Paris Motor Show is back this year

                PARIS: After the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Paris Motor Show is set to return this year.

Visitors will be able to discover all the latest vehicles and, above all, explore how the cars of the future are taking shape. The event runs from Oct 18 to 23, 2022, with ticket sales for the event now open.

A precursor to many major international shows, the Paris Motor Show, or Le Mondial de l'Auto - first held in 1898 - already underwent a profound change in 2018 when it was rebranded as the "Mondial Paris Motor Show," then celebrating the coming together of the Mondial de l'Auto motor show and Mondial de la Moto motorcycle show.

Cancelled in 2020, the "Mondial" returns again this year in a new form.

If the event will be shorter than usual, it promises to highlight the vehicles of the future, showcasing a sustainable approach to mobility that's connected and accessible to all.

The show will also be structured around a series of events and test drives organised in Paris, the aim being to enable as many people as possible to discover manufacturers' current visions of the future of the automobile and the wider mobility sector.

For the first time, visitors will have the opportunity to test some 100 new models in real traffic conditions. The idea is to familiarise them with new energies by offering them the opportunity to drive a few kilometres in an electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen car.

The event will also encompass the Equip Auto pro trade show.

After a day reserved for the media on Monday, Oct 17, the public will be able to get up close to all kinds of vehicles, and even try out some of the models on display.

Adult tickets are priced €30 for the day, or just €16 if you select a specific time slot (one hour) for arrival, which must be respected in order to manage crowds at the show.


Continental produces videos on tyre safety

                LONDON: Continental has teamed up with TV presenter and motoring expert Jonny Smith to produce a series of new videos designed to help drivers keep their tyres in tip-top condition.

The series, initially comprising five films, is launched in February 2019. It offers drivers simple, helpful advice on important areas of basic tyre maintenance.

The aim is to give car owners the expertise to look after their tyres themselves. In turn, this will keep them and other road users safer and help to save them money by reducing tyre wear and fuel consumption.

All videos can be found on ContinentalTyresTV:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuriT5De0_5D-ThYWsifgVoLqa9VE73TP

The videos cover how to check tyre pressures and tread depth, how to conduct a visual tyre inspection and how to change a wheel.

The films also draw attention to the important issue of tread depth, highlighting Continental’s recommendation that tyres should be replaced when 3mm of tread remains rather than the legal minimum of 1.6mm.

Jonny Smith, presenter of Fifth Gear on Quest and YouTube channel Fully Charged, is passionate about looking after the tyres on his cars.

He said: “Tyres are the only part of your car in direct contact with the road, so it makes sense to ensure they’re in the best possible condition.

“I’m delighted to have been asked to present these films. It only takes a couple of minutes to watch all of them. And the guidance they provide in some cases only takes seconds to follow. I think they offer valuable advice that can help drivers every day. If these videos improve road safety that can only be a good thing. And if they cut the number of people I see stranded at the side of the road with flat tyres, that’s a real bonus.”


Visiting ancient ruins with Porsche’s latest Macan and Cayenne SUVs

                Porsche organised an interesting trip for motoring journalists to visit the historically-rich Kingdom of Cambodia, where we went off-roading at a remote location in Siem Reap with a pair of newly revised Sports Utility vehicles (SUV) - the compact Macan and full-sized Cayenne.

Located in the southern portion of the Indo-China Peninsula, Cambodia - once a French Protectorate from 1867 to 1946 (hence its French architectural influence), is surrounded by Thailand to the Northwest, Laos to the Northeast and Vietnam to the East.

The country is also infamously known for the communist Khmer Rouge party - led by Pol Pot (1975 to 1978); the Killing Fields and Killing Trees (reserved for children) as well as the estimated two million of mostly educated Cambodians who lost their lives.

Also, it is estimated that two to three million landmines are still left scattered around arable land, plaguing much of the population till today with an average of two Cambodians losing an appendage or two each day.

But on a more brighter side, with the capital being Phnom Penh, visitors to Cambodia tend to flock to Siem Reap to walk among the ancient ruins of Angkor (built sometime in the seventh century), which has been regarded as the largest pre-industrial city in the world with an estimated population of over a million people at that time.

Within its grounds there may have been over a thousand temples (Wats), but none is as well-known as Angkor Wat (Temple City), which is featured on the country’s national flag and popularised by the movie Tomb Raider - starring Angelina Jolie.

We arrived in Siem Reap during a dry spell and that meant we were going to be cooked at an average temperature of about 38 degrees Celsius on a daily basis.

The winds would carry with it powder-fine sand from the sun-scorched beds of rivers and lakes and this had us bowing our heads, squinting the eyes and keep the lips sealed when being ferried around on a Tuk-Tuk - in search of Fish Amok, Beef Luk Lak, coffee or Pub Street to sample the night-life.

While vehicles in Cambodia have their steering wheels on the left, navigating through traffic required some quick acclimatising to and a watchful eye on the nearly chaotic mess, with nothing going faster than 50kph. But thankfully, Angkor Wat was only 5.5km away from the main town of Siem Reap.

Instead, we had to navigate through some of Siem Reap’s rugged landscape in both the Macan and Cayenne - both rolling on 20-inch wheels with 265/45 Michelin Latitude Sport 3 ultra-high performance road-going tyres.

We headed East towards Banteay Ampil temple from our lodging at Hotel Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort on Charles de Gaulle road, which took us well over an hour to get to via unpaved paths.

The soft soil in Siem Reap is powdery fine, which helped provide for a more supple ride, and was easily kicked up by each passing vehicle – coating everything and everyone soon after with the stuff.

During the drive, both the Macan and Cayenne’s suspension simply soaked up any discomfort from the rocks peeping from the ground.

While in the Cayenne, with its naturally-aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine making 300hp at 6,300rpm and 400Nm of torque at 3,000rpm, we were impressed with how this particular sport-ute’s air suspension provided plenty of comfort and did well to soak up as much discomfort as possible from the narrow rocky paths.

We arrived at a clearing where an off-road course awaited and we jumped into the Macan to see how it would fair with its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox managing a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that provides 252hp from 5,000 to 6,800rpm and 370Nm of torque from 1,600 to 4,500rpm.

The obstacles included steep declines and inclines, loose dirt, a tight u-turn section and a tilt area, which we found the severity of the course to be more conservative than extreme, but it was probably due to the fact that we were still on road-going tyres.

We found that the Macan tends to provide a surge in power, which can make things a little tricky when there’s need for being gentle on power delivery, but it did great ripping up the off-road course.

As for the Cayenne, thanks to it’s engine being naturally-aspirated, demanding power from it was easier, which didn’t have the Macan’s surge, and there was a more obvious feel of it being more planted than the Macan, thanks to the wider stance.

After having been through the rocky section on road-going tyres, we knew both vehicles possessed more potential than the course allowed.

But, with the experience garnered from both SUV’s performance on the off-road-ish expedition, we can only say that both the Cayenne and Macan would definitely be able to carry itself through a wild stretch.


Google dropped autopilot driving feature after test user napped behind wheel

                SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc’s self-driving car unit stopped developing features that required drivers to take control in dangerous situations, its chief executive said Monday, as autopilot reliance left users prone to distractions and ill-prepared to maneuver.

The decision followed experiments of the technology in Silicon Valley that showed test users napping, putting on makeup and fiddling with their phones as the vehicles travelled at up to 90kph.

John Krafcik, the head of Waymo, which was formed in 2009 as a project within Alphabet’s Google unit, told reporters that about five years ago the company envisioned technology that could autonomously drive cars on highways as a quick way to get on the market.

Other self-driving automakers include similar autopilot features for highway-driving in vehicles, but they require drivers to take over the steering wheel in tricky situations. Waymo planned to do the same.

“What we found was pretty scary,” Krafcik said on Monday during a media tour of a Waymo testing facility. “It’s hard to take over because they have lost contextual awareness.”

Krafcik said the company determined a system that asked drivers to jump in at the sound of an alert was unsafe after seeing videos from inside self-driving cars during tests.

The filmed tests were conducted in 2013, with Google employees behind the wheel. The videos had not been publicly shown until Monday’s event, Waymo spokesman Lauren Barriere said.

The company decided to focus solely on technology that didn’t require human intervention a couple of days after the napping incident, said Krafcik, who joined as CEO in 2015. It has also since argued against allowing “handoffs” between automated driving systems and people.

“Our technology takes care of all of the driving, allowing passengers to stay passengers,” the company said in report this month.

The two drive controls provided to passengers in Waymo’s Chrysler Pacifica minivans are buttons for starting a ride and asking the vehicles to pull over at their next chance.

Waymo is running a ride-hailing pilot program around Phoenix, Arizona that chauffeurs an undisclosed, but growing number of users in self-driving cars. The service area is limited to well-mapped roads on which Waymo has extensively tested.

Krafcik declined to specify when the company would expand beyond the small experiment, saying only that such a moment is getting “close.”

He reiterated that the company is simultaneously also identifying ways to launch self-driving trucks, municipal transit services and partnerships with carmakers.

“We see four potential applications, whether it’s Waymo branded or not,” he said.


Carsome buys 19.9% of Australia-listed iCar Asia

                PETALING JAYA: Carsome Group, South-East Asia’s largest integrated automotive e-commerce company, has acquired 19.9% of Australia-listed iCar Asia Ltd from Catcha Group.

Carsome and Catcha Group have also made a joint proposal to the independent directors of iCar Asia to acquire the remaining 80.1% of iCar from its shareholders.

“The total transaction is estimated to be worth more than US$200mil (RM838mil), ” Carsome said in a statement yesterday.

“Carsome and iCar Asia, combined, offer an integrated automotive ecosystem for dealers to source, advertise and sell cars; and for consumers to research, sell and buy cars in a region that trades over US$55bil (RM230bil) worth of automobiles annually.”

