US startup Carbon Rivers says graphene is the answer to toxic tyre chemical

                LONDON: Graphene added to tyres could replace the toxic chemical 6PPD, US startup Carbon Rivers says, as pressure mounts on the auto industry to eliminate the widely-used compound that has polluted waterways and been found to be lethal to some fish.

Later this year, California is expected to be the first authority to demand tyre-makers demonstrate they are seeking an alternative to 6PPD.

The antioxidant and antiozonant is found in all tyres today because it stabilises them and reduces cracking, but scientific research published in 2020 found the chemical was to blame for mass deaths of Coho salmon off the US West Coast.

Carbon Rivers, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, says adding graphene nanoflakes to tyres could reduce emissions by 28% and replace most or all of the 6PPD.

Tyre-makers are under pressure to find a solution as the extra weight of electric vehicles (EVs) means quantities of 6PPD released as tyres make contact with the road are set to surge.

Carbon Rivers' chief strategy officer David Morgan said testing using graphene nanoflakes in tyres has already shown a "tremendous reduction" in 6PPD.

The company is working with regulators and testing could begin in the first quarter of 2024, Morgan said, adding the company's graphene nanoflakes could be used in tyres on the road as soon as 2025.

"We've had some initial conversations with tyre-makers," Morgan said. "We would like to see this in commercial testing."

He said graphene — regarded as a super material because of properties including great strength, flexibility and thermal conductivity — is a safe, inert substance that could be added to tyres at a "very, very low price."

A spokesman for California's Department of Toxic Substances Control said in an email there have not been "direct discussions" with any tyre-makers about using graphene as an antiozonant, but added "we are aware of at least one company (not a tyre manufacturer) evaluating graphene as a potential alternative to 6PPD."

A spokesman for Pirelli said the tyre-maker has researched graphene and other advanced materials, and would investigate it as an alternative for 6PPD.

"At the moment, there is no evidence that a graphene material could be a viable alternative to 6PPD in tyres, thus a timeline of 2025 for its industrial application... does not seem realistic," he added.

Pirelli was in contact with advanced material producers, but does not disclose names, he said.

A spokesman for Michelin said "to date, no test or data demonstrate that graphene could be an alternative to 6PPD in tyres."

Some tyre-makers already use graphene for speed, grip, durability and puncture resistance, though western manufacturers are wary of issues of dependency given China controls around 65% of the global supply of graphite, needed to produce graphene.

Mark Bissett, a reader in nanomaterials at the Henry Royce Institute & National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester, said that "as with all nanomaterials there are some unknowns which require further study to verify its safety."

"But from the studies done so far the consensus is that graphene," is safe, he added.


Subaru marks 50th anniversary in US with limited edition models

                CHICAGO: Subaru of America (SOA) debuted its line-up of 50th Anniversary Edition models at the Chicago Auto Show and are currently on sale across the country.

In celebration of the company's 50th anniversary in the United States, the limited edition models have been limited to 1,050 units each for the Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, Legacy and Outback, while the WRX, STI and BRZ will have a combined total of 1,050 units.

Each of the models have been differentiated from their standard brethren by Heritage Blue exterior colour, satin chrome exterior trim on the exterior side mirrors (excludes BRZ, WRX, and STI), SOA (Subaru of America) 50th anniversary badges and new alloy wheels (excluding the BRZ).

Inside, the cabin will be upholstered in black with silver stitching for contrast while featuring seatbelts in silver and a 50th Anniversary logo embroidered on both front seats and floor mats.

And depending on model, EyeSight driver assist technology has also been included.


Volkswagen presents new digital supercar

                WOLFSBURG: Game on! Volkswagen is expanding its GTI fleet and sending a new supercar onto the digital race circuit with its GTI Supersport Vision Gran Turismo.

The engine roaring under the bonnet of the GTI Supersport is a 503 HP VR6 TSI coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). The design of this digital supercar combines the Volkswagen icon with sheer racing design. Following last year's roadster, another version of the GTI, with its long racing tradition, can now head for the starting line on Gran Turismo®6, exclusively on PlayStation 3.

The first impression of this racer already shows that the Supersport is what fans want and is designed for racing. Some 665Nm of torque catapult the virtual GTI to 100kph from a standing start in only 3.6 seconds. At full throttle, the virtual racer reaches a top speed of over 300kph. The gigantic power output is transferred to the virtual asphalt via 4MOTION all-wheel drive and 20-inch GTI advanced alloy wheels.

The basic shape of the car's body is still reminiscent of GTI ancestors butproportions and body surfaces have been optimized for an extremely low centre of gravity and widespread use of carbon elements makes the new digital supercar a lightweight with a power-to-weight ratio of only 2.5 kilograms per horsepower.

At the broad, powerful front end of the aerodynamically optimised body, prominent features are vertical light modules and big air intakes with the honeycomb configuration typical of the model. While the broad shoulders at the rear provide the ideal ventilation for the brakes, the prominent roof-edge spoiler and flamboyant diffuser make the Supersport hug the track when fighting for the fastest lap time.

Volkswagen's latest digital creation can be clothed in "Reflex Silver", "Gran Turismo Red", "Lapiz Blue" or "Oryx White" and is now available to Gran Turismo 6 players for downloading.

The sixth generation of the legendary racing game available for the PlayStation has been on sale since 2013. The fleet of this bestselling series includes almost 1,200 different vehicles which can race on a total of 37 circuits.


Infiniti QX50 interior modelled after luxury hotels

                TOKYO: Infiniti has officially unveiled the interior of its upcoming QX50 mid-sized crossover that's going to hit the markets with an interior inspired from the look and feel of luxury resort hotels.

The design team wanted a forward-thinking interior and to provide drivers with a luxury experience every time they entered the vehicle.

For the unique colour combination, the team drew inspiration from the experience of walking into a luxury resort beachfront hotel.

Starting with warmer colour tones, the rich chocolate brown replicates wood applications in the resort and the surrounding trees, followed by a creamy off-white to represent the sand on a beach.

The highlights of a cooler dark navy blue on the centre console is reminiscent of the ocean water to help strike the proper balance between warm and cool, to create a comfortable yet invigorating environment.

Highlighting a more multi-faceted colour story, the three main colours of the QX50 Autograph interior are very similar to the tones at the forefront of this year's Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report 2018.

A creamy Pantone colour, called Coconut Milk, represents the classic mainstay of a white and/or off-white, while a rich chocolate colour titled Emperador adds strength and substance and Pantone's classic navy-like Sailor Blue anchors the palette – just as the dark blue Ultrasuede application does on the QX50 interior.

The all-new QX50 cabin's seats, door panels and dashboard has been hand-wrapped in supple leathers with laser hole-cut stitch pattern in contrast colour stitching.

The interior is further accented by genuine matte-finish open-pore maple wood that's been treated to retain its natural characteristics in texture and appearance - allowing for the wood's grain to be detected by touch.

"The unrivalled interior space, carefully curated application of colours, high quality materials and advanced craftsmanship make the cabin as welcoming and comfortable as it is luxurious," said Infiniti  Motor Company executive design director Karim Habib.


Michelin XM2+ launched with better grip consistency from new to worn

                SEPANG: Michelin Malaysia unveiled its new Energy XM2+ tyre that boasts of affordability, performance and safety.

With the Sepang International Circuit set as the backdrop for the newly launched tyre for small to mid-sized passenger cars, the XM2+ (from RM200) was touted to have been developed to outperform not only the previous generation tyre in the wet but also the competition.

The new tyre, although seen with the same tread pattern, boasts of a new full-silica rubber compound that will help to shorten wet braking distances by as much as 1.5m when new and 2.6m when worn (down to the tread-wear indicator) when compared to the competition.

In terms of durability, it is also touted to endure 25% more mileage than the competition, even though its compound is significantly softer, thus able to conform to the micro-grooves of road surfaces better.

Much like the Primacy 4 that was tested in Thailand, the degradation of grip level between new and worn was significantly smaller against other tyre brands.

The '+' sign on the new sidewall of the new tyre denotes the new rubber compound used and the still maintains the Green 'X' marking that signifies optimised fuel-saving properties.

 New Michelin Energy XM2+

 New Michelin Energy XM2+ worn down to tread-wear indicators

For Malaysia, the Energy XM2+ tyre can be had at Tyreplus and all Michelin authorised dealers nationwide with its 32 sizes ranging from 14 to 16 inches.

For 14-inch wheels, sizes include 175/65, 185/60, 185/65, 185/70 and 195/60 series tyres.

As for 15-inch wheels, it can be fitted with 175/65, 185/55, 185/60, 185/65, 195/55 series tyres.

Larger 16-inch wheels get 185/55, 195/50, 195/60, 205/55 and 205/60.

Following the launch of the tyre, members of the media were given the opportunity to perform brake tests as well as navigate through a tight gymkhana-like circuit.

A Honda City fitted with standard 15-inch wheels and 175/65 series tyres was used as a test vehicle.

 Michelin Energy XM2+ (left) with Japanese (red stripes) and German competitor tyres

Both tests were performed against two of the XM2+'s direct competitors, which proved to have shorter braking distances and better overall grip performance.

The XM2+ was able to provide better consistency and surprisingly better grip feedback in both new and worn conditions.

When new, both competitor tyres managed to grip the wetted surface admirably but were unable to stop shorter than the XM2+.

While on worn competitor tyres, jamming the brakes resulted in a 'smooth sailing' effect before they began to claw at the wet surface.

By that time, both competitor tyre brands had travelled a significant distance before coming to a full stop compared to the XM2+.

As for the XM2+ in both new and worn states, there was significant feedback coming back to the driver as it gripped at the surface to bring the City to a full-stop.

