Ex-staff member at auto company gets 7 days in jail, fined over RM148,000 for graft

                KUALA LUMPUR: A former staff member at an automobile company has been sentenced by a Sessions Court here to a total of seven days in jail and fined RM148,200 for corruptly receiving RM21,940 in relation to car dealings at the company he worked for.

Cheah Kuang Ming, 39, was also ordered by Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi to serve another 53 months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Cheah, who was the head of the used car management at the company, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of corruption involving a total of RM21,940.

According to the first until the ninth charge, Cheah was charged with corruptly receiving a total of RM10,440 in his bank account through several individuals as a reward to ensure that 10 cars from his former employer's company were sold to four used car firms.

For the 10th charge, Cheah was accused of corruptly receiving RM5,500 from a motor company as a reward for him choosing that company to buy several vehicle licence plate numbers that belonged to his employer.

For the 11th and 12th charge, Cheah had corruptly received a payment of RM2,400 and RM3,600 from two different companies as a reward for him to ensure that a computer consultancy company, Syarikat Green Matrix Solution Sdn Bhd, became the provider of the primary module system and the primary furniture supplier to the company he worked for.

The offences were committed at Maybank Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail between July 16 and July 22, 2019.

Cheah admitted to all the charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

He faced a maximum 20-year jail sentence and fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

During mitigation, lawyer Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, who represented the accused, told the court that his client's guilty plea had saved the court's time as well as the prosecution's.

He said Cheah supported his elderly parents who were diabetic and had high blood pressure.

"My client is jobless now. He is emotionally depressed since the case and was in remand for five days," Mohamad Hanafiah said.

The lawyer said a long sentence would be inappropriate and asked the court to consider a day's imprisonment instead.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin argued that based on the case, the accused had received commissions, which he should not have done.

"This (receiving commission) is illegal as it violates his employment contract. A day imprisonment and a fine are leaning towards the interest of the accused.

"We must strike a balance between the accused's interest and good governance. The prosecution suggests one to two weeks imprisonment," he said.

Judge Azura said the court must consider public interest in the case and meted out a sentence that would serve as a lesson to society.

She sentenced Cheah to prison time between a day and seven days and a fine of between RM10,000 and RM27,500 for each of the charges, which totalled up to RM148,200.

The court ordered for the jail sentence to run concurrently.


Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 Edition 1: Slick operator

                One thing’s sure. The Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 makes a 40km commute feel like a short trip as it swiftly gobbles up the miles with driver strapped into the lap of luxury.

We had a chance to drive the 4-door coupe recently as it reeled out power, speed and refinement in a sumptuous package.

The third-generation CLS was introduced to Malaysia in August last year as part of Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars Collection.

Well, the marketing hook may draw ready nods especially from fans. But the fact is dream cars are different things to different people. There’s no wrong answer even if your idea of one is mainstream material like the Peugeot 3008, Ford Focus or Isuzu D-Max.

Now back to the car at hand.

Exterior

At standstill, the CLS is a study in design flair.

Mercedes-Benz went on a fusion binge and created the CLS bodystyle in 2003, which sought to merge the elegance and dynamism of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a sedan. The third generation CLS you see here continues to build on this foundation.

The CLS design language is characterised by a swoopy waistline, flat side window lines and low greenhouse. The eye is also drawn to the minimal use of sharp edges and lines to define the sheetmetal.

Striking front-end features include the diamond grille typical of Mercedes-Benz coupés, with a single louvre. The silhouette of the radiator grille widens towards the base, resembling the contours of the grille on the Mercedes-AMG GT. The very flat and wide headlamps with inward-slanting flanks follow the contour of the grille.

The forward-slanting front end, seen from the side, reminds one of a shark’s nose, and appears longer by virtue of a fully inset bonnet.

Also typical of the CLS are frameless side windows and a muscular rear shoulder line which blends into the flat rear end. Like the headlamps, the LED tail lights with Edgelight backlighting have a crystalline appearance and create a three-dimensional effect. Their low positioning accentuates the car’s width.

Despite larger exterior dimensions and larger standard wheels, the new CLS is said to be one of the most aerodynamic in its segment with a Cd figure of 0.26.

The test car we had for nearly two weeks was an Edition 1, which is Mercedes’ standard way of introducing a limited run version for a year following its market launch.

The Edition 1 packs more eye candy outside and inside than the standard CLS 450.

In this case, the Edition 1 is based on the AMG Line exterior. Edition-specific eye-catchers include the diamond grille with pins and matt chrome inserts, the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps (the CLS was the first model to use it) and 20-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels in high-gloss black with a burnished rim flange. The special variant is also recognisable by the “Edition 1” lettering on the front wings.

Interior

The cabin emphasis is on full-on luxury. As befits its place in the Mercedes hierarchy, it is thoroughly modern and beautifully appointed.

The centrepiece is, of course, the dual digital widescreen that steps up the sophistication and versatility in the way information is displayed to the driver. If it looks familiar, it is as it’s the same as the latest E-Class on which the CLS is based.

The cockpit allows for a choice of three display modes: Classic, Sport and Progressive. We particularly like the Progressive style which seemed more purposeful and aligned with the “persona” of the car.

Like the exterior, the interior is also decked out in the AMG line that includes dashboard support lined in black nappa leather; centre console and dashboard support trim in black open-pored ash wood, IWC analogue clock, 64-colour ambient lighting including illuminated turbine-style air vents.

Edition 1 enhancements show up in the form of seats in black pearl nappa leather with centre sections in a diamond design and copper-coloured accents, copper-coloured topstitching on the centre console, seats, armrests, dashboard and door panels. To remind you further, the centre console, welcome screen and floor mats have “Edition 1” markers.

Other niceties on the list are powered sunroof, Command Online with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Thermotronic climate control, 360-degree camera with Parking Pilot, and air-balance package.

A coupe is never about equality of space and comfort for all. It’s about pampering the two privileged fellas in front; the rest will have to make do with what’s left.

Although the rear can now seat three people unlike before, headroom is limiting because of the roof curvature but legroom is fine since this is a big car. You will have to lean forward to see out the window better though.
Getting in is the easy part.

Getting out, however, requires more effort than those in front as you sit low and deep in the back.

Practicality

Storage spaces are decent enough. There are two cupholders up front and two more in the rear fold-down centre armrest. The centre console with split covers is deep and there’s a small drawer in front to keep small items if you are too lazy to reach out to the glove box. All doors come with sufficient space to keep small bottles.

At 520l, the CLS boot volume is sizeable; we didn’t have any trouble loading up the month’s groceries for a family of four. Rear seats fold 40:20:40 if more space is needed.

The car’s hands-free tailgate opening is both convenient and practical when you have your hands full and need to gain access to the boot. It opened almost everytime, which can hardly be said of some cars with this feature that were iffy at best.

And we did mention the CLS is a five-seater this round, didn’t we?

Safety

Aside from a light yet rigid body set up to offer a high level of crash safety, the CLS offers a full suite of active safety features that includes nine airbags, ABS, as well as traction and stability control.

Top that with Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist, Speed Limit Assist, Pre-safe Sound, Collision warning and the list looks mighty reassuring.

Two child seats can also be mounted in second row with the included Isofix points.

Ride & handling

In the latest CLS, Mercedes has revised the mechanicals substantially. The CLS is now a mild hybrid, packing an EQ Boost starter-alternator unit, which powers the car’s new 48V electrical systems and also provides 22hp and 250Nm of torque for short bursts during take-off and acceleration.

Mercedes has also gone with an all-new in-line 6-cyclinder mill instead of the usual V6 to motivate the CLS. The reason: it’s a simpler engine and runs much more smoothly in keeping with a luxury car.

The 3.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 367hp and 500Nm of torque. It enables the car to sprint from 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds, with top speed capped at 250kph.

No raucous ambience here. It’s all about power and speed delivered in a smooth and collected manner without any noticeable turbo lag. Set up the CLS in Sport+ and press on to add some muted exhaust rumbles to the soundtrack. If you want kick-ass thrills, prepare to pay more for an AMG stablemate.

Handling is acceptable with the steering offering some feel as you toggle up to the sporty modes.

On winding trunk roads to Kuala Selangor, with gears in Sport mode, the lowered comfort suspension and tiller firm up, and the car feels resolved and balanced as it propels through hairy bends. This is also in part due to an all-wheel drive that contributes to exceptional grip.

We noted that the CLS was better for highway cruising if the engine/suspension/steering settings were set to Eco/Sport/Sport via the Individual drive mode compared to the Comfort setting. However, such grumbles are offset by a well-insulated interior.

While the 20-inch wheels on run-flat tyres look aesthetically pleasing, it was quite jarring on rough surfaces; downsizing to 19 or 18-inch wheels would likely ease this effect.

The CLS can also drive itself semi autonomously via Steering Assist, which keeps the car in its intended lane even around gentle curves when in active cruise control mode.

But its effectiveness is still dependent on how clear the road marker lines are and weather conditions, just like Volvo’s Pilot Assist tech.

Fuel consumption

Anyone rich enough to afford the CLS shouldn’t be fussing over fuel consumption. But Mercedes provides one anyway in case someone bothers asking. Combined fuel consumption is rated at 7.8 l/100km. The integrated electric motor known as EQ Boost go some ways to boost fuel savings.

Warranty

The fully imported CLS 450 comes with a 4-year warranty with unlimited mileage, whichever comes first.
Summary

The CLS is a style statement that has been updated to keep up with the times. It also marks an embrace of a very capable engine layout that endows this coupe with pace and grace.

The RM700K Edition 1 CLS is available only in limited numbers so start opening your wallet if you want a car that might one day become a collector’s item.