Carsome added that the deal would cement the group as South-East Asia’s most valuable digital automotive marketplace.

It said the proposed integration with iCar Asia would offer significant strengths such as a revenue target of US$1bil (RM4.2bil) for 2021; seeing around 100, 000 cars to be transacted annually; having over 460, 000 live partner listings; recording more than 10 million monthly unique visitors and having over 13, 000 car dealers on its network.

Carsome said the integration will also boast the largest automotive data set, with new products and services to be announced.

“This acquisition unites two renowned tech entrepreneurs in the South-East Asian region, namely, Eric Cheng, the co-founder and group chief executive officer (CEO) of Carsome and Patrick Grove, the co-founder and group CEO of Catcha Group.

“Catcha Group will become a shareholder of the Carsome Group in exchange for the sale of its shares in iCar Asia to Carsome.

“Cheng will lead the Carsome Group as CEO and he welcomes Grove’s support as one of the founders, alongside Cheng and Jiun Ee Teoh to drive the future growth of the business.”

Carsome said the deal would provide even greater solutions and experience across the buying and selling value chain.

“The proposed acquisition of iCar Asia offers an enhanced suite of digital products and services to more dealers and consumers in all key markets.

“The expanded suite of solutions will offer an end-to-end, super-app experience that covers the entire car buying and selling value chain.”

The group said consumers will enjoy a seamless, one-stop solution as Carsome expands its offerings to span the whole car ownership journey from search, transaction, finance and insurance to after-sales services.

Commenting on the deal, Cheng said the transaction was an important part of Carsome’s growth strategy to build the entire automotive ecosystem in South-East Asia and transform the industry through trust, transparency and technology.

“This is the first step toward consolidation to form the largest digital automotive group in terms of revenue, user base, largest live listing and the best end-to-end fulfilment capability in the region, ” he said.


All-electric Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept unveiled

                TURIN, Italy: Italian automaker Lancia has unveiled its all-electric concept car, namely the Pu+Ra HPE, which uses modules (such as motor, battery, suspension, brakes) taken from the new Ypsilon.

In a statement, Lancia said the Pu+Ra HPE concept car is the manifesto for the next 10 years of the brand, providing a vision of the cars of the future in terms of:
- a range of over 700 km
- charging time of just over 10 minutes
- energy consumption below 10 kWh per 100 km
- a series of aerodynamic features: low roof, slim digital wing mirrors, aerodynamic wheels, three front protection plates, and aerodynamics

Lancia will launch the new Ypsilon in 2024, in both hybrid and electric versions.

From 2026 only 100% electric cars will be launched, and from 2028, concurrently with the arrival of the new Delta, the brand will exclusively sell electric models.

"Starting with the new Ypsilon, our cars of the future will be inspired by the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE,” stated Luca Napolitano, CEO of Lancia.

As for the new Lancia concept car's name, “Pu+Ra” refers to the brand's new, pure and radical design language, while HPE stands for High Performance Electric.

The acronym HPE was used for the first time in the 1970s for Lancia Beta, and stood for “High Performance Estate”, a symbol of sportiness and practicality.

The badges on the sides include the new Lancia logo, an expression of the brand’s new visual identity.

It revisits all the historic features of the badge (e.g. the steering wheel, the banner, the shield, the spear and the lettering), reinterpreting them with a modern twist, to express innovation, its premium, Italian nature and eclecticism.

The dialog between past and future can also be found in the rear, where we can see the iconic round lights, inspired by the brand’s bluntest and most radical spirit, while a clear reference is further made to the legendary Lancia Stratos, with the iconic new Lancia lettering placed between the lights.

The front reinterprets the historic Lancia grille, now taken forward into the future by three rays of light that make it iconic, memorable and visible from afar.

Standing out above the calice is the new Lancia script, produced using an original font that draws its inspiration from the fashion world.

The innovative circular roof provides a broad, panoramic view, with a clear reference to architectural elements, so characteristic of the new Lancia design language.

The rear window is also reminiscent of the Lancia of the 70s, Beta HPE, with enveloping horizontal lines that revisit the renowned sun blind structure, with a modern twist.

The large windows emphasize natural light, to recall the concept of “home feeling”.


Genesis unveils groundbreaking Essentia Concept

NEW YORK: When major motor shows like the New York International Auto Show are on the horizon, most of the new vehicles to be unveiled at the show are heavily trailed beforehand. However, there are always some gems that turn up that weren't making a big noise in the press ahead of the show, and one such model this time around is the groundbreaking Essentia Concept Genesis has unveiled here this week.

For anyone not familiar with Genesis, the brand is the luxury arm of Hyundai that the South Korean automaker has high hopes for in North America especially. Its bread and butter models are things like the G70, which is the sister car to the Kia Stinger, but the Essentia Concept is something else entirely.

The Essentia is effectively the luxury brand's first battery electric vehicle and combines a lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque construction with a robust, multi-motor electric powertrain and a very inviting custom-tailored interior. The model is being billed as the brand's initial concept for a genuine GT car, and is intended to challenge the status quo as the ultimate manifestation of the Genesis design and engineering philosophy.

It's impossible to say the Essentia is anything other than a thoroughly stunning car from every angle, but unfortunately hard facts about its performance are few and far between. What we do know is it uses a "high-density battery pack" powering a multi-motor powertrain and shuns the usual under-floor location for the battery pack by putting it in the centre tunnel between the seats instead. As it's still only a concept we probably shouldn't expect too much fine detail about performance, but Genesis has suggested this first EV for the brand could have a zero to 100kph time of as little as 3.0 seconds.

Manfred Fitzgerald, the Global Head of the Genesis Brand, says of the Essentia: "We understand our obligation as a luxury car manufacturer to create objects of desire, sparking passion and inspiration by emphasising a culture while exceeding expectations in terms of technology and connectivity, bringing our outside world seamlessly to the inside of the vehicle. This is what the Genesis Essentia Concept is all about, and we are thrilled to introduce our interpretation of an all-electric, two-door Gran Turismo here in New York."

Genesis cars were killed off in Europe by Hyundai last year, and although there have been some reports they may be re-introduced by 2020 for sale exclusively online via direct marketing, it seems unlikely considering only 47 units were sold in Britain over a two-year period between 2015 and 2017.


Audi reveals facelifted TT

                INGOLSTADT: Audi has just released a batch of images of its new facelifted TT ahead of the car landing with dealers towards the end of this year.

In typical teaser image fashion, Audi released a cryptic rear quarter shot of the car Tuesday, but now the changes for the new model year can be clearly seen in the new release on what is the 20th anniversary of the iconic Audi sports car.

Perhaps the most obvious change to the exterior styling of the TT is the adoption of Audi's popular honeycomb front grille in place of the familiar horizontal bar design of the current model. Beyond that the changes are subtle to say the least, with modestly redesigned front and rear bumpers and minor changes to the standard and optional lights.

Matrix LED lights are now being made available, while OLED rear lamps have been added to the TT's list of available features for the first time. There are some new alloy wheel designs, which are further complemented with the addition of three new colors of Turbo Blue, Pulse Orange and Cosmos Blue.

Changes under the bodywork will see the diesel and petrol engines with the lowest power ratings dropped from the lineup as the 2.0 TFSI becomes the only engine in the range.

A move Audi's TT product manager Jens Meier says is to "simplify the range." The German automaker isn't linking the changes to the engine lineup to the new WLTP emissions standard, but it's hard to believe the new, more stringent regime hasn't been a major factor in Audi deciding to stick with just the 2.0 TFSI.

The engine will come in three different flavours in the 40 TFSI, 45 TFSI and S models. The entry level 40 TFSI gets a 194 bhp version of the 2.0-litre engine, while the 45 TFSI gets 245 bhp. The most potent version is reserved for the TT S and boasts 302 bhp, but due to a new particulate filter that's actually 4 bhp less than it is in the current version.

There will also be a high-performance TT RS that's set to keep faith with the current turbocharged five-cylinder engine, but the updated version of the top TT model isn't due to arrive until 2019, and it's not clear if WLTP will have an adverse effect on the 394 bhp the 2.5-litre unit produces at present.

A new TT S Black Edition will sit at the top of the standard 2019 model range, and this one comes complete with LED lights, special decals, a fixed rear wing, 20-inch gloss black wheels and different leather packs for the interior.

Although the TT RS won't arrive until 2019, the rest of the TT range will be in showrooms before the end of this year.


GM to launch ad campaign for Chevy Bolt EV, following recall

                DETROIT: General Motors Co on Wednesday announced the launch of an advertising campaign for its Chevrolet Bolt to win back consumers following the expensive recall that had stopped production of the electric vehicle for most of the last seven months.

The first ads airs today during Major League Baseball's opening-day games, following Monday's resumption of Bolt production at its plant in Orion Township, Michigan.

Bolt could finish with the second highest media spend this year for Chevy behind the Silverado pickup, Chevy marketing director Steven Majoros said on a conference call, without disclosing detailed spending plans.

GM spent US$3.3 billion on advertising and promotions last year.

The Bolt ads shown to reporters on the call did not address the recall, which Majoros said had not damaged GM's reputation.

He forecast record sales for Bolt this year and even more in 2023, topping the previous high of 23,300.


Volvo's driver cameras coming soon

                PETALING JAYA: It looks like drivers of Volvo cars in the near future will be recorded when they get behind the wheel.

Britain's Car magazine reports that Volvo’s new driver-focused in-car cameras are an option coming for select 2019 model-year vehicles.

What's the point of recording the driver, you ask?

Volvo chief digital officer Atif Rafiq reportedly told Car that the cameras will be launched within the next 12 months, and said they “can determine a driver’s glucose levels by looking at their pupils, so could [sic] call a loved one or hospital if it detected a health problem.”

