Warning to crooks: New Ford cop car may be green, but it's fast

                LOS ANGELES: Ford Motor Co. has found a way for cops to chase down bad guys in a speeding police cruiser while helping the environment at the same time.

The automaker says its new Police Responder hybrid sedan, a modified Fusion, is the first gasoline-electric cop car to be “pursuit-rated,” meaning it can race through city streets while navigating crowded intersections or hopping curbs. The vehicle was unveiled Monday at simultaneous events in New York and Los Angeles, the latter attended by Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck.

The cruiser will average 38 mpg (6.2l/100km) in combined city and highway driving, more than twice what the current Police Interceptor model gets with a 3.7-litre V-6 engine. Ford calculates fuel savings of US$3,877 (RM17,200) per car annually. For big-city police forces that can have more than 1,000 cruisers in their fleet, that can translate to yearly savings approaching US$4mil (RM17.7mil).

“Having a pursuit-rated green vehicle is what they were looking for,” Arie Groeneveld, Ford’s chief program engineer for police cruisers, said in an interview. “We expect this vehicle will grow our market share.”

The Responder is among 13 new hybrid or electric models Ford has said it will offer globally by 2020, which will account for 40 percent of its showroom offerings, up from 13 percent. The automaker is spending US$4.5bil (RM20bil) on its ambitious plan to electrify its lineup, even as President Donald Trump is considering easing fuel-economy regulations and consumers continue to give a cold shoulder to green vehicles.

Ford has been building police cars since 1920, when it offered cops a modified Model T. It now controls nearly two thirds of the US market with modified versions of the Taurus sedan and Explorer sport utility vehicle. For decades its Crown Victoria dominated highway patrol so much that speeders knew to pull over if they recognised the distinctive grille in their rear-view mirror.

 A member of the media filming the interior of the new Ford Police Responder hybrid vehicle outside of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) headquarters. — Bloomberg

Bank robbers like Fords, too. The Henry Ford Museum near Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, displays a fan letter from the infamous Clyde Barrow. “While I still have got a breath in my lungs, I will tell you what a dandy car you make,” he wrote Henry Ford in 1934, a month before police gunned down Barrow and Bonnie Parker - in a Ford, of course.

The latest Ford police car, which will hit the streets in the summer of 2018, can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 8.7 seconds, matching the speed of the old Crown Vic, said Brett Hinds, chief engineer of Ford’s electrified powertrain systems. The electric motor pared with a two-liter gasoline engine gives the car initial launch acceleration that feels “a lot snappier” than traditional cruisers, Hinds said.

The secret to its fuel savings, though, comes when the car is stopped by the side of the road. The gas engine shuts down for four minutes at a time, while the electric motor continues to power the squad car’s lights, laptop computer, radio and climate controls. After resting, the engine automatically fires up for two minutes to recharge the battery. That process, repeated over the many hours a police car sits idle, drastically reduces fuel consumption, Hinds said.

“Police cruisers are in an idle position about 61 percent of the time,” Groeneveld said. “That’s where you get the very significant savings.”

Ford is banking on finding a market for green vehicles among police chiefs buffeted by budget cuts. But cops like their cruisers fast and tough, so the idea of a fuel-sipping hybrid chase car raised more than a few questions among police officials. That is, until they put the hybrid through a test drive.

“Any concerns they had went away once they had it on the test track,” said Groeneveld. “It was better than they expected from a hybrid.”


Aston Martin could revive Vanquish name yet again

Aston Martin Vanquish S - the last car to use the legendary name.
LONDON: It's certainly not unusual for auto manufacturers to revive successful and much-loved names of the past and reinvent them with a new model, but at least they used to wait long enough for them to become a memory before bringing them back from the dead. Nowadays they come back much quicker, and Aston Martin may be looking to set a nameplate resurrection speed record by bringing back the Vanquish, again.

The Vanquish name first came into our consciousness back in 2001, but it only stayed in production until 2007. However, it was then revived again in 2012 as the Vanquish S before it was put out to pasture again earlier this year. Now it could be coming back again before the body of the Vanquish S has even gone cold as it sounds as though it is going to be used for a future version of the DBS Superleggera.

The DBS Superleggera has recently been shown off to the world's media at press drive events, and the mid-engined Aston designed to take on the likes of the Ferrari 488, Lamborghini Huracan, and McLaren 720 S really does appear to be something special.

When the Motoring publication asked Aston's chief creative officer, Mark Reichman, about the possibility of the new car reviving the name, he admitted,"Without saying yes, that sounds like a plausible solution for a beautiful name like Vanquish."

In the past, the name has generally been reserved for the most powerful models the British supercar maker has on the go at that particular time, but this latest flagship model has moved to combine two highly appropriate monikers of DBS and Superleggera. Reichman said the name "better reflected [the DBS'] positioning than Vanquish."

It all suggests a future Vanquish version will be out to eclipse every model in its segment, and not just those under the Aston Martin banner.

A 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG combined with an electric motor is likely to power a future Vanquish, and Reichman refused to rule out the possibility of the car having an electric motor, e-AWD capability and an element of electric-only driving.

The car would also benefit from the aerodynamic design genius of Adrian Newey, gained through the partnership of Aston Martin with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team.

An SUV will be the fourth Aston model after the DB11, Vantage and DBS Superleggera are all on sale, so a new Vanquish wouldn't arrive until 2020.


GM develops and shares new workplace safety technology

                DETROIT: General Motors has developed new technology to aid workplace safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the company is sharing its innovations with the world for potential use in job sites as diverse as plants, offices or even schools.

The new technologies include an automated kiosk for temperature scanning, software for contact tracing and a mobile app for touchless printing.

While developed to aid the company’s workplace protocols, GM has made these tools available to the public for potential use in any workplace, school or facility.

“We developed an extensive playbook for a safe return to work for our employees, and we’re seeing very good success,” said Dr Jeffery Hess, GM medical director.

“As we implemented the protocols, GM software developers started to work on how technology could make the process smoother and more precise.”

GM’s in-house software developers created solutions aimed at helping employees return to work with more confidence, streamlining and improving workplace safety protocols.

“We had to respond quickly to the challenges the Covid-19 pandemic created for our workforce,” said Randy Mott, GM executive vice president and chief information officer.

“Our teams collaborated online with experts around the world to quickly innovate and support the safe return of our employees to the workplace. We know many of these challenges affect others globally. We felt it important to share our innovation so other companies, organisations and institutions could benefit from our experience.”

Here’s a look at three innovations in use at GM workplaces today, with the software code and hardware plans available to all developers.

Thermal Scanning Kiosk

In GM workplaces – and many other kinds of facilities today – safety protocols call for an entry process that includes a temperature evaluation, normally administered by another worker. GM developed new software code that integrates the operation of an infrared thermal camera with a computer and monitor, automating and streamlining the entire process.

Leveraging open-source code from the OpenCV project, the system automatically detects when someone has stepped in front of the camera and checks for an elevated skin temperature, indicating it is either safe to proceed or the entrant needs further evaluation.

The process can take as little as 1-2 seconds, relieving bottlenecks at workplace entry points and reducing physical contact between workers. The scanning is effective when the worker is wearing a mask or face covering.

Kiosks are in use at numerous GM offices and plants across the United States and will expand to other global locations soon. While the actual kiosk GM built is for its own facilities, the innovation that makes it work can be applied in many other kinds of workplaces. The software is available to help any workplace or facility with similar entry scanning processes.

