2019 Geely coupe SUV previewed: Potential future Proton model

                HANGZHOU:: Geely Auto recently previewed its first coupe SUV (sport utility vehicle) in a media release.

It is Geely’s most assertively styled vehicle to date, with sporty looks and a wide, confident stance.

On the new coupe SUV, Geely’s signature expanding universe grill is wide and slim, and the daytime running lights give the coupe SUV a predator cat appearance.

The silhouette of the coupe SUV slopes upwards dramatically into a long tailing roofline that falls down sharply into the rear quarters, echoing the fastback designs of high performance sports cars. Design elements that were first showcased on the Bo Rui GE, such as the Chinese fan inspired rear lights are present on the Geely coupe SUV.

A new generation of day light running lights has been introduced on the new coupe SUV; the ‘digital arrow’ which brings a new digital twist to an ancient weapon.

Design for the coupe SUV was carried out in Geely Design Shanghai, one of Geely’s five global design studios managed by veteran car industry designer Peter Horbury, which have over 600 designers in total.

The Geely coupe SUV, internally codenamed the FY11, is the first Geely product based on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA).

The CMA architecture was jointly developed by Volvo and Geely at the China-Euro Vehicle Technology Center in Gothenburg, where the two brands carry out joint research and development.

Also, after the successful recent launch of the Proton X70, which is essentially based on the popular Geely Boyue SUV, there's no discounting that this new Geely coupe SUV might also be used as a Proton model in the near future.

The Geely Group has a 49.9 per cent stake in Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings Bhd.

READ MORE:
Geely Jia Ji MPV photos released: future Proton Exora replacement?
Geely Bin Rui — a potential Proton C-segment model — debuts


July 6-12: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the period from July 6-12.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement, said that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.37 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

The weekly retail prices of the products were set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Hivemapper starts issuing crypto tokens for vehicle dashcam footage

                SAN FRANCISCO: Drivers around the world from Nov 3 can generate cryptocurrency by installing a dashcam and sharing images with a San Francisco startup that aims to nab some buyers of street-level imagery away from Alphabet Inc’s Google.

Hivemapper Inc, which announced US$18mil (RM85.47mil) in fundraising from investors in April, said it has so far sold over 5,500 dashcams across 66 countries. As drivers record road signs and storefronts, they mint tokens that Hivemapper named Honey.

Hivemapper chief executive Ariel Seidman said US regulations limit him from discussing how and when Honey can be spent.

"I wish I could tell you," he said. "There's real value that's being created, and it will be reflected in the token."

The venture mirrors projects such as wireless data provider Helium that seek to encourage mass participation by leveraging blockchains or other Web3 technologies, as proponents call them.

While some investors such as Hivemapper backer Multicoin Capital are bullish on Web3 efforts, sceptics worry about currency speculation and fraud.

With its network of cameras, Hivemapper also poses privacy concerns. Seidman said the company blurs faces and license plates, encrypts location data, anonymises users and swears off surveillance.

Google licenses imagery from a managed fleet of camera-equipped vehicles. Hivemapper wants to match Google's quality and undercut it on price.

Google did not respond to a request for comment.

By comparison, Mapillary, acquired by Meta Platforms Inc in 2020, encourages people to capture imagery through phones and dashcams, but without compensation.

Mapmaker Here, owned in part by German automakers, is evaluating Hivemapper's imagery for potential use, including for up-to-date speed limit data. European rules since July have required speeding warnings inside cars.

In tests in Manila, Hivemapper covered 95% of roads in six months and updated 75% of the data monthly.

One early customer is Shreveport, Louisiana, which is paying roughly US$7,000 (RM33,239) for full coverage in its limits from dashcams on garbage trucks, said the city's chief technology officer, Keith Hanson. He called it an inexpensive way to aid response to resident complaints.


Modenas unveils new e-membership programme

                SHAH ALAM: Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas) has introduced a new e-membership programme with greater benefits and rewards to meet the needs and lifestyle of its customers.

For all new members, the benefits include:

> Genuine spare parts e-voucher worth up to RM15 that can be redeemed at the Modenas eShop,
> 15% discount on genuine spare parts when purchased at any Modenas Service Centre,
> RM10 e-voucher for successfully registering/referring a friend as a new member, Modenas Membership Club which can be redeemed at Modenas eShop,
> Special e-voucher discount on member's birthday,
> Free 24 -hour break-down towing assistance within 100km round trip radius to the nearest Modenas service centre (up to four times assistance per year).

There is a surcharge of RM60 for new member registration and a RM40 annual fee for membership
renewal.

First 80 members to renew their membership will receive a Baskin Robbins ice cream voucher worth RM34 and for the next 225 renewals will get a Single Jr Scoop voucher worth RM8.

Modenas chief executive officer Roslan Roskan said the company was always finding ways to cater towards the needs and wants of its customers.

“With the new membership programme along with attractive benefits and rewards in place, we are targeting to receive 1,000 new member sign-up in the second quarter of this year.

“Plus, with the increase in sales volume for the Modenas motorcycles in the market as well as a new partner, Kawasaki, it is not impossible for the company to achieve the target”, he said.

Existing members can now renew or apply for their new e-membership card at any of Modenas
Service Centre nationwide or register online at www.modenas.my.

For details, call Modenas Careline Line at 1-800-880-181 or WhatsApp at 019-570 8135.


Ferrari debuts 296 GTS convertible hybrid model

                MILAN: Ferrari unveiled today the new 296 GTS convertible, its fourth plug-in hybrid model, as the luxury sportscar maker pushes ahead with its electrification strategy.

It follows Ferrari's previous three hybrid models that went into full series production — the SF 90 Stradale in 2019, its convertible version, called SF90 Spider, in 2020 and last year's 296 GTB.

The 296 GTS is a convertible version, fitted with a retractable hard top, of the existing 296 GTB, a luxury car which sells for around €300,000 (RM1.4mil).

The two cars share most relevant features, including a 6-cylinder (V6) mid-rear turbo engine coupled with a 122 KW electric motor for a total of 830hp , and 25km of silent electric-only power.

Its top speed exceeds 330kph, Ferrari said.

Deliveries of the new model will start from Europe in early 2023 and the price will be confirmed in due course.

So far, Ferrari road cars have been normally powered by V8 or more powerful V12 engines but the company is increasingly reducing the share of highly polluting V12-fitted cars in its production.

Another new model is planned for release in the coming months, the much awaited Purosangue (Thoroughbred). That will be Ferrari's first ever sport utility vehicle (SUV) and bring the company into a lucrative segment where direct rivals such as Volkswagen's Lamborghini are already present.

"I'm confident (the Purosangue) will exceed our customers' expectations," chief executive Benedetto Vigna said last week.

A tech industry veteran, Vigna took charge of Ferrari last September, with a task to take a brand synonymous with roaring combustion engines, into the new era of silent and cleaner electric mobility.

As part of this Ferrari has already promised its first full-electric model in 2025, while Vigna has already said the company would seek technology partnerships.

More details of Ferrari's electrification strategy are expected on June 16, when Vigna will present his first comprehensive business plan.


Britain signs first major post-Brexit trade deal with Japan

Truss and Motegi sealing the trade pact today. — Reuters
TOKYO: Britain and Japan formally signed a trade agreement today, marking the UK’s first big post-Brexit deal on trade, as it continues to struggle to agree on a deal with its closest trading partners in the European Union.

The deal is set to come into force on Jan 1, 2021.

Britain has said the deal meant 99% of its exports to Japan would be tariff-free, and that it could increase trade by 15.2 billion pounds (RM83bil) in the long run, compared with 2018.

The deal removes Britain’s tariffs on Japanese cars in stages to zero in 2026, which is the same as in the Japan-EU trade agreement.

“How fitting it is to be in the land of the rising sun to welcome in the dawn of a new era of free trade,” British Trade Secretary Liz Truss told reporters after the signing ceremony here.

“This is the first new free trade deal to be agreed since the UK once again became an independent trading nation.”

The signing comes after Truss and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reached a broad agreement in September.

Motegi pointed out that the signing came about in just four and a half months since the start of negotiations and said, “This is a manifestation of the determination of Japan and the United Kingdom to carry on vigorously promoting free trade”.

He also said Japan welcomes Britain’s interest in joining the 11-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trade deal, and intends to provide necessary support.

Japan is already a member of the CPTPP, which also links Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.


Women entrepreneurs making headway in automotive aftermarket business

                PETALING JAYA: For years, men and women have been pigeonholed into certain occupations that are traditionally considered a woman’s or a man’s.

Today, more women are stepping up to break the norms and going into careers while navigating various challenges specific to their gender.

The change is also happening in the automotive aftermarket industry with more female entrepreneurs taking up roles with Bosch Automotive Aftermarket (AA).

Among them are Wong Hoi See, Beh Seng Ping and Michelle Yong, whose passion for cars and drive to build their careers in this field as strong, reputable workshops and retailers for auto parts.

Wong Hoi SeeBosch Authorised WorkshopCitibenz Auto Care, Petaling Jaya Wong.

With 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, Wong has owned her car workshop for the past 12 years and has witnessed the shifts in the industry as more women take on unique roles that were uncommon previously.

Being a Bosch authorised workshop owner, Wong is excelling in her field by serving customers, managing their expectations, and offering them peace of mind through durable, reliable and quality Bosch products, giving them the assurance, they need.

“When I started off in this field, I realised I had to work harder to accelerate my success and adapt to changing conditions more readily. I was inspired to strive harder and made sure to adopt a detail-oriented approach to ensure my success,” adds Wong.

“I decided to be an advocate for myself and independently grow my knowledge base on vehicles.”

Beh Seng PingBosch Authorised RetailerPH Auto Enterprise, Petaling Jaya Beh.

Beh also aspires to be a role model to other women joining the industry.