As such, one could deduce that Volvo intends the cameras to function as a type of safety system, monitoring the driver and driver behaviour.

Another use for driver-facing cameras as mentioned by Volvo in the article is facial recognition. With the driver in the car, the camera could identify the specific person and adjust vehicle settings accordingly, everything from seat and mirror positions to temperature preferences and app settings.

According to the report, these cameras will be sold as an option. So if you are self-conscious, you won't be snapping up this item when it's made available.


Jeremy Clarkson will not be charged over alleged attack

LONDON: Jeremy Clarkson, who was recently dropped by the BBC as the presenter of its hit driving show "Top Gear," will not be charged for an alleged attack on the show's producer.The producer, Oisin Tymon, had said last month he would not press charges. The police in North Yorkshire, where the alleged attack took place, said the decision had been made after taking into consideration the views of other witnesses.A spokesman for North Yorkshire police said: "North Yorkshire police has now completed its routine enquiries following the incident at Hawes involving Mr. Jeremy Clarkson, and we will not be pursuing this matter any further."North Yorkshire police takes a thorough and victim-led approach to all investigations."Last week, the person at the center of the incident, Mr. Tymon, said that he did not wish the police to take action on his behalf. However, at that point we still needed to speak to some members of the public who were present at the time of the incident, who had been affected by the event, and whose views also needed to be considered."Now that all the interviews are complete, we have properly established that there is no need for further police action." Now that the threat of prosecution has been removed, other broadcasters may approach Clarkson.Among those thought to be interested in recruiting him are Netflix and U.K. commercial network ITV. Pay TV operator Sky has ruled itself out.


Police roadblocks back again in states under conditional MCO

                KUALA LUMPUR: Police will enforce roadblocks in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya following the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) from Oct 14.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the roadblocks would be set up at several locations from 12.01am on Oct 14.

"The roadblocks will be mounted in the same way as before (during the MCO in early March). Instructions for the deployment of police officers to the roadblock locations will be arranged by the Kuala Lumpur police chief and Selangor police chief,” he said.

Sabah came under CMCO today.

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said the Malaysian Armed Forces would work with the police in mounting the roadblocks as before.

"The armed forces and the police will do as they did before,” he said briefly.

Earlier, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government has agreed to implement the CMCO in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya from Oct 14 to 27.

The decision was reached at a special National Security Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin following consultation with the Health Ministry and taking into account the increase in Covid cases in Klang, Petaling and Gombak districts.


Tesla unveils Powerwall home battery

                LOS ANGELES: Electric car pioneer Tesla has unveiled a “home battery”, which its founder Elon Musk said would help change the “entire energy infrastructure of the world.”

The Tesla Powerwall can store power from solar panels, from the electricity grid at night when it is typically cheaper, and provide a secure backup in the case of a power outage.

In theory the device, which typically would fit on the wall of a garage or inside a house, could make solar-powered homes completely independent of the traditional energy grid.

“The goal is complete transformation of the entire energy infrastructure of the world, to completely sustainable zero carbon,” Musk told reporters shortly before unveiling the Powerwall in a stylish warehouse space outside here last Thursday.

Examples of the sleak device - available in a range of colours - were lined up along one side of the hall. “It looks like a beautiful sculpture on the wall,” said Musk .

All the power for the evening demonstration, attended by several hundred media as well as tech world participants, came from his new batteries, hooked up to solar panels on the roof, he said.

Initially the device, which will cost US$3,500, will go on sale in the United States later this year. But the aim is to roll it out internationally some time next year.

Germany is seen as a key market for the product -- which is about 6 inches thick, 4 feet tall and 3 feet across -- because it has among the highest take-up of solar energy in the world, Musk said.

But it could also be a huge boon for under-developed regions, where power is often unreliable at best, despite abundant solar energy -- and he compared the potential to that of the way cellphone technology has expanded.

“It’s analogous to the way mobile leap-frogged landlines,” Musk said.

“This is going to be really great for the poorest communities in the world,” he said. “This allows you to be completely off grid.”

Musk stressed however that moving advanced economies like America away from unsustainable fossil fuels was a key goal.

“I think we should collectively do something about this .. we have this handy fusion reactor in the sky, called the sun,” he said.

The Powerwall comes in 10 kWh weekly cycle and 7 kWh daily cycle models, both of which are guaranteed for 10 years and are sufficient to power most homes during peak evening hours.

The Tesla chief was coy when asked whether Tesla Energy would be a bigger business than Tesla Motors, for which he is best known. He dodged the question.

Last year Tesla announced the construction of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery plant in Nevada, a five-billion-dollar “Gigafactory” with Japanese electronics giant Panasonic.

Tesla will run operations while its Japanese partner will make battery cells destined for the plant and invest in equipment and machinery, according to a joint statement released at that time.

While Tesla produces relatively few vehicles, it has become a star in the sector due to keen demand and a reputation for high quality.


Covid-19: Rolls-Royce manufacturing plant in UK suspended for two weeks

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced  that production at the company’s Goodwood-based manufacturing plant will be suspended from Monday, March 23 for two weeks.

In order to further secure the health and welfare of the employees of the company this suspension will be followed by an already-planned two-week Easter maintenance shutdown.

The day-to-day operations of the company will be assured by non-production employees who will remain at work at the company’s head office on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex or who will work from home on a rotational basis.

Social distancing measures have been introduced throughout the company.

This unprecedented action has been taken following the introduction of additional measures by the UK Government to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “This action has not been taken lightly, but the health and well-being of our exceptional workforce is first and foremost in our minds. We are a tight-knit community at the Home of Rolls-Royce and I have no doubt that our resilience will shine through during this extraordinary time.”

He continued, “As a deeply customer-focused company we are aware that this decision to pause our production will possibly cause some discomfort or inconvenience to a few of our esteemed patrons, for which we apologize while seeking their understanding at this difficult time.”


Nikola to debut two battery-electric semi-trucks this spring

The Nikola Tre.
PHOENIX: Following in the sustainable-semi steps of Tesla, Volvo, and Cummins, Nikola Motor Company recently announced that it, too, is working on two new electric semi-trucks that will be announced in April.

According to a tweet published last week, company CEO Trevor Milton will be announcing BEV versions of the Nikola Two and Nikola Tre trucks but not the Nikola One — that model will remain a FCV only, meaning that it will be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a battery.

Already, hydrogen-powered iterations of the Nikola Two and Tre have reached the prototype stage, and example models will be on display at Nikola World 2019.

According to the tweet, the BEV versions of both trucks with be available in 500kWh, 750kWh and 1MWh options, which owners can select based on their need. In general, the Arizona-based company says that hydrogen is better for those long hauls, whereas BEV will be ideal for short hauls.

Back in November, the company announced that a prototype version of the FCV Tre will be on display at Nikola World 2019 in April equipped with, "redundant braking, redundant steering, redundant 800Vdc batteries and a redundant 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell, all necessary for true level 5 autonomy." The FCV Two will be demonstrated at the event pulling loaded trailers.

Testing for these hydrogen-powered models is expected to begin in Europe next year with production for the European and US market beginning in 2022-2023. Details regarding the BEV lineup are expected to be announced in April.


EQS 500 4MATIC: First EQS to be assembled in Malaysia

                PEKAN:  The EQS 500 4MATIC is the first all-electric luxury saloon to be fully assembled locally.

Based on the modular architecture for the luxury electric vehicle segment, it has a coupé-like silhouette, a muscular shoulder and reduced lines in a seamless design.

Available as a sole variant, the EQS 500 4MATIC is rated at 330 kW (WLTP combined electrical consumption: 21.3 – 17.6 kWh/100km; CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) capable of accelerating from 0-100kph in just 4.8 seconds with the addition of a second electric motor.

The EQS 500 4MATIC offers a range of 696km (WLTP).

It now features Electric Art line exterior, which emphasises the progressive design language with elegant chrome trim elements and 20-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels.

It is also equipped with the iconic Mercedes-Benz patterned radiator grille and panoramic sliding sunroof that allows ample light to brighten the cabin emphasising the intricate interior design.

The car comes with a distinctive light signature and state-of-the-art DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps. The two-part tail lights are connected by a light strip - a feature that characterises all Mercedes-EQ vehicles.

With a Cd benchmark of 0.20, the EQS is the most aerodynamic production car in the world.

The EQS 500 is equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s signature ambient lighting paired with comfort seats and velour floor mats.

The roof liner in black fabric, multifunction steering wheel in nappa leather, galvanised steering-wheel gearshift paddles, and anthracite linestructure lime wood trim are a perfect blend of comfort and luxury.

Drivers are provided with both alternating current and direct current charging options.

Direct current charging (200 kW) at rapid charging stations from 10 to 80 percent only needs approximately 31 minutes while alternating current charging (11 kW) at public charging stations or the Mercedes-Benz Wallbox from 10 to 100 percent will take around 10 hours.

The car comes with Driving Assistance Plus Package which includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, extended automatic Re-start in traffic jams, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive manoeuvre support, PRE-SAFE impulse side, and rear sensors for the lane departure assistant.

The inclusion of URBAN GUARD vehicle protection provides drivers with a peace of mind when parked. It consists of an anti-theft alarm system together with an interior monitoring system accessible via the Mercedes me app.

The EQS 500 4MATIC is equipped with 360-degree camera and Active Parking Assist which provides drivers with a clear view of their surroundings when parking.

The projection of the Mercedes-Benz brand logo next to the open side doors will be an attractive eye-catcher.

The futuristic and iconic MBUX Hyperscreen will be standard in the all-new EQS 500 4MATIC.

As if cast from a single mould, 3 displays seamlessly blend together beneath a glass panel, creating one large surface.

It houses the MBUX multimedia system and OLED technology for the central-as well as passenger display.

