Honda HR-V RS: test drive with new Variable Gear Ratio steering

                The new RS variant of the popular Honda HR-V is due for an official launch soon, and an exciting new feature is a Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system for sportier driving.

The VGR steering in the new RS variant of the HR-V is based on the Dual-Pinion Variable-Ratio EPS (electric power steering) in the latest Civic Type R.

Honda says the VGR steering works by changing gear ratio and the amount of steering angle automatically, according to vehicle speed.

At cruising or high speeds, VGR steering provides reduced risk of oversteering, greater driving stability, confident lane changes and improved driving safety.

On winding roads, with VGR steering, there is reduced steering angle which results in less effort to turn the front wheels and thus, more driving comfort.

During cornering, VGR steering results in a smaller steering angle at lower speeds and during parking or cornering - there is greater car control and sportier driving.

With VGR steering, during highway cruising or high-speed travelling, the steering angle is increased to make it less sensitive to small movements of the steering wheel, thus increasing driving stability.

Slalom and moose test in Putrajaya

A bunch of motoring writers were recently invited by Honda Malaysia to check out the VGR steering at the Putrajaya Recreational Airport.

We were provided with a standard HR-V to compare with the new RS variant.

The dynamic driving tests started with a braking session where we accelerated to 70kph and braked hard with the ABS (anti-lock braking system) activated.

This was followed by another sprint to 70kph before we performed a swerve and avoid manoeuvre or fast lane change, and also hard braking.

Next, there were slalom sessions on a 500 metre stretch - a high speed session where we steered the car around the cones at 50 to 60kph (cones were spaced wider apart) and also, a lower speed session at 20 to 30kph (cones were put closer to each other).

Finally, we finished with high speed lane changes or avoidance manoeuvres without braking at 70kph (called a moose test in Europe).

The new Continental UltraContact UC6 tyres sized 225/50 wrapped around 18-inch rims helped with better stability in handling and braking manoeuvres.

But the difference in the car equipped with VGR steering was very obvious especially during the slalom sessions and moose test - the RS variant definitely steers better, needed less steering effort and was easier to control in high-speed dynamic driving.

LaneWatch camera for RS variant

The new RS variant will also come with six airbags, a LaneWatch camera system and bigger 18-inch rims with 225/50 tyres.

The LaneWatch camera system is new to the HR-V range although it has been present for some time in the 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre Honda Accord, as well as the top variant of the Honda CR-V.

This uses a camera under the left wing mirror, and displays the view of the left lane on a display screen in the car whenever the left turn signal is engaged, thus providing better safety as blind spots are reduced and the driver gets a better viewpoint.

You can also activate the Lanewatch camera system by pushing the button on the right signal stalk.

READ MORE: Honda HR-V RS previewed


Ferrari recalls thousands of supercars globally on brake risk

                MARANELLO: Shares in Ferrari NV tumbled the most in more than two weeks after the luxury sports carmaker confirmed it will recall thousands of supercars due to problems with their braking system.

“Vehicles involved in this recall campaign are equipped with a brake reservoir fluid cap that may not vent properly, thereby potentially creating vacuum inside the brake fluid reservoir,” Maranello, Italy-based Ferrari said in a statement.

The recall involves some of the carmaker’s 458 and 488 vehicles.

While Ferrari didn’t provide details on the total number of cars involved globally, it’s recalling 2,222 vehicles in China alone, warning owners of possible problems with brakes.

A China recall of that magnitude would amount to nearly every vehicle Ferrari sold in the country from 2018 through March of this year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence data.

Ferrari said that it identified the problem working along with supplier Robert Bosch GmbH.

Shares in the company fell as much as 3.3% on the news on Friday, bringing declines for the year to 13%. Friday’s drop also makes Ferrari the day’s worst performer on the Stoxx 600 Automobiles & Parts Index.

A notice posted on the website of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on Friday said the recall there covers the 458 Italia, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, 458 Spider, 488 GTB and 488 Spider series cars made between March 2, 2010 and March 12, 2019.

“Vehicles covered by this recall may potentially increase the risk of brake fluid leakage, resulting in reduced braking performance or brake failure,” according to the website, which advised owners to drive with caution, and to stop immediately and arrange for towing if the car’s “low brake fluid level” warning light comes on.

The recall starts May 30.

While the development is negative news for Ferrari, any impact will likely be short-term only, Bestinver Securities analyst Andrea Trovarelli wrote in a note.

“We remind readers that in FY21, Ferrari shipped around 3,700 vehicles in APAC, that is around 33% of total shipments.”

Ferrari’s China division will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap free of charge for vehicles within the scope of the recall, according to Friday’s notice.


Renault Fluence delivers high value

 The Fluence comes with an attractive after-sales package.
The non-national C-segment sedan market in Malaysia is a hotly contested arena, with attractive offerings from American, Korean, European and Japanese marques.
Now, buyers are even more spoilt for choice with the recent entry of the 2.0-litre Renault Fluence.
With such fierce competition, it came as no surprise to us that the locally assembled Fluence has abundant comfort and safety features as well as a very attractive after-sales package to lure buyers.Priced at RM115,000 on-the-road without insurance, the Fluence has a best-in-class warranty package.
This includes a five-year manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage, free maintenance for parts and labour for the first 40,000km or two years, one-year Renault genuine parts warranty, complimentary pick-up service, a mobility solution and nationwide 24/7 roadside assistance.
The mobility solution from TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd (TCEC), the franchise holder for Renault vehicles, entails providing a car for the owner if the Fluence needs to be in the workshop for more than 48 hours due to parts being unavailable.We were told by a TCEC spokesperson that this after-sales package is worth a few thousand ringgit.
"We want to reduce hassle and car maintenance costs for Fluence buyers," said the spokesperson.It is obvious that TCEC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd, has high hopes concerning the sales of the Fluence which was developed using the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s extensive engineering experience.
Due to the competitive dynamics of global automotive markets, the CKD (completely knocked-down) packs for the Fluence are supplied from Korea by Renault Samsung Motors (RSM) which is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
In Korea, the Fluence is marketed as the SM3.
We are impressed by the generous amount of kit offered with the Fluence, which is assembled at the Tan Chong Motor Assemblies plant in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur. Besides its generous level of safety features, the list of goodies include the leather upholstery, dual-zone air-conditioning, hands-free card with remote central locking, engine start and stop button, automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control, speed regulator-limiter and rear air-conditioning vents.
Both the front door windows have a powered one-touch up/down feature.
The doors closed with a solid and reassuring "thud" - providing that satisfying continental car aspect.
It also has a Renault R-Link multimedia system with a seven-inch touchscreen display, reverse camera and navigation system as well as voice commands, and a six-speaker audio system with 3D surround sound technology by Arkamys, and CD/MP3 playback with USB and Bluetooth. In our opinion, the dashboard has an understated design that does not do justice to the Fluence's barnful of premium features.
We like the dark-themed leather-clad interior, which has upmarket touches such as the digital speedometer and chrome finish on the door handles.
The car has a 2,702mm wheelbase and a generous 530-litre boot which is useful for bulky items, while its cabin is said to be among the largest in class.
We found ample elbow and legroom for 1.7-metre adults, as well as lots of storage options like cup holders, compartments, front door bins and front seat-back netting.  We also think that some of the cockpit functions and layout will take a bit of getting used to (for example, audio volume control or mute switch is located rearwards of the steering wheel), but this is not a deal-breaker.
It can be fun to learn about comfort features such as the Renault hands-free card which provides automatic central locking as the card-holder walks away from the car.
In terms of sporty or spirited driving, the Fluence does not offer the thrills associated with the famed Renault Sport (RS) models.
But when it comes to ride comfort, the Fluence excels at absorbing and dampening road shocks.
Running on 205/55 R17 tyres, it has a front MacPherson-type strut suspension and rear torsion beam, and its chassis is tuned to deliver high levels of comfort.
We drove it over some of the worst potholed and damaged roads in Klang and Puchong, and we daresay it provided segment-leading comfort levels. At highway speeds, it is a refined and quiet cruiser - road and tyre noise intrusion is quite muted, which allowed us to better enjoy the high-quality Arkamys audio system.
When the car is moving at 110kph, we noted that the tachometer needle was at 2,400 to 2,500rpm.
At 80kph, the needle was at 1,900rpm.
The Fluence is the sort of car that does not kindle immediate excitement, but it did grow quickly on us after we experienced its high comfort levels and premium features. With its high-end package, generous appointments, refined drive quality and tempting after-sales deal, the Fluence offers a lot for your hard earned money.
It is certainly among our top choices on the shopping list for C-segment family sedans.
Engine: 1,997cc 16-valveMaximum power: 143hp at 6,000rpmMaximum torque: 195Nm at 3,700rpmTransmission: X-Tronic continuously variable transmission (CVT)Acceleration (0 to 100kph): 10.1 secondsStandard features: Driver and passenger airbags, front and rear head level airbags, lateral airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), brake assist, electronic stability programme (ESP) with anti-skid regulation (ASR) and understeer control function, cruise control, reverse camera and navigation systemPrice: RM115,000 on-the-road without insurance


Ferrari's Camilleri will be a hard act to follow

                MILAN: Ferrari was facing a fresh challenge of finding a new leader of the same standing as Louis Camilleri on Friday, just as the Italian luxury carmaker is rolling out new hybrid models and getting ready for its first ever SUV.

Chief executive officer Louis Camilleri, 65, retired with immediate effect citing personal reasons late on Thursday, after being in the role for nearly two and a half years.

Chairman John Elkann, the scion of Italy’s Agnelli family, will lead the company on an interim basis while a permanent successor is found.

It was not long before names of possible candidates emerged.

A spokesman for F1 dismissed rumours that the former head of Ferrari’s racing team and ex-Lamborghini chief Stefano Domenicali could take Camilleri’s role, saying he was looking forward to starting his new job as F1 CEO on Jan 1 as planned.