During the tight circuit test, the worn competitor tyre was, unfortunately, unable to hint at the onset of understeer from the City resulting in a time of more than 28 seconds to complete a single lap of the wet course.

With the XM2+, the City's understeering characteristics were detected and corrected earlier - allowing for a faster lap of 27.3 seconds (worn tyres) and 27.1-seconds (new tyres).

"The Michelin Energy XM2+ improves on its predecessor (Energy XM2), which has been a leading mass-market tyre for eight consecutive years - in various aspects," said Michelin Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei managing director Pascal Nouvellon.

All Michelin tyres have a Standard Manufacturer's Limited Warranty covering defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread, or for six years from the date of purchase (whichever comes first).

 Nouvellon during the launch of the new Michelin Energy XM2+ tyre


Chip shortage forces Ford, Toyota, Nissan, FCA to cut vehicle production

                TOKYO/DETROIT: Ford Motor Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Nissan Motor Co Ltd said on Friday they would cut vehicle production this month due to a shortage of semiconductors, becoming the latest automakers hit by a chip crunch as demand rebounds from the coronavirus crisis.

Honda Motor Co also said Friday its output in Japan could be affected by a shortage of semiconductors.

Automakers and electronic makers are facing a global shortage of chips as consumer demand has been bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic, causing manufacturing delays.

Credit Suisse analyst Daniel Levy said in a research note that the chip supply issues may limit near-term auto production for the industry, but industry officials said they are prioritizing production of higher-profit vehicles.

Major auto chip suppliers such as NXP Semiconductor said auto production rebounded faster than expected from the pandemic, leaving them struggling to catch up.

Meantime, chip manufacturing capacity has been stretched thin globally as laptops fly off shelves for working from home, and PCs and gaming consoles sell heavily, leading chip firms such as Nvidia Corp to warn of supply constraints.

And a move by US regulators to blacklist China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, that country’s largest contract chipmaker, has sent chip firms around the world scrambling to find new partners.

US automaker Ford said it would idle its Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant, which builds the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs, pulling ahead a scheduled week-off from later in the year.

Fiat Chrysler said it will delay the restart of production at its Toluca, Mexico plant, where it builds the Jeep Compass, and idle its Brampton, Ontario plant that builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger cars.

The Mexican plant had been due to restart production next week, but now both plants will be shut through the end of the month, FCA said.

Toyota will cut production of its Tundra full-size pickup truck at its San Antonio, Texas, plant, but spokesman Scott Vazin did not immediately know how many units would be lost. “We’ll throttle back production,” he said, adding no other US vehicles were affected.

Ford declined to identify the chip supplier and spokesman Kelli Felker said the company hopes to have the plant operating again the following week.

“We are working closely with suppliers to address potential production constraints tied to the global semiconductor shortage,” she said.

Nissan said it planned to reduce production of the Note, a hybrid electric car, at its Oppama Plant in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan but did not give details of the scale of the output cut.

The Nikkei newspaper reported that Nissan would slash its Note production at Oppama to about 5,000 units in January, from an initially planned 15,000 units.

Germany’s Volkswagen said last month it faced a shortage in the supply of semiconductors and would adjust production at facilities in China, North America and Europe.

Honda has also begun “seeing some impact in the parts supply,” a company spokesman said. It will first shrink its production by about 4,000 units this month, mainly affecting the Fit/Jazz subcompact made at a plant in the city of Suzuka in Mie prefecture, the Nikkei newspaper said Friday.

A massive fire at a chip plant owned by Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corp (AKM), a unit of Asahi Kasei Corp, in southern Japan in October has also damaged semiconductor supply.

Separately, China’s GAC said its joint venture with Honda had received warnings on supply of certain models but gave no details.

China’s Dongfeng Motor, which also has a partnership with Honda, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

General Motors Co and BMW AG said on Friday that they have not been affected yet by the chip shortage but are monitoring the situation closely.


Seven reasons why Lexus paint is amazing

                TOKYO: Colour exerts considerable influence on the world. It conveys messages, signals actions, and shapes moods. And if you’ve ever loved an automobile, then chances are you understand this chromatic power: the body colour you chose is, after all, an extension of you.

For these reasons and many more, a vehicle’s colour—specifically its agent, paint—is of enormous importance to Lexus. It’s so important, in fact, that Lexus has dedicated decades of research to making its exterior paint options unique, lasting, and visually intriguing.

Consider:

1. Lexus has a dedicated group of colour designers who develop new paint hues and colour-layering techniques for visual effects. Devising a new Lexus colour can take more than a year, with detailed input coming not just from in-house colour specialists but also from Lexus drivers. As a maker of premium automobiles, Lexus doesn’t use off-the-shelf colours, and there are no shortcuts: the team’s colour decisions are made only after honing hundreds of experimental samples.

2. A key aspect of Lexus paint is how it looks in the real world. Lexus has a special facility with floor-to-ceiling windows so designers can look outside to an asphalt display area. Embedded in the asphalt are remote-controlled turntables for viewing vehicles from many angles. This is where Lexus designers get a feel for a potential new colour’s appearance on a car’s body, as well as evaluate its ability to look amazing under natural light at different times of day.

3. Chances are a Lexus driver’s vehicle colour has a story: Lexus paint designers often achieve unique paint colours through personal experiences. As just one example, when the first-generation Lexus NX was under development in the mid 2010s, it came with a carefully honed Eminent White Pearl colour for its global debut. The colour’s origins stemmed from a young Lexus paint designer who sought to capture the wintry landscape at her childhood home on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

4. Many Lexus exterior paint colours come from carefully chosen layers: To achieve unique effects under different lights and angles, Lexus paint developers often think in layers. Certain Lexus “sonic” colours, for example, use five ultra-thin layers of paint with compressed pigments, which may also be—depending on the colour—hand-polished to achieve striking light and shade contrasts. The first two coats are protective base layers to guard against rust and wear, with the actual colour effect derived from meticulous combinations of differently coloured layers, sometimes including microscopic metal chips designed to catch light.

5. Lexuspaint technologies include scratch-resistance paint, which is designed to restore itself after being deformed due to light damage, such as a ring scratch. Available via select models’ paint options, Lexus scratch-resistant paint is designed to resist luster degradation caused by surface scratches, and it helps preserve the vehicle’s original colour over time. It works via a molecular bonding technique that helps increase the top coating’s flexibility and elasticity, which helps the paint be more resilient to scratches and light damage.

6. Lexus also has extreme training and skill requirements for it paint-application craftspeople. Lexus production-facility paint technicians must learn specific body movements to apply paint layers. To master the techniques, they’re trained in precise body stances — their stances are even photographed and evaluated to help maintain their skills. And then there are the inspections: during a new Lexus model’s initial production run, Lexus colour evaluators carefully inspect how its new colours appear—and it’s not uncommon for some cars to be pulled off the assembly line and manually resprayed by paint takumi (master artisans).

7. Premium paint-application quality applies to collision repair as well. Lexus Certified or Authorized Collision Centers are, of course, the best places to repair a damaged Lexus. Just one reason (of many): when painting a repaired body component, these facilities’ paint specialists are trained to achieve factory standards for colour appearance and visual complexity. This is often achieved through technologies such as a spectrophotometer, a special camera that captures precise paint-effect readings from a Lexus vehicle’s non-damaged sections, so technicians can accurately match a new part’s colour.


Petronas aims to be leading motor oil lubricant brand by 2019

                KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas aims to become the top passenger car motor oil lubricant brand in the country by 2019.

Petronas vice president of lubricant business Amir Hamzah Azizan said the company would strengthen its distribution channel to achieve its ambition and offer the best products in the market.

"We are targeting to capture at least 30 per cent market share in three or four years' time," he told reporters after the launch of the company's latest passenger car motor oil lubricant, Petronas Syntium with CoolTech.

He said Petronas is the second highest selling passenger car motor oil lubricant brand in Malaysia with a market share of 23 per cent.

"We plan to increase global lubricant sales to 1.5 billion litres from 800 million litres annually within the next five years by further penetrating the China market.

"China was our single largest lubricant market with 140 million litres of motor oil sold last year.

"But this only constitutes about three per sent of the market share in China and there is a huge room for improvement," Amir Hamzah said.

He said the newly-launched lubricant is expected to be distributed nationwide by May this year and would be exported to the key markets of Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina and China within the next 18 months.

Formulated with strong oil chains, the new lubricant prevents engine failure by protecting engine components from detrimental wear and tear under high temperatures.

The lubricant also delays oil thickening by resisting the oil from oxidising at high temperatures while maintaing engine performance by eliminating harmful deposit build-up caused by excessive engine heat.


China says Tesla to fix software for 1.1 million cars on braking issue

                BEIJING: China's market regulator said Tesla Inc will fix software in more than 1 million vehicles to reduce the chance of accidents, the regulator said on Friday.

The action is described as a product recall under Chinese regulations, the regulator said, but it was not immediately clear if drivers might need, or would be eligible, to return vehicles to Tesla for refunds.

From May 29, the US automaker will issue over-the-air software updates to 1.1 million units of its Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y cars, both imported and China-made, the State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.

The regulator said the vehicles concerned did not allow drivers to turn off regenerative braking or provide enough warnings when drivers stepped on the accelerator pedal hard, which, combined, could increase the risk of collision.

The update will restore the option of switching off regenerative braking and warn drivers when they step hard on the accelerator pedal, it added.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

Regenerative braking works to save energy from the process of slowing a car, feeding the surplus to batteries to increase its driving range. Tesla had disabled the option to switch off the technique on cars produced after 2020.

"I view a software update 'recall' as fairly mild relative to major recalls where customers have to take their cars to get serviced to fix an equipment issue," said Seth Goldstein, analyst at Morningstar.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday it "is aware of the recall in China and is gathering more information from the manufacturer."