A fingerprint scanner is ergonomically located below the central display storing personal settings and data such as recent destinations and addresses.

 The Pekan plant makes nine Mercedes models.

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Pekan was established in 2004. As of 2022, the plant has taken ownership of the 90% ratio of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the country, and also produces its best-selling model, the C-Class for the Phillippines market.

It produces a total of nine models including vehicles from its brands Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-EQ.

Spread over a total land area of 200 acres, the plant is equipped with advanced technology and automated production facilities.


How does the electronic stability control in cars work?

                BERLIN: The electronic stability control (ESC) installed in cars has been saving lives for years. Also known as electronic stability program (ESP), depending on the manufacturer, the system can stabilise vehicles in extreme situations and prevent accidents.

Although manufacturers have different names for it, the mechanism is generally the same: It makes sure individual wheels automatically break to prevent the vehicle from over-steering or under-steering, says Achmed Leser of the German Association for Technical Inspection.

"Sometimes, it directly affects the engine control as well, which is even quicker than intervening with the breaks," Leser says.

All this helps prevent the car from spinning or swinging off the road in extreme situations. Here is how it works:

Interfering with the steering process

"The most up-to-date systems even interfere with the steering process and additionally support the driver to stay in their lane," the expert says.

To be activated in the right moment, the system permanently monitors signals from different sensors. Comparing wheel speed, steer angle and yaw rate can for instance help detect unstable driving conditions in the fractions of a second.

If the controller detects a different driving behaviour than that prescribed by the driver, it immediately interferes and holds the car in the correct lane as long as physically possible, Leser says.

"Of course there are still situations in which even a highly modern ESP can't help anymore," the expert adds.

One click to turn it off - why?

But why can you deactivate the ESP at the click of a button in some cars? Some manufacturers offer different driving modes, including a sports mode, Leser says. "That shifts the rules threshold for the systems and the interferences happen a little later," Leser says.

But only few vehicles let you turn it off completely these days. Some systems merely let you turn off the traction control system, which prevents wheelspin. This can be useful for example when starting the car on slippery ground, Leser says.

ESP systems were invented by the German manufacturer Bosch in 1995, but were initially only put into expensive high-end vehicles.

But when a car overturned in 1997 after having tried to dodge a moose on the road, the case for building the ESP into all vehicles grew stronger.

However, it took almost 20 years for the system to become mandatory. In 2014, the European Union decreed that every new car has to have it.

Nonetheless, between 2000 and 2013 alone the ESP saved some 6,000 lives and prevented around 200,000 accidents in Germany, according to the German Insurers Accident Research.


Goupe Renault and EEM to help island go fossil-free

                PARIS: French carmaker Groupe Renault and Portugal-based Empresa de Electricitade da Madeira (EEM) - Madeira Electricity Company,  have come together to announce the launch of a smart electric ecosystem project on the island of Porto Santo, Portugal.

The Sustainable Porto Santo – Smart Fossil Free Island project, which started in January is expected to last 18 months and was rolled-out by the government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

EEM was placed in charge of energy and electric mobility, which subsequently sought and chose Groupe Renault as its partner for electric mobility solutions.

Meanwhile, Groupe Renault has joined up with players from the energy sector including Bouygues Energies et Services, The Mobility House and ABB for the Porto Santo project.

The project will involve the use of electric vehicles, second-life batteries, smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) to boost the world's first smart island’s energy independence and stimulate the production of renewable energy.

There will be three complementary phases where 20 volunteers on the island of Porto Santo will drive 14 ZOEs and six Kangoo Z.E.s for their everyday use.

Furthermore, the volunteers will have access to 40 connected public and private smart charging facilities set up by EEM and Renault throughout the island.

Smart charging adjusts battery charging rates as a function of users’ needs and the availability of electricity via the grid. Batteries are charged when supply exceeds demand, notably during renewable energy production peaks. Charging ceases when demand for electricity outstrips supply by the grid, thereby optimising the supply of local renewable energy.

Secondly, by the end of 2018, the vehicles will step up their interaction with the grid via V2G charging by providing it with electricity during peak hours. In addition to being smart charged, the electric vehicles will also serve as temporary energy storage units.

In the case of V2G charging, electric vehicles provide electricity to the grid during peak hours. In this way, not only do they benefit from the advantages of smart charging, but they will also serve as a means to store energy temporarily.

Lastly, second-life batteries from Renault electric vehicles will be used to store the fluctuating supply of energy produced by Porto Santo’s solar and wind farms and can be recovered by the grid as and when needed to meet local demand.

Once life as a power source for electric vehicles is over, EV batteries continue to be capable of storing a significant amount of energy. Renault is able to harness this energy in less demanding environments, notably for the purposes of stationary energy storage.

By giving batteries a second lease of life, Renault is today able to cover the full spectrum of energy storage needs, from individual homes to office buildings, factories, schools and apartment blocks, and even the charging of electric vehicles.

“We are delighted to be teaming up with EEM today to establish this unprecedented smart electric ecosystem which demonstrates to what extent the electric revolution is changing our everyday lives beyond just transport. Our aim is to build a model that can be carried over to other islands, eco-districts and cities, while consistently striving to achieve large-scale roll-out of electric mobility solutions that are affordable for all,” said Groupe Renault electric vehicles and new business programme director Eric Feunteun.


New Perodua Alza: In new orbit

                Perodua has a problem that's good to have — demand is outpacing supply. As a budget automaker, the popularity of its cars continue to grow and sales are doing well even in challenging times.

Its latest launch model, the Alza, has garnered an impressive 39,000 bookings within a short time, and Perodua is going all out in trying to fulfil orders as quickly as possible.

For those who book by June 30, they are promised their cars before the SST exemption expires at end-March 2023.

Two weeks after the new Alza launch in July, Perodua wasted no time in rustling up a media drive to put some distance between the MPV and its Rawang base.

The Kelantan capital looked like a good bet so off went the motley group of Malaysian media to the north-east.

More importantly, the 650km route Perodua plotted represented a good mix of typical Malaysian roads to be tackled such as smooth flowing highways, narrow twisties with patchy surfaces, hilly roads as well as bustling city streets. The return leg wasn't with the Alza but Firefly.

Looks & features

The Alza has been vastly improved in terms of tech, comfort and safety, justifying higher prices than before. There's no manual Alza anymore as Perodua has trimmed the line-up to just 3 variants, and all use the Dual mode CVT (D-CVT), first seen in the Ativa.

The range starts with the X at RM62,500, H at RM68,000 and AV at RM75,500 (on-the-road without insurance). Gear-Up accessories are available as extra-cost options.

Perodua provided the AV variant for the test drive.

Now in its second generation, the Alza is maturing into a solid product and looks unquestionably attractive. While its predeccessor was a decent rendition of an MPV, Perodua took lessons from customers and the competition to hone an even better product for 2022.

It's a bigger vehicle overall to better fit seven people in comfort. It gets a bold new grille and bumper that shows off the new styling to great effect. LED headlamps are standard and the LED taillights are now horizontally-oriented instead of vertically.

It certainly looks sporty for a family hauler as it comes with flared fenders and squats low. At 160mm, it has the same ground clearance as the Myvi, making for easier entry and exit for passengers as well as for easier loading of cargo.

The Alza is the first Perodua model to get three drive modes, electronic parking brake, a 360-degree panoramic view monitor and a high console with softpad armrest.

The cabin is a testament to smart packaging with a two-tone dashboard complemented with a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen and a full digital cluster. The look is trendy without being fussy, and there are three USB ports and storage bins lining the cabin to make it a practical space.

Android Auto is supported while Apple CarPlay is coming.

The biggest selling point for an MPV is of course how much interior space it has and how versatile it can be.

Perodua cites five ways the seats can be set up to cater to different usages. The seating arrangements can vary from carrying 7 people to the typical 5-seat mode as well as flexi mode where the front passenger seat can be laid flat for, say, a long cargo item or an injured passenger in second row to rest his legs.

One-touch tumble fold mid-row seats enables easy access to the third row, which is a little more roomier on account of the longer body (4,425 mm) and wider girth (1,730 mm) of the new Alza. The wheelbase remains the same as the old Alza at 2,750mm.

Seats are comfortable and supportive, with the seatbacks of both second and third row capable of reclining. While one might occasionally carry a full passenger load, the everyday scenario is to use the Alza as a 5-seater. More often than not, it's to ferry a mix of adults and children that takes some burden off from the engine.

Set the new Alza in 5-seat or 7-seat mode and it will offer cargo space of 498l and 137l respectively, a big improvement over the old one.

Enhancing cabin comfort are mid-row air-cond vents with three settings that cool the last 2 rows effectively.

Safety features have also been upgraded. As the top variant, the AV gets the full works from the Perodua Smart Drive Assist, a suite of active safety systems to keep occupants safe.

The suite comprises camera and sensor-based response measures and assistance, to mitigate risks, reduce blind spots, and enhance safe driving.

Pre-collision braking, pedal misoperation control, electronic parking brake with auto brake hold, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive headlights are just some of the goodies included.

Drive time

The over 8-hour journey traversed Batang Kali/Goh Tong Jaya and the East Coast Expressway before entering the Jalan Kelantan-Kuala Terengganu highway for a direct heading to Kota Baru.

So there's a good variety of tarmac for the Alza to run over.

For an MPV on a long distance jaunt, the impression one gets is a vehicle that's competent, comfortable and reassuring — backed by a raft of safety aids.

Steering is light yet accurate enough and brakes work well to bring the MPV quickly to a stop.

In the early stage of the journey, there were many moments to swing the Alza through hilly terrain and body roll was well-restrained. The Power drive mode came in handy when the need to overtake or ascend arose.

Suspension was firm and pliant to absorb most rough road surfaces. The firmness is also necessary to ensure the low-riding Alza doesn't scrape the road when weighed down by 7 people.