With over eight years of experience in the industry, Beh manages her family businesses successfully.

“My advice for other women starting out in the automotive field or considering making a transition into the industry is to always have passion and a self-starter mentality – this will position you for success.

“Regardless of gender, we are capable of doing anything we put our minds to. Our strengths like attention to detail, networking and empathy enable us to overcome any challenges that come our way,” she says.

Michelle YongBosch Authorised WorkshopKam Meng Auto Suppliers & Trading Company, Petaling Jaya Yong.

Yong has 15 years of experience in the field, starting out with the intention to help her husband manage his automotive part retail shop.

It has then become her full-time career growing the business together with her husband to what it is today – a car retail cum workshop in the centre of Petaling Jaya.

“As a mother and a person running a business, time management plays an important role in my life. In order to balance my responsibilities at home, I manage my time properly so that I am able to attend to my family’s needs and at the same time take care of the business”, says Yong.

As the automotive sector undergoes changes, society is now changing the way things have always been done.

With diverse backgrounds and experience, it is certainly a plus to achieve a greater height.

This particularly shines through in the automotive industry as they pave the way for themselves and a future generation of female auto mechanics and workshop owners.

Finding success in an industry where women make up a smaller percentage of the workforce is definitely something worth celebrating, especially this International Women’s Day.


Bosch, Mercedes-Benz to roll out fully-automated parking at Stuttgart airport

                BERLIN: Bosch and Mercedes-Benz have received approval for a fully automated self-parking software which enables cars to drive themselves into a pre-booked parking spot at a Stuttgart Airport parking lot and back out again, Bosch said.

The software relies on communication with sensors in the parking location to detect obstacles in its path, and has for now only been approved for use in one parking house in Stuttgart Airport which is fitted with the technology, the company said.

The function will be available for Mercedes-Benz customers owning an S Class or EQS produced from July 2022 onwards.

The two companies received approval in 2019 to begin using the automated valet parking system at the Mercedes-Benz Museum parking garage, and have been cooperating on the development of fully automated driverless parking since 2015.

Car owners can book a parking spot ahead of time via an app, and leave their vehicle in a drop-off area. As soon as they get out, the car will drive itself to its spot, and can be called back out again via the app, according to Bosch's release.

Germany passed a law in July last year allowing Level 4 autonomous driving, with no human involvement, in defined operating areas of public spaces.


SsangYong teases all-new Torres SUV

                SEOUL: SsangYong Motor Company (SMC) has revealed its all-new SUV is to be called Torres.

The Torres is the first model to reflect the brand’s new design philosophy "Powered by Toughness" whilst maintaining SsangYong’s distinctive SUV characteristics. The brand expects to increase its market share by developing a new segment.

The name "Torres" was inspired by the spectacular views of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia.

The park was designated a World Biosphere Reserve status by Unesco in 1978 and is well known for its magnificent mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. The name is designed to embody a sense of adventure, challenge, and escapism.

READ MORE: Will Korea bank rescue SsangYong Motor?

SMC have released teaser images of the SUV exterior last week, showcasing a tough yet contemporary styled SUV.

The front of the Torres features a vertical radiator-style grille giving the sense of a tough and rugged appearance, while the rear tailgate continues this theme with a classic off-road appearance, emphasising the freedom to explore.

“The SUV market continues to expand and subdivide, and with Torres we are filling the gap between semi-medium-sized SUVs such as Korando and large SUVs like Rexton," said an SMC spokesman.

"This move will create an additional segment in the market and will open up new opportunities for us, especially as we further develop the product offering and continue to add value and originality.”

Torres is scheduled to go into mass production with pre-order sales starting in June for the domestic market.

For the European market, an EV version of Torres, project name U100, will be introduced towards the end of 2023.


DS Automobiles reveals contactless interface

                PARIS: DS Automobiles is working with Ultraleap, a human-machine interface technologies company, to bring cutting-edge mid-air haptic and hand tracking technology to future DS models which could spell the end for touchscreens and buttons.

In an industry-first debuted on the DS Aero Sport Lounge concept, the luxury carmaker has developed a revolutionary contact-free user experience interface, with gesture control powered by Ultraleap’s advanced hand tracking and mid-air haptic feedback technologies.

Drivers and passengers can control infotainment and navigation by making simple hand gestures in mid-air. As they do so, haptic feedback is projected onto their hand to confirm that commands have been recognised and understood.

The technology has been conceived in line with DS Automobiles’ vision to reduce visual pollution in the cockpit promoting cabin wellbeing and improving safety.

 DS Aero Sport Lounge concept.

Ultraleap’s world-leading skeletal tracking technology generates a virtual model of the hand’s movements, modelling not just the finger or palm but the bones and joints too, which enables the system to predict the position of a finger even if it’s obscured from view.

Once the gesture command has been registered, the system provides the haptic feedback response to confirm that commands have been recognised and understood.

Using an array of ultrasonic speakers – which operate just like normal speakers but at a high enough frequency so as not to be audible – soundwaves are choreographed to create a single, localized point of high pressure in front of the screen or surface. The slight vibrations resulting from the waves, can be detected by the skin’s receptors, simulating the sensation of ‘touch’.

These waves can be manipulated to create a series of different impulses, enabling the user to perceive different responses, such as a simple click, a dial or a ripple which can be used to sculpt different user experiences.

A range of systems in the car are controlled in this way, from the car’s entertainment systems to the navigation. The response is augmented using artificial intelligence resulting in accurate gesture control with enhanced tactile feedback in mid-air.

Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director: “The reason for our existence is to be the avant-garde. For this concept car, which is a prelude to our next creations, we have opted for solutions that are avant-garde and high technology in which the purely technical element is concealed for the benefit of the beauty.

"In the cockpit, we have chosen to work with unexpected materials, hand crafted with simple, pure lines, expressing a new kind of tranquillity."


First official image of new Renault Koleos, bound for Beijing show

                PARIS:Renault rounds off its high-end range with the new Koleos that now adopts the new family face.

Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn will reveal the vehicle at the Beijing auto show on April 25.

The Koleos, positioned above the Kadjar, is designed and engineered with global appeal to play a part in boosting Renault’s international growth, including China where Renault opened a plant in Wuhan earlier this year.

It attempts to deliver a blend of robust SUV design cues together with the refinement and features associated with large saloon cars.

 The current Koleos on sale in Malaysia.

The 5-seat Koleos boasts a powerful stance that sets it apart from its D-segment SUV rivals and provides a refined, comfortable interior that boasts record room for passengers. The new Koleos also delivers all-terrain ability while promising excellent ride and handling and stability.

Mechanically, it could be similar to the Nissan X-Trail and Renault Talisman

The new model will play a key role in Renault’s product offensive that has seen a record-breaking year with the introduction of 10 new vehicles across the world.


Ferrari races to another record

                MARANELLO: Ferrari has begun its 70th anniversary year by reporting its best ever annual sales results, putting the marque into a commanding lead ahead of all of its supercar rivals.

However, now it needs to stay ahead without diluting its brand desirability.

A high tide raises all ships and the same is true of the supercar world. Every major exotic car maker has set a new sales record in 2016 - Lamborghini has sold 3457 cars for the first time in its 54-year history; McLaren (only in business since 2011) saw a near 100% increase in sales to 3,286 cars.

Yet both figures pale into insignificance against those of Ferrari, who on Thursday revealed it has sold a staggering 8,014 cars.

"We are satisfied with the progress we have made," said company CEO Sergio Marchionne, indicating that the ultimate aim is to progress to 10,000 unit sales per year before 2025. The demand is clearly there with every limited edition Ferrari announced over 2016 selling out before its reveal. However, the company now faces a delicate balancing act as it wants to build its client base but without diluting Ferrari's exclusivity.

That's why the company has decided to mark its 70th anniversary by building 350 celebratory Ferraris. Each one will be based on a current-generation car, but will be unique in terms of fit and finish with details that reflect an iconic Ferrari of the past. What's more, the company will be deciding directly who will and will not be allowed to be considered as a potential owner -- the very definition of exclusivity.

However, over the longer term, Ferrari intends to swell its figures by catering for the growing demand for a supercar that can be driven every day.

McLaren moved into this territory with its Sports Series line - the 570s and 570 GT - at the start of 2016 and these models have been the driving force behind the company's record-breaking sales.

"2016 was a remarkable year," said McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt. "We'd planned it to be a year of considerable growth, thanks to the first full year of Sports Series production, but it's surpassed even our own optimistic expectations, having seen development in all regions."

In this respect, Ferrari has already launched a V8 turbocharged version of its four-seat GTC Lusso4 model but the big move could come as early as 2018 when the company resurrects the Dino.

It will have a twin-turbocharged 500hp+ V6 engine and the hope is that it will quickly expand Ferrari's appeal among younger drivers, without alienating its committed long-term client base.

Or, in Marchionne's own words, to make the marque more appealing to more people: "without disrupting the DNA of the brand."


Germany will block foreign takeovers to avoid economy sell-out

 The financial district of Frankfurt. — Reuters
BERLIN/FRANKFURT: Germany will protect domestic firms from foreign takeovers, two leading politicians said, after company valuations in Europe’s largest economy have been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministers have already promised liquidity support to businesses and introduced measures making it easier to reduce working hours rather than lay off workers.

The cabinet is due to decide on further support measures on Monday, when a government source said it would back a supplementary budget worth around 150 billion euros.

Germany's blue-chip DAX index, which comprises the country's 30 largest listed corporations, has plunged more than a third over the past month as the coronavirus outbreak has brought several economies to a near standstill.

Foreign predators

This has increased the risk of foreign companies snapping up rivals at a discount.

“We will avoid a sell-out of German economic and industrial concerns. There cannot be any taboos. Temporary and limited state support as well as participations and takeovers need to be possible,” Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said.

