendy Scrambler-riding blue jeans or your fashion-forward “motorcycle” jacket. And he definitely doesn’t want to ride your pretty little café racer.

He is, on the other hand, more than happy to talk with you about the Arch Motorcycles KRGT-1 superbikes he makes with his longtime friend, Gard Hollinger, a revered designer in the motorcycle world. The US$78,000 (RM313,424) motorcycles are based off a prototype Hollinger made for Reeves years ago; each of the 2,032cc, V-Twin-engine beasts are made-to-order in Hawthorne, an hour south of Los Angeles.

“Building that [first] bike is where we got to know each other,” Reeves said in July during an interview at their shop. Unlike most experienced riders who started riding from a very young age on dirt bikes, scooters and Groms, Keanu learned to ride as an adult. But he has already logged tens of thousands of miles on the backs of Nortons, Suzukis, a 1974 BMW 750, a Kawasaki KZ 900, a 1984 Harley Shovelhead, and a Moto Guzzi racer-all from his own personal collection.

Practicality and extreme design are often mutually exclusive when it comes to expensive bikes (just look at the awkward angles of the extreme choppers that cruise up and down the 405 every weekend). But that is what Reeves wanted.

Arch has sold a handful KRGT-1s since 2014 (the guys won’t specify how many). Hollinger says he expects to make roughly 30 or just slightly more a year-exclusivity is important. The bikes are made of more than 200 individual parts, most of which he fabricates with a small team of workers in the Hawthorne shop. (Arch is possibly the first motorcycle brand to be completely assembled in LA since a company called Crocker made V-Twins there in the 1930s.)

Each is bespoke to its owner, so speed and power specs are subject to change, but in general they weigh around 244kg and, at 121hp, can cruise easily at 160kph. With their six gears, scooped-out insides, ultralight carbon fibre wheels, and aluminum bodies, they’re heavier than, say a 220kg Ducati xDiavel S but much lighter than something like a 290kg Harley-Davidson V-Rod. Their 19-litre petrol tanks will take you 322km before a fill-up. Each requires a US$15,000 (RM60,274) deposit even before that US$78,000 price tag.

“It's a bike that's really confident feeling going straight,” Reeves told me, rattling off engine specs and power calibrations like a true gear head. “Our bike has a lot of torque-115 pounds-so whenever you get on the throttle you really feel the pull and push of the motorcycle. It can turn and handle.”

If you see an Arch motorcycle on the road, you’ll know it in a second. They’re rounded at the front, with a dip in the middle for the single seat before curving up again at the rear. (This is a lone-wolf bike, no passengers allowed.) They have a single LED headlight and low, short handlebars. The rear Michelin tyre is fatter than the front, but not so wide as to distract; their reflective aluminum rear cowling makes them unmistakable at night.

Similar to buying a custom suit, buying your own KRGT-1 requires multiple sessions of measurements-Hollinger fits the pedals, the handlebars, the seat angle to your exact size. The proprietary Arch suspension is also adjustable according to riding style and preference. Once you settle on your model, delivery time takes 90 days or so-the Arch billet aluminum swing arm requires over 17 hours of machining alone-though most of that time is spent working with outside vendors for finishes like custom paint, engraving and metal finishes to make the bike personalised for the customer.

In actual work time it takes only a couple weeks to build the bike. Then Reeves takes it out for a test drive. “It has to work,” he said, laughing. “After that it's aesthetics and feel and taste. The bike started off as a classic American big V-twin, but because of the way that it handles and the ergonomics and the telemetry that Gard has designed, I feel like it's in a new class of motorcycle which might be called a ‘performance cruiser.’”

Whatever you call them-that term is a new one-they’ll keep even the most experienced rider occupied. The bikes are not fat and low like a hog, nor are they flat-seated for extra passengers like a café racer. For urban riding and highway cruising they hit the Goldilocks sweet spot: Just right.


New Rolls Royce Ghost ready to be bespoked from RM1.45mil

                LONDON: The epitome of luxury on four wheels that is Rolls-Royce has launched its latest iteration of the Ghost.

The new Ghost sits between the British coachbuilder's driver-oriented Wraith and the brand's flagship chauffeur-oriented Phantom while priced at RM1.45mil before taxes, duties and bespoked options.

The new Ghost arrives practically revamped from the bottom up with only the Spirit of Ecstasy and umbrellas carried forward from its predecessor.

The Ghost is known for its dual personality. On the one side, its handling prowess is deemed impressive, but not enough that it'll outdo the Wraith's abilities and yet it'll have enough comfort and opulence as a chauffeur-driven vehicle without outshining the Phantom.

Structurally, Ghost uses the marque's latest proprietary aluminium spaceframe architecture that's been hand-welded together - much like that of the Phantom and Cullinan.

The 2,495kg (kerb) Ghost has grown in overall size to 5,635mm-long (+89mm), 1,978mm-wide (+30mm) and 1,571mm-tall (+21mm) - all while sitting on a 3,295mm wheelbase.

Power comes from a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 563bhp at 5,000rpm and 850Nm of torque from 1,600rpm for the all-wheel-drive system with all-wheel steer capability for added stability.

READ MORE: Rolls-Royce says demand for luxury cars is recovering

Unpleasant road surfaces are removed by the combination of the marque's Flagbearer system that scans the road surfaces for imperfections and feeds the information to the Magic Carpet Ride system which in turn tells how the new Planar Suspension System should react in order to provide a stable and effortless ride.

These technologies are managed as one through a bespoke Planar software system.

Combining this with the self-levelling air-suspension, stability control and the self-drying braking systems, this sounds like a ride that can never be replicated or matched.

New comfort and convenience features for the Ghost now includes self-opening doors in addition to the self-closing doors where clients first open the door with one pull of the interior handle, then allow the handle to return to its resting position while they check for potential hazards, and then pull and hold it for full power assistance on opening.

Once the door is opened sufficiently for the client’s exit, they simply stop pulling the handle, which engages a door brake.

After alighting from the Ghost, they are able to close the door completely automatically at the push of a button on the exterior door handle.

The cabin's air quality now benefits from a new Micro-environment Purification System (MEPS).

MEPS uses Impurity Detection Sensors found within the cabin to detect the ambient air quality.

The system can automatically switch to Recirculation Mode and with the use of a nanofleece filter, it can remove nearly all ultra-fine particles from the cabin in under two-minutes if unacceptable levels of airborne contaminants are present.

The cabin is further equipped with Wi-Fi hotspot, self-park, navigation and entertainment systems.

In terms of safety, the Ghost comes equipped with LED and laser headlights that can provide up to 600m of illumination as well as vision assist, day-and night-time wildlife and pedestrian warning.

There's also alertness assistant, a quad-camera system that provides three viewing angles of panoramic, all-round visibility and helicopter (360-degree) view.

While on the road, drives get a 7x3 high-resolution heads-up display, active cruise control, collision warning, cross-traffic warning, lane departure and lane change warning.

To further refine the cabin's acoustic properties, the air intake system incorporated a larger port to further reduce the engine's presence within the interior along with more than 100kg of acoustic damping materials for the doors, roof, double-glazed windows, tyres and nearly all of the structural cavities.

Even the 507-litre boot cavity had ports built beneath it to help silence the cabin further.

From there, all interior components were assessed and subsequently redesigned if unacceptable levels of noise were detected - the inside of the air conditioning ducting and prop-shaft were adjusted to help improve acoustics.

Although perfect silence was created, the experience was found to be disorientating, which is why the engineers created the 'whisper' which is a soft undertone that is experienced as a single, subtle note to act as a countermeasure.

With the cabin silenced, the stage was set for the 18 magnesium-ceramic compound speakers of the Bespoke Audio system that's monitored by two active microphones that will adjust the loudness of the speakers.

The system effectively uses the cabin as an active subwoofer that's driven by an 18-channel, 1,300W amplifier while back-seat occupants enjoy the Starlight Headliner.

Now, occupants are able to enjoy the cabin's environment that's brings together the finest leathers, woods and metals.

Budding clients will, of course, have access to an almost limitless collection of possibilities that is the Bespoke Collective.

Also included within the seemingly never-ending options list is the newly created Illuminated Fascia - a world-first innovation, that partners up beautifully with the effects of the Starlight Headliner.


New Goodyear Eagle F1 Sport tyre rolls in from RM294

                SHAH ALAM: Goodyear in Malaysia has expanded its Eagle F1 tyre series to five with the addition of an entry-level Sport variant.

Available at all Goodyear AutoCare centres throughout Malaysia, the tyre retails from RM294 to RM678 per piece (depending on size).

The company says that it's Eagle F1 Sport tyre takes aim at aspiring track enthusiasts with up to 22 sizes available for tyres ranging from 16 to 18-inches.

The Sport variant takes aim at those looking to upsize with its more affordable price point.

The tyre is said to provide improved characteristics in terms of braking, steering and cornering performance (dry and wet) for the avid track goer.

For the everyday road-going commuter, the tyre is able to provide comfort and durability in the form of its high-silica compound with an upgraded polymer matrix that forms part of its DynamicBraking Technology and has been given the signature Eagle Claw design for dry and wet grip performance.

Also included is the ActiveControl Technology which means the shoulder blocks have been strengthened for added cornering stability and steering precision when negotiating bends.

For protection against curb rashes, the tyre has been provided with wide rim flanges as standard for all sizes.

Inside, there are rubber noise barrier strips located between the ply and liner for noise and vibration absorption duties and is further enhanced by its narrower lateral grooves.

Furthermore, an improved cavity shape provides a wider footprint for better contact and pressure distribution.

“The Eagle F1 Sport is a high-performance tyre option for the day-to-day road user, at competitive prices for Malaysians,” said Goodyear Malaysia managing director Alex Ng.

Ng added that their customers can expect more powerful and resilient products in the future through their innovations and cutting-edge tyre development technologies for motorsports.

For more information, log on to www.goodyear.com.my/eagle-f1/.

Tyre sizes:
195/50R16 84V
205/45R16 87W
205/50R16 91W
205/55R16 91W

205/45R17 88W
215/45R17 91Y
215/50R17 91W
215/55R17 94V
225/45R17 94W
225/50R17 98W
225/55R17 101W
235/45R17 94W
245/40R17 95W
245/45R17 95Y

215/45R18 93W
225/40R18 92Y
225/45R18 95W
235/40R18 95W
235/45R18 98W
245/40R18 93Y
255/35R18 94W
265/35R18 97W


'Rare' as a selling point: The obscenity of million-dollar cars

                LONDON: If you are looking for a car that is even more exclusive than the Bentley Continental or Bugatti Chiron, then check out the luxury models carmakers are working on right now.

For those with too much money to spend, luxury manufacturers take established models and then partly or almost entirely revamp them into pure status symbols with excessive features and performance, Dietrich Hatlapa of London's Hagi Group explains.

Of course, these limited editions come with a hefty price tag, but also with one of the most coveted characteristics a car can have: they are rare.

The pricey modifications are worth it for manufacturers, who will have often sold out of these cars before they begin production. Owners, meanwhile, get to flaunt their eye-catching racers, even if the investment rarely pays off in the long run.

The car might cost three times as much as the basic model, but that doesn't mean it will automatically be worth three times as much as a collector's item, Hatlapa says.

Such cars may quickly lose in value, but demand for cars like Bentley's upcoming Bacalar is still high. Bentley is making just 12 of these two-seaters, based on the new Continental GT Cabrio but with a heavily modified body.

Then there's Rolls Royce's limited-edition Silver Bullet, based on the Dawn convertible. Here, too, the rear seat disappears under a special cover. No details were initially available about the price.

The latest small series by Aston Martin and McLaren aren't quite as rare but make up for it in speed. James Bond's own brand is currently building 88 units of a V12 Speedster, which with 700hp reaches a top speed of more than 300kph.

McLaren, meanwhile, plans a breath of fresh air for 399 buyers of the Elva for a cool €1.7 million (RM8.2mil). Although 818hp is powerful and over 320kph fast, not only is there no hood, there isn't even a windscreen - instead, at high speeds, a special system guides air over the open cockpit.

Ferrari is doing the same thing and presented its Monza SP1 and SP2 before its British rival. Based on the 812 and available with one or two seats, the V12 sportscar with 810hp is also only available with neither roof nor windscreen.

Ferrari says the car is designed for "passionate customers and collectors" which is likely to mean a small number of units and a higher price tag, although this information has yet to be released.

Bugatti's La Voiture Noire is the rarest and most expensive of these exclusive cars, however.

Its lone buyer will have to dig deeper than most ever will ever earn in a lifetime to cover the shocking €16 million (RM77mil) pricetag that comes with owning the world's most expensive car.

But after a two-year wait, the reward is a 16-cylinder engine in a vehicle that bears only a passing resemblance to the carmaker's Chiron, which has undergone a radical remodelling.


Proton to unveil improved models in 2016

                SHAH ALAM: Proton, which celebrates its 30th anniversary today, will introduce three new models next year to boost sales and financial performance, said chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the new models are an improvement over the existing Saga, Persona and Perdana models with the collaboration of Japanese car manufacturer Honda.

"In the automotive industry, we are always borrowing technology. Major car companies are always exchanging technology. In this regard, we are only using Honda's platform with the rest coming from our own efforts.

"The new models are equipped with the latest safety features and design. I really hope that all three models will enter the market in stages from January next year and will be well-received," he said at Proton's breaking of fast function here.

He said while Proton's performance is poor at present, the company has been working hard to produce quality cars such as the Iriz.

"I find the Iriz to be very good because it is very light and easy to drive compared with foreign cars of the same quality, but consumers' response has not been encouraging. However, of late the response to our Preve model has been better," he said.

Dr. Mahathir said the decline in Proton car sales had affected the cash flow of the company, which has had to hold back on executive staff salary increases.

"We have to make sacrifices to remedy the situation. Bonuses, although not much, will still be given, but with better sales they could probably be higher," he said.


Riding the Indian Chief Classic

                The Indian Chief Classic is a cruiser with very little extras which allows an owner to personalise it thus making the bike an extension of each Indian Chief Classic owner.

The minute I laid my eyes on the bike, I was attracted to the overall vintage design which is stylish and cool.

The big round chromed headlight, fuel tank marking with the word “Indian” and the very retro front and rear fenders; which all of these are synonymous with the American brand since the 1940s.

Once I sat on the 1,811cc bike, I realised there is so much of metal and chromed parts compared to many present bikes which have more plastics.

I carefully inspected the workmanship of this bike and was simply amazed with the design and the attention to the details.

Every single screw and bolt on this bike and how the wires are concealed in this bike, are definitely a work of art.

One thing I really adored on the Chief Classic is the head of a Red Indian built on the front fender.

The face lights up the moment I fire up the bike at night and it looks awesome.

You have to see it to believe it.

I was lucky to have the bike with me for three full days.

Every time I took the bike on to the road be it in the city or on the highways, the bike’s presence is so strong.

Under the sunlight, the stunningly designed chromed engine, the handle bars and the headlight are eye-catching.

Not to forget the size of the bike which further enhances its persona.

The first 45 minutes of my ride on the highway to Tanjung Malim, I found the Chief Classic to be easy to handle and manoeuvre despite the size and weight.

Together with my riding mate, Mr Bo who was on a Ducati Diavel, we realised the impressive torque of the Indian.

The Chief Classic’s power delivery is progressive with maximum torque of 161.6Nm peaking at 3,000rpm.

I was able to power up on the road, leaving the Ducati behind before Bo caught up and overtook me a few minutes later.

There is plenty of power on tap which works well with the cruiser’s good handling and ergonomics.

A must mention is the Chief Classic’s ergonomics which is spot on for a cruiser design.

The pullback handlebar is light and easy to reach without tiring my arms, the ample space saddle and the foot controls plus the foot boards are perfectly positioned.

The sound of the engine is so likeable especially when your surrounding is quiet.

It’s a smooth tone blended well to produce a pleasant melody coming out from the twin tail pipes.

The bike comes with six-speeds - every time I change the gear upwards, the power is linear yet fast

enough to give me the speed that I want.

The gears are smooth be it up or down shifts.

Meanwhile the clutch lever is light on the fingers, even my skinny three fingers are good enough to pull it.

On few occasions while riding, I did not realised that I was going much above the legal speed limit.

The smooth acceleration and the reliable chassis made the bike steady even breakneck speeds.

And for a 357kg machine, acceleration was still a breeze.

Throttle response was immediate at whatever speed and rpm I was on.

The bike behaved and performed as commanded.

The Chief Classic was at home tackling few tight twisties and sweeping corners, thus making me forget how heavy the bike was.

The bike behaved like most two-wheelers half its weight. Simply amazing.

I rode the Chief Classic on every possible surface one can think of; humps, bumps, uneven and muddy stretches and water-logged roads.

I was impressed with the abilities suspension of this cruiser to take on so much punishment.

The suspension were made of a front 46mm cartridge fork with 119mm of travel and its rear shock offering 94mm of travel.

For a bike of this size and weight, brakes are very crucial.

I did few sudden stops at 100kph and the bike came to a halt confidently.

And while it was raining on my way from Bukit Jalil to Semenyih, the brakes did not fail me when I was cruising at 80kph.

The Chief Classic is equipped with 300mm discs together with dual four-piston calipers in the front and the rear is fitted with a twin piston caliper.

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) on the bike is definitely welcomed when you need to stop without losing control on such a big machine.

Priced at RM168,000 (without GST), the Chief Classic is a masterpiece that deserves all the praises for its design, performance, comfort and safety.

This is one cruiser that I will assure you will still maintain its showstopping aura even after 10 years.

Enough said!

By: A.NACHI


Malaysia poised to become automotive hub for Asean market, says Zafrul

                ALOR SETAR: Malaysia can become the automotive hub for the Asean market, said Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said this prospect has attracted investors and car companies such as Porsche, KIA, Hyundai, Mini Cooper, Mazda, and BMW to start their respective operations in Malaysia.

"Southeast Asia offers good growth potential and with policies as well as good ecosystem, Malaysia can become an automotive hub for the Asean market," he said in his Facebook post today.

Zafrul also shared several photos of his visit to car assembler, Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd, in Kulim.

According to him, many local residents who are skilful are working at the company and the government will focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to enable more people in the country to increase their respective skills.

This will be beneficial for investment and industry growth in the country, he said.

Earlier, Zafrul also paid a courtesy call on Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor at the menteri besar's official residence in Seri Mentaloon, here.

Zafrul said he is in Kedah to visit several industries in the state.

"Before proceeding with the visits, we paid a courtesy call to the 'host' first -- Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi, at his official residence, Seri Mentaloon. This is my first visit to Kedah as the Minister of International Trade and Industry.

"We have discussions on the direction of the local industries and shared views to boost investment and industries including prospering the 'Negara Madani' programme in Kedah," he said.

Zafrul was hopeful his visit would foster closer ties between the ministry and the Kedah state government in enhancing the nation's investment and industrial sectors.


Coronavirus-proof Land Rovers? Evoque, Discovery get new air filters

                BERLIN: Every car brand has its own marketing focus. Volvo, the pioneers of seat belts, have safety. Bentley, of unbound opulence, has luxury.

Land Rover, long a symbol of off-road ruggedness, now appears to have discovered a new selling point: protection against coronavirus.

"The car of the future could help win the battle against superbugs," Land Rover once proclaimed in March 2019, more than half a year before the coronavirus pandemic began.

Long before we knew what "flattening the curve" meant, the brand was touting its plans for ultraviolet virus-killing features and ventilation systems to "neutralise pathogens which cause infections."

In July this year, it showed off its newly developed "contactless touchscreen to help fight bacteria and viruses."

Now, Land Rover has announced a facelift for its Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models with an air filter designed to filter out virus particles.

"We've upped the filter size by 10 per cent on both vehicles to increase its capacity to capture finer particles, even below 2.5 microns in size," Mark Burnaston from Land Rover’s Gaydon Materials Laboratory told the Irish Times newspaper.

"While harmful viruses and pathogens are often smaller than the PM2.5 size, research has shown that pathogens, agglomerate on dust particles, which can then be filtered inside the vehicle climate control system, reducing the level of threat to the occupants."

On the technical side, meanwhile, Land Rover is putting the emphasis on more frugal engines.

The Range Rover Evoque and the technically closely related Land Rover Discovery Sport will in future be available with new, more economical engines and mild hybrid technology for almost all variants.

Sales are to start in the next few weeks, the manufacturer Land Rover announced, but did not yet name any prices.

For both, there will be two diesel engines with an electric starter generator in future: the two-litre four-cylinder engines have an output of 163 and 204 horsepower.

 The Evoque.

They are expected to have significantly lower carbon emissions through more energy recovery and longer start-stop phases. The consumption of the Evoque will drop to 6.0 litres (158 g/km CO2) at best, and to 6.3 litres (165 g/km) for the Discovery Sport.

A new 290-hp petrol engine with 2.0 litres capacity, 233 km/h top speed and a standard consumption of 7.6 litres (179 g/km CO2) or more is also being introduced at the top of the Discovery Sport range, while the British maker is extending the Evoque's engine range downwards.

In future, the P160 will also be available with the three-cylinder engine known from the plug-in hybrid - albeit without the corresponding electric motor.

The off-roader, which is only available with front-wheel drive, will then have a displacement of 1.5 litres, 160hp, a maximum speed of 199kph and a standard fuel consumption of 6.8 litres (154 g/km).

According to the manufacturer, the optimised engines are accompanied by an update for infotainment with music streaming and online updates as well as improved assistance systems, which now also use a 3D all-round camera.


BMW joins Audi, Mercedes-Benz to end its Netflix-For-Cars programmes

                NEW YORK: f you had planned to borrow a BMW M5 for a weekend touring the Grand Ole Opry and Johnny Cash Museum, you’re out of luck. And not just because of Covid-19.

BMW has cancelled the subscription service it began in 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee.

A spokesman for the brand said the US$2,000-plus monthly Netflix-for-cars style program would end Jan 31.

"The programme had reached its capacity limits,” BMW spokesman Phil DiIanni said in an email.

The company declined to share how many subscribers had signed up to use Access by BMW, but the Nashville option was never intended as more than just a pilot, DiIanni said. Access by BMW offered two tiers of enrollment: Entry level members paid US$2,000 monthly to use the X5 SUV and 4- and 5 Series sedans; premium-level members paid US$3,700 monthly to drive the M4, M5, M6 and the X5M and X6M high-performance SUVs. Notably, BMW’s executive saloon, the handsome 7 Series, was not available through any level of membership.

Munich’s crown jewel was hardly the first automaker to conduct such an experiment. By 2018, when Access by BMW launched, Cadillac was already cancelling Book By Cadillac, the car-sharing attempt it started in 2017.

READ MORE: Toyota Capital Malaysia introduces Kinto One car subscription

Set in Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York as part of the company’s rebranding plan, Book By Cadillac’s subscribers paid US$1,500 a month for access to 10 different vehicles switched out up to 18 times a year. A Cadillac spokesman did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Ford, Jaguar, Volvo, and others have also launched their own car-subscription experiments, mostly with very little fanfare in limited markets and with varying results. The programmes are often used simply as a way to test potential engagement of new buyers to the brand.

Ford sold its subscription platform in 2019 after disappointing results. In June of 2020, Mercedes-Benz cancelled the "Collection” programme it had begun in 2018; company spokesmen cited poor sales for the decision.

Audi announced Jan 15 that it would end its proprietary programme by the end of this month as well. It will take the insights from its pilot programme in alternative car ownership to "create a new innovative experience for its customers,” said the Volkswagen AG subsidiary via email.

Meanwhile, some have fared better than others. Porsche extended its "Porsche Drive - Subscription” to Los Angeles in late 2020 after starting the programme in Atlanta in 2017.

It now has subscribers in five cities in North America, including Phoenix, San Diego, and Toronto. Eight in 10 subscribers to that service have never owned a Porsche, according to a spokesman for Porsche Cars North America, and slots for cars are booked out for the next one to two months in most markets.

"Demand is healthy, which encourages us to make further expansion plans,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

But while the benefits of subscription programmes include flexibility and access to a variety of new cars-just like paying for Netflix so you can watch a bunch of shows whenever you want-they are also expensive.

Pricing for Porsche Drive - Subscription starts at US$1,500 a month for access to the workaday Macan SUV and goes to US$2,600 monthly for access to the bedrock of the brand, the 911.

It’s possible drivers in Nashville didn’t take kindly to the fees the same way Porsche-philes in L.A. would. Or maybe they’re just more sensible. BMW’s US$3,700 monthly plan for borrowing, say, an M5 cost roughly three times the price of leasing one.


Five takeaways from MINI Clubman drive in Sweden

                STOCKHOLM: From Waze comes a survey that says roads in Sweden are tied with those in the United States in third place for best driving experience in the world (the first being the Netherlands’).

Having just breezed through Stockholm and partake in a test-drive of the new MINI Cooper S Clubman, we are inclined to agree. The highways and country roads are generally in very good condition and are pleasant to traverse; there’s an orderly calm on most stretches that must have been wrought from the government’s earnest attempt at cutting road fatalities to zero over the years, making Swedish roads some of the safest in the world.

Headlights that must be switched on even during daytime, abundant speed cameras and strict enforcement – you wouldn’t want to be slapped with a RM2,000 ticket – are some of the ways Swedish authorities make motorists behave to keep its roads people-friendly.

B-roads wind through miles and miles of farmland, and across waterways and sleepy hollows where roundabouts abound at almost every intersection.

It was in such setting that we explored Stockholm and the outlying areas in the second-generation Clubman.

Following the June international media preview of the Clubman in Berlin, MINI then organised the drive in Stockholm earlier this month. Much of the car’s details are already public knowledge.

It has been said before that the fully imported Clubman will hit Malaysian showrooms in the second quarter of 2016 though not at the RM260,000 asking price of the first Clubman. With a raft of upgrades and new features found in the latest Clubman, expect it to be even pricier, not least because of an emasculated ringgit.

Here’s what we have gleaned after a day with the Clubman on Swedish roads.

1. Premium, practical and refined. Yes, the new Clubman is all that. As the biggest car under the brand and the first MINI to wade into what it calls the premium compact segment, it is pulling out all the stops to impress not just the creative types but a wider spread of customers with the promise of everyday usability.

2. Arising from the point above are the high levels of standard kit onboard. A biggish cargo space, memory front seats, a revised dash and use of quality materials add to the classy feel and look.

3. The 5-seater, 6-door MINI bristles with enough features to make it distinctive. What’s definitely a conversation piece are the MINI logo projection from the driver side mirror. LED alarm status on the fin antenna, a head-up display, and easy opening of the rear split doors with a kick – or two - under the car.

4. We drove both the automatic and manual 2.0-litre Cooper S. The 8-speed auto MINI offers a great drive with smooth quick shifts while the 6-speed manual has a following, appealing to a minority who revels in “working out” with the car for a more connected experience. With 192hp and 280Nm on tap, there’s accessible power across a wide band.  What’s on offer is a good start and makes one look forward to what the upcoming ALL4 all-wheel drive and JCW versions will dish up in the way of driving experience.

5. The drive event was also an occasion to catch up with Clubman project leader Dr Ernst Fricke who shed light on a few things about the new car (watch video above).

And that’s it for now. We will bring you more details closer to the Malaysian launch of the new Clubman from the land of the Vikings.


New Ferrari 488 will be faster than the LaFerrari, says report

The 488 GTB and its engine (below)
MARANELLO: Not every automaker is able to sell out a production run of a new vehicle before one is even built, and without having to do any media advertising. But that's how it is with the likes of Ferrari, whose most special models are often sold by invitation-only. At a gathering of Ferrari dealers and VIP customers recently, the invitees were presented with some of the key specifications of the staggering new Ferrari 488 that's been in the pipeline for almost a year now.

Even though every Ferrari is very special, this new version of the 488 sounds as though it's going to be reach another level altogether as it's set to be the most powerful V-8 model the company has ever produced. And yes, that does mean the as-yet unnamed model will even be more powerful than the LaFerrari, according to details in a leaked presentation slideshow.

Although the presentation that has been reportedly leaked to the Ferrari Photo Page website is fairly extensive, the car is still being referred to as the "New V8 Sport Special Series," and not even dealers know what the car will eventually be called.

The slide presentation states that the car will see the "highest horsepower increase vs donor car for a V8 special series," which has led to speculation that there will be more than 700hp on offer from the 488's 3.9-litre twin-turbo V-8. Even though that's still only speculation, it's hard to see the point of producing a new 488 if it isn't in that kind of ballpark as the current version already boasts 660hp and 763Nm of torque.

The engine is reported to be an evolution of the unit in the Challenge race car, which is ten percent lighter than the production model. There will also be more use of carbon fiber than any previous Ferrari has used to keep the weight down, which will include the hood, bumpers, rear spoiler, dashboard, center tunnel, and even the 20-inch wheels all being made from the lightweight material.

It seems dealers have been submitting a list of potential names for the new car to the people who matter in Maranello, but the rest of us will probably have to wait until the Geneva Motor Show in March to find out the name and more.


Salesman takes used car buyer for a ride

Abdul Hadi bought a used car but ended up being conned by the salesman who did not change the vehicle's ownership registration.
JOHOR BARU: Self-employed Abdul Hadi Murtadza swears he will never buy a used vehicle again after learning a bitter lesson when he was cheated by a salesman.

The second-hand Toyota Vios he had been using for two years was repossessed by a vehicle financing company despite Abdul Hadi faithfully paying the monthly instalments.

The claimant said that he and his father had on Jan 13, 2017, gone to a used car dealer company to buy a car.

“I chose a used Toyota Vios registered in 2015 priced at RM58,680 and paid a deposit of RM1,000 on the same day,’’ said Abdul Hadi when met at the Johor Baru Consumer Claims Tribunal in Menara Ansar here.

Father and son went back again to the outlet on Jan 18 to pay another RM9,000 as deposit before the car was handed over to Abdul Hadi that same day.

The 30-year-old said he started paying the RM810 monthly instalment from February 2017 to the salesman, without realising the latter had not changed the car’s ownership to him in the registration certificate.

Abdul Hadi continued making monthly instalment payments until May 31, 2019. Then on June 12, the car, which was parked in front of his house, went missing.

“I immediately lodged a police report fearing the car was stolen but was told by the police that it was repossessed by the financing company as the owner defaulted in paying the monthly instalments,’’ said Abdul Hadi.

The claimant informed the police that he had paid his monthly instalments without fail from February 2017, and the money had been passed to the salesman who sold the car to him.

“The salesman admitted he did not pay the instalments to the financing company and promised to settle the matter within three days,’’ he said.

However, the car remains in the possession of the financing company.

Abdul Hadi is claiming the RM10,000 deposit from the used car dealer.

When Consumer Claims Tribunal president R. Nadarajan asked him why he did not want to claim for the instalments paid, Abdul Hadi said he was willing to let the matter go as he had used the car for two years.

Nadarajan ordered the salesman to pay the claimant RM10,000 within 14 days.


Lexus Malaysia launches NX

 The NX debuts in Malaysia today.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lexus Malaysia, a division of UMW Toyota Motor, has launched the new NX premium compact SUV (sport utility vehicle).

Five variants are offered, and the NX is priced on-the-road with insurance at RM299,873.80 (NX 200t); RM331,679.80 (NX 200t Premium); RM352,199.80 (NX 200t Luxury); RM378,875.80 (NX 200t F SPORT) and RM385,063.50 (NX 300h Hybrid).

It comes with a three-year or 100,000km (whichever occurs first) warranty.

The NX, launched at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, is offered with two engine choices, the Lexus first developed in-house 2.0L Turbo engine and 2.5L Hybrid engine.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers 235hp at between 4,800 and 5,600rpm with 350Nm of torque from 1,650rpm up to 4,000rpm.

A new sequential 6-speed transmission features Torque-Demand Control Logic which calculates required engine torque and maximises it.

A G-force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system is also adopted for automatically selects the optimum gear and downshift pattern in response to cornering forces.

Meanwhile, the NX 300h Hybrid has a new P314 E-CVT (electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission) with a kick-down function, for greater acceleration performance.

The NX 300h Hybrid has a 2.5-litre petrol unit which works together with an electric motor to provide a combined system output of 197hp (with 210Nm from the engine between 4,200 and 4,400 rpm).

The flagship NX 200t F Sport has one of the boldest interpretations of the signature Lexus spindle grille.

For this variant, there is an exclusive mesh design for the grille which has come to identify the F Sport variants.

The F Sport variant also comes with exclusive 10-spoke alloy wheels with a dark premium metallic finish and sporty design, fitted with 235/55R18 tyres as well as a black-tinted panoramic glass roof.

In the cabin, for the first time on a Lexus, the NX introduces touch switches in the headliner for the front dome lights and map light switches.

Gentle contact with the light switches causes them to illuminate.

Meanwhile, the cargo area can accommodate three golf bags stowed sideways, rather than having to lean them against the side.
Storage in four compartments beneath the cargo floor provides extra space for keeping valuables out of sight.

The NX 200t F Sport and 300h comes with a 14-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System while the other variants come with 10-speaker or 8-speaker Lexus Premium Audio systems.

The NX comes with a number of Lexus firsts such as Wireless Charging Tray and a new version of the Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI).

Just placing a compatible smartphone on the Qi wireless charging tray will recharge its battery, so that’s one less cable to carry (and lose).

The Lexus-first RTI with a Touch pad incorporates smartphone-like operation feel with vibration feedback, providing more intuitive operation than the previous joystick-type remote touch interface.

 PRICE LIST: Click image to expand.

It is also the first vehicle in the world to have a power reclining/power folding 60:40 rear seat which adjusts at the touch of a button.

Its use of a Smart Card Key is also the first in the segment, offering greater convenience as the key card can fit easily into a wallet or pocket.

Assistance systems on the NX includes a Panoramic View Monitor (a Lexus first) which displays an image like a bird's eye view, combining seamless images from 4 cameras.

This complements the rear view camera.

The Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert Monitor detects vehicles in the driver's blind spots in adjacent lanes and alerts the driver with a flashing signal on the side mirror.

A Lexus-first is the cornering lamps in the front fog lamps for better night time visibility.

Up to 8 SRS airbags are installed.

Safety features include ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), Whiplash-Injury Lessening front seats, Brake Assist, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Control.

ALSO READ: First drive impressions in Malaysia and Canada


2016 Bangkok Motor Show: Honda Civic takes centrestage

BANGKOK: The all-new Civic, launched in Thailand earlier this month, is such a pivotal model for Honda Thailand that it is bending over backwards to highlight its importance at its motor show debut here.

Its booth or pavilion was designed under the concept of “Road through The Tunnel of Time” to welcome the  Civic. All sides of the pavilion are open, and a red road runs through the centre to visually guide visitors to the C-shaped tunnel that symbolises the Civic.

Honda Thailand said consumer response to the 10th-generation Civic was high with bookings of more than 3,000 units in just 10 days after its launch.

The Honda Pavilion also featured the facelifted Accord and BR-V, which were among eight models on display.

We have told you about the details on the Civic about two weeks ago.

The latest Civic, launched in Thailand on March 11, comes in four variants. The line-up is led by an all-new turbocharged TURBO RS with a 1.5-litre engine displacement.  Prices ranged from RM102,704 to RM141,653.

The TURBO RS retails at 1,199,000 baht  (RM141,653), TURBO at 1,099,000 baht (RM129,811), 1.8 EL at 959,000 baht (RM113,274), and 1.8 E at 869,000 baht (RM102,704).

The new body, based on “Wide and Low” body styling concept, is designed for a sportier and self-assured driving while offering a more spacious cabin than its predecessor. The exterior comes with a premium and bold appearance which includes sleek sporty design with sharp character lines and a chrome front grille in wing shape, extended to sporty headlights with LED daytime running lights and distinctive C-shaped LED tail lights.

Honda said the latest Civic’s interior space is comparable to those in D-segment cars.

A full range of advanced technology provides convenience and ultimate comfort in all driving and easily control of all features.

Motorcycles
In its motorcycle section, Honda unveiled the EV-Cub Concept along with other lifestyle concept bikes.

Its booth, fashioned as the Honda Neo Xperience Store, is equipped with interactive technology for visitors to experience "the excitement of the future within one touch".

The EV-Cub Concept, brought from Japan, is an electric bike that combines retro design with a quiet zero emissions motor. The light-weighted lithium-ion battery is detachable and can be charged at home. The battery is said to offer a practical range though no details were given. But the bike is expected to go into production one day.

Other exhibits were the 300 TT Racer Concept, Monkey Concept, GROM50 Scrambler Concept One and Concept Two, and NC750X crossover bike.