The 1.5-litre engine makes 105hp and 138Nm of torque. It won't win any races but it gets the job done with fuel efficiency in mind.

The fuel consumption was 8.7 l/100km, a marked deviation from the official 4.5 l/100km. That was because the MPV was driven hard for a substantial part of the trip and did not reflect the less strenuous driving most Alza owners would subject it to.

The Alza proved it was up to scratch when hauling six adults to dinner in Kota Baru without feeling like a sluggard, providing brisk response and sufficient pulling power. We reckoned the addition of one more person for a "full house" would have little impact on driving response.

Going uphill with three onboard was sprightly. Double the passenger load, as one publication did, and the engine and D-CVT would just redoubled their effort to pull off the challenge with a "can-do" spirit.

The cabin is relatively quiet at highway speeds but wind noise starts to seep in when the MPV is pushed harder, accompanied by an urgent-sounding engine note.

Wrapping up

The latest Alza makes a compelling proposition as a middle-class family hauler and brings plenty of value that even the T20 affluent group can't ignore. With all the goodies it offers, it's also priced to succeed.

All said and done, the new Alza is all set for a new orbit.


Auto sector shifting gears

                PETALING JAYA: As the world grapples with the Covid-19 crisis, many automotive firms across the globe have shut down their operations in tandem with the nationwide lockdown of their respective countries.

On the local front, many car companies have announced that they are temporarily suspending their operations in light of the government’s movement control order from March 18 to March 31.

“This will certainly have an impact on total industry volume (TIV) should the situation drag out longer than expected, ” said an industry observer.

Malaysian TIV got off to a weak start this year, with vehicle sales contracting 12% year-on-year in January to 42,652 units.

An analyst said vehicle sales for February was expected to be flat, if not slightly better than January’s as the government’s movement control order only kicked in this month.

“We expect sales for March to be severely affected due to the movement control order.

“We don’t think year-on-year sales for April will be in positive territory either, if the Covid-19 crisis is not abated.”

Earlier this week, national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd said production activities at its Tanjung Malim and Shah Alam plants will cease in unison as it systematically shuts down all its operations in an effort to help with the control of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore starting March 18, all customer-facing activities such as sales and after sales will cease as all Proton outlets will be temporarily shut.

Similarly, Perodua said it suspending all operations at its head office, manufacturing facilities, sales and service centres, as well as body and paint outlets nationwide until the end of the month.

 Auto firms like BMW have turned to online shopping for cars using tools including virtual reality and live broadcasts to stimulate sales.

“Due to this, new vehicle deliveries, servicing and body and paint services are expected to resume only after the movement control order is lifted, ” the company said in a statement.

UMW Toyota Malaysia, on its website, said all its authorised Toyota and Lexus dealers will temporarily cease its usual day-to-day operations but remain contactable to all customers.

Honda Malaysia also said it is temporarily suspending its business operations, namely the company’s plant in Pegoh, Melaka, sales office and dealerships nationwide.

“We will resume business operations tentatively on April 1.”

The growing Covid-19 pandemic saw China’s vehicle sales practically getting crushed last month, plummeting a record 80% as potential customers stayed away from showrooms nationwide.

China, the largest automobile market globally in terms of both demand and supply, recorded its biggest monthly plunge on record last month as the Covid-19 pandemic kept shoppers away, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.

It says the outbreak is already intensifying the pressure on automakers that are battling an unprecedented slump before the outbreak.

“The outbreak has paralysed the industry just as it was looking to gradually halt a two-year decline, with manufacturers now left with little visibility into when sales might recover.

Automakers have poured billions of dollars into the world’s largest car market over the past decades in a bet on its growth potential, ” it reported.

Citing the China Passenger Car Association (PCA), Bloomberg reported that everyone, from market leader Volkswagen AG and electric-car maker Tesla Inc to smaller local contenders have been pummelled as the spreading Covid-19 outbreak hit both demand and production.

“Wholesales from carmakers to dealerships probably plunged 86% in February.

“Millions of companies in China are in peril as consumers stay home and output at factories remains disrupted.

“Activity in the country’s manufacturing sector contracted sharply in February, with the official gauge plunging to the lowest level on record.”

Fighting backAccording to an article on the World Economic Forum (WEF) last month entitled “This industry was crippled by the coronavirus - here’s how it’s fighting back, ” many auto companies in China closed their doors as part of the recent nationwide shutdown.

“The impact on the auto industry are being felt beyond China’s borders, as shortages of supplies from China stall production around the world.”

In response to the virus, the WEF report said many auto companies are looking for solutions to get back to work.

“For example, with customer traffic in traditional dealerships heavily reduced, some carmakers turned to digital solutions.

“Besides new automotive players like NIO, XPeng, who were born with online-to-offline genes, many traditional automotive brands, including Volkswagen, Nissan, SAIC and BMW, turned to online shopping for cars using tools including virtual reality and live broadcasts to stimulate sales, ” said the report.

In response to a severe shortage of facial masks, the report said SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW) had announced it would produce masks, which can help prevent the virus infection via respiration.

“SGMW worked with Guangxi Defu Technology, who is an interior parts supplier, to install mask production in Guangxi Province. There will be 14 new production lines for both medical masks and N95 facial masks with the planned volume of 1.7 million per day.

The first batch of 200 thousand masks from SGMW were finished on Feb 9.

The report adds that automakers BYD Co and GAC Motor Co also announced it would produce masks and disinfectants at their factories.

“The planned capacity of BYD production is five million masks and 50 thousand bottles of disinfectant per day, with the first batch donated to drivers of public buses, taxis, ride-hailing fleets and volunteers fighting the outbreak.”

It added that as businesses resume operations, there may be a surge in growth in the automotive market, noting however that it will take time to go back to “normal levels.”

“Still, the outbreak will surely accelerate industry consolidation and transformation, ” it said.

On the local front, total vehicle sales finally exceeded 600,000 units in 2019 after failing to surpass that mark for three consecutive years, rising 1% year-on-year to hit 604,287 units.

The Malaysian Automotive Association is projecting a TIV growth of less than 1% to 607,000 units for this year.


Cadillac's first-ever compact SUV, the XT4, makes its debut

                ZURICH: Cadillac’s first-ever compact SUV has made it to the starting line. Measuring 4.60 metres in length, the Cadillac XT4 will enter the market to take on competitors such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.

The model is already on the market in North America, but won’t be making its way to Europe until early 2020, Cadillac Europe’s Vice President Felix Weller announced.

Weller estimates that starting prices will be just under US$40,000 (RM166,000) in Europe, slightly higher than the US$35,790 (RM148,000) price tag in the United States.

Coming standard with nine-speed automatic transmission and intelligent all-wheel drive, the XT4 will initially offer a choice between a 2.0-litre 240-hp turbo petrol engine, or a 200-hp diesel with the same displacement.

While performance and fuel consumption data have not yet been released for the European versions, the XT4 – Cadillac’s smallest and by far cheapest model to date – will still come with plenty of standard features such as LED headlamps, climate control, heads-up display and assistance systems like adaptive cruise control.

The 2019 XT4 features an all-new 2.0L Turbo engine, rated at an SAE-certified 237hp and 350Nm.


US startup Tarform unveils new electric m-cycle

                NEW YORK: US motorcycle startup Tarform unveiled its new electric motorcycle in the Brooklyn Naval yard here after weeks of dark and ambiguous Instagram pics.

According to a report by Electrek, the CEO and co-founder of Tarform, Taras Kravtchouk, designed the bike himself relying on his industrial design and motorcycle design background.

He wanted to create something that combined the public's emerging interest in electric transportation with the trending development of vintage motorcycles and the result was the first Tarform motorbike.

The battery pack of this model has a range of 145km in urban areas and 80km on the highway, and a complete charge requires four hours.

If you're not happy with the distance this bike can go, however, the modular platform that the motorcycles are built around makes for easy customisation, so later on when a battery with a wider range become available, it'll be a breeze to swap.

Tarform has also integrated some smart features to improve performance and track the bike's health. If there is an issue with any operation, an alert will be sent to your smartphone where you can directly set up an appointment.

You can pre-order the motorcycle, which is expected to cost US$18,000 (RM75,000), without commitment and without a deposit on their website, as well as reserve a '"Founder's Edition" collectors unit for US$500 (RM2,073). The latter is expected to be delivered next year but the standard bike won't be in production until 2019.

American motorcycle brand Harley Davidson is also set to debut an electric model; after revealing more information about its LiveWire model in September, the brand is planning a launch in 2019.


Google can disrupt car industry but is no automaker, says Daimler

                FRANKFURT:  Technology companies such as Google are unlikely to become mass car manufacturers, even if they have the potential to disrupt an industry increasingly focused on software and automated driving, said the head of German carmaker Daimler.

In recent years, automakers and Silicon Valley companies have grown increasingly inter-dependent because next-generation cars need advanced software and sensors, shaking up the traditional pecking order among carmakers and their suppliers.

While Google unveiled an advanced self-driving car last year, Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said the US company's objective was probably to better understand how cars are used, rather than to become a manufacturer in its own right.

"Google and the likes want to get involved, I don’t think in the first place to build vehicles," Zetsche told analysts on Friday, adding that Google was studying the home, the office and the car as places where people spend time.

"We have to understand that, and then to find our roles, to which extent they are complementary, to which extent we become dependent, to which extent we are competitors," he added.

Daimler, which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, will put great emphasis on controlling data from self-driving and other cars.

"When we talk about high safety with Mercedes, it does not apply specifically for protection from accidents, but this means safety of their personal data as well. To be able to provide that, we have to keep control, and we can’t do that when it is collected by Google," Zetsche said.