Workplace Contact Tracing

Developers worldwide are designing technology solutions to improve contact tracing. GM made significant improvements to Covid Watch, an open-source contact tracing application, by adding real-time social distance alerts, boosting performance on both iOS and Android devices and adding support for Bluetooth beacons. GM will release its open-source software soon, helping developers worldwide who are collaborating on open-source solutions to aid contact tracing.

“We believe our application advances the state of the art when it comes to mobile apps for contact tracing, which is the subject of massive software development efforts across multiple industries today,” said Tony Bolton, GM chief information officer of Global Telecommunications and End-User Services.

GM is testing a mobile app that would create a record for the employee, listing other users with whom he or she has been in contact. It can help medical staff reach employees that had contact with a worker testing positive for Covid-19, while maintaining privacy and security. The app also constantly computes the physical distance between users and can send an alert to help encourage safe behavior. GM is planning a pilot to test the application soon.

Touchless Print

The new Touchless Print mobile web application now enables employees to print documents without touching the printer’s control panel, leveraging instead a QR code scanned through the employee’s mobile phone. The process is not only safer, but quick and simple.

“Touchless printing is a first step, as the team is also working on using technology to make other daily activities more hands-free,” Bolton said.

This app is in use now at GM facilities worldwide, for iOS and Android devices, and exclusive to HP printers. The open-source software for the app was released earlier this month.

These innovations are the latest in a series of pandemic-response actions from the company, including production of critical care ventilators and personal protective equipment such as masks, face shields and N95 respirators.


Malaysian app ParkEasy helps you book your spot in crowded venues

                PETALING JAYA: Parking apps have been around for some time, having been introduced in Europe and United States to help drivers find parking spots at airports or busy city streets through their smartphone. Names like Parker, SpotHero, ParkingPanda, ParkWhiz and AirportParkingReservations are notable examples.

Now Malaysia has its own version called ParkEasy, created by four young Malaysians.

ParkEasy app enables a user to scout for available bays remotely, get a bird’s eye view of the parking floor, use intelligent navigation to find the designated spot and not worry about where the vehicle is parked as the app will remember the location.

“For a small fee, the app protects your parking from others. If someone else gets into the parking bay ‘illegally’, it will activate an alarm,” said ParkEasy CEO Warren Chan.

“The operations team at the mall is also equipped with their own app. They will be able to head straight to the ‘illegal’ parking and clamp the car.”

Chan said the idea for the app was borne of frustration at the difficulty of getting a spot at busy shopping malls.

“I have booked movie tickets using mobile apps so I thought why can’t we book a parking spot too?” he said.

Chan and three friends – Eric Tan, who serves as chief technology officer, Winnie Mah, the engineering vice-president, and senior developer Yong Shung Jiu – then started working intensively on such an app in August last year.

To develop the app, the four raised RM90,000 and received a RM210,000 matching grant from the Government – a scheme that encourages discipline and motivation in the project by invested participants.

The innovation has also caught the attention of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mah Siew Keong, who cited the app as an example of Malaysian innovation and creativity in his speech at the Innovating Malaysia Conference 2016 in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Visit parkeasy.my for more information.


Automakers to install rear seat reminders to stop hot car deaths in US

                WASHINGTON: Major automakers said on Wednesday they have agreed to equip nearly all US vehicles with systems to remind motorists of passengers in the back seat, by model year 2025, in an effort to avoid deaths of young children left behind in hot cars.

The announcement on so-called rear seat reminder systems comes as the US Congress has been debating making it a requirement for new cars.

Lawmakers say more than 800 children in parked vehicles have died from heatstroke in the United States over the last two decades. US regulators say 53 died last year, the most in two decades.

The 20 automakers taking part represent nearly 98% of all US vehicle sales and committed to include audible and visual alerts on vehicles by the 2025 model year, or a year later if a redesign is involved.

The automakers include General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp, Hyundai Motor Co and Honda Motor Co Ltd.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said it will eventually adopt the reminder technology on all vehicles worldwide but said timing by region will vary, while in July Hyundai said it would make the systems standard on most US vehicles by 2022.

GM has had a system on some U.S. vehicles since 2016 that provides audible alert and a visual reminder on the vehicle dashboard to check for a child before exiting.

The systems generally operate to alert a driver to the presence of a child if a rear door was opened at the start of a trip. Some vehicles have ultrasonic sensors that can detect the movements of children and pets; a Hyundai system will honk the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone if it detects movement.

Some safety advocates want more advanced systems that would detect the actual presence of a child in the back seat mandated.

In July, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation to eventually require automakers to install the technology on new vehicles.

US Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican who chairs the Commerce Committee, said in an interview the voluntary agreement makes the legislation unnecessary. Under the legislation being considered, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would be compelled to write regulations and then automakers would have at least two years’ lead time.

“This gives us essentially everything we’ve asked for and it does it sooner,” said Wicker. “It is a huge win.”

NHTSA plans to double its investment in its annual heatstroke awareness campaign “Where’s Baby” and plans to convene automakers, technology companies, child product manufacturers and others for a safety summit later this month.

NHTSA typically takes years to write regulations. For example, a proposal to require automakers to send email notifications of recalls has been pending for more than three years.

Wicker’s bill would also direct states to use a portion of highway safety program funds to educate the public on the risks of leaving a child or unattended passenger in a vehicle, and require the Transportation Department to commission a study on retrofitting existing passenger motor vehicles.

US Representatives Frank Pallone and Jan Schakowsky, Democrats overseeing panels on auto issues, said in a joint statement the effort is “a big step in the right direction” but “voluntary commitments don’t necessarily result in meaningful action.”

They added Congress should “pursue legislation that requires these companies to take the necessary steps to protect children and holds the companies accountable.”


New Shell Rimula engine oil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Rimula is set to further strengthen its market leadership position as the best-selling heavy duty diesel engine oil (HDDEO) brand in the world and Malaysia with a completely new range of products and a new enhanced flagship fully synthetic product, which all come in newly redesigned package.

As the new improved flagship fully synthetic product that is a part of an enhanced portfolio, the new Shell Rimula R6 LM 10W-40 fully synthetic HDDEO now features Shell’s unique Dynamic Protection Plus Technology.

Dynamic Protection Plus Technology combines Shell’s proprietary PurePlus Technology, which produces an ultra-clean base oil made from natural gas, and Adaptive Additive Technology to deliver excellent all-weather protection, longer engine life, extended oil drain intervals, and reduced fuel consumption, all of which ultimately helps customers to lower the total cost of ownership.

This latest innovation by Shell enables the new Rimula R6 LM to offer up to 53% better protection against engine wear and deposits, especially cam wear and up to 45% lower oil consumption.

The oil’s upgraded CJ-4 specification now exceeds ACEA, MAN and Mercedes-Benz specifications for engine wear and cleanliness to ensure extended oil drain intervals and lower emissions.

Its low SAPs formulation also significantly reduces downtime from clogging of diesel particulate filters by ash.This means that the new Rimula R6 LM is especially recommended for highly rated engines meeting Euro 5 to 6 emission requirements.

 Ng (centre) with Shell Lubricants technical manager, Sng Miah Thye (left) and Shell Lubricants marketing manager, Alex Lim.