SPECIFICATIONSMercedes-Benz CLS 450 4Matic Edition 1Engine: 2,999cc, turbocharged, direct injection, in-line 6-cylinderMaximum power: 367hp at 5,500rpm to 6,100rpm
Maximum torque: 500Nm from 1,600rpm to 4,000rpm
Integrated Starter Generator: 22hp/250Nm
Transmission: 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic
Features: Multibeam LED, AMG Dynamic Select. COMAND Online, Burmester Audio system, Wireless charging, 360-degree camera, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, paddle shifters, Lowered comfort suspension, AMG Line Exterior, Night Edition, 9 airbags, Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Attention Assist, Speed Limit Assist, electric parking brake, ABS, ESP
Acceleration (0-100kph): 4.8s
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 7.8l/100km
Price: (OTR without insurance): RM698,888


New Japanese flying car gets off the ground, for about a minute

The NEC flying machine hovering at the company's facility in Abiko near Tokyo on Monday. — AP
TOKYO: It was caged and only hovered for about a minute, but it flew: a new flying car.

Made by NEC Corp., the vehicle is essentially a large drone with four propellers that’s capable of carrying people.

The Japanese electronics maker demonstrated the machine, flying without a passenger, at a Tokyo suburb on Monday. Powered by a battery, it rose briefly to about 3 metres above the ground before settling down again.

Behind the somewhat underwhelming, drama-free demonstration lies a bigger ambition: Japan’s government wants the country to become a leader in flying cars after missing out on advancements in technology such as electric cars and ride-hailing services.

The country’s technological roadmap calls for shipping goods by flying cars by around 2023 and letting people ride in flying cars in cities by the 2030s.

 Workers preparing for a demonstration of the prototype NEC aircraft. — Bloomberg

"Japan is a densely populated country and that means flying cars could greatly alleviate the burden on road traffic,” said Kouji Okada, a leader of the project at NEC. "We are positioning ourselves as an enabler for air mobility, providing location data and building communications infrastructure for flying cars.”

For the past few years, Japan has seen the emergence of a small, passionate flying-car community that believes Japan has the engineering expertise and right environment to foster a global flying car industry.

Venture capitalists in the country set up a specialized fund, known as the Drone Fund, devoted to investing in autonomous aircraft in general and flying-car businesses in particular.

Although Monday’s demo is among the first by a major Japanese corporation, NEC isn’t planning to mass-produce the flying car, according to Okada. Instead project partner Cartivator will start mass producing the transportation machine in 2026, according to the startup’s co-founder, Tomohiro Fukuzawa.

NEC engineers and Cartivator, which it sponsors, spent about a year developing the model. It’s about 3.9 metres long, 3.7 metres wide and 1.3 metres tall, and weighs about 150kg.

It’s being tested in a large 10-metre-by-20-metre cage that’s 2 metres tall, to make sure it doesn’t fly out of control and injure someone, or cause damage.

Japan isn’t the only country seeking to usher in a flying-car utopia; Dubai, Singapore, and New Zealand have expressed similar intentions. Google co-founder Larry Page’s Kitty Hawk Corp. is also working on a flying car, as is Uber Technologies Inc.

Eventually, NEC’s flying car will be set free: Cartivator has been granted a permit for outdoor flights by Japanese government.


Toyota, SoftBank team up to develop self-driving car services

SoftBank Group Corp chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son (left) and Toyoda bowing to each other at their joint news conference in Tokyo. - Reuters
TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and SoftBank Group Corp said they will team up to develop car services that rely on self-driving technology, such as hospital shuttles, as they envision a future in which fewer people drive their own vehicles.

The partnership between Japan’s top automaker and its most influential tech giant shows that even big well-funded players fear being left behind in the race to develop autonomous and connected cars.

“SoftBank alone and automakers alone can’t do everything,” said Junichi Miyakawa, chief technology officer at SoftBank Corp who will be CEO of the new company. ”We want to work to help people with limited access to transportation.”

The announcement adds to a slew of deals and discussions aimed at sharing costs and securing expertise that has resulted in myriad pairings between global automakers, ride-hailing companies as well as major tech firms.

Honda Motor Co Ltd said on Wednesday it would invest US$2.75 billion and take a 5.7 percent stake in General Motors Co’s Cruise self-driving vehicle unit, in which SoftBank is also an investor.

On the same day, Daimler AG and Renault said they may expand their cooperation to batteries, self-driving vehicles and mobility services.

Toyota and SoftBank’s new venture will start with 2 billion yen (US$17.5 million) in capital, with SoftBank owning just over half of the business.

It will be called Monet, short for mobility network, and potential car services could include meal deliveries, shuttle buses as well as vehicles that offer onboard medical examinations, they said.

While both firms have been independently developing technologies for self-driving vehicles and car sharing, and each have investments in ride-hailing firms Uber Technologies, Grab and Didi Chuxing, this is first time they have come together.

“We are trying to take traditional car making into new fields,” Toyota president Akio Toyoda told reporters. ”We realised that Softbank shares the same vision when it comes to the future of cars, so it’s time that we partner together.”

Toyota, which has been mainly developing automated driving and artificial intelligence technologies in-house, expects the future will include convoys of shuttle bus-sized, self-driving multi-purpose vehicles used, for instance, as pay-per-use mobile restaurants and hotels.

It has been developing a service called ”e-Palette” based on this concept. Amazon.com Inc, Didi, Uber and Pizza Hut are early partners in the project, and Toyota has said it plans to use the service to ship athletes and guests around during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Monet will roll out an autonomous driving service using e-Palette by the second half of the 2020s, the companies said.

SoftBank will provide technology to collect and analyse transportation data to ensure cars are efficiently dispatched when and where they’re needed, they said.

SoftBank has its own autonomous vehicle unit, SB Drive, which has been developing self-driving technology for buses.


Ducati posts more than 1 billion euro revenue in historic first

                BOLOGNA: Ducati closes 2022 full of successes posting record figures for sales, revenue and operating profit that add to the exceptional triumphs achieved by Ducati in the racing world, which has seen the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer win all titles in MotoGP and WorldSBK.

For the first time in its history, Ducati's revenue exceeded the 1 billion euros figure (1,089 million euros), marking an increase of 24% over 2021 (878 million euros), thanks to an attractive product portfolio that resulted in higher volumes in sales.

Operating profit is also remarkable with a record 109 million euros, corresponding to a massive growth of 77% compared to 2021 (61 million euros).

As a result, the profitability level also increased, reaching a double-digit margin of 10%.

 Domenicali.

2022 was also exceptional in terms of commercial results.

Ducati closed the year with a record of 61,562 motorcycles delivered to enthusiasts around the world, scoring a 3.6% growth over 2021.

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said the company was on a positive trend that in the last years has seen Ducati grow and establish itself as an increasingly solid entity.

"As a brand that is an expression of Made in Italy, innovation, design and technology, we keep our focus on delivering exciting experiences on and off motorcycles to passionate Ducatisti all over the world," he said.


Honda Malaysia all set to launch four models in 2023

                KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia will introduce three all-new models and a facelift model in 2023.

One of the models that will be on Malaysian roads soon is Honda’s first Small Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), which is slated to launch in the third quarter of 2023.

Upon its arrival, Honda Malaysia will become the first Japanese mass market manufacturer to enter the Small SUV segment.

The model alluded to is widely believed to be the subcompact WR-V that will be rolled out to replace the 7-seat BR-V that has been discontinued.

The 5-seat WR-V, now in its second generation, is based on the seventh-generation City platform. Incidentally, the second-generation BR-V that is not coming to Malaysia shares the same platform as the latest City.

Honda Malaysia is betting that the new smaller model, positioned below the HR-V, would sell better than the BR-V. It is targeted at young professionals and families who enjoy travel and outdoor activities.

The WR-V is already on sale in Thailand and Indonesia.

Honda currently offers six models in Malaysia namely Accord, CR-V, Civic, HR-V, City and City Hatchback.

Honda Malaysia president & chief operating officer Sarly Adle Sarkum said the company would leverage on three key pillars of "Advanced Technology, Premium Offerings and Sporty Appeal" when introducing new models.

"The combination of these three key pillars will make the upcoming Honda models even more unique in the market and elevate their status in their respective segments," he said at a Honda media gathering on Friday.

Like Toyota, Honda is also taking a stepped approach to electrification with a goal to offer hybrids first before introducing battery electric vehicles.

"Honda believes that the hybrid technology is the right approach at this point of time, particularly in Malaysia," said Sarly.

 Sarly.

"We want to ensure Malaysians’ needs are being fulfilled with the most practical and relevant technologies before fully adopting EVs.”

In ongoing efforts to improve aftersales support, Honda Malaysia would introduce so-called 2S (Service and Spare Parts) Pit Stop and promote its after-sales activities to meet rising demand from current and potential customers.

The company said it is also enhancing its Honda CONNECT system which includes Safety, Security and Convenience features.

Honda Malaysia will introduce Honda CONNECT in other models in addition to the City RS, City Hatchback RS, Civic RS, Civic e:HEV RS and HR-V e:HEV RS.

In addition, the HondaTouch platform would be upgraded to make it more convenient and accessible to customers.

Honda Malaysia said it is doing its best to fulfil all bookings and ensure timely delivery for the new models despite the global semiconductor shortage.

Honda Malaysia sold a total of 80,290 units last year, which was a 51% increase from the total sales in 2021.

The total sales represented 11.1% of the Total Industry Volume (TIV) in 2022. The company also retained its No.1 position in the Non-National Passenger Vehicle Segment for the ninth consecutive year.

For 2023, Honda Malaysia has set a sales target of 80,000 units with 12.3% market share.

Honda celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.


Refreshed Mercedes E-Class to let you swipe on the steering wheel

                BERLIN: Mercedes has given us a taste of the new E-Class it's preparing to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, followed by two-door versions four weeks later in New York.

According to the first details made public during test drives in the US, the new sedans and estates will bring a host of technical updates on the inside, including a new generation of steering wheel.

Mercedes says its new E-Class steering wheel will be equipped with touch-control surfaces that let you swipe on them as you would on a smartphone.

To go along with that, the E-Class will also get the MBUX smart operating system with touchscreen and voice controls, in addition to digital instruments that will be standard in future.

Meanwhile, the assistance systems continue to learn, allowing the driver to park more quickly in tighter spaces and better adapt the speed of the proximity control system to the flow of traffic.