A source close to former Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao also said media reports about him as a candidate for Ferrari’s top job were groundless.

Besides Domenicali and Colao, Italian media cited other names including Apple CFO Luca Maestri and Apple former chief design officer Jonathan Paul Ive as possible candidates.

Although Camilleri’s sudden departure comes at an unfortunate time for the carmaker, the appointment of a replacement was unlikely to be rushed.

“It will take the appropriate time,” said a source close to the matter.

Like Camilleri, who had years of experience in the tobacco and food industries before taking the helm at Ferrari, a new CEO need not necessarily be an automotive expert.

Ferrari is often seen by analysts and investors as a luxury goods maker rather than an automotive specialist, and as well as leading Ferrari’s ongoing effort to expand its vehicle line-up to hybrid technology, last year Camilleri launched a plan to widen the brand to apparel, accessories, entertainment offers, luxury products and services.

Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said finding a successor “capable of managing Ferrari’s peculiar business model, facing at the same time Ferrari’s current issues in F1,” was no easy task given Camilleri’s retirement also occurs “in a technological transition phase”.

In the F1 championship, Ferrari hasn’t won a race all year and with only one left to go, the team’s current 6th place could leave the Prancing Horse nursing its worst result for 40 years.

 Camilleri . - ReutersShares perform

Camilleri was appointed to lead Ferrari in July 2018, after the sudden death of former CEO Sergio Marchionne. During his tenure Ferrari has been one of the best performing auto stocks, as demand for its high performance cars remained strong, even through the coronavirus pandemic.

Under his leadership, Ferrari shares rose around 50% and have hit record levels, with those listed on Milan’s bourse touching an all-time high of 182.95 euros (US$221.70) last month.

The shares closed up 0.3% on Friday compared with a 1% fall in Milan’s blue-chip index.

A Milan-based trader said Ferrari was a well functioning machine.

“With 200 million millionaires around the world, demand is not missing, it’s not a CEO retiring that can unsettle the company,” he said.

Citi analysts said whoever replaces Camilleri would inherit a “significant legacy”.

“At the same time, Ferrari faces perhaps the biggest upheaval in its history with a number of questions around the deliverability of 2022 profit targets and more pertinently navigating the launch of the PuroSangue SUV and negotiating the transition to zero carbon emissions,” Citi added.

Ferrari has pledged that 60% of its vehicle sales will be hybrid by 2022, but has ruled out a fully-electric model.

As customers love Ferrari for its roar and high performance, analysts say there is a risk it will struggle in the long term, when silent fully electric engines rule the market and traditional powertrains are progressively phased out.

In its plan to 2022 Ferrari aimed at nearly doubling its adjusted core earnings to 1.8 billion-2.0 billion euros from 1 billion euros in 2017. For this year Ferrari has targeted adjusted core earnings at around 1.125 billion euros (US$1.36 billion).

According to a company source, Camilleri - who also resigned as executive chairman of Philip Morris International (PMI) - had been hospitalised for Covid-19 in recent weeks.

He is now recovering at home but his illness was not said to be the cause of his decision to retire.


CKD Mazda3 due out in mid-April

                SHAH ALAM: Locally assembled models of the C-segment Mazda3 in hatchback and sedan forms are expected to be launched in mid-April 2015.

According to a teaser from Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, price tags for the Mazda3, with SkyActiv technology, are estimated to be around RM105,000 (sedan mid-spec); RM119,000 (hatchback mid-spec plus); and RM125,000 (sedan high-spec).

Bermaz Motor, the exclusive distributor of Mazda cars in Malaysia, also hinted that the completely knocked down (CKD) Mazda3 from the plant in Kulim, Kedah will have more features that were not packaged with the imported units.

The third-generation 2.0-litre Mazda3 sedan was launched in the country in March 2014, and units were imported from Japan and priced on-the-road with insurance at RM138,935.50 with a three-year warranty.

The imported units had premium features such as bi-xenon headlights with auto-levelling and washer, reverse camera, a sunroof and daytime running lights.

The Mazda3 has a five-star Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) safety rating and features include six airbags, ISOFIX anchor points at the rear, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, dynamic stability control and traction control.


2019 Lamborghini Huracán EVO: 640hp and 600Nm of torque

                BOLOGNA: The new 2019 Lamborghini Huracán EVO: the next generation V10 super sports car, is based on the prowess and performance of the Huracán Performante and has next-generation vehicle dynamic control and aerodynamics.

“Lamborghini is intent on leading the advance to the highest level of super sports car technologies and driving emotion. This is the essence of the new Huracán EVO. It takes the extraordinary abilities of the Huracán Performante and combines state-of-the-art vehicle dynamic control to amplify the everyday Huracán driving experience,” says Stefano Domenicali, chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

The Huracán EVO features the 5.2 l naturally-aspirated Lamborghini V10 engine, uprated to produce higher power output and an emotional and powerful sound, with Titanium intake valves and refined lightweight exhaust system.

The Huracán EVO outputs 640 hp (470 kW) at 8,000 rpm with 600 Nm of torque delivered at 6,500 rpm.

With a dry weight of 1,422 kg the Huracán EVO reaches a weight-to-power ratio of 2.22 kg/hp, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in 9.0 seconds.

Braking from 100 km/h to 0 is achieved in just 31.9 m, with a top speed of more than 325 km/h.

It is the first Lamborghini with predictive logic on vehicle dynamics control: fully-integrated Lamborghini Vehicle Dynamics Control System combined with all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering for redefined parameters of responsiveness, agility and easiness to drive.

The Huracán EVO features new Lamborghini rear-wheel steering and a torque vectoring system working on the four wheels, while at the heart of the car is the new feature of Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI): a Central Processing Unit that controls every aspect of the car’s dynamic behaviour, fully integrating all of the car’s dynamic systems and set-up to anticipate the next move and needs of the driver.

Lamborghini Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI), a comprehensive set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors placed at the car’s center of gravity, has been enhanced to version 2.0.

The magneto rheological suspension, upgraded to version 2.0, instantaneously adapts the damping following inputs from the LPI.

Enhanced Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS), able to provide higher responsiveness in corners while requiring the lowest steering angles, is now coupled with rear-wheel steering in order to ensure agility at low speed, as well as maximum stability in high-speed cornering and under braking in the most severe conditions.

The unique combination of all these systems is governed by Lamborghini’s LDVI to create a super-agile and responsive car with unparalleled level of control.

Processing data in real time, the Huracán EVO recognizes the driver’s intentions through steering wheel, brake and accelerator pedal inputs, engaged gear and the driving modes selected via ANIMA controller: STRADA, SPORT or CORSA.

In STRADA, the Huracán EVO is agile and capable for driving enjoyment, whereas in SPORT it becomes playful, intuitive and extremely exciting. In CORSA the Huracán EVO is sharp, reactive and exhilarating for the most extreme driving environments, such as racetracks.

A new 8.4-inch HMI capacitive touchscreen, located in the centre console just above the start button, puts connectivity at the driver’s fingertips, with multi-finger gesture control.

Governing car functions including seats, climate and the status of the LDVI system in real-time it also puts all infotainment, such as Apple CarPlay with smartphone integration, at the cabin occupants’ disposal.

The Huracán EVO is presented in Arancio Xanto, an iconic new Lamborghini four-layer color.

New 20-inch Aesir rims, dedicated to the EVO, are complemented by Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The interior features a dedicated new EVO trim in Alcantara and leather mix, with Arancio Dryope details matching the body tone.

The first customers will take delivery of the new Lamborghini Huracán EVO in spring 2019 at suggested retail prices as follows:

UK GBP 165,256 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)
USA USD 261,274 (suggested retail price taxes/GST excluded)
China RMB 3,298,100 (suggested retail price taxes included)
Japan YEN 29,843,274 (suggested retail price taxes excluded)


In-car touchscreens may undermine safety

COMMENT by NATHANIEL BULLARD

NEW YORK: Two years ago, 10 sailors died when the US Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with a chemical tanker off Singapore.

An investigation has determined that insufficient training and inadequate operating procedures were to blame, and both factors were related to a new touchscreen-based helm control system.

The Navy has decided to revert its destroyers back to entirely physical throttles and helm controls.

It’s worth exploring the Navy’s rationale for installing touch-screens (“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should,” says Rear Admiral Bill Galinis), as well as its rationale for getting rid of them.

Galinis said that bridge design is something that shipbuilders have a lot of say in, as it’s not covered by any particular specification that the Navy requires builders to follow. As a result of innovation and a desire to incorporate new technology, “we got away from the physical throttles, and that was probably the number-one feedback from the fleet – they said, just give us the throttles that we can use.”

There are lessons here — including a prescient one from 50 years ago — for other, more mundane transport-control interfaces as well.

Large, interactive touchscreens are becoming increasingly prevalent in passenger cars; in the case of Tesla, they’re the only control interface. They’re lovely to look at, but as the Navy’s experience suggests, they might be more confusing than physical controls. That confusion isn’t academic, either: Distracted driving is an increasingly dangerous problem.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10% of all fatal crashes from 2012 to 2017 involved distracted drivers. Mobile phones are a major cause of distraction, as we’d expect, but they’re an even bigger problem for younger drivers.

Almost 50 years ago, robotics professor Masahiro Mori wrote an extraordinary essay, “The Uncanny Valley,” on people’s reactions to robots as they became more and more humanlike. As Mori said, our affinity for robots rises as they more closely resemble humans. That affinity plunges, becoming negative and finally rising again once a robot reaches the (possibly unattainable) full likeness of a human being.

Something similar is at work in our current touch-screen-filled vehicles. To an extent, adding more screen real estate give us more information, and with it more safety — until it begins to provide an overwhelming amount of information and an overly complex set of choices for visual navigation. And moving from one information-rich interface to another is increasingly difficult.