Shell Lubricants General Manager - Malaysia & Singapore, Leslie Ng, said that the new enhanced Shell Rimula portfolio once again reflected Shell’s investment in research and development and its desire to offer cutting-edge lubricant products that deliver real and tangible benefits to businesses operating in an increasingly challenging economic environment.

“The enhanced formulations in the new Shell Rimula products provide an unprecedented level of protection to engines that operate in severe conditions.  They are designed to help our customers reach their real destinations, no matter where or what they are.

“Our revolutionary and proprietary gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology has enabled us to be the first company to launch passenger car motor oils and motorcycle engine oils made from natural gas.  We are now bringing this breakthrough technology to the HDDEO segment.”

The launch of the new Shell Rimula R6 LM with Dynamic Protection Plus Technology was timely as high quality Euro 5 specification diesel has become increasingly available in Malaysia.

More truck and bus fleet owners could upgrade their vehicles to that equipped with newer and more advanced engines, which in turn, would spur owners to use fully synthetic HDDEOs in order to optimise the fuel efficiency, performance and reliability of their vehicles.

The new Shell Rimula R6 LM is priced at RM572.60 for a 20 Litre bucket.

In conjunction with the introduction of the new Shell Rimula portfolio, Shell Lubricants also launched the 2016 edition of the highly popular Shell Rimula Global Promotion.  This year, the contest will take eight lucky grand prize winners to South Africa for a unique driving challenge.

The contest has been rewarding Shell Rimula customers with money-can’t-buy experiences around the world.  Last year’s winners had the opportunity to visit Budapest, Hungary to experience the FIA European Truck Racing championship while the 2014 winners took part in a unique heavy equipment challenge in London.

For more information on Shell Rimula, please visit this website.


Audi R8 V10 performance RWD ramps up the thrills

                INGOLSTADT: Audi's new R8 V10 performance RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) is more athletic now with a revised engine and a host of new technological highlights.

Available as a Coupé or Spyder, the new RWD variant is a sporty complement to the all-wheel drive R8 V10 performance quattro.

The mid-mounted engine sports car gets the overly sporty design inspired by its GT4 siblings.

Elements of this include the broad, flat Singleframe radiator grill in matte black with an R8 emblem flanked by large air intakes, the front splitter and rear air outlet grid as well as the oval tailpipes.

The slit under the front hood is reminiscent of the legendary Audi Sport quattro.

Inside, the most eye-catching element is the “Monoposto” – the large, heavily contoured arch that spans the area in front of the driver’s seat and is strongly reminiscent of a racecar cockpit.

The “Monoposto” encloses the Audi virtual cockpit with a 12.3-inch screen, which is integrated into a freestanding casing.

The R8 leather steering wheel with Multifunction plus offers two or, in the performance version, four control satellites, each for using Audi drive select, to start the engine, to activate Performance Mode and the engine sound as well as to control the Audi virtual cockpit.

The driver and passenger can enjoy the ride in  the newly available R8 bucket or sports seats, upholstered in leather and Alcantara.

Meanwhile, the 5.2-lire V10 FSI naturally aspirated engine is powerful now and is mated to a seven-speed S Tronic transmission, also gets new features such as dynamic steering, CFK stabilisers and ceramic disc brakes.

The V10 engine now delivers 570PS and 550Nm of torque, up by 30PS and 10Nm from previous.

The R8 V10 performance RWD can accelerate from zero to 100kph in 3.7 seconds (3.8 seconds for the Spyder) with a top speed of 329kph (327kph for the Spyder).

The suspension and driving dynamics are specifically balanced for the rear-wheel drive derived from the R8 LMS racecar.

The electromechanical steering comes with Dynamic Steering, available for the first time for the rear-wheel drive R8, provides even more precise reaction and feedback.

This makes driving more dynamic through more direct steering, on curvy country roads or when turning.

It also increases comfort by making steering easier, such as when parking or maneuvering.

When Sport Mode is activated in the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC), the suspension setup and control systems will allow controlled drifts.

The R8 performance RWD's sport suspension is adapted specifically for rear-wheel drive, has double wishbones and a passive differential lock.

The axle distribution is 40:60. Extra-light 19 and 20-inch aluminum cast wheels ensure precise handling and lane control in quick turns.

Cup wheels in 245/30 R20 up front and 305/30 R20 at the back, are available optionally and provide extra grip and dynamics.

The R8 V10 performance RWD is built – largely by hand – in the “Böllinger Höfe” plant at the Audi location in Neckarsulm, Germany.

It can be ordered from Oct 21 and the base price for the Coupé is €149,000 (RM719.400) in Germany. The Spyder starts at €162,000 (RM782,200).


Nissan says can meet US sales goal with capacity in South Korea, Japan

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan will be able to meet its goal of taking 10 percent of the US market in two years without any major new investments and by making use of capacity available at factories in Japan and South Korea, a top executive said on Friday.

With sales in the United States growing at nearly twice the pace of the overall market last year, Japan's No.2 automaker has been expanding capacity at its North American plants but needs more to meet demand.

"The key word is flexibility," Jose Munoz, executive vice president at Nissan and chairman of its North American arm, told reporters at Nissan's headquarters here.

"I can't (give) you concrete numbers now but we have already started to work on how we can capitalise on the available capacity in Japan for North America."

Earlier this month, Nissan announced plans to tap alliance partner Renault SA's joint venture plant in South Korea to export more Rogue crossovers to the United States.

With recent and upcoming model launches in the United States such as the Murano sport-utility vehicle, Maxima sedan and Titan pickup truck, Munoz said Nissan has "never been as confident as we are today" over its prospects in the United States, its biggest market.

The Tennessee-based Spaniard also said there was no reason for Nissan to lag rival Honda Motor Co in the United States given its broader product range that includes a full-sized pickup truck and a bigger manufacturing footprint in North America.

Munoz noted that Nissan is closing the gap with Honda also in key product segments where the latter has traditionally dominated with Toyota Motor Corp, thanks to brisk sales of the Altima and Sentra sedans.

"I'm confident we will overtake them," he said, declining to estimate a time frame.

Nissan took 8.4 percent of the US market in 2014, inching closer to its 10 percent goal for the business year to March 2017.

But brisk sales have been driven partly by generous discounts and low-profit deliveries to fleet customers - both of which Munoz said Nissan was successfully beginning to rein in.


All-new Subaru XV launched from RM118,819

                PETALING JAYA:  TC Subaru, the distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, launched the all new Subaru XV and is available in two variants XV 2.0i and XV 2.0i-P priced at RM118,819 and RM125,868, respectively (prices are on-the-road without insurance).

 Tan (third from left) and Ishitobi (second from right) at the launch of the new Subaru XV.

“We are thrilled to launch this new, second generation XV built on the new Subaru Global Platform, which delivers less shake and less body roll, and way more fun. The first generation XV was very well received and we are confident that the all-new Subaru XV will be the perfect driving partner for Malaysians, whether it be in daily traffic or out-of-town escapades,” said Reza Mutalib, Head of Regional Marketing, Motor Image Enterprises Pte Ltd.

Also present was at the launch was managing director of Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL), Glenn Tan; and senior general manager of overseas sales and marketing division 2, Subaru Corporation, Tomohiro Ishitobi.

The rigidity of the new XV throughout the body and chassis has been rasied over 70% to reduce vibration and body roll thus results in a quiet, smooth ride. On top of it, it has a quicker steering ratio and a lower centre of gravity while offering the same 220mm ground clearance as before.