Some consumers in China welcomed the technology, also known as one-pedal driving, as it enabled them to bring a vehicle to a complete halt without use of the brake pedal.

However, others complained it could confuse drivers and increase the risks of misstepping on accelerators.

Chinese police have been investigating a crash involving a Model Y car in which a motorcyclist and a high school girl died and three people were injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle last November.

At the time, Tesla said videos showed the car's brake lights were not on while it was speeding and data showed issues such as there being no action to step on the brakes throughout its journey.


GAC hits back at Stellantis over collapse of Chinese JV

                GUANGZHOU: China's Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) said today it was "deeply shocked" by critical comments from Stellantis about the end of their joint venture in China, adding it was Stellantis that "didn't fulfill its commitment".

Last week, Stellantis and GAC said they would end their loss-making venture producing Jeep SUVs in China only four months after Stellantis said it would raise its stake in the business. In January, GAC reprimanded Stellantis for announcing plans to raise its stake to 75% from 50%, stating the parties had not signed a formal agreement.

On Thursday, while reporting financial results, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said over the last five years "the political influence" in doing business with its partners in China was growing by the day.

Tavares added that GAC did not want to abide by the binding memorandum of understanding the companies had signed and "preferred to be in breach, rather than execute it. We took the conclusion that of course trust was broken."

GAC responded today, saying the venture had not been able "to establish a mutually trustworthy operating mechanism adapted to the highly competitive environment in China in order to turn the adverse situation of continuous losses in recent years."

GAC said in a statement that it was "deeply shocked" by Tavares' remarks and Stellantis "didn't fulfill its commitment" to keep the joint venture operating. GAC added it hoped the companies would terminate the venture "in a pragmatic and responsible manner."

Stellantis officials declined to comment today about GAC's statement.

With less than 1% market share, Stellantis has been looking to revamp its strategy in the Chinese auto market.

In its 2030 business plan released in March, Stellantis said it would adopt an "asset-light" business model in China, still aiming to increase revenue but via imports rather than domestic production.


Volkswagen's software unit to be streamlined, says Cariad head

                BERLIN: Volkswagen's software unit Cariad will be streamlined in efforts to step up the pace of software development, Dirk Hilgenberg, the head of the unit, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper today.

"The time for unanimous decisions is over, because that's not how we get horsepower on the road," said Hilgenberg, adding: "We have now established processes in which the roles are clearly distributed and Cariad is trimmed for speed."

Cariad, a core part of Volkswagen's plans to catch up with Tesla in coming years, has been wrestling with difficulties for a while, causing important projects to fall behind schedule and Porsche and Audi models to start up later.

For the future E3 2.0 unified platform, "Cariad is in the driver's seat and the VW brand is in the passenger seat - with Audi and Porsche on board," Hilgenberg told the newspaper.

He added that shareholdings would be used more effectively as well, including through acquisitions and majority stakes.


EQE: Mercedes shows off electric version of E-Class

                MUNICH: Mercedes-Benz is picking up speed in its transformation to electric drive. Only a few months after launching the EQS, the manufacturer is unveiling its second car designed from the ground up as an electric.

The EQE is set to go on sale in mid-2022 as an emissions-free alternative to the E-Class, following its premiere at the IAA car show in Munich (Sept 7 to 12).

The new four-door uses the same platform and thus the same technology as the EQS, but is somewhat more modest in every discipline.

The length shrinks by 27 cm to 4.95 m, while the wheelbase is 9 cm shorter. The battery has a usable capacity of only 90 kWh, Mercedes says. However, this is still sufficient for a range of up to 660km (WLTP).

Drivers can charge with up to 170 kW, meaning in optimal conditions you'll sap enough power for 250km in 15 minutes. According to Mercedes, the car will launch with an EQE 350, where the rear electric motor produces 292hp. Other variants are to follow later, also with all-wheel drive.

In addition to sharing EQS tech, the EQE is also adopting the design language of electric S-Class, and has a similarly flowing design. However, instead of a tailgate anchored in the roof, there is only a conventional boot lid. Underneath, there is space for up to 430 litres of luggage.

The Mercedes does not offer a so-called "frunk" in the front, but uses the space for an optional Hepa filter to clean the air in the cabin more thoroughly than the competition - a welcome feature in the middle of a pandemic.

Inside, the relationship between EQS and EQE is also obvious with the completely digitalised cockpit and the option of a so-called hyper-screen, which covers almost the entire dashboard.

Mercedes has not yet reveal prices, but the EQE is likely to be significantly higher than the pricetag of €50,000 (RM247,000) it's asking for a conventional E-Class, albeit also less than the EQS at almost €110,000 (RM542,000).


Car wash operator charged with insulting JPJ officer

                GEORGE TOWN: A businessman claimed trial in a magistrate's court here for outraging the modesty of a Road Transport Department (JPJ) officer by using foul language.

Syed Amen Jainul Abdin, who runs a car wash business, was charged with outraging the modesty of JPJ officer Asymal Mansur, 41, by uttering offensive words outside the lobby of the JPJ Batu Uban branch in Gelugor here at around 4.45pm on Nov 26.

The offence under Section 509 of the Penal Code is punishable by a five-year prison sentence, fine, or both.

Lawyer Rosli Ismail, who represented Syed Amen, 45, sought a lower bail amount, citing that his client is not a flight risk.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Azura Zulkiflee proposed a RM4,000 bail.

Magistrate L. Umma Devi granted a bail of RM3,000 in one surety, and fixed Feb 17 next year for mention pending the submission of documents.

An angry-looking Syed Amen, punched his fist into the air as press photographers took his photos outside the courtroom after he was charged today.

A six-minute video of a man rambling about being allegedly mistreated at the Batu Uban JPJ branch over his car's road tax renewal went viral on Tuesday.

In the video, the man ranted over how he could not renew his road tax last month.


Nissan suspends electric cars mobile app over hacking fears

                TOKYO: Nissan said it has suspended a mobile phone application for a pair of electric vehicles, including the world’s top seller, after finding it can be easily hacked.

Concerns over hacking consumer products have skyrocketed in recent years, due to the profusion of smart technology that means many functions and appliances can be controlled remotely via the Internet.

Nissan was forced to take its global website offline last month after it was brought down by an activist claiming to belong to the Anonymous collective in protest at Japanese whaling.

Japan’s number two carmaker said the app, which controls the vehicles’ air-conditioning systems, was currently unavailable but stressed no other “critical driving elements” were affected in the LEAF and eNV200 models.

“Drivers across the world can continue to use their cars safely and with total confidence,” it added.

The LEAF, the world’s best selling electric car, has clocked up sales of more than 200,000 vehicles since its launch in 2010.

Nissan suspended the app following an internal probe and said it aims to update and relaunch the application “very soon”.

The automaker found the dedicated server for the app had a problem that meant the temperature control and other functions were accessible “via a non-secure route,” it said.

“The only functions that are affected are those controlled via the mobile phone - all of which can still be used manually,” Nissan said.


Nissan showrooms to open Aug 20

                KUALA LUMPUR: Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) is resuming business operations from Aug 20.

However, some ETCM showrooms and dealerships will open only on Aug 23.

It also said all showrooms in Kedah, Malacca and Johor would stay closed until further notice.

In accordance with government regulations, only visitors who have been fully vaccinated are allowed to enter showroom premises. They must provide proof through the MySejahtera phone app, register a body temperature of below 37.5°C and wear face mask at all times.

ETCM's announcement came after a similar one by UMW Toyota Motor earlier today.


Electric cars have a big tyre conundrum

                NEW YORK: The Lucid Air Dream Edition travels up to 836km on a charge, more than any electric vehicle on the market by a wide margin.

If a buyer chooses the larger, 21-inch wheels, however, 62 of those kilometres vanish — a 7.5% range penalty.

To be fair, the bigger shoes do look cool, and they’ll still take you nonstop from New York to Cleveland.

But when it comes to wheels and tyres — where the rubber literally meets the road on electric vehicle range — there’s an escalating battle between physics and aesthetics.

More often than not, the latter is winning, as the people who buy EVs (and the people who make them) choose bigger, stickier, "spokier” options that prize looks and performance over efficiency.

"Everything is about range, so the slipperier you make it, that’s great,” says Richard Scheer, exterior design director at Chevrolet. "But even in the EV world, people will trade off range for cool wheels.”

The physical recipe for an ultra-efficient tyre is pretty simple: skinny (so it blocks less air), small circumference (so it takes less energy to turn), a compound that doesn’t stick overly much, and a hub cap that is mostly covered (to cut down on air turbulence inside the wheel).

But auto executives and engineers must layer in a dizzyingly complex series of compromises when outfitting a car in reality.

For every bit of size and/or stickiness, the vehicle sacrifices mileage and efficiency.

That’s also true for gas-burning machines, but electric cars are typically far heavier than similar-sized internal-combustion cars, meaning their tyres have to withstand more pressure and wear.

They are also far quieter, so tyre engineers agonise over noise — going so far as to pump acoustic foam into the rubber cavity.

"You get into a complicated balance,” said David Van Emburg, executive vice president of automotive original equipment global sales at Michelin.

In short, a tyre built for range looks a lot like the one that comes standard on the Chevrolet Bolt — a Michelin Energy Saver on a 17-inch wheel with a swirly centre of spokes — and nothing like the massive, knobby tyres on the GMC Hummer EV that Scheer helped design.

"Those are just cool wheels,” he explains. "We’re showing that when you get to EV, you can still have fun products.”

The North Star for tyre efficiency is something called rolling resistance, which is exactly what it sounds like — a measure of how much the circle sticks to the ground (picture a bowling ball and a medicine ball racing across a gym floor).

An increase in tyre size can actually lower resistance, as it spreads the weight of the car more widely and "squishes” less, but supersizing presents another, often greater problem: The increased mass requires more energy to get going.