Automotive companies have been among the worst hit, with Daimler, Continental and Volkswagen shares down 44-48% over the past four weeks.

Markus Soeder, state premier of Bavaria, where heavyweights such as Siemens and BMW (are based, said all legal options should be explored to block potential bids for German companies.

“If most of Bavaria’s and Germany’s economy ends up in foreign hands once this crisis is over ... then it’s not only a health crisis but a profound alteration of the global economic order,” he said.

“We need to brace ourselves for that.”

Emergency fund

German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that Berlin was considering a half-trillion-euro fund to support companies thrown into payments difficulties by the coronavirus crisis, which would be able to guarantee liabilities or even inject capital when needed.

The plan is one of several being considered by officials as the government puts together a rescue package intended to keep the short-term havoc wrought by shutting down the economy from becoming a rout, an official told Reuters.

One option is a 40-50 billion-euro “solidarity” fund for the self-employed and businesses with fewer than 10 employees, which could help them buy materials, pay rents and meet leasing payments.

The details for this program are due to be thrashed out over the weekend.

The roughly 500 billion-euro fund first reported by Der Spiegel is modeled on the 480 billion-euro Special Fund for Market Stabilisation that the government set up to support banks at the time of the financial crisis.

The government is prepared to revive that fund if banks get into difficulties, Der Spiegel said.

The finance ministry is currently considering direct support programs to a value of around 180 billion euros, the magazine said, adding that sum might be increased to 700 billion euros.


Syed Faisal Albar to be new DRB-Hicom CEO, Khamil retiring

                PETALING JAYA: DRB-Hicom Bhd has appointed Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar Syed Ali Rethza Albar group chief executive officer of effective Jan 4, 2016, succeeding Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil who will be retiring next year.

The conglomerate said Syed Faisal, 50 years old, was an accountant by profession and he would bring with him extensive corporate experience in various industries.

 Khamil

He was formerly the CEO of Malakoff Corp Bhd. He joined Malakoff in July last year after a half-year stint as CEO of Gas Malaysia Bhd. Syed Faisal was the former executive director of Konsortium Logistik Bhd (KLB) and group managing director of Pos Malaysia Bhd.

Syed Faisal’s career spans across various executive positions and his personal qualities, wealth of experience and proven leadership track record in growing revenue and profit, conceiving and executing strategic plans are of great asset to the group.

Khamil is due for retirement on Jan 20, 2016, upon reaching the retirement age of 60 years. He will relinquish the position of the group managing director of the company on March 1, 2016 in order to allow time for the handover to the new group CEO.

Upon the retirement of Khamil on March 1, Syed Faisal will assume overall management responsibility and control of the DRB-Hicom group.

Khamil joined DRB-Hicom as the deputy group chairman on July 19, 2005 and assumed full executive function/duty effective Aug 16, 2005. He was appointed the group managing director of DRB-Hicom on March 1, 2006.


Indonesia hopes for environmental nod soon for battery-grade nickel plants

File pic of a worker watching as trucks load up raw nickel near Sorowako, Indonesia's Sulawesi island. — Reuters
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s coordinating minister who oversees mining said on Monday he hoped environmental impact studies for factories to produce battery-grade nickel chemicals would be completed by the end of the year.

The studies, known as AMDAL, need to be completed and approved by the environment ministry before investors can proceed, such as China’s stainless steel giant Tsingshan Group which aims to build a high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) plant.

Asked whether the AMDAL would be issued before the end of 2019, the minister Luhut Pandjaitan said: “We hope so.”

He said investment plans for plants producing chemicals from nickel laterite were worth US$3.2 billion, including the plant planned by Tsingshan and another planned by Indonesia’s Harita Group.

Pandjaitan added that some of the AMDAL studies had been carried out for around a year, but none have been approved so far.

The government was revising a rule on managing waste from HPAL plants, Pandjaitan said, saying that the aim was to have this finalised within a month.

Chinese battery firm GEM Co Ltd, one of Tsingshan’s partners, expects to start trial production at its nickel and cobalt HPAL plant in Morowali in August 2020, the company’s president said earlier this month.

Indonesia wants to become a global hub for producing and exporting electric vehicles (EVs) to Asia and beyond, starting by processing its rich supplies of nickel ore into battery chemicals before it starts building EVs.

The country will stop exporting nickel ore from January 2020, two years earlier than originally planned, in order to handle processing at home.

Pandjaitan said the government would also issue a new rule to allow the import of used lithium battery components to be recycled into a new batteries in Indonesia.

Indonesian law does not allow imports of used lithium batteries, but he said the new rule would allow imports of extracted chemical components from the used batteries.

He said the extracted chemicals could help reduce the use of nickel ores.

“That way we could be more sustainable,” he said, adding that Indonesia wants companies to start investing in lithium battery recycling.


First carbon-fiber bodied 1967 Shelby GT500CR Mustang

                LOS ANGELES: Classic Recreations, the Oklahoma-based builder of officially-licensed Ford and Shelby American continuation cars and restorations has enlisted SpeedKore Performance Group, the Wisconsin-based carbon fiber manufacturer, to produce carbon fiber bodies for its Shelby GT500CR models.

The first of its kind, the program is part of an initiative by Classic Recreations to build the next generation of modern high-performance vehicles with iconic classic American styling, followed by a Shelby-licensed all-carbon-fiber-bodied Cobra in the future.

“When we decided to build the carbon-fiber-bodied GT500CR Mustangs, we wanted to work with someone who shared our vision for the future of custom car building,” said Jason Engel, Founder and President of Classic Recreations.

“Having a supplier that is equally committed to high-quality craftsmanship and producing innovative vehicles is incredibly important to us and we found that matched commitment in SpeedKore.”

Classic Recreations’ standard Shelby GT500CR starts with an original 1967 or 1968 Mustang body that is restored to like-new condition using hundreds of man-hours of labor.

The carbon fiber GT500CR also begins with a restored donor steel tub that is then fitted with all-new carbon fiber body panels. Starting with a 3D digital model produced from SpeedKore’s blue light scan of an entire GT500CR body, a five-axis CNC machine cuts the molds, and then plugs and panels are pulled using aerospace-grade prepreg carbon fiber.

The molded carbon fiber body panels are cured using a massive in-house autoclave.

The result is the world’s first officially-licensed Shelby Mustang that is lighter and stronger than an all-steel body and has perfect carbon fiber weave alignment.

The precisely manufactured, hypercar-quality carbon fiber bodies can be produced efficiently to exacting specifications.

“Since 1998, Mr. Shelby believed that carbon fiber would be the future of American sports car manufacturing. We believe the introduction of a carbon-fiber GT500 Mustang and Cobra is a natural next step in the evolution of these iconic vehicles and builds on the legacy of the same innovation that Carroll Shelby was known for," said Neil Cummings, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International.

“Classic Recreations has consistently been a loyal and innovative partner and licensee for Shelby and we're excited to see what the future holds for this program,” Joe Conway, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International explained.

Under the carbon fiber body is a modern high-performance vehicle.

GT500CR models are available with several engine options, ranging from a 490-horsepower Ford Performance Gen 3 5.0L Coyote crate engine up to a 900-horsepower, hand-built 427-cubic-inch engine with an intercooled ProCharger supercharger.

All Shelby GT500CR models are equipped with a Tremec five-speed manual transmission and a stainless-steel MagnaFlow performance exhaust.

Standard features include a power rack-and-pinion conversion, coilover suspension, oversized sway bars, Wilwood brakes, American Racing forged wheels and Michelin high-performance Z-rated tires.

The optional Pro Touring Track Package includes Detroit Speed Engineering suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, mini tubs and six-piston brake calipers with larger rotors.

Other customization options are available, including six-speed manual or automatic transmissions, a wide range of interior upgrades and a full palette of paint colors.


Man who drove car in bike lane surrenders to police

                KUALA LUMPUR: The driver of a car which had been driven on a motorcycle lane along the Federal Highway has surrendered to the police.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Asst Comm Zulkefly Yahya said the man went to the traffic police station here on Saturday.

The driver of the Toyota Vios drove the vehicle into the motorcycle lane of the Federal Highway. Such cases have happened before in the past.

The driver, who was driving against the flow of traffic, caused a motorcyclist to swerve out of the way and hit a pillar at the side of the road during the 4pm incident on Thursday.

The video footage showed the driver of the car bearing the number plate QMN 5338 continuing to drive against the flow of traffic even after causing the accident.

"The car is registered to a driver who is based in Sarawak," said ACP Zulkefly.


The Dawn of Rolls-Royce Silver Bullet Collection

                GOODWOOD: The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection is an ode to decadence, to frivolity, to heady heydays and irreverent past times.

Traversing the landscape with supreme accuracy, travelling great distances with speed and precision, this open- top roadster iteration of Dawn, is, like a silver bullet.

Drawing inspiration from the fabled roadsters of the 1920’s – rare, glamorous machines forever associated with bright young things and rakish Hollywood rebels, the Dawn Silver Bullet Collection captures the carefree attitude of those far-off days in a bold, contemporary expression designed for today’s non-conformists and pleasure- seekers.

Seductive and effortlessly cool, this Collection is limited to just 50 cars world-wide. The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection is a powerful, artfully tailored addition to the Rolls-Royce Collection Car ensemble.

Silver can be found frequently in the marque’s enigmatic history on special trails cars such as the Silver Dawn, Silver King, Silver Silence and Silver Spectre.

The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection cuts a dash in a newly commissioned ultra-metallic silver Bespoke paint finish.

The hero of the Collection is undoubtedly the Aero Cowling, which shifts the persona of the car’s high-shouldered silhouette, heightening the sense of speed and purpose.

The rakish silver centre spine brings the bodywork into the cabin, giving it the intimate, connected feel of a true two-seater.

A vapour-blasted titanium finisher completes the Aero Cowling windbreak and proudly displays the Silver Bullet name and silhouette.