There are two ways our in-car screens could evolve. The first is that, for safety’s sake, they’ll move back down the curve, so to speak, and be less ambiguous and more full of knobs and dials and physical throttles. That’s the Navy’s new approach.

The second, though, is that we won’t go back, at least in passenger applications, to a more tactile interface of specific controls.

We’re probably going to get more screens, with more information. Maybe the only way out of this valley is to shift the interface completely to voice or, in the very long run, to obviate the issue by having cars drive themselves. That could be how we navigate this uncanny valley of vehicle interfaces — the removal of any need to control the vehicle at all, and the chance to fill our cars’ screens with pure entertainment.


Audi ups spending in electrification

INGOLSTADT: Audi AG has announced its plans over the next five years that will see it spend 35bil euros (RM173bil) to transform itself into a premium provider of networked and electrified mobility options.Following in the footsteps of parent company Volkswagen Group moving into electromobility, the German carmaker indicated that about half of its investment is going into future technologies.Volkswagen Group's umbrella of brands includes Audi, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Italian motorcycle brand Ducati.The necessary financial scope is created by synergies in the Volkswagen Group – in both the e-platform strategy and in software development. Improvements in fixed costs, a leaner product portfolio, and savings in non-vehicle investments further contribute to the financial solidity of the Audi brand.Part of the investment also includes the development and implementation of electric platforms through collaborations across brands held under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.Audi, together with Porsche, is currently developing a premium platform electric (PPE) while also utilising the Group's modular electrification (MEB) platform at the same time.From 2021 to 2025, Audi will focus on the implementation of Roadmap E, with a large-scale product offensive for fully and partly electric models.By 2025, it intends to have about 30 models within its e-portfolio with 20 of them alone being fully electric.Also, within the next five years, it will utilise a "unified" operating system with basic functions meant for all vehicles within the Group and is being developed inhouse by Car.Software-Organisation to which Audi CEO Markus Duesmann will the taking over as chairman.Another part of Car.Software-Organisation responsibilities are to further the development of automated driving functions.“With the investment planning that has now been carried out, we are making Audi stronger for the upcoming transformation of the core business. Technological leadership in electric-powered and fully networked driving is the aim of the supervisory board and management board. We are providing Audi with the necessary resources for this,” said Audi AG supervisory board chairman Herbert Diess.


'Fast & Furious' to be made into a live arena tour

                LOS ANGELES: To further rev up enthusiasm for the "Fast & Furious" franchise, Universal is joining forces with Brand Events to create a live Fast & Furious touring arena event from January 2018.

With "Fast & Furious 8" speeding into theaters on April 8, fans now have more Fast franchise developments to look forward to.

Debuting in January 2018, the live global arena tour promises to be "the most spectacular live automotive production in history" featuring familiar stunts and the most famous vehicles from the blockbuster series' history. It is not yet been revealed if stars from the show will be involved.

Tickets and venues - not yet announced - will become available through the website www.fastandfuriouslive.com.


Ford pays US$55,000 more to buy one of the first Model X SUV

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. paid US$199,950 (RM776,000) — US$55,000 (RM214,000) more than the sticker price —to buy one of the first sport utility vehicles made by Tesla Motors Inc.so it could test and examine the electric SUV.

Ford bought the 64th Model X — a white Founders Series version — last month. Spied recently in the Detroit area with Michigan manufacturers’ plates, it originally belonged to a California coin dealer who bought it as part of Tesla's customer-referral promotion.

Automakers often buy cars made by competitors for road testing and for “tear-downs” to reveal components and materials and how they’re put together. But it's unusual to pay such a high price — almost US$212,000 (RM823,000) after Michigan sales tax and title — for such an early model.

“Wow, I hope that investment pays off in some good intelligence,” Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for researcher Autotrader.com, said of the premium Ford paid. “If you’re going to be one of the early buyers, you’re probably going to pay well over list. But that's significant.”

Tesla Launches Model X from Tesla Motors on Vimeo.

Krebs suspects other major automakers, such as General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., are also among early buyers of the Model X. Automakers are looking for ways to make highly profitable SUVs more fuel efficient as they race to meet a federal mandate to average 4.3l/100km by 2025. Ford is investing US$4.5bil (RM18bil) in electrified vehicles and will add 13 electric cars and hybrids by 2020.

“We’re going to definitely see more electrification and light-weighting,” Krebs said. “Those are the things I suspect Ford would be taking special note of as they develop their sport utilities of the future.”

Krebs said she hopes chief executive officer Mark Fields and Executive Chairman Bill Ford — as well as the automaker's top engineers and designers — get some seat time in the Model X.

“Everybody should be exposed to one of your hottest competitors,” Krebs said.

One Ford executive spotted driving the company's white Model X was David Woodhouse, chief designer of the automaker's Lincoln luxury line, according to a person who saw him. Woodhouse oversaw the creation of the Lincoln Navigator concept SUV that debuted at the New York Auto Show last month. Like the Model X, the Navigator concept featured gull-wing doors, though Ford said that feature won’t be on the production version of the SUV. Ford declined to confirm who is driving the car.

Tesla's first Model Xs are limited-edition Founders Series — fewer than 100 of them were made — that typically go to board members and close friends of the company like Google co- founder Sergey Brin. Those are followed by the Signature Series models, which require a US$40,000 deposit from customers and start at US$132,000 (RM513,000). According to vehicle registration documents obtained by Bloomberg, the window-sticker price on the all-wheel-drive Model X P90D that Ford bought is US$144,950 (RM563,000), including the US$10,000 (RM39,000) Ludicrous Speed Upgrade that boasts a 0- to-100kph time of 3.2 seconds.

The original owner of the Model X that was ultimately bought by Ford was Wayne Skiles, 71, who owns and operates the Carousel Coin & Jewelry Exchange in San Bernardino, California. Skiles owns a Model S sedan and participated in Tesla's Model S referral program. Customers who referred at least 10 friends to buy a Model S were able to buy a Model X Founders Series for a base price of US$116,700 (RM453,000).

“I sold 11 Model Ss. So I got a Founders Model X and immediately flipped it for a profit,” said Skiles in a phone interview. “The car never came to California. I flew to Chicago, took physical delivery of the Model X, and immediately drove it to a dealer in Chicago and sold it.”

Ford bought the vehicle from Corporate Auto of Auburn Hills, Michigan, according to the documents. “It is a common industry practice among many automakers to buy production vehicles for testing as soon as they are released,” said Ford in a statement. “Sometimes, this means automakers pay more than sticker price to acquire them as quickly as possible.”


Ford announces 2019 Mustang updates including California special

2019 Ford Mustang GT California Special.
DETROIT: Ford has announced what it has planned for further enhancing its iconic Mustang muscle car for the 2019 model year.

America's favourite sports car will enjoy even more style and technology for 2019 due to the resurrection of the legendary Mustang GT California Special, new tech features such as rev-matching on 5.0-litre manual-equipped models, a custom-tuned B&O Play premium audio system, and a trio of new vintage-inspired colors and over-the-top racing stripes.

But whereas this is the kind of news the rest of the world outside North America would have previously looked at as something for enthusiasts only as the Mustang was then a purely American model, it may be as important outside the US now as it is in the American market. How much of this becomes available outside America is yet to be revealed, but as even the Bullitt Mustang is being made available to buyers outside the US the chances of all of it going global are pretty good.

Although it took 50 years and nine million cars produced and sold before Ford decided the time was right for the Mustang to be given a global release, the only fault with that decision was that it took so long.

Despite the Mustang being built in America and shipped to other countries where it costs more than it does in North America due to various taxes and tariffs, the car has been nothing short of a roaring sales success over the last couple of years.

The novelty of this latest generation of the Mustang appears to be waning in its native America where sales are falling, but the 140 or so other countries it's now sold in are more than making up for that. In fact, Ford says that as many as one in four of all Mustangs built at the Flat Rock, Michigan plant are now bound for Britain, Germany and China.

"No doubt, 2019 is an exciting year for Mustang enthusiasts, especially fans of our California Special and Bullitt models," said Ford US car group marketing manager Corey Holter. "This year further targets hardcore Mustang enthusiasts who want even more performance from Bullitt, while new technology including rev-matching on manual transmission-equipped Mustang GTs and active valve performance exhaust on EcoBoost models means even more thrills."

Those remarks are largely aimed at a domestic audience, but it's probably the global audience that's now listening more closely.

 Mustang California Special Infographic


Caltex Techron Concentrate Plus for motorcycles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex brand, has launched the Techron Concentrate Plus for Motorcycles, a fuel system cleaner for motorcycles.

This is aimed at motorcycle riders who want the benefits of Techron Concentrate Plus in a convenient small pack.

The 75ml Techron Concentrate Plus for motorcycles is available at Caltex stations or participating motorcycle workshops for RM9.90 per bottle.

For best results, use Techron Concentrate Plus for motorcycles every 3,000km.

Just pour the entire bottle into a near-empty fuel tank and top up with up to 6 litres of petrol.

The Techron Concentrate Plus for motorcycles deep cleans the petrol fuel system in one tankful using the ground-breaking Precision Clean technology.

This fuel additive works at molecular levels to soften the deposits found in critical parts of the motorcycle fuel system and suspend them in fuel.

These deposits are then carried through to the combustion chamber to be burnt and ejected in the exhaust.

Backed with 30 years of research and development, one 75ml bottle of advanced fuel additive can help restore lost engine power, maximise fuel economy, protect against corrosion, reduce harmful emissions and rough idle, deposits control and engine protection and clean the entire fuel system.

This premium fuel additive made for motorcycles is the newest addition to the Techron family, with two predecessors Techron Concentrate Plus for petrol engines and the Techron Diesel Concentrate launched back in 2014 and March 2018 respectively.

Sheryl Law, marketing manager AP at Chevron Lubricants said, “Caltex is constantly at the forefront of innovation, rising up to the challenge to deliver top-notch quality products for engine protection. Driving performance and fuel economy are compromised when grimy deposits build up in an engine’s fuel system. With the latest addition to Caltex’s Techron family, Techron Concentrate Plus for Motorcycles, riders can be rest assured that their motorcycle engines are fully protected.”


BMW M 1000 XR prototype unveiled

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad has unveiled the M 1000 XR prototype, which offers a glimpse of the newest model in the M lineup.

BMW Motorrad applied the M strategy to motorcycles in 2019 when it began to offer M special equipment and M Performance Parts for existing models. The M 1000 RR and the M 1000 R, the first two independent M models from BMW Motorrad, were introduced in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

The M 1000 XR prototype helps mark not only 100 Years of BMW Motorrad but also almost 100 years of BMW 2-wheeled motorsport competition.

It is a preview of a supersports motorcycle that excels in all riding disciplines: winding roads, long-distance touring and track use with equal aplomb and with a level of performance previously unknown in this segment.

The four-cylinder engine from the BMW S 1000 RR supersports motorcycle with BMW ShiftCam technology for varying the timing and valve lift is used as the basis.

With an engine output of more than 200hp, a fuelled DIN weight of only 223kg, and chassis technology, aerodynamics and control electronics designed equally for high-performance road use, long-distance touring and fast track lapping, the new M 1000 XR opens up dynamic riding opportunities as a crossover bike in the sports motorcycle segment previously reserved for purebred superbikes.

Further weight reduction and increased riding dynamics can be achieved with the available M Competition Package. The top speed of the M 1000 XR prototype is around 280kph.

In addition to drivetrain and suspension technology, aerodynamics were also a key focus when developing the M 1000 XR prototype.

The new M 1000 XR received winglets with the aim of ensuring superior riding stability at higher speeds despite increased engine power.

They serve in helping achieve the best possible contact between the tyres and the road surface - especially during acceleration.

The additional load on the front wheel counteracts the natural tendency to wheelie during acceleration, meaning the traction control system has to intrude less, and more drive power is converted into forward momentum. The forward-leaning seating position ensures better bike control, especially in supersport mode.

Like the M 1000 RR and the M 1000 R, the new M 1000 XR features M brakes.

These were developed using experience gained with racing brakes on BMW Motorrad factory racing machines in the Superbike World Championship. The M brake calipers feature a blue anodised coating in conjunction with the famous M logo.

BMW Motorrad will publish further information on the new BMW M 1000 XR in the second half of 2023.


Three cops, two individuals nabbed for hijacking, selling cars

Police officers displaying some of the items seized from the suspects .— Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The activities of three policemen and two other individuals suspected to have plotted to hijack cars brought in from Singapore and sell them off for money was uncovered when they were arrested on Monday and yesterday.

Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said they were detained in Penang and Kedah after conspiring to grab an Audi TT car belonging to a foreign national in Ara Damansara, Selangor last Sunday.

He said the incident happened when the victim met a car sales agent at Jalan PJU 1A / 54 at 7.45 pm (Sunday) to discuss the sale of the car, but was approached by two men wearing police vests who then "arrested" the sales agent and fled with the victim's car.

"Acting on the victim’s report, the police raided a hotel room in Seberang Jaya, Penang and arrested a 28-year-old local male suspect, namely, the car sales agent and a 28-year-old local female suspect," he told a press conference at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters (IPD), here.

Nik Ezanee said the investigation into the male suspect led to the arrest of two policemen, aged 34 and 51, in the compound of the Kuala Muda IPD, in Kedah, yesterday.

"Subsequently, another suspect, a 31-year-old policeman, was arrested at the Ipoh IPD in Perak yesterday," he said.


Duo in hot seats to turn Proton around

                Proton Holdings Bhd has appointed two top guns from DRB-Hicom Bhd, Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali as chief executive officer and Datuk Radzaif Mohamed as deputy chief executive officer, to helm the national car company that has an endless list of issues.  The two have literally landed themselves in the hottest seats in town. In the first interview since taking over the jobs, the two spoke to WONG CHUN WAI about their tasks ahead.

Congratulations on your appointments at Proton Holdings. Proton has been the most talked-about subject recently. With the Malaysian public having an emotional attachment to Proton and watching closely, do you believe that the turnaround of Proton can be successful?

Fuaad: Thank you. I had received both messages of congratulations and sympathy! Some of my friends also joked that my appointment was made on April 1 which is April Fool’s Day and they asked me if it was real.

Both Radzaif and I are aware of the issues at hand. I am a positive person, meticulous by nature and forward looking, whilst Radzaif just wants to get things done. I believe in giving my best. God has reasons for putting us into these positions.

We are also not entirely fresh to the issues affecting Proton. Although we did not have executive roles in Proton previously, we have been members of the Proton Holdings board. I was also the chairman of Proton Edar and chairman of Lotus Cars Malaysia whilst Radzaif had been the chairman of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (manufacturing) and Proton Tanjung Malim Sdn Bhd.

Prior to this, we were chief operating officers at DRB-Hicom. I was heading Finance and Corporate whilst Radzaif headed the Automotive Distribution and Manufacturing Sector.

We recognise that this is indeed a mammoth task. Nevertheless, we are confident that the turnaround can be done. The key is to split the issues into manageable components rather than see it as one big problem. We must understand the difference between turnaround (which is to reverse the losses into profits) and transformation. The latter looks at creating a sustainable business in the mid to long term. Attempting to do everything without prioritising would be a recipe for disaster. We are currently focused on the turnaround mode – we need to move fast, look at the results of our actions day by day rather than month by month.

Let’s get straight to the issues. Proton founder and chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is finally out of Proton. Will that help the management get the job done in a more professional manner?

Fuaad: Tun Mahathir has resigned from Proton and we respect his decision. We must also thank him for his contributions as he was the founding father of Proton.

I can only answer based on my experience after DRB-Hicom acquired Proton in 2012. I believe the management of Proton had conducted themselves professionally. Of course, in hindsight there would always be things that could have been improved or could have been done better. As an automotive manufacturer, there will always be a long lead time between the planning stage and realisation of these plans. Actions or decisions taken today may affect us several years from now, so our planning and execution capabilities must be rock solid.

Are you saying that you had inherited some issues prior to DRB-Hicom coming in?

Radzaif: Yes, because that is the very nature of auto manufacturing. The duration from the design of a new car to the actual roll-out on the street may take three to four years, excluding the planning phase. The design stage will take several adjustments, from the engine development to the design of the platform and body including features and safety – it involves numerous rounds of testing and validation.

The vendors producing the components will then be invited so that they can design proper specifications for the mould, dies and jigs that they need to purchase; to produce the various components of the car. At the same time, the car manufacturer will need to incur investments to develop the engine and other engineering aspects, and the body makers must get their facilities ready for body stamping to make the doors and other metal related parts.

All these take time. As many already know, Proton will be rolling out the new Perdana soon. It is a beautiful car using the Honda Accord platform but the look, features and handling will be different and better. Before going on the road, it has to undergo at least 100,000 km of rigorous reliability test. This is to ensure the components and systems work seamlessly.

And the minute we roll out the new Perdana, we will need to immediately start planning for the next Perdana model, because if we don’t, then we will not have continuity in the market. This was the situation with our previous Perdana which had utilised the same platform for almost 20 years before the current Honda Accord-based Perdana is rolled out. The investment to make one car is huge, so we cannot afford not to get it right the first time or read the market and competition wrongly.

Fuaad: Proton, over the years had rolled out too many model lines – there was the Saga, Iswara, Wira, Waja, Tiara, Perdana, Juara, Satria, Putra, Savvy, Arena, Satria Neo, Exora, Inspira, Preve, Iriz, Suprima – there were just too many with an overlapping target market. More importantly, the investment Proton had put in to develop each of these models was substantial.

If we look at other car makers, there is continuity in their model line-up; for example, Honda introduced the Civic model in the 1970s and still carries Civic until now. They will only introduce a new line after a proper detailed study had been undertaken when targeting a new segment different from their other lines. There is clarity in their product positioning. Therefore for Proton, we have to now carefully select the model line-up that we want to keep, and drop the ones that are not feasible.

But Proton does have an image problem, and what will you do about it?

Fuaad: Yes, there is some perception against the Proton brand, but most of them are legacy issues that have been rectified. For example, the power window problem had long been addressed by the previous management. The subsequent models came with life-time warranties for these power windows. Nevertheless, we must continuously improve to remain relevant in today’s competitive environment.

Radzaif: Proton had started to concentrate on safety aspects. Not many know that Proton is highly ranked in various credible auto international safety performance assessment ratings (EuroNCAP, Asean NCAP, Australian NCAP). Some of our models such as the Preve and Iriz are ranked higher than even the leading European cars.

These are publicly available information but perhaps we have not spent enough on marketing campaigns to highlight the good things that were done. But we will. We need to hire experts in rebuilding our image and brand value.

Proton posted a net loss of RM634.3mil for the year, a 40% increase in losses from the previous year. Revenue has gone down by 18.6% from RM7.16bil to RM5.83bil while your net gearing has gone up by 53.3% from 30% previously and the car industry says Proton sales will decline this year. Now the Government has just agreed to give Proton a RM1.5bil soft loan. Why has it come to this and where will the bulk of the money be spent on?

Fuaad: First of all, we wish to register our appreciation to the Government for their assistance. The soft loan comes with certain conditions and the bulk of the funds will be for the payment to our vendors. It will certainly help to alleviate some of our cash flow requirements and our vendors’ too.

Radzaif: This is important to elaborate. A sizeable portion of the fund will be used to pay for what we categorise as “vendors unmet volume”. At the initial stage of coming out with a new model (say Model A), the vendors of Proton want to know the sales projection i.e. how many units of Model A are expected to be sold. This is important as the vendors will then purchase their moulds, tools and dies based on the total units that Proton had estimated, and will price their supplies based on that.

Assuming Proton projected to sell about 150,000 units of Model A but in turn managed to only sell 75,000 units, the vendors would have recovered only 50% of their investments. In other words, they would be unable to recover the total investment due to the shortfall in volume sold. This is what “vendors unmet volume” means.

Proton has a moral obligation to make good these shortfalls in order to ensure the continuity of its future business which relies heavily on the local vendor community. Instead of paying for these shortfalls, what Proton had done over the years was to request these vendors to “carry forward” these shortfalls to future models.

The consequence of this was that the component cost of the later models ballooned and Proton was then forced to price its cars higher than what they should have been, almost equalling the prices of our competitors. The vendors unmet volumes that we still carry date as far back as Proton’s Tiara model which was launched in 1996. These unmet volume costs had been rolled forward since then.

Fuaad: This is a vicious cycle that Proton can’t afford to continuously carry. In order to achieve a successful turnaround, we must bite the bullet and settle these unmet volumes issue now as opposed to continuously carrying them to the new models.

Well and fine. But what about the setting up of the task force to monitor the implementation and success of the recovery plan. The task force is headed by Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala and representatives from the private and public sector. With due respect, they are highly regarded people, but they have no automotive industry experiences, can they really help much?

Fuaad: The Government has made it crystal clear that Proton will not be run by a committee. This would be disastrous – during the turnaround phase, decisions need to be made superfast. The management and board of Proton will ultimately be responsible for the day-to-day management. As we have said, the RM1.5bil will be used to pay the vendors.

The Government needs to ensure that the funds will be spent for this specific purpose. We will be transparent. Having said that, the personalities on the task force have relevant operational experience with proven business acumen and we are confident that they will be there to assist rather than hinder.

What are the plans moving forward?

Radzaif: We have developed a blueprint for the turnaround and will stick to this. The immediate need is for us to resuscitate our sales to generate immediate cash flow. We will be rolling out new car models this year and they will be our catalyst for the turnaround. The investments that we have made in developing these new models were substantial and therefore we need to ensure their success.

In this business, there’s not much room for error. We must find ways to lower our production cost without compromising on quality, work with our dealers and vendors who are integral to our ecosystem to significantly improve our after sales service. In short, Proton needs to regain the public’s trust and confidence. There must be a mindset change in our entire ecosystem – employees, vendors and dealers – to focus on giving their best to our customers.

Do you think that Proton could have done better if it had tied up with Volkswagen AG on a partnership deal to assemble the German carmaker’s vehicle in Malaysia for sale in South-East Asia. Volkswagen had said it would not take an equity stake in Proton as part of the deal, which would have included launching the first locally-assembled VW models in Malaysia by 2005 and generating sales of over 15,000 units in 2006. Dr Mahathir has now revealed that VW wanted a 51% stake. Any views?

Fuaad: This is a hypothetical question and we are not privy to the details. DRB-Hicom took over Proton in 2012 and naturally we had inherited the historical issues. However, we would rather look forward and learn from the past.

Some said the VW deal was a missed opportunity. The reality is, we only sold less than 150,000 cars a year, hence did not have a large enough scale to spread our costs efficiently. Car makers which produce cars in the millions would find it easier to price their cars more competitively.

If we were unable to achieve the optimum scale, perhaps we should have partnered with others to leverage on their lower platform costs. From this perspective, the VW deal could have been good for Proton. But as you know, finding the right partner involves other considerations.

For example, due to their global reach and scale, the foreign partner would want to source for cheaper components outside of Malaysia and this may impact our home-grown network of vendors and their dependents. These are some of the hard questions we need to answer before making any decisions.

Is it true that Proton is facing problems entering foreign markets because of protectionist barriers?

Radzaif: The highest priority in our turnaround phase is to firstly focus on the home market because we have lost so much here. We are not saying that Proton should not be exporting but the reality is there are non-tariff trade barriers in most mature countries that would translate into higher compliance costs before we can penetrate these markets. We also need to have a competitive cost base to be able to export our cars effectively and sustainably.

What about Lotus?

Fuaad: Lotus Group International Ltd, which is based in the UK, was purchased by Proton in 1996. It had production issues in the past but we have recovered financially and the sales have improved. We recently launched the new Lotus Evora 400 and Lotus 3-Eleven where we now have more orders than we can produce, and this is a very good sign. About 48% of our Lotus sales is in the UK and EU market while 52% is in the rest of the world. We are pushing for more sales of Lotus cars in China where the premium market has expanded and there is strong demand in the luxury sports car segment.

It is said that beyond the bad news about Proton, the company has not really unlocked its land value. The Shah Alam plant, where the factory is located, is worth a lot of money and so is the huge tract of land in Tanjung Malim. Your views?

Fuaad: Our facility in Tanjung Malim was set up in 1996. At that time, Proton had billions in cash in its coffers. The fact that we are operating in both Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim means that we are not operating efficiently as a manufacturing concern. If I can recall, the idea of a Proton City in Tanjung Malim was mooted when KLIA was touted to be located north of the Klang Valley.

Most business owners and developers took risks by investing in mega development projects in the surrounding areas such as Lembah Beringin, Bukit Beruntung, etc. When the KLIA location was changed to Sepang, these developments were badly affected. We were not privy to the reasons why Proton did not move all of its facilities to Tanjung Malim but we know that in order to move, the township needs to be adequately equipped with basic amenities such as a hospital, sufficient homes, grocery stores, schools and kindergartens for the entire Proton’s ecosystem including its vendors.

Therefore, it is not just about moving the factory but also the readiness of the entire infrastructure and facilities. Looking forward, part of the transformation plan is to eventually operate under one roof in Tanjung Malim. It is a must for Proton to rationalise its facilities to be more cost competitive.

We will consider the costs of relocation and the impact to our large and complex ecosystem. Whilst we are fully aware of the development potential of the Shah Alam land, we can only unlock the value of the land after the facility has been relocated to Tanjung Malim.

Is it true that the only way to improve sales is to drop prices and if that is so, what would be its effects to Proton?

Fuaad: Reducing prices is not a long-term solution. It should only be applied intermittently for tactical purposes, for example, during festive seasons or at the launching of a new model. If an auto company applies steep discounts on a continuous basis, it will erode the confidence of previous owners who had bought the cars at higher prices, and this in turn will affect the resale values. Once the resale confidence is not there, it will be doubly hard to sell our cars. So we need to be careful with this.

Does Proton have plans to consolidate the number of vendors?

Radzaif: As part of the ecosystem, is imperative that the vendors as well as dealers are able to meet Proton’s requirements. The key to Proton’s survival is its cost competitiveness. The vendors, like Proton, will also need to achieve a certain scale to be able to provide more competitive prices and we will work closely with them to achieve this. Some of our vendors have been able to do this already as evident through their contracts with other automakers globally.

It appears that the Government is not in favour of Suzuki as a strategic partner. How does this affect your relationship with Suzuki and if another company comes in as a partner, how much control are you willing to give up?

Fuaad: As far as we are aware, there have not been any talks with the Government in choosing the right partner for Proton. We have also not been informed about the Government not being in favour of any party.

To set the record straight, Proton had previously signed collaborative agreements with a few foreign companies, and currently we do have collaborations with Honda for the Perdana platform as well as with Suzuki for our upcoming models.

I believe that working with foreign partners does add value to Proton especially in the areas of product platforms and engine technology. We will carefully study the option of inviting potential partners to take up equity in Proton; however as we had mentioned earlier, there are many factors to consider on this.

How much money will it take to re-energise Proton and can DRB-Hicom afford that?

Fuaad: As an automotive manufacturer, the level of investment required on a continuous basis is huge. We have to address the issues of declining sales due to aging product lines as well as the need to roll out new models to meet customers’ requirements. We are currently at the tail end of the current cycle and the soft loan from the Government will provide the final push for us to roll out the new models, which are key for our turnaround. DRB-Hicom had been very supportive, advancing funds for Proton’s capital needs. They have also been patient as there have been no dividend payments to DRB-Hicom. Our interests are aligned – that is to turnaround Proton as fast as possible.

The auto industry is moving forward at a very fast speed with electric cars now featuring prominently in the plans of the majors. How can Proton keep up technologically and design wise when it does not have scale?

Radzaif: Electric cars are the way forward as they are good for the environment and enable cheaper running costs for car owners. But the overall price to consumers is still high. The technology is developing at a rapid pace. But with all new technologies, there will be a learning curve and auto makers need to invest heavily in R&D.

Due to the relatively low demand and lack of scale, the cost of producing an electric car is currently still very expensive and because of this, certain mature economies are providing substantial incentives to their automakers to fund the electric vehicle projects.

Proton has been engaging with many relevant technology companies and researchers in electric vehicle development with a view to developing our own electric car platform. However, the key issue is still the high production cost and whether there is a strong enough support from policy makers globally to invest in electric vehicles.

Our engineers are keeping their eyes open on this rapid development and the key is to catch it at the right wave to avoid spending unnecessary costs.

What can you say to the general public who are watching closely on the development of this turnaround?

Radzaif: Whether we like it or not, the country has the capability to produce its own national cars. As a nation, when I was growing up, we were not sure of our technological capabilities. The Government had the foresight to send students abroad to acquire the knowledge.

I believe Proton had been one of the beneficiaries where talented local engineers and managers had contributed immensely to Proton’s capability to build its own cars. Many of these local talents are currently working with world renowned auto makers today. I believe Proton has all the ingredients in place but we just need to make sure the team puts in their best effort to make it happen, God willing. We are confident the consumers out there will give our products a chance.

Fuaad: Proton has been our national pride. Our ecosystem, with more than 400 vendors and sub-vendors, and more than 350 sales and services outlets, would all want Proton to be successful. And so would the Government.

Over the years, Proton has collected and paid more than RM24bil of taxes to the Government. We have and will continue to provide cars that will give our customers the best value for their money. Proton cars are engineered to deliver superior ride and handling in its class and we will ensure that each new model is better than the previous one.

We need to redefine Proton and change the public’s perception once and for all. We want everyone to be proud of owning a Proton again.


May 27 - June 2: Fuel prices unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will remain unchanged from May 27 to June 2, says the Finance Ministry.

In a statement today, it said that the retail price for RON97 and RON95 petrol would remain at RM2.61 and RM2.05 per litre, respectively.

The price of diesel remains unchanged at RM2.15 per litre.

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism was reintroduced on Jan 5,2019, under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM).


VIDEO REVIEW: Proton X70 an attention-grabber

                Following the recent group media drive of the X70 in Langkawi, Proton passed us the SUV over the weekend for us to have a go at it again.

For companies that depend on the public to drive sales and services, publicity is always welcome to retain buying interest.

And the X70 is worthy of such attention.

As a family-oriented sports utility vehicle (SUV), the X70 certainly ticks the right boxes with ample interior space, comfortable ride and high levels of safety.

What's more, Proton's first SUV with its strategic partner Geely, also charts new ground with an AI-powered voice command that lets the driver or passengers set the infotainment system and other vehicle functions.

With a stout 1.8-litre turbo direct injection engine, the X70 is quick and delivers an enjoyable ride.

The X70's price range from RM99,800 to RM123,800 allows it to appeal to a wider audience seeking to upgrade from a sedan or multi-purpose vehicle.

Check out our video review of the much-talked about X70.


US Army gets new agile lightweight vehicle

                WASHINGTON: GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, has delivered its first batch of its Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV).

The ISV is a light and agile all-terrain troop carrier intended to transport a nine-soldier infantry squad and their equipment.

The delivery to the US Army is part of a US$214.3mil (RM900mil) contract the company obtained in June.

The contract will see the company manufacture 649 ISVs and will support the production of up to 2,065 vehicles with additional authorization over a period of eight years.

This is the first major award and delivery for the company since the subsidiary was reestablished by its parent company in 2017.

The ISV is based off the award-winning Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 midsize truck architecture and leverages on 90% of proven commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, including race component from Chevrolet Performance.

The 2,268kg ISV was uniquely engineered to fulfil military requirements and was designed to provide rapid ground mobility.

The expeditionary ISV is light enough to be sling loaded from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for air transportation.

The COTS parts, combined with the ISV’s innovative Rollover Protection System, will provide agile transportability on the battlefield to support mission success.


Karma brings latest AWD E-Flex platform to the fore

                LOS ANGELES: Karma Automotive announced its latest flexible and modular E-Flex platform with two motor all-wheel drive (AWD) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) architecture.

The new platform is the final of five demonstration projects designed to illustrate Karma’s technical direction and capabilities using highly versatile EREV and battery electric vehicle (BEV) based rolling chassis systems.

Engineered with a wide range of solutions in mind, Karma’s newest flexible electric platform can be used for pickup trucks, SUVs, last-mile utility solutions and more.

The company's AWD Extended Range E-Flex platform offers a single motor e-drive unit on the front and rear respectively, providing the safety of AWD with enhanced acceleration and handling.

The platform is equipped with Karma’s new Silicon Carbide (SiC) inverter e-drive system and features an 80kWh flat floor battery.

It targets to achieve an all-electric range up to 389km and when combined with EREV it extends the range further to 802km depending on configuration and commercial application.

Using the platform, the company says that vehicle manufacturers can optimize development costs to engineer, test, certify and build an EREV or BEV platform, allowing electrification of their products with greater speed and efficiency.

Furthermore, the platform's solutions are developed at the Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC), Karma’s state-of-the-art assembly plant in Moreno Valley in the US.

All E-Flex platforms feature the company's technology including the production Revero GT drive motors in various configurations, gearbox, suspension, subframes, steering, battery and electrical systems, in addition to production body structure parts.

Most components have achieved over 1.6mil kilometres of testing and in-market validation.

The AWD Extended Range E-Flex platform is the final demonstration in a series of platform development projects featuring the Karma E-Flex Platform.

Other platform exhibitions recently showcased include the company’s signature EREV platform, a BEV van equipped with Level 4 autonomous technology, a high-performance platform with supercar-capable architecture, an EREV van platform and an Everyday BEV platform for economic mobility. Additional components also available include Karma’s new SiC inverters.

“We’re very excited about this platform, and how it can be used to improve our customers’ speed to market. Our AWD Extended Range platform has the longest range and widest configuration of all our E-Flex platforms, allowing for high levels of efficiency and many configuration options to suit a variety of market needs,” said Karma Automotive chief operations officer Kevin Pavlov.

He added that in the case of a pickup truck application, the platform’s EREV technology may allow the driver to negotiate steeper grades and have more driving performance that would be beneficial for pulling trailers or carrying a full payload.


Brabham BT62 Competition model delivered

                ADELAIDE: Brabham Automotive has built and delivered its first BT62 Competition model, having sustained production over the last few months.

“The world’s most track focused hypercar” has now been delivered to the UK to compete in this year’s Britcar Endurance Championship.

Brabham will continue to produce both track and road variants in the coming months, delivering them across Europe, Australia and New Zealand as logistic and operational restrictions are lifted.

This stunning BT62 Competition has been prepared for racing and delivered to its new owner, Horsepower Racing in the UK.

The BT62 is limited to seventy vehicles, with each vehicle meticulously hand-built to order, enhancing the exclusivity for customers.

The BT62 Competition features a 700hp, naturally-aspirated V8 and 6-speed sequential drivetrain driving an extreme lightweight chromoly safety cell, carbon fibre body and world’s-best stopping power via carbon-carbon brakes.

The chassis is FIA compliant and ready for racing along with the onboard data and telemetry system, lightweight wheels shod with Goodyear slick racing tyres (with wets supplied) and telematic control carbon fibre steering wheel.


Denying driving licences to senior citizens would be last resort, says Wee

The ministry said all stakeholders should come together and create an effective and inclusive plan for all. — Reuters

PETALING JAYA: Senior citizens will be issued driving licences if they are able to operate a vehicle and denying one would be a last resort measure, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

"Retracting or limiting senior citizens to driving licences should be a last resort once it is proven they are unable to drive,” said the Transport Minister.

He said the issue needed a broader and more holistic view instead of focusing on age alone.

"The suggestion to limit motor vehicle licences (LKM) to senior citizens can also result in them only having to borrow another person's vehicle to bypass the law," said Dr Wee in a Facebook video today.

"Referring to isolated incidents or evaluating an individual based on their age would be discriminatory.

"There are also many drivers aged 70 and above who display better driving proficiency than younger drivers," he said.

He added that it was also the duty of individuals whose health is affecting their driving ability to hand in their licences to Road Transport Department (JPJ) offices.

Dr Wee also called for all stakeholders to come together and create an effective and inclusive plan for all.

On Friday, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Azisman Alias had proposed that the government limit the issuance of Motor Vehicle Licences to senior citizens.

However, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani came forward today to say Comm Azisman was only expressing a personal opinion.

The IGP said any new safety measure will only be introduced once a study has been conducted and its implementation agreed upon among the relevant parties.

Comm Azisman had said on Friday that his call for limiting the licence was because the health condition of senior citizens could contribute to road accidents. He said senior citizens should also undergo a medical check-up and get approval from a doctor to ascertain that they are fit to drive.

“Elderly people are more likely to suffer from health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and blurred vision, which can indirectly cause a road accident.

“There was a case where a senior citizen was caught driving on a motorcycle lane. The government needs to look into this issue,” he added.


Lexus USA offers hefty price cuts on new 2018 RX450h

                DALLAS: It's certainly not usual that a new luxury vehicle costs less than the previous year's model did, but that's what's happening with the 2018 Lexus RX450h.

Instead of the usual modest price increase for the new model year, Lexus hasn't just reduced the price of the RX450h in the US, it has absolutely slashed it. A similar move by Lexus in Europe is not expected, but it's not out of the question that this unexpected move could be replicated in other markets either.

But what's more unusual than the size of the reduction are the actual models that benefit from this new, more attractive pricing.

The RX350, which is powered by a conventional petrol engine, is actually getting a slight increase in price. However, the base price of an RX450h hybrid is being reduced by a massive US$7,340 (nearlt RM30,000) from last year, which means it will now cost from US$46,690 (RM188,000) onwards. The higher-specification F Sport version of the Lexus also gets a comparatively modest reduction of US$4,090 (around RM17,000).

Why the Japanese luxury manufacturer decided to drop the prices of its hybrid SUVs so dramatically is unclear at the moment.

If there is one area of the market that's positively booming right now, it's SUVs of all types. Simultaneously, most governments are encouraging consumers to embrace electrified vehicles in order to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.

So, for Lexus to slash the price of a hybrid SUV doesn't make a great deal of sense, especially as the cut concerns the new model and not an outgoing model where old stock needs to be moved.


MAN Truck and Bus Malaysia gets new MD

(From left): O’Brooks, Frenz, Nazari and Halter.
PORT KLANG: MAN Truck and Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN) today announced it has appointed Andrew O’Brooks as its new managing director.

The Briton brings with him more than 35 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry. Prior to joining MAN, O’Brooks has held several leading management positions for the Volvo Group, serving as country managing director in Britain, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

He will lead the execution of several strategic initiatives for Malaysia, in line with MAN’s global direction and motto of ‘Simplifying Business’ for its customers.

O’Brooks is taking over from Richard Frenz, who will take up a new role in MAN Truck & Bus in Munich.

 Tee (centre) taking delivery of the MAN Efficient Line TGS 19.360 today.

Among those present were MAN Asia Pacific head  Thilo Halter, Association of Malaysian Hauliers president Datuk Nazari Akhbar and Nittsu Transport Service (M) Sdn Bhd general manager Billy Tee.

At the event, Tee took delivery of 12 units of MAN Efficient Line TGS 19.360 4x2 trucks intended for long-haul container transport.

This brings the total of MAN vehicles in the Nittsu Transport Service’s fleet to 39. T

The vehicles come equipped with a twelve-speed MAN TipMatic semi-automatic gearbox, cruise control, MAN EasyStart, MAN BrakeMatic electronic braking management system and MAN Aeropackage for fuel savings.

A first among several strategic initiatives announced by O’Brooks is the opening of a new service centre in Port Klang to offer fleet operators and customers with more efficient and timelier vehicle care.

The new service centre which will take up more than 0.8 hectare of land, is slated to be operational by March.

It will come with six service bays and all the necessary equipment for service and repairs.

Among the tools and facilities available are a MAN Cats III Diagnostic system and air-conditioning servicing, ample trailers parking space as well as a customer lounge with refreshments and complimentary wi-fi.

The new facility in Port Klang will be MAN’s fourth service centre on top of its existing centres in Rawang, Prai and Johor Baru.

Nazari said, "The current mobile service units in Port Klang serve us well regarding minor issues. Now, the new service centre in Port Klang will certainly be more convenient for customers as we do not need to go to Rawang for servicing when it comes to major technical issues."


Naza sponsors ‘Wheel, Walk & Fun Run’

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Corporation Holdings is a proud sponsor of the ‘Wheel, Walk & Fun Run’ organised by the Paralympic Council of Malaysia, held at the Malaysia Paralympic Sports Centre of Excellence Kampung Pandan which gathered close to 1,000 people from all walks of life for a national level commemoration in conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the Minister of Women,  Family and Community Development, was present to concurrently launch the ‘Tambah Emas’ Paralympic Council of Malaysia’s crowdfunding campaign together with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and President of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia, SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.

Apart from being an event sponsor, Naza Corporation Holdings also sponsored the grand lucky draw prize of a Vespa S125 scooter as an attraction to the crowd.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated widely every year to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, who is also Group Executive Chairman & Group CEO of Naza Corporation Holdings commented on the sponsorship, “Part of Naza’s corporate social responsibility is the investment in community development. As a corporate citizen, we are proud to lend our support to the Paralympic Council of Malaysia in their endeavour to bring the para contingent and para sports to the next level. I also hope Malaysians will step forward and support the crowdfunding endeavour so that the Paralympic Council of Malaysia will be able to reach its objectives and chart the para contingent’s path to more gold medals and glory in the future.”

The ‘Tambah Emas’ crowdfunding is currently available on the mobile wallet app Boost and is aimed at financing the development of para sports from the grassroots level and prepare the national Paralympic team on their journey to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.


Car dealership manager gets jail, whipping for cheating

                KUALA LUMPUR: A manager at a car dealership was sentenced to three years' jail and three strokes of the rotan by the Sessions Court here for cheating a businessman in connection with car sales involving losses amounting to RM257,900.

Judge Ahmad Kamar Jamaludin meted out the punishment on Tuesday to Azri Asyraf Wahid, 33, after he changed his plea to guilty on three charges at the mention of the case on the same day.

The court ordered the jail term for each charge to be served concurrently, from the date the accused was arrested on March 17, with one stroke of the cane to be given for each charge.

According to the charges, Azri Asyraf was accused of cheating Leong Meng Loon, 34, by tricking him into believing that the accused was a director of Syarikat G-Mart Autoworld Sdn Bhd for the sale of three cars, when the accused knew that the cars did not exist.

The act prompted the victim to transfer money amounting to RM257,900 into the accused’s bank account, whereas the victim would not have handed over the money if he had not been duped by the accused.

All the offences were allegedly committed at Syarikat Oncar Sdn Bhd, at Batu 4 Jalan Klang Lama, Brickfields here on Feb 5 and and Feb 6.

Azri Asyraf was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of not less than one year and a maximum of 10 years and whipping, and shall also liable to a fine, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Khairiyah Samsudin pressed for just punishment to serve as a lesson, but the accused, who was not represented, appealed for leniency on the grounds that he was the sole breadwinner of the family.


New BMW depot in Johor to supply parts to 23 countries

                JOHOR BARU: BMW Group Malaysia's regional parts depot at the Senai airport here is opened for business and will support over 23 countries in the region.

It will distribute aftersales parts, components and lifestyle merchandises for the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands.

Located on over 775,000 square feet of land in a free industrial zone, the RM130mil parts supply site is one of the largest BMW depot in the Asia Pacific region. It was completed in December 2016.

 BMW officials and other VIPs opening the depot in Johor Baru on Thursday. Among them are (third from left) Han, von Kuenheim (fourth from left) and Azman.

The depot will be supplying parts to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Guam.

Present at its opening on Thursday were BMW Group senior vice president (Asia, Pacific and South Africa) Hendrik von Kuenheim, BMW Group Malaysia CEO and managing director Han Sang Yun and Malaysian Investment Development Authority chief executive officer Datuk Azman Mahmud.


Lotus announces all-electric Type 130 hypercar

                LONDON: Lotus has announced that Type 130, the brand’s first all-new model in more than a decade, will be revealed to the world’s media at an exclusive event here on July 16.

Following first confirmation of the project in April at the Shanghai International Auto Show, several hundred potential owners have come forward to express their interest in the new all-electric hypercar.

Lotus said last week that only 130 examples will be made – representing the number of Lotus "Types" introduced during the brand’s 71-year history. The car would be built at Hethel in Norfolk, the brand’s headquarters since 1966.

Lotus said the Type 130 would be the most dynamically accomplished road car in the company’s history.

Lotus has released a new image and short film, alluding further to what Type 130 will have to offer.


Neta 5-seat EV may come to Malaysia at under RM90K, range 384km

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians may soon be able to buy a well-packaged all-electric five-seater hatchback priced under RM90,000 if Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand Neta Auto makes a foray here.

In Thailand, the Neta V five-seater hatchback with up to 384km travel range, was launched in September 2022 and priced at 549,000 baht (RM71,310).

Neta Auto Malaysia's website and Facebook page has an image depicting "Stay tuned, coming soon".

On its Facebook page, Neta Auto Malaysia shares the same address as Go Auto Group in Hicom Glenmarie Industrial Park,, Shah Alam.

Go Auto is a partner for Great Wall Motor Malaysia, which offers Haval SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and the all-electric Ora Good Cat.

Meanwhile, the Neta V outputs 95hp, with a maximum torque of 150Nm, and sprints from 0 to 50kph in less than 3.9 seconds.

Its 38.5 kWh lithium-ion battery offers up to 384km travel range per full charge according to NEDC standards, and features IP67 water and dust resistance, along with HEPT 3 battery temperature management system.

There's also an energy regenerative system, when the vehicle slows down or is braked.

Charging the car with alternating current (AC) via a Neta wall box will take eight hours (0% to 100%), while direct current (DC) charging via public stations takes about 30 minutes (from 30% to 80%).

Running on 185/55 R16 tyres, the Neta V is has a slightly smaller footprint (70mm, 40mm, 130mm shorter in length/width/wheelbase respectively, but 65mm higher) compared to the Toyota Yaris.

Its stylish exterior design and lines are said to be inspired by dolphins, and features include halogen projector headlamps with automatic on/off system, LED daytime running lights, and a sporty rear spoiler.

The Neta V's cabin has a minimalist design concept, and features include ergonomic zero gravity sports leather seats, a large 14.6-inch touch screen infotainment system, N95 air filtration system, foldable rear seats, and a smart key system with ride and go function.

Trunk capacity is 335 litres, and with the rear seats folded, this increases to 552 litres.

As for safety, features include front and rear disc brakes, two airbags, cruise control, a rearview camera with rear shift signal, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), hill start assist, hill descent control, electric parking brake, auto brake hold, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and a light guide after engine is turned off.

The Neta EV brand is owned by little-known start-up Hozon New Energy Automobile, a nine-year-old Zhejiang-based EV maker known for its strategy of offering stripped-down electric SUVs priced below 100,000 yuan (RM64,412) for the under-served rural and small-town markets, according to a April 2022 report by asiafinancial.com.

Similar vehicles from Tesla, Nio, Li Auto and BYD cost above 200,000 yuan (RM128,945).

The asiafinancial.com report pointed out that in January and February 2022, Hozon had grew sales of its affordable, spacious SUVs more than fourfold, thus outpacing big-name competitors such as XPeng, Nio and Tesla.

Also, Hozon Auto has big-name backers such as tech giant Qihu 360 and government funds.

In December 2021, Hozon Auto became the first-ever downstream investment for Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL), the world’s biggest maker of EV batteries.

However, asiafinancial.com note that Hozon Auto is mired in losses, partly due to its strategy of undercutting the competition.

Hozon Auto CEO Zhang Yong was reported as saying since its EVs are pitched at price-sensitive buyers, it will have to sell three times more cars than Nio and Tesla to turn a decent profit.

Its investors are counting on its pricing strategy to build sales and market share.

In March 2023, Neta signed a joint venture deal with Thailand's Bangchan General Assembly Co Ltd (BGAC) to build an EV assembly plant.

Located in Khan Na Yao, Bangkok, the plant will be Neta Auto's first overseas factory, and also the first plant for China EV start-ups in Thailand.

Zhang Yong said the Thailand plant will be a major base for Neta to produce and export right hand drive EVs to the Asean region.


Audi cars also see price cuts following zero-rated GST decision

                KUALA LUMPUR: Audi Malaysia is the latest car brand to announce lower prices for its cars.

It said today the price revision is expected to remain until the introduction of a new tax structure. The new Pakatan Harapan government had recently reduced GST rates from 6% to 0%, and this takes effect from June 1.

In addition, there will be a 6% reduction on the prices of the various packages that can be specified for the vehicles such as the Tech pack and the S line package.

All Audi vehicles sold through authorised dealerships are fully manufactured and assembled in Europe and come with a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

 The A4 sees over RM12,000 price. drop. The A4 1.4 TFSI (left) is to be priced at around RM207,000, while the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro is nearly RM235,000.


Škoda Vision X hybrid crossover to debut in Geneva

                MLADÁ BOLESLAV (Czech Republic): The Czech car maker will be introducing a hybrid urban crossover concept called Škoda Vision X at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

With its compact proportions, the Škoda Vision X is presented as the ideal companion for an active, urban lifestyle. Precise lines and clear surface contours characterise the exterior and highlight the character of the FlexGreen-painted hybrid study.

A roof in contrasting Anthracite sets sporty accents. In addition, distinctive bumpers, dominant side sills, a large panoramic glass roof and 20-inch alloy wheels create a powerful look. The sharp design was inspired by traditional Czech glasswork.

The interior speaks a new design language. The wide, ergonomically contoured dashboard with freestanding colour display dominates the visual impression in the interior. The infotainment and connectivity services can be accessed quickly and intuitively via the screen. Illuminated elements made of cut crystal glass in conjunction with the colour display create atmospheric lighting effects.

The Škoda Vision X expands on the company's Strategy 2025. By 2025, Škoda plans to roll out plug-in hybrid vehicles in addition to all-electric cars. Then, every fourth vehicle the brand delivers worldwide will have a plug-in hybrid or purely electric powertrain.


Jaguar XE now available in Malaysia from RM340,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) has unveiled the Jaguar XE sports sedan to complete the British marque's sedan range of cars that include the XF and XJ models.

Three variants of the XE are being made available starting with the entry-level Prestige; the mid-range R-Sport and the range-topping S model, which are priced on-the-road with GST without insurance at RM340,000, RM365,000 and RM580,000 respectively.

The model aims to take on the likes of the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

The XE uses an aluminium-intensive monocoque that gets hidden by exterior colour choices of Polaris White (solid), Glacier White, Rhodium Silver, Quartzite, Ammonite Grey, Bluefire, Odyssey Red, Italian Racing Red and Ultimate Black.

Warranty for every XE comes with a five-year or 150,000km warranty, including a three-year roadside assist with owners of the 2.0-litre Prestige and R-Sport enjoying a five-year or 80,000km free scheduled maintenance or the 3.0-litre S variant’s five-year or 65,000km package, whichever comes first.

Service intervals for the Prestige and R-Sport are one year or 16,000km (S model – one year or 13,000km) whichever comes first.

In celebrating the arrival of the XE, new owners will receive an exclusive XE Launch accessories package (limited numbers) worth RM10,000 and includes illuminated sill tread plates, red aluminium paddle shifters, premium dark leather top and rubber bezel with soft-touch grip for gear selector, and four iconic tyre valve cap designs.

The rear-wheel drive XE has a drag coefficient of 0.26Cd and possesses a respectable 455 litres of bootspace along with a wheelbase of 2,835mm while measuring 4,672mm-long, 2,075mm-wide and 1,416mm-tall.

All models utilise a double wishbone front and Integral Link rear axle suspension set up, next generation Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), JaguarDrive Control (Normal, Eco, Dynamic or Winter modes) as well as an eight-speed electronic automatic transmission with Jaguar sequential shift for all three models.

The Prestige has a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 200PS at 5,500rpm and 280Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,000rpm - allowing it to reach 100kph from standstill in 7.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 237kph, while rolling on standard 17-inch wheels that can be upgraded to a choice of two 18-inch wheel designs.

It also comes equipped with bi-function high intensity discharge Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and automatic levelling, along with concealed tailpipes, brushed aluminium veneers, 10x10-way electric power seat with driver memory and Morzine headliner.

The Prestige receives dual-zone climate controls with rear vents, electric parking brake, brake pad wear indicator, cruise control with automatic speed limiter and keyless entry with push-start button.

Furthermore, an 80W six-speaker Jaguar sound system with four amplifier channels gets paired to an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen with reverse camera, AUX / USB ports, radio, iPod integration, Bluetooth connectivity, dynamic volume control and SD card navigation.

For safety, there are six airbags, dynamic stability control with traction control, hill start assist, torque vectoring by braking and ISOFIX anchor points.

The R-Sport, with the same engine, plays to a higher tune of 240PS and 360Nm, shaving its sprint time down to 6.8 seconds and extends its top speed to an electronically limited 250kph.

It gets 18-inch wheels with an optional 19-inch wheels, and swaps out the brushed for etched aluminium before exposing the twin tailpipes.

The range-topping S model uses a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 (also in the F-Type), which produces 340PS at 6,500rpm and 450Nm of torque at 4,500rpm, further slashing its sprint time down to 5.1 before reaching the same top speed of 250kph.

For the range-topping S model, it comes rolling in on 18-inch wheels with the option of upgrading to 19-inch designs that partially hides its red brake callipers and adds on start/stop functionality, adaptive dynamics for configurable dampers, meshed aluminium veneer and twin tailpipe finishings.

A 380W 11-speaker sound system by Meridian, which includes a 12 channel class D DSP amplifier, Audyssey MultiEQ Audio Equalisation and dynamic volume control has also been fitted.

“Its lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior and outstanding ride and handling make it a true driver’s car. In the XE, Jaguar has come up with a winner that is definitely a serious contender in the mid-size luxury sedan segment,” said JLRM managing director Syed Mudzhar Syed Ali.
READ ALSO: Could Jaguar car be crowned 2016 World Car of the Year?


Tokyo Motor Show 2019: Mazda CX-8 updated in Japan

                TOKYO: The Mazda CX-8 three-row crossover SUV has been updated in Japan, and extra kit includes a new Off-Road Traction Assist for all-wheel drive models, as well as USB ports for third-row seats.

To recap, in Malaysia, the CX-8 comes in four variants (three 2.5-litre petrol and one 2.2-litre diesel) and prices will be announced later by local Mazda distributor Bermaz Motor.

The CX-8, which sits between the Mazda CX-5 and CX-9 in terms of size, can comfortably seat six or seven adults.

For full specs in Malaysia, READ MORE:

2019 Mazda CX-8: 4 variants in Malaysia

Mazda CX-8 teased: To be assembled in Kulim; circa RM200K

Updates to the Mazda CX-8

- Off-Road Traction Assist

AWD models feature the newly developed Off-Road Traction Assist. This system works with the traction control system to maximize the transmission of driving force to the wheels in contact with the ground and smoothly extract the vehicle if it becomes stuck unexpectedly on a rough road, thus providing safe and reassuring performance on various road surfaces.

Enhanced comfort and quietness

- WVGA center display increased from seven to eight inches

- Rain noise is reduced with a damping coating applied to the roof

More rear luggage room

- In the luggage area, the sub-trunk box is now big enough to accept a pop-up sunshade lying flat. Even with the third-row seat in use, the trunk can accommodate four carry-on bags

- The size of the sub-trunk box is increased (84 liters without Bose sound system (+ 19 liters); (56 liters with Bose sound system (+ 8 liters)).


It's time: Check your car's timing belt to avoid expensive repairs

                MUNICH: The timing belt is a crucial part of your car’s engine and if faulty can cause serious engine damage so it makes sense to have the belt regularly checked and replaced at the recommended intervals.

The timing belt primarily transmits the rotary motion of the crankshaft to the camshaft.

This in turn opens and closes the valves in the engine’s cylinders. If the belt snaps, the pistons can collide with the valves.

Manufacturers specify how often the timing belt must be replaced for each model. The replacement intervals are usually between 60,000km and 250,000km.

Even if you don't drive that much, you may still need to have the belt changed. This is because the material of the belt, which is often made of special plastics with inserts of steel cord and glass fibres, can become porous with age.

For this reason, Tüv Süd (German Technical Inspectorate) advises at least a visual check as part of any workshop inspection. As a rule of thumb, the first belt change should be made after about six years.

The cost of a timing belt change varies from model to model. The price is usually between around €300 and €750 (between RM1,400 and RM3,500). It can be worthwhile to get a few cost estimates before choosing one.

If you’re buying a used car, it makes sense to take a close look at the inspection booklet or workshop invoices beforehand to see if the belt has already been changed or will soon need to be.

Some cars use a timing chain instead of a belt, which is more durable, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need to be checked. A rattling noise when starting and idling, for example, can indicate a problem with the chain.

Tüv Süd advises having the timing chain checked regularly. Following the engine oil change intervals and using the recommended oil type is also important as the oil lubricates the timing chain.


Man lucky to be alive as car crushed in KL pile-up

                KUALA LUMPUR: A motorist escaped with only light injuries to his face after the car he was driving was crushed in a six-vehicle pile-up caused by a runaway lorry.

City Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Asst Comm Sarifudin Mohd Salleh said the accident occurred at around 2.40pm on Monday (Sept 6) at the traffic light intersection along Jalan Ipoh here.

"The incident involved a lorry and five other vehicles.

"Our investigations revealed the lorry was headed from Jalan Duta toward Sentul when the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the five cars," he said in a statement.

He said the victim's car was caught between the lorry and an SUV and was crushed by the force of the impact.

"He was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he received treatment at the green zone.

"The other motorists escaped unharmed," he said, adding that the driver of the lorry also escaped unharmed.

He said the lorry driver was detained and initial tests showed he was not under the influence of alcohol.

He was then taken to the Dang Wangi police headquarters for a urine test.

"He tested positive for methamphetamines and amphetamines.

"We have classified the case under Section 44(1A) of the Road Transport Act for causing the death of or injury to others when driving a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs," he said.

Several videos and pictures of the accident from dashcam footage have been circulating on social media and messaging apps.

One video shows the car, reduced to an unrecognisable wreck, pinned between the lorry and the SUV.

Another video shows several people frantically trying to pry open the wrecked vehicle, and the driver emerges with blood on his face and walks away.

He urged those with information on the case to contact the Tun HS Lee traffic police station at 03-2071 9999 or the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department hotline at 03-2026 0267.