Beyond that, the car will get the expected cosmetic update to the exterior, adding things like new headlights and a modified rear.

Under the hood, meanwhile, the engines are set to get more efficient, says Michael Kelz, head of the E-Class series at Mercedes. There will be seven plug-in hybrids for the E-Class, including all-drive and estate versions.

The series will also see the debut of two completely new petrol engines, both of which are equipped with 48-volt technology: a 2.0-litre four-pot engine with 272hp and a V6 with 367hp.

Mercedes has not yet mentioned fuel consumption figures, nor is it specifying prices, which will not be available until the sales launch later this year.


Could these mules point to the new Proton Saga?

                PETALING JAYA: CarSifu spotted two test mules whizzing by along the main road from Rawang to Selayang, Selangor, today.

Size-wise, they were small, compact sedans that were heavily camouflaged but they looked, at first blush, like the upcoming Proton Saga that is due for launch later this year.

We could only see the side and rear of the cars before they disappeared into the distance.

It is also possible that those are the long-rumoured Perodua sedans undergoing road trials. Perodua has admitted before that it is already testing a prototype sedan, which is likely to use a Toyota engine. It could be based on the Perodua Buddyz concept that made its first appearance at the 2013 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show.

However, one of the CarSifu’s team members is adamant that it must be the Saga “as the Perodua sedan is not due for another two to three years.”

Proton has gone on record to say that apart from the Saga, it is also due to revise the Persona and Perdana, which will be a collaboration with Honda. They will all be introduced by 2016 in the hope they would boost Proton’s lacklustre sales.

Meanwhile, a Proton-Suzuki partnership is expected to lead to a joint-venture product by the end of this year. Indonesian publisher Kompas Otomotif had reported that the Suzuki Ertiga would be rebadged as a Proton model.


Maserati announces plans for new electric and autonomous cars

                MODENA: Maserati has announced plans to introduce a number of new high-powered electric cars onto roads as part of a major investment into hybrid and battery propulsion, as well as autonomous driving.

Starting with the marque's first hybrid electric, the Maserati Ghibli, the Fiat-Chrysler-owned muscle car maker said its new models would be made in Italy and feature new battery technology, different driving modes and ultra-fast charging. A new Maserati utility vehicle is also in the works.

The Italian luxury brand's first fully electric cars are set to be the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, the maker said.

Maserati also wants you to be able to take your hands off the wheel of a high speed sports car, and is working towards level-three autonomous driving, meaning a car that can change lanes on its own or stop at the side of the road if the driver is incapacitated.

The company said it was working on upgrading the production line in its Modena plant to ready it for electric powertrains.

The first pre-series cars are set to roll off the line by 2021, Maserati said.


China's car sales rise the most in a decade

                BEIJING: Sales of passenger cars in China rose 28.9 percent on-year in August — the most in a decade — driven by a surge in demand for electric vehicles, a trade body said Thursday.

A total of 1.87 million vehicles were sold last month, China's Passenger Car Association said, with sales of hybrid and electric units doubling on-year in the world's largest car market.

Sales had contracted sharply in May — shrinking by 17 percent on-year —and even more in April, which saw the biggest drop since 2020 at 40.4 percent.

The Chinese government introduced a string of measures, including a tax break extension, in July to stimulate sales of electric cars against the backdrop of an economic slowdown.

China's electric car market is particularly competitive, with manufacturers jostling to take advantage of an industry boosted in recent months by generous purchase subsidies from local governments.

The measures are supposed to support the economy at a time when sporadic Covid-19 lockdowns around the country have dampened consumer enthusiasm and business confidence.

Local manufacturer Geely saw its sales jump in August by 429 percent on-year.


Proton runs child seat safety campaign

                PETALING JAYA: In a child seat safety campaign, Proton recently presented car child seats to three early bird customers, in tandem with the current Festive Promotions which is being held till May 31, 2017.

The presentation ceremony was held at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor.

The child seat safety campaign was initiated by Proton to highlight the importance of child seat use in cars for appropriate protection and safety.

Customers can buy a certified child safety seat with Isofix (ECE R44/04 compliant) worth RM1,000 for RM299, with any purchase of a Proton car.

 From left: Abdul Rashid Musa, CEO of Proton Edar, Datuk Radzaif Mohamed, deputy CEO of Proton, Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, CEO of Proton, andNorazmi Ismail, one of the lucky customers in the child seat safety campaign.

Meanwhile, in Proton's Experience the Drive contest, there are RM7,000 in prizes to be won each month, comprising two weekly winners of petrol cards worth RM500 each and a monthly winner of RM3,000 cash.

Customers just need to book a slot to test drive a Proton car via MyProton mobile app at a preferred place and time or visit any Proton authorised outlets or roadshow locations with test drive availability.

Write a creative caption of the drive experience in not more than 20 words to stand a chance to win the weekly and monthly prizes.

Proton's Experience the Drive contest encourages test drives of Proton cars, in order for interested buyers to get to know about the features in the cars especially on active and safety features that gave the cars safety ratings of 4 and 5 stars, ANCAP and ASEAN NCAP respectively.

For April, the winners were Pasiman @ Clarence Tatu, from Sabah (monthly winner) and Shahrizal Shafii, from Kedah (weekly winner), and Izyan Nadirah Dzulkifli, from Selangor (weekly winner).

Pasiman received RM3,000 cash at a Proton outlet in Sabah whilst the weekly winners, Shahrizal and Izyan, received petrol cards worth RM500 each at the ceremony at The Curve.


2016 Detroit auto show: Coupes wow the crowd

 The Avista Concept.

DETROIT: The North American International Auto Show is meant to be all about crossovers, SUVs and pickups but the standout cars at this year's event, from US, Japanese and European automakers present, were all of the sleek and sporting variety.

The most impressive of which was a Buick. The Avista concept was a perfectly executed contemporary take on the classic GT with compact but aggressive proportions, focus on driver involvement and a cabin comfortable enough for crossing the continent. Unsurprisingly, it scooped the show's EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence.

"The Avista concept has been a labour of love by the team of designers, sculptors, engineers and talented craftspeople, including our UAW partners, who created this beautiful statement of Buick design. Avista represents the future essence of Buick design," said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director, Buick Global Design.

 Acura Precision Concept.

Acura managed to turn heads too with its Precision Concept. Also a coupé, the Precision's job is to explore where the brand's design language should be going and, if the concept is anything like its real-life counterparts, it's to a brave new world of sharp intersections and bold detailing.

"The Acura Precision Concept is more than simply a concept vehicle, it is a design study model that literally will shape the direction of all future Acura products around our Precision Crafted Performance DNA," said Dave Marek, Acura global creative director. "The Acura Precision Concept is the leading edge of a renewed commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product experience."

Away from concepts, production coupés were also on show en masse.

 Like the Buick concept, the production Lexus LC500 was an award winner.

The Lexus LC500 also scooped an EyesOn Award and is its most exciting car since its limited edition LFC supercar. The car can go from 0-100kph in under five seconds and has 467hp on tap running through a 10-speed transmission.

"This flagship luxury coupe's proportions, stunning design and performance make a strong statement about our brand's emotional direction," said Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer.

Infiniti's Q60 offered the right blend of style and handling to offer true competition for the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5.

 Porsche 911 Turbo.

However, German car companies were also on the offensive with BMW debuting the M2 high-performance coupé and Porsche bringing its 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S models.

But the fastest car on show was from American firm VLF Automotive. The Force 1 is a Henrik Fisker design and powered by a Dodge Viper V10. The result? The 0-100kph in three seconds, a top speed of 350kph and a US$268,500 price tag.

 The Force 1. - AFP


Six of the best Giorgetto Giugiaro cars

Maserati Boomerang. — Bonhams
TURIN: It was 46 years ago on Nov 3 at the Turin motor show that Maserati pulled the wraps off one of the greatest concept cars of all time The Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Maserati Boomerang. It has been described as the greatest car never to go into production, but such was its aesthetic impact that its razor-sharp lines and wedge shape went on to influence the next decade of vehicle design from supercar to supermini.

In fact, so influential was the Boomerang that when the fully functioning car came up for auction in 2015, Bonham's European head of motoring Philip Kantor said quite simply that "It's considered by many to be one of the most remarkable designs of the 20th century." Little surprise then that the eventual hammer price was €3,335,000 (RM16.5mil).

To mark the anniversary, and to show that you don't always have to be a multi-millionaire to own a piece of Giugiaro automotive art — after all, between between 1960 and 2015 he was commissioned by everyone from Alfa Romeo, Audi and BMW to Buick, Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai and Mazda, as well as the Maserati, Lamborghini and Bugattis of this world — here are six of his most influential designs from the last five decades.

The Lotus Esprit 1972
With the mark I Esprit, more than any car on this list, the resemblance to the Boomerang is at its most clear. Low to the ground, rejecting curves in favour of angles reminicent of folded paper, and with incredibly short overhangs front and rear, the Esprit was destined to become a classic even before its starring role in the James Bond firm "The Spy Who Loved Me."

The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit 1974
This is the car that ushered in the age of the hot hatchback and had the unenviable task of replicating the VW Beetle's phenomenal success. Yet it achieved both, thanks to perfect interior packaging and with an exterior that offered an acceptably angular version of the automotive future. And, 42 years on, the car has achieved true iconic status.

Lancia Delta 1979
From an icon to a Rally Legend. Giugiaro designed the Lancia Delta that looked like a sensible family hatchback but ate sportscars for breakfast on the road, and won everything going in various world rallies during its 20 years in production, during which the original lines were never changed and simply refined.

The DeLorean DMC-12  1981
The finished car, launched in 1981, may have been absolutely terrible in terms of mechanics, reliability and performance, and the man behind the company arrested on fraud and drugs charges, but none of that stopped the DeLorean from looking amazing upon its launch and just as futuristic today.

