Automakers say US Senate bill will jeopardise 2030 EV targets

                WASHINGTON: A group representing General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen and other major automakers said a US$430 billion bill approved Sunday by the US Senate will put achieving US electric-vehicle adoption targets for 2030 in jeopardy.

"Unfortunately, the EV tax credit requirements will make most vehicles immediately ineligible for the incentive," said the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's chief executive, John Bozzella, adding the bill "will also jeopardise our collective target of 40-50% electric vehicle sales by 2030."

The group had warned Friday that most EV models would not qualify for a US$7,500 tax credit for US buyers under the bill.

To be eligible for the credit, vehicles must be assembled in North America, which would make some current EVs ineligible as soon as the bill takes effect.

The Senate bill imposes other restrictions to deter automakers from using Chinese-made materials by phasing in required percentages of North American-sourced battery components.

After 2023, vehicles with batteries that have Chinese components could not receive the credit, while critical minerals also face limitations on sourcing.

Senator Joe Manchin, who pushed for the restrictions, said EVs should not depend on foreign supply chains while Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said the credit is "unworkable."

The bill creates a US$4,000 tax credit for used EVs. The package provides billions in new funding for EV production as well as US$3 billion for the US Postal Service to buy EVs and battery-charging equipment.

The new EV tax credits, which would expire in 2032, would be limited to trucks, vans and SUVs priced no more than US$80,000 and cars up to US$55,000. Families with adjusted gross incomes of up to US$300,000 would be eligible.

The US House aims to vote on the bill on Friday.

President Joe Biden in 2021 set a target for electric and plug-in electric vehicles to comprise half of new vehicle sales in 2030.


Why you should be paying attention to your engine's rev counter

                BERLIN: Most vehicles have a speedometer and a rev counter for the driver to not only tell how fast they are driving, but also how many revolutions per minute (RPM) the engine is doing.

Drivers often ignore their RPM gauge, but it's actually important to keep an eye on it, as this indicator will tell you whether the engine is working efficiently or whether there may be something wrong.

In a new car or an engine that's just started, it's generally a good idea to avoid going into the red of your dial's RPM levels.

If a wailing noise from your engine isn't already telling you something isn't right, you can usually tell that you're pushing your engine to its limits if you see the rev counter hitting the red. Do this regularly and you'll soon need to take the car in for repairs.

High RPM levels also mean the car is using more fuel, another reason why it is better and more efficient to keep within the limits. It will save you money, save emissions and protect the engine overall.

Some vehicles will even go further and indicate to the driver if they need to be going up or down a gear.


SsangYong accelerates new model development to secure future

                SEOUL SsangYong Motors has announced it is to accelerate its new car development programme in preparation for its future, and as part of a robust set of self–help measures.

The company has determined that as part of any future merger and acquisition (M&A), it is to become the driving force of this new self-rescue plan, and central to this is a full-scale move towards meeting the future demands of the international automotive market.

By renewing confidence in the brand, ensuring its survival in the rapidly changing automotive marketplace, and achieving future growth, SsangYong said it is aiming to quickly end its rehabilitation and create an environment that leads to a successful M&A by looking for a new investor who will commit to continuous future investment.

This is now happening through an intensive restructure of the business and a focus on meeting fast-changing automotive trends.

New car development is central to this and is being achieved through cost reduction and system efficiencies achieved through production and human resources management.

The first tangible result is the announcement of SsangYong's first electric vehicle; developed under the project name of E100, the Korando e-Motion went into full-scale production on Monday.

The Korando e-Motion is the first mid-sized electric SUV vehicle in Korea and offers the spacious interior and convenience of a family car. The overall design is one that offers an urban driving style with aerodynamic lines to minimise air resistance, and a quality driving experience.

The name of Korando e-Motion fuses the "e" of electric with the driving force of "motion" as well imbuing the sentiment of emotion which customers experience when driving a car they feel in touch with. The name was the result of a competition run within the company and in consultation with brand experts to ensure that like Korando, the name would work well in overseas markets.

Due to restricted supplies of semi-conductors, affecting all manufacturers, the Korando e-Motion is scheduled to be shipped in August for sale in Europe and the UK later in the year. Launch plans for the domestic market will be announced as soon as the availability of semi-conductors becomes clearer.

The company has also announced that it is accelerating the development of its next EV, a medium-sized SUV under the project name J100, with the plan of launching in 2022. The design of the J100 will give a new, modern, authentic SUV, with styling cues based on SsangYong's design language to create a strong and safe SUV.

SsangYong Motors Receiver, Yong Won Chung says: "We are establishing a strong foothold for corporate rehabilitation through a successful M&A and putting our very best efforts into new car development by addressing the rapidly changing automotive trends. In addition, we are expanding the line-up of eco-cars, discovering future growth opportunities such as new business models, and preparing for renewed competitiveness."

SsangYong Motor is the Korean SUV specialist and builds a comprehensive line-up of SUVs: from Tivoli, the small SUV, semi mid-sized SUV, Korando, mid-sized SUV J100, to the larger Rexton. Now starting with Korando e-Motion, the company plans to expand its green car range with a mid-sized EV and EV pick-up.


Aston Martin debuts DBX SUV

                BEIJING: Aston Martin has unveiled its first SUV and a model that will propel the brand to new heights worldwide, is DBX.

Bringing both the versatility and indulgence expected of a luxury SUV with sports car levels of dynamic performance, DBX sets a bold new standard in this sector.

Set to be built in Aston Martin’s purpose-built manufacturing facility in St Athan, Wales, the foundation of DBX is a new dedicated SUV platform, something rarely seen across the sector.

READ MORE: Aston woos women with DBX

Using bonded aluminium, the body structure is light and stiff, resulting in an overall kerb weight of 2,245kg.

Powered by a new version of the 4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine found in DB11 and Vantage, DBX features an output of 550PS and 700NM of torque, tuned to meet the specific needs of this model.

With a sound character that is a signature of Aston Martin, the active exhaust system ensures this is a luxury SUV that can sound refined one moment and exhilarating the next.

The turbocharged V8 has cylinder deactivation to enhance fuel economy, yet it can also propel DBX from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 290kph.

Transmitting this power and torque to the ground is a nine-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox, allied to an all-wheel drive system with active differentials featuring an active central differential and an electronic rear limited slip differential (eDiff).

With 632 litres of boot space and 40:20:40 split folding rear seats DBX possesses all the flexible load capacity expected of an SUV with class-leading interior space. The load space offers a practical and cleanly designed space. A narrow load sill and broad aperture maximises the practicality for a variety of luggage, such as suitcases, golf bags and ski equipment.

The luxuriously handcrafted interior of DBX has been designed to provide equal space and comfort whether sitting in the front or rear of the car.

The seats are trimmed in sumptuous, full grain leather, sourced from long term partner Bridge of Weir. An industry first, both the headlining and electric roof blind are available in a luxurious Alcantara finish, providing a harmonious design, light obscuration and solar attenuation without compromising headroom.

Throughout the cabin, the DBX uses a mix of metal, glass and wood throughout the cabin.

A 10.25” TFT screen sits flush in the centre console, while a huge 12.3” TFT screen informs the driver. Apple CarPlay comes as standard, as does a 360-degree camera system and ambient lighting that offers 64 different colours in two zones.

The first 500 owners of this model will get a ‘1913 Package’. Fitted with a unique fender badge, sill plaques and an inspection plaque detailing its limited build-run, each of these first examples will be endorsed and inspected by Andy Palmer.

Each customer will also receive a build-book signed by Aston Martin’s CEO and chief creative officer Marek Reichman and an invitation to a regionally hosted Waldorf Astoria celebration cocktail party, hosted by a member of the Aston Martin Lagonda executive team.

“The DBX is a car that will give many people their first experience of Aston Martin ownership," said Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer.

"DBX also marks a key moment in the delivery of the third and final phase of our Second Century Plan, not only representing the promised expansion of our portfolio but also signaling the start of production at Aston Martin’s second plant."

"We have both delivered this model through our expertise, but also by garnering invaluable experience and knowledge from external counsel, including our Female Advisory Board. This is a real landmark for this great British brand and I promise that DBX will reward all who experience it in their everyday lives.”

The DBX is available for booking in Malaysia at the price of RM798,000 (price is without duty).

Potential customers can speak with Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur’s sales team in greater detail about the new DBX.

For more information, please visit www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com  or contact Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur at +60 (3) 2163 1196.


Uber to sell autonomous car division to startup Aurora

                SAN FRANCISCO: Uber agreed to sell its autonomous car division to Aurora in a deal that gives the ride-hailing giant a stake in the startup developing self-driving technology, the companies said Monday.

As part of the deal, Uber will invest US$400 million in Aurora to merge the teams from both firms seeking to advance the technology for autonomous ride-hailing and will hold a 26 percent stake in Aurora.

"By adding the people and technology of Uber's Advanced Technologies Group to the incredible group we've already assembled at Aurora, we're shifting the landscape of the automated vehicle space," said Chris Urmson, co-founder and chief executive of Aurora, which has been backed by Amazon and South Korean carmaker Hyundai, among others.

Sale of Uber's autonomous driving unit, which was temporarily stalled several years back after a fatal crash, comes as it streamlines operations to navigate a ride-share market scuttle by the pandemic.

Uber did not appear to be giving up on self-driving cars, which have been part of its vision for a profitable ride-share business, but was instead swapping the unit for a stake in Aurora Innovation.

"With the addition of ATG, Aurora will have an incredibly strong team and technology, a clear path to several markets, and the resources to deliver," Urmson said.

"Simply put, Aurora will be the company best positioned to deliver the self-driving products necessary to make transportation and logistics safer, more accessible, and less expensive."

Along with acquiring ATG, Aurora announced a strategic partnership with Uber to mesh its technology with the leading smartphone-summoned ride service, according to the companies.

The companies expected the self-driving technology to be initially put to use for long-haul trucking.

Robo-taxis

Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi is joining the Aurora board of directors as part of the deal.