Looks-wise, the new Subaru XV is sportier and distinctively rugged as it incorporates Subaru’s new Dynamic x Solid design philosophy. The exterior features Subaru’s iconic hexagonal grille with C-shaped headlights, matte-black cladding on the front bumper and a new aluminium 17 inch wheel design.

Inside, you will find a completely new dashboard and a striking touch with orange stitching on the seats and doors. The top specced XV 2.0i-P also has the orange stitching on the dashboard.

Standard items in the cabin include an eight-inch touchscreen display, a six-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, a 4.2-inch TFT LCD instrument panel info display, power-adjustable driver’s seat, paddle shifters and a rear view camera.

The new XV features a revamped 2.0-litre boxer engine which is 12kg lighter and equipped with direct injection to increase power while maintaining fuel economy. The engine is mated to the Lineartronic CVT transmission which is also 7.8kg lighter than previous models and features auto-step shift control and 7-speed manual mode function.

Besides Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, the new XV now comes equipped with X-MODE which enhances driving performance on challenging terrain. It also is equipped with Hill Descent Control.

In terms of safety, it comes with seven airbags as standard for both variants as well as anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and brake assist, vehicle dynamic control (VDC) and ISOFIX.

There is also the Steering Responsive Headlights exclusively for 2.0i-P variant which allows the headlight beam to move according to the direction of how the car is steered.

Six colours are available for the Subaru XV, and these are Sunshine Orange, Dark Blue Pearl, Pure White, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Silica.

TC Subaru is projecting a sales target of 300 units a month.


Vios Challenge season finale returns to Kuala Lumpur to crown first winners

                KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural Vios Challenge, to be held during the  Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) racing festival from March 24 to 25, is back in Kuala Lumpur at the Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil for its season finale to crown its first champions.

The champions, for each of the Vios Challenge categories of Sporting, Super Sporting and Promotional, are still up for grabs until the chequered flag falls.

The battles in the Sporting and Super Sporting classes will be the most keenly watched with numerous drivers contending for bragging rights and a shot at winning a brand new Toyota Vios offered for each category.

Nineteen-year- old sensation Brendan Anthony who did not join the first race in Batu Kawan, Penang has consistently chalked up points in his subsequent races and is now just four points behind the sporting class championship leader and namesake Brendon Lim.

Rally sensation Kenneth Koh, who managed to stay out of trouble in the third Vios Challenge event held in Medini City, Johor in January, has scored two useful podium finishes and is now 12 points below the leader’s tally of 75 points.

With 20 points awarded for a win, Koh has every chance of snatching the trophy from Anthony and Lim this weekend.

In the Super Sporting Class, Tengku Djan survived various incidents in both races at Medini City, Johor to hold a slender four-point lead in the championship over nemesis William Ho, who was managed to enjoy a good run in Johor - coming away with one win and a third place finish to move him up to second with 72 points.

Third in the class is M7 Racing Team’s Syafiq Ali who shined in Johor to now sit 16 points adrift from Djan.

In the Promotional Class, beatboxer Shawn Lee has chalked up wins in almost every race except for one in MAEPS and while he currently enjoys a commanding lead in the series, his championship crown could still be usurped by Shukri Yahaya trailing 18 points behind.

 From Left: Lee and Shukri

A non-finish by Lee in any of the final races by the beatboxer would easily level any advantage he currently
enjoys.

Despite facing less pressure to prove their worth as racing drivers, celebrities including Danny Koo, Diana Danielle, Fattah Amin, Geraldine Gan, Janna Nick, Shukri and Venice Min have all shown renewed determination in Johor.

Their on-track challenges have shown no lack of quality and can be expected to spoil the party for Shawn.

“The essence of one-make racing has been reflected in the results we see today in the Vios Challenge. Newcomers, privateers and seasoned professionals have all had their share of the spoils in the winner’s circle, providing motor racing fans with some of the best high-quality racing we’ve seen in the country,” said UMW Toyota Motor president  Ravindran K.

Entrance to the Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Racing Festival’s Season 1 Finale remains free and promises lots of activities, food, games and prizes throughout the weekend.

Fans of the hit TV series 'My Coffee Prince' with leading characters Fattah Amin, Janna Nick and Diana Danielle will be joined by Syafiq Ahmad and Faez Azemi for a meet and greet session with the fans on stage during this weekend's festival

Children will be treated to an appearance by Didi and Friends mascots including Pak Atan, while acting hopefuls can come and participate in the open auditions that will be conducted at the Astro booth for upcoming TV dramas.

Also, there will be the Toyota car showroom (with test drive sessions) where all the latest vehicles from the Japanese carmaker including the all-new C-HR will be on display, including the latest Hilux L-Edition, updated Sienta V, Innova X and Avanza X among others.

 From left: UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman and Promotional Class racer Akio Takeyama with Shukri

There will also be an obstacle course set up in the test drive section for the Hilux and Fortuner, while Toyota’s Topmark will be available to conduct an instant valuation of visitors’ cars for those interested to trade-in on the spot.

World Champion Japanese drifters of Masato Kawabata and Hideyuki Fujino will be looking to thrill the crowds with their drift show in a pair of Toyota 86 drift cars courtesy of sponsors Toyo Tires.

For food lovers, the festival promises up to 18 food and drink vendors with a wide variety of offerings ranging from mee racun to lontong goreng, coconut shakes, kebabs and takoyaki selected from among the top food trucks and stalls in the city.

Prior to the racing activities, the track will be open for an hour on both Saturday and Sunday mornings for a Fun Run and Fun Ride respectively.

These sessions have been organized to allow approximately 700 registered participants to experience running and cycling on the street-based race track as part of Toyota’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle.

“I believe that the Vios Challenge has successfully made motorsports more accessible to Malaysian fans and judging from the enthusiastic crowds who have come to the events and the great vibes they share, one-make racing remains a positive platform for us to continue developing and appealing as a wholesome and exciting family activity,” said UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K.


Road accident deaths swell to 1.35 million each year, says WHO

                GENEVA: Road accidents kill someone every 24 seconds, with a total of 1.35 million traffic deaths around the world each year, the World Health Organisation said Friday, demanding global action.

The number of fatalities annually has swelled by around 100,000 in just three years, with road accidents now the leading killer of children and young people between the ages of five and 29, the UN health agency said in a new report.

"These deaths are an unacceptable price to pay for mobility," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

"There is no excuse for inaction. This is a problem with proven solutions," he said.

The WHO's Global Status Report on Road Safety, based on data from 2016, showed that the situation is worsening.

In its last report, based on data from 2013, the number of road traffic deaths was estimated at 1.25 million annually.

But despite the increase in the overall number of deaths, the rate of death compared to the growing number of people and cars in the world has stabilised in recent years.

"This suggests that existing road safety efforts in some middle and high-income countries have mitigated the situation," WHO said.

This is largely due to better legislation around key risks, including speeding, drinking and driving, and failing to use a seatbelt, child restraints or helmets, the report found.

Safer infrastructure like sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes and better vehicle standards have also paid off.

But while many countries have stepped up efforts to improve the situation, many poorer nations are lagging way behind.

According to Friday's report, "not a single low income country has demonstrated a reduction in overall deaths", adding that the risk of a road traffic death remains three times higher there than in high income countries.