The BMW i4 M50, for example, a souped-up version of the marque’s newest electric sedan, travels 436km on a full charge with its standard 19-inch performance tyres.

On high-performance 20-inch wheels, however, it makes only 365km — a 16% handicap.

Ford likewise concedes that its Mustang Mach-E would go slightly farther if it chose tyres that didn’t corner as well, and its F-150 Lightning could stretch a few more miles on rubber less suited for off-road driving.

"Those big tread patterns squabble — they move around — and don’t return all the energy you give them,” says Chris Allard, chief engineer of Ford’s underbody systems engineering. "You’re making a conscious trade-off there.”

For now at least, the no-compromise strategy is what car buyers want, particularly as the EV market transitions from early adopters to the mass market.

Across Lucid’s spectrum of models, customers generally opt for the bigger wheels, shortening their time between charges by up to 9%.

Four out of five customers for Hyundai’s hot new Ioniq 5 opt for the larger wheel.

Similarly, 40% of folks sliding into Volkswagen’s ID.4 choose the 20-inch rims over the 19.

At Polestar, only about one-third of buyers opt for the standard 19-inch wheel with a summer tyre; the rest check the box for a 20-inch wheel that sacrifices about 5% of the car’s range.

"It’s kind of a look,” says Polestar engineer Glenn Parker.

"We’ve seen tyres get bigger and bigger and bigger over the years. ...And as a performance brand you can’t just say ‘What’s the most efficient tyre we can put on the car?’”

Tyre longevity isn’t entirely out of drivers’ hands.

Ford’s Allard says it’s important to pay attention to the tyre monitoring gauge and keep tyres filled to the right air pressure.

"If you’re a cheap guy like me, you keep that screen up,” he says.

But Big Tyre is also hustling to make larger, stickier tyres stretch a little farther on the road.

In the past 20 years, Michelin has managed to improve tyre efficiency by 20% without sacrificing stickiness and performance, according to Emburg.

To get there, its engineers tinkered with tread patterns, the thickness and chemical composition of the rubber and the patterns of steel belts holding the whole package together.

"I’ve been in the game 34 years and we’re still looking at major steps in technology,” he says. "We’ll optimise every part of the tyre for its mission."

Car companies are iterating, too.

At the moment, the hub of the Polestar 2 wheel looks a little bit like a four-leaf clover, but it has been reworked for next year’s model.

The new version has far less open space, with five triangles poking towards the centre like pieces of aluminum pie. The result: an extra two or three miles of range, even on the 20-inch wheels.


Zero GST and Raya bonus prices for Mitsubishi vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, announced further price reductions on top of the ongoing Raya promotions for its Mitsubishi Motors vehicle line-up effective 1 June 2018.

The new vehicle price follows the newly appointed Malaysian Government announcement recently that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is to be set at zero percent.

The new on-the-road (OTR) excluding insurance prices will remain in effect from 1 June 2018 onwards until GST is eventually replaced by the sales and services tax (SST), which has not been announced yet.

Raya Promotions is valid until 30 June 2018 only.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is currently represented by 54 showrooms (out of which 47 are 3S Centres) and 53 service outlets throughout Malaysia.  In East Malaysia, MMM is represented by 14 showrooms (6 in Sarawak and 8 in Sabah).

The Triton 4x4 pick-up truck are imported as CBU (Completely Built-Up) units from Thailand while  the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander are locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia.


New Subaru Forester gets regional launch in Taiwan

                TAICHUNG (Taiwan): Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, has launched the new fifth generation Forester sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Taiwan that's touted to have been re-engineered with greater comfort and safety.

"The all-new Forester is now bigger and better with an all-round enhancement to its technology, interior and exterior to create an SUV that boasts performance, comfort and maximum safety," said Tan Chong International managing director Glenn Tan.

Although the company has indicated that it intends to introduce the SUV into the Malaysian market sometime in mid-2019, pricing will most likely be announced on launch date.

With four variants set to be made available in CKD-form for Malaysia, the variants will start with the 2.0i-L with EyeSight (ES), 2.0i-S and the range-topping 2.0i-S ES, while the more affordable entry-level 2.0i-L will get its own introduction towards the end of the year.

In terms of improvements, Tan explained during the launch that the new Forester's dimensions, among others,  have been revised.

Compared to the outgoing model, overall dimensions have grown considerably, now with a wheelbase of 2,670mm (+30mm) while standing at 4,625mm-long (+15mm), 1,815mm-wide (+20mm) and 1,730mm-tall (+5mm).

In doing so, shoulder room at the front has been expanded by 20mm and the there is an added 33mm of leg room between the front and rear passengers.

Also, the roof rails have been raised to allow for easy rope attachment before widening the rear boot opening by 200mm to 1,300mm and adding a powered tailgate (2.0i-S and 2.0i-S ES) that opens and closes in nine seconds (four seconds faster).

While sporting a 63-litre fuel tank and ground clearance of 220mm, the Japanese SUV has a kerb weight of 1,538kg for the 2.0i-L and 2.0i-L ES, while the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S ES weighs in similarly at 1,580kg.

Under the hood, sits a familiar 2.0-litre (1,995cc) naturally-aspirated direct-injection four-cylinder boxer engine that now provides 156PS at 6,000rpm and 196Nm of torque at 4,000rpm - previously with 150PS at 6,200rpm and 198Nm at 4,200rpm on tap.

The engine is married to a seven-speed (virtual) Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission with paddle shifters to manage power delivery to the Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system.

Standard equipment for the 2.0i-L consists of 17-inch wheels with 255/60 series tyres, bulbed front fogs, automatic LED headlights with washers and auto leveling, halogen daytime running lights (DRLs), powered side mirrors with integrated turn signals, raised roof rails, roof spoiler, shark-fin antenna, rear fog lamps, active grille shutters,

Inside, the cabin comes equipped with an electronic parking brake, dual-zone climate controls, multifunction display, keyless entry with push-start button, cruise control, one-touch turn signal, PIN code access, reclining rear seat and tonneau cover.

Additionally, there's also start-stop functionality, automatic wipers, SI Drive (Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp modes) and X-Mode (Normal, Sno/Dirt and Snow/Mud) for better traction.

Entertainment comes from an audio system that's controlled via an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with reverse camera, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port and AUX jack.

Safety is bolstered by seven airbags, four-channel anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, active torque vectoring, brake assist, brake override, vehicle dynamics control, automatic vehicle hold, emergency stop signal, safety pedal system and Isofix child-seat anchor points.

The 2.0i-L ES variant, on the other hand, gets LED DRLs, power adjustable front seats with driver-side memory function and heated door mirrors.

Moving up to the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S ES variants, both variants sport larger 18-inch wheels with 255/55 series tyres, mat-silver body accents (front bumper underguard, side skirts and rear bumper protector), LED front fogs, brushed aluminium pedals, powered tailgate with memory function, customised Special X-Mode and a sunroof (2.0i-S ES only).

The variants that possess the 'ES' designation (2.0i-L ES and 2.0i-S ES) translates to added safety equipment and systems found under the Japanese carmaker's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology which uses a dual-camera system that 'see' in colour and is placed near the rearview mirror.

The technology includes safety systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist with sway warning, pre-collision braking and throttle management as well as blind-spot detection, high-beam assist, rear cross traffic alert, side-view monitor and steering-responsive headlights.

"We are thrilled to launch the new fifth-generation Forester and are confident that the model will excite drivers and create amazing experiences with their loved ones," said Tan.


How a digital twin can help predict when to service your car

                STUTTGART: Porsche has decided to bring the concept of the digital twin to the world of cars by creating a virtual model of its Taycan.

This technology, still in the experimental phase, could help anticipate possible chassis failures.

The idea of a digital twin is to recreate, in virtual form, an existing infrastructure — whether it's a simple connected device or a much more complex system — in order to study its behaviour and seek to optimise its performance.

In this case, Porsche decided to create a digital twin of its Taycan chassis, in order to monitor the state of the components remotely.

It is a virtual copy of the chassis, allowing monitoring and diagnosis based on data captured in real time, without the need to bring the car to a garage for tests.

This data is connected to a centralised intelligence system that allows each vehicle to be assessed individually.

At any time, the algorithm can recommend not only the right time to carry out maintenance work, but also the type of maintenance required. Another advantage of this approach is that wear and tear and faults can be anticipated, which is important from a safety perspective.

For the time being, this so-called digital twin focuses on components and possible chassis failures. About half of the Taycan's customers have volunteered for this pilot project.

Finally, note that all this data could potentially be used to one day evaluate the vehicle's resale value. This could help make transactions more transparent.


Ford syncs up with INRIX to steer drivers to cheaper parking, fuel and charging

                DETROIT: As people around the world start driving more again, Ford and INRIX will soon help them find cheaper options for fuel prices and that elusive open parking spot.

INRIX, Inc., a leading provider of connected car services and transportation analytics, announced last week that its parking and fuel services will be soon available in Ford vehicles around the world.

Available in the all new SYNC 4 connected vehicle system with navigation, drivers will be able to easily find, compare and navigate to available parking spaces, as well as search for the lowest fuel prices and drive to stations nearby.

Starting with the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, Bronco two- and four-door models and all-new F-150, new SYNC 4 real-time connectivity ensures drivers have the latest available traffic, incident, parking, charging and fuel information.

SYNC 4 technology also combines conversational voice recognition with Internet search, so drivers and passengers always have access to the latest information – from the closest parking spot to the cheapest gas station nearby.

“Customers want connected vehicle technologies to work more like smartphones with real-time, personalized services – and that is exactly what SYNC 4 offers, including INRIX’s parking and fuel price innovations,” said Gary Jablonski, manager, Ford Connected Vehicle Infotainment Systems.