Alfa Romeo Brera 2005
When it debuted as a concept in 2002, Alfa fans got very, very excited as it was a thoroughly modern interpretation of many classic Alfas of the past, many of which had also been Giugiario designs. Best of all, when the car did go into production in 2005, the only real change aesthetically was the decision to ditch scissor-opening doors for traditional doors. And while its performance didn't quite live up to its looks, it quickly found a host of fans that loved it for its looks alone.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale 1962
No piece on Giugiaro can be complete without mentioning the "What if" car. His design company, Bertone, only worked in an official capacity with Ferrari once and the result -- the 1973 Dino 308 -- was anything but a classic and this aesthetic blip led to Ferrari sticking exclusively with Pninfarina for its design needs. However, 11 years previously Giugiaro was approached by the head of Bertone, Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone, to work his magic on his own stock Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. The idea was take the resulting car to major events to showcase the company's design and coachbuilding capabilities.

Nicknamed the sharknose, the resulitng Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Bertone Speciale was truly unique and when it came up for auction at Pebble Beach in 2015, it fetched an eye-watering US$16,500,000 (nearly RM70mil).


GM and other automakers freeze some business in Russia following invasion

                DETROIT: Global auto and truck makers, including US automaker General Motors Co and Germany's Daimler Truck, on Monday suspended some business in Russia following that country's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine last week, marking the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II. Many firms have idled operations in Russia following Western sanctions against Russia.

Energy giant BP Plc, Russia's biggest foreign investor, abruptly announced over the weekend it was abandoning its 20% stake in state-controlled Rosneft at a cost of up to US$25 billion (RM105bil).

On Monday, GM said it would suspend all vehicle exports to Russia until further notice. The Detroit company does not have plants in Russia, only sells about 3,000 vehicles annually there and has limited supply-chain exposure.

"Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time," GM said in a statement. "The loss of life is a tragedy and our overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region."

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars said it would suspend car shipments to the Russian market until further notice, becoming the first international automaker to do so as sanctions over the invasion continue to bite.

In a statement, the company said it had made the decision because of "potential risks associated with trading material with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and US."

"Volvo Cars will not deliver any cars to the Russian market until further notice," it said.

A Volvo spokesman said the carmaker exports vehicles to Russia from plants in Sweden, China and the United States.

Volvo sold around 9,000 cars in Russia in 2021, based on industry data.

Also on Monday, Volkswagen in Russia temporarily suspended deliveries of cars to dealers until further notice.

"Deliveries are to resume as soon as the effects of the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States have been clarified," said a VW spokesman.

VW previously said it would halt production for a few days this week at two German factories after a delay in getting parts made in Ukraine.

Daimler Truck said on Monday it would freeze its business activities in Russia with immediate effect, including its cooperation with Russian truck maker Kamaz , which is 47% owned by Russian state conglomerate Rostec.

Mercedes-Benz Group is also looking into legal options to divest its 15% stake in Kamaz as quickly as possible, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported.

A Mercedes spokesman said business activities would have to be re-evaluated in light of the current events.

Mercedes-Benz Group, formerly Daimler AG, was the parent company of Daimler Truck before the truck maker was spun off.

US truck engine maker Cummins Inc on Monday declined to discuss its relationship with Kamaz, but said it expected "some impact" to its business in Russia without providing further details.

In 2006, Cummins agreed to produce engines for Kamaz's fleet of trucks, buses and other heavy machinery.

Media representatives for Kamaz could not immediately be reached to comment.

Halted production

Swedish truck maker AB Volvo said it has halted all production and sales in Russia due to the crisis. It generates about 3% of its sales in Russia and has a factory there.

"We now have a bit more clarity on sanctions and security in the region ... this means all operations in Russia end," a company spokesman told Reuters, adding the measures would apply until further notice.

Officials with US automaker Ford Motor Co could not be reached to comment on Monday.

Ford, which has a 50% stake in three Russian plants, previously said it was working to manage any impacts on its operations but its primary focus was the safety of its employees in the region.

US airplane maker Boeing said Monday it has paused operations at its Moscow Training Campus and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv.

Separately on Monday, Toyota Motor Corp said it would suspend factory operations in Japan after a supplier of plastic parts and electronic components was hit by a suspected cyberattack.

No information was immediately available about who was behind the possible attack, or their motive.

The attack comes just after Japan joined Western allies in clamping down on Russia after it invaded Ukraine, although it was not clear if the attack was at all related.

Japanese government officials said they would investigate whether Russia was involved.


Two cars set ablaze near KL condo, evidence point to arson

                KUALA LUMPUR: Two cars were set ablaze near a condominium along Jalan Putramas 1 here.

Sentul OCPD Asst Comm S. Shanmugamoorthy said the incident at a parking lot outside the condominium occurred early today.

"We received information about the incident at around 4.38am and dispatched personnel to the scene.

"Initial investigations revealed residents noticed the two vehicles had caught fire and notified security guards on duty," he said in a statement on Monday.

He added that the Fire and Rescue Department, who were at the scene earlier, managed to control the fire by 4.30am.

"Investigations revealed there was a criminal element involved as Fire and Rescue Department forensic investigators found an oil-like substance residue on the burnt vehicles.

He said the owners of both vehicles have yet to lodge reports on the matter.

"There were no CCTVs in the area," he said, adding that the case was being investigated as arson.

Those with information on the case can contact the police hotline at 03-2115 9999, or visit the nearest police station.


Rocking down to Electric Avenue? Good luck charging your car

                LONDON: European and US cities planning to phase out combustion engines over the next 15 years first need to plug a charging gap for millions of residents who park their cars on the street.

For while electric vehicle (EVs) sales are soaring in Europe and the United States, a lag in installing charging infrastructure is causing a roadblock.

Often cash-strapped local authorities have other priorities than a kerbside network of charging points which would allow owners to ensure their EVs are always topped up.

And while that leaves a potential gap for the private sector, it is one that few EV charging startups, who have been early adopters in other locations, are focused on.

"It's really difficult to tackle on-street residential charging, so there's really not many companies that have," Hugh Mackenzie, chief operating officer at Trojan Energy, said.

Trojan has developed a charger, which is being tested on residential streets in two London boroughs, where EV owners insert a short pole into sockets sunk into the pavement and then plug in their car.

Tim Win, an Uber driver who charges his Nissan LEAF every day, is using the system in Brent, north London.

"After I've been driving all day I just want to come home and plug in," said Win, 39, who previously used a nearby EV fast charger to charge up in 20 minutes but sometimes had to wait in line for nearly an hour.

A "cabbie" using one of London's new electric black taxis said he often has to drive between charging points, losing valuable customers as he does, only to find they are either already in use or malfunctioning.

Cost curb

Like the roll out of fibre optic cable for ultra-fast broadband, urban on-street charging using solutions which include lamp post chargers or even wireless, will cost billions.

Solutions like Trojan's are expensive because they require grid connections. And because there are not yet enough EV owners to ensure a quick return, they are 75% subsidized by Britain's government.

Trojan's chargers cost around £7,000 (RM40,000) to make and install, but Mackenzie says that if that can be cut to £4,500 (RM26,000) it will work for private investors.

But it still requires local authority buy-in.

"The biggest factor in whether kerbside charging is successful is whether you have an interested and engaged municipality," said Travis Allan, vice president for public affairs at Quebec City-based FLO, which has installed at least 7,000 kerbside chargers in Canadian and US cities.

Yet even engaged local authorities like Brent, which is trying lamp post chargers and other solutions, simply lack cash.

Tim Martin, Brent council's transportation planning manager, says lamp post chargers cost around £2,000 and rapid chargers around £15,000, so subsidies are the only option.

"The prospect of being able to fund them ourselves out of our own budgets is practically zero," Martin said.

Based on car registrations and parking permits, charging startup char.gy estimates there are between 5 million and 10 million cars in London, of which around 76% park on the street.

Government figures show the total is around 40% for Britain's 33 million cars, while around 40% of Americans do not live in single-family homes with garages.

And while the rise of car sharing services may reduce the need for on-street charging, it is unclear by how much.

Char.gy Chief Executive Richard Stobart estimates Britain will need half a million on-street chargers by 2030, when around half of the country's cars should be electric. Char.gy runs a network of around 1,000 on-street lamp post chargers in Britain that cost around £1,800 to make and install.

While government subsidies exist, Stobart said, local authorities often lack the resources.

"So they just dither and it takes forever," he added.

Ubitricity, a Royal Dutch Shell business, is the British market leader, with just 4,000 chargers using lamp posts, which if they are close enough to the kerb and use LED lamps, have enough power to mostly charge an EV overnight.

Lex Hartman, ubitricity's CEO, estimates that in densely-populated areas, around 60% of Europe's car owners will need public charging.

"You will need chargers at home, at work, at the supermarket, you will need fast charging, but mainly you need charging everywhere," Hartman said.

"If the infrastructure isn't there then people will hesitate to buy an electric car unless they are forced to," he added.

Europe has more than 90 million lamp posts, millions of which can be used for charging, said Hartman, whose ubitricity also runs a lamp post charger network in Berlin.

The European Commission knows urban chargers "will be essential to convincing more and more consumers to go electric," and has formed an expert group to advise cities on how to deploy them, a spokesperson said.

'Painful experience'

Some cities face a huge challenge.

New York state has set a goal for all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks to be zero-emission by 2035. read more

But New York City currently has just 1,580 charging plugs for around one million cars that rely on street parking.

"Owning an EV in a large city like New York is a really painful experience," said Paul Suhey, co-founder of electric moped sharing startup Revel, which has launched the city's first fast-charging hub.

An April study commissioned by New York estimated electrifying its transportation would cost some US$500 billion.

In Los Angeles, which has the most chargers of any US city, Blink Charging last year bought city-run EV car sharing network BlueLA, which has 100 vehicles and 200 charging stations.

Blink CEO Michael Farkas said local authorities want charging infrastructure in as many places as possible to encourage people to buy EVs, but companies cannot afford to shoulder the investments until ownership rises.

"You can't just have a field of dreams, you'll go broke unless the government wants to pay for it," Farkas said.