The death rate in Africa is particularly high, counting 26.6 annual traffic deaths for every 100,000 citizens, compared with 9.3 in Europe, where the death rate is the lowest.

Friday's report also shows a devastating disregard for the most vulnerable in traffic, with more than half of all those killed in road accidents either walking or on two wheels.

Pedestrians and cyclists account for 26 percent of all traffic deaths, with the figure as high as 44 percent in Africa.

Motorcyclists and their passengers meanwhile account for 28 percent of all road deaths, but the figure soars to 43 percent in South-East Asia, the report said.


Penang island out to restore original road names

Abu Siti Lane was originally Aboo Sittee Lane, named after a person.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang island will have a standardised list of road names by next year, says exco member Zairil Khir Johari.

He said several road names in Penang would soon be reverted to their original gazetted version to stop the confusion caused by the current multiple spelling variations.

“For example, Jalan Air Itam will revert to its original gazetted spelling of Jalan Ayer Itam.

“Roads named after historical figures will also revert to the original spelling of their names,” he said at a press conference in Muntri Street last Thursday.

“For example, Ayer Itam is the gazetted name but in the early 1970s when the Government standardised Bahasa Malaysia, they changed some of the spelling.

“What we want now is to go back to the original names.

“I hope that by early next year, we can have standardised spelling for all our road names.”

Zairil said they were particularly looking at the historical significance of the road names.

“Since many road names in George Town are based on historical characters, we should follow the original name and not change it.

“This move will not cause major changes as most of the roads require only spelling changes.

 Residents of Jalan Cheong Fatt Tze still call it by its former name, Hong Kong Street.

“For example, Abu Siti Lane was originally Aboo Sittee Lane, which is a person’s name.

“So it would be nice to have the original name reinstated,” he said.

Zairil said the whole process would take between six to nine months as it would involve both the Public Works Department and the Penang Island City Council.

“Any changes proposed for road names within the George Town heritage enclave requires consultation with the George Town World Heritage Incorporated and the state Heritage Department,” he added.

Zairil said there were also proposals from stakeholders for the current Cheong Fatt Tze Road (formerly known as Hong Kong Street) to revert to its original name.

“Residents there continue to call it Hong Kong Street despite the official change.

“The original name also has historical significance to that road,” he said.

Zairil also announced that Muntri Street has been reverted to Lebuh Muntri instead of Jalan Muntri.

“The spelling for Lorong Kucing was changed back to the original Lorong Kuching.

“Meanwhile, Lorong Lembah Permai 9 in Tanjung Bungah has been renamed Lebuh Lembah Permai 1 due to requests made by residents at three houses there.”


Net zero, Russia war driving nascent hydrogen economy

                LONDON: Green hydrogen is in sharp focus as governments seek to slash carbon emissions amid record-high temperatures and to safeguard energy supplies hit by the invasion of Ukraine by oil and gas producer Russia.

But the "hydrogen economy" has not fully kicked into gear awaiting significant uptake from high-polluting sectors like steel and aviation.

For Kendall, being an early user of green hydrogen means he does not have to queue during his lunchtime trip to what resembles a petrol pump.

"There is very little green hydrogen being produced in Britain at the moment," said the professor of chemical engineering. "It needs now to move forward."

In Birmingham, central England, it costs about £50 (RM265) to fill Kendall's Toyota Mirai with the green hydrogen that is produced at a plant next to the refuelling station.

That is around half the bill for a similar-sized diesel car after the Ukraine war sent fossil fuel prices rocketing.

Despite the price benefit, Britain is home to around only a dozen hydrogen refuelling stations.

While hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth, it is locked in water and hydrocarbons such as natural gas, meaning "it's difficult to make", according to Kendall's daughter, Michaela Kendall.

Together they founded Adelan, a small-sized business producing box-shaped fuel cells similar to the metal-encased devices used to help power the Toyota Mirai.

Set up 26 years ago, Adelan is the longest-running maker of fuel cells in Britain - which work also with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) - while the company also offers a leasing service for the Japanese automaker's hydrogen cars.

'Increasingly attractive'

"Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the economics of green hydrogen have become increasingly attractive," Minh Khoi Le, head of hydrogen research at Rystad Energy, told AFP.

"Coupled with many incentives in the second half of 2022 globally, green hydrogen looks to satisfy the trilemma of the energy system: energy security, affordability, and sustainability."

Fallout from the war has caused the European Union to bolster its gas reserves by slashing consumption 15 percent.

The bloc is also seeking to significantly increase supplies of green hydrogen, which is made from water via electrolysis and with renewable energy.

This is in contrast to the more available blue hydrogen, which environmentalists oppose as it is produced from natural gas in a process that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

A £9-billion investment

At Adelan's Birmingham workshop, a quaint brick building surrounded by houses, staff are testing the company's so-called solid oxide fuel cells that are replacing diesel generators.

Overseeing the work, company chief executive Michaela Kendall said she expects "hydrogen capacity to really increase but it will take time".

"Hydrocarbons will still be used for the foreseeable future," she predicted "because the hydrogen economy has not really evolved, it's just at the early stage".

Britain's government said £9 billion (RM48bil) of investment is needed "to make hydrogen a cornerstone of the UK's greener future" as it targets net zero carbon emissions by mid-century.

In Birmingham, the plan is for about 10 hydrogen refuelling stations in the next few years following the arrival of 120 hydrogen buses to the city in 2023. Other UK cities, including Aberdeen in Scotland, are travelling the same road.

However, "only Los Angeles has been reasonably successful with something like 9,000 hydrogen vehicles and 40 hydrogen stations", said Kevin.

"That's what we'd like Birmingham to be."

Electric surge

The Toyota, resembling a standard vehicle inside and out, is powered by electricity. This has been produced by green hydrogen combining with oxygen in a fuel cell.

The only waste emitted from the vehicle, which has a range of 640km, is water vapour.

Adelan's solid oxide fuel cell, so-called because its electrolyte is ceramic, is described as "an electric device", generating power for batteries.

"It's hydrogen-ready, but we tend to use hydrocarbon fuels because they're easier to get right now," said Michaela.

"We use fuel that is sourced in a low-carbon way" such as BioLPG.

A lack of hydrogen infrastructure means motorists wanting a greener alternative to petrol or diesel are expected to continue purchasing electric vehicles.

Despite lengthy charge times for electric car batteries and big rises in electricity prices this year, Britons are fast ditching polluting automobiles ahead of a UK ban on sales of new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2030.

It comes as oil and gas giant BP recently unveiled plans for green hydrogen production facilities in the UK.


Jaguar F-PACE in (more) photos and videos

                You know the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words".

We have got tonnes of them - along with some technical videos - sitting in our flash drive. We know we are doing the right thing by sharing them with the world.

So here comes the F-PACE deluge. Happy browsing.

Caesium Blue First EditionAmmonite Grey 3.0 SInterior techGlacier White 3.0 TDV6 PortfolioItalian Racing Red 2.0 D R-Sport


Register your interest for Toyota C-HR

                PETALING JAYA: With Honda Malaysia grabbing much of the media limelight with its flurry of new model launches in recent months, the attention will now surely turn to the Toyota camp, as its distributor aims to showcase again next month the much anticipated compact crossover - the C-HR.

With sinuous curves and lines inspired no doubt by Lexus, this is one of the most exciting products in years to come out of UMW Toyota Motor.

Toyota is already inviting the public to register their interest in the C-HR via its local website toyota.com.my. The site also teased the vehicle features such as the fact it will be powered by a 1.8-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT.

The luxurious interior, side mirror puddle lights, follow-me-home headlights, hidden rear door handles, rear cross traffoc alert, colour options were also highlighted.

The C-HR will be previewed to the public at various locations in the Klang valley and Penang in August. The launch should come anytime soon after that.

The C-HR first broke cover locally when it was previewed at a Shah Alam auto event in May. In Japan, the model has been available in four grades since last year, priced from under RM100,000.


Proton ships more than 1,000 units to South Africa in two months

                SUBANG JAYA: Two months after making its official return to South Africa, national carmaker Proton has gained a firm foothold in South Africa due to the popularity of the Proton X50 and X70.

To date, more than 1,000 units Proton vehicles have been shipped to South Africa to meet the strong demand in the market.

Proton international sales director Steven Xu said the quick take up of its vehicles in South Africa was proof of Proton brand and vehicle appeal.

“We have a strong working relationship with CMH Group, and they have initiated many on-ground activities to give a taste of our current range to as many South Africans as possible,” said Xu.

 Proton dealers in South Africa with Xu (third from left, front row).

Proton's return to the South African market after a 10-year hiatus began when it appointed CMH Group as its country distributor in April.

The first shipment of vehicles, comprised of the X50 and X70, took place in May 2022 while the official brand and product relaunch was held on Sept 14.

CMH has progressively expanded the distribution network to increase access to the market while also actively promoting Proton vehicles on social media.

Currently, only Proton’s SUVs are offered in the country and the Saga sedan will be added to the line-up in 2023.

Despite being a matured and competitive market, both Proton and CMH are optimistic about sales prospects in
the country and with the strong sales performance thus far, they are targeting to double the sales volume in 2023.

 Xu.

Xu said Proton and CMH are confident of growing sales exponentially in South Africa as the response they have received thus far has been very encouraging.

“We are committed to provide affordable luxury SUVs for South African car buyers and the X50 and X70 have the right combination of features and value to compete with other brands.

“At the other end of the spectrum, we also feel that the Saga will find its own niche with its combination of style, advanced features, and affordability,” added Xu.

After doubling its volume in 2021, Proton’s export sales are continuing to grow in 2022.

Total exports up to the end of November stand at 5,028 units and with one month remaining before the end of the year, the company’s international sales division is looking forwards to growing the number further.

Pakistan remains as the biggest market with 2,610 units thus far this year.

South Africa is the second largest in terms of volume despite being a new addition while Brunei sits in third.

 X50.

As for model rankings, the Saga remains the most popular offering while the X70 has nearly doubled its volume this year.

The X50, meanwhile, is third but has grown its year-to-date by three times thus far.

“Proton’s export volume continues to grow aggressively as we enter more new markets and establish a mixture of CBU and CKD strategies depending on market conditions.

“Export sales is one of the pillars for our sales growth and as such, we will strive to continue to grow aggressively over the coming years and bolster our position as the leading exporter of vehicles for Malaysia," said Xu.


BMW presents latest short film

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia hosted the premiere of Terbit 23, the latest BMW Shorties production by 2014 grand prize winner, Taufiq Kamal. As with his last year’s winning short film Rozita binti Roslan, Taufiq’s newest short film further demonstrates his distinctive trademark film making technique of re-imagining cinematic conventions and traditional narratives.

“When my production crew and I received the RM 75,000 production grant from BMW Group Malaysia, we were very excited and passionate about working on a story which would continue to take an opposing stance on mainstream film making culture. My goal is to push the artform in radical new directions and inspire future productions both in Malaysia and all over the world to do the same.” said Taufiq at the premiere.

 From left: Dali, Li, Alan and Taufiq.Terbit23 tells the story of Aditya (played by Dali Abdul Azis), a struggling writer who finds himself in a state of flux when he meets Airis (Bianca Li Wei Brand).

The 17-minute short film explores perspectives on the significance of life, wherein the characters’ thoughts, perceptions, and feelings are demonstrated through a wide range of film making styles. With the absence of linear narrative and the use of various abstracting techniques for each pivotal scene, the short film explores the permeable border between drama and documentary in a way that evokes recognition, melancholy and joy, while sticking to the mundane experiences of a man’s life.

The short film marks the acting debut of Dali and Li.

“The BMW Shorties was introduced as a platform to discover budding Malaysian film makers and to push the boundaries of their film making abilities for them be recognized for it. In Taufiq Kamal, we were able to identify an individual who pushes the boundaries of conventional film art who we believe will further invigorate the Malaysian film industry. The BMW Shorties is proud to have discovered Taufiq and his special skill in the art of film making and we wish him much success in the future,” said managing director & CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Alan Harris.

The BMW Shorties 2015 competition is currently open for entries until Nov 2.


Never start your vehicle after filling it with the wrong fuel

                BERLIN: Mistakes can happen at the petrol station: maybe your mind was elsewhere and you filled your diesel car with petrol.

If you noticed before you drove away, that's great — under no circumstances should you turn on the engine. If you didn't figure it out until you were back on the road: pull over right away, says Germany's top technical inspection agency TÜV.

You'll need to call a professional to come out and remove the wrong contents from the tank, using a special suction device.

The worst-case scenario is when a diesel vehicle has been filled with petrol: Even the smallest amount can cause the engine's entire injection system to have to be replaced.

In general, the different sizes of the fuel nozzles prevent diesel from being put into a petrol car by mistake. But the other way around isn't as dummy-proof: The narrower petrol nozzle can easily fit into the wider funnel of a diesel tank.

If the issue is only that you used a lower-quality petrol than required, you can continue to drive, albeit carefully, says TÜV. Going full throttle is a no-no, and drivers should refuel with the required grade of premium petrol ASAP, says TÜV.

The worst part is that by and large, car insurance won't pay for such a mistake, as the person wasn't being careful enough.


VinFast delays US electric vehicle plant operation to 2025

                HANOI: VinFast said today it will push back its plan to start operations of its electric vehicles factory in the United States until 2025, citing a procedural delay.

The unit of conglomerate Vingroup JSC flagged the plan to build a US$4 billion EV factory in North Carolina's Chatham County on 712 hectares of land in March last year, with commissioning targeted for July 2024.

"We need more time to complete administrative procedures," VinFast said in a statement on the delay, which did not specify when in 2025 the plant was expected to start operations.

Once the facility assembles VinFast EVs, customers may be entitled to incentives under terms of the Inflation Reduction Act signed by US President Joe Biden.

VinFast last month was awarded an Air Permit from local authorities to start construction. It still needs a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers designed to minimise damage to water quality and wetlands.

The plant, with phase one including capital expenditures for the construction of US$1.4 billion, is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs and churn out 150,000 vehicles a year, according to the company's latest prospectus released on Thursday.

Last year, VinFast filed for an initial public offering in the United States to list on the Nasdaq to fund its the plant construction.

VinFast started its first sales outside Vietnam last week, delivering its first 45 cars in California on the first day.


BMW partners honoured at awards night

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia recently held its annual Dealer Awards Night at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, hosting over 200 representatives and individuals from across the BMW network to celebrate their outstanding achievements and passion for Sheer Driving Pleasure.