“For example, many F-150 customers drive from job to job in new areas where we can help guide them to gas stations and parking spots closest to them, or perhaps a bit further if they are looking for cheaper options.”

INRIX launched the industry’s first dynamic off-street parking service in 2013, followed by the first integrated on-street parking solution in June 2015. SYNC 4 will soon provide users with routes to the closest street and garage spot, including rates, restrictions and real-time occupancy. INRIX claims its INRIX Parking service offers access to the world’s most comprehensive and accurate parking database in 150 countries.

“Since 2008, INRIX has played an important role bringing connected services to Ford SYNC drivers,” said Bryan Mistele, president and CEO of INRIX. “These services are no longer just a selling point but a requirement – real-time information like traffic, parking and fuel play a critical role in the entire driving experience.”

INRIX Fuel allows drivers to search for nearby stations and view dynamic pricing to find their preferred fuel at the lowest price. OPIS by IHS Markit powers the service, providing location, brand and real-time pricing information for more than 380,000 fuel stations around the world.

INRIX collects billions of anonymous data points every day from a diverse set of sources, including connected vehicles, cities, DOTs, road weather conditions, journalistic incidents, social media, parking, mobile and other IoT devices.


Toyota president disappointed by Tokyo 2020 chief Mori's comments

Toyota president Akio Toyoda.
TOKYO: The head of the world’s largest automaker joined other high-profile Tokyo Olympics sponsors on Wednesday in publicly criticising the head of the country’s Games committee for making sexist remarks.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics President Yoshiro Mori has incited anger at home and abroad with remarks last week that women talk too much, causing meetings to drag on. He has apologised but refused to resign.

“We are disappointed by the recent comments from the president of TOCOG (Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), which are contrary to the values that Toyota respects and supports,” Toyota Motor Corp president Akio Toyoda said.

Toyota became a top level Olympic partner because it shared the values with “the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which through sports aim to create a peaceful and an inclusive society without discrimination in which anyone can participate,” he said in remarks read out by an executive at the company’s earnings briefing.

The executive, operating officer Jun Nagata, said the company issued Toyoda’s message because it had concluded that it should not keep silent.

Toyota, the maker of the RAV4 SUV crossover and Prius hybrid, is a worldwide Olympic sponsor.

It had planned to use the postponed Tokyo Games to showcase its fuel cell technology by rolling out 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses to shuttle visitors between venues. The Games organiser also planned to power the Olympic flame with hydrogen.

The Tokyo Olympics, delayed from last year by the coronavirus, are due to begin in July. For officials, the Mori controversy adds to a long list of hurdles facing the event.

Other Olympic sponsors have also expressed their views, including Asahi Holdings, the holding company of beer maker Asahi Breweries, which said it believed Mori’s comments were “disappointing and inappropriate considering the spirit of gender equality espoused” by the Games.

An executive of Eneos, Japan’s oil and metals company, said on Wednesday the company “deplored the sexist remarks from a viewpoint of respect for human rights”.


The driverless rental car that comes to you

                HAMBURG: The German authorities have authorised a first ever driverless car, controlled remotely by an operator at a remote location, to operate on Europe's public roads.

The idea is to be able to rent a car that you drive yourself for the duration of your trip, but which arrives at an agreed meeting point and leaves again all by itself, controlled by the remote driver.

A cross between a rental car and a cab, this alternative solution is currently being tested here by the start-up Vay.

After placing an order via a dedicated application, the customer then waits for the car to arrive. There's no need to go to a specific location, as the vehicle comes directly to them.

The car is driven remotely by an operator sitting in a station equipped with a steering wheel and pedals, like a car simulator, from where they can drive the vehicle remotely.

Once on board, the customer takes control and drives the car as usual. Once the rental period is over, the remote driver takes control of the vehicle once more.

Note that Vay soon plans to offer a solution whereby the remote driver also drives throughout the journey, the customer being then a simple passenger in a car without a human driver on board.

The main advantage of this system is that the car does not need to be collected or returned to a specific location, since it picks up the customer and then leaves directly for another mission once the trip is over. With this solution, Vay intends to transport more people with fewer vehicles, making the trips operated by each car more profitable.

This kind of technology was previously demonstrated last year by the Estonian start-up Elmo. With it, you no longer need to go and collect the vehicle you have rented. It will come to you, alone, without a driver on board. Elmo is still looking for partners, especially in Germany, to launch a commercial offer based on this technology.


Bus and truck expo nets RM4.1mil

                KUALA LUMPUR: The second Malaysia International Bus, Truck & Components (MIBTC) expo held at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre saw greater participation from both exhibitors and attendees this year.

The biennial MIBTC expo is the largest business-to-business trade exhibition in Malaysia focusing on the commercial vehicle market and its supporting industries.

The exhibition caters specifically to the needs of the regional trucking, logistics and bus industries to help serve as an exclusive platform that gathers all the best from leading manufacturers, equipment suppliers and service providers.

There were a broader range of fringe activities from both local and international exhibitors as trade visitors rose by 23%, many of whom were from the city centre to the expo by the Sendok Group.

Furthermore, visitors had easy access to many food trucks located just outside the exhibition hall.

This year’s theme was ‘Drive Safe’ for the 85 commercial vehicles exhibitors who showcased their varied products and services such as cranes, tyres, buses, trucks and telematic systems.

The expo saw six companies including Man, Scania and Volvo launching new products and services.

The second night featured the Asian Trucker networking event where 600 local and global leaders were able to freely mingle and exchange insights on new developments in the industry amidst a ‘Drive Safe’ themed décor.

Throughout the expo, the Scania Driver Competition became the big attraction, which allowed visitors with a normal drivers license a first-hand experience on how to drive a truck and some managed to walk away with prizes from Scania.

It is evident that every party from the commercial vehicle industry was out in full force during the three days to demonstrate that they have in place the products and solutions that emphasizes safety and that can cater to the needs of the growing ASEAN market.

“We are very appreciative of the support that the industry has shown towards this second MIBTC. I have also received feedback from the market that an estimated RM4.1 million was transacted during the expo,” said Asian Trucker editor and organiser of MIBTC 2015 Stefan Pertz.


Welcome, Mazda2

                SHAH ALAM: The Mazda2 is the latest SkyActiv-ated vehicle to enter the Malaysian market and while some may not expect much from its size, there’s some interesting goodies awaiting its new owner.

“We have added more value to the car for the money that customers would usually have to pay for and this is to match up, if not, surpass our competitors”, said Bermaz Motor executive director Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh.

 Mazda2 sedan

Bermaz Motor, the exclusive distributor of the Mazda brand in Malaysia, launched the Mazda2 in sedan and hatchback forms and both costing RM87,956 OTR with insurance with four colour options of Soul Red, Snowflake White, Metropolitan Gray and Aluminium Metallic.

The launch was held at the company’s new 67,165 sq ft RM1.5mil body and paint repair centre located just 300m away from its headquarters in Glenmarie which now provides services such as body and paint repair, paint coating protection and glass tinting.

 Mazda2 hatchback

The Mazda2 is assembled in Thailand and is the fourth model to adopt the Kodo (soul of motion in Japanese) design language and the full range of Mazda's SkyActiv technology.

In terms of size, the Mazda2 hatchback comes in measuring 4,060mm-long, 1,695mm-wide, 1,470mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,570mm, while the sedan measures 260mm-longer and 25mm-taller.

 Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5L engine with a compression ration of 14:1.

Under the hood is a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G (gasoline) four-cylinder engine with a compression ratio of 14:1, providing 113bhp at 6,000rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

The Mazda2 can be driven in either normal or sports mode as the electronically controlled direct injection engine sips from a 44-litre fuel tank while being mated to a SkyActiv Drive six-speed automatic transmission.

With a kerb weight of 1,056kg (sedan - 1,065kg), the Mazda2’s suspension uses McPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.

Stopping power comes from disc brakes for both front (258mm) and rear (200mm), which are partially hidden by its 16-inch aluminium wheels with 185/60 tyres.

While the Mazda2 has a newly designed pair of halogen headlights with daytime-running lights, it also has electric-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Moving inside, the seats have been upholstered in leather with fabric for the inner backrest and some leather also finding its way onto the dashboard with an up-standing seven-inch LCD touchscreen that can be accessed with the commander control rotary or via voice command.

Convenience and luxury amenities include an electric powered multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle-shifters, keyless entry with push-start button, automatic air-conditioning and the i-Stop idling-stop technology.

Also included as standard is the Active Driving Display, the first heads-up display in its class, which projects the current speed and navigation directions onto a screen just above the instrument cluster.

The navigation system is available as an option and will cost an additional RM1,200.

The MZD Connect six-speaker audio system has Bluetooth connectivity, radio, CD, SD card slot, AUX port, USB ports and supports iPod and MP3 playback.

In addition, the audio system also features its own vehicle apps such as Eco-display, maintenance reminders and fuel consumption readings to name a few.

For safety, the Mazda2 gets equipped with two airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control and hill launch assist.


Ford to allow some employees work-from-home flexibility

                DETROIT: Ford Motor said on Wednesday it would allow about 86,000 non-manufacturing global employees the option to move to a hybrid home-and-office model.

The move makes the automaker the latest company to change its work model following the Covid-19 pandemic, with Microsoft Corp, Salesforce.com Inc and Twitter Inc also choosing hybrid or permanent remote-working models.

Ford said the move would become effective for its US workers from July.

Nearly 100,000 of the automaker’s 186,000 employees, who work in manufacturing, research, product development and design, are already working from on-site locations.


VW to scrap whopping 60% of combustion engine models and focus on premium market

                BERLIN: Volkswagen will axe many combustion engine models by the end of the decade and sell fewer cars overall to concentrate on producing more profitable premium vehicles, its finance chief was quoted as saying today.