The Dawn Silver Bullet Collection features dark exterior detailing; dark headlights and a new dark front bumper finisher, providing a dominant and determined expression in heighted contrast to the silver hue.

The part-polished wheels offer a translucent shadow finish with a single silver pinstripe.

Inside, the Dawn Silver Bullet Collection is alluringly tactile, resplendent in materials and craftsmanship of our own time. A unique open-pore carbon fibre fascia greets the driver and companion in a contemporary, dashing fashion.

A quilted transmission tunnel, with design cues taken from the quintessentially rebellious fashion accessory, the leather jacket, runs through the centre of the cabin in a tailored fashion.

Imbued with British eccentricity and class, this model melds the nostalgia of the past with the sophisticated innovation of the future, making the Dawn Silver Bullet Collection the perfect platform from which to experience the very best journeys around the world.


New Subaru BRZ sports style and more power

                NEW YORK: The all-new, rear-wheel drive 2022 Subaru BRZ sports car made its global debut and features more power, better handling, improved styling, a 50-percent increase in torsional stiffness and a modern interior.

The all-new BRZ features a new and more powerful 2.4-litre horizontally opposed, naturally aspirated engine producing 228hp and redlines at 7,000rpm and delivers a 15-percent increase in torque.

The 2022 BRZ will be offered in both Premium and Limited trims and is available with two transmission choices; a standard six-speed manual or an available six-speed automatic with a new Sport mode designed for more aggressive driving.

Despite its sporting intentions, the 2022 Subaru BRZ does not sacrifice everyday comfort and practicality. The 2+2 seating and folding rear seats create a useful cargo area that has space for carrying a mountain bike, golf clubs, or even four race tires and tools for track days.

The BRZ’s bold new styling is as impressive as its handling prowess. The overall impression is modern, agile and powerful, with focused and functional aerodynamic details. The tidy coupe design is just over an inch longer and almost half an inch lower than its predecessor, resulting in a low and wide frontal area set off by large functional air intakes.

The grille is set low and is capped by proud fender arches that allow just enough room for suspension points. A narrowed greenhouse accentuates the bold fender flares and the roofline features a subtle “double bubble” appearance, a nod to vintage racing cars.

At the rear of the car, the large rear fenders and wider track flow into dual exhausts for a low and wide stance. This visual heft is lightened by a narrower greenhouse and rear hatch which flow into a dramatic upturned “ducktail” rear spoiler.

For 2022, the Subaru BRZ features a new interior with every detail focused on the driver. A new customizable 7-inch digital dashboard is the focal point with the tachometer front and center featuring an integrated digital speedometer readout.

To the left of the tachometer is a programmable meter that can change to show amps, water temperature or a g-meter, once again emphasizing the BRZ’s performance capability.

When the BRZ is placed in track mode, the tachometer automatically shifts to a linear graph with a color display that allows for a quick read allowing the driver to focus on the road.

The overall cabin design is contemporary and modular with improved driver amenities. The 8-inch infotainment touch screen takes precedence in the center stack and features the latest SUBARU STARLINK multimedia systems, including standard smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming, rear vision camera and SiriusXM services.

Limited trims feature telematics and vehicles equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission also feature Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.

In keeping with its sports car dynamics, the BRZ seating position is low, but features excellent sight lines due to use of high strength steel in the A, B and C -pillars, keeping them thin but strong.

Deeply contoured bucket seats provide support and are enhanced with red detail stitching. The folding rear seats and spacious rear cargo area round out a comfortable and practical interior.

With a 101.4-inch wheelbase and near perfect weight distribution, the 2022 Subaru BRZ is nimble and easy to control.

The front suspension uses struts and coil springs to keep weight low.

Front lateral bending rigidity has been increased by 60% for the 2022 model to improve turn-in and response.

The front suspension features custom-designed MacPherson-type struts to optimize the low hood line while retaining a long stroke for ideal handling and ride quality.

The double wishbone rear suspension system provides outstanding bump absorption to enhance tire grip over varied surfaces.

For track driving, the standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) traction and stability system offers the driver five different settings. The system has been redesigned to allow more input from the driver before it activates the traction system. The system can be turned completely off to put the driver in full control.

Production of the Subaru BRZ will be at Subaru’s Gunma, Japan assembly plant. The BRZ will go on sale early fall of 2021.


Food adventure across Selangor with VW

                There is just something special about food spots out and away from town.

Maybe it’s the change in scenery or the long drive there that helps clear the mind – and more importantly – empties the stomach.

Either way, a food trail through Selangor’s tucked-away food gems proved to be the perfect excuse to test out a range of Volkswagen vehicles.

The 250km adventure started at a swanky VW dealership attached to the Signature Serviced Suites in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, where assembled media were introduced to their rides, including the Vento Highline, Passat Comfortline Plus, Tiguan Highline, Beetle Sport and the latest iteration of the Golf Sportline.

My first car of the day, the understated Vento sedan breezed through both morning city traffic and bumpy state roads towards Hulu Langat where breakfast at Nan Wah Kopitiam awaited.

The humble coffee shop is a favourite among cyclists, which explains the many riders spotted along the hilly roads there.

Sitting alongside sweaty cyclists and a handful of Chinese uncles, the shop staff recommended their homemade kaya on toast, served with kampung chicken eggs and, unconventionally, a cold barley drink. There was also the typical nasi lemak bungkus, but the rich kaya was a definite winner, the classic santan-egg-sugar-only recipe edging out the green, pandan-laced version.

 Nam Wah Kopitiam has updated a few things since 1976: the kaya is still made in house, but now with a modern mixer that stirs in the key ingredients of sugar, santan and eggs, at the right temperature.

Unlike most modern mall-based coffee shops that claim their kaya is homemade, visitors can see the kaya being prepared in a giant metal vat in the kitchen. A third-generation business, Nan Wah had upgraded from stirring the thick coconut curd by hand for a more consistent result with less back-breaking labour. Everything else is still done by hand, from squeezing the grated coconut for santan to preparing the eggs.

After the light breakfast, it was time to get behind the wheel of the sporty new Golf. The compact weaved briskly through winding roads, its responsive brakes often being tested around blind corners, from where motorcycles and the occasional monitor lizard would suddenly appear.

An all too brief 40km later, we arrived at Elda’s Farmhouse, a vine-covered single-storey abode that looks more like an English cottage than a Malay kampung house.

Our host, chef Noraidah Lembang, who prefers to go by Kak Elda, explained the philosophy of the restaurant ahead of the meal.

Located close to her father’s farmland, Elda’s Farmhouse serves farm-to-table produce, with the menu of the day determined by what’s in season. On this particular afternoon, that meant fried ladies fingers and long beans, banana flowers in turmeric curry (gulai), with chilli beef jerky (daging dendeng), prawn sambal and Kak Elda’s signature steamed barramundi with slowly sweated garlic.

 Kak Elda with one of her fabulous farm-to-table dishes.

She ended the meal with caramelised bananas with ghee, served alongside a refreshing lime sorbet.

Kak Elda later provided a cooking tutorial, showing that her recipes only depended on fresh, local ingredients rather than any special technique or cooking equipment. Banging a metal spatula against a tin wok, Elda joked that cheaper is better. That way there was no worry about how hot a non-stick pan can go or if you’d scratch it with the spatula.

Now quite stuffed, we headed to the next destination – the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) – for something that was sure to wake us up from the impending food coma: a crash course in emergency driving manoeuvres.

There the media took turns to run the Tiguan SUV, Passat luxury sedan and the Vento through a gauntlet of challenges, from weaving through cones to evasive lane change braking. We were also given the chance to compare the handling of the cars against Volkswagen’s competitors, further highlighting their aggressive acceleration tempered by ease of control in dangerous conditions.

 Making popiah may sound easy, but it takes some skill.

In contrast, the workshop to make wet popiah with the ladies behind the third-generation Lee Wah Popiah stall appeared almost too easy. This assumption was quickly dispelled, as assembling the popiah by hand was an equal exercise in control as jamming the brakes just enough during the earlier challenge.

You could almost see through the Lee Wah family’s homemade popiah skin, but it had bite and was firm enough to hold the tofu, sliced cucumber and bean sprout filling, which were glued together with a light sweet sambal and crushed peanuts.

Finally, the Volkswagen convoy headed back to town, giving me the chance to drive the iconic Beetle. Its design was truly unlike conventional boxy cars, the windscreen gently sloping for a wide open view of the road ahead, while its leather seats cradled both driver and passenger in breathable comfort, even on a sunny afternoon.

Before returning to the showroom, we had one last stop: Milky Whey, the pun-tastic brainchild of fromagère Annisa Iwan.

 Milky Whey’s Annisa Iwan demonstrates how to make mozzarella cheese.

The constantly smiling Indonesian national exemplified the day’s theme of artisanal products, producing all her cheese out of her own home. She walked us through the process of making mozzarella, and later treated us to a huge platter of cheeses, fruits and jams. Some of the highlights were the black pepper coated Sarawak and soft goat cheeses that practically oozed when cut.

Utterly convinced by the platter, most of us bought more cheese to take home. Luckily for the borrowed Volkswagens, it was just a quick 10-minute drive back before the stink of cheese could sink into the leather upholstery.

Volkswagen may pride itself on German engineering, but there were some obvious parallels to the meals throughout the day: the passion in making the best version of their product possible, refined over generations. — QISHIN TARIQ


BMW goes to a ‘Funeral'

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia premiered Funeral, the latest BMW Shorties production by the grand prize winner of BMW Shorties 2015 Sky Gan Yu Long.

As with his award-winning film Fish last year, Gan’s latest short film carries on the same storytelling style through dialogue-sparse scenes and emotive subject matters.

Gan said the short film was based on the story of his grandfather in dealing with the grief of losing his wife.

In the Funeral video, the main character is depicted by Yew Tak Chuang while the granddaughter is played by Fam Chi Xun. The side characters of the son, Auntie Lim, and Uncle Lim are played by Kong Why Hong, Tan Lay Hong, and Tan Pead respectively.

Funeral trailer link

“When my team and I won the RM75,000 production grant, we immediately saw it as an opportunity to further explore the potential of dialogue-limited films in communicating humanity through the evocation of elemental traits like emotion and empathy. With Funeral, we hope to achieve just that,” Gan said.

“I’ve always believed that our experiences equip us to be good storytellers. The closer the story is to our heart, the more able we are in re-telling it with impact. And that should be the aim of filmmaking – rendering lasting impact through powerful stories.”

Speaking at the premiere, BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han Sang Yun praised Gan and said he hoped his creations would inspire aspiring film enthusiasts.

This year's judges are Lina Tan, Liew Seng Tat, Nadira Ilana, Lee Chatametikool of Thailand and Yuni Hadi of Singapore.

As before, the BMW Shorties short film competition will be offering aspiring film makers the opportunity to win the grand prize of a RM75,000 production grant alongside promising prospects in the filmmaking industry.

BMW Shorties 2016 competition is open for entries until Nov 8.

 Han (left) with Gan.


Shell debuts EV chargers in Singapore, first in SEA

Present at the launch of the Shell Recharge service today are (from left) Shell Retail Singapore general manager Aarti Nagarajan, Singapore Economic Development Board managing director Chng Kai Fong and Shell Companies in Singapore charman Aw Kah Peng. — Shell
SINGAPORE: Royal Dutch Shell is launching electric vehicle chargers at petrol stations here, its first such foray in South-East Asia, the company said today.

The electric vehicle charging service, "Shell Recharge", will be available at 10 Shell petrol stations in Singapore by October, this year or about 20% of its retail network in the city-state, the company said in a statement.

It added that the chargers typically provide from 0% to 80% charge in about 30 minutes, and are compatible with most electric vehicles in the republic.

A Shell-commissioned study on electric vehicle consumer behaviour showed that 52% of Singaporeans are deterred to buy or use an electric car as they think there are not enough charging stations here, said the company.

“To meet the country’s climate action goals, Singapore needs more and cleaner energy solutions to power lives, businesses and transport sustainably,” said Shell Companies (Singapore) chairman Aw Kah Peng.

Shell plans to make more of such low-carbon energy solutions available here in the following months and years, she added.


Tesla scouts for showroom space in India, hires executive for lobbying, say sources

                NEW DELHI: Tesla Inc is scouting for locations to open showrooms in three Indian cities and has hired an executive to lead its lobbying and business efforts ahead of its planned entry into the country, say sources familiar with the discussions.

The electric-car maker in January registered a local company in India, where it is expected to import and sell the Model 3 sedan by as early as mid-2021, seeking to target rich customers in a niche market.

The world’s most valuable automaker by market capitalisation is looking for commercial properties as large as 20,000-30,000 square feet each to open showrooms and service centres in the capital New Delhi, financial hub Mumbai in the west and tech city Bengaluru in the south, three sources said.

Separately, Tesla has recruited Manuj Khurana, a former executive of India’s investment promotion body Invest India, in the first major hire to lead its policy and business development efforts in the country, two other sources said.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, while Khurana declined to comment.

In October, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter the company would enter India in 2021 “for sure”, though the billionaire had issued similar tweets in the past.

The search for showroom space and Khurana’s appointment signal Tesla is moving faster.

Global property consultant CBRE Group Inc - hired for the showroom searches by Tesla - has been surveying places for several weeks and is focusing on locations which will give the company easier access to affluent customers, sources said.

Some luxury car showrooms in upmarket areas of metro cities are typically between 8,000-10,000 square feet, but most showrooms are far smaller in India where high-end real estate space is usually in short supply and property prices in New Delhi and Mumbai are among the highest in the world.

“If you look at Tesla’s showrooms globally, they are like experience centres. It would look at replicating that with some modifications for the Indian market,” said one of the sources, all of whom declined to be identified as the talks are private.

CBRE said it does not comment “on work we may be doing on behalf of our clients”.

Khurana has previously been on a government panel on the future of transportation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top scientific adviser. In his new role, he is also handling Tesla’s market-entry process in India, two sources said.

But India isn’t likely to be an easy market to crack for Tesla.

The country has negligible charging infrastructure and high taxes on imported cars, as well as low adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

India recorded just 5,000 EV sales out of the total 2.4 million cars sold last year, while in China new energy vehicle sales touched 1.25 million.

However, analysts say India’s rising number of affluent consumers makes it a market the automaker can’t ignore as the government increases its focus on promoting clean cars.

While Tesla plans to import cars at first, India’s road minister said last month that the government is ready to offer incentives to ensure the carmaker’s production cost would be less than in China if it commits to local manufacturing.


BMW Motorrad Malaysia introduces three new adventure motorcycles

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Motorrad Malaysia has extended their portfolio of premium motorcycles in the country with the new BMW F 850 GS Adventure, BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure priced at RM88,500, RM116,500 and RM125,500 respectively.

There is also the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure HP variant priced at RM127,500. Prices are on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Motorrad Malaysia’s All-New 3-Year Warranty and 3-Year Roadside Assistance Programmes.

The new models were introduced at the BMW Motorrad Night Fuel 2019 event at Sepang Airport to the surprise of the motorcycling enthusiasts in attendance.

 (From left): Ooi Choon Beng, Senior Sales Manager of BMW Motorrad Malaysia, and Owen Riley with the new BMW R 1250 GS and the new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure.

The event featured a line-up of live performances by the TC Buskers, Arjuna Band and a special performance by the Malaysian rock legend, Amy from the band, Search.

Designed for concentrated performance and impressive efficiency, the BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure features advanced Boxer engines with BMW ShiftCam Technology that increases engine displacements to deliver better performances.

Based on the dynamic and off-road oriented character of the BMW F 850 GS, the New BMW F 850 GS Adventure stands out with its high-level touring capability, long-term endurance, sporty dynamic riding and superior off-road qualities.

The new BMW F 850 GS Adventure embodies a new, powerful and reengineered two-cylinder in-line engine which generates 95hp at 8,250rpm and a maximum torque of 92Nm at 6,250rpm, all of which enables a top
speed of 197kph.

The capacity of the new BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure have been increased to 1,254cc with an increased output of 136hp at 7,750rpm and a maximum torque of 143Nm at 6,250rpm.

The BMW R 1250 GS Adventure is capable of a top speed of more than 200kph while the BMW R 1250 GS has a top speed of 200kph.

Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, Harald Hoelzl said, “BMW Motorrad has set the benchmark for premium motorcycles that are capable of high-level endurance riding and touring, motorcycles that are synonymous with its adventurous spirit.

"The introduction of the BMW Motorrad F Series and the BMW Motorrad R Series has brought about a wave of new, innovative designs that truly Make Life A Ride for our dedicated motorcycle owners.”

Hoelzl added that BMW Motorrad Malaysia has successfully delivered more than 2,000 motorcycles to new owners in the past two years, with almost 500 deliveries made in just the first half of 2019.

With the Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, ownership of the new BMW F 850 GS Adventure starts from RM1,080 per month, the new BMW R 1250 GS starts from RM1,420 per month and the new BMW R 1250 GS Adventure starts from RM1,530 per month. These are based on estimates of 80% loan on a 4-year tenure.


BMW to end European Delivery programme for North America

                LOS ANGELES: BMW's European Delivery programme for North American buyers will end soon, due to declining interest.

This special programme provides North American buyers for BMW cars to have their vehicles delivered to the BMW Welt near the German premium automaker's Munich headquarters.

Customers also get a 5% discount on the vehicle, and free tours of the Munich plant and BMW Museum, as well as free airport transfers and shipping, port processing, and handling.

The last day for North American BMW buyers to submit registrations forms for the European Delivery programme is May 18, 2020.


Automakers pledge to work with Biden to reduce emissions

                WASHINGTON: A group representing major automakers on Tuesday vowed to work with President-elect Joe Biden on efforts to reduce vehicle emissions even as the industry remains split over whether to let California set its own emission rules.

John Bozzella, who heads the Alliance for Automotive Innovation representing General Motors Co, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp, Ford Motor Co and most major automakers, said the group “looks forward to engaging with the incoming Biden administration ... to advance the shared goals of reducing emissions and realizing the benefits of an electric future.”

Biden has made boosting electric vehicles (EV) a top priority and pledged to spend billions to add 550,000 EV charging stations. He also supports new tax credits for EV purchases and retrofitting factories for EV production.

“The long-term future of the auto industry is electric,” Bozzella said in a statement after automakers held a virtual meeting Tuesday. “We are investing hundreds of billions to develop the products that will drive this electric future, and we are committed to working collaboratively.”

Ford urged automakers to consider backing a framework deal with California on vehicle emissions in a bid to reach industry consensus before Biden takes office, according to a letter first reported by Reuters on Monday, but automakers did not immediately take that step.

Last week, GM abruptly announced it would no longer back the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to bar California from setting its own vehicle emissions rules.

In October 2019, GM joined Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and other automakers in backing President Donald Trump in the California fight.

Environmental Working Group president Ken Cook said Tuesday “by continuing to support this futile fight, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler are signalling their disregard for cleaning our air, curbing the climate crisis and saving motorists millions at the gas pump.”

Ford, Honda Motor Co, Volkswagen and BMW in July 2019 struck a voluntary agreement with California on reducing vehicle emissions that is less stringent than Obama-era rules but higher than the Trump administration’s rollback.


Ford creates unit to develop autonomous vehicles and new technology

                DETROIT: Ford chief executive officer Jim Farley has reshaped the company’s internal operations to accelerate development of autonomous vehicles and foster new technology businesses.