Twenty-three authorised BMW, MINI, BMW Motorrad as well as BMW Premium Selection dealerships from across the country were acknowledged for their exceptional service standards, unparalleled dedication in delivering best-in-class vehicles and aftersales services – and most importantly, embodying the promise to deliver the Premium Ownership Experience to customers.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser said the associates have dedicated precious time and effort, coupled with their outstanding skills and years of experience to deliver excellence to all customers in Malaysia last year.

“It's an honour for us at BMW Group Malaysia to have such a dedicated network of dealers who not only demonstrate what it means to be Number One in the Premium Automotive Segment, but have also consistently raised the bar in customer service within the local automotive industry, making the hallmark BMW Premium Ownership Experience the standard for aftersales service in the country,” he said.

 de Visser.BMW High Voltage Expert Certification
The new BMW High Voltage Expert Certification was presented to individuals who has undergone stringent training in specialising on electric vehicle batteries and BMW i vehicles.

These certified experts are Choo Yee Khai of Auto Bavaria Penang, Balamurali J. Keshenan of Auto Bavaria Tebrau, Chang Duen Khang, Chai Meng Wah and Rampirabu Engiddaraman of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara, Thamotharan Pannirselvan of Tian Siang Premium Auto Butterworth, Muhammad Faiz of Regas Premium Sabah, Yap Kah Jun and Fong Song Yuan of Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, as well as Thang Chin Fai of Millennium Welt Seremban.BMW Aftersales Dealer Award 2022
The BMW Group Malaysia Dealer Awards Night 2022 acknowledged the remarkable work of individuals in the area of Aftersales, across the Technical, Customer Service Officer, Head of Parts, Head of Aftersales and Open Category.

The Open Category award was given to Wai Kit Peng of Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, Supiyati Ahmad of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara and Tuan Mohd Shafik bin Tuan Shamsuri of Millennium Welt Kuantan.

For the Technical category, the award was given to Thamotharan a/l Pannirselvan of Tian Siang Premium Auto Butterworth, Rodi Ajang Anthony of Regas Premium Auto and Ahmad Idris Md Derus of Quill Automobiles.

Meanwhile, for the Customer Service Officer category, the award was given to Shim Kuan Guan of Regas Premium Sabah, Noor Haslina Jahaya of Lee Motors Auto Care and Tan Qi Herng of Millennium Welt Batu Pahat.

The Head of Parts category saw Pea Fong Fong of Lee Motors Auto Care and Bijamin Anak Changgan of Auto Bavaria Johor Bahru take home the award; while the Head of Aftersales award was given to Liew Sun Hoong of Quill Automobiles, Mohd Azlan Aladin of Auto Bavaria Penang and Anthony David of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara.BMW Motorrad Dealer Award 2022
The BMW Motorrad Dealer Award highlighted outstanding achievements in helping customers Make Life a Ride.

The award was split across the categories of BMW Motorrad Technicians, BMW Motorrad Service Advisors, BMW Motorrad Aftersale Manager, BMW Motorrad Sales Advisor and BMW Motorrad Sales Manager.

Celebrating the best of BMW Motorrad Technicians, the award went to Mohd Hanafi Abdul Ghapar of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara and Muhammad Farkhan Iman of Chear Motorrad.

For the BMW Motorrad Service Advisor category, the winners were Mohamad Sopian of EL Chong Motor and Tee Kean Chu of Auto Bavaria Penang. Meanwhile, the BMW Motorrad Aftersales Manager category saw Nicholas Yo of Regas Premium Auto and Eugene Francis of Millennium Welt Kuantan take home the award.

On the other hand, the BMW Motorrad Sales Advisor category winners were Gary Saw Kooi Hong of Auto Bavaria Penang and Wee Wei Ping of EL Chong Motor.

Lastly, BMW Motorrad Sales Manager category winners were Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang and Theresa Tan of Regas Premium Sabah.MINI Issigonis Club Award 2022
The MINI Issigonis Club Award highlights the success of delivering BIG LOVE to customers with the MINI brand, broken down into the following categories - MINI Top Dealership, MINI Top Sales Manager, and MINI Top Sales Advisor.

The awards are further categorised under MINI John Cooper Works (MINI JCW), MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper.

For the MINI Top Sales Advisor award in the MINI Cooper category, the winners are Cally Chan Li Beng of Auto Bavaria Penang and Eliz Wong Yoon Hiung of Millennium Welt Seremban; while the winners for the MINI Cooper S category are Farizz Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak and Alan Yu Kok Yeong of Wheelcorp Premium.

In the MINI JCW category, winners are Belinda Ong Gaik Choo and Lee Sok Yee of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara.

Meanwhile, the MINI Top Sales Manager award was given to Wong Kim Kooi of Auto Bavaria Penang for the MINI Cooper category, Michael John of Wheelcorp Premium for the MINI Cooper S category and Victor Tan Wei Teck of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara for the MINI JCW category.

Lastly, the MINI Top Dealership award saw Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang recognised for the MINI Cooper category, Jayden Liew of Wheelcorp Premium for the MINI Cooper S category and Azwan Yahaya of Ingress Auto Bangsar for the MINI JCW category.

Top Sales Advisor for Highest Funded Contracts 2022
The Top Sale Advisor for Highest Funded Contracts were awarded to individuals from the respective BMW Group Malaysia portfolio; BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

In the Highest BMW Funded Contracts category, the award went to Chua Kok Sing of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara, Lee Sok Yee of Auto Bavaria Damansara was awarded in the Highest MINI Funded Contracts category, while Ben Chear of Chear Motorrad was awarded in the Highest BMW Motorrad Funded Contracts category.

Top Sales Advisor for BMW Easy Drive 2022
Top Sales Advisor for BMW Easy Drive was awarded to outstanding individuals in Financial Services.
The Platinum category winner for Top Sales Advisor for BMW Easy Drive 2022 went to Tan Khoi Peng of Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi, while Ungku Danish Akmal bin Ungku Ibrahim of Auto Bavaria Johor Bahru took home the Diamond category award.

The Most Supportive BMW Dealership 2022
The Most Supportive BMW Dealership 2022 was awarded to Tian Siang Premium Auto Ipoh who was represented by their dealer principal, Tan Ka Kin.

Highest Penetration for BMW Financial Services 2022
In the Highest Penetration for BMW Financial Service 2022, Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang was awarded in the Platinum category while Tan Ka Kin of Tian Siang Premium Ipoh was awarded in the Diamond category.

Highest Penetration for MINI Financial Services 2022
For the Highest Penetration for MINI Financial Services 2022, the Platinum category award was presented to Bryan Wong of Millennium Welt Seremban, while Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang took home the Diamond category award.

Highest Penetration for BMW Motorrad Financial Services 2022
The Highest Penetration for BMW Motorrad Financial Services 2022 saw Wong Loke Win of Millennium Welt Seremban recognised in the Platinum category and Gavin Tay of Regas Premium Auto in the Diamond Category.

BMW Vision Club Award 2022
The BMW Vision Club Award recognised remarkable individual accomplishments in sales – awarded in the BMW Premium Selection Head of Sales category, as well as across the Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond categories for Sales Advisor and Head of Sales.

Under the BMW Premium Selection Head of Sales category, the winner for the Sales Advisor category (Outstation) was Pauline Lim of Regas Premium Auto and Yap Poh Len of Sime Darby Auto Selection Ara Damansara for the Sales Advisor category (Central), while the winner for the Head of Sales category (Outstation) was Alex Koh of Sime Darby Auto Selection Tebrau, and Karyn Ng of Wheelcorp Premium for Head of Sales category (Central).