"The key target is not growth," Arno Antlitz told the Financial Times newspaper. "We are (more focused) on quality and on margins, rather than on volume and market share."

Antlitz said VW would reduce its range of petrol and diesel cars, consisting of at least 100 models spread across several brands, by 60% in Europe over the next eight years.

The paper said VW’s new strategy was a sign of profound changes in the auto sector, which has attempted for decades to increase profits by selling more cars each year, even if that required heavy discounting.

Former VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn, who resigned in the wake of a diesel emissions scandal, had made it his goal to beat Toyota and General Motors to the title of "volume number one" by 2018.


Suzuki first quarter profit nearly wiped out as coronavirus hits sales

                TOKYO: Suzuki Motor Corp today saw its operating profit nearly wiped out during the first quarter because of plunging car demand in India, its biggest market, where coronavirus infections continue to increase.

Japan’s No. 4 automaker posted an operating profit of 1.3 billion yen (RM52mil), higher than a consensus forecast for a loss of 38 billion yen (RM1.5bil) drawn from six analysts polled by Refinitiv.

Suzuki declined to offer forecasts for full-year profit and dividends, citing ongoing uncertainties about the impact of the coronavirus in the coming months.

Global automakers are taking a big hit from the coronavirus outbreak, which shuttered vehicle factories this year and has kept customers out of car dealerships, leading to a drop in sales and production.

The maker of the Swift and the Alto compact hatchbacks suffered a 64% drop in global vehicle sales in April-June, led by a 82% drop in India, which is struggling to control the coronavirus as it reopens its economy.

India accounts for just over half of Suzuki’s global car sales through its majority stake in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. Sales volume in the country is expected to take another 3 to 4 years to return to peak levels, an industry trade body said last month.


GM to lay off all 1,500 plant workers in Thailand following sale

                BANGKOK: General Motors will begin laying off around 1,500 employees in Thailand in June, after announcing the sale of its production plants in the country, a government official said on Wednesday.

GM said on Monday it would sell its two plants in the eastern industrial province of Rayong to China’s Great Wall Motor. Its latest moves to retreat from Asia also included winding down its Australian and New Zealand operations.

Jak Punchoopet, adviser to the Minister of Labour, said all of the Rayong plants’ employees would be laid off under the terms of GM’s sale agreement with Great Wall.

“The agreement was only for the sale of the plants and didn’t include the transfer of employees,” he said.

“Their plan is to lay off 1,000 employees in the auto parts manufacturing line in June, and then around 300 to 400 in the assembly line in October,” Jak said. The rest of the staff at the two plants would be let go towards the end of 2020, he said.

“Everything will be done by the end of the year.”

GM will abide by Thai labour law and provide severance pay for the affected employees, Jak said, adding that the company will also grant an additional four-month bonus to all employees.

Great Wall Motor, one of China’s biggest sport-utility vehicle makers, said it will sell cars from the Thai base as part of its plans to go global and tap the Southeast Asian automotive industry, for which Thailand is a hub.

GM did not respond to questions about the layoffs.


Caravanning with a VW Golf? Not crazy but do-able

                WOLFSBURG: Caravanning is not a big thing in Malaysia but it is in Europe.

While one expects large and powerful SUVs to be able to pull a caravan, Volkswagen is claiming even its humble Golf hatchback can do it.

Volkswagen explained that this is due to the Golf's high trailer weight capacity of up to 1,800kg, which is enough for most large caravans.

The company said the Golf makes it easy to operate trailers: the optional hitch is mounted directly on the vehicle, but can be folded and stored invisibly in the car floor when not in use.

During the journey, the Golf's electronic stabilisation function also includes a trailer stabilisation system. It can prevent the caravan from rocking, or even jackknifing, with calculated braking interventions on the towing vehicle. When parked, the optional anti-theft alarm also monitors the trailer – if the power connections are unhitched without authorisation, the system is set off.

For inexperienced drivers, reversing with a trailer is the biggest challenge. Volkswagen has developed a driver assistance system called “Trailer Assist” to help with this.

By using the same lever as the one controlling the position of the rear-view mirror, the desired angle can be set with “Trailer Assist” before manoeuvring.

The system assumes control of the trailer position (within the limitations of the steering system) by constantly measuring the angle of draw bar to the vehicle. A practical feature especially for caravans which are difficult to handle using the exterior mirrors because of their width: When using “Trailer Assist”, every trailer or caravan is parked expertly at the first attempt, according to Volkswagen.


Russia's Avtovaz names ex-transport minister as CEO after Renault exit

Sokolov said his priority now is to strengthen the domestic supplier base. — Reuters
MOSCOW: Russia's top carmaker Avtovaz said today it had appointed former transport minister Maxim Sokolov as its new president and CEO after its main shareholder Renault withdrew from the Russian market.

Renault struck a deal to sell its majority stake in Avtovaz to a Russian science institute, reportedly for the symbolic sum of just one rouble, with a six-year option to buy it back.

Sokolov, who served as Russia's transport minister from 2012-2018, is replacing Nicolas Maure, who began his tenure in May 2021. The board's decision to appoint Sokolov came into effect today.

"The most important goal for us is the rapid development of the supplier base, first of all domestic suppliers," Sokolov said in a statement.

Sales of Avtovaz's Lada cars slumped in April by 78% and the carmaker has paused production until May 27 due to a lack of parts and weak demand.

More than 400 companies have withdrawn from Russia since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb 24, leaving behind assets worth billions of dollars.

Russia calls its actions a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it calls dangerous nationalists.

The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and provided Ukraine with military support in response.


China's Geely starts online auto sales as virus epidemic keeps buyers at home

                BEIJING: Chinese automaker Geely has launched a service for customers to buy cars online and get them delivered directly to their homes, in a bid to drum up sales as the coronavirus outbreak prompts buyers to stay away from showrooms.

Other carmakers like Tesla, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also started to promote products heavily online in recent weeks as the health crisis escalated and authorities warned people to stay away from public places.

Consumers can order and customise their cars on Geely’s website, it said in a statement. It will also offer test drives where potential consumers will be able to arrange a drive starting from their home address in coordination with local dealerships.

The coronavirus has killed 2,236 people and stricken more than 75,400 in mainland China, and strict public health measures to contain its spread have severely disrupted business and consumer activity.

Sales of passenger cars in China, the world’s largest auto market, plunged 92% in the first 16 days of February compared with the same period a year earlier, data from one industry group showed.

Victor Yang, a senior official at Geely, said promoting online sales will allow automakers to directly reach customers through sales and marketing and help them build experience should they want to continue to do so in future.

Geely, which is China’s most globally-known automaker thanks to its investment in Volvo and Daimler, said that car production in February is around one-third of its usual monthly output, but around 90% of workers will return to work by the end of this month, Yang said, adding the automaker has bought facial masks for workers and dealers.

Geely has partnered with third-party online sales platforms including Tmall, JD.com and Suning.com in the past but it is the first time the Zhejiang-based automaker is selling cars through its website. Tesla, which is building cars from its US$2 billion factory in Shanghai, has been promoting online sales for years.

Nationwide car sales are likely slide more than 10% in the first half of the year due to the outbreak, and around 5% for the whole year, provided the epidemic is effectively contained before April, said the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers last week.


Apple eyes fuel purchases from dashboard as it revs up car software

                SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc wants you to start buying gas directly from your car dashboard as early as this fall, when the newest version of its CarPlay software rolls out, accelerating the company's push to turn your vehicle into a store for goods and services.

A new feature quietly unveiled at Apple's developer conference this month will allow CarPlay users to tap an app to navigate to a pump and buy gas straight from a screen in the car, skipping the usual process of inserting or tapping a credit card.

Details of Apple's demo for developers have not previously been reported.

But Dallas-based HF Sinclair, which markets its gasoline at 1,600 stations in the United States, told Reuters that it plans to use the new CarPlay technology and will announce details in coming months.

"We are excited by the idea that consumers could navigate to a Sinclair station and purchase fuel from their vehicle navigation screen," said Jack Barger, the company's senior vice president of marketing.

Fuel apps are just the latest in a sustained push by Apple to make it possible to tap to buy from the navigation screen.

It has already opened up CarPlay to apps for parking, electric vehicle charging and ordering food, and it also is adding driving task apps such as logging mileage on business trips.

Fuel is a major expense for car owners.

The US Energy Information Administration estimated in April that the average US household will spend about US$2,945 on gasoline in 2022, or about US$455 more than last year.

Apple currently does not charge automakers, developers or users for CarPlay; the business interest is putting Apple at the forefront as cars transform into rolling computers, said Horace Dediu, an analyst with Asymco and founder of Micromobility Industries.

The new feature will hit hundreds of car models already compatible with CarPlay when Apple releases software updates this fall.

"Forget about Apple Car - Apple CarPlay is a bigger deal," Dediu said.

"It's very likely to scale to millions and millions of cars, if not hundreds of millions."

To use the new CarPlay feature this fall, iPhone users will need to download a fuel company's app to their phone and enter payment credentials to set up the app.

After the app is set up, users will be able to tap on their navigation screen to activate a pump and pay.

"It's a massive marketplace, and consumers really want to take friction out of payments," said Donald Frieden, chief executive officer of Houston-based P97 Networks, which makes the digital plumbing that many fuel companies will use to connect their apps to cars.

Frieden said he has fielded calls from oil companies that are interested to make their apps work with CarPlay.

BP, Shell and Chevron Corp did not respond to requests for comment about whether they plan to make their iPhone apps work with CarPlay.

Failed attempts

Apple's latest move is likely to increase tensions with automakers that have their own ambitions for commerce in the car.

For example, vehicle makers have tried - and failed - to popularise gasoline buying from the car before.