Even in Norway, where state support put it at the forefront of the electric shift, rolling out on-street charging is tough.

Oslo subsidises larger public chargers and rapid chargers, investments that pay off within three to six years, Sture Portvik, who heads up its charging infrastructure efforts, said.

But making charging accessible for the 30% of car owners who lack designated parking in a city where bans on fossil-fuel cars will start in the next few years is a major challenge.

"It's extremely important that everybody, regardless of their economic background, gets to be a part of the green shift," Portvik said. "And they will have to because in a few years they will have to sell their diesel car."


Mercedes-Benz GLS available in Grand Edition

                STUTTGART: A highly luxurious interior with an exclusive colour combination, a dashboard all in nappa leather and unique wood trim plus 20-inch, 10-spoke light-alloy wheels are the hallmarks of the Grand Edition of the GLS immediately available for ordering.

Customers have a choice of an Interior and an Exterior package and the special models will reach the showrooms from March 2018.

The highlights in the interior include the fine colour combination porcelain/espresso brown, which is only available in this edition.

The seats in designo nappa leather boast exclusive diamond quilting, seams in mid brown and special Budapest-design piping.

The dashboard and upper section are in nappa leather. The open-pore trim Radiant lime with light stripes is an exclusive feature.

The standard specification also includes an ambiance light and velour floor mats in espresso brown.

A strikingly sporty look on the exterior comes courtesy of 20-inch, 10-spoke light-alloy wheels, painted black with a high-sheen finish.

As standard the Grand Edition models boast appropriate badges on the sides of the wings.


Peugeot's DS brand adds mini-SUV to bolster rebounding sales

                PARIS: French carmaker PSA Group unveiled an SUV version of its DS3 upscale mini as it builds on a sales rebound under way at the eight-year-old premium DS brand.

The DS3 Crossback brings a long-overdue update to the top-selling DS model, with which the Peugeot maker launched the lineup in 2010, initially under the Citroen badge.

By adapting its flagship mini to the hot-selling SUV category, the DS division led by former McKinsey consultant Yves Bonnefont hopes to accelerate a sales recovery now taking root in the wake of a protracted slump.

Named after the hallowed 1955 Citroen limousine, the DS lineup had suffered from under-investment during a 2013-14 cash crisis that almost bankrupted PSA.

After a further 39 percent decline last year, however, DS sales rose 14 percent in the first half of 2018 - helped by the recently launched DS7 Crossback SUV model in which French president Emmanuel Macron rode to his inauguration.

Besides its higher-riding position, the DS3 Crossback brings a digital cockpit, retracting door handles and other luxury-car hallmarks to the entry-level DS segment.

Pricing is yet to be disclosed for the new vehicle, which makes its public debut at next month’s Paris car show, with first deliveries due in early 2019.


Ponti's car design brought to life 6 decades later

                BASEL (Switzerland): This September's inaugural Grand Basel show for automotive masterpieces will play host to an interesting car design debut, as the 1953 "Linea Diamante" car by legendary architect and industrial designer Gio Ponti is brought to life, 65 years after it was designed.

Gio Ponti (1891-1979) created numerous icons, such as the 32-storey Pirelli Tower in Milan - regarded as one of the most elegant skyscrapers in the world - and the famous "Superleggera" chair, which embodied lightness in both aesthetic and physical terms.

In 1928, he co-founded the influential architecture and design magazine, Domus, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2018 and supports Grand Basel as a cultural partner.

The 'Diamond Line' car

In 1953, Ponti - aided by his colleague Alberto Rosselli - conceived a car that was developed to design principles not yet applied in the automotive industry. Their starting point was an aerodynamic teardrop shape, but this soon developed into the more angular "Linea Diamante" (Diamond Line).

Ponti saw his new design as a necessary reaction to the staid automobile styling of the time, which was characterised by large, swollen shapes with small windows and dark interiors. By comparison, his vision was a more architectural car with flat-form body panels and windows, and a substantial glass area that would flood the cabin with light.

The clever packaging would enhance the utilitarian aspect of the car, enabling a generously-proportioned cabin and a spacious boot. Furthermore, the neat innovation of a rubber bumper running the full circumference of the car – with spring-mounted 'buffers' at the front and rear – was to be a special collaboration with the Pirelli tyre company.

Originally conceived to be bodied on the chassis of an Alfa Romeo 1900 saloon car, Ponti first sought a partnership with Milan-based Carrozzeria Touring and then turned to Fiat for production of a subcompact model, but the design was rebuffed. Two decades later, many cars would have caught up with the principles embodied in Ponti's automobile, highlighting his genius and foresight. Until now, Ponti's car was never progressed beyond 1:10 scale models.

The Automobile by Ponti project

The car was brought to life in 2018, 65 years after Ponti first envisaged its shape, thanks to efforts of the "The Automobile by Ponti" project.

As a tribute to Ponti's design talent, the "Linea Diamante" car revealed at Grand Basel will be a full-size mock-up, modelled by a design team directed by Roberto Giolito, Head of FCA Heritage, upon specifications outlined on Ponti’s original drawings. In a nod to its original collaboration with Ponti in 1953, Pirelli supplied period tyres of the correct specification for an Alfa Romeo 1900.

“Grand Basel is not just another car show - it is a unique opportunity to start a discourse about everything artistic and inspirational that goes together with cars,” says Prof. Paolo Tumminelli, chairman of Grand Basel's Advisory Board.

“Throughout history, the automobile has influenced – and has been influenced by – design, architecture and the arts and 'The Automobile by Ponti’ is an archetype of this interconnected relationship,” explains Prof. Tumminelli, who started the project in 2017.

Salvatore Licitra, representative of the Gio Ponti Archives and grandson of Gio Ponti, adds: “To see this design come to life for the first time, 65 years after the original drawings were created, will be truly remarkable. The car was thought to be too radical at the time, but many of its features would prove fundamental in the two decades of car design that followed.”

The Grand Basel show, which will take place from Sept 6-9 leads the way for upcoming shows in Miami Beach, from Feb 22-24 and Hong Kong in May 2019.


Five of the best subtly speedy sleeper cars on sale today

PARIS: Sleeper cars or Q (for quiet) cars are all about keeping their performance a secret from the outside world, by adopting that cunning automotive disguise of looking like a run-of-the-mill sedan or hatchback. They don't look "flashy", are less likely to get vandalized or stolen, they're immensely practical and only those that know, know. But the best thing about sleeper cars is that that no matter what your budget or transportation needs, there is one out there resting "dormant" for you.

Tiny turbos
The latest-generation Smart car is a joint venture between Daimler and Renault and has spawned the Smart ForFour and the Renault Twingo. Neither could be described as performance cars. However, that was until Renault's Sports department and Mercedes tuner par excellence, Brabus, both started getting creative. The results — the Smart Brabus and the Twingo GT are both capable of hitting 100kph in 10 seconds — remarkable for a 3-cylinder 898cc turbocharged engine and there's 170Nm of torque plus 109hp going to the back wheels. And with a 4.3m turning radius, the cars are phenomenally maneuverable.

Pocket rocket
Taking a step up in size, Audi's RS3 looks like a sensible family hatchback, but it behaves like it's been possessed by the devil. Every RS-badged Audi is a guaranteed sleeper hit but by working its magic on something so small, the RS 3 takes things to another level. Its 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine outputs 465Nm of torque and 362bhp to all four wheels and it means 0-100kph in 4.3 seconds (faster than a Porsche) and at top speed of 280kph with the limiter removed.

Superbly sensible
The latest edition to the sleeper car ranks is the Skoda Superb 280, so called because it has 280PS or 276bhp. Unveiled this month, it can accelerate from rest to 100kph in 5.8 seconds and boasts permanent all-wheel drive to keep it under control. To emphasize just how quick it is in a straight line, Skoda raced it against a host of classic 1970s, 80s and 90s supercars and provided video evidence of the results. What makes the clip even more embarrassing is that all of those dream cars of yesteryear were beaten by the estate, rather than the sedan version.

Torque is not cheap
The Ford Fusion (or Mondeo beyond US borders) with any engine under its shapely hood is a great family car and one that makes sure that its immense practicality doesn't detract from driver involvement. However, the latest Sport model gets a 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 that delivers 325hp to all four wheels and, more importantly 515Nm of torque. That's more than an Audi A6 3.0TFSI, a BMW 535i and even an entry-level Porsche 911. Unfortunately, Ford is yet to confirm the car's other performance figures but with all the fanfare, they're shaping up to be good.

The muscle car in a Savile Row suit
From AMG-tuned Mercedes to BMW M cars, at the top end of the market, there is no end of choice for those looking for an executive barge that can go toe-to-toe with an Italian automotive thoroughbred. However, what makes the Jaguar XJR stand out is that it's the best of the bunch at keeping its capabilities a visual secret. Despite measuring over 5 meters from nose to tail and tipping the scales at 1875kg, its 5-litre 543bhp supercharged V8 will catapult it from rest to 100kph 4.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 280kph.


Ford F-150 Raptor heading to China

                DETROIT: Ford has started shipping its all-new 2017 F-150 Raptor – the ultimate high-performance off-road pickup truck – to eager customers in China, marking the first time any US-built F-Series truck has been officially exported to China.

F-150 Raptor is a class of one among off-road performance vehicles, with purpose-built engine, chassis and suspension – all of which enable it to travel fast over challenging desert landscapes or crawl along rocky terrain, from Baja to the Gobi Desert.

Exported as a four-door SuperCrew model, the second-generation F-150 Raptor leverages the latest advanced technologies, including a military-grade, high-strength, aluminum-alloy cab, while its muscular body is composite. The Raptor features an exclusive high-output version of the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine, plus a Ford-built 10-speed automatic transmission and advanced six-mode Terrain Management System.

Other one-of-a-kind F-150 Raptor features include a Ford Performance-engineered high-strength steel frame with custom Fox Racing shocks with higher ground clearance, BFGoodrich off-road tyres and full dual-performance exhaust system.

“Raptor’s unique looks and capability have generated amazing buzz at every auto show we’ve brought it to around China,” said David Schoch, Ford group vice president and president, Ford Asia Pacific. “F-150 Raptor is another example of our commitment to offer a wide range of vehicles for customers in China – everything from SUVs to high-performance cars and trucks.”

F-150 Raptor is one of more than 12 new Ford Performance vehicles coming by 2020. It joins Ford GT, Focus RS, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R in a growing Ford Performance lineup.

The all-new Ford F-150 Raptor is built at Dearborn Truck Plant in North America.


MAA clears the air over SST exemption

                PETALING JAYA: Locally assembled cars will still be slapped with a 10% sales tax when the re-introduced sales and services tax (SST) goes into force from Sept 1, says the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

When contacted, MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad clarified that CKD (completely knocked-down) packs are automatically exempted from sales tax under the new tax regime. Previously, much paperwork had to be filed to qualify for such exemption.

However, when fully assembled at a local plant, each completed car will still be subjected to the 10% tax.

Earlier today, local media had seized on a proposed Customs Department list posted on its website that indicated passenger vehicles are among the list of tax-exempted products.

Aishah said on Wednesday that MAA expected car sales for 2018 to be dampened once the SST kicks in and the 10% tax is applied.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Tuesday announced that under the re-introduced sales and services tax (SST) from Sept 1, services will be taxed at 6%, while the sale of goods will incur a 10% tax.

Car makers have reported bumper sales since the tax holiday began at the start of June when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was zero-rated under the new Pakatan Harapan government.


What working from home means for your undriven car

                COLOGNE: You intended to leave your car for just a short time, but for one reason or another that turned into a few weeks. Now it won't start, it's started to rust.

It's a sorry tale, and one that's easily avoided.

The pandemic may mean that you're using your car much less than usual and if it remains parked in the same place for weeks, that can take a toll.

If there's a chance you might not be using your vehicle for a while take a little time to prepare it for the break - and find a good place to leave it.

READ MORE: Penang tow truck operators have field day with stalled cars during lockdown

Hans Gerd Brauneiser, the owner of a car maintenance business here, recommends increasing the tyre pressure by 0.2 bar, filling up the fuel tank and waxing the washed vehicle before parking.

Then it's off to find a suitable parking space.

"Under trees, the vehicle will get dirty very quickly," says Brauneiser.

"Leaves and bird droppings take their toll on the paintwork, and leaves can clog up drainage gullies - that can cause corrosion and dampness in the interior."

When you eventually come to move the vehicle Brauneiser advises light braking manoeuvres for the first few metres - always paying attention to the traffic behind.

After a period of weeks rust can form on the brake discs, which reduces braking performance. Owners should ideally then drive directly to a petrol station to adjust the tyre pressure to the prescribed level.


BMW 7 Series could use i7 moniker

                MUNICH: Rumours once again abound and this time its surrounding BMW's upcoming flagship G70 7-Series and its nameplate in 2022.

Work on the G70 is undoubtedly underway with reports of prototypes already sneaking about on European roads.

This happens to include an all-electric variant as well that will expand the flagship range, but while the German carmaker is adding to the list, it's also taking away from it too.

Apparently, the larger V8 and V12 engines will be axed from the powerplant lineup and to replace the high outputting engines will be its latest eDrive architecture with two electric motors to produce a combined output of around 650hp.

Because of this, forget about spotting a 7XXe badge and start thinking i7 instead.

There's also word that the G70 could use a large 120kWh lithium-ion/polymer battery which should provide up to 640km of range from a single charge.

Although the battery is large, BMW and Porsche did announce that they were in cahoots together 2018 to come up with an ultra-fast charger.

The charger, once created, should be able to "juice-up" a battery in three minutes for an added 100km-range or simply wait for 15 minutes in total to get a full charge.


Boeing and Porsche partner to develop flying car

                STUTTGART: Porsche and Boeing have announced that they've officially teamed up to explore the development of premium flying cars designed for urban environments.

This partnership will join various international teams from each brand to research air mobility, study what a premium segment of these vehicles could look like, and contemplate possible use cases.

The two companies along with Aurora Flight Sciences (a subsidiary of Boeing) will be developing a concept for an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL) which is expected to lead to a prototype.

A study conducted by Porsche in 2018 suggests that the flying vehicle market will "pick up speed after 2025" when the technology is more efficient, and the costs are more accessible.

Currently, though no flying cars or taxis are commercially operating in the skies, several prototypes are being tested; Kitty Hawk has a few urban air mobility models in the works, and Uber has been very public about its project to make the Uber Air flying taxi service a reality.


Cult Mini Moke returns as electric runabout

                LONDON: The Mini Moke, the doorless and canvas-topped runabout which had its heyday in the late 1960s, has been revived as an electric runabout and the first cars have just rolled off the assembly line in Britain.

The rugged little Moke found fame in the dystopian 1960s TV series "The Prisoner" and petrol-powered versions have been championed by everyone from Kate Moss to Brigitte Bardot.

The battery gives the electric issue of this sunshine toy a range of 120km. That is enough for at least three round trips from a billionare's home in southern France's Cap-Ferrat to a luxury yacht in Monaco, as the makers cheekily point out.

Charging takes four hours and top speed from the 44hp motor is given as a leisurely 80kph. The new Moke is priced from £29,150 (RM162,000).

"Made in Britain, the Electric Moke is now ready to inspire and delight a new generation," said Robin Kennedy, commercial director of makers Moke International

Although it became a plaything of the rich and famous, the Moke was based on the low-priced and ordinary classic Mini. The open-topper was originally developed for a military contract, which later failed to materialise.

Five exterior paint colours (Granite Grey, Sunlight Yellow, Sunset Orange, Scuba Blue and Wave Blue) can be chosen at launch, with more options planned to be added later this year.


DB Research says VW Golf in Malaysia is expensive but petrol is very cheap

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian capital has emerged as the fifth most expensive city to buy a new Volkswagen Golf, but is the fourth cheapest city to buy petrol, says a Deutsche Bank (DB) survey of 55 major cities of the world.

According to the DB Research report, which covered its eighth annual survey of global prices and living standards, buying a new Golf without extra features here would cost US$36,323 (RM152,378).

In DB Research's report, the most expensive city to buy a new Golf without extra features is Singapore (US$76,313), followed by Copenhagen, Denmark (US$39,904); Oslo, Norway (US$39,273); Dhaka, Bangladesh (US$37,579) and Kuala Lumpur (US$36,323 or RM152,378) .

However, Volkswagen Malaysia's website lists its lowest priced Golf as the 1.4-litre turbocharged R-Line variant at RM174,110 or US$41,503 on the road without insurance.

Based on Volkswagen Malaysia's price for the Golf R-Line, this would mean Kuala Lumpur is actually the second most expensive city to buy a new Volkswagen Golf after Singapore.

Meanwhile, the report noted that Kuala Lumpur has relatively low fuel prices, as the city is the fourth cheapest out of 55 cities, with one litre of petrol sold at US$0.53 or RM2.22.

The report did not mention what grade of petrol was used in the price comparisons.

Based on the latest weekly (May 18 to 24, 2019) fuel prices at the pump in Malaysia, RON95 grade petrol is sold at RM2.08 or US$0.50 per litre.

In DB Research's report, only three other cities had cheaper petrol - US$0.40 per litre in Lagos, Nigeria and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and US$0.39 per litre in Cairo, Egypt.


Mercedes-Benz Museum celebrates Wecke family as 9millionth visitor

                STUTTGART: The Wecke family from Stuttgart-Birkach unexpectedly purchased the nine millionth admission ticket to the Mercedes-Benz Museum.

The jubilee visit was not the only surprise. On April 8, the “Gospel in the East” choir comprising of 300 singers from Stuttgart unexpectedly serenaded all visitors of the museum in a “flash mob” performance.

It was Mrs Wecke who bought the tickets for the family to the museum that it happened to turn out to be the nine millionth ticket, since the museum opened in May 2006.

Unexpectedly, the choir inconspicuously began around noon in a flash mob-style that started with a piano player and a female vocalist in the Atrium that soon grew with every line of the song.

The choir is a multi-generational choir in Stuttgart with male and female singers from different countries and religions.

The Wecke family was congratulated by museum director Monja Büdke and presented them with a gift voucher for the museum shop before inviting them to lunch at the museum restaurant.

A total of 876,109 people visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum in 2017, among them were also the eight millionth visitor - Dingding from China.

At 10 percent, the Chinese represent the highest proportion of international guests, which accounted for 60% of visitors in 2017, and 66% of German visitors come from Stuttgart and around the region.

“We are delighted that a family from Stuttgart picked the nine millionth ticket to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. We are keen to appeal to guests from Stuttgart and the region with an interesting and varied programme”, said Büdke.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00am to 6.00pm. Last admission is at 5 pm.

Registration, reservations and current information: Mondays to Sundays from 9.00am to 6.00pm by telephone via +49 (0)711-30000, by e-mail to classic@daimler.com or online at http://www.mercedes-benz.com/museum.


Yamaha envisions a sports car

TOKYO: Motorcycle maker Yamaha imagines a lightweight sports car in the Sports Ride Concept now on display at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This design concept mode takes a uniquely Yamaha approach by putting the involved and active feeling of riding a motorcycle, or “Live and Ride,” into a vehicle with sports car proportions that adults can enjoy in daily use.

Like the MOTIV city car, displayed at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, it employs the iStream process and is designed to express a driver-machine relationship close in feeling to the world of motorcycle riding. iStream is a process developed by Gordon Murray Design Limited to produce lightweight, high-rigidity vehicle structures rooted in Formula One technology.

Yamaha said the 750kg two-seater's design was "inspired by the artistic style of Elementarism."

Also on display at the Yamaha stand is the Motorbot version 1 concept. This is an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot built around a fusion of Yamaha's motorcycle and robotics technology.

R&D is currently underway with the goal of developing the robot to ride an unmodified motorcycle on a racetrack at more than 200kph. The task of controlling the complex motions of a motorcycle at high speeds requires a variety of control systems that must function with a high degree of accuracy.