Meanwhile, the Silver category for Sales Advisor were awarded to Felicia Fong of Millennium Welt Kuantan and Muriel Tan of Regas Premium Sabah, while Gold category winners were Lim Yu Yuan of Lee Motors Auto Care and Jia Hao Liau of Seong Hoe Premium Motors.

Platinum category winners were Wendy Lee of Millennium Welt Seremban, Saravanan a/l Samykanoo of Tian Siang Premium Auto Butterworth, and Louise Lou of Tian Siang Premium Auto Ipoh, while those taking home the Diamond category award were Thilagaraj a/l Palanisamy of Quill Automobiles, Jamie Hoy of Quill Automobiles, Michelle Chan of Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi and Winnie Lim of Wheelcorp01 Premium.

For Head of Sales, the Silver category went to Theresa Tan of Regas Premium Sabah, while Josephine Tay of Regas Premium Auto and Gabriel Koh of Seong Hoe Premium Motors took home the Gold category award. Platinum category winners for Head of Sales were Wong Kim Kooi of Auto Bavaria Penang and Lee Chin Kwang of Auto Bavaria Johor Bahru.

Finally, Diamond category winners were Ray Law of Wheelcorp Premium and Mandy Tang of Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi.

BMW Excellence Club Award 2022
The BMW Excellence Club Award is given to individuals who recorded stellar performances for the year and is awarded in four categories this year: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

The winner for the Gold category was Andy Tian of Auto Bavaria Tebrau in first place, while Silver category was awarded to Woon Choon Yuen of Millennium Welt Kuantan in first place.

For the Platinum category, Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang took home the first place, followed by Tan Ka Kin of Tian Siang Premium Auto Ipoh as runner-up and Danny Boey Tong Guan of Auto Bavaria Johor Bahru in third place.

Lastly, for the Diamond category, Joe Lee Se Juan of Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara was awarded first place, with Muhd Azrul Azman of Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi and Choong Chin Seong of Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur being awarded the second and third place respectively.BMW Club 50 Award
For the first time ever, the BMW Club 50 Award was presented in the Member of Club 50 2021 category to dealer principals that have achieved sales of 50% and above in the premium market share of their respective state.

The winners are Wong Loke Win of Auto Bavaria Penang, Tan Ka Kin of Tian Siang Premium Auto Butterworth and Ipoh, Bryan Wong of Millennium Welt Seremban, Loy Suan Chiow of Seong Hoe Premium Motors, Dato’ Seri Abdul Razak of Raza Premium Auto, Woon Choon Yuen of Millennium Welt Kuantan and Gavin Tay of Regas Premium Auto.


Watch MotoGP and meet Ducati riders Dovizioso and Petrucci with Shell

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Shell Motorcycle Grand Prix (Shell MotoGP) is back with more promises of fun and excitement for all motorsport enthusiasts.

In celebration of Shell’s title sponsorship, the event will feature the exclusive Shell Hillstand with a vantage point for the adrenaline-packed action from Nov 1 to 3.

Fans at the hillstand can catch the excitement of the race at Turn 13 and 14 at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) where they will be able to enjoy clear views of the track with a live feed broadcast on two large LED screens.

The experience is further complemented by a wide array of activities and experiential pit stops such as the Ducati bike showcase and apparel touchpoints, the complimentary Shell Advance Ride Thru bike service, and Shell V-Power vouchers.

There will also be food and beverage vendors during the event such as Costa Coffee, Tealive and Shell’s very own deli2go.

“As we celebrate Shell’s 10th year of being the title sponsor for the Malaysian MotoGP, we are proud of our commitment towards driving motorsports excellence in the country, which has resulted in Shell MotoGP being the premier international motorsports event in Malaysia that attracts over 150 thousand fans yearly,” said Shell Malaysia chairman Datuk Iain Lo.

“In Malaysia, there is an evident camaraderie that is associated with motorsports and we have curated our Shell Hillstand to celebrate this spirit with our visitors. We look forward to hosting this world-class event and we want you to experience our Shell Hillstand where you are up-close to the track and can partake in experiential activities with your family and friends,” he added.

For the first time, Shell is introducing the Sunset at Hillstand on Nov 1, where viewers will be able to meet riders from this year’s MotoGP teams.

As a lead up to the MotoGP event, Shell and their technical partner, Ducati Course are taking over the Shell station at Lebuhraya KLIA Extension, 43900, Sepang on 31 st October.

This takeover will feature a Ducati bespoke storefront and a petrol pump island to entice patrons on the upcoming MotoGP race by showcasing this unique collaboration between Shell and Ducati.

Additionally, there will be an exclusive meet and greet session with Ducati riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci from 11.30am – 12.30pm at the same station.

Attendees will be able to partake in a fan signing session and even take some photographs with them.

Witness the penultimate race in the 2019 MotoGP calendar from the Shell Hillstand, tickets are available for purchase at selected Shell Stations for RM60.

For a list of these stations, please visit www.shell.com.my/MotoGP


Leading car makers keen to be Proton partner, says Mustapa

                KUALA LUMPUR: Several leading automakers from Europe, China and Japan have expressed their interest to become Proton's strategic partner, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said although the government has left it to the national carmaker to make the decision, there are several critical criteria it has to consider when choosing its strategic partner.

"The Government wants Proton to ensure its strategic partner has the capability to lift the company once again. The strategic partner must have the technology, capital and export network," Mustapa told reporters after the ministry's 'Hari Raya Networking with the Private Sector' here on Wednesday.

He also said the strategic partnership between Proton and a foreign counterpart is necessary to help the company, a small player at the international level, expand its business.


BMW launches R nineT Scrambler

                CYBERJAYA: BMW Motorrad Malaysia today introduced the R nineT Scrambler, a a new variant of the R nineT Roadster, pricing it at RM 92,900 (OTR without insurance, inclusive of GST).

The motorcycle has a laid-back silhouette, with classic proportions being established by the boxer engine, a compact sheet fuel tank and the slim-lined, filigree rear.

The instrument cluster is integrated into the front section of the new Scrambler and features a classic speedometer with analogue display. The bike has a dual-row LCD display showing important information such as time and trip distance.

Other eye-catching elements are the painted 17-litre sheet-steel fuel tank and the trim cover made of aluminium sheet with embossed R nineT inscription, which runs across the air intake duct on the right of the new Scrambler. The air intake has a clear anodised surface.

The passenger frame can be dismounted, allowing the bike to be used either by two people or by the rider only. Suspension geometry is tuned for sound handling and neutral cornering response.

Front wheel suspension is in the form of a telescopic fork with rubber gaiters and a spring travel of 125mm. Rear wheel suspension has a Paralever single-sided swinging arm as used in other boxer models. Suspension and damping are carried out via a central sprint strut with a spring travel of 140mm. Fitted with light alloy cast wheels, the new Scrambler has a 19-inch front wheel with tyre sizes of 120/70-19 at the front and 170/60-17 at the rear.

Most notably however, is a raised exhaust with two vertically arranged rear silencers. It is fitted very close to the body, reinforcing its slim appearance. Producing a sonorous boxer sound, it also adheres to the new noise emission regulations. A large-size catalytic converter ensures even more effective exhaust gas cleaning.