GM ready to start production of Cruise AV driverless car

DETROIT: After more than a year of building test vehicles for development of its self-driving technology, General Motors last week announced it will build production versions of its Cruise AV at its Orion Township assembly plant in Michigan. Roof modules for GM’s self-driving vehicles will be assembled at its Brownstown plant.

The Cruise AV, which the company plans to commercialise in 2019, is the first production-ready vehicle built from the ground up to operate safely on its own with no driver, steering wheel, pedals or manual controls.

“We’re continuing to make great progress on our plans to commercialize in 2019,” said GM president Dan Ammann. “Our Orion and Brownstown teams have proven experience in building high-quality self-driving test vehicles and battery packs, so they are well-prepared to produce the Cruise AV.”

GM will invest more than US$100 million to upgrade both facilities. Roof module production has already begun and production of the fourth generation Cruise AV is expected to begin in 2019.

Since January 2017, workers at the Orion plant have assembled three generations of Cruise self-driving test vehicles for use in the most challenging urban environments, including downtown San Francisco. More than 200 of the test vehicles have been assembled at Orion.

Workers at GM’s Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant will expand their capabilities by adding roof module production for all of Cruise’s self-driving vehicles. The roof modules integrate special equipment for AV operation such as LIDAR, cameras, sensors and other hardware, and will be assembled on a dedicated line at the facility. The Orion plant will continue to build the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Sonic as well as the Cruise AV.


BMW Motorrad replaces accessory footrests for GS models

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad is recalling some GS footrests over their lack of corrosion resistance.

It said stress corrosion cracks may occur on the studs of certain milled footrests from the accessory selection for the GS models in some cases.

It is offering the exchange of these parts with footrests that have a modified material composition free of charge as part of a worldwide campaign to all customers.

The accessory footrests were offered for the models R 1200/1250 GS; R 1200/1250 GS Adventure; F 750 GS; F 850 GS; and F 850 GS Adventure.

The affected footrests have the following part numbers:

77 25 2 452 958 Footrest adjustable, left, black solid
77 25 2 452 960 Footrest adjustable, right, black solid
77 25 2 465 256 Set of footrests adjustable, black solid

Affected customers are urged to contact an authorised BMW Motorrad retailer for the exchange.

In cases where an exchange cannot be offered to a customer, BMW Motorrad is offering the removal of the retrofit/conversion to standard equipment and reimbursement of the purchase price in the form of a coupon.


PLUS to beef up customer service at toll plazas during Raya holidays

                KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Bhd will station 1,500 customer service assistants (CSA) at the toll plaza lanes along the expressway to ensure a smooth drive and assist motorists in the eventuality of toll transaction complications during the Hari Raya holiday.

PLUS chief operating officer Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said this move was in line with PLUS’ focus to provide comfort to motorists by minimising congestion at all 1,100 toll lanes at 94 toll plazas along the expressway, especially from April 29 to May 9.

"This includes ensuring a smooth journey and comfort at the rest and service (R&R) areas to accommodate the needs of two million vehicles plying the expressway daily during the period,” he said in a statement today.

In addition, he said PLUS would mobilise additional staff from its headquarters to provide support at all major toll plazas nationwide.

"I also wish to remind motorists to expect a longer travelling time to their destinations because we forecast the possibility of congestion due to the high traffic volumes.

"However, you can plan your trip in advance by using the PLUS application and also follow the proposed travel time advisory (TTA), which will be published soon as well as using the Waze and Google Map applications for the journey,” he added.


Waze says Malaysian drivers generally unhappy even with good roads

                PETALING JAYA: Malaysian drivers are among unhappiest worldwide even though it has some of the best roads, according to traffic and navigation application Waze.

In their first "Global Driver Satisfaction Index" (GDSI) published on Sept 29, Waze evaluated the driving experience of 50 million users in 32 countries and 167 metro areas.

Countries were ranked based on a single numerical score from satisfying (10) to miserable (1).

With an average score of 3.2, Malaysia was ranked 27 out 30 countries in the "Wazeyness" index category, which measures the level of helpfulness and happiness within the Waze community. Belgium topped the category with a score of 8.2, while Indonesia was ranked the lowest at 2.0.

Malaysians, however thought well of the road systems, ranking them on par with those in Britain, with the two countries receiving a score of 7.4 in the road quality index, placing them in joint ninth spot. Malaysia even beat other countries such as Indonesia (7.3), the United States (7.2) and France (7.1).

But Malaysia's lack of parking and access to gas stations lead to a low score of 1.4 in Waze's driver services index, placing Malaysia in the 27th spot. Philippines topped the chart in this category with a full score of 10, while Indonesia received the lowest score of 1.0.

Malaysia was ranked 7.1 for driver safety, placing them in the 23rd spot. Argentina topped the category with a score of 9.8, while El Salvador received the lowest score of 3.3.

Malaysia was placed in the 14th spot with a score of 6.6 in the socio-economic index, which takes into account the access to cars and impact of gas prices. The United States topped the socio-economic index with a full mark of 10, while Philippines received the lowest score of 0.

However, Malaysia was not ranked in Waze's traffic index that saw Philippines with the lowest score of 0.4, and the Netherlands with the highest score of 8.1.

Overall, Malaysia came in 17th place with a score of 5.1 in Waze's most satisfied index, which averages the score of the previous six categories.

Netherlands topped the list as being the most satisfied drivers in the world with a score of 7.9, while Brazilian drivers were the least satisfied with a score of 5.2.


Harley-Davidson Pan America test rides available at Harley-Davidson of Kuala Lumpur

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Harley-Davidson's first-of-its-kind adventure motorcycle the Pan America which is expected to be launched locally soon, has received overwhelming inquiries.

Route 77 Harley-Davidson of Kuala Lumpur, a local authorised Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer, is welcoming interested customers to test ride the Pan America.

Customers would get an opportunity to experience the power and thrill of this rugged machine with a 1,250cc engine.

Not only that, H-D experts would be assigned to answer all questions from test riders.

Harley-Davidson of Kuala Lumpur is offering a trade-in programme tailor-made for H-D owners who are keen to own the Pan America, subject to terms and conditions.

For details, visit www.route77harley.com or call tel: 03 4266 8077.


Trevo rolls out balik kampung promotions

                KUALA LUMPUR: Peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Trevo has unveiled its Raya Bersama Trevo promotions for users to balik kampung in style and save money.

Users will be entitled to a discount of RM100 by using the promo code HARIRAYA120, and 22% off with the promo code HARIRAYA22.

Booking and driving periods are from April 17 to May 21 and promotions are valid for one-time use only.

The company also shared three stories provided by users on their balik kampung experiences of having the right car with Trevo's services.

The One About That Big Family Trip
After the birth of their adorable twin girls, Imran and his wife’s loyal four-seater sedan is no longer capable of driving the family back to their hometown in Kelantan comfortably (and safely). Time is running out and the couple is overwrought by the thought of not being able to go back to their hometown this year. That’s when Imran’s close friend, Kim decided to give Imran the keys to his seven-seater MPV for the whole week. The MPV had the extra space they needed for the babies’ car seats while still having space at the back for their older kids to sit and nap during the long journey. Kim’s generosity to share his car is an act of kindness that Imran will definitely remember - and he will be bringing back tons of homemade rendang for his friend after the trip!

The One About The Dodol Brothers
As the self-proclaimed “dodol masters” of the family, Fahmi and Faizal face the monumental task of making enough dodol for their entire extended family every Raya. For the past five years, the brothers had to drive their own compact cars separately to fit their luggage and the big dodol wok. This year, their cousin Faiz is tagging along and offered to use his four-wheel drive for the trip. The trunk had ample space to secure the wok, ingredients, and luggage. The best part is that Fahmi, Faizal and Faiz could finally balik kampung together - something they haven’t done since they were kids. Thanks to the 4WD’s extra stability and off-road performance, the guys’ journey home is now smooth like butter (and dodol)!

The One About The Besties And Their Raya Road Trip
Nura and Dee are childhood friends who have always celebrated Raya with each others’ families. This year, the duo decided to do something different and rented an SUV for a three-day cross-country road trip across Malaysia. They travelled through peninsular Malaysia, stopping to visit their relatives in different states. Was it a conventional Raya? Nope, but Nura and Dee had an incredible trip exploring the peninsula together. The vibes were immaculate and that SUV? Such a clutch.

For details on Trevo and the Raya Bersama Trevo visit: https://trevo.my


S. Korea automakers' group urges end to subsidies for Chinese EVs

                SEOUL: A South Korean automakers’ group called today for an end to generous state subsidies for sales of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), citing a potential threat to local automakers and Beijing’s “discrimination” against EVs equipped with Korean batteries.

Jeong Marn-ki, president of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, said Chinese automakers could boost EV exports as domestic demand suffered from a phasing out of Beijing’s EV subsidies and a trade dispute with the United States.

“Chinese automakers, which are undergoing difficulties at home, are expected to turn their eyes into the neighbouring Korean market,” Jeong said in an interview.

South Korea - home to Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors - offers one of the world’s highest subsidies for electric cars, industry officials say.

Chinese carmakers including BYD, accounted for nearly 40 percent of the 19.3 billion won (RM68mil) in Korean EV subsides provided to imported carmakers last year, according to industry data.

However, while Chinese automakers are boosting EV sales in Korea, EVs equipped with Korean batteries are not eligible for state subsidies in China.

“China has created an uneven playing field for foreign brands,” said Jeong, who heads the lobby group which represents Hyundai, Kia and other domestic automakers.

“International relations should be based on reciprocal principles. If Beijing wields a knife, we should wield a knife too.”

Chinese carmakers are narrowing the gap with Hyundai in the sale in South Korea of electric buses, which are eligible for subsidies of 100 million won (RM355,000) each, according to industry data.

Chinese automakers like BAIC are now looking at expanding into the passenger electric car segment in Korea, Jeong said. “It is like South Korea is using taxpayers’ money to nurture China’s EV industry.”