General Motors Co rolled out a system for doing so in 2017, but shuttered it earlier this year "due to a supplier exiting the business," GM said in a statement.

Beyond apps for fuel and other purchases, Apple is also seeking to expand CarPlay further into the car's driving systems by accessing speed and fuel gauge data.

But automakers are not likely to hand over that data to Apple without making demands of their own in talks that analysts believe are likely already under way.

Speaking at the Reuters Automotive Europe conference in Munich on Wednesday, Mercedes Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius said the company's goal "is to have a complete, holistic, Mercedes experience."

Kallenius said Mercedes would not seek to reinvent every category of app, but that "when interacting with companies that are in this digital domain ... anything and everything that crosses into product liability relevance, we would be very cautious."


Toyota starts production of C-HR in Turkey

BRUSSELS: Toyota has started production of the C-HR crossover at its plant in Turkey.

The Toyota C-HR became the eighth model currently produced in Europe and enters the C-segment with a fresh new take on the crossover. The new model is the third hybrid car produced in Europe, together with the Yaris Hybrid in France and the Auris and Auris Touring Sports hybrids in Britain.

“The Toyota C-HR is a hugely important product for the whole of Toyota. The crossover segment is growing fast. This car is Toyota’s very strong entry to this segment,” said Dr Van Zyl, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) president and CEO, during the line-off ceremony on Wednesday.

 The C-HR on display at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

The Turkish plant in Sakarya will add the C-HR to its current production of the Corolla and the Verso, on the same line. It is the first hybrid-powered vehicle to be produced in Turkey. The Turkish plant, which already exports around 80% of its production to Europe, will gradually expand its export destinations outside Europe to include the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Mauritius and South Africa.

The C-HR is the result of collaboration among several European production sites of Toyota and of suppliers based in Europe.

The newest 1.8 hybrid powertrain for the crossover is being produced at the engine plant in Deeside, North Wales, Britain. Toyota's Polish plant in Walbrzych makes transmissions and will supply manual transmissions for the 1.2-litre turbo engine variant. In addition, the Polish plant will start production of the hybrid transaxle in 2018, which is currently being made in Japan.


US agency probing if Hertz rented unrepaired recalled vehicles

Cars are parked near Hertz car rental signage at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City on March 30.  — Reuters

WASHINGTON: US auto safety regulators said they are investigating if Hertz rented unrepaired recalled vehicles to customers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a filing made public on Tuesday it had received information that indicates "Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs".

NHTSA said it had opened an "audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue."

The agency said the issue involved Ford Explorer and Nissan Altima cars owned by Hertz between 2018 and 2020 but did not disclose the number of vehicles involved.

The recall issues involved include latches and locks, NHTSA said.

Hertz, which operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands, said it is "reviewing NHTSA’s request for information. We are committed to providing safe rentals for our customers."

A 2015 law requires rental car companies with 35 or more vehicles to complete recall repairs before they rent vehicles.

Earlier this month, Hertz said it would pay about US$168 million by year-end to resolve over 95% of pending claims from owners who alleged the car rental giant filed wrongful theft reports.

Some customers had sued Hertz alleging the police detained or arrested individuals in error after the company reported rental cars were stolen.


Honda Malaysia confirms the introduction of City Hatchback soon

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has confirmed the upcoming launch of the Honda City Hatchback with the release of a teaser on its Facebook page and HondaTouch app.

The teaser also came with a catchy phrase: "Move aside. Y? Because. This Is. It."

The "Y" can be cheekily assumed as a reference to the Toyota Yaris, one of the two best-selling non-national B-segment hatchback models aside from the Honda Jazz.

As the third-generation Jazz model currently sold in Malaysia is phased out, the void created in Honda Malaysia's line-up would be filled up by the new five-door City Hatchback.

This also follows the practice in Honda's other regional markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines which are already offering the City sedan to include the City Hatchback as a companion product.

The City Hatchback is essentially the City sedan which launched locally in October last year, except the hatchback model is 208mm shorter, gets a large tailgate design and has Ultra-type rear seats.

While the City sedan may appear to be targeted at a mature set of buyers, the City Hatchback is likely to be intended for a younger and hip crowd due to a sportier outlook.

The current City sedan, which is arguably the roomiest in its class, is offered in four variants of S, E, V and RS hybrid with retail prices ranging from RM74,000 to RM106,000.

It would be interesting to see how the City Hatchback would be specified and priced as a worthy replacement to the Jazz.


Ban on heavy vehicles mulled when festivals coincide with school holidays

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government may consider banning heavy vehicles on the roads during festive seasons that coincide with school holidays to reduce traffic congestion, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar.

Kamarudin, who is also Bandar Tun Razak MP, said the ban on heavy vehicles was only enforced during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year each year.

"Hari Raya Haji this year coincides with the school holidays, which without doubt will cause traffic congestion, perhaps when festivals coincide with school holidays the ban on heavy vehicles on roads should be considered in the future."

He said this when asked about the traffic congestion on several major highways on Saturday as people returned to their hometowns in conjunction with the school holidays and Hari Raya Haji celebrations.

Bernama had earlier reported that the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, which is the main route from the West Coast to the East Coast, is expected to record 1.65 million vehicles in conjunction with the holiday.


Special editions for Volvo S60 and V60

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars will produce special editions of the S60 premium mid-size four-door sedan and the five-door V60 estate.

“The S60 and V60 are drivers’ cars. Our focus with the Model Year 2017 Edition is to take this winning concept even further with a combination of fresh design features,” said Bjorn Annwall, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Car Group.

Inside the cabin the S60 and V60 Edition models come with sport leather seats in off-black or soft beige, complemented by a black headliner.

 Volvo S60 Edition

The steering wheel, which can now be ordered with built-in heating, has also been treated to a contrasting thread and groove, adding looks and luxury to the feel.

Contrasting stitching has also been added on the gearshift gaiter.

Two interior trims will be offered – Milled Aluminium, as standard and Piano Black as an option.

 Volvo V60 Edition

On the exterior several new exterior colours will be available including the expressive Mussel Blue and Luminous Sand options recently seen on the new S90, V90 and XC90 models.

The Edition models also come with a range of high gloss black features, front and rear bumper inserts, and the grille, which is enhanced by horizontal chrome bars.

The Edition models also come with integrated tailpipes, retractable door mirrors and park assist (rear) as standard.


New multi-storey car park at Penang airport opens

                GEORGE TOWN: The newly constructed seven-storey car park at Penang International Airport is open to the public starting this month after obtaining the certificate of completion and compliance (CCC) from the relevant authorities.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said the new multi-storey carpark is anticipated to ease parking problems at the airport.

Iskandar Mizal said the new facility is able to provide 1,742 parking bays including 22 for the disabled, and 660 bays for motorcycles.

The facility is equipped with automatic plate number recognition and car finder application kiosk so that users can easily locate their cars.

Iskandar Mizal said the development of this facility was also in line with the airport's future expansion plans and the first phase which is expected to start soon would see the airport capacity increased to 12 million passengers per annum from 6.5 million currently.


Proton says it's on steady growth path

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton has continued to maintain steady growth in its sales performance year-to-date.

As at Nov 30, it achieved 66,190 units in sales, a growth of two per cent compared to 65,069 in the same period last year, driven by its Saga and Persona models.

In a statement here today, the national carmaker said, these two models continued to lead all other of the company's models with 28,368 and 18,113 units sold respectively year-to-date, making up for 70% of Proton's total car sales,

Proton's vice president of sales and marketing, Abdul Rashid Musa, said it has been a challenging journey for the company over the past five years and the steady growth recorded from January-November this year was encouraging.

"We will continue to push ourselves harder in the coming months and we hope that customers will take advantage of the year-end deals for Proton cars."

He said growth was seen from the current quality improvements that were on-going internally.

"Together with our partner, Proton has intensified quality improvement processes and efforts, with exceptional sharing of knowledge and skills, as well as the opportunity for our local team to be trained at Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Lt in China.

"We shall continue to improve our cars and do better in providing customer satisfaction," he said.

Proton said the reliability and durability of its cars were tested in a nine-hour endurance race at the Sepang 1,000km last month, where Proton car emerged the overall winner.


Toyota and Uber latest to join forces in ride-sharing rush

                TOKYO: Toyota and Uber said on Tuesday they would partner to explore ridesharing, including an investment by the Japanese automaker in the on-demand ride company, the latest in a wave of high-profile partnerships between carmakers and ride-sharing services.

Toyota and Uber will create new leasing options in which car purchasers can lease their vehicles from Toyota Financial Services and cover their payments through earnings generated as Uber drivers, the companies said in a joint statement.

Traditional automakers are racing to find ride-sharing partners as a response to the rush of technology companies such as Apple, Alphabet's Google and private companies such as Uber that are reshaping the global auto industry.

Earlier on Tuesday, German automaker Volkswagen announced a US$300 million investment in Gett, a smaller ride-sharing company.

The Toyota-Uber partnership comes more than four months after General Motors' US$500 million investment in Lyft, Uber's main US rival, to develop an on-demand network of self-driving cars.

More recently, Apple said it would invest US$1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing, seen as a political move by the technology giant to cement its presence in the crucial Chinese market.

At the same time, Ford is looking at partnerships to expand beyond manufacturing and selling cars, with chairman Bill Ford saying on Monday that "you'll hear more from us" as the year progresses.

Toyota is making the strategic investment through its unit Toyota Financial Services Corporation and Mirai Creation Investment Limited Partnership.


2022 Maxus T60 pick-up truck upgraded from RM115,000

                PETALING JAYA: As the leading pick-up truck offering the best "bang-for-your-buck" proposition, the updated Maxus T60 is now further boosted by a new free engine upgrade and a bold face.

For a limited time, all refreshed T60 will get the Maxus Performance Kit worth RM3,000 that increases the power of its 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine to 155bhp at 3,000rpm but also boosts torque the standard 360Nm to an impressive 425Nm between 1,600 to 2,300rpm.

The elevated performance has also improved the combined fuel economy from 9.6 litres per 100km previously to 9 litres per 100km.

Transmission is a six-speed Punch automatic with BorgWarner's electronically controlled four-wheel drive system that allows switching between the modes of 2H, 4H and 4L on-the-fly. A Drive Mode select feature allows the driver to choose Eco, Normal or Power.

Eco offers a 2% reduction in fuel consumption over the Normal default while Power offers a 5% increase in performance that will be especially handy in off-road conditions or when carrying a heavy load.

The T60 comes with 17-inch wheels and can be upgraded to 19-inch wheels for RM3,000.

The pick-up truck has a maximum load rating of 815kg and a towing capacity of 3,000kg.

It also comes with an Eaton mechanical differential lock for improved traction.

Meanwhile, the new front grille that carries the name of the marque in an understated but elegant shade of matte black.

Other features include a Bosch Electronic Stability Programme that integrated an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist (BA), Roll Movement Intervention (RMI) for greater stability as well as improved traction at high speeds or in the event of emergency avoidance maneuvers.

The RMI recognises the threat of an impending rollover from the various sensors and intuitively applies the brakes individually to resist the motion and return stability to the vehicle.The vehicle is also fitted with Hill Start Assist Control (HAS) and Hill Descent Control (HDC) for navigating steep inclines and declines.Completing the extensive list of safety equipment are front and side airbags, automatic headlight adjustment, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, two ISOFIX anchorage points and a Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) that is activated from 30kph.

The automatic headlight adjustments adjusts the beam level according to road conditions and rotates in correspondence to the steering input to illuminate the road ahead.

This in addition to the follow-me-home function, Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and automatic headlight sensing features.

Also included are power-adjustable front seats as well as both forward and rearward folding rear seats for extra storage, a push-start button, automatic air-conditioning, an aluminium luggage rack, a stainless-steel roll cage, side steps, chrome-plated door handles, chrome-plated electric folding mirrors and fog lamps.

A total of 15 storage areas within the cabin further add to the convenience and overall cargo volume of 1,188 litres.

Enhancing the cabin’s premium layout is the multi-function steering wheel with the cruise control audio and switches for the integrated 10-inch HD infotainment touchscreen head unit that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Weststar Automotive Division chief executive officer Syed Ammar Syed Azman said the 2022 model was not only refreshed in terms of looks but also came with performance options for the growing pick-up truck segment in Malaysia.

“The CBU unit is the ideal balance of performance, capability, and safety, and offers the best value for money for a pick-up truck in the current market.

“We are fortunate our principal has given us priority and sufficient stock for us to supply the current demand here in the country,” he said.

Priced at just RM115,888, the T60 reaffirms its position as one of the best value-for-money propositions in the local pick-up truck segment.

Further elevating that status is a RM1,500 rebate for all bookings for a limited time only.

Warranty is five years/130,000km with comprehensive aftersales support package that comprises a four year/80,000km coverage inclusive free service, parts, lubricants and labour.

Available colours are Obsidian Black, Agate Red, Lava Grey, Blanc White, Aurora Silver and Ocean Blue.

More details at the nearest authorised Weststar Maxus dealer or www.weststarmaxus.com.


Name change marks new dawn for Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe

                NAGOYA: Toyota Motor Corp's European research and development base, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG), has changed its company name to Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe GmbH.

The change in the company name reflects its closer relationship with the Gazoo Racing Company.

In recent years, the company has expanded its work with the Gazoo Racing Company (GRC) by applying the expertise and experience it has cultivated in motorsports over the years to the development of GR series production cars.

Going forward, Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe will continue to serve as the hub for Toyota's motorsports activities in Europe, working together with GRC from its base in Köln, Germany, and engage in activities including supplying engines for cars participating in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), and helping to develop the GR Supra GT4.

"The absolute mission of participating in motorsports, which is a battle of works produced by manufacturers, is winning. That is why TGR Europe must be a team of professionals that produces winning works. To continue winning, we have to do kaizen (continuous improvement) and making things better and better and better, no matter what the circumstances. Our team will continue to make ever-better cars here in Köln, Germany, to win," said Akio Toyoda, resident of Toyota Motor Corp.


Shrunken reborn Ferrari is an electric replica for teenagers

                LONDON: Wealthy parents seeking the ultimate present for their car-crazy teenager should take a look at the reborn Ferrari Testa Rossa which is a scaled-down and electrified version of the 1950s racer.

Ferrari’s Maranello styling centre joined forces with the British-based Little Car Company to produce exactly 299 of the Testa Rossa J – which stands for junior.

Each one carries a price ticket of £95,000 (RM551,000).

The two-seater is a 75 per cent scale replica of the real thing with an electric motor and three batteries up front instead of the original’s rorty V12 engine.

The 1957 Testa Rossa was one of the most iconic cars in Ferrari history.

Original drawings were used to create the chassis and many other parts of the working model car which measures 3100 mm long, 1100 mm tall and 700 mm wide.

The junior Testa Rossa version is aimed at owners as young as 14 which explains why top speed has been limited to just 60kph. The junior racing car is not designed for use on public roads.

The makers offer four driving modes from novice to race which should enable young users to gradually get to grips with the performance.

The finish and fittings are up to to Ferrari's usual high standards, with the bodywork made from hand-beaten aluminium. The car rides on 12 inch wire wheels.

In a nod to the current generation of road cars, the pedals are from the F8 Tributo, the tyres from Pirelli and the cockpit boasts leather seats and classic instrument dials.

Safety is a priority and the metal side panels have been reinforced. An optional roll-bar can be anchored to the chassis.

Brembo disc brakes replace the original drum set-up to maximize stopping performance and these are boosted by a hydraulic handbrake.

The pint-sized Testa Rossa looks great in Ferrari red but customers can also order 14 historic liveries and 53 bodywork colours.

The Little Car Company specialises in replicas and already offers downsized versions of the Aston Martin DB5 and a vintage Bugatti.


Bookings for Honda HR-V open ahead of launch

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has started order taking for the new HR-V compact sports utility vehicle that will be launched locally next month.

The HR-V, slotted below the bigger CR-V, will be available for booking at all 77 dealers nationwide. It represents Honda's foray into the small car segment alongside the Jazz/Fit.

According to Honda, the HR-V (Hip & Smart Runabout Vehicle) is a new generation vehicle that fuses together the secure feelings of an SUV, the personal feel of a Coupe and the comfort of an MPV.

The compact SUV is a new segment Honda is entering that is already populated by the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Mazda CX-3 and Peugeot 2008, all aimed at capturing a more youthful set of customers and broadening their product line-up.

The HR-V is equipped with a 1.8L i-VTEC SOHC engine whose power is delivered to the wheels via an improved CVT that promises driving performance and fuel economy. The engine produces 138hp at 6,500rpm and 172Nm of torque at 4,300rpm.

The vehicle measures 4,294 mm in length, 1,772 mm in width and 1,605 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,610 mm.

It offers the driver and passengers a wide viewing angle, made possible through "optimisation of the width and angle of the front pillars in order to provide good visibility for the driver."

Driving comfort is further enhanced with a low centre of gravity. Keeping to its sporty and bold style, the car is fitted with 16” alloy wheels.

Super high tensile steel including hot-stamped materials installed at appropriate spots were used to increase body rigidity and stability.

In addition, the front and rear parts of the body were reinforced to realise the lightweight and highly rigid body that Honda says results in sportiness and linear driving performance.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been dampened by adopting high-performance sound absorbing and insulating materials installed in the rear area and front inner fenders, floor carpets and floor undercover.

The front face is designed to look bold and tough with unified stylish front grille that’s created under the “Solid Wing Face” concept.

The character lines on the sides fuse together the sleek cabin of a coupe and the dynamic lower body exudes toughness.

Honda imagined an elegant and sporty two-door coupe  by combining the character lines and rear door handles that are integrated into the side windows.

The interior design of the High-deck Centre Console is made possible for the first time by adopting the Electric Parking Brake, replacing the hand/foot brake. The new design allows drivers to have their own personal space without infringing into the passenger space.

Along with the High-deck Centre Console, a new kind of Multi-utility Drink Holder is developed to not only hold drinks but also to store personal items.

In order to enhance the cabin space for driver and passengers, the length of the seat bottom was increased creating ample legroom, while the seatback angle was optimised for better seating posture.

The HR-V features high quality material as fabric and soft pad were used for most occupant touch points.

Rear seats can be arranged into 3 modes for even more cargo space. The tailgate opening is as wide as 1,180 mm while the ground height of the tailgate opening is 650 mm, one of the lowest within the class, providing convenience for easy loading and unloading.

Its smart interface features include a 7-inch Display Audio, One Touch Turn Signal and Touch Panel Air Conditioning.

The speedometer  features an illumination ring, which changes colour based on the driving mode to indicate economical driving.

Safety features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Daytime Running Light (DRL), ISOFIX and 6 Airbags.

The vehicle comes with a new Automatic Brake Hold feature that can be activated with a push of the switch. Once it’s activated, whenever the driver stops the vehicle by braking, the system automatically holds the vehicle in position without the driver stepping on the brake. This provides convenience to the driver when in a temporary stationary mode.

Another new feature introduced in the All-New HR-V is the Electric Parking Brake. It is an advanced parking brake which can be operated by a switch lever. When the conditions (seatbelt and shift position) are fulfilled, the system automatically releases the parking brake with the step of the accelerator pedal.

In conjunction with the upcoming HR-V launch, Honda is organising roadshows at the following locations: