Toyota Corolla: Sleek and stylish

White Corolla: The Toyota Corolla meets the changing requirements of customers.
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), the official distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, unveiled its Toyota Corolla - a sleek exterior with a performance that will rise to every occasion and meets the lifestyle needs of Malaysians from all walks of life.

The model is the 12th generation of the all-time best-selling car of the world, with over 46 million units produced since it was first introduced in 1966.

The first Corolla model made a significant contribution to motorisation in Japan and likewise, the same model was also among the first cars to be assembled in Malaysia.

To date, over 150,000 units have been sold in Malaysia.

Offering economical and reliable motoring at an affordable price, the Corolla nameplate has helped to make Toyota a trusted brand among Malaysians.

As with the generations in the past, the Toyota Corolla meets the changing requirements of customers.

It has been developed with the concept of ‘Prestige and Advanced’ to bring the Corolla into a new era where customers have higher expectations.

With the Toyota Corolla, UMWT aims to attract new customers who are looking to upgrade themselves while offering a stylish car to those already owning a Toyota.

For the Malaysian market, two variants of the Corolla are offered: the Corolla 1.8G and Corolla 1.8E, both with automatic transmissions. The model is imported in Completely Built-Up (CBU) form from Toyota’s regional production hub in Thailand.

The Toyota Corolla on-the-road price without insurance for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia is from RM145,888 for 1.8G and from RM134,888 for the 1.8E variant.

 Celestite Gray Metallic Corolla is one of five exterior colour choices available for customers.

There are five exterior colour choices - Celestite Gray Metallic is the latest iridescent shade while White Pearl CS, Silver Metallic, Red Mica Metallic and Attitude Black being the other options.

“The Toyota Corolla has been a core model in our line-up for decades. Each new generation has been developed with changing requirements of customers in mind and the latest 12th generation continues this, in line with Toyota’s objective of offering ever-better cars,” said UMWT president, Datuk Ravindran K.

“The Toyota Corolla is one of the first models in Toyota’s range to adopt TNGA – Toyota New Global Architecture. TNGA offers enormous flexibility to the designers and engineers to optimise designs for different types of vehicles,” he shared.

Ravindran hoped that the model would continue the Corolla legacy in Malaysia for many years to come.

“The Corolla has always been a symbol of confidence.

“It reflects on the owner who knows where he is headed, and doing so with peace of mind.

“The Corolla is truly an ‘Unspoken Class’ because with the Corolla, the owner does not have to say much as prestige speaks for itself through the style and drive,” he explained.

The design of the Corolla follows the same dynamic theme of recently launched Toyota models. The headlights, with LED (light-emitting diode) DRL (Daytime Running Lights) placed along the double J-shaped chrome-plated ornamentation emphasise the wide and dynamically-flowing headlamp design in the Corolla 1.8G.

The Corolla’s cabin has been designed to offer a spacious, modern and cohesive environment with levels of visual and tactile quality that reflect a prestigious sedan. Key to the feeling of spaciousness is the instrument panel design with a more elegant appearance than before.

Other features in the Corolla include an optitron meter with 7” MID that can be switched between analog and digital meter, panoramic view monitor with 3D image, electrochromic rear view mirror, sport mode with paddle shifter, rear sunshade and a wireless charger pad.

Both variants of the Corolla use the proven 1.8-litre 2ZR-FE 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve petrol engine with Dual VVT-i. The engine offers a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, producing 139 ps at 6,400 rpm and peak torque of 172 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

The 7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic (CVT) is now enhanced with a cooperative control and electronically-controlled throttle that provides a higher level of drivability, smoothness, quietness, and fuel economy.

More than ever before, customers want better protection while driving and Toyota has integrated it into a single system - Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) for the 1.8G. This TSS is the most advanced version and consists of 5 main systems – Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) All Speed and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

Both variants come with 7 SRS airbags and all seats are equipped with 3-point ELR seat belts to help restrain occupants in the event of a collision.

Other safety systems provided as standard features include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Tire Pressure Warning System. Additionally, the car is also equipped with an Electric Parking Brake and Brake Hold feature for 1.8G.

UMWT is also providing an optional Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) for installation on the Corolla. Basically, this connectivity feature uses GPS/GSM to track the location of the car at all times so if it is stolen, recovery by the police is more likely. It can also monitor and record vehicle speeds and other operating conditions that the vehicle has been subjected to, with data sent by email to a designated user via mobile app.

To find out more about the locations of UMWT’s branches and authorised Toyota dealerships, go to toyota.com.my (https://www.toyota.com.my/en.html) or call Toyota freephone line 1-800-8-Toyota (869682).


Voice assistants in cars: How helpful are they really?

                BERLIN: With just a couple of words you can turn up the volume of the music. Or skip to the next song with a simple command. And one sentence is enough to get your satellite navigation to take you where you want to go.

Voice control systems promise to make driving easier and safer.

Apple devices use the Siri voice assistant, while Android uses Google Assistant. The latter is also part of Android Auto, designed for use in vehicles. And via the Echo Auto Bluetooth adapter, Amazon connects its Alexa voice assistant to smartphones in cars.

All assistants require an active Internet connection. Siri and Echo Auto must be permanently online, while Google Assistant continues to work even there are gaps in coverage.

But can you really do that much with a voice assistant in your car?

Mobility tech analyst Nathalie Teer from Germany's Bitkom digital association thinks so.

"They're great because the driver is less distracted than with manual operation, and they're also more convenient." You can control apps by voice without looking at the display or touching any buttons.

All you need is a smartphone in your car, preferably connected to the car's speakers via Bluetooth or cable," explains Teer. She adds that a good mobile phone holder, which should not be mounted too far away from the driver because of possible noise interference, and the correct voice control settings for are also crucial.

Newer vehicles often offer greater integration of smartphones in the car with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. If you open certain apps on your phone, they can be seen and controlled on the car display, which makes operating them even easier. "The assistants are helpful and recommended for all car drivers," says Nathalie Teer. In addition, they're quick, easy and cheap to set up.

If voice commands are not recognised immediately, for example because of traffic and other noises, a second attempt often helps, but sometimes stopping the car and parking is the only option. On no account should you get distracted by problems operating the assistants, Teer warns. That would be counterproductive, as the assistants are there to help you concentrate better on the traffic.

Before committing to a system, it's worth trying out different ones, depending on your own smartphone and its operating system, advises car electronics specialist Michael Zeitler. "It's good if the voice control can be activated with a button." Otherwise it could be opened by accident.

The smartphone should be linked to the car radio so that the driver can communicate with the device using the hands-free system, for example. Alternatively, "drivers can also operate the voice assistant with a good quality headset," says Zeitler.

Whether streaming music, checking your calendar, making phone calls, satnav or notes: voice assistants in cars are becoming more and more popular.

In a 2019 study conducted by the Capgemini Research Institute, almost half (49 percent) of those surveyed said they already use a voice assistant in their car, of which over three-quarters (77 percent) use it to play music.

For Markus Winkler, automotive expert at the management consultancy Capgemini, the decisive factor when it comes to voice assistants is the extent to which the system is integrated into the vehicle and its digital ecosystem. "When purchasing a car, speech assistants initially play a secondary role, which only becomes evident when it using it on a daily basis," he says.

Drivers who already control devices by speech at home often use such assistants, says Winkler. "Depending on the manufacturer, the integration of speech assistants is still in its infancy." Some can only be connected using a smartphone, while others already offer deeply integrated systems that can be used to operate other vehicle features.

"In the future, voice assistants will be more intelligent and will be able to perform more tasks," says Winkler. "To do this, the systems must be linked to the vehicle." Many people also expect the same voice assistant in the car as they have on their smartphone.

Volvo's electric brand Polestar, for example, relies on Android Auto, with which many functions can be operated by voice. The Fiat-Chrysler automotive group with its brands like Fiat, Ferrari, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge also relies on Android Auto.

Amazon Alexa is integrated in newer BMW vehicles, as well as in cars from Seat. Mercedes vehicles can perform some tasks using their own system MBUX with "Hey Mercedes". Mbux is available as an option, and in Mercedes' home market, it costs more than €1,000 (around RM5,000) extra for this feature in the A-class.


Jakarta's motorcycle taxis get backpack shields

Motorcycle taxi drivers with the backpack-style plastic partitions..— Reuters
JAKARTA: Jakarta's motorcycle taxi drivers have a new weapon in the battle against the coronavirus – a plastic shield they can strap on backpack-style to isolate them from passengers.

Usually the most efficient way to get around the capital’s traffic-clogged streets, its thousands of motorcycle taxis have been restricted to transporting goods during the city’s Covid-19 lockdown period, eating into many drivers’ incomes.

With the easing of those curbs, they can now carry people again too, with the added reassurance of the see-through plastic partition to protect against the risk of infection.

“When the driver coughs the droplets won’t spread to the back with the wind, (and) when the passenger coughs they (the droplets) will not reach the driver,” said Gusti Afiandi, 40, receiving a shield for his taxi from his ride-hailing company Grab.

“With this tool I feel safe from the spread of the coronavirus since I use motorcycle taxis every day,” agreed customer Andre Saputra.

The loosening of Jakarta’s lockdown coincides with record daily rises in coronavirus infections nationwide this week.

Fatalities from the Indonesian epidemic have reached nearly 2,000, the highest toll in South-East Asia.


Broken shocks: How big is the risk when driving with damaged dampers?

                BERLIN: It goes unnoticed to many a driver, but driving with a broken shock absorber brings a surprisingly large risk, say safety experts.

That's because if these dampers, used to soften any sudden shocks to your car, are worn out, you will likely swerve far more if you make some kind of evasive manoeuvre.

The braking distance will also increase at high speeds, while the car's tyres will wear out faster, safety experts from the inspection agency Tuv say.

You also won't be able to rely on assistance systems such as anti-lock brakes or an electronic stability controls as well, as these will be impaired, according to safety inspectors.

You can often tell that your shocks are damaged if your steering wheel begins to tremble or if you have unevenly worn tyres. But you'll need an expert to assess their condition with any certainty.

Don't rely on rocking the car or doing your own manual inspection. Mechanics use a special device to check the damping characteristics of the entire chassis.

From a mileage of 80,000km, the shocks should be checked in the workshop and then repeated every 20,000km — if they are not inspected anyway during regular inspections. If replacing is needed, inspectors say you should always replace both absorbers on one axle.


Ford plans to nearly double SUV models in US by 2020

                DETROIT: Ford plans to expand its lineup of sport utility and crossover vehicles in the United States to 13 models from seven by 2020, according to company officials and supplier sources, in response to rapid growth in SUV sales.

At least three of those future models have been approved for production in the past two years, sources said. Since 2014, the market share of sport utilities has increased from 32.6 percent to nearly 40 percent of total US vehicle sales in 2016.

That shift is equivalent to more than 3 vehicle assembly plants worth of production annually, and is driving other automakers, including General Motors Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV , to direct more investment towards SUVs and trucks, industry executives said.

"SUVs are the top-selling segment in the US," said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of US marketing, sales and service in a statement released late Monday. "That is why we are introducing five new SUVs in the US by 2020," for the Ford brand. Supplier sources said separately that a sixth new model would carry the Lincoln badge.

This fall, Ford will launch a redesigned 2018 version of its large Expedition SUV, which competes with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban in one of the most lucrative market segments in the global auto industry. GM's lineup of large SUVs dominates the segment.

Ford Division, which makes the company's Ford-branded cars, said its current four-model SUV lineup, which includes the Escape, the Edge and the Explorer, will be joined over the next three years by the compact EcoSport, which will be imported from India in early 2018; the mid-size Bronco, which goes into production in late 2019 in Wayne, Michigan, and a battery-powered compact crossover with a 483km range that begins production in Flat Rock, Michigan, in 2019.

Ford Division officials did not disclose details on two other unidentified models. Supplier sources said those vehicles likely are new compact models, where consumer demand is greatest. One is based on the next-generation Focus small car, the sources said, while the other could be based on the next-generation of the subcompact Fiesta.

By 2020, Ford Division's SUV lineup will grow to nine entries, while the Lincoln brand will market four SUVs, all of which share underpinnings with companion Ford models, according to the sources.

The future Lincolns include redesigned versions of the Navigator, due this fall; the MKC in 2019, and the MKX in 2021, the sources said. A fourth model, an all-new mid-size entry which suppliers refer to alternately as the Aviator or MKD, is expected to share underpinnings in 2019 with the next-generation Explorer.

In addition, Ford plans to redesign the Escape in 2018, the Explorer in 2019 and the Edge in 2021, the sources said.

GM's SUVs accounted for 36.6 percent of its US sales last year, up a fraction from 36.2 percent in 2015.
SUVs represented 38.4 percent of total US vehicle sales in 2016, up from 35.9 percent the previous year, according to Autodata.


Proton 1 Tank Adventure returns

                PETALING JAYA: The second running of Proton’s 1 Tank Adventure, the event that invites Proton owners to experience the sights, sounds and cuisine of Malaysia while driving economically, is set to kick off on Sept 14,  2019.

Offering over RM100,000 worth of prizes and comprising three preliminary rounds and a grand final, participants will consist of owners of the 2019 Proton Iriz, Persona and Saga, as well as invited media members and celebrities.

The inaugural edition of the 1 Tank Adventure focused mainly on routes in Peninsular Malaysia but the 2019 competition will feature two rounds in East Malaysia with one each in Sabah and Sarawak. The grand final, will see participants embark on an epic journey, travelling from Kota Bharu to Johor Bharu using just a single tank of fuel.

One of the main aims of the 1 Tank Adventure is to demonstrate the real world fuel efficiency of the current range of Proton cars.

Participants will be tasked to drive their cars over a variety of roads and traffic conditions to deliver fuel economy figures that can be replicated by other owners on a daily basis.

“Proton would like to demonstrate the efficiency of our cars by embarking on some epic journeys around the country. These figures won’t be obtained in a controlled environment but in driving conditions owners experience every day. Ultimately, we will prove the current range of Proton cars can deliver fuel economy figures that will help keep running costs low,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton.


Tommaso Volpe appointed Nissan global motorsports director

                YOKOHAMA: Tommaso Volpe, currently director of global motorsports and performance projects at INFINITI Motor Company Ltd., has been appointed Nissan global motorsports director effective April 1.

Volpe will oversee Nissan’s Formula E, Super GT, Prototype and global GT3 racing activities. He succeeds Michael Carcamo, who has led Nissan’s motorsports program since 2015, including its Formula E debut in 2018.

Volpe brings a wealth of motorsports experience to the Nissan brand, having led the INFINITI Motorsports department since 2014. In this period, Volpe strengthened the role of INFINITI in Formula One changing it from a sponsor to a technical partner for the Renault F1 Team, including co-development of the Energy Recovery System, the INFINITI Engineering Academy and the Project Black S.

In addition to his Nissan responsibilities, Volpe will also retain responsibility for INFINITI’s global motorsports programs, including PR and marketing activation in connection with the technical partnership.

“The Formula E team has had many great achievements thanks to the hard work of Michael Carcamo and the team,” Volpe said. “Nissan and NISMO will continue to compete this year with Formula E and the new Nissan GT-R NISMO GT500 as the two main pillars of our works and customer racing programs. And of course, INFINITI will again pursue its global activation program.”


SPONSORED: All-new Mazda CX-5 ready  to rock

                The new five-seater Mazda CX-5 sport utility vehicle (SUV) was designed to bring a new dimension of driving pleasure.

With a theme of “refined toughness”, the new CX-5 elevates Mazda’s Kodo – Soul of Motion design concept to a new level.

The exterior features sharper lines, a chiselled look and slimmer lights, while the interior has been enhanced for more passenger comfort.

The seats have thick cushioning, and the interior impresses with its high-quality fit and finish.

A new premium colour, Soul Red Crystal was created specifically to highlight the beauty and quality of Mazda’s Kodo designs.

Soul Red Crystal is billed as having 20% greater colour saturation and 50% more depth than Soul Red, for a more lustrous look.

New premium colours also include Machine Gray and Snow Flake White Pearl Mica.

A new Mazda-exclusive paint line system was built at the Inokom plant for the CX-5, which is said to provide premium paint quality and finishing on par or even exceeding that of cars produced in Japan.

Featuring G-Vectoring Control, the first in the SkyActiv Vehicle Dynamics series of vehicle motion control technologies, the new CX-5 offers drivers responsive performance and passengers a quiet and comfortable ride.

G-Vectoring Control is standard on all CX-5 variants.

The cabin is a quiet cocoon, as Mazda engineers worked hard to reduce low frequency road noise, especially on rough road surfaces, with parts designed to minimise vibrations.

Also, wind and tyre noise at high speeds is reduced by minimising turbulence around the body and blocking high-frequency tyre noise intrusion in the cabin.

The new CX-5, which is assembled at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah comes in five variants of 2.0-litre GL petrol (RM134,605), 2.0-litre GLS petrol (RM148,605), 2.5-litre GLS petrol (RM160,996), 2.2-litre GLS diesel (RM164,579) and 2.2-litre GLS diesel all-wheel drive (RM175,179). Prices are on-the-road without insurance.

The standard kit and features across all CX-5 variants are impressive.

Among the key features for all variants are six airbags, dynamic stability control, traction control, hill start assist, a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission, LED headlights with auto levelling and auto on/off function, rain sensing wipers, engine start-stop button, and i-Stop Idling technology.

Adding more convenience are an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, four windows with one-touch up and down powered function, rear air conditioner vents, reverse camera, 7-inch colour touchscreen display, four USB ports, MZD Connect infotainment system with voice command, six speakers, and dual-zone automatic air-conditioning.

There is more than decent rear storage space at 442 litres (seats up) and 1,342 litres (seats down).

The 2.0 GLS and 2.5 GLS get additional items such as LED daytime running lights, LED rear tail-lights, keyless entry, front parking sensors, 10-way powered driver’s seat, leather seats, GPS navigation system, walk away lock function, Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and front Smart City Brake Support.

Meanwhile, the diesel-powered 2.2 GLS and 2.2 GLS all-wheel drive are also offered with Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, Driver Attention Alert, and front and rear Smart City Brake Support.

The new CX-5 have powerful and fuel efficient SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines, with the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine producing 162hp and 210Nm of torque, the 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol making 192hp and 257Nm of torque while the 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D diesel outputs 173hp and 420Nm of torque.

The diesel-powered CX-5 units are tuned to run on Euro 5 diesel.

Fuel economy is rated at 5.9 litres per 100km for the two-wheel drive CX-5 2.2-litre GLS diesel, and 7.1 litres per 100km for the CX-5 2.5-litre GLS petrol.

For the 2.0-litre CX-5 petrol, fuel consumption is rated at 6.8 litres per 100km.


Apple scientists disclose self-driving car research

                SAN FRANCISCO: Research by Apple Inc computer scientists on how self-driving cars can better spot cyclists and pedestrians while using fewer sensors has been posted online, in what appears to be the company’s first publicly disclosed paper on autonomous vehicles.

The paper by Yin Zhou and Oncel Tuzel, submitted on Nov. 17 to independent online journal arXiv, is significant because Apple’s famed corporate secrecy around future products has been seen as a drawback among artificial intelligence and machine learning researchers.

The scientists proposed a new software approach called “VoxelNet” for helping computers detect three-dimensional objects. Apple declined to comment.

Academics are used to freely sharing their work with peers at other organisations. Yielding to that dynamic, Apple in July established the Apple Machine Learning Journal for its researchers. Their work rarely appears outside the journal, which so far has not published any research on self-driving cars.

Self-driving cars often use a combination of normal two-dimensional cameras and depth-sensing ”LiDAR” units to recognise the world around them. While the units supply depth information, their low resolution makes it hard to detect small, faraway objects without help from a normal camera linked to it in real time.

But with new software, the Apple researchers said they were able to get ”highly encouraging results” in spotting pedestrians and cyclists with just LiDAR data. They also wrote they were able to beat other approaches for detecting three-dimensional objects that use only LiDAR. The experiments were computer simulations and did not involve road tests.

Though chief executive Tim Cook has called self-driving cars “the mother of all AI projects,” Apple has given few hints about the nature of its self-driving car ambitious.

Last December, Apple told federal regulators it was excited about the technology and asked regulators not to restrict testing of the technology. In April, Apple filed a self-driving car testing plan with California regulators.


Grab extends condolence over murdered driver, says committed to driver-passenger safety

                KOTA KINABALU: Grab Malaysia has extended its condolences to the family of Mohd Hanafiee Jaafar, the driver of the e-hailing service who was recently murdered in a robbery here.

"Our team will be reaching out to Hanafiee's family to make arrangements to provide the necessary support.

"He was a hardworking individual and one of our top performing driver-partners.

"We are deeply saddened that the incident occurred while he was working hard to earn a living," the company said in a statement today.

"This included a photo of the suspect and the necessary information from our passenger selfie verification feature built into the Grab app.

"This technology has contributed significantly to the police investigation that led to the arrest of two suspects in this case," it added.

Grab Malaysia said they remained steadfast in their commitment to minimise the risk of safety incidents for both drivers and passengers alike.

"Currently we have in place a variety of tools such as the emergency button and 'Share My Ride' feature where both parties are able to share trip details and live GPS locations with friends and/or loved ones, and the recently launched passenger selfie verification.

"With the initial roll-out of the passenger selfie verification, passenger-initiated crimes on our platform have declined by 30% as a result of it being launched as a requirement for all new users.

"We expect this to improve further as we introduce this requirement to even more users on our platform," the company added.

On Monday, police nabbed two men – one a local, the other a foreigner – in their 20s at 9.50pm after getting information from Grab Malaysia on Mohd Hanafiee's last passengers before he went missing.

"They have confessed to murdering Hanafiee during a robbery on May 24 and then dumping his body at an area in Tuaran not far from here," Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah told reporters on Tuesday.


Six tricked-out driving schools for the luxury globetrotter

                NEW YORK: Hoping to drive like James Bond on a chase through Rome? May we suggest you take a driving school first?

There are plenty to choose from in the luxury category: ones that cost a couple hundred dollars for an hour to those that cost tens of thousands for days of private instruction. Here are six of the best. And you don't even have to be in an Aston Martin to graduate. Though that does help if you're hoping for 007 status-or are looking to learn how to drift on ice.

BMW Driving Academy
What: Safety courses, drifting courses, off-road courses, all run on a former military airport
Where:Maisach, Germany
When:Year-round
Why it's cool:BMW provides the M4 Coupé you need for the entire course-we recommend the BMW M Drift Experience. Or you can consult with BMW instructors to plan your own customized course training experience. How much: US$130-US$1,200 per class, plus more for private, extended sessions. bmw-drivingexperience.com

Land Rover Experience Driving School
What: Full- and multiday off-road, water, mud, and rock driving with specific instruction on recovery and winching
Where: Various places including California, Vermont, and Quebec
When: Year-round Why it's cool:Each program is aligned with a beautiful luxury hotel, including the Quail Lodge in Carmel, Calif., and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.
How much: US$1,200 per vehicle for full-day, and US$2,400 per vehicle for multiday adventures. Lodging costs extra. landroverusa.com

Lamborghini Track Accademia
What: Lambo-certified instruction in a Gallardo Super Trofeo on a real racetrack
Where:Las Vegas and Austin
When:Fall
Why it's cool:One morning you’ll get to drive the one-off GT race-ready Huracán LP620 Super Trofeo. Completion allows qualification for the application to the IMSA-FIA racing license, requisite to compete in professional races.
How much: US$19,995, including three days’ instruction and two nights’ lodging in Vegas. squadracorse.lamborghini.com

 Ferrari Pilota Sport Course
What: Sports driving instruction for Ferrari customers
Where: Ferrari's own Fiorano Circuit near Modena, Italy
When: Year-round
Why it's cool: You get the full Italian heritage experience in the same region that has fostered star drivers for decades, plus one-on-one attention to refine your skills.
How much: US$10,500, plus US$2,050 per additional guest, which includes two days at the track, all meals, accommodations in Modena, and personalised gifts. store.ferrari.com

Lotus Driving Academy
What: Three days of classroom teaching and one-on-one personal coaching behind the wheel at the Hethel Test Track to learn vehicle dynamics, driving technique, and ideal racing lines
Where: Norfolk, England
When: Year-round
Why it's cool: You’ll get multiple 20-minute track sessions to master heel-and-toe technique and the extended cone slalom in all three Lotus icons: the Elise S, Evora S, and Exige S.
How much: US$2,289, which includes training, meals, and Lotus gifts. Lodging costs extra. lotusdrivingacademy.com

Porsche Driving Experience Winter
What:Practical training on ice and snowfields to maximise precision and performance in inclement weather
Where: Levi, Finland
When: Winter
Why it's cool:You’ll be driving 911s on ice blocks in the Arctic Circle while staying at the four-star Hotel Levi Panorama.
How much: About US$7,700 per single driver depending on the class, which typically runs for four days. Add US$2,100 for one accompanying person. Lodging included. drivingexperience.porsche.com - Bloomberg


Renault out to Captur more hearts in Malaysia

READ ALSO:5 reasons to like the Captur

Local Renault vehicle distributor TC Euro Cars is aiming to expand the French brand’s reach with the Captur.

Loaded with attractive styling and practicality, the B-segment mini crossover or SUV (sports utility vehicle) has been a resounding success for Renault.

According to automotive data provider Jato Dynamics, the Captur is Europe’s top-selling mini SUV.

It accounted for nearly 19% of the Boulogne-Billancourt headquartered automaker’s sales in Europe last year.

Having had access to the car for three days, it was easy to understand why the Captur is so popular in Europe.

It looks great and stands out with its flowing lines and distinctive curves.

Our test drive unit came with a nice and costly two-tone finish featuring a warm Arizona Orange paint job.

According to Renault, the Captur which is built at the Valladolid plant in Spain, uses a high durability clear-coat finish that gives improved lustre and transparency, plus greater resistance to scratching.

As for the interior, it is no less impressive in terms of sporty looks.

We liked the black and orange seats, which are solid and comfortable.

The sporty interior is accentuated by chrome highlights for the air-conditioning vent surrounds, centre console and door-mounted audio speakers.

It is obvious that the Captur is targeted at urbanites with active lifestyles, and Renault came up with some nice touches.

These include elasticated mesh pockets on the front seat-backs, instead of the usual fabric or leather pockets.

The bright orange-coloured elasticated mesh pockets in our test drive unit are unconventional, but certainly useful as they can hold items such as 1.5-litre water bottles.

Another unconventional feature is the zippable, removable seat covers which can be machine washed at home.

This means that removing stubborn stains from the car’s seats is made easier.
We also liked the removable boot floor, which is reversible and has carpeted and rubberised sides.

The rubberised side is great for putting our sweat-stained clothing after a gym workout, or fresh food from the wet market.

Conveniences also include automatic headlights and rain sensors for the wipers.

The Captur also has a reverse camera, and seven-inch touchscreen with AUX, USB, Bluetooth and navigation functions.

As for the driving experience, this is where the Captur shines.

The small but powerful 1.2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a lightning quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic gearbox, provides lots of zest as well as swift and smooth acceleration.

It is not a heavy car in its class, with a 1,180kg kerb weight.

Fitted with Michelin Primacy 3 205/55 R17 tyres, it is surefooted in tackling road curves when we were in a spirited and playful mood.

The electric, variable-rate power steering is pleasantly precise and has a nice, direct feel for eager drivers.

When cruising on the highway at 110kph, we noted that the tachometer needle was at 2,500rpm.

At 80kph, the needle was at 1,750rpm.

It feels smooth and refined, and it helped that interior materials feel and look far from cheap, thus providing a premium European cabin ambience.

The Captur has powered side door windows, but only the driver’s side has a one-touch up/down function.

We found very decent legroom, and rear headroom is more than adequate for 1.7-metre people.

Renault also claims it is possible to achieve a low fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100km.

The ECO mode, activated by pressing the ECO button on the centre console, improves fuel economy by up to 10% as it reduces engine torque and changes the gear mapping.

It also reduces the efficacy of the automatic climate control, which means you wouldn’t want to press the ECO button on a hot day.

The Captur is well designed with a fuel efficient, peppy powertrain and delivers what it promises - a higher driving position, a decently roomy cabin and the driving enjoyment, and agility of a compact sedan.

It has lots of safety and comfort features, and comes with a five-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty for extra peace of mind.

A maintenance-free timing chain also helps to reduce the cost of ownership.

For added peace of mind, like all Renault passenger cars, service intervals for the Captur are 10,000km or six months, whichever comes first.

Due for local launch soon, the Captur also comes with a five-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty.


Behold the Mercedes-AMG Project One: the world's first road-legal Formula One racing car

                FRANKFURT: After nearly nine months of teasing, the Mercedes-AMG Project One is finally official, and based on its vital statistics alone, the relentless hyping on paper appears justified.

"The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE is the first Formula 1 car with MOT approval," said Ola Källenius, the company's global head of research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development.

In other words this is a car that boasts never before experienced performance technology - unless your name happens to be Lewis Hamilton - but delivers it in a way that could conceivably make the car capable of performing the school run.

"Motorsport is not an end in itself for us. Faced with intense competition, we develop technologies from which our production vehicles also subsequently benefit. We are drawing on our experiences and successes from three constructors' and drivers' world championships to bring Formula 1 technology to the road for the first time," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

In essence this means a car constructed from the most exotic of strong yet lightweight materials and with a tiny hybrid 1.6-litre V6 engine placed dead in its center.

With a turbocharger, two F1-derived energy recuperation systems and four electric motors, the car's total output resides at 1,000hp and is capable of reaching a top speed of 350kph.

Other hypercars can manage similar top speeds or levels of horsepower, but nothing currently on the road can do so from an electrically assisted turbocharged engine similar in size to that found in a VW Polo.

Nor can any current road legal car rev to 11,000rpm.

Such a high red line means that most owners will never manage to drive it on the complete limit.

Mercedes has had to build a unique automated eight-speed manual transmission to cope with all of the torque and power the engine puts out.

With the electric motors powering a single wheel each, there torque vectoring and individual wheel braking to make it feel very much planted out on the road.

The electric motors and the lithium battery pack is able to provide pure electric propulsion for up to 25km and the car can reach 200kph in under 6.0 seconds.

Unlike a real F1 car, the Project One has a roof, several generous storage spaces and two racing seats rather than just one.

The cabin is considered to be austere, with nothing included that isn't absolutely crucial to the car's capabilities.

Even the gauges have been ditched in favour of two digital screens as well as a full infotainment system, air conditioning and electric windows.

Only 275 units are planned to maintain exclusivity, with each expected to sell for 2.3 million euros (RM11.1mil).

> The hyper car has whetted the appetite of the rich and famous, with one Malaysian already booking the car ahead of its production, which is yet undetermined.


Man who drove to police post with friend clinging to windscreen fined RM5,400

                SINGAPORE: A man who drove to a police post with a friend he owed money to clinging to his windscreen was fined $2,000 (RM5,400) and banned from the road for nine months on Thursday.

Haresh Govindaraju, 46, and two other friends went to see Murali Krishnan Naidu, 44, at his King Albert Park condo to discuss some money he owed them.

While waiting outside they saw Murali drive in with his wife and teenage son and ran towards his car but he drove away to avoid confrontation.

The trio shouted vulgarities at Murali's wife and banged his vehicle, and at some point Haresh leapt onto the bonnet and held onto the sides of the windscreen.

The couple tried to persuade Haresh to get off the bonnet - but he refused and threatened to "break their heads".

Worried for the safety of his family, Murali decided to drive to the nearest Neighbourhood Police Post.

Haresh was still on the bonnet when they arrived at Bukit Batok NPP.

He eventually got off the car after several warnings from the police.

A video of the incident was posted on Stomp.

Murali, the manager of a credit company, was fined $2,000 (RM5,400) and banned from driving for nine months on Thursday.

Murali pleaded guilty to committing the rash act on Oct 18 last year.

Murali could have been jailed for up to six months and/or fined up to $2,500 (RM 6,750).


Debut of Volkswagen's next production ID delayed until April

                WASHINGTON: VW's next ID EV won't be unveiled until the New York International Auto Show this April, according to a media report.

In September at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, Volkswagen teased the fourth member of its production ID family just one day after revealing the ID.3 compact hatchback.

While the upcoming model's psychedelic wraps were originally going to be removed this February (possibly) at the Chicago Auto Show, Autocar reported this week that the unveiling date has been shifted two months back.

Based on what has been seen (albeit the model being covered in camouflage), the ID.4 will be a crossover SUV with a design similar to the ID Crozz concept announced in 2017.

According to Volkswagen Group of America CEO Scott Keogh, the range of the model will be above 311 miles, the top speed will be limited to 112mph, and the price will start at $33,000 before tax credits.

Later this year, another ID SUV is expected to be revealed, called the ID.5. Little has been revealed about this model.

The production launch of the Volkswagen ID.4 is rumoured to take place late this year. The wraps look set to be taken off at the New York Auto Show which runs from April 10 to April 19.


McLaren cars reunited for the first time

                WOKING: For the first time McLaren has ‘reunited’ a unique collection of its modern sportscars and supercars at the luxury maker’s global headquarters here in Surrey.

The special line-up of 23 cars, estimated to be worth around £50m (RM264.9mil), included iconic models such as the P1 GTR - the track version of the world’s first ever hybrid hypercar – through to the new McLaren Speedtail of which only six will ever be produced – and was assembled to help celebrate the company’s employee, friends and family open day.

Despite McLaren Automotive only being founded under a decade ago, it recently built its 20,000 car.

Under its business plan, McLaren will launch a further 14 models or derivatives between now and 2025 to add to the four already launched. All McLaren’s sportscars and supercars will be hybridised by then with an equal focus on using advanced materials to save weight and enable exhilarating performance.

Around 3,000 of the company’s employees, their families and friends, supported by over 70 volunteers, joined members of the company’s executive team to see the exclusive display alongside actitvities that ranged from ride on P1 hypercar ‘races’, to a children’s competition to ‘design’ the best car judged by McLaren Design Director Rob Melville, to testing reaction speeds on a Batak machine supplied by tyre partner Pirelli.


Fiat 124 Spider back on US soil in 50th anniversary year

                DETROIT: The iconic Fiat roadster is returning to US showrooms after 30 years away, with sales of the model to start later this month.

The first shipments of the new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider have arrived in the US via Baltimore and San Diego in advance of North American sales opening later in the month, automobile group FIAT has announced.

Built on a shared platform with the famous Mazda MX-5 (which won World Car of the Year earlier in 2016), the convertible 124 Spider uses its own 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder engine for 160hp and 250Nm of torque.

 The cars delivered at Baltimore port.

Double-wishbone front suspension, rear multi-link suspension, tuned electric-power steering, blind-spot monitoring, parking assistance, and rear cross path detection are also features of the 2+2 seater roadster.

The original Fiat 124 Spider, was first introduced to the US in 1968 with its original run of sales ending in 1985.

After a 1966 unveiling at the Turin Motor Show, 2016 marks the vehicle's 50th anniversary.


Car plunges into 12m-deep sewer site - VIDEO

PETALING JAYA: Two people were injured after the car they were travelling in plunged into an 12 metre-deep sewer that was under construction.

Damansara Rescue and Fire Department station chief Ramli Harun said they received a distress call at around 2.07pm on Tuesday.

"We dispatched a fire engine and six men to the scene. They arrived at around 2.16pm and found that a Toyota Vios had plunged about 12m into a sewer under construction along Jalan Universiti near Section 17 here.

"With the help of police, we closed off the affected road and sent two firemen into the sewer to assess the situation," he said when met at the scene Tuesday.

He said the two firemen rappelled down the hole and managed to rescue the two victims at around 3.20pm.

"Both victims suffered multiple injuries and have been sent to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for treatment," he said.

He said they managed to hoist the wrecked car out of the sewer using a crane from a nearby construction site at around 3.45pm.

Meanwhile, civil engineer Pram Velauthan Gopal, who witnessed the accident, said it could have been avoided if the construction site had used proper concrete barriers instead of plastic ones.

“The concrete barriers would not have moved if it was in place in the same scenario.

“The authorities need to look into this issue and make sure similar construction sites all around Petaling Jaya are safe for motorists,” he said.


Honda Motor Q3 profit drops 40% on discounting, quality costs

                TOKYO: Honda Motor Co Ltd today reported a 40.2 percent drop in third-quarter operating profit, missing market expectations due to higher discounting and quality-related costs.

Japan’s third-biggest automaker posted profit of 170.1 billion yen ($1.56 billion) for October-December, from 284.5 billion yen in the same period a year earlier.

The result compared with the 208.8 billion yen median of 10 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv.
Honda kept its full-year profit forecast at 790 billion yen, though it now assumes the domestic currency will trade around 111 yen to the U.S. dollar through March 31, from a previous forecast for 110 yen.

The weaker profit comes as Honda faces easing global demand for cars and the possibility of a new trade deal between Japan and the United States, while investing heavily in self-driving and low-emission vehicle technology to keep pace with rivals.

Honda’s global automobile sales came in at 1.41 million vehicles in October-December, versus 1.34 million a year earlier, boosted by rising sales at home and in Asia.

Honda sold 498,000 units in North America during the period, up from 491,000 a year earlier, bucking the trend of slowing demand in the United States. But profitability took a hit from an increase in selling incentives, the company said.

In China, another key market where sales have also cooled after years of growth, Honda sold around 1.43 million vehicles in 2018, down slightly on the previous year. While sales in the past few months have held up against an overall market slowdown, Honda was stung earlier in the year by a quality issue with its Civic sedan, the CR-V SUV crossover and other popular models.

Honda and other automakers in China, the world’s largest auto market, are bracing for a tough 2019 after weakness in sales emerged last year following years of strong growth as the country’s growing middle class snapped up new cars.

China’s Association of Automobile Manufacturers has said it expects to see flat sales of around 28.1 million units in 2019, after the market contracted for the first time in more than two decades last year.

Motorcycle sales have been on the rise in the past year or so due to a boost in demand in Southeast Asia. Third-quarter global sales totalled 5.01 million motorcycles versus 4.87 million a year earlier.


BMW Group Malaysia reveals new Ultimate Protection Insurance Program

                CYBERJAYA: BMW Group Malaysia has introduced its Ultimate Protection Insurance Program - a new vehicle insurance program from BMW Credit Malaysia, which offers additional coverage for its owners and drivers as well.

The insurance (applicable to vehicles financed by BMW Credit Malaysia) programme provides protection coverages such as Key Care (up to RM1,000), Flood coverage (up to RM30,000), Rim protection (up to RM1,000) and Gap Insurance Protection (up to RM 10,000).

Additionally, the insurance programme also offers vehicle owners with protection that includes Accidental Death Cases (up to RM100,000), Total Permanent Disability Relief (up RM100,000) and Personal Effects Coverage due to Vehicle Break-in protection (up to RM3,000).

And, there's also a Special Relief coverage that provides up to RM10,000 for a maximum of six months for monthly instalments of up to RM2,500 per month for their Hire Purchase Loan Repayment.

The insurance programme is available for all new BMW vehicles such as the 118i Sport, 120i M Sport, 318i Luxury, 320i Sport, 330i M Sport, 320d Gran Turismo, 328i Gran Turismo, 520d M Sport, 520i M Sport, 528i M Sport, X3 xDrive20i, and X3 xDrive20d.

Other BMW vehicles covered by insurance programme includes the BMW 218i Active Tourer, 320i M Sport, 320d M Sport, 730Li, 740Li, X1 xDrive20i, and X5 xDrive35i.

“We at BMW Group Malaysia are committed to providing our customers with the very best-in-class ownership experience for their BMW vehicles," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun.

"We demonstrated this when we introduced our industry leading Five Years Free Service and Warranty Program, Tyre Warranty Program and now, a superior insurance program to further drive our commitment to prioritizing the safety of our drivers and passengers to delivering Sheer Driving Pleasure.” added Han.


So you lost your Porsche on a burning ship. Now what?

                NEW YORK: It’s a car person’s nightmare: The special Bentley or Lamborghini you ordered half a year or more ago is finally on a cargo ship headed your way. Then the ship catches fire.

The nightmare became reality Feb 16 when a vessel sailing from Germany to Rhode Island caught fire near the Azores with more than US$400 million (RM1.7bil) worth of vehicles aboard, including luxury models from Bentley, Porsche, and Lamborghini.

A daring rescue by the Portuguese Air Force and Navy saved all 22 crew members, with no reported injuries.

As of Feb 22, the Felicity Ace remained ablaze and what remains of an estimated 4,000 Volkswagen AG vehicles will be sussed out once a salvage team can properly inspect the nearly three-football-field-sized ship.

A website has been set up to provide updates on the incident.

But for those with orders aboard, there’s really just one question to answer: what do I do about my car?

Ship happens

Cargo ships going down with cars on board are not a phenomena as unusual as they might seem; at least eight major incidents involving large boats and damaged cars have occurred since 2002.

In 2019, the Grande America destined for Brazil sank with 37 Porsches aboard, including four rare, highly customized 911 GT2 RS (average prices today: US$366,487, though specialised ones can approach US$800,000).

That same year, a ship called the Golden Ray departed the port of Brunswick, Georgia, before it capsized-carrying more than 4,000 vehicles bound for the Middle East, including trucks and SUVs from General Motors and Mercedes-Benz.

In a 2002 incident, an empty German cargo ship hit the submerged hull of a sunken car carrier, the Tricolor, in the English Channel.

The Norwegian-flagged ship contained an estimated US$40.6 million worth of high-performance vehicles onboard, including hundreds of cars from BMW, Saab, and Volvo.

At the time of the incident, a spokesman for BMW said the company was most worried about the cars’ chassis numbers falling into the wrong hands, since chassis numbers are lucrative currency among car thieves.

Executives at Volvo were more concerned that none of the cars were salvageable.

"You can’t possibly get a car back into a fit state once it’s been in salt water,” Volvo’s UK products services manager, John Rawlings, said after the accident. "We have to think of the effect on our prestige image of selling these things.”

Former merchant mariner Sal Mercogliano said that in the case of Felicity Ace, damage to all of the vehicles is likely, as it would be difficult for firefighters to get inside the tightly-packed cargo decks to fight the flames.

"The potential now is with the ship being abandoned the fire will rage out of control and jump from vehicle to vehicle,” Mercogliano said in a YouTube video about the blaze. "Vehicles don’t explode…but vehicles burn. The fire will run the length of this vessel and potentially gut it.”

No cause of fire has been confirmed.

Keep going? Or cut losses

So what is the recourse for clients expecting these cars? Technically the vehicles don’t yet belong to the customers until delivery, they still belong to the automaker, so personal automotive insurance won’t have kicked in.

Commercial insurance policies for auto manufacturers and the cargo companies would address the losses to them instead.

Volkswagen Group maintains the vendor relationships for shipping cars, not each individual brand owned by VW, a spokesperson said.

So those unfortunate souls with vehicles lost at sea have generally two options: Resubmit the order for the vehicle, keep your deposit placed, and wait several months for the next shipment.

Or cut their loses, emotional and financial, take the disaster as a sign of some sort, and order something different altogether.

"The dealer has promised to keep me posted with any updates on how Porsche decides to sort this out,” Porsche customer Matt Farah tweeted about the customised Porsche Boxster Spyder he had ordered in August of 2021, which was on the Felicity Ace.

"Odds are a new build and hopefully not another 8 months wait for it.”

Good customer service

In the case of luxury vehicles, it behooves automakers such as Bentley, Porsche, and Lamborghini to do what they can to placate their high net worth clients.

Manufacturers don’t want those US$300,000 orders going elsewhere; those who spend that much cash on a rare vehicle are often lifelong brand loyalists - or aspire to be. That is what Porsche did with the Golden Ray incident.

"In a special decision and to uphold its commitment to its valued Brazilian customers, Porsche has ensured that those [911 GT2 RS] units will be reproduced in the order in which they were originally confirmed,” the company stated at the time.

The move to reproduce cars in the same order as they had been intended is extremely rare, requiring ample time and money - and delays for other vehicles.

In the instance of the Felicity Ace, Porsche will take similar measures.

"We are already working to replace every car affected by this incident,” Porsche spokesman Marcus Kabel said in an email.

"The cars will be as close as possible to their original, ordered specification.” All told, the fire is expected to pose a US$155 million total loss for the brands affected.

The cost of the car itself, which for American buyers would be the initial deposit, rather than the whole MSRP, since the car had yet to be delivered, would transition to a new car, if ordered, Kabel said.

If the order is cancelled, Porsche will refund the deposit, "although based on feedback from customers, most are looking forward to receiving reordered vehicles," he said.

"On the details of the specific cases, this is between the dealer and the customer,” he said, Since all Porsche dealerships are independently owned and operated.

"We are working to expedite the delivery of a replacement vehicle as soon as possible. We are working on this as a priority; the first cars will be built soon.”

A Lamborghini spokesman declined to comment on how the Italian brand would handle the losses.

A Bentley representative confirmed that 189 Bentley vehicles are on board the ship and that the customer cars will take priority for replacement.

Both manufacturers face a potentially bigger loss than Porsche, proportionately speaking, since they make far fewer, and far more expensive, vehicles.

For Farah, the best decision in this case was to reorder his same spec. "[Porsche] gave me the opportunity to make changes to the build, and I said, ‘Build it like I ordered it the first time,’” he said.

Farah was unable to confirm how long the new build would take but said that Porsche told him it was "a priority.” In the meantime, he’ll drive something else.

But for Danielle Tringali, who had ordered a Porsche Macan last December-and now finds the Macan is still adrift in the Atlantic-it wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

Tringali remained undecided for much of the week about the best course of action before ultimately deciding Feb 23 to wait it out for a new Macan.

"My car has been reordered and in production,” Tringali said. "Estimated end-of-June delivery sadly, though.”


Lim says it again: Private funds to bankroll third national car project

                KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has assured that the third national car project will neither use public funds nor money from the government.

Instead, he said the project, if ever implemented, would be funded by private investments.

“If it comes from private (investments), then there will not be a problem,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2018 at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

Lim underscored the same point in June, saying the Government did not have the money to fund a car project.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his speech at the 24th International Conference on the Future of Asia, or Nikkei Conference, in Tokyo last June, expressed his ambition to start a new national car project.

He said that Proton, which he founded in 1983, was no longer a national car.


Nissan ambassador Margot Robbie promotes sustainable energy

 The LEAF.

PARIS: Academy-award nominated actress Margot Robbie pulls on a wet suit and uses her love of surfing to inspire people to live more sustainable lives in her latest film for Nissan.

As Nissan's Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Ambassador, the Australian actress, producer and businesswoman has composed an open letter to encourage people to make more sustainable energy choices.

Robbie, who performed the surfing sequence herself, is seen enjoying the early morning waves as she talks of creating a "better world for ourselves and everyone who comes after us."

With offshore wind farms and solar panels currently accounting for two-thirds of new power added to the world's grid in 20161, Robbie explains that "we all have the power to make a change."

"I hope I can play a small role in inspiring people across the globe to explore alternative forms of energy and make the switch to drive a better future for everyone," said Robbie. "The point is, we can all make a difference and we don't need to wait for others to do it for us."

Robbie recently helped Nissan unveil its new Formula E car to a VIP crowd at an event in Los Angeles, to mark a historic era for Nissan as it prepares to enter the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in the 2018/19 season. The move will benefit all drivers – as Nissan has committed to taking lessons learned on the track into future commercial electric vehicle development.

Nissan's global electric vehicle sales jumped 28% last fiscal year, when LEAF confirms its position of world's best-selling electric vehicle. Nissan has sold more than 320,000 LEAFs since the model was first introduced in 2010.


Porsche turns its back on Detroit auto show in 2017

                STUTTGART: Volkswagen's sportscar unit Porsche will skip the Detroit auto show next year, the company said on Tuesday.

Porsche would focus on trade shows in New York and its most important US market for sportscars Los Angeles, a spokesman said.

German trade magazine Auto motor und sport reported earlier on Tuesday that Porsche viewed that cost and effect were no longer in proportion in Detroit.


Volvo opens new 3S centre in Batu Pahat

                BATU PAHAT: Volvo Car Malaysia today has opened a new 3S (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) centre in Batu Pahat to help add convenience to its customers in the Southern region while also furthering its reach.

Operated by AJ Premium Motors, the facility is part of the company's sales and aftersales transformation - making it the ninth dealership in the country with more to before the end of the year.

"It is now more convenient for owners from the surrounding areas of Muar, Kluang and Segamat to service their cars or for prospective customers to view new Volvo models,” said AJ Premium Motors managing director Jacky Ong.

Also, the showroom has been built according to the Volvo Retail Experience with its Scandinavian-inspired 'living room'.

This means that customers are now able to relax in a cosy atmosphere, filled with warm lighting and clean air while being attended to by a sales representative or while waiting for a vehicle to be serviced.

The new showroom opens from 9.00am to 6.00pm from Monday to Saturday and from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Sundays and Public Holidays.

“There is growing interest for our models in Malaysia and we are actively setting-up dealerships in strategic areas around Malaysia to better service this need,” said Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Lennart Stegland.

Stegland added that the sales and aftersales transformation programme is not just about expanding Volvo’s dealership network but also to improve the competency level of its current dealerships to better service its growing customer base.

“It is an absolute requirement for all new dealerships to adhere to the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) standards, consistent with our dealership standards in Europe – it is not just an aesthetic guideline but
also dictates the level of service rendered in our dealerships.”

For more information, call 07-431 2222 or send an email to Patrick Teo (Branch Manager) at patrick@ajpremium.com.


World's most expensive parking space sold in HK

                HONG KONG: Paying almost HK$1 million for real estate is beyond the financial dreams of most people, even if it would get them a luxury mansion. But what about paying it for a parking space?

That's what one flush buyer has done here, according to a report in the South China Morning Post.

The 12.5-square-metre parking space in the skyscraper known as "The Center" sold for HK$969,000 (RM517,000), making it the most expensive parking space in the world, according to the report.

The Center, a skyscraper housing offices in central Hong Kong, already holds the record for the most expensive commercial building ever sold. A consortium of investors paid HK$5.15 billion for it in 2018.

According to the newspaper, Johnny Cheung Shun-yee, one of the consortium members, did not want to say who bought the parking space.

The report said the costly transaction underlined the wealth gap in Hong Kong, which has been beset by anti-government protests in recent weeks.


Porsche explains thermally and noise-insulated glass

                STUTTGART: Virtuoso engine sound, casual conversation, and exceptional music – these sound experiences can be further enhanced with the optional thermally and noise-insulated glass.

Outside noise is most noticeable when entering a highway tunnel, where the concrete walls reflect the driving noise into the car interior, where it rises to a roaring crescendo.

You have to speak more loudly, and occasionally the sound system turns up the volume of the music and voice prompts.

“These differences reveal the impact that outside noise can have on driving comfort,” says Jürgen Ochs, Head of Sound Quality, Car Bodies, at Porsche.

“The type of glass in the vehicle plays a key role in acoustic comfort. And its effect can be precisely measured – whether on an exposed stretch or in a tunnel,” he explains.

That’s why a sophisticated thermally and noise-insulated glass is available for all four-door Porsche models.

Unlike the conventional single-layer safety glass used for the sides and rear, this glass features five layers: glass, three layers of film, and then glass again.

The middle layer of the three polyvinyl butyral (PVB) films is a special acoustic film that absorbs much of the oscillation of the surrounding glass and thus reduces outside noise by up to 7.3 percent in a frequency range of 630 hertz to 6.3 kilohertz.

“That doesn’t sound like much, but everyone who’s ever tested the difference in driving conditions is impressed,” adds Ochs.

It effectively covers the range that the human ear is most sensitive to, which is 3.5 to 4.0 kilohertz. Police, fire engine, and ambulance sirens remain just as loud as always, as they fall within the frequencies between 360 and 630 hertz virtually all over the world.

Porsche installs the noise-insulated glass throughout, including in the tiny triangular panes and the rear window.

Acoustic glass weighs a little less than standard glass. In the case of the Panamera, the reduction in weight is around 2kg.

In addition, the extra layer of film makes the glass more resistant to break-ins.

The additional insulation can be ordered in combination with the thermally insulated glass, which looks no different from the standard glass.

The thermally and noise-insulated glass can also be combined with the popular privacy glass. The lightweight glass option offers comparable noise reduction for two-door models.


Drink driving: Transport Ministry pushing for harsher punishment

                PETALING JAYA: The punishment for driving under the influence and reckless driving will be heavier as the Transport Ministry moves to amend the Road Transport Act.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said a special meeting was chaired by him yesterday to discuss amendments to Section 41 to 45 of the Road Transport Act.

“It’s regarding punishments for those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and reckless driving.

“It is for sure that the punishments for those offences will be increased in order to serve as a lesson and to tackle the issue,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

Dr Wee’s remarks came following another case early yesterday morning, where a motorcyclist, who was on his way home and was struck by a car believed to be driven by a drunk driver.

Dr Wee said he also ordered the Transport Ministry officers to prepare a Cabinet Minister Memorandum in order to get a clearance from the Cabinet for the amendments this month.

“Proposals to amend the Act have taken into account the views of every stakeholder, including the public,” he added.

There has been an increase in drink-driving incidents during the movement control order, and multiple quarters have called for a review of the present laws.


A brand new Perodua Axia for grand prize winner

                PETALING JAYA: 33-year-old Mohd Saipol Kamal from Ipoh emerged as the grand prize winner of the Perodua Service and Win contest during the announcement event held at Perodua Sentral and walked away with a brand new, specially decorated Perodua Axia.

The Perodua Service and Win contest was held between April and June this year in collaboration with Petronas Lubricants Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd which is the official supplier for Perodua's after sales business.

In all, a total of 90 prizes were given to the winners of the competition.

The contest attracted 37,600 participants during the three month period contest.

"I wish to thank our customers for choosing Perodua for your vehicle servicing needs. In fact, between January and August of this year a total of 1.39 million intakes registered within our service outlets throughout the country," said Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Zahari Husin.

Zahari also revealed that Perodua has delivered over 137,200 vehicles between January and August of this year which marks a 2.6% increase compared to the vehicles sold during the same period last year.

"To our customers, please visit our social media portals, which are our Facebook page, Instagram and even our official website fo ongoing promotions as well as contest for attractive prizes. We also welcome you to walk into any of our sales and service outlets to learn more about what we have to offer," said Zahari.


Ford and Multimatic introduce 700hp GT MkII variant

                LONDON: Ford and Multimatic revealed the Ford GT MkII - a limited-edition track-only GT that represents this supercar's next stage in development at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The 45 examples, each priced from USD$1.2mil (RM5mil) before options, will be built in Markham, Ontario in Canada and will begin life at the main Ford GT plant before being transferred to Multimatic Motorsports where it will be crafted into the GT Mk II.

The 700hp (+200hp) 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine has been co-developed between Ford Performance and Multimatic and then mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission used by the GT (albeit specially calibrated) and then paired with race-bred aerodynamics as well as competition-oriented components.

It also requires the use of a high capacity air-to-air outboard mounted charge air cooler with water spray technology which automatically activates in high-temperature situations.

There's also a roof-mounted intake, reminiscent of the race car engine's, to direct feed to the auxiliary coolers of the engine, clutch and transmission.

The increased engine power is met with improved stopping power by utilising 15.5-inch front and 14.1-inch rear carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes that are partially hidden by forged aluminium 19-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport GT tyres.

The front fascia and hood of the Mk II are similar to the street-going car as well as the stylised Ford GT headlamps with signature running lights.

Interior changes include a bespoke Sparco racing seat with a six-point racing harness and an optional passenger seat.

A full MoTeC data acquisition system has also added to provide vital information for a track racer, which also doubles as a display for the rear camera.

Other parts added include a large dual-element rear wing, new front racing splitter and diffuser have been incorporated along with new fender louvres and dive planes to help balance against the extra rear downforce.

These allow the GT MkII to generate over 400% more downforce than the Ford GT while fixed aerodynamic elements along with its race-proven suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport racing tyres and lighter weight, allows the car to achieve 2 g of lateral forces - or twice its weight.

The weight-trimming was achieved by removing the street car’s adjustable ride height mechanism and replaced by five-way adjustable DSSV shock absorbers to save it 90kg.


First B-Select concept store opens

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bridgestone has opened its first Select concept store in Malaysia with an aim to provide a premium service for those seeking new tyres.

The Bridgestone Select (B-Select) store is operated by Racing Z Tyre Sdn Bhd and is located on Jalan PDR 5, Kawasan Perniagaan Desa Ria, 43300, Balakong.

Services such as tyre fitment, balancing and alignment are offered and caters to vehicles ranging from compact cars, sedans, sports cars and even those utilising run-flat tyres.

The new B-Select store provides an open-concept air-conditioned waiting lounge, which comes equipped with refreshments and free Wifi-connection, to allow customers a view of the goings-on outside through the glass panels.

The company’s new approach to tyre retailing aims to provide a customer-friendly environment with more information and greater transparency - allowing customers to make a more informed decision.

Bridgestone says that it recognises how important is customer experience, which it hopes its new B-Select store will ensure a happy and satisfactory experience.

As part of the Japanese tyre-maker’s on-going nationwide campaign, customers who purchase four Bridgestone passenger or 4x4 tyres from its new B-Select store will be entitled to a complimentary RM40 Petronas Gift Card or Alain Delon backpack.

The first B-Select concept store was first introduced in Australia in 2006 and has now expanded its reach to other countries, including New Zealand, India, Vietnam, Singapore and South Korea.


Radford acquires trademark for John Player Special livery

                LONDON: British luxury coachbuilding brand Radford has today announced the acquisition of a US trademark for one of the world’s most iconic race liveries, John Player Special (JPS).

The trademark of the livery is now owned by Radford in the US, and will be used on future Radford models.

The John Player Special livery is one of the most famous and significant racing car liveries.

Its legendary black and gold colour scheme is most instantly recognisable from the bodywork of the Lotus Type 72D which Emerson Fittipaldi raced to five victories and championship victory during the 1972 Formula 1 season.

The JPS livery was present on Lotus Formula 1 cars until 1986 and the Lotus 98T driven by the legendary Ayrton Senna – it epitomised the glamour era of motor racing in the 1970s.

Radford is now owned and run by leading car designer Mark Stubbs, TV presenter and car builder Ant Anstead, FIA Formula One World Champion, Jenson Button, and leading business adviser and lawyer Roger Behle.

Radford recently announced a partnership with Lotus, which had launched its latest sports car Emira.

Radford announced its first car "Project 62" would be exclusive and based on Lotus technology. It would be inspired by the Lotus Type 62, and only 62 cars will be produced. Already in advanced development, the bespoke Radford model would be revealed in the coming months.


Ex-Fiat engineer aims to put the brakes on Covid-19

A graphic showing a simulation of the 'Biostopper'. — Reuters

MILAN: Fifty years ago, he designed a braking system that helped reduce fatal car crashes. Now Mario Palazzetti has invented a device he hopes will curb the spread of COVID-19.