Jeong also said he was hopeful that the United States would exempt South Korea from potential vehicle tariffs, given that Seoul made concessions on autos in a revised trade deal with Washington.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to levy tariffs of some 25 percent on imported vehicles and auto parts on national security grounds.

“I am optimistic about the decision. But who knows? Trump is unpredictable,” Jeong said.


Petronas Dagangan in talks with Finance Ministry on fuel subsidy

                KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) is in discussions with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) regarding the spike in the government’s fuel subsidy bill this year, as a result of high global oil prices, says PDB managing director and CEO Azrul Osman Rani.

According to a recent statement by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, spending on fuel subsidies may reach RM28bil this year if global oil prices continue to trend above US$100 (RM435.65) per barrel, compared with RM11bil on the fuel subsidy bill in 2021.

“We are in close discussion and communication with the Finance Ministry.

“We understand the current predicament with the high global oil prices impacting the country as well as every other nation,” Azrul told reporters during an online media briefing after the group’s AGM.

“Just to give a better feel, if you look at Thailand today, we’re looking at RON 95 equivalent of about RM5 per litre.

“In Singapore, it is close to RM10 per litre. So definitely, there will be a deepening concern with regards to the ballooning subsidy budget that the government would have to shoulder,” he added.

Azrul said it is understood that the government is also looking at various initiatives, including potential targetted subsidies for the B40 income group and perhaps also the M40 group.

“We will support and continue to work with the government as well as the overall oil and gas industry operating in Malaysia. I think there’s still several discussion points that we need to finalise and iron out.

“We’ll be working closely with them to ensure a smooth and sustainable model that the country can adopt,” he said.

 Energise by Petronas EV fast chargers.

Meanwhile, PDB is partnering with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd and EV Connection Sdn Bhd to install its own branded fast electric vehicle (EV) charger, Energise by Petronas, at five Petronas stations along major highways this year.

Azrul said the group would roll out more EV chargers “as the market grows in tandem with demand.”

“We are also looking at EVs in a pragmatic way. We do understand that this is a new emerging market. It’s not a question of if, but rather a question of when.

“This is one of those areas where you do not want to be way too ahead of the curve as technology is fast evolving, and we want to move in tandem with the growth of the market,” he said.


Never ride thirsty: Why you should stay hydrated on a motorcycle tour

                BERLIN: If you're planning a longer motorcycle trip soon, it's not only vital that your bike doesn't run out of juice — you also need to make sure you stay hydrated yourself.

Don't wait until you're thirsty, warns a German industry institute. If you don't drink enough, you won't necessarily feel thirsty right away, according to the experts.

But your performance and ability to concentrate will decline gradually. To prevent this, schedule regular breaks in places where there is plenty of shade.

Water, tea and fruit juice spritzers are your best options to stay hydrated.

When on the road, the experts also recommend smaller portions of water- and mineral-rich foods instead of eating fast food, for example.

Cucumber, peppers, melon and tomatoes are great snacks and can be easily stowed in small plastic boxes with drinks, for example in the tank bag.


PPP car plate number series fetches RM7.3mil over five-day auction

                PETALING JAYA: A total of RM7.3mil was received within five days of the bidding for the PPP car plate number series, says the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

JPJ deputy director general (strategy and operations) Zamakshari Hanipah said in a statement today that the bidding for the number series was opened from Nov 5 until Nov 9 via the JPJebid online bidding system.

“The PPP registration number series which was opened for five days collected the highest takings of RM7,257,785, and has overtaken the bid for the SYG series with a difference of RM3.7mil.

PPP 8999 was the most popular car plate number series with 33 bidders. The highest bid for it was RM12,888.

PPP 999 was the second most popular, with 28 bidders and the highest bid being RM106,000.

Zamakshari said that the remaining unregistered car plate numbers under the series would be open to the public at the following minimum prices:

Golden numbers at a minimum bidding price of RM20,000, two-digit attractive numbers at RM3,000, 3-digit attractive numbers at RM2,500, four-digit attractive numbers at RM2,000, popular numbers at RM500 and running numbers at RM300.

Interested buyers are advised to contact the state or branch JPJ office.

“The public is also advised to have a public mySIKAP ID to get the list of available numbers that have not yet been registered, which can be bought online.

“The JPJebid system is one of JPJ's efforts towards digitising its service delivery. JPJeBid offers transparency starting from the registration transaction until payment is made.

“Bidders can know the position (ranking) in real-time and there is no element of human intervention,” he said.

From tomorrow, Nov 12 until Nov 16 2020, Zamakshari revealed that the bidding for “KFA” series for Kedah and “PPQ” for Penang will be opened.

The new minimum bidding price starts from RM315 to RM21,000, which includes a 5% increase in minimum bidding price.


Bangkok Motor Expo 2020 goes digital

                BANGKOK: The 37th Bangkok Motor Expo now provides a virtual viewing experience via its online platform.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the expo provides reviews of cars and motorcycles from all exhibiting companies.

Motor Expo Organizing Committee vice-chairman Chalatchai Paphatphong (in charge of General Administration) revealed that the online platform provides a one-minute 30-second review for each vehicle in Full HD video.

There is also a Buyer`s Guide function that presents electronic brochures of all companies for ease of data comparison and initial calculation of instalments.

When the viewer selects the car of his interest and presses the Contact button, a staffer from that brand will contact him as soon as possible.

Those who wish to experience the exhibited vehicles in person can book an exclusive visitor package and tour the event as a VIP, benefiting from many privileges offered by the Organizer and dealers.

Paying 500 baht allows visitors four privileges starting with the ability to make an appointment to interact with the vehicle and salesperson.

Visitors will be given a dedicated parking spot and a receptionist will usher the visitor directly to the booth of interest.

Finally, along with free lounge access, visitors will be given two passes for each day of the expo.

For those who register online for the expo, they will automatically be in the running to win one of 10 Apple Watch SE GPS (40mm) worth 9,400 Baht each.

The expo will be held at IMPACT Challenger, Muang Thong Thani from Dec 2 to 13.

For more details, log on to www.motorexpo.co.th.


Ford's new CEO Farley shakes up management amid promises of urgency

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co's new chief executive, Jim Farley (pic), on Thursday promised the US automaker would move with urgency, responding to investor and analyst criticism of the speed at which his predecessor acted.

Farley, on his first day as Ford’s 11th CEO, also announced an executive shake-up that included naming a new chief financial officer.

Ford’s promise to accelerate its turnaround is not new at a time when it is executing an US$11 billion restructuring.

Farley was named chief operating officer in February and promised a faster return to strong profits. He was officially tapped to succeed Jim Hackett in August.

“During the past three years, under Jim Hackett’s leadership, we have made meaningful progress and opened the door to becoming a vibrant, profitably growing company,” Farley said in a statement on Thursday. “Now it’s time to charge through that door.”

Hackett and Ford have been criticised by some on Wall Street for not moving quickly enough on its restructuring. At the end of the second quarter, the Dearborn, Michigan-based company had incurred only US$3.9 billion of the projected US$11 billion in charges.

Farley will face immediate tests in his new role, including ensuring a smooth launch for the highly profitable, top-selling F-150 pickup truck to avoid the costly missteps Ford experienced when it revamped the Explorer SUV.

Ford on Thursday re-affirmed its goal for operating margins of 8%, something it identified as a 2020 target before the coronavirus pandemic hit. It did not specify when it would achieve this target.

Ford’s operating margin was 4.1% last year, before falling to negative 4.8% in the first half of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The company also said John Lawler would succeed Tim Stone as CFO. Lawler most recently had been head of Ford Autonomous Vehicles and vice president of mobility partnerships. He also served as president of Ford China for nearly four years.

Stone, who will remain with Ford through Oct 15, accepted a job as COO and CFO with ASAPP Inc, an artificial-intelligence software company. Stone had been in the CFO job only since June 2019.

Ford also said it would separate the Lincoln and marketing jobs to put greater focus on both. Joy Falotico, who had held both the Lincoln and global marketing jobs, will focus on Lincoln once a chief marketing officer is named, in a move meant to accelerate the brand’s growth.

Farley outlined his objectives during a virtual town hall meeting with Ford’s global team on Thursday, saying the company will allocate capital to its strongest franchises and high-growth opportunities, such as the F-Series pickup truck and its commercial business.

It also will add more affordable vehicles to its global lineup, build electric vehicles at scale and stand up new autonomous-enabled businesses, he said. Decision making will be pushed down to the regional level.

Credit Suisse analyst Dan Levy welcomed Farley’s urgency and Lawler’s ascension, and said investors will expect increased disclosure under the new management team.

Ford has moved to cut costs globally, including earlier this month when it said it would target cutting 1,400 US salaried jobs by year end.

Last year, Ford cut 7,000 salaried jobs globally, as well as targeting 12,000 additional layoffs and plant closures in Europe. It also restructured operations in China and South America.

The automaker previously said it expects a full-year loss because of the pandemic’s impact. It sees a pre-tax profit of between US$500 million and US$1.5 billion in the third quarter, and a loss in the fourth quarter as it launches several new vehicles.


Police roadblocks set up nationwide

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has started conducting 24-hour roadblocks at strategic locations in each district nationwide since Tuesday.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said it was part of the police efforts to prevent crime through omnipresence to ensure public order and safety.

"For the convenience of road users, no roadblocks will be conducted at peak hours, be it in the morning or later during the day.

"We advise the public to cooperate by following instructions at the roadblocks," he said in a statement today.

The IGP said the public need not worry in carrying out their daily routines as police are committed to ensuring their safety.


For posterior and posterity: Why car seats are going eco-friendly

                FRANKFURT: The automotive industry isn't only cutting carbon emissions these days. To deflect criticism of cars' role in global warming and project environmental responsibility, it's also using new, ostensibly "green" materials, mostly from recycled or renewable resources.