Farley formed Ford Next late last year and put it under the direction of Franck Louis-Victor, a hard-charging specialist in new businesses hired last June from Renault SA.

The unit contains Ford’s stake in autonomous-auto startup Argo AI and will develop startups in mobility services and other businesses.

A joint venture that the automaker struck in January with security specialist ADT Inc. came out of Ford Next.

The operation is another move by Farley to carve up the 118-year-old carmaker into more agile and nimble pieces that can take on startups and tech giants like Alphabet Inc. and its Waymo self-driving unit.

Farley this month announced he was splitting carmaking at the company into two operations: Model e for electric models and Ford Blue for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

He also has created Ford Pro, which focuses on the highly profitable business of commercial vans and trucks.

The automaker’s self-driving unit, Ford autonomous Vehicles LLC, is now part of Ford Next.

AV’s former chief executive, Scott Griffith, is serving as an entrepreneurial expert for Ford Next.

"This reflects a more nuanced rebranding and repositioning of an existing group, not creation of a new one or a significant structural shift,” company spokesman Jennifer Flake said in an interview.

"It’s our approach to the business model. You use it to foster innovation, you use it to actually incubate new business ideas.”

Like the new units created this month, Ford Next will begin posting its financial results in the company’s earnings reports next year, she said.

Farley’s goal is to create a company that looks and acts more like a startup and can attract the tech talent that has been hard to get for legacy automakers.

Just last week, Farley replaced a veteran human-resources executive with someone recruited from Apple Inc., the second time that Ford had poached a high-level person from the technology giant.

Farley lured Doug Field last September from Apple’s car project.

Farley has said that traditional internal combustion engine staff don’t have all the skills necessary to succeed in the next era of transportation, and he is seeking new blood to give Ford a better chance to survive in its second century.

"You can’t ask ICE people to do certain things, it takes too long,” Farley said last month at a conference sponsored by Wolfe Research. "

Ford will ensure we have the right structure and talent in place to compete and win.”

The company had considered a spinoff in which its electric and traditional businesses would have traded separately but ultimately decided to keep them under one stock. Rival General Motors Co. has weighed whether to take its Cruise LLC self-driving business public.

CEO Mary Barra has chosen to keep it in-house for the time being, which contributed to the departure of Cruise CEO Dan Ammann in December.


Cadillac CT6 guns into Mercedes  and BMW territory

NEW YORK: The CT6, launched at a gala event ahead of the New York Auto Show is a new flagship luxury sedan that aims to fight the might of BMW, Mercedes and Audi on their home soil as well as in the US. So it had better be something special.

There is no doubt that Cadillac believes its new car is up to the task "The CT6 is nothing less than an entirely new approach to premium luxury - and an approach only Cadillac can offer," said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac. "It is a bold endeavour with unmatched dynamism that reignites a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles. In short, it is prestige luxury reimagined."

However, Cadillac is backing up its claims with stats. The CT6 is the same size as a BMW 7 Series, yet thanks to the prodigious use of aluminum in its construction, it is actually lighter than a BMW 5 Series or a Mercedes E Class. Furthermore, the body's rigidity is also greater than that of either the 5 Series or the Audi A6 meaning that, in theory at least, it should handle like a driver's car. "This is a car designed for passionate drivers," said Andrew Smith, executive director, Cadillac Global Design.

Greater dynamism is also why the car uses a double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension and a Magnetic Ride Control system and why the more potent engine options will be mated to an all-wheel drive system.

But dynamics are only part of the luxury car equation. Cadillac promises that the CT6 will offer "bank vault" levels of quietness for those inside it, along with best in class leg- and headroom and storage space. Fully aware of what its competitors are up to, the CT6's rear seats recline and offer five massage settings as well as heating and cooling systems.

As for toys, the car is the first to offer a 360-degree recording internal camera for filming front and rear passenger point of view footage.

Rear passengers also get flip-up HD screens integrated into the backs of the front seats and a host of USB and HDMI ports for connecting their own computers, phones or tablets.

As for technological driving aids, the car can park itself and autonomously and there's a thermal imaging camera for spotting potential obstacles while driving at night.

The CT6 will come initially with three engine choices - a 2-litre, 266bhp four-cylinder, a 3.6-litre, 335bhp V6 and a 3-litre twin turbo V6 with 400bhp on tap. Springing for six cylinders will also mean getting four-wheel drive as standard. However, all powerplants channel their energies via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

More engine variants, including a V8 and a hybrid, are expected to arrive further down the line. But, if the car can live up to the hype, it could well prove to be a worthy competitor to a flagship Mercedes or BMW.


Battery startup taps carbon in race to replace lithium-ion cells

                DETROIT: In an auto industry race to develop electric vehicle batteries that charge faster and are cheaper and safer than lithium-ion cells, startup Zap&Go will do all that with its carbon-ion alternative "within a few years", said a company executive.

Oxford, England-based Zap&Go will begin production of its carbon-ion battery in 2018, in partnership with Chinese lithium-ion battery maker Li-Fun Technology Co Ltd. Its first application - an electric scooter that charges in five minutes - is also due to launch next year.

But, like other startups and universities exploring faster charging, more stable alternatives, Zap&Go’s technology doesn’t yet quite match up to the performance of lithium-ion.

“Today, it’s a developing technology, so it’s not as good,” said Zap&Go’s chief executive Stephen Voller on Monday. “But our plan over the next few years is to meet or exceed lithium-ion.”

Policymakers in China and elsewhere are pushing a shift to electric cars over the next two to three decades. Automakers from General Motors Co to Toyota Motor Corp are rushing to develop them, but the time required to charge vehicles remains an issue for consumers.

Electric vehicle makers have cut lithium-ion charging time to 30 minutes for a partial charge, but Voller said his firm’s batteries - made using a nanocarbon - are being designed to fully charge in five minutes. That would allow consumers to refuel as quickly as they fill cars up with gasoline.

Other companies are also chasing lithium-ion alternatives. Last month, Israel’s StoreDot raised US$60 million in a third round of financing led by German automaker Daimler AG’s truck division.

StoreDot says its batteries - using nanomaterials and proprietary organic compounds - can fully charge any electric vehicle in five minutes.

But auto industry executives are wary of breakthrough battery claims.

Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk said on the luxury electric carmaker’s second-quarter earnings call that there are “some interesting things on the horizon, but ... it’s not like it suddenly pops out of nowhere.”

Zap&Go, which licensed its original patents from the University of Oxford, has raised US$13 million in funding, much of it from high-net worth individuals. More funds are being raised via crowdsourcing, said Voller, who hopes to attract institutional investors.

The company is also developing a system of energy storage, which would allow fuelling stations to draw energy from the grid overnight for motorists to charge up during the day without impacting too hard on the power supply.


Tesla walks back prediction that full self-driving cars will be achieved by end-2021

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc told a California regulator that it may not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of this year, a memo by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) showed.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during an earnings conference call in January that he was "highly confident the car will be able to drive itself with reliability in excess of human this year."

Tesla has also rolled out what it describes as a "beta" version of its "full self-driving" (FSD) program to a limited number of employees and customers since October, and Musk has touted the capability on Twitter.

"Elon's tweet does not match engineering reality per CJ. Tesla is at Level 2 currently," the California DMV said in a memo about its March 9 conference call with Tesla representatives, including autopilot engineer CJ Moore. Level 2 technology refers to a semi-automated driving system, which requires supervision by a human driver.

The memo was released by legal transparency group PlainSite, which obtained it under the Freedom of Information Act.

"Tesla indicated that Elon is extrapolating on the rates of improvement when speaking about L5 capabilities. Tesla couldn’t say if the rate of improvement would make it to L5 by end of calendar year," the memo said, referring to level 5 full autonomous technology.

The California DMV, Tesla and Moore were not immediately available for comment.

"Tesla indicated that they are still firmly in L2," California DMV said in the memo. "As Tesla is aware, the public’s misunderstanding about the limits of the technology and its misuse can have tragic consequences."

The California Highway Patrol is investigating why a Tesla vehicle crashed into an overturned truck on a highway near Fontana, California, on Wednesday, killing the Tesla’s driver. The patrol did not say whether the Tesla was operating on Autopilot or not.

Federal highway safety regulators are investigating more than 20 accidents involving Tesla vehicles.


Renault Captur is yours for RM117,200

PETALING JAYA: Renault distributor TC Euro Cars has confirmed the Captur price at RM117,200.

It has stated in a preview last July that indicative pricing of the compact urban crossover was from RM118,000 to RM123,000.

TC Euro Cars CEO Kuan Kim Luen said the "promotional price" would spur demand for the vehicle.

Since its debut, Renault said the Captur has become one of its popular models, with over 500,000 units sold globally. The urban crossover, targeted at the active and young-at-heart, has also been touted as the best-selling model in Europe’s small SUV segment since 2013.

The Captur is powered by the new turbocharged TCe 120 engine that is mated to a 6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission, which delivers performance equivalent to a traditional 1.8L engine but also enables strong acceleration from low engine speed. It also offers best-in-class fuel efficiency of up to 5.4l/100km.

The cabin promises refinements that include attractive two-toned seat covers with stylish stitching that are also removable for easy washing, reversible boot floors with carpeting on one side and plastic on the other as well as the sliding and foldable bench seat, which splits 1/3-2/3 for increased boot space.

Renault said the Captur is the only crossover in Malaysia to offer four two-toned exterior colouring for that funky and unique look.

READ ALSO:CarSifu drives the Renault Captur

It comes with a five-year unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty.

From March 9-13, TC Euro Cars is holding a roadshow at the lower ground floor, Oval, 1 Utama Shopping Centre here to showcase the Captur, Clio GT, Twizy and Zoe electric cars. Visitors to the roadshow will also get the chance to test-drive the Captur and receive merchandise.