The merged firm will work on the technology to be known as Aurora Driver.

"Few technologies hold as much promise to improve people's lives with safe, accessible, and environmentally friendly transportation as self-driving vehicles," Khosrowshahi said.

"I'm looking forward to working with Chris, and to bringing the Aurora Driver to the Uber network in the years ahead."

Uber's autonomous vehicle aspirations took a beating after a US investigation into the death of a pedestrian struck by a self-driving Uber car in 2018 faulted driver inattention along with "inadequate" safety measures implemented by the company.

It also struggled as a result of litigation by former Google car unit Waymo claiming Uber had misappropriated trade secrets on autonomous technology.

Waymo opened its robo-taxi project to the general public in the US city of Phoenix in October, becoming the first widely available driverless ride service.

Aurora, founded by an engineer who formerly worked on the Google autonomous vehicle team, has backing from Amazon and Fiat Chrysler.

Japanese car giant Toyota and investment fund SoftBank Vision Fund have made investments Uber's autonomous driving unit.


Land Rover officially lifts the veil on Velar

                LONDON: The fourth member of the Range Rover luxury SUV family, the Velar, is the closest the company has ever come to building a crossover. But don't for a moment think that it's just a generously proportioned car.

Even Land Rover is billing the all-new Velar (Latin for veil or covering) as the company's best "on-road" vehicle in history. But what the company means by this is that the car will feel like a car when on the motorway or driving around town -- sporty, responsive and with less inertia in the twists and turns. In other words, it should be just like owning a BMW or Porsche-badged SUV.

The vehicle's programme director David Doody said that the goal was to make it "a lot more sporty" than a traditional Range Rover.

But, unlike its German rivals, when the road turns to rocks, the Velar will keep on going because first and foremost, it's still a Land Rover - even if it is one developed to reflect the changing customer dynamic.

At launch it will come with all of the cutting-edge Terrain Response technology found on the full-size Range Rover. All-wheel drive is standard, and on the more powerful models so is air suspension and electronically locking differentials.

The new car also ushers in a new design language for the marque and a host of new features that will soon become the standard across all Range Rover models.

For example, its exterior door handles retract completely into the body at speeds above 8kph to improve the car's drag co-efficient. There's an all-new twin 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system; it packs every current-generation active driver safety aid from blind spot monitoring to emergency autonomous braking; and, for the first time, consumers can specify something called a Premium Textile seat trim.

A sustainable material developed with Kvadrat, it is meant to serve as an equally premium yet entirely sustainable alternative to traditional leather.

"Velar brings increased choice to new and existing customers in a growing SUV market," said Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK's managing director. "It leads the way in terms of design, usable technology, new materials and of course Land Rover's legendary go anywhere, do anything capability."

The Velar will make its first public appearance at the Geneva motor show on Tuesday and will go on sale in mid-2017. The Velar will retail in Britain from £44,830 to £85,450 (from RM246,000 to RM469,000).

Initial engine lineup will start with three diesel options - 2-litre unit with 178 or 237bhp and a more potent 3-litre V6 with 296bhp; and two petrol options - a four-cylinder 2-litre 247bhp unit or a 3-litre, supercharged V6 with 375bhp on tap.


Renault starts reversible charging pilot in world first

                PARIS: Renault is starting the first large-scale pilot schemes in alternating-current, vehicle-to-grid charging in electric vehicles.

A fleet of 15 Zoe vehicles with vehicle-to-grid charging will be introduced in Europe over the course of 2019 to develop its future offerings in reversible charging and lay the groundwork for the future standards.

The pilot schemes will begin in the Netherlands and Portugal.

These pilot schemes started on Thursday in Utrecht (the Netherlands) in an ecosystem developed by We Drive Solar and on Porto Santo Island (in the archipelago of Madeira, Portugal) with Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira, an energy supplier. Following these, more pilot schemes will be introduced in France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark.

Technology using an onboard reversible charger is said to greatly reduce the related cost of charging terminals.

Vehicle-to-grid charging — also called reversible charging — modulates the charging and discharging of electric-vehicle batteries in accordance with users’ needs and the grid’s supply of available electricity.

Charging reaches its maximum level when the electricity supply exceeds demand, notably during peaks in production of renewable energy. But vehicles are also capable of injecting electricity into the grid during peaks in consumption.

Electric vehicles can therefore serve units of temporary energy storage and become key drivers in the development of renewable energy. In this way, the electricity grid optimises the supply of local renewable energy and reduces infrastructure costs.

At the same time, customers enjoy greener, more economical consumption of electricity and are financially rewarded for serving the electricity grid.


Russian vlogger drops a Mercedes-AMG C63 G-Wagon from a copter

PETALING JAYA: The owner of a Mercedes-AMG C63 in Russia who was said to be unhappy with the aftersales service has smashed his vehicle to bits by dropping it 300 metres to the ground.

Like the Incredible Hulk who smashes things when he's angry, Russian vlogger Igor Moroz got a helicopter to lift his ride and then dropped it on snowy ground. (No, the snow didn't minimise the impact either. The vehicle was a total write-off.)

 The G-Wagon wreck after it hit the ground from 300m up.

Moroz claimed in his Instagram post that owning the G-Wagon was a pain as it needed repairs monthly and that the dealership apparently refused to repair faults, which were still under warranty.

There's also a story alleging that the entire thing was a stunt. Moroz is a vlogger known for his pranks so who can tell what's real and what's not.

People, however, do resort to smashing their cars out of extreme frustration. In fact, there was a case that happened right here in Malaysia in 2013.

READ MORE: Disgruntled woman smashes luxury car


In alliance reboot, Nissan to buy up to 15% stake in Renault EV unit

                LONDON: Nissan will buy a stake of up to 15% in Renault's electric vehicle (EV) unit Ampere, the pair said on Monday, in a reboot of a long and sometimes contentious alliance that will also create more common car platforms.

The agreement, which came after months of tense talks, includes the previously announced reduction of Renault's stake in Nissan to put the two on a more equal footing, extending for an initial period of 15 years a partnership that has been in place since 1999 and also includes Mitsubishi Motors.

"Previously the alliance was more about synergies... and global volumes," Nissan chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta told Reuters. "The next 15 years is about how we become the number one value creator for each other and our shareholders."

The lopsided relationship between the two car makers, which was deeply strained by the 2018 arrest of its architect and former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, amid financial scandal, had long been a source of friction among Nissan executives.

While Renault bailed out Nissan two decades ago, it is the smaller automaker by sales.

"I consider that what we have agreed is a much better set-up than what we have had in the last past few years," Renault CEO Luca de Meo told a presentation of the new-look alliance here.

"We have now a new governance scheme that is much more straightforward, we can now operate like a normal company. Seen from Renault, (it) is about regaining some strategic agility without breaking necessarily the ties and the synergies that were existing."

The size of Nissan's investment or even a firm commitment to put money into the EV unit, Renault's flagship business which is due to be listed on the market, has so far been unclear.

"We regard Ampere as an enabler for Nissan to participate in new business opportunities in Europe," Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida told reporters and analysts.

No financial details were disclosed regarding the valuation of the business, with de Meo saying the market would decide. Some sources have indicated it could be worth up to 10 billion euros.

Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato said Ampere will also form part of its European EV strategy and the company would "further study" its share participation.

Renault will reduce its stake in Nissan to 15% from around 43% by transferring a 28% stake into a French trust.

The French carmaker will have flexibility to sell the Nissan shares held in the trust but "it has no obligation to sell the shares within a specific pre-determined period of time," the statement on Monday said.

De Meo said Renault will act in "good faith" and sell off its Nissan shares in "an orderly manner". When it does sell, Nissan will have a right of first offer.

The companies detailed planned joint projects in Europe, India and Latin America, and will work together in the EV business, electronics and solid-state batteries.

The sweeping remake of the 24-year old alliance gets underway after talks were dragged out by concerns over the sharing of intellectual property as Renault sought tie-ups with companies outside the partnership, including China's Geely.

Renault's board approved the deal on Sunday night, according to a source. Nissan's board also approved it early on Monday, the source said.

CLSA analyst Christopher Richter said the revamped alliance could enable Nissan and Renault to work together a little more harmoniously, but he noted that Honda and General Motors have built a partnership that includes jointly developing lower-cost EVs together without any need for a capital relationship.

He added that as Renault's brand is not seen a strong one, it could be tough for it to raise a lot of money for Ampere from the market.

"That's why I think they're going to push Nissan to pay too much."


Harley results exceed expectations as demand for motorcycles soars

                CHICAGO: Harley-Davidson Inc reported on Tuesday a sharp jump in revenue and an unexpected profit for the fourth quarter, boosted by price hikes and a shift toward sales of higher-margin touring and cruiser motorcycles.

In the midst of nearly a two-year sales drop, Harley reset its strategy in 2020 to focus on selling its high-margin Touring, large Cruiser and Trike bikes to older and wealthier customers in markets such as the United States and Europe.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company's earnings beat can be partially attributed to higher pricing and surcharges that have helped buoy its bike sales amid surging raw materials prices and volatile supply chains.

Harley's overall growth outlook assumes that supply chain woes will start to ease heading into the second half of this year.

"We expect revenue to be positively impacted by our global pricing actions as we work to offset the cost headwinds across the supply chain, Harley chief financial officer Gina Goetter told analysts on a conference call.

Price inflation and surcharges have been limited to the United States, but company executives said stronger pricing dynamics will be rolled out to global markets in the new fiscal year.

"While the demand is there, the supply isn’t, so it seems like the consumer will bear the burden of covering it, said Jaime Katz, senior analyst at Morningstar.

Harley reported revenue from motorcycle and related products of US$816 million, compared to analysts' estimates of US$663.8 million and US$531 million in the year-earlier period. Total revenue was US$1.02 billion, up from US$725 million.

Retail sales in the United States, the company's biggest market, rose to 18,855 units from 17,274 units.

Net income jumped to US$21.6 million, or 14 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of US$96.4 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected a loss of 38 cents per share in the most recent quarter, according to Refinitiv.

Harley's shares were up 14.5% to US$41.36 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company continues to cater to its wealthier customer base. Its model mix, including the large Cruiser, Trike bikes, and sold-out units of its Pan America model, has been crucial to maintaining solid US and European sales. The Pan America 1250 special has a starting price tag of US$19,999.

North American retail sales were up 8% in the fourth quarter compared with last year, driven in part by 23% growth in sales of adventure touring models as well as solid sales of Harley's Pan America and Sportster S bikes.

"From the outset, we saw the potential in the adventure touring category – as of today, it is the second-fastest growing category in North America, Harley chief executive officer Jochen Zeitz said on the call.

Harley's full-year revenue for motorcycle and related products was US$4.5 billion, up 39% from US$3.3 billion in 2020. Total revenue for 2021 was US$5.3 billion, up 32% from US$4.1 billion in the previous year.


Uniti One EV can now be ordered online

                STOCKHOLM: Three days after revealing pricing for its all-electric city car, Uniti says it is accepting deposits for the Uniti One from customers in Sweden and Britain.

Additional markets will be opened in the coming weeks across northern Europe. First deliveries are planned for mid-2020.

Tens of thousands of customers have configured the Swedish-designed three-seater EV, and more than a thousand have been added to the waiting list.

The company has now introduced online ordering to its website, allowing customers to configure their Uniti One and place a deposit via www.uniti.earth. Uniti is based in Lund, some 600km south-west of here.

With prices starting from £15,100 (RM82,000), after British subsidy, demand for the Uniti One has scaled up, confirming a substantial, global appetite for Uniti’s climate-neutral, digital-first urban EV.

Commenting on the car’s reception, Uniti CEO, Lewis Horne said, “We’re thrilled at the hugely positive response to our unique electric city car. As those who have been following our story will know, we’ve been quiet over the past few months, busy preparing for this moment, and are really excited to see the Uniti One on sale today.”

Speaking in an exclusive video, Horne sums up the vision behind the Uniti One and introduces special benefits open to Uniti’s first customers as the car goes on sale.

Those placing a fully-refundable 50% deposit before Nov 30 would be enrolled into Uniti’s Founders Club. Recognising their status as the company’s first patrons, Uniti Founders Club members will receive all future software applications, some updates and enhancements free of charge for life, and benefit from access to exclusive events, offers and services. Uniti said some performance enhancements, additional features or functionality may, however, incur a fee.

Designed in Sweden and engineered in Britain, Uniti One is offered with a choice of two battery sizes. It has a range of up to 300km, which can be charged from 20% to 80% in 17 minutes with a 50 kW CCS charger.

Adopting a clean and minimalist approach to styling, the Uniti One’s graceful lines and uncluttered functionality is in keeping with the best of Scandinavian design, creating a distinctive, beautifully-detailed and highly desirable product.

The Uniti One comes well-equipped as standard and can be further enhanced and personalised through a suite of carefully-selected options.


Tesla to resume production at Shanghai plant on April 18, say sources

A truck transporting new Tesla cars at its factory in Shanghai on May 13 last year. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: Tesla is preparing to resume production at its Shanghai plant on Monday following a three-week stoppage, having received the go-ahead from local authorities, two people familiar with the matter said.

The Shanghai factory, located in the Pudong district east of the city's Huangpu River, suspended production on March 28 after the city started rolling out lockdown measures to combat a surge in Covid-19 cases that were later implemented city-wide.

The plan for resuming production has the blessing of local authorities but could still be subject to change depending on how the epidemic situation develops in the city, said the people, who declined to be named as the matter is private.

One of the people said the US carmaker planned to start with one shift and would gradually ramp up.

Tesla and the Shanghai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The latest stoppage was the longest since the factory started production in late 2019 and has led to an output loss of more than 50,000 units, according to calculations based on internal output plans seen by Reuters.

Ongoing production at the plant could be impacted by difficulties in procuring auto parts, however, as logistics in the city and surrounding areas have been severely disrupted by China's Covid-19 curbs.

He Xiaopeng, the chief executive officer of Chinese electric-car maker Xpeng, said on Thursday that automakers in China may have to suspend production in May if suppliers in Shangahi and surrounding areas were not able to resume work.

In a separate development, Musk's offer to buy Twitter sparked concerns among Tesla investors and analysts that the electric carmaker could suffer as the chief executive becomes distracted by his takeover play and the possible sales of Tesla shares to fund the deal.

The billionaire entrepreneur, who also heads rocket company SpaceX, targeted Twitter Inc on Thursday with a US$43 billion takeover offer.

The idea of Musk working to close that deal, possibly by selling even more of his Tesla stake, and then overseeing yet another company has Tesla observers worried.

"Elon is distracted. He's got a lot of things going on. He's involved in a lot of different endeavors," said Gene Munster, managing partner at venture capital firm Loup Ventures, which owns shares in Tesla. "This is a one to three months headwind to Tesla's stock."

Shares of Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, fell more than 9% since he disclosed his more than 9% stake in Twitter last Monday. On Thursday, Tesla's stock fell 3.7%.

While Musk has talked about potential changes he would like to see Twitter make, Tesla faces its own challenges - the need to boost production at new assembly plants in Berlin and Texas, analysts said.


New Subaru XV heading to Geneva show

                TOKYO: Subaru will be introducing the new XV at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show from March 7-19. It showed today a teaser image of the new XV to whet the appetite.

The new XV will feature a more aggressive grille design. Thrust is expected to come from the same 2.0-litre boxer mill used in the Impreza that offers up 154hp and 196Nm mated to either six-speed manual or CVT. The XV is available in petrol, diesel and hybrid forms.

Subaru said in a brief statement that the XV would be fitted with a symmetrical all-wheel drive system, and it also said the crossover would have a personality packed exterior.


Tata Motors has a few names for new JLR chief, says FT

                LONDON: Tata Motors has drawn up a shortlist of possible candidates to be the next chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the Financial Times reported, citing people it didn’t identify.

A decision on who will lead the UK’s biggest automaker is expected before the end of July.

The shortlist includes one internal candidate and a group of external executives, the FT said.

The current CEO, Ralf Speth, has led the company since 2010 and will step down in September.


Here's the Noble M600 supercar

LONDON: Boutique British supercar company Noble is debuting its latest ultra-quick coupé, the M600, at this week's inaugural show.

The car, which has been in development for five years, is powered by a 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8, courtesy of Yamaha, meaning a maximum output of 662bhp to the rear wheels.

And because the car is just 1,198kg, it boasts a power-to-weight ratio of 558bhp per tonne, hence its ability to hit 100kph from standstill in 3.5 seconds and 0-200kph in 8.9 seconds.

As well as a new car, Noble will be demonstrating a new form of ownership via its partnership with Super Veloce Racing (SVR) who will now serve as the company's sole sales and serving outlet in the UK and Europe and a direct link between clients and cars.

SVR will help perspective owners spec their cars to suit their driving characteristics and to ensure vehicles remain in A1 condition.

The London Motor Show opens its doors to the press on May 5.


Freezing Porsche Taycan drivers report failing heaters

                STUTTGART: Owners of Porsche AG’s Taycan electric vehicle may want to keep hat, scarf and gloves within reach this winter when taking their US$86,700-and-up sports car for a ride.

Taycan drivers in chilly climates around the world are complaining about having to brace the cold without heating and defrosting because of a faulty high-voltage heating unit. They’ve had to wait weeks or even months for repairs because Porsche doesn’t have enough parts to replace the device.

On a Taycan owner’s forum, one person from Norway wrote this month that without heating, his vehicle is “absolutely useless” during the country’s frosty winters. Another described using a cloth with de-icer on it to wipe off frozen interior glass during a frigid 1,200km drive.

Porsche said while it’s racing to get more parts to dealers, supply chain and logistics issues are delaying the process. The German carmaker is offering replacement vehicles to customers in the meantime, a spokesman said.

The heater has been installed in Taycan models from 2020 onwards, covering some 96,000 vehicles.

Audi’s e-tron GT electric sedan is also affected, and the carmaker is experiencing similar delays to fixes because of parts shortages, a spokesman for the Volkswagen AG unit said.


Raya exodus: Toll-free days to cost govt RM93mil

                KUCHING: The government has to bear about RM93mil to implement the free ‘Rahmah’ toll initiative for four days from today, said Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

He said the free Rahmah toll initiative, applicable on 13 highways and for all classes of vehicles, was one of Madani's aspirations to reduce the cost of living for the people.

Ahmad said the amount was a preliminary estimate calculated by the National Budget Office to be paid to the concessionaires involved.

"Think of it as ‘duit raya’...to give highway users the opportunity to return to their hometowns or visit family members in conjunction with Aidilfitri," he said after handing over donations to 30 asnaf at the Malaysian Tax Academy here today.

Also present was Sarawak Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) director Vijayen Nagalingham.

In another development, Ahmad said the Sarawak LHDN recorded a total of RM6.6bil in tax collection last year.

"This year we are targeting a tax collection of RM6.8bil,” he added.


Hyundai Veloster Turbo launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Say hello to the new Hyundai Veloster Turbo, the pocket rocket with the most as it packs a 1.6 litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) which outputs a whopping 186PS and 265Nm of torque.

The Veloster Turbo was launched on Friday (Apr 17) at Hyundai’s latest boutique showroom in Bangsar and comes in two variants - Turbo and Turbo Sport - and is priced at RM152,476 and RM156,213 respectively (all prices are on-the-road with insurance).

“The 1.6 litre Veloster Turbo demonstrates Hyundai’s innovation in powertrain technologies, optimising the appeal to youthful customers by combining excellent fuel economy, spirited performance and low emissions without compromise,” said managing director of Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM), Lau Yit Mun.

The Veloster Turbo maintains its 2+1 door layout and now comes with new HID projector headlamps with daytime running lights, radiator grille and LED rear lights.

And the new car is even sportier with a redesigned rear bumper, rear fog lamps, twin exhausts, a diffuser, a longer and wider rear spoiler which is integrated with new 18-inch alloy wheels.

Other creature comforts include push-start ignition, 60:40 folding rear seats, a seven-inch TFT touch pad display, a premium sound system with six-speakers, panoramic sunroof, and reverse parking camera with parking guidance.

Safety-wise it comes with six airbags, vehicle stability management (VSM) with electronic stability control (ESC), motor driven power steering (MDPS) and hill assist control.

For those who want an even sportier look, the Turbo Sport variant comes with two-tone sports seats in orange and black with the word ‘Turbo’ stitched on the side bolsters and sporty decal stickers.

Besides the Veloster Turbo, the regular Veloster with the naturally aspirated 1.6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic is also available with the price tage of RM132,928 (on-the-road with insurance).

The Hyundai Veloster Turbo comes in colours such as Storm Trooper (white), Young Gun (matte black), and Sunflower (yellow) while the regular Veloster has additional colours such as Vitamin C and Green Apple.

It comes with a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) extended warranty.


Visa and Mastercard up payment limit at US petrol stations

                NEW YORK: Visa Inc and Mastercard Inc are planning a raft of changes to rules for petrol stations to allow larger transactions after a surge in fuel prices across the United States made it hard for some drivers to fill up using credit cards.

Many petrol stations have a US$125 (RM526) limit for Visa transactions at the pump because larger transactions trigger higher fees for certain cards, as well as additional liability in the event of fraud.

In recent months, that’s forced some customers – those who drive large sport utility vehicles or SUVs in states with high fuel prices, for example – to pay using two transactions to top off their tanks.

Starting next month, the San Francisco-based company will quadruple the maximum transaction amount that carries better interchange rates for purchases made with small-business and commercial cards, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

Visa will also raise the fraud-liability threshold to US$175 (RM737), according to a person familiar with the matter. Taken together, the moves should mean gas stations can raise limits and fewer consumers will face pump shutoffs.

“In response to increased fuel prices, Visa is making an adjustment,” according to the document.

“This change will ensure the best-available interchange rates are received for larger fuel transactions, which should lead to fewer pumps shutting off while cardholders are refuelling.”

A spokesman for Visa confirmed the authenticity of the document.

Rival Mastercard will increase the amounts it pre-authorises at petrol stations to US$175 (RM737) from US$125 (RM526) for consumer cards and to US$500 (RM2,105) from US$350 (RM1,474) for commercial cards.

“In light of current fuel prices and in an effort to support fuel merchants, Mastercard is planning to increase pre-authorisation levels,” the Purchase, New York-based company said.

“This will be complemented by additional fraud-monitoring efforts to support fuel merchants during this time.”

Gas prices have soared in recent months, with the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel reaching US$4.21 (RM18) this week, according to the American Automobile Association.

That’s up from US$3.61 (RM15) a month ago and just US$2.88 (RM12) a year ago. The move is just one of many that Visa and Mastercard are making in the coming weeks.

More changes

Mastercard, for instance, will lower the fees it charges for any transaction under US$5 (RM21) by about 300 basis points, according to separate people with knowledge of the matter. The firm is also planning to lower the rates it charges hotels, rental-car companies, daycare facilities and casual-dining restaurants.

The company’s so-called digital-enablement fee, which it charges on all online transactions, will increase to 0.2% of a purchase price from 0.1%, and Mastercard will charge a minimum of two cents (8.4 sen) per transaction.

That means that, for a US$50 (RM211) online purchase, the fee will triple from half a cent to two cents (8.4 sen).

The fee will also be capped at 20 cents (84 sen), meaning that for larger online purchases – those over US$1,000 (RM4,210) –Mastercard will be cutting the amount a merchant pays.

As part of that move, Mastercard is bundling more of its services into the digital-enablement fee, such as charges for mitigating fraud, preventing identity theft or verifying addresses.

“Our focus remains ensuring the safety and security of payments while balancing the interests of all parties,” Mastercard said in a statement.

“Electronic payments have proven even more valuable since the start of the pandemic.

“And that’s why we’re seeing merchants encouraging their customers to use electronic forms of payment due to the significant value that they receive in return.”

The company is also planning to increase the rates it charges so-called Merit I merchants, which covers most e-commerce spending.

Merit III retailers – those involved in most in-store spending – along with convenience stores and supermarkets will also see increases in swipe fees starting this month.

Smaller Retailers Visa, for its part, announced earlier this month it will cut the fees it charges those businesses with less than US$250,000 (RM1.05mil) in Visa consumer credit-card volume by 10%.

The change would apply to the vast majority of US businesses, the network said.

At the same time, though, the firm is also planning to increase the fees it charges for most online spending.

The network first planned to introduce the change as part of an update it made to its rate tables in 2020.

At the time, the Visa described the changes as the biggest in a decade. The new charges were delayed due to the pandemic.

Visa said the increase can be avoided if retailers adopt some of its technologies designed to improve the security of a transaction.


Ghosn hires legendary agent Michael Ovitz for TV, film deals

Ovitz (right) with a friend. He is holding his first book, a memoir published in 2018.— Image from facebook.com/MikeOvitz
LOS ANGELES: Hollywood producers eager to dramatise the life of Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman who staged a cinematic escape from Japan in December, are likely to get a simple response: call my agent.

Not just any agent. Ghosn is working with Michael Ovitz, the founder of Creative Artists Agency and former president of Walt Disney Co., to explore film and TV projects.

A spokesman for Ghosn said Ovitz would assist with projects and evaluating proposals he has received, cautioning that any discussions are still preliminary.

A deal with a studio could be a significant financial boon to Ghosn, who forfeited US$14 million in bail money when he fled Japan at the end of December, a caper that one security expert estimated could have cost him another US$15 million.

Ghosn’s story — which involves allegations of a high-level corporate coup and government collusion, followed by a dramatic extraction masterminded by a former Green Beret — has the makings of a compelling film or mini-series at a time when companies from Netflix Inc. to Amazon.com Inc. are hungry for fresh content.

Few people in Hollywood are more familiar with such negotiations than Ovitz, who has been one of the entertainment industry’s most prominent dealmakers since the 1980s. At CAA he pioneered the practice of "packaging” film projects, putting together stars, screenwriters, and directors and shopping them to studios as a team.

Ovitz didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment outside of regular US business hours.

In 1995, Ovitz crossed to the other side, joining Disney as the second-in-command to then-chairman Michael Eisner — a relationship that soon turned sour, leading Ovitz to depart the company after a little more than a year. He received US$140 million in severance payments, prompting a group of investors to unsuccessfully sue Disney’s board, claiming it had wasted money hiring him.

It’s probably safe to say that Ovitz, who over the years worked with A-listers including Steven Spielberg and Meryl Streep, has never had a client with Ghosn’s background.

The Brazilian-French-Lebanese auto executive, who spent much of late 2018 and early 2019 in solitary confinement in Tokyo, was facing four criminal charges in Japan, which together could have put him in prison for more than a decade.

Two related to claims that he understated his compensation in official filings, while two more indictments, for "breach of trust,” alleged that he misused Nissan’s resources for his own benefit.

Ghosn was a household name in Japan even before his arrest, after turning around Nissan almost two decades ago.

He became something of a corporate celebrity in the country, spawning numerous business books even a manga comic about his management style and time at the carmaker.

The auto executive, who made his way to Lebanon via private jet, has denied wrongdoing, arguing the charges were part of a conspiracy by Nissan executives and Japanese government officials to halt his plans to integrate the company more closely with its top shareholder, Renault SA.


Honda next to increase prices from 2016

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today announced that prices for its  vehicles will be increased effective January 2016 due to the depreciation of the ringgit. The company estimates the price increase to be around 2% to 3% depending on model.

Honda Malaysia will continue monitoring the exchange rate situation closely and will decide on the prices in December 2015.

It also said that should the ringgit strengthen at a later time, it would review prices again.

READ ALSO: Who else are hiking prices

The automotive industry is especially vulnerable to fluctuations in currency due to imported parts and components in foreign exchange but the effect is not immediate but creeps in slowly. Honda Malaysia has bought some parts earlier when the ringgit was stronger. However, current and future purchases are exposed to the ringgit instability.

"Since the introduction of Honda models with its current price, the Ringgit has depreciated by 20%-30% against the US dollar," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Yoichiro Ueno.

"The drastic depreciation of the ringgit has caused a significant increase to the cost of imported parts. Despite our efforts to reduce operational costs and expenses to mitigate the impact, we have to take the last measure to shift the impact partially to the price.

“After weighing all possible options, a price increase is an inevitable step for Honda Malaysia in order to continue offering high quality products and services to our customers. If the ringgit currency appreciates to the previous level, we would re-evaluate the pricing structure once again,” said Ueno.

Honda Malaysia began 2015 strongly and is currently leading in the non-national segment as at September. The company said it remains on course to achieve its 2015 sales target of 85,000 units.


Volvo Cars LifePaint improves safety for cyclists

                LONDON: Volvo Car UK is launching its highly successful Volvo Cars LifePaint - a reflective spray aimed at increasing the visibility and safety of cyclists on the road.

The unique reflective spray reacts to a car’s headlights, alerting drivers to the presence of cyclists in the dark.

The safety paint is invisible by daylight, but in the dark reflects light in the same direction as the light source, shining brightly to illuminate the objects it has been sprayed on.

Volvo Cars LifePaint is transparent and can be washed off.

It can be applied to clothes, shoes, helmets, pushchairs and children’s backpacks – even dog leads and collars.

Volvo has secured a further partnership with the makers, Swedish start-up Albedo100 to distribute LifePaint.

The inspiration for the Volvo Cars LifePaint project came from Intellisafe – Volvo’s unique pedestrian and cyclist detection system, enhanced to work in darkness on the all-new Volvo XC90 which was introduced to the UK in June this year.

Intellisafe technology combines radar sensors and cameras to identify other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and automatically brake if the driver fails to take the necessary action.

This works in conjunction with Volvo’s Active Bending Headlights, which adjust left to right according to the steering input to help see round corners better and improve safety at night.

Together, these innovations contribute towards Volvo’s Vision 2020 – the concept that that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo by 2020.

Nick Connor, Managing Director at Volvo Car UK, said: “Every year more than 19,000 cyclists are injured on the UK’s roads. At Volvo, we believe that the best way to survive a crash is not to crash at all, and are committed to making the roads a safer place by reducing the number of accidents.


Porsche to stretch Panamera appeal in LA

                STUTTGART: Porsche today confirmed that a new long wheelbase version of its executive sedan is making its global debut at the LA motor show on Nov 18.

Set to be badged the “Executive” model, the longer car offers occupants 150mm more cabin space and a host of extra luxury toys. For example a panoramic roof is standard, as is adjustable air suspension for a silky ride and multi-way reclining seats for all passengers front and rear. After all, Porsche has designed the model for clients who employ a chauffeur.

In terms of options, owners will be able to specify the new car with an entertainment console that sits between the rear seats and offers 10.1-inch tablets and foldaway work tables.

 The Porsche Rear Seat Entertainment is another useful equipment option for the Panamera Executive versions. The 10.1-inch displays integrated in the backrests of the front seats can be detached for a wide range of uses. The high-quality displays can also be used as tablets outside the vehicle.

Alongside the larger Panamera, Porsche will also introduce an entry-level model with a new 330hp V6 turbocharged engine which is more powerful and yet more efficient than the V6 that called the shots in the first-generation Panamera.

When the new models debut in LA, they will bring the second-generation Panamera range up to 10 different cars based on wheelbase, engine and performance. What's more, there's still a possibility that the LA Auto Show will be the venue where Porsche takes it to 11 and unveils the shooting brake version of the Panamera, too.


Feb 10-16: RON97 petrol up 9 sen

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol has increased by nine sen a litre from Feb 10-16, while the price for RON95 and diesel remains unchanged.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said the retail price of RON97 petrol increased from RM3.12 to RM3.21 per litre, while RON95 and diesel remained at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre respectively.

"To protect consumers from the effects of rising oil prices in the global market, the government has retained the retail price of RON95 petrol at the ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, even though the actual market price of both products has surpassed the ceiling price,” the statement read.


Fun outing in 45 AMG Super Convoy 2015

                KUALA LUMPUR: The recently held 45 AMG Super Convoy 2015 was a fun and cheerful event for 42 Mercedes-Benz car owners from Johor, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

The convoy drove from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, and was open to Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG, CLA 45 AMG and GLA 45 AMG car owners.

At the historic A Famosa Portuguese fortress in Malacca, the convoy organisers also raised RM2,000 in a charity collection for St John Ambulance.

Sponsors and supporters of the convoy included Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Hap Seng Star, MBSA Automotive, AMG Private Lounge (Germany), Tan Ee and Sons Sdn Bhd, and Restaurant Pei Zing.

Ahmad Risdan, who was among the convoy's organisers, said the event aimed for 45 AMG car owners to meet and share their experiences in having "one of the greatest cars ever produced by Mercedes and AMG".

"Everyone was pleased with the event, especially when we have never really met in person. One participant who is based in Dubai, had flown in the previous day just to join the convoy, and also left for Dubai on the same day after the convoy ended," said Ahmad.

Ahmad added that convoy participants had a good time sharing their passion and knowledge about motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, AMG, sports vehicle tuning and after-market products.

Ahmad said the next 45 AMG convoy event might be held when the year-end approaches.


Rear view cameras — giving your car eyes in the back of its head

                BONN: Parking in a tight space can get really stressful. As you manoeuvre and strain your neck to see through the rear window, impatient drivers back up behind you and honk their horns. Wouldn't it all be easier if you had a camera to help?

In many new cars, even small and inexpensive ones, they now come as standard, and others offer them as optional extras. They are positioned near the number plate and automatically turn on when you engage the reverse gear.

In vans and motorhomes - vehicles whose rear end position is often a matter of guesswork - cameras are often mounted at the back of the roof. Cameras as assistance systems can not only help with parking but also manoeuvring with trailers.

The advantages are not only simple and safe handling, especially for large and confusing vehicles, but also increased safety, says Robert Nitsche, an electronics expert from Germany. "With cameras, car drivers can see the parking space exactly," he says, "and they can also see children, animals and any other obstacles."

Quite simply, they make parking much easier, says Michael Zeitler, an automotive electronics specialist, and they're easy to fit on most cars - usually on the handle of the boot or on the number plate bracket.

"If the entertainment system can process video signals and has a monitor, only the camera needs to be retro-fitted," says Zeitler. "In mobile homes with a large cockpit, there's also room for an additional monitor."

Older vehicles will require a double DIN radio with a screen, or a new rear-view mirror with an integrated monitor for the rear-view camera.

Systems that transmit by wireless are cheap - roughly €100 (RM493) - but the experts say cable-based systems are better. "Radio links are susceptible to interference and interference, break-up and frozen images," warns Michael Zeitler. This is because the cameras transmit their signals via a frequency that very commonly used in cities.

Cable-based cameras with a compatible multimedia input and a monitor cost two to three times more.

If the multimedia interface is missing, you'll need to spend more (around €450/RM2,218 to €600/RM2,958 in Europe) for a special video adapter. An interior mirror with monitor and camera will set you back around €650 (RM3,204) in Europe. Labour is not included in those prices.

But it's worth it, according to car tester Bernd Volkens from the German motor magazine Auto Bild.

"In contrast to acoustic parking aids - parking beeps - drivers with reversing cameras can see to the centimetre where they can drive to," he says. "It really makes parking stress-free."

Audio warnings, on the other hand, stop the driver at a safety margin of up to 40cm. This means drivers are often wasting space when manoeuvring.

In his opinion, the simplest retro-fitting option is a camera at the rear, which transmits via Bluetooth to a smartphone or entertainment system. But here, too, you'll need to keep an eye on the susceptibility to radio interference, and there may also be a delay on the video images.

For old vehicles without a double DIN slot, the only solution is a separate, permanently installed additional monitor, says Volkens. "The camera is simply coupled to the reversing light so that it knows when reverse gear is engaged."

If you know what you are doing, you could fit one yourself in about three hours. But you should be aware that the system can cause problems if the reversing camera diverts power from the reverse light.

"Anyone who isn't familiar with vehicle wiring should consult a specialist," Volkens says. This brings the added advantage of warranty, should things go wrong with the equipment.


Biagini Passo: The doomed, modded convertible Golf

                WOLFSBURG: Mod it till you make it ... somewhat. Once upon a time, small Italian company Biagini created the "son of Frankenstein" Biagini Passo, a top down, go-anywhere fun all-wheel-drive version of the Golf Country. One could even called it the spiritual successor of sorts to the Volkswagen T-Roc Convertible.

Inspired by the Meyers Manx, Volkswagen Thing and other models, the Biagini Passo was essentially the chassis of the Mk 2 Golf Country blended with a reworked body shell of a Mk 1 Golf Cabriolet.

The headlights and taillights were borrowed from other manufacturers, a raised ride height and an external bull bar, the Passo looked ... like that.

It could hold five people with its top down; and the 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine which was capable of 98hp.

Initially destined for central and eastern Europe, it’s not clear how many Passos were built after its launch in 1990.

Today, few Passos remain in drivable condition, as a lack of rustproofing doomed it to junk status.


Renault to renew chairman's term of office

Senard (left) and de Meo.
PARIS: French car maker Renault will propose at its general shareholders' meeting next year to renew the term of its chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, it said on Thursday.

"In addition, the board of directors unanimously decided to propose to the shareholders' general meeting the appointment as director of the chief executive officer, Luca de Meo," the group added in a statement.

Among the key priorities for Senard and de Meo are ongoing negotiations with Nissan to retool their long-standing alliance.

Senard said on Wednesday he remained confident about the outcome of the talks, which he described as going "very well". He declined to comment on reports that they would spill into next year.

Nissan Motor doesn't expect to reach an agreement with top shareholder Renault by year-end as some of the Japanese automaker's board members are pushing to move cautiously, people familiar with the matter have said.


6 motoring myths debunked

Most modern cars have so many power accessories that if you try to replace the fanbelt with a pair of tights, they will slip or rip almost straight away. — dpa
BERLIN: Some myths about cars and driving are as stubborn as oil stains on a concrete driveway.

No matter how often experts deny their validity, stories of their success are repeated over and over again. Some date back to the early days of motoring.

"Some of these curious ideas have been handed down from grandfather to father and then on to the sons. That is what keeps them alive," says Ulrich Koester of the German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK).

"Since then, vehicle technology has come a long way and many of the old tales are just not true any more," says Juergen Bente of Germany's DVR road safety council.

New myths are rare "since the car does not occupy the position in people's lives that it did 30 years ago," says Bente.

Tips on combating fatigue at the wheel have been circulating for decades, and most people believe that coffee and energy drinks are good at keeping drivers awake.

"That's nonsense, since caffeine boosts concentration for a brief period only - after intake, drivers will be more alert for two hours at the most," says a spokesman for the ADAC, Germany's largest automobile association.

Here is a look at some popular myths, and whether they hold true.

1. Using tights as a fanbelt

If the rubber fanbelt breaks, legend has it that you can use a pair of tights as a makeshift fanbelt.

That may have worked on a Volkswagen Beetle, but most modern cars have so many power accessories that the belts are longer and stronger. Tights will slip or rip almost straight away.

2. Warming up the engine

Time was when a car engine needed to be warmed up slowly to avoid excess wear before the oil was nice and hot. The warm-up period still depends on the size of the engine, and it is not a good idea to rev up a cold engine. Once the engine has reached normal operating temperature, everything should be in sync.

 Image: Reuters3. Chewing gum as filler

Repairing a split water hose with chewing gum will not work, since the pressure in a car's cooling system is too high. A piece of gum will just fall off.

4. Rear-end shunts

According to a general assumption, anyone who crashes into the back of another car is always in the wrong. That no longer applies, since liability can rest with both the front and rear driver, depending on what happens. A typical example is when a car brakes suddenly for no good reason, leaving the driver behind no time to brake.

5. Coasting downhill

Saving fuel by switching off the engine when a car is travelling downhill is highly dangerous. On most cars, the engine is needed to maintain power steering and servo-assisted brakes. With the engine off, it may be nearly impossible to control the car.

6. Automatic transmission means heavier fuel consumption

Automatic boxes weigh more than the manual equivalent, but this is compensated for today by lower and more gears. Cars with a fuel-clutch gearbox, which feel like automatics to drive, generally use less fuel than the manual equivalent.


Alta bike hints at Harley-Davidson’s electric future

                When Harley-Davidson Inc. announced earlier this year that it would make an electric motorcycle, many people in the independent motorcycle community lauded the move.

“This will only increase the respect that the brand gets,” Alan Stulberg, founder of custom-build shop Revival Motorcycles, said at the time. “At least finally, they can say that Harley does low-tech heritage and it does cutting-edge technology.”

But the brand didn’t say it would make the e-bike from scratch. So it was interesting to note which company Harley announced in March would help usher it into the new millennium, as it were: Alta Motors, the California-based manufacturer founded in 2010.

This made sense. Harley has suffered for years from declining sales as its rider base enters retirement. Alta’s average customer age is younger, and the company undoubtedly faces the needs intrinsic to any startup-help with infrastructure and funding.

Those who have followed closely may have been able to predict such a marriage. Over the past year, Alta has increased the range and power of its four-bike portfolio while decreasing prices.

For instance, the price on the SM supermoto I rode in Los Angeles went down from US$15,500 (RM62,000) to US$13,495 (RM54,000); the forthcoming SMR will add horsepower and torque. (“Supermoto” is the style of motorcycle racing that combines handling hard-packed dirt, jumps, other obstacles, and paved tarmac in a single race.)

Domestic sales at Alta, meanwhile, have risen year over year, increasing 18 times from 2016 to 2017. The company does not yet sell motorcycles outside the United States.

I looked forward to riding the off-road style bikes Harley-Davidson deemed so promising. I tried out the Alta Redshift SM, the most street-focused model, rather than the dirt-, rocks- and sand-focused ones. I call it that because of its sleek, slick tires and shorter battery life.

The good

The Redshift SM looks bare and clean, with a 35.5-inch ride height, smooth Pirelli Rosso II tyres, high-placed handlebars, and the wide space between wheels and fenders on the front and back of the bike. It comes only in white, with broad swaths of red across the front, where the gas tank would be, and a flat, grippy black seat.

On top, you find the plug-in outlet and a single digital gauge monitoring mileage, speed, and motor-system vitals.

It weighs just 128kg, with a motor that comes in at a feathery 6.8kg. That means the bike is lighter than pretty much anything on the market today.

With a 42-horsepower motor, super-spongy shocks, and Brembo brakes that bite, riding one feels like sitting on an eager puppy: Everything is about bounding forward, being playful and feeling energetic. Back and forth on the wide avenues from Beverly Hills to Downtown L.A., the Redshift SM proved easy to maneuver and fun-especially as it handled the infamously slanted far right lane of Beverly Drive, which trips up antsy drivers and bikers coming down the slope.

Top speed here is 128kph; although Alta doesn’t release an official zero-100kph sprint time, count it as relatively equal to what you’d expect in a BMW M3.

The bad

That brings up the main challenge you’ll face on the Alta Redshift SM: its lacklustre battery range. When I speak with Alta’s co-founder Marc Fenigstein in L.A., he says the average rider gets roughly 80km or so to a charge, though it’s closer to 64km per charge if you tend to ride aggressively. It’ll last 20 minutes if you’re racing.

Charging time takes up to four hours on a 240-volt socket, or six hours on a 120-volt.

This means that I hypothetically would not be able to ride the Redshift SM up Highway 2 to Newcomb’s Ranch restaurant and back, or up and down the Pacific Coast Highway if I were to start anywhere other than Malibu.

I suppose you could put the bike on a trailer and take it to someplace pretty to ride. Many do, but that can kill the entire vibe of motorcycle riding, which is often to ride on a whim, anywhere, and feel ultimate freedom.

And the Redshift SM could ride smoother, have better power and range, and feel less creaky in general. (The body built around its monocoque chassis and aluminum bulkhead whines like plastic as you dodge and weave, accelerate and brake.) It would be great if it felt just a hair more tightly put together, on the whole.

No ugly

Alta has produced a good-looking, functional, fun electric motorcycle that well-deserves praise, if not quite the moniker of “the Tesla of motorcycles” that executives tend to repeat like a mantra.

The Redshift SM does at least live up to Alta’s claim that it’s a useful urban commuter for those with relatively short travels. With no throttle, a single-speed transmission (read: no gears), instant acceleration, and a forgiving suspension, you can literally jump on and go with one push of a button. And as an electric motorcycle, it never needs oil changes or maintenance intervals, saving money and time.

I take it as a great sign that the motorcycles are sold at more than 50 US dealerships across 27 states, and is selling out of the same storefronts as Ducati and KTM. And Alta has started to win important motocross races in a way that mainstream racing federations won’t long be able to ignore.

Alta’s electric Redshift SM may not save the world for motorcycles yet, but it’s a good start. — HANNAH ELLIOTT


Are you safe in a car struck by lightning?

                BERLIN: Lightning strikes on cars with people inside have been covered in media reports many times before but it bears repeating for the forgetful and the inattentive.

A direct lightning strike on a car will not harm the occupants, said ADAC, Germany’s largest automobile club. This is because the car functions like a Faraday cage: the metal body diverts the electric charge, which can sometimes carry several hundred million volts, directly into the ground.

This is also generally the case for convertibles; almost every convertible top is equipped with metal rods that redirect electric currents. The windscreen frame, rollover bar and roof mechanics also help out (of course, the convertible top must be closed).

In any car caught in a storm, occupants should close the windows, retract all antennas if possible and avoid touching any metal parts that are in contact with the car's body. The ADAC does not point to any specific or additional risks for electric cars.

If lightning strikes the vehicle directly, it can cause damage to the electronics, paint or tyres. The ADAC advises having tyres inspected at a specialist workshop after a lightning strike.

It's also safe to stay in most motorhomes or caravans when thunder and lightning strike. But beware: models made entirely of plastic, such as those using glass reinforced plastic construction, do not provide protection. However, according to the ADAC, an aluminium outer layer or a plastic covering on a metal frame will also act like a Faraday cage.

When a thunderstorm threatens on a caravan trip, be sure to close the windows, doors and folding roofs, and pull in any power cables mounted outside.

Any contact with water, such as showering and washing dishes, is a no-go. It's also wise to avoid touching metal parts in the interior, or letting your head touch the metal roof. Staying in the cab is also safe, unless it is made of glass reinforced plastic.


Honda Vario 150 motorcycle launched

                PETALING JAYA: The new Honda Vario 150 is a new sporty, stylish and affordable automatic transmission motorcycle from Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd, the distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia, with a price tag of RM7,199.

The Honda Vario is also available in the Repsol Edition priced at RM7,399.

The Vario 150 features a 150cc, four-stroke single-cylinder engine which produces 13.1PS at 8,500rpm and 13.4Nm of torque at 5,000rpm.

The engine features the Enhanced Smart Power (eSP) technology and advanced Idling Stop System (ISP) for outstanding riding performance and fuel efficiency.

The bike is also equipped with a Combi Brake System (CBS) which helps balance the braking system across the front and rear wheels.

Other features include Dual LED headlight and LED tailight, LCD digital meter panel, Honda Smart Key System, 14in sporty wheel with wavy disc brake and 18 litres of space under the seat compartment.

The Vario 150 is available in four colours: Pearl Magellanic Black, Pearl Nightfall Blue, Force Silver Metallic and the Repsol Edition. It comes with a 2-year or 20,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

As the Honda Vario 150 was launched just before the implementation of SST, managing director and chief executive officer of Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd, Keiichi Yasuda said, “There is no impact to the pricing of the Honda Vario 150 with the introduction of SST for bikes with 250cc engines and below.”

Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd has a sales target of 1,000 units a month for the Honda Vario 150.

 Managing director and chief executive officer of Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd, Keiichi Yasuda.


Biggest India carmaker clocks zero sales in April

A salesman speaking on his mobile phone as he stands in between Maruti Suzuki cars inside a showroom in New Delhi in this file pic. — Reuters
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., which produces more than half the cars on India’s roads, recorded no sales in the domestic market last month after output was shuttered.

The nation’s biggest carmaker was forced to shut factories as India imposed the world’s biggest stay-at-home restrictions to control the outbreak of coronavirus.

Lost production is costing the industry 23 billion rupees (RM1.3bil) for each day factories remain closed, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

The lockdown has disrupted supply chains and is piling pressure on an industry already going through its worst-ever sales slowdown. With a mandatory migration to new emission rules, and an economy set for its weakest growth since 2009, the outlook for the industry remains bleak.

Maruti’s chairman R.C. Bhargava expects a car-sales boom after the lockdown is lifted as customers appear more motivated to buy than before the pandemic because they see personal vehicles as safer than public transport, he told Bloomberg in a recent interview.
Although there were no sales in the local market last month, the company exported 632 units after a port in the western state of Gujarat resumed operations, Maruti said in an exchange filing.


Toyota to invest US$1b in Grab in car-hailing expansion

                TOKYO: Toyota will invest US$1 billion in Grab Holdings Inc. in the largest bet by a carmaker in a ride-hailing provider, underscoring the push by the auto industry to move from manufacturing to services.

The investment, part of Singapore-based Grab’s latest funding round, values Southeast Asia’s largest car-hailing service at US$10bil, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A Toyota executive will be appointed to Grab’s board, and another Toyota employee will be seconded to Grab to as an executive officer, the carmaker said Wednesday.

Automakers are expanding in vehicle sharing and ride hailing as major technology companies push onto their turf with mobility services aimed at making it less necessary for individuals to own a car.

General Motors Co., Daimler AG and Honda Motor Co. are among manufacturers that have invested in ride-hailing applications, while also developing self-driving vehicles.

At Toyota, president Akio Toyoda is working to turn the 81-year-old auto giant his grandfather founded into a mobility-services provider.

The company has also backed Uber Technologies Inc. and invested in Japan Taxi, an Uber rival run by the chairman of Tokyo’s biggest taxi operator.

 A JPN taxi based on the Toyota Sienta..

Toyota and Grab representatives declined to comment on Grab’s valuation or the size of Toyota’s stake. The investment is set to take place around the end of this month, Toyota said.

A Toyota Group company already invested an undisclosed amount in Grab last year, and the companies have worked together since August developing connected services.

In March, Grab boosted its grip on Southeast Asia by buying Uber’s business in the region. The six-year-old company faces fierce competition from Indonesian rival Go-Jek, which is expanding ride-hailing and other services in Southeast Asia.

Toyota has sought partnerships with tech companies in a bet that data will be a key part of the company’s future.

The cooperation with Grab will focus on services related to fleet management, such as maintenance. The two companies are exchanging information on autonomous driving, but no decision has been made on collaboration in that area, a Toyota spokeswoman said.

Toyota is still discussing which executive to send to Grab’s board, and is considering dispatching “a number” of Toyota employees to its partner, the spokeswoman said.

At US$10 billion, Grab is still a relatively small player. Uber was valued at US$62 billion in a stock deal announced in May, and Didi Chuxing was valued at US$56 billion after a fundraising round in December.

Grab has powerful backers though, including Uber, Didi and Softbank Group Corp., the Japanese tech giant run by Masayoshi Son that has invested billions in automation and artificial intelligence companies, including GM’s Cruise autonomous-car unit.

Toyota, the world’s most valuable carmaker, has a market capitalization of about US$221 billion and about US$54 billion in cash, equivalents and short-term investments.

Carmakers are working with and competing against technology companies to figure out how to make money from services to drivers as automation, electrification and on-demand transportation threaten to reshape the industry.

GM has invested in ride-hailing provider Lyft Inc., while also developing self-driving cars to compete with other autonomous-vehicle companies, including Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo. Honda also invested in Grab in a partnership aimed at expanding motorcycle-hailing operations in Southeast Asia.


2017 Honda City opens for bookings

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bookings for the new 2017 Honda City are now being accepted at all 88 Honda authorised dealers nationwide from Feb 1 onwards.

The new City comes with new dual tone alloy wheels, and will be launched in the first quarter of 2017.

It is powered by Honda’s signature 1.5L i-VTEC engine mated with Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) for all variants.

The V variant gets LED headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRL) and front LED fog lights.

At the rear, the V variant is equipped with a duck tail spoiler integrated with LED brake light, LED taillights and a multi-angle reverse camera.

The premium V variant also has six airbags.

Trunk space remains the biggest in its class at 536L.

All variants of the New City have push start button and smart entry.

Safety features such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) systems are standard in all variants.

VSA stabilizes the New City by reducing under/over steering when driving in unexpected situations or during tight cornering,

HSA helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the brakes are released on an incline, while ESS makes the rear brake lights and hazard lights flash automatically to warn nearby cars when the vehicle detects sudden braking.


New Land Rover Discovery arrives in record-breaking form

LONDON: Land Rover knows how to build up to a new model reveal. While other companies are content with video teasers or social media campaigns, the British SUV brand can always be counted on to go above and beyond.

So to introduce the all new fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery to the world, the company enlisted the help of adventurer Bear Grylls, Olympic sailing gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, equestrian and royal family member Zara Phillips, plus over 5 million Lego bricks.

The bricks, a record 5,805,846 to be precise, were needed to build a 13-metre-high replica of London's iconic Bridge, in and around which the new Discovery made its entrance.

Breaking a Guinness record for the largest Lego structure ever built seems fitting for a car as important as the new Discovery. At one time it had the market to itself, but 27 years on, there are crossovers and spacious SUVs as far as the eye can see. And while the publicity stunt is sure to grab people's attention momentarily, the car itself should have a more lasting impact.

It offers space for seven adults, and at the swipe of a smartphone app, those seats automatically rearrange themselves so that shopping can be easily stowed instead.

But that's just the tip of the cutting-edge tech iceberg. The car's ride height automatically drops when it senses people are trying to get in or out, it can step in to help parking and turning when towing a trailer, and if you're the adventurous outdoors type, you can even lock your keys in the car to keep them safe. Just use the waterproof activity wristband instead (the Jaguar F-PACE also offers the wearable).

However, it's off the road where the new Discovery should leave all competitors standing. It has a remarkable 900mm wading depth and the all-terrain management systems are so advanced and sensitive that the driver need just take care of the steering and the car will be able to handle everything else.

"New Discovery redefines the large SUV. Land Rover's design and engineering teams have revolutionised the Discovery DNA to create a highly desirable, extremely versatile and hugely capable premium SUV," said Gerry Mc Govern, Land Rover's Chief Design Officer "We truly believe the result is a radical departure in design that will introduce the Discovery family to a new, wider customer base."

The new Discovery is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s range of four and six cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all paired with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. They include:

> The award-winning new 180PS 2.0-litre Ingenium four-cylinder Td4 diesel engine is the most efficient in the range;

> The more powerful twin-turbo Sd4 Ingenium four-cylinder diesel produces 240PS and 500Nm of torque;

> The 258PS six-cylinder Td6 diesel delivers 600Nm of torque for strong performance, pulling power and efficiency.

> For petrol customers, Land Rover’s advanced 340PS supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6, the Si6, provides 450Nm of torque to deliver relaxed performance and capability.

 The First Edition Discovery.

The new Discovery is currently on display at the Paris Motor Show.  Land Rover is offering a limited-run “First Edition” Discovery. Only 2,400 examples will be available globally with exclusive features including unique etched map detailing on the aluminium trim for the doors and facia, unique badges, bold colour choices and a full list of standard equipment.

The optional Dynamic Design Pack gives the Discovery a more purposeful, stealth-like appearance both inside and out, with features including a contrast roof, athletic front and rear bumper designs, luxurious leather upholstery and a sports-inspired steering wheel and pedals setting it apart.


Local media tour VW assembly operations in Pekan

                PEKAN: Volkswagen Group Malaysia recently organised a media tour of its plant. The "Assembly – To –Drive" trip also included a drive of all four locally assembled Volkswagen models - the Passat, Jetta, Polo Sedan and Polo Hatchback.

“The Pekan plant is part of our long term strategy for sustainable growth and expansion in Malaysia. This plant is a key milestone for us, as it enabled us to produce affordable German engineered vehicles for Malaysians. Additionally, we have created highly qualified job opportunities here,” said Volkswagen Malaysia managing director Armin Keller.

The trip was held last week in conjunction with Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s ninth anniversary.

Set up in 2012, the assembly plant is the first Volkswagen plant in Malaysia.

About 589 people are employed at Pekan exclusively in the Volkswagen Operation, having produced about 10,000 units of the Polo Hatchback, Polo Sedan, Jetta and Passat models in 2014. The RM1.6bil plant started vehicle production in 2012.

During the inaugural visit, dubbed “Volkswagen Werkstour”, which translates to “Factory Tour” the media toured the production area of the plant to witness the Laser Welding System.

This state of the art technology joins the car’s roof to the body sides in one continuous go for a high quality finish and better sound proofing.

The plant is also the world’s only automotive assembly line capable of putting together four different models of cars on a single Body Shop line using the exclusive VW Framer equipment.

According to Bruno Torres (Volkswagen Pekan Plant Manager), “Volkswagen is at the forefront of automotive innovation, leading the charter on developing an extensive range of world-class products and models. Here in Malaysia, we set a high benchmarkconsistentwith the Das Auto concept when producing cars locally.”

The Das Auto concept, which means ‘The Car’, encompasses anything and everything about a car.


Jaguar Land Rover expands Ingenium powertrain family

                LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover has expanded their powertrain family by unveiling new technologies for both current and future vehicles.

The new additions will support the company’s long-term commitment to reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuel economy across its range through the introduction of more efficient engines along with alternative powertrains, lighter vehicles and improved vehicle energy conservation.

At the heart of its low-emissions strategy, the new four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine is now in production at Jaguar Land Rover’s £1.0bil (RM5.6bil) Engine Manufacturing Centre.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, these are the most advanced engines the company has ever developed.

They will deliver up to 25% more power than the engines they replace and offer fuel consumption reductions of up to 15%

Looking to the future, Jaguar Land Rover has developed a revolutionary advanced automatic transmission that will both improve the efficiency of future vehicles and expand their all-wheel drive capability.

The £30mil (RM168mil) advanced research project, Transcend, uses an innovative ultra-wide ratio spread (20:1) that integrates low-range gear box, dual-clutch and hybrid technologies to deliver new levels of off-road performance and fuel economy improvements of nearly 10%.

The Ingenium petrol engine features technologies, such as an electrohydraulic valvetrain, integrated exhaust manifold and twin scroll turbocharger with ceramic ball bearing technology.

Using a common architecture based on a 500cc per cylinder displacement delivers both maximum flexibility and scaleability.

This enables a range of derivatives to be developed to suit applications as diverse as sports saloons and luxury SUVs.

Following the launch of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels in 2015, these advanced petrol engines become the latest Ingenium engines to enter production and will be available from 2017.

The Transcend transmission is part of an advanced research project that combines innovative mechanical design and advanced manufacturing techniques to deliver a compact, lightweight eight-speed transmission with an ultra-wide ratio spread of 20, more than double that of a conventional eight-speed automatics.

Weighing around 20kg less than existing eight-speed automatics, Transcend could be used in longitudinal rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles.

With part funding from the UK government, the Transcend programme aims to rebuild the UK’s transmission production - through investment in processes to develop lighter components as well as more energy-efficient manufacturing production - and promote the export of British hybrid vehicle technologies.

Jaguar Land Rover has also made significant investments in new technology and environmental innovation in recent years.

Its vision for reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency is to make improvements in powertrain, continue its leadership in vehicle light-weighting and improve vehicle energy conservation.

Since 2008, Jaguar Land Rover has doubled the number of powertrain engineers and invested in the research of a range of future powertrain solutions.

This team is developing the technology that will help deliver a further 25% improvement in CO2 emissions in the next five years.

The company is committed to introducing electrification and has confirmed its electric future with an entry for Jaguar in the innovative FIA Formula E Championship.

This investment will push the boundaries of electrification technology and provides a real-world, fast-track test bed for future Jaguar Land Rover electrification technology, transferring it from track to road.

By 2020, new technologies will help us reduce our CO₂ emissions by a further 25%,” said Jaguar Land Rover group engineering director Nick Rogers

Ingenium 200PS
Displacement (cc): 1,997

Cylinders: 4 in-line

Firing order: 1,3,4,2

Cylinder head: Aluminium alloy; integrated exhaust manifold

Cylinder block: Aluminium alloy; cast iron liners

Valvetrain: 4 valves/cylinder; DOHC, chain-drive;

variable intake and exhaust cam timing; electrohydraulic fully variable intake valve lift system

Bore/stroke (mm): 83.0/ 92.3

Bore pitch (mm): 93.0

Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Fuel injection: 200bar solenoid direct injection; centrally-mounted

Boosting system: Monoscroll turbocharger

Power PS (kW): 200 (147) @ 5,500rpm

Torque Nm (lb ft): 365 (269) @ 1,200-4,500rpm

Fuel cut-off speed: 6,500rpm

Emissions class: EU6c/ LEV3-SULEV 30

Ingenium 250PS
Displacement (cc): 1,997

Cylinders: 4 in-line

Firing order: 1,3,4,2

Cylinder head: Aluminium alloy; integrated exhaust manifold

Cylinder block: Aluminium alloy; cast iron liners

Valvetrain: 4 valves/ cylinder; DOHC, chain-drive; variable intake and exhaust cam timing; electrohydraulic fully variable intake valve lift system

Bore/stroke (mm): 83.0/ 92.3

Bore pitch (mm): 93.0

Compression ratio: 10.5:1

Fuel injection: 200bar solenoid direct injection; centrally-mounted

Boosting system: Twin scroll turbocharger

Power PS (kW): 250 (184) @ 5,500rpm

Torque Nm (lb ft): 365 (269) @ 1,200-4,500rpm

Fuel cut-off speed: 6,500rpm

Emissions class: EU6c/ LEV3-SULEV 30

Ingenium 300PS
Displacement (cc): 1,997

Cylinders: 4 in-line

Firing order: 1,3,4,2

Cylinder head: Aluminium alloy; integrated exhaust manifold

Cylinder block: Aluminium alloy; cast iron liners

Valvetrain: 4 valves/ cylinder; DOHC, chain-drive; variable intake and exhaust cam timing; electrohydraulic fully variable intake valve lift system

Bore/stroke (mm): 83.0/ 92.3

Bore pitch (mm): 93.0

Compression ratio: 9.5:1

Fuel injection: 200bar solenoid direct injection; centrally-mounted

Boosting system: Twin scroll turbocharger; ceramic ball bearings

Power PS (kW): 300 (221) @ 5,500rpm

Torque Nm (lb ft): 400 (295) @ 1,500-4,500rpm

Fuel cut-off speed: 6,500rpm

Emissions class: EU6c/ LEV3-SULEV 30


Audi to use even numbers for BEVs, says mag

                LONDON: Audi will be revising the naming convention for its car models as it introduces more electric cars, according to a British motoring magazine.

Auto Express reported that Audi would reserve even numbers for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), while odd numbers are assigned to cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs).

That change also applies to the S and RS performance models.

Audi BEVs would retain the "e-tron" suffix as is currently practised.

This would mean the A4 ICE car would be renamed to A5 but its BEV version would be known as A4 e-tron.

At the top end, the RS 4 and RS 6 wagons could possibly be sold as RS 4 e-tron and RS 6 e-tron respectively.

Audi had previously said it would make its last combustion-engined cars (petrol and diesel) by 2033 and that new models coming out from 2026 would all be BEVs.


Automakers redesign cars for millions of aging drivers in Japan

Car companies from Toyota to Nissan are employing smart technology to make cars more user friendly for older people. — Reuters
TOKYO: Automakers in Japan, where almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, are taking the lead on adapting cars so the nation’s legions of elderly drivers can feel more confident — and be safer — behind the wheel.

A run of accidents involving elderly drivers has upped the pressure from regulators to standardise advanced features.

Automatic brakes will be required for all new vehicles sold domestically from this year, for example, and car companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. are employing smart technology to make cars more user friendly for older people.

It’s also becoming more of a priority as public railways in rural areas disappear, worsening an isolation crisis made only more stark by the coronavirus pandemic. Without any means of getting around, elderly people in Japan are increasingly confined to their homes, their lives shrinking as transport options evaporate.

A recent high-profile fatal accident spotlighted the issue. In February last year, Japanese prosecutors indicted 89-year-old Kozo Iizuka on a charge of negligence resulting in death and injury after a crash in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district.

The former senior bureaucrat was on his way to a French restaurant with his wife in April 2019 when his Toyota Prius plowed through a crossing, killing a toddler and her mother and harming several others.

The accident made headlines, not least because of Iizuka’s high-ranking government position.

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Public sentiment swiftly turned against Iizuka, who is back in court this week after pleading not guilty in October. The incident also sparked a national debate about the swelling ranks of elderly drivers on Japan’s roads.

After the event, the number of old people opting to park their wheels for good soared. According to the National Police Agency, 350,428 people 75 or over returned their driver’s licences in 2019, the highest on record.

“Young people tell us seniors to return our driver’s licences, but they aren’t around,” says Hideaki Fukushima, 90, whose wife returned her own licence around the time of the accident.

The couple’s children live in Nagoya, a two-hour drive away. In Takamori where they live, a small town in Japan’s central mountainous area, trains operated by Central Japan Railway Co. only come about once an hour. “There’s nothing you can do without a car,” Fukushima says.

Last year, Toyota upgraded its Safety Sense offering. The technology is designed to prevent or mitigate frontal collisions as well as keep drivers within their lane.

By using high-resolution cameras on the windscreen and bumper-mounted radars, it can detect oncoming cars or pedestrians — or even bicycles in daylight hours — and give audible and visual alerts. If drivers fail to respond, automatic braking may be deployed. The new software also has intersection functionality to help detect oncoming obstacles if a car is making a turn from a stationary position.

Other Toyota Safety Sense features include the correction of unintentional lane departures, automatic toggling between high and low-beam at night depending on surrounding traffic, and the detection of slower-moving cars ahead on a highway and automatic maintenance of a pre-set distance. Road-sign assistance technology detects stop and speed signs as they’re passed and displays a dashboard alert in case drivers have missed them themselves.

“A society in which the elderly can drive safely is crucial for their active social participation and healthier, fuller lives,” Toyota said. “Our ultimate goal is, of course, to have zero casualties from traffic accidents.”

Subaru Corp.’s aspirations are similar; it wants to eliminate all fatal accidents by 2030.

Like several other automakers, it’s using stereo cameras, which have two or more lenses with a separate image sensor for each, providing the ability to capture three-dimensional images. Dubbed EyeSight, the technology looks ahead and alerts drivers to any danger.

Subaru says Eyesight-equipped vehicles are involved in 61% fewer accidents and 85% fewer rear-end crashes. Pedestrian-related injuries are lowered by 35%.

“It would be impossible to eradicate all fatal accidents without utilising artificial intelligence,” says Subaru’s Eiji Shibata, who oversees the development of EyeSight. To reach its ambitious target, Subaru plans to combine its stereo cameras with AI, assigning meaning to each object and trying to accurately infer risk.

That’s not without its challenges, according to Shibata. “It’s a technologically tough area,” he says. Stereo cameras are harder to install in mass produced cars, partly because they convey more information than other sensors and require more complicated back-end support. “Equipping the technology in cars that people ordinarily use is a huge task.”

An upgraded EyeSight X that uses autonomous technology debuted in August in the second generation of the Subaru Levorg. The model, which went on sale in Japan in November, has 360-degree sensing and like Toyota’s upgraded tech, has an intersection assist function that can autonomously steer cars away from an impending collision. Using EyeSight X, vehicles can even change lanes on their own and slow down for toll booths.

Nissan has a similar offering called ProPilot that it expects to have in at least 20 models in 20 markets globally by the end of 2023.

Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife and child in the 2019 accident, admits it’s a good start but adds that dealers, when selling cars, should stress these technologies aren’t failsafe. “Anyone can cause an accident,” he says.

Matsunaga has become a member of Aino Kai, a support group for bereaved families from traffic collisions. Aino Kai also plays a lobbying role, urging government officials to expand public transport networks in regional centers.

“I don’t want to see divisions like the young and the elderly hating each other,” Matsunaga says. “We need to think about the people who are suffering: the elderly in rural areas.”


VW supervisory board seeks to smooth leadership crisis

                FRANKFURT: The leaders of Volkswagen's supervisory board plan to meet soon to try to iron out an effective working relationship between chairman Ferdinand Piech and chief executive Martin Winterkorn amid a leadership crisis at the automaker, a German newspaper reported today.

Several key members of the supervisory board including Piech are to meet ahead of VW's annual shareholder meeting on May 5, Handelsblatt newspaper reported, citing sources close to the supervisory board.

Piech, patriarch of the family that founded Volkswagen and a dominant figure at the automaker for more than two decades, triggered the leadership crisis at the Wolfsburg-based firm by criticising Winterkorn in a magazine article earlier this month.

But Piech's iron grip on the German carmaker has been weakened following a confrontation with senior board members last week that nearly resulted in a push to oust him, said sources.