Yamaha said it wants to apply the fundamental technology and know-how gained in the process of this challenge to the creation of advanced rider safety and rider-support systems and put them to use in its current businesses, as well as using them to pioneer new lines of business.

 The Motorbot version 1 concept.


Vehicle theft syndicate mastermind nabbed after car chase in Perak

                KUALA LUMPUR: A former Navy man and two others have been arrested for allegedly stealing cars and trucks to be sold north of the border in Thailand.

Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said the trio were arrested during a series of raids on May 13 in Negri Sembilan and Perak.

"The 40-year-old mastermind of the syndicate was caught following a car chase in Kampung Gajah, Perak.

"Based on our investigations, the syndicate targeted Honda Civic and Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles," he told reporters today.

He said all three suspects had criminal records and have since been remanded.

"Based on our investigations, the suspects use an electronic device to disarm vehicle alarms and start the engine. They are able to steal a vehicle within 10 minutes.

"During our raids, we seized fake number plates, electronic devices as well as other tools used to steal cars.

"Our investigations revealed the main suspect is a retired Navy man," he said, adding that the group is believed to have a network in Thailand where they were smuggling the vehicles.

ACP Ahmad Sukarno said the group is linked to seven cases in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and Negri Sembilan.

"The three suspects have been handed over to Ipoh police for further investigation," he said.


Lower fuel prices for September

PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices will drop by 10 sen and 15 sen per litre in September.

Petron Petrol Dealers Association president Datuk Alang Zari Ishak confirmed on Monday that the prices of both RON95 and RON97 petrol have been set at RM1.95 and RM2.35 per litre, down 10 sen from its prices in August.

The price of diesel price will be RM1.80 per litre, down 15 sen from RM1.95 previously.

"The information that we received was that the prices are going down," he said.

The Ministry decided to set the prices of petrol and diesel on a managed float from Dec 1 last year.


Mercedes to drop EQ product brand, says German daily

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz is set to drop the EQ product brand for battery-electric cars as soon as the next generation of compact cars, set to be on the market from the end of 2024, German daily Handelsblatt said today, citing company sources.

The decision is based on chief executive Ola Kaellenius' focus on electric-only cars, making the EQ brand redundant as Mercedes turns away from the combustion engine, Handelsblatt cited the sources as saying.

The German carmaker now markets its all-electric model series under the EQ brand, first announced in 2016, with its first model, the EQC electric SUV, launched in 2019.

A spokesman for Mercedes' EQ products said the brand is an important pillar in the carmaker's electromobility strategy.

"With the goal of our parent brand Mercedes-Benz becoming fully electric by the end of the decade, we will adapt the positioning of the vehicles and thus also the use of the brand in line with the times, but it is too early for details on this at the moment," said the spokesman.


The face of Kia e-Niro is De Niro

                PARIS: Kia Motors launches a new pan-European advertising campaign for the all-new Kia e-Niro electric crossover – fronted by Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro.

As an ambassador for Kia’s new electric car, De Niro will highlight the e-Niro’s ability to eliminate barriers to electric vehicle ownership with a series of TV, print and digital advertisements.

Kia’s partnership with De Niro will draw on the actor’s inimitable character and sense of humour to draw attention to the e-Niro’s numerous benefits – its long 301-mile electric driving range, high-tech infotainment features, energy harvesting technologies, and unique crossover design.

 Robert De Niro. -AFP

Artur Martins, Vice President for Marketing and Product Planning at Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The communication plan for the e-Niro will be as special as the car itself. These advertisements will draw on Robert De Niro’s unique ability to entertain, as he educates drivers about the e-Niro – a car that breaks down many of the obstacles to electric vehicle ownership in a way that few others have.”

Developed by Kia Motors Europe and Innocean Worldwide Europe, the pan-European e-Niro advertising campaign starring Robert De Niro commences in November.

Kia’s first fully-electric crossover utility vehicle, the e-Niro is revealed in European specification at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. With a driving range of up to 485km on a single charge – and up to 615 km in the city – Kia’s first fully-electric crossover utility vehicle will be one of the most capable cars on the road when European sales commence at the end of 2018.


Fuel prices to change every Thursday,  starting March 30

                PETALING JAYA: Motorists will have to keep an eye on petrol and diesel prices weekly following the Domestic Trade, Co-operation and Consumer Affairs Ministry's announcement that they will change every Thursday.

Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin made the announcement on RTM's TV1 5pm news today, and said that the new mechanism would allow consumers to enjoy a more stable retail price for fuel compared to the monthly pricing currently in use.

The new mechanism will come into effect on March 29.

Weekly fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday and the new price will be enforced the next day.

"The first announcement will be on Wednesday, March 29, which is next week and the new petrol and diesel prices will be enforced on March 30," he said.

Hamzah also said fuel station operators will be allowed to give discounts on fuel, provided that prior permission is obtained from the ministry.

"Station operators are reminded to adhere to the new prices and serious action will be taken against those who do not," he said.

Hamzah said the ministry had had several consultations with oil companies, station operators, non-governmental organisations and other relevant parties before coming up with the change in the pricing mechanism.

This was later presented to the Cabinet and the weekly price mechanism was approved on Feb 22.

Meanwhile, motorists are bracing themselves for the weekly fuel price announcements.

What concerns many of them is whether the prices of goods and services will fluctuate along with any changes in the fuel price.

Interior contractor Richard Lum believed that it would be business as usual for motorists but hoped traders would not indiscriminately raise prices.

“And if they dare to, I think they will have to deal with the backlash from consumers,” he said.

Advertising producer Lando Zawawi is worried about the same thing.

He said many retailers would want to raise prices to insulate themselves from the uncertainty.

“I’m not sure how the Government is going to deal with such retailers. Consumers will find it hard to deal with hikes in the prices of goods every week,” he said.

Lando, who commutes on a motorcycle, added that weekly fuel price changes could cause anxiety among motorists.

House renovator Han Chang Kong expected the new mechanism to be confusing and would likely affect his weekly budgeting.

“Will there be a different price every week and what about service providers like transport companies? Will their prices also change every week?” he asked, adding that he found monthly announcements more stable.

Others were simply hoping for fuel prices to stay pocket friendly.

“I’m not sure of the profit margins in the rise and fall of the fuel price but I hope they are reasonable,” said IT entrepreneur Gwee Chee Seng.

“We understand that increases in the oil price happen but we hope that whatever goes up should also come down when the price does,” he said.


Ukraine wiring harness output close to pre-war levels

                FRANKFURT: Car cable production at Leoni's factories in Ukraine is almost back to normal, the German supplier said today, after production stoppages caused by the Russian invasion rattled the auto industry.

Output figures from plants in western Ukraine were "approaching pre-war levels again" after a "rapid resumption" of production following the outbreak of the war at the end of February, Leoni said in a statement.

Ukraine is the main European supplier of the wiring harnesses that run through cars and act as a sort of central nervous system for the vehicle.

The Russian invasion and the disruption to supplies of the key part led to production stops among Europe's top auto manufacturers.

The announcement is a sign that something approaching business as usual could be returning for certain companies in Ukraine, after Russia turned its focus away from the central capital Kyiv to the eastern Donbas region.

Leoni, Volkswagen's biggest supplier in Ukraine, restarted its operations at the beginning of March at its plant near Lviv, where it employs around 7,000 people.

Production figures were dependent on the "number of air raid alarms", Leoni said.

The supplier has refurbished Soviet-era bunkers near its sites in Ukraine in the event of such alarms.

At the same time, it is looking into duplicating production at other locations as a back-up.


Refreshed Toyota Corolla Altis open for booking

                SHAH ALAM: The new Toyota Corolla Altis is open for booking from today ahead of its impending launch.

UMW Toyota Motor said in a statement that the Corolla Altis would feature a refreshed design, with additional safety features now made standard across the range which includes seven airbags, and vehicle stability control.

On-the road price including GST with insurance

Three variants would be offered with prices ranging from RM121,000 to RM139,000.

As a model, the Corolla is marking 50 years of existence. Over 44 million Corollas have been sold worldwide since Nov 5, 1966.

The facelifted car comes with a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage. The fully-backed warranty is transferable to the next owner if it is still in effect when sold off.


Clarkson, Hammond and May launching their own social network

                SEATTLE: Former hosts of British motoring programme Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson (C), James May (L) and Richard Hammond

When it goes live this autumn, Drivetribe will be for car obsessives what Twitch is to gamers and Tripadvisor to travelers, say former Top Gear presenters.

Exact details of what to expect from the new platform being heralded by erstwhile Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, is unclear. Although May describes it as "Pure digital inclusivity. Some of the world's most endangered tribes - Volvo enthusiasts, for example - will now have a voice as loud as everyone else's."

The social network is expected to go live to coincide with the trio's new TV show, "The Grand Tour," which will be making its global debut exclusively on Amazon later this year.

However, those who want in on the ground floor can sign up at drivetribe.com, starting Monday to ensure early access.


Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S4Matic+ a small SUV with a huge V8 heart

                STUTTGART: In a model-segment first, Mercedes has somehow managed to shoehorn its ferocious AMG-built 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood of the GLC, its mid-sized SUV and the result — the GLC 63 S 4Matic+ — is a high-sided family car with 510hp and 700Nm of torque on tap for completing the school run in record time.

"It is no easy job designing an SUV to be highly sporty and dynamic while at the same time offering inherent extreme driving stability," said Mercedes-AMG ceo Tobias Moers.

However, the company has somehow managed to create a car that's ready to complete the weekly shopping expedition, a long-distance highway cruise, cope with a rutted field or a pilgrimage to the Nurburgring.

"[It] is an SUV that can be driven with high precision and agility and which, if required, is equally at home on a high-speed lap of the race track," said Moers.

The overwhelming popularity of the SUV and the crossover is causing some storied brands such as Mercedes and BMW serious headaches. They need to have these types of cars in their model lineups but to do so presents a massive engineering challenge.