Previously out of sight and reach, they've usually served in insulation or padding. Now they're making an appearance in places including the seats.

"Long gone are the days when leather seats were regarded as the ultimate in luxury, and fabric or plastic were reserved for cheap models," says Ruth Pauli, a Cologne-based automotive and material design expert.

 VW ID.4

The British marque Land Rover, for instance, like Tesla and Audi, has jumped on the vegan lifestyle bandwagon and is offering fabric seat covers as an alternative to leather in models such as the Evoque and Velar. To justify higher prices, they're not just any old covers, but were developed in collaboration with the Danish fabric house Kvadrat, says a company spokesperson.

Other carmakers are using virgin wool, and Bentley is now even putting tweed in its models, if only for its door panel covers at first.

In the name of sustainability and the lowest possible environmental impact, the leather in BMW's electric-powered i3 isn't tanned with chemicals, but with olive production waste. Skoda is experimenting with oak and rhubarb extracts to treat its leather. Seat covers from yarn made of recycled PET bottles is an option in the Audi A3 and Polestar 2.

 Polestar 2

"Forty-five recycled bottles per car are used for them, and another 62 for the carpets," says Audi spokesman Tobias Soellner.

Carmakers are going even further and experimenting with materials that probably aren't ready for mass production yet. According to Daimler chief design officer Gorden Wagener, seats in the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS are covered with recycled plastic from old fishing nets recovered from the ocean. In some tests for Volkswagen's I.D. electric series, the artificial leather seats are made from apple scraps, a company spokesperson says.

As good as the new materials may be for an environmentally friendly image, carmakers must also consider their safety and durability. And consumers notice differences in comfort, since what appeases their ecological conscience won't always please their bum. As some seat covers make you sweat more than others, or are warmer or colder, Pauli recommends a test-sitting if possible.

 EQS.

For all carmakers' ecological correctness, she sees marketing or cost-cutting reasons to be often behind their trendy "green" upholstery fabrics. "On closer inspection, many supposedly sustainable materials aren't as environmentally friendly as the manufacturers and our gut feeling would have us believe," Pauli says.

The leather in car seats, for instance, despite its associations with luxury, is a meat industry waste product and therefore better than any synthetic alternative specially made for cars, she remarks. And while it's important to fish plastic out of the ocean, she adds, sorting it for the homogeneous, high-quality fibres needed to spin automotive textiles is time-consuming and costly.


2017 Geneva Motor Show: Audi Q8 sport concept pops in

                GENEVA: At the 2017 Geneva Motor Show advanced Electrically Powered Compressor (EPC) technology first used by Audi in the SQ7 TDI is flexing its muscle in a TFSI petrol engine for the first time in the Audi Q8 sport concept.

Demonstrating the vision Audi’s developers and designers have for the dynamic yet efficient SUV of tomorrow, the latest Q8 study combines its EPC with a six-cylinder TFSI and a mild hybrid system – a world first that enables it to deliver an exceptional 476PS output with the efficiency of a four-cylinder equivalent.

Augmented by the compressor and Mhev system the 3.0 TFSI engine powers the Q8 sport concept from 0 – 62mph in just 4.7 seconds and keeps going until it reaches its top speed of 170mph.

Meanwhile, its range of more than 745 miles ensures it is also suitable for long journeys. Thanks to the superb recuperation performance of 20 kW, this imposing SUV holds a considerable fuel economy advantage over a model equipped with a regular TFSI six-cylinder engine without mHEV system, and its CO2 output also shows a 25 g/km improvement.

“The drive system of the Audi Q8 sport concept is a major step towards optimising efficiency and sustainability in large-volume series production. The combination of mild hybrid technology and a TFSI engine sets a new benchmark for the synthesis of electromobility and combustion engines. In the future, this combination will be used in many Audi models,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG.

Highly efficient power package: the drive system

The architecture of the drive system in the new Audi Q8 sport concept is revolutionary: for the first time ever, Audi is combining a 450PS 3.0 TFSI six-cylinder engine with an electric powered compressor and an effective mild hybrid system for recuperation.

The starter generator positioned between the crankshaft and the transmission handles recuperation and, if required, can work in the opposite direction as an additional electric motor. The 48-volt electrical system assures the supply of electrical power.

For the customer, this approach has a number of advantages: the energy recovered as part of recuperation can, if required, be used to increase performance.

During boost operation – where the combustion engine and electric motor are used simultaneously – the electric motor’s additional 20 kW of output and its torque of 170Nm open up a total of 350 kW of power to the engine and bring its total torque up to 700Nm.

The result is forceful acceleration at any speed and any point in the rev range.

Positioned at the rear under the luggage compartment, the lithium-ion battery with an energy storage capacity of 0.9 kWh makes it possible to keep moving slowly in stop-start traffic with the combustion engine switched off, as well as allowing for manoeuvres and parking under electric power alone.

During braking, efficient recuperation using the 20-kW-strong starter generator quickly recharges the battery to ensure that the vehicle can regularly be driven under electric power.

In addition to the two exhaust gas turbochargers, the electric powered compressor provides the Q8 sport concept with an additional kick by supplying the three-litre six-cylinder engine with fresh air. The electric powered compressor supports the turbochargers at times when the exhaust gas is insufficient for rapid development of power.

It therefore opens up delay-free acceleration to the V6 petrol engine – something previously only known to diesel engines and electric motors. It’s a recipe for success which already works impressively in the series production Audi SQ7.

The electric powered compressor is positioned in a bypass downstream of the intercooler, i.e. close to the engine. Instead of the turbine wheel, it integrates a compact electric motor. It accelerates the engine’s compressor wheel up to 70,000 rpm in less than 250 milliseconds.

With the support of the electric powered compressor, the power of the 3.0 TFSI is always rapidly available as soon as the accelerator is depressed, even at low engine speeds. When driving off, the SUV immediately takes a lead of several metres ahead of the competition. During comfort-oriented driving, the electric powered compressor technology prevents unnecessary downshifts and thus keeps the engine speed at a low level. Meanwhile, keen drivers will appreciate the instantaneous delivery of power when exiting corners.

The Q8 sport concept drive system with its V6 TFSI and additional electric motor supplies the performance of a true eight-cylinder engine, yet with the fuel consumption of a frugal four-cylinder. That’s because, compared with a similar engine without mild hybrid system, the consumption reduces by more than a litre per 100 kilometres, despite serving up 20 kW of additional power. The total range of the Q8 sport concept equipped with an 85-litre fuel tank is more than 745 miles.

High-tech from production models: drivetrain and suspension

In the Audi Q8 sport concept, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system transfers the power of the drive system to the road with supreme control. Even for its wide-track chassis, the technology study makes use of the latest high-end solutions from the luxury-class product portfolio.

The adaptive air suspension sport – an air suspension system with controlled damping – allows for a broad spectrum of ride characteristics, ranging from cushioned cruising to firm and tight handling. Furthermore, it sets the ground clearance in five levels with 90-millimetre height differences, selecting the ideal level in each case. The front and rear axles are engineered as lightweight five-link constructions.

Audi mounts 305/35 tyres on the large 11J x 23 wheels. The five intertwining Y-spokes project a powerful image. Ceramic brake discs measuring 20 inches in diameter effortlessly decelerate the Audi Q8 sport concept.

Dynamic lines and high-tech design details

At first glance, it is clearly a highly dynamic and luxurious Audi – that’s how the Audi Q8 concept study was received at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show. The debutant in Geneva is an even more sporty variation of this composition and is also an elegant alternative to the robust presence of a classic Sport Utility Vehicle. The Q8 and Q8 sport concept are synonymous with prestige and technology in all areas.

At 5.02 metres long, the Audi Q8 sport concept makes an impressive mark on the luxury class. Thanks to a wheelbase of three metres, the show car offers plenty of space for passengers and luggage. Despite the sloping, coupe-like roofline, even the rear-seat passengers enjoy ample head and shoulder room. The new operating concept uses large touchscreens in the cockpit, rounded out by an expanded version of the Audi virtual cockpit and a contact-analogue head-up display. The latter uses intelligent augmented reality technology that merges the real and the virtual worlds.

Viewed from the front, the 2.05 metre wide Audi Q8 sport concept looks imposing. A distinguishing feature here is the octagonal Singleframe grille. It is a sculpted piece and is significantly wider than in today’s Audi production models. Its surface has a honeycomb lattice structure overlayed with aluminium segments, whilst the surround is painted in a contrasting colour. As is typical of Audi Sport models, the outer air inlets are much larger compared with the basic model – a sign of the greater air requirements of the high-performance power unit. A distinctive body-coloured blade forms the bottom edge of the bumper.

The flat, wedge-shaped headlights of the Audi Q8 sport concept are integrated into the front end and, from a design perspective, are connected with the adjoining air inlets. The individual light elements have a glass cover, but the entire headlight units are not enclosed. This creates the impression that they are free in space.


WATCH: Ford offers glimpse of Bronco Raptor

                DETROIT: Ford is offering a sneak peek of the Bronco Raptor that will launch in 2022.

Expect it to have a beefier V6 engine and upgraded suspension to handle everything that an offroad challenge can throw at it.

A set of 37-inch tyres could be part of the standard equipment.

At the very least, the Bronco Raptor will have 400hp. That would mean Ford would use the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 of the Explorer ST.

But then, Ford may want to heat things up with an even meaner Raptor, in which case it could switch up to the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 in the F-150 Raptor for a more satisfying 450hp.

Other speculative details being floated are that this new Raptor could get a 10-speed automatic gearbox with selectable drive modes and an advanced all-wheel-drive system.

As for the price, it will certainly be north of the Bronco First Edition's which starts at US$60,800 (RM255,000).