The retired Fiat Research Centre engineer is known as Mr ABS for the anti-lock braking system he created that is now standard in all motor vehicles.

At the age of 84, he has devised a gadget about the size of an electric kettle which creates local air currents that aim to stop the circulation of tiny droplets expelled when people speak - potentially hindering the spread of COVID-19 infections.

"We've called it the Biostopper and it's used to create an aerodynamic field, so that all the breath that someone emits when talking comes back to them," he explained.

Palazzetti started work on the device two months ago, hoping to address the difficulties of social distancing in schools, offices, bars and restaurants as the pandemic that has killed more than 548,000 people took hold.

He is now working with a team at the Politecnico di Torino (University of Turin) to fine tune and test the product.

"I can't tell you so many technical details because we are still in the patenting phase," Professor Marco Simonetti of the Politecnico's energy department told Reuters.

"The concept is simple, the ambition is not to kill the virus, but to reduce the distance (between people) safely," he added.

The Biostopper was initially designed to allow two people to get closer together, but Simonetti said it could work for small groups.

"We are concentrating on talking, because with sneezing we would need a much more invasive system," he said.

The Politecnico team hopes to have a prototype by the end of July and to go to market by the end of the summer.

Mr ABS, who retired in 1997, is behind a string of other inventions, including the TOTEM (Total Energy Module), a small heat and power generator, and an air conditioning system called Aircare which also recovers energy.

"The ideas come to me, it's not like I'm thinking," he said. "My regret is that I have a lot of ideas that are asking to be brought to light, but it's really difficult."


Toyota models go hybrid-only in spite of cheap US pump prices

                DALLAS: Toyota Motor Corp is wagering US car buyers will emerge from coronavirus shutdowns still wanting to buy new rides that sip fuel despite gasoline prices lingering near the lowest in years.

The manufacturer announced its two newest vehicles -- the redesigned Sienna minivan and Venza crossover — will be available only as hybrids. The maker of the Prius was having trouble keeping gas-electric models in stock before the pandemic wiped out demand for much of the industry.

The outgoing-generation Sienna didn’t offer a hybrid option, nor did the Venza before it was retired in 2015. By making gas-electric powertrains standard for the 2021 model-year vehicles, Toyota is showing faith that hybrids — a bright spot for its US lineup before Covid-19 — will keep selling strongly even though the national average price for a gallon of gasoline is below US$2.

Toyota’s hybrid sales surged 29% last year and 58% in the first quarter of 2020. The company’s total deliveries dropped 37% in the first three months of the year.

Virtual debut

Toyota had planned Sienna and Venza debuts for the New York auto show, which is normally held in April but was postponed this year due to the coronavirus. The company instead staged a virtual reveal featuring Bob Carter, its executive vice president of US sales.

"While things have been very tough recently, we are seeing positive signs emerging,” Carter said in a video Toyota released Monday. "The vast majority of our dealers across the country are open for business and consumers are back shopping.”

The new models will help Toyota meet a goal of making electrified cars at least one-quarter of sales by 2025. Both offer increasingly popular all-wheel drive, which is standard on the resuscitated Venza and an option for the new Sienna.

 The Sienna dash.Features, flourishes

The Indiana-built Sienna will compete with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s Pacifica as the only other US minivan available as a hybrid. The new Toyota includes optional flourishes such as second-row seats with ottomans, a mini refrigerator and an on-board vacuum cleaner.

Toyota’s new Venza will be built in Japan, unlike its Kentucky-made predecessor, which first debuted in 2008. The revamped model features interior soundproofing and bottle holders in its doors capable of holding 24-ounce containers.

Sales of both vehicles start later this year. The Japanese automaker expects to deliver about 50,000 Venza crossovers and 100,000 Sienna minivans during their first full year in the US market, a company spokesman said.

 The Venza dash.


Naza Merdeka Autofair 2017 Spend and Win contest winner announced

                PETALING JAYA: Naza Group of Companies has announced the grand prize winner for the Merdeka Autofair 2017 Spend and Win contest as Mustafa Kamil Mohamed who won the Chevrolet Colorado.

The Naza Merdeka Autofair 2017 Spend and Win contest was held to commemorate Naza Group’s 42nd Anniversary together with Malaysia’s 60th Year of Independence.

 (From left) Zakaria Ismail, Senior Advisor, Naza World Group of Companies handing the mock key to the grand prize winner, Mustafa, at the prize giving ceremony.

The event which took place from Aug 10 to 13, 2017 had over 3,000 visitors. 10 brands under the Naza Group of Companies participated in the Merdeka Autofair 2017.

Visitors who purchased any vehicle from that period stood a chance to be in the running to win the Chevrolet Colorado. Each vehicle purchased was entitled to one entry form.

Mustafa was eligible to participate in the contest after purchasing a Toyota Velfire 2.5 during his visit to the annual Merdeka Autofair. He was selected as the winner from over 600 participants in the contest.

“I was quite surprised when I was announced as the lucky winner. Thanks to Naza for holding the Merdeka Autofair 2017, ” said Mustafa.


Tokyo Motor Show 2019: Perodua studying new SUV

                At the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, what caught the attention is a new Daihatsu SUV.

Striking in shape, the SUV caught Perodua officials by surprise as they didn’t expect it to be showcased at the show.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the new SUV has Malaysian input but it isn’t an electric car.

In fact, it’s a small turbo-charged engine that will mark the entry of using small displacement engines powered by a turbo charger.

Daihatsu also showed off its coupe that was powered by the small turbo engine.

“We are studying if Malaysia can accept the size of an engine for the size of a car,” says Zainal in reference to the SUV.

It sells the Aruz, which is a SUV but that is based on a Toyota model.

Given the rise in sales of SUVs in Malaysia, it would not be a surprise if the new Daihatsu SUV makes its way to Malaysia in the future.

With the Tokyo Motor Show showcasing a host of electric-powered cars, Daihatsu too unveiled four concept cars for different usage.

There is a public transport vehicle for the last mile, a next generation mini truck, a mini van and a mini SUV.

Visiting the Daihatsu factory

At one of Daihatsu’s most advanced factories, a car rolls off the production line every 1.1 minutes.

The assembly line moves at a slow, constant speed from the time metal parts are stamped by robots to when the vehicles are checked for defects just before they wait in line to be shipped to other parts of Japan.

At the plant where 1,700 people work in synchrony to finish the cars, there is a chart on the wall that showed Daihatsu’s evolution as a carmaker.

Visitors can see how the company started off as a maker of light commercial vehicles with its first passenger car being the Mira in the mid 1980s.

Malaysians know the Mira by another name very well. Rebadged with some modifications as a Kancil, the car launched Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) to where it is today.

Perodua, with a 40% market share now of the Malaysian automobile market, is looking to gain more sales by luring motorcycle owners into buying cars.

Like the Kancil which sought to do the same by bringing a different and safer mobility than motorcycles, Perodua now wants to figure out a way of driving sales to a higher level than before.

“If we manage to convert motorcycles into vehicles, we will expand the market,” said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Car sales have plateaued in Malaysia over the past few years, with sales hovering around the 600,000 mark.

With Perodua forecast to sell 235,000 units in 2019, a record, sales have been bolstered by its bestselling Myvi. Its other models like the Bezza and Axia have appeal for entry-level car owners, given its affordability.

The car company still has room to handle higher sales by further expanding its plant, saying that it can manufacture up to 320,000 cars at its facilities by fully utilising working shifts and production.

Right now, its capacity with normal working conditions is between 250,000 and 260,000 cars.

It can free up space for production by moving the making of some auto parts to its vendors.

One of its own

Zainal, who in December will serve as Perodua’s top executive for one year, is somewhat a lifer with the company. Starting with the company at its early days, Zainal is Perodua’s first homegrown CEO.

Seeing how the company has grown to where it is today, he understands the DNA of Perodua very well and is keen to put his own imprint on developing the company.

What will help is the growth of the company and the relationship it has with Daihatsu. Perodua accounts for a sizeable chunk of Daihatsu’s sales but it has moved on from a simple rebadging of imported cars or completely-knocked-down kits.

The new Myvi and Bezza are homegrown and it has grown its vendor base to 150 that make parts for it. The Axia is basically engineered at home using a Daihatsu model platform.

“Our vendor capability has improved and more than 40% of them can design parts for the cars,” says Zainal.

In fact, he says, some vendors in Malaysia are part of Daihatsu’s supply chain and if more can sell parts and in greater numbers, they can improve their offering to Perodua.

The growth of Perodua as a company is also apparent at Daihatsu’s Kyushu plant.

The Japanese car make, which is owned by Toyota, has 220 Malaysians working at the plant and more than 30 are in research and development.

Keeping ahead

Rising to a dominant market share in Malaysia took luck and perseverance.

Its success was made by its best-selling Myvi which remains its top sales model.

In fact, demand for Perodua cars are great that an equal part of its buyers are repeat customers and first-time buyers.

Zainal, however, does not want Perodua to be pigeonholed as just a maker of affordable cars. It wants to be known as a maker of quality cars.

Perodua and Daihatsu can continue to make good money doing so as its ability to make small cars at a low cost and the design of its plants at Kyushu shows that.

In fact, Perodua’s latest plant is modelled after the second plant in Kyushu, where a smaller footprint that is about half the size of its first plant is used to make an equal number of cars.


PSA unveils mini electric Citroen car

The Ami One Concept was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show last March 5. — Reuters
PARIS: Citroen, one of French carmaker PSA’s brands, unveiled a mini electric car on Thursday aimed at young city dwellers.

The two-seater car, branded “AMI”, will go on sale by June and be priced at 6,900 euros (RM32,000).

The vehicle, which is 2 metres 41cm long, is one of a number of new models that carmakers are launching to try to stimulate demand for electric models as they face tougher regulations on polluting vehicles.

Citroen plans mainly to sell the car online. Two-seater cars can be driven without a license in major European markets.


Touch ‘n Go to remove parking surcharge, plans eWallet reloadable cards

                PETALING JAYA: It is perhaps the much-awaited news for most Malaysians. Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd will be making two massive changes this year.

All Touch ‘n Go parking surcharges, which have always been a bane among consumers, will be removed by the first quarter this year.

By the end of 2021, customers can also opt to buy Touch ‘n Go cards that can be reloaded directly from their phones using the Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

The lack of these two features have been among the top grouses raised by Touch ‘n Go customers.

The company, which is emphasising a customer-centric approach as it moves forward, has decided to give customers what they have been asking for.

“We’re listening to what customers want. Customers want to reload the cards from their eWallets, we’re giving it to them," said newly-minted group chief executive officer Effendy Shahul Hamid.

“Customers don’t want the parking surcharge, we’re listening to them.

“Customers are starting to give us feedback in terms of what are the things that we can do and we’re starting to engineer the company around that, ” he told StarBiz in an exclusive interview, three months into his new role.
The following are excerpts from the interview.

Q: When can we see an end to the 10% parking surcharge?

A: I’m very happy to say that by the end of the first quarter, we’ll take away all parking surcharges.

It requires innovation and some sacrifice on our side, but I think it’s the right thing to do.

Basically, we’ve been able to convince our parking operator partners and ensure the surcharge is removed by the end of the first quarter

Q: What about the 50 sen fee for card top ups?

A: The first thing to understand is Touch ‘n Go does not receive any of the reload surcharge when cards are reloaded. The surcharge has historically been levied by our reload agents to defray the specific cost of providing the reload service. And when you reload your card, we actually pay the agent that reloads the card for you.

We are working intensely with our agents to move this towards a zero-surcharge model. It is work in progress. Today, some of our agents already do not impose any reload surcharge, like Watsons, Guardian, Caring Pharmacy, Giant and selected Petronas and Shell stations, to name a few.

Q: Many users have also complained about slow refunds.

A: We’re encouraged to do refunds in 30 days. But for me, I agree 30 days is too long for a refund process and it’s something that we’re working on internally to improve and we’re definitely shooting for refunds in less than 30 days which will be implemented within the next six months.


GM will announce boosted spending plans for EVs today, say sources

                DETROIT: General Motors Co will roll out details of an expanded and accelerated electric vehicle strategy today in an effort to convince investors it can be a serious competitor to Tesla Inc, people familiar with the plans said.

GM chief executive Mary Barra, who is scheduled to speak at a conference hosted by Barclays, is expected to say the automaker is ready to spend more on electric models by 2025 than the US$20 billion previously outlined, the sources said.

Supplier sources said previous plans to make the Cadillac brand all electric by 2030 are being sped up, possibly to 2025, and other sources said that acceleration will be repeated in other brands and in segments such as commercial vans.

Asked about the Thursday appearance, a GM spokesman called talk of increased spending speculative and declined to give details.

The Detroit automaker is also expected to discuss a new timeline for many of the EVs to follow those already identified, such as the GMC Hummer EV pick-up and Cadillac Lyriq crossover, people familiar with the plans said.

Lyriq is slated to go into production in late 2022, but GM officials have been stung by criticism the automaker was bringing the vehicle to market too late, one source said.

“The pull-ahead in programs is real and the organisation is really doubling down on speeding up product development,” the source said.

Barra and other GM executives have been signalling the automaker’s EV acceleration plans.

She said earlier this month GM would boost capital spending over the next three years to speed EV development and was talking with other automakers about partnerships to develop more vehicles using GM’s battery technology.

Last week, a GM executive said the company had pulled forward the rollout of two “major” EV programs, and GM officials have touted the faster 18-month development time for the Hummer truck.

Tesla’s soaring market capitalisation, and growing pressure from regulators to phase out carbon-emitting engines, has put pressure on established automakers to respond to investors who view their internal combustion lineups as outmoded and doomed in the long run.

A critical part of GM’s pitch to investors has been its new Ultium batteries, which it estimates will offer an electric driving range of 640km or more on a single charge. It is building a battery plant with Korean battery maker LG Chem in northeast Ohio.

GM has said it plans to raise annual capital spending through at least 2023 to above the US$7 billion rate previously outlined to fund its new timetable for EVs.


Suzuki revives the Phantom with special edition GSX-R1000R

                LONDON: Suzuki has revived the Phantom name with a new special edition GSX-R1000R, available at £17,499 (RM99,000).

Like the iconic GSX-R1000 K6 Phantom from 2006, the new GSX-R1000R Phantom is completed with a Yoshimura exhaust – this time an R11 silencer and heatshield finished in black metal magic with a carbon cap – and a smattering of genuine Suzuki accessories, including track-focused brake and clutch lever guards, a tank pad and fuel cap trim, and a smoked double bubble screen.

A single seat cowl matches the matt black livery, which is complemented by gloss black decals. Standing out against the stealthy black colour scheme are gold wheels and gold Showa Balance Free front forks.

The GSX-R1000R produces 202PS from its inline-four cylinder engine, which uses the same variable valve timing system as the MotoGP world championship-winning GSX-RR.

A full suite of electronics features a bi-directional quickshifter, lean angle-sensitive, 10-mode traction control and ABS, launch control, and three power modes.


GreenTech Malaysia taps Dutch firm for more electric charging stations

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) is partnering with various local and foreign organisations to promote green growth.

Among the five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) it signed last Thursday was with Dutch company The New Motion to speed up the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Malaysia.

The other MoUs were with local electric bicycle manufacturer Voltron to encourage a shift to clean transportation; air quality expert Airestec to boost energy efficiency and improve indoor air quality; cooling technology expert Green Data Center LLP and data centre operator Computer Recovery Facility Sdn Bhd to develop green data centres to reduce energy wastage; and government-linked company MyInnoHub to catalyse and encourage innovation in green technologies.

READ ALSO:Seven electric car myths debunked
More public EV chargers comingMoving on upEV users share experiences

GreenTech Malaysia is teaming up with The New Motion to tap its infrastructual expertise to support the deployment of ChargEV, which is a Greentech-branded charger, launched recently. The partnership will also see the sharing of technical expertise that will enable the development of local charger hardware manufacturing, related sub-industries and components that will position Malaysia as the regional manufacturing leader.

 Dr Thomas Turrentine, Director, PH&EV Research Center, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis delivering the welcome address at the 3rd E-Mobilia World conference.

The New Motion has already deployed over 18,000 charging stations across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Britain and Norway.

In terms of attracting foreign investors in auto manufacturing, Malaysia had for years lost ground to Thailand which has since become known as the 'Detroit of the East'. Malaysia is now scrambling to reposition itself as a regional hub for making energy efficient vehicles of which petrol and diesel cars, hybrids and EVs are part of.

“Malaysia has set an ambitious target of reducing up to 40% in terms of emissions intensity of Gross Domestic Product by 2020, compared to 2005 levels. The partnerships forged over the last two days are a key step forward to ensure our nation achieves this goal. The fruits of these agreements will not only be environmentally beneficial but will also prove green technology’s potential as a key socio-economic driver.” said GreenTech Malaysia chief executive officer Ahmad Hadri Haris.

The tentative agreements (ie five MoUs) were made at the Sept 9-12 International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia 2015 (IGEM 2015) in Kuala Lumpur.

The E-Mobilia World conference, held as part of IGEM 2015, had top-level automotive executives, technology developers and providers, government officials, research institutes and financial institutions speaking on a range of topics that promise to pave the way for sustainable transportation in Malaysia. It was attended by representatives from BMW, Renault, Audi, Mazda and Hyundai as well as those from University of California Davis, Imperial College London, Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, Metropolregion Hannover and the US Department of Energy.

IGEM 2015 aims to generate over RM1.2 billion in business leads, featuring 350 exhibitors and attracting over 438 exhibitors from over 20 countries and bringing in over 50,000 visitors.

The public are encouraged to attend the last day of IGEM on Sept 12, where admission for the public is free, to witness and understand the benefits of and the need for green technology. Besides exhibits from world leading green technology brands which will be showcasing cutting-edge technologies, visitors can also try their hands at the electric go-karts and electric bicycle tracks.

Visitors to the event held at the KL Convention Centre also stand a chance of winning prizes such as the Sony Playstation 4 and the GoPro Hero 4.


Matrix Parking inks MoU with Managepay Systems, Netton

                KUALA LUMPUR: Matrix Parking Solutions Holdings Bhd is exploring a collaboration with Managepay Systems Bhd and Netton Resources Sdn Bhd for the management of the cashless payment system at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2023 event.

It said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the parties also plan to form a joint venture to launch a mobile-based automobile-related financial technology app in Malaysia and to venture into new automobile businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) charging and an event organising ecosystem.

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the parties, MPay will design and develop a super app for the JV using its fintech building blocks.

Meanwhile, Matrix and Netton will provide all available current and future sites that are managed by Matrix for super app implementation and manage the operations upon successful deployment of the super app.

Matrix and Netton will also engage with suppliers to provide hardware and application programming interface to incorporate features such as an LPR system, EV charger, car park bay lock and booking system into the super app.


Renault Megane may face the axe

                PARIS: The Renault Megane has been a popular unadulterated go-to performance hatchback for purists, but it seems the French carmaker may be axing it from its future lineup.

It appears that the number of units sold hasn't been encouraging, which is why the French carmaker's design chief, Laurens van den Acker, told Auto Express UK that the company may be re-allocating funds to more profitable ventures.

Such endeavours could be a focus on electric vehicles. Megane sales have reportedly been halved from 2010 to 2019 due to customer preference for the VW Golf.  In the UK, almost 2,700 units were sold compared to roughly 60,000 units of the Golf.

“Inevitably, once we’re starting to add a range of EVs to our line-up, some of the other vehicles are going to have to go because we just can’t afford to develop all of them at the same time," said  van den Acker.

"The Megane is in a segment that’s increasingly under pressure. You have to put your money where the future of the market is.”

The Megane was recently facelifted and a hybrid was added to the line-up which could mark this carmaker's "Hail Mary" attempt to attract more sales for this model.