How can you transplant a luxury brand's ethos for luxury performance and handling to a vehicle shape that is not naturally suited to those tenants? The greater a car's ground clearance, the more unstable it is in the corners (due to its less than ideal elevated centre of gravity) and the greater the wind resistance when it has to travel quickly. And then there's the extra weight, the biggest enemy of performance.

Therefore, whether the sporty SUV in question is a Porsche Macan, a BMW X3M or this fire-breathing 510hp monster, that can cover the 0-100kph dash in just 3.8 seconds, the resulting vehicle is an engineering marvel even if it's not to everyone's vehicular or aesthetic tastes.

Little wonder that Moers says the car was a labour of love. "[It] required us to put our heart and soul, along with our many years of SUV expertise, into the development of this vehicle."

Even though the car has four separate driving modes so that comfort or ferocity can be fine-tuned and its intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system can vector torque in milliseconds between front and rear axles for the best possible grip and stability, there may be some potential owners that could still feel a little daunted by a mid-sized SUV with the same punch as a Porsche 911 Turbo, no matter how much they like everything else about the GLC 63 S 4Matic+.

Luckily, Mercedes has thought about that, too. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic + comes with the same V8 engine, but down-tuned to a more reasonable 476hp. However, it's still capable of covering the 0-100kph dash in 4.0 seconds.

For those who want something that has a heightened sporting exterior aesthetic, the car is available in SUV coupé form, too.


Are you ready for Ducati’s Dare 2 Challenge?

                PETALING JAYA: The latest adventure bike in town is definitely painting the town red. It’s none other than the Ducati Multistrada 950.

As there has been overwhelming demand from the local adventure motorcycle community wanting to try out the bike, Ducati Malaysia aims to make their dream come true with the Dare 2 Challenge riding experience scheduled from Jan to Feb 2018.

Open to all Malaysians 18 years and above, participants must have a valid full B riding licence with a minimum five’s years riding experience.

Dare 2 Challenge allows participants to get up close and personal with the Multistrada 950 in a 2D/1N ride covering more than 300km.

The ride promises unforgettable rides on the highways, back roads, through the hills and highland plus you get to stay in your own glamping tent. How cool is that?

If you have always wanted to experience the rugged life of an adventure rider, this ride could just be yours. The tentative route starts from Ducati Malaysia, Petaling Jaya and traverses Kuala Kubu Baru, Fraser's Hill, Bentong, Genting Highlands, Karak before returning to Ducati Malaysia.

Dare 2 Challenge is jointly-organised by Big Boys Adventure and Ducati Malaysia. For details on the ride, call Mr Diddy at hp: 016-2919564 or email diddy@bigboysadventure.my.


Mercedes-Benz to ready six all-electric EQ models by 2022

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out six all-electric Mercedes-EQ models by 2022 as part of its "Ambition 2039" electrification strategy.

It is already integrating its Mercedes-EQ models into series production in its existing plants.

The six models are EQS, EQE, EQA, EQB, EQC and EQV.

From EQC to EQE

The EQC got the ball rolling with its production at the Mercedes plant in Bremen in May 2019. Just a few months later the German-Chinese production joint venture, Beijing Benz Automotive Co. Ltd. (BBAC), launched EQC production for the local market in China.

In 2020, production of the EQV premium electric MPV started in Vitoria, northern Spain.

Come 2021, the EQA SUV will start production at the Rastatt plant, with its world premiere in January.

EQB production will launch in 2021 at two locations in the global Mercedes-Benz Cars production network: in the Hungarian Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét for the world market and in the German-Chinese joint venture BBAC in Beijing for the local market.

In the first half of 2021, production of the EQS electric luxury sedan will begin in Factory 56 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen (Germany). EQS is the independent, fully electric member in the new S-Class program and is the first to use the new electric architecture for luxury and upper-class electric vehicles at Mercedes-Benz.

In Factory 56 the S-Class and, in the future, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, and the EQS will be produced in a fully flexible manner on the same line.

In the second half of 2021, the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen will begin production of the EQE business sedan followed shortly thereafter at the Beijing plant. The EQE will complement the all-electric portfolio of the two plants.

Production of the EQS and EQE SUV models will start in 2022 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa (USA).

High-efficiency battery systems will also be manufactured and assembled within the production network.

Production start of battery systems for EQS and EQE in Untertürkheim/Hedelfingen (Germany) is imminent. Compact SUV battery systems will be made in Kamenz (Germany), Jawor (Poland) and Beijing (China) plants. Over in the US, the Tuscaloosa battery plant will produce batteries for SUV variants of EQS and EQE beginning 2022.

Plug-in hybrids still important

Under “Electric First”, Mercedes-Benz is pursuing the consistent electrification of all model variants and vehicle types.

The decisive factor over the next few years is the gradual increase in the purely electric share of the vehicle portfolio. So-called xEVs, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles, should account for more than half of sales by 2030.

Electrically powered vehicles from Mercedes-Benz are enjoying increasing popularity. The company delivered a total of 45,000 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (xEVs) worldwide in the third quarter of 2020.

Plug-in hybrid drive is important as a key technology and intermediate step towards a purely electric product portfolio. More than 20 plug-in hybrid model variants are already an integral part of the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio.

The portfolio will be expanded to include more than 25 model variants by 2025. Their production therefore also plays an important role in the global production network. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are already rolling off Mercedes-Benz Cars assembly lines in almost all car plants.


Honda to race Civic Type R in 2015 BTCC

                LONDON: Honda has announced it is to race the new Civic Type R in the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

Scheduled to be officially unveiled at the BTCC media day at Donington on March 24, the new car has been designed and built from the ground up in the Team Dynamics workshops in Pershore, Worcestershire.

Based on the production version of the new Civic Type R, the race version will develop 350bhp with 400Nm of torque.  By building on the existing road car, which was sourced direct from the Honda UK factory in Swindon, the team has produced a car which has increased downforce compared to last year’s Tourer, less drag and a more effective air flow management.

The team has high hopes for 2015 as Barry Plowman, at explains: “We cannot wait for the new season to start.  Our car for 2015 is going to win races.  The shape of the new road going Civic Type R has allowed the team to build on the design and take it forward to be a championship winning car.

“2015 is widely being billed as the year Honda is back and we are continuing that in to BTCC.  We’ve worked hard over the winter to ensure we have a winning car for 2015.”Honda Yuasa Racing technical director Barry Plowman.

The announcement comes as the team recently confirmed an unchanged driver line-up of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal for the sixth consecutive season.

“This is a car that not just us, but the entire automotive industry has been waiting for,” added Matt Neal. “We are as excited as anybody to start running the Civic Type R, which is a massive step forward from last year’s Tourer – from the engine to the handling and aerodynamics.”

“The Civic Type R is an iconic car,” said 2012 BTCC Champion Shedden.  “We are champing at the bit to get this distinctive, aggressive looking car out on the track.  It’s going to stand out and cause a real stir on the track.  Especially when we clean up in the championship!”


German luxury car-interior designer Novem seeks listing

                LONDON: Novem Group, which makes interiors for the likes of Maserati and Porsche, is seeking a listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange, joining a wave of initial public offerings from the car industry in Europe this year.

The company is looking to raise about €50 million (RM247mil) in a private placement of new shares before the listing in July, according to a statement today.

Bregal Investments, the private equity vehicle of Germany's billionaire Brenninkmeijer family, also plans to sell an unspecified amount of existing shares, according to the statement.

Bloomberg News reported in January that Novem was considering an IPO and planned to seek a valuation of about €1.3 billion to €1.5 billion.

Led by former Autoliv Inc. executive Gunter Brenner, Novem makes trim elements used in dashboards and centre consoles in cars with materials such as wood, aluminum, carbon and premium synthetics, rather than the plastic that's widely used. Its clients include Daimler AG, BMW, Audi AG and Volkswagen AG.

For investors, Novem is a play on growth in automakers' luxury offerings.

A shift towards self-driving cars is also expected to boost demand for high-end design, with drivers placing more emphasis on interiors.

The company is tapping public markets amid an IPO boom that has lifted global proceeds to a record high in the first half of the year.

A number of auto firms have joined the rush in Europe, including online car dealer Aramis SAS and its German competitor Auto1 Group SE.

Still, not all offerings in the industry have managed to attract investors. Meinauto, which sells new cars, postponed a planned share sale in May, while automobile-parts distributor Parts Holding Europe in June withdrew a planned listing.

Novem, founded in 1947 in the northern Bavarian town of Vorbach, generated €650 million of revenue in the 2019-2020 financial year.

The company employs almost 6,000 people in 12 locations, according to its website.


Go Wild with the Volkswagen Tiguan

                PETALING JAYA: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today introduced a new 'Wild' package for the Tiguan Comfortline variant.

Included in the ‘Wild’ package are aluminium sports pedals, chrome trunk garnish, chrome load lip protector, chrome exhaust trim, scuff plates with Tiguan logo – and the kit is completed with VW Tint window film.

The ‘Wild’ package retails at RM5,099.

Managing Director of VPCM, Erik Winter said that the introduction of the ‘Wild’ package provides Tiguan customers with an option of having their Tiguan stand apart from the others.

“We are constantly looking for new ways to enhance our products and offer stylish options for our customers. Having these enhancements on the Tiguan will definitely complement the SUV’s sleek design and defined contours,” he said.

A strong favourite amongst SUV fans in Malaysia, the Tiguan combines a 1.4L turbocharged direct injection TSI engine with a 6-speed automatic wet-clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) to give an impressive output of 150PS and a torque of 250Nm between 1,500 to 3,500rpm.

The Tiguan Comfortline is priced at RM 148,990 excluding the ‘Wild’ package.

Together with all current Volkswagen models (effective Jan 1, 2018), the Tiguan comes with a free 3-year maintenance programme (or 45,000km, whichever comes first) along with 5-year manufacturer’s warranty and 5-year roadside assistance.

To find out more about the Tiguan ‘Wild’ package, please visit your nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or visit www.volkswagen.com.my/tiguan/comfortline-wild