Bentley driver barrels into KL food court

                PETALING JAYA: A slight slip led to a luxury car crashing into a food court at Menara Millenium in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

The 10.10am Friday incident occurred when the owner of a Bentley accidentally stepped on the accelerator while attempting to retrieve a parking access card, which had fallen on the floor of the vehicle.

The owner subsequently dismissed rumours that the accident was caused by Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s son who was said to be driving the car. The owner said he was alone in the car at the time of the incident.

According to City Traffic Investigation and Legal Affairs staff officer Deputy Supt Shafie Daud, no injuries were reported, as there were only a few people inside at the time.

He said that the case is being investigated for carelessness under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.


Trevo offers up to RM100 savings during CMCO travel

                KUALA LUMPUR: Trevo, Malaysia's people-to-people car-sharing platform, announced the launch of its Gerak Safely campaign with up to RM100 in savings.

The campaign, from now until May 10, offers users of the app (available for free on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store) with two booking options.

The first option provides a saving of RM50 for a two-day booking, while a three-day booking will provide a saving of RM100.

In the app, customers need to click on the Apply Now tab and fill in the Google Form to seek approval.

If approved, customers will receive a promotion code via email to use in the app in order to receive the discount.

Additionally, customers (Guest) can opt for the Host's vehicle to be delivered straight to the doorstep.

Prior to delivery, the company says that the vehicle will have been disinfected via a wipe-down which includes the steering wheel, door handles and gear knob for added safety.

The company added that its campaign is in line with police instructions that interstate travel is allowed from now until May 10 during the recently implemented conditional movement control order (CMCO).

Also, under the CMCO that's tentatively due to end on May 12, Malaysians must first have received approval to travel interstate via the Gerak Malaysia app or at a police station.


Mitsubishi's ‘shameful’ cheating risks pushing carmaker to brink

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corp's disclosure that it manipulated fuel economy tests risks putting the Japanese carmaker back in a familiar position: needing help from Mitsubishi group companies to stay in business.

President Tetsuro Aikawa bowed in apology today before briefing reporters on the extent of the cheating. About 625,000 minicars produced over the past three years, three-quarters of which it supplied to Nissan Motor Co., were marketed as being as much as 10 percent more fuel efficient than they were by understating how much air and tyre resistance they encounter out on the road.

A bigger issue may lie in store: Mitsubishi Motors has been testing passenger cars using a method not compliant with Japanese standards since 2002, according to Aikawa. While the company said it's unclear whether the flawed method enhanced or reduced fuel economy, further revelations that ratings have been exaggerated may overwhelm the carmaker, which has the lowest level of cash among its Japanese peers. The company required two rounds of bailouts more than a decade ago from Mitsubishi group companies to survive a scandal involving a cover-up of deadly defects.

“Since the cover-up of recalls in the 2000s, we have tried to reinforce compliance within the company, but a compliance sense still hasn’t penetrated to every employee,” Aikawa said. “I deeply understand how difficult it is to strengthen compliance, and I think this is a very shameful issue.”

 The eK Wagon (left) and eK Space.

Mitsubishi Motors’ shares fell 15 percent for the biggest decline in more than a decade in Tokyo trading on Wednesday, cutting its market value to 721 billion yen (US$6.6 billion).

The deliberate use of biased data led to fuel efficiency being overstated for the Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Space, which are also sold by Nissan as the Dayz and Dayz Roox. The mishandling of the test data was intentional, Aikawa said.

The violation could result in Mitsubishi Motors having to pay back government tax rebates its minicars shouldn’t have been eligible for, said Ryugo Nakao, an executive vice president. The company is checking whether its improper conduct affects overseas models and said it's unable to estimate the impact on its business at this point.

Mitsubishi Motors has been seeking to restore confidence in its vehicles after a series of scandals more than 10 years ago led the carmaker to seek multiple bailouts from Mitsubishi group companies. Mitsubishi Motors had covered up defects involving flawed axles that could lead wheels to detach.

“It's not the first time for Mitsubishi to have this kind of issues and this definitely won’t help them rebuild their reputation,” said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center. “Investors are shocked. Those who didn’t take action today may rush to sell tomorrow.”

Mitsubishi Motors reported having 484.7 billion yen in cash and equivalents as of the end of December, the least among Japan's major automakers and about one-tenth the cash pile on Toyota Motor Corp.'s balance sheet.

The company's meager financial resources leave it stretched thin for research and development. Mitsubishi Motors forecast spending 82 billion yen for the fiscal year ended in March. By contrast, Toyota would have had to spend about 88 billion yen on average per month to meet its annual projection.

It's unclear whether Mitsubishi Motors's data manipulation will compromise its minicar alliance with Nissan, which discovered the discrepancy. Nissan voluntarily suspended sales of the Dayz and Dayz Roox models Wednesday until Mitsubishi Motors provided further clarification, said Jonathan Adashek, a Nissan spokesman.

The episode deals another blow to an industry already dealing with reputation damage. Volkswagen AG admitted last year to rigging diesel models with software to meet US emissions standards. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp agreed to pay fines and forfeit emissions credits in late 2014 to settle US claims they overstated mileage ratings. Ford Motor Co. also lowered ratings for hybrid models in 2014 and 2013.

The scandal also draws parallels to another crisis engulfing a Japanese auto company at the centre of the industry's largest safety recall: troubled parts supplier Takata Corp.The company has admitted to manipulating air-bag inflator test data, prompting a rebuke from its biggest customer Honda Motor Co.

Takata is now seeking sponsors that would replenish its capital and allow it to emerge as a new company, a person familiar with the matter said this month.


S. Korea to file complaint against BMW for 'delayed' response to engine fires

                SEOUL: South Korea’s transport ministry said it would file a complaint against BMW with prosecutors for allegedly delaying recalls and concealing defects that led to several engine fires in the country this year.

The ministry also fined BMW 11.2 billion won (RM42mil) over “delayed recalls”.

A faulty exhaust treatment system in BMW diesel cars caused 52 vehicle fires in South Korea as of end-November, prompting the company to recall 172,080 models and issue an apology.

The government said an investigation showed that a faulty design in BMW’s Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) unit sparked the fires, adding it will decide whether to order more recalls.

BMW denied design defects and said it recalled models in a timely manner. “We embarked on recall measures without hesitation at the time when the root cause of fires was confirmed,” BMW’s Korean unit said in statement on Monday.

BMW said it first acknowledged in July this year the faulty EGR system causing fires, but the government said BMW was aware of the problem since 2015 when it created a task force to address the issue.

BMW announced the recall of 106,317 vehicles in July, but the automaker did not recall an additional 65,763 vehicles that use the same engines until October, the government said.

The rate of BMW vehicles catching fires was 0.14 percent in South Korea, similar to 0.19 percent in Germany and 0.17 percent in Britain, and lower than those in the United States and China, South Korea said.

BMW’s South Korean sales fell nearly 10 percent to 47,569 vehicles from January to November from a year earlier. This compared with the imported car market’s 13 percent growth and Hyundai Motor’s 3 percent sales gain.

BMW is the second-biggest imported car maker after Mercedes Benz in South Korea.

German automakers have in recent years achieved breakneck sales growth in South Korea, long dominated by Hyundai, fuelled by their strength in fuel-efficient diesel vehicles and the country’s free trade deal with the European Union and the United States.


China's Hozon to produce Neta EV series in Thailand for Southeast Asian market

                BANGKOK: China's Hozon New Energy Automobile will make electric vehicles in Thailand for the Southeast Asian market, a Thai official said today, as it follows others in building facilities in the region's major auto production hub.

Hozon signed an agreement with Thailand's Bangchan General Assembly this week to start production of its Neta V model, expected in 2024, Thai government spokesman Tipanan Sirichana said in a statement.

The EV maker launched its Neta V model in the Thai market last year and planned to start offering its Neta U and Neta S models in the near future, Tipanan said.

READ MORE: Neta V electric SUV launches in Malaysia, the cheapest by far at RM99,800

Other Chinese EV makers like BYD have also invested in Thai plants as demand heats up among domestic consumers choosing from brands like Great Wall Motors and Tesla.

Last month, a Thai official said China's Changan Auto would invest US$285 million in a facility in Thailand.

Thailand is Asia's fourth-largest autos assembly and export hub for carmakers like Toyota and Honda.

The country aims to become a key player in the global EV supply chain outside of China by offering tax cuts and subsidies to drive EV adoption and production.

It has set a target that 30% of domestic auto production be EVs by 2030.


Zagato creates new Lamborghini L595 roadster

                MILAN: The near-legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato has just released an image of a convertible version of its 5-95 Lamborghini Gallardo, which is perfect for those who find a regular Lamborghini Gallardo not exciting enough. Although the company hasn't said anything about the exact specifications of its new creation, it has published an image on its website accompanied by the name L595.

The original coupe version was produced in 2014 for the car collector Albert Spiess, but this new model does away with the signature double-bubble roof and replaces it with a folding one instead.

It's a bold move to take a car as breathtakingly gorgeous as the Gallardo and mess around with the way it looks, but that's just what Zagato did before and is now doing again. The original hard-top version had a carbon-fibre body designed by Stéphane Schwarz, who counts among his less exotic, but far bigger-selling accomplishments, the original Nissan Qashqai.

 The 5-95 Lamborghini Gallardo.

But if exclusivity is what you're in the market for then this is exactly what you should be looking at. Just a single unit of the 5-95 was ever produced, so there's no reason to imagine it will be any different this time around with the drop-top L595.

However, if that's just too exclusive for your taste and pockets, Zagato has confirmed its higher-volume Vision Gran Turismo car, the Quattroruote IsoRivolta, is going into "mass" production. Its production may only be five units, but compared to the 5-95 and L595 that's positively mass-production for Zagato.

The IsoRivolta Vision Gran Turismo Zagato was unveiled at the recent 2018 Geneva Motor Show, and the launch was hosted by the Italian magazine Quattroruote. The car is a tribute by the Atelier to IsoRivolta, the Milanese automaker, who in the 1960s and 1970s built sleek-bodied GT cars powered by brawny American engines.

The Vision Gran Turismo is powered by a 2018 GM/Corvette V-8 engine, the carbon fibre chassis is by Dome, and it sits on a set of Pirelli P Zero Color Edition tyres. And yes, it does look like something from a video game.


Malaysia’s leading golfers compete at premium venues on 2023 Toyota Tour

Umar Khushairi topped the Toyota Tour Q-school with a total of eight-under-par.
TOYOTA and its relentless drive for perfection is reflected in the game of golf.

That’s one of the main reasons behind the carmaker’s partnership with Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) to establish the Toyota Tour.

“As a mobility company, we support initiatives that encourage us to push our limits. The Toyota Tour is a welcome addition as we see a lot of synergy between golf and Toyota,” says UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran K.

“At Toyota, we are driven by passion and continuous improvement. For instance, fine-tuning small details to get the best performance. This drive for perfection is also present in golf and is something we want to support.”

The Toyota Tour came about through a tri-party agreement between PGM, UMW Toyota Motor and MST Golf.

The 2023 edition of the Toyota Tour will boast a total prize money of more than RM2.2mil over the 10 main events staged at some of our country’s top golf courses.

The field for each closed tournament will consist of PGM Tour card holders, along with dedicated slots for the country’s leading amateurs, as well as sponsor invitations.

Each tournament – except for the season ender – will see ladies’ championships staged concurrently with the men’s events.

 2022 PGM Tour Order of Merit winner Shahriffuddin Ariffin will feature in the 2023 Toyota Tour.

Among the players to look out for at the 2023 Toyota Tour are 2022 PGM Tour Order of Merit winner Shahriffuddin Ariffin, who finished an impressive fourth at the 2022 Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit tournament.

The 23-year-old from Melaka has won five times on the PGM Tour and claimed his second ADT title at the Selangor Masters last October.

Another player to keep an eye on would be Universiti Utara Malaysia student Umar Khusairi, who finished above the 24 qualifiers at the recent Toyota Tour Qualifying School Leg 1.

The rising amateur topped the qualifying event with an impressive eight-under-par total and will be keen to do well as he makes the transition to professional golf this year.

 Ervin Chang earned the Asian Tour’s inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award for 2022.

Ervin Chang is a young talent expected to make waves in 2023, as the 24-year-old has enjoyed a superb start to his professional career with a string of impressive performances, earning him the Asian Tour’s inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award for 2022.

Chang also won two gold medals at the 2022 SEA Games in Vietnam before joining the professional ranks.

Among the ladies, Aretha Pan was the best performer on the 2022 PGM Tour and will be looking to extend her recent fine form, which saw her win twice last year.

 Aretha Pan was the best performer on the 2022 PGM Tour.

The 29-year-old Sabahan will face strong challenges from fellow experienced professionals such as Dianne Luke, Ainil Bakar and Michelle Koh, as well as Jocelyn Chee who was the best lady finisher in Leg 1 of the tournament’s Qualifying School.

The season began with the Tun Ahmad Sarji Trophy at Saujana Golf & Country Club (March 8-11), which was followed by a break for the month of Ramadan.

The tour will resume in May with two stops beyond the peninsula – the Mirai Cup at Sarawak Golf Club in Kuching and the Hilux Cup at Sabah Golf & Country Club in Kota Kinabalu.

This will be followed by six more closed tournaments in Peninsular Malaysia, each named after a Toyota vehicle model.

Other circuit venues include the Royal Perak Golf Club, Palm Garden Golf Club in Putrajaya, Forest City Golf Resort in Johor and Kota Seriemas Golf & Country Club in Negeri Sembilan.

The circuit will culminate with the RM350,000 Toyota Championship at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on Nov 14 to 17, which will be a co-sanctioned event with ADT.


Opel stops planned China expansion amid geopolitical tensions, says paper

                BERLIN: German carmaker Opel has stopped a planned expansion into China amid geopolitical tensions between Beijing on one side and the United States and European Union on the other, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Friday, citing sources.

A company spokesman confirmed the decision to Handelsblatt, citing current challenges in the auto sector.

In addition to geopolitical tensions, China's strict zero-Covid policies are making entry into the already competitive market even more difficult, Handelsblatt reported.

The carmaker was also lacking in attractive models to set it apart from local manufacturers, the report said - a challenge shared across foreign automakers battling to make inroads, particularly in China's electric vehicle landscape.

Auto demand in China has been hit by power restrictions and extensive lockdowns in major cities, with Volvo, Toyota and Volkswagen either suspending production or putting their factories into closed-loop systems, which generally still impacts output.

European investment in China is growing more concentrated, with a handful of large firms doubling down on their bets while newer players shy away from growing risks, a recent report by research organisation Rhodium Group showed.

"In these circumstances and in light of the volumes required to make a real impact, Opel is putting its plans for entering China's market to rest," the company said to Handelsblatt.


Transport industry lashes out at higher toll rates

                PETALING JAYA: With the ringgit declining and Malaysia’s economy uncertain, many familiar with the transport industry are asking why toll rates are going up now.

Pan Malaysian Lorry Operators Association president Jong Foh Jit said lorry companies were facing higher costs, and that the hike was not welcome.

“Why now?” he complained.

“Everything is going up. Spare parts, tyres. Projects (for lorries) are down, the market is slowing down ... This is another burden.”

When asked if this meant higher lorry use rates, he said it was up to the lorry companies to decide on this.

Jong also asked that the Government reduce costs such as tyre duties and road taxes for lorry operators.

Yesterday, several major highway companies based in the Klang Valley said their rates were going up from Oct 15 onwards.

Transport expert Goh Bok Yen said that road users with no alternatives to these highways had no choice, but to pay the higher rates.

“And even if you pay, you are still facing congestion,” he said.

Goh said that the public transport was not a good enough second option, and that people would have to use the highways anyway.

People who used highways for long trips, he said, wouldn’t complain about the new rates as much as those who did short ones.

He cited those who lived in areas near toll gates and had to go past them to get to their destinations.

“You need to find an alternative route to create an acceptable toll free (way) for shorter trip lengths,” he said.

Goh added that one way or another, the people or the Government were going to pay for highways at the end of the day.

Fomca president Datuk N. Marimuthu said the Government had to justify why rates had to go up now.

“The ringgit is falling, traders are pushing up their prices and the haze means local producers can’t produce (more food),” he said.

He warned that a chain reaction in prices here might happen, and that a commission for this was desperately needed.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the increase has caused uproar among social media users.

On twitter @sillellis said: “As if we’re not burdened enough. What is this hike based on??”

Another twitter user @euwyn_bassfreak also expressed his frustration and said he would no longer take the DUKE highway.

The Works Ministry defended the toll hike, saying that the Government has already subsidised a large amount of toll.

In a statement, the ministry said the move was in line with the gradual increment of toll rates during the concession period.

It said the total compensation paid by the Government from 2008 to 2013 was RM1.1bil, and RM402.9mil for last year.


BMW launches two new EVs, a 4 Series cousin and an artsy SUV

The iX.
MUNICH: In the race against Tesla and competitors like Audi and Mercedes, BMW is betting on two new electric models. Although they're very similar in terms of their drive systems, they could hardly be more different in terms of their appearance.

Ten years after the i3's highly acclaimed first appearance, BMW's double premiere in November will see the launch of two new electrics, the i4 and iX.

Priced from 58,300 euros in Germany, the i4 is a classic Gran Coupe in the same league as the 3 and 4 Series and is aimed primarily at traditional buyers.

The iX, on the other hand, is a rather idiosyncratic SUV with an almost futuristic interior in the luxury league and is aimed at the electric avant-garde.

 The i4.

Electric avant-garde fans will have to dig deep into their pockets, mind, as BMW says the price will start at at least 77,300 euros.

While the two electric models differ greatly in appearance and cabin design, they are closely related in terms of equipment and drive. Both come with a new type of cockpit with curved OLED displays and an on-board system based on 5G technology.

And both use the fifth generation of motors and batteries, for which BMW claims a higher energy density, more efficiency and less installation space requirements.

According to BMW, the electric cousin of the 4 Series will be available at the start as the i4 40 with 340hp, accelerating from a standstill to 100kph in less than 6 seconds. It can reach a top speed of 190kph and has a range of up to 590km with a battery of around 80 kWh.

The i4 will also be the first electric from the BMW tuners at M GmbH, which are to sell the four-door model as the i4 M50 for at least 69,900 euros with 544hp, a faster sprint time of around 4 seconds, a top speed of 225kph and range of 510km.

The electric luxury SUV also has two models in the starting line-up. There is an iX 40 with 326hp, which accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 6.1 seconds, reaches up to 200kph and has a WLTP range of 425km with a 71 kWh battery.

The new iX (left) and i4 pose in front together with the iX3 and BMW's electric pioneer i3 (rear right), which has been in the range since 2013.

For about 20,000 euros more, BMW sells the iX 50, which costs at least 98,000 euros and has 523hp, a 4.6-second sprint time, also a 200kph top speed and 630km of range. Soon after, the top version from the factory tuners is to be the M60 with 600hp.

Depending on the model and drive variant, the batteries can be charged with up to 210kW and reach 80 per cent of battery in less than 40 minutes. That means you can, in theory, charge enough power for up to 164km in 10 minutes.

According to CEO Oliver Zipse, these two innovations mark an important milestone for BMW on its way to achieving a sales share of at least 50 per cent for electric models by the end of the decade.

However, the Bavarians are not relying solely on existing models such as the i3 or iX3 and the two newcomers, but are already planning further electric variants. They also recently confirmed an electric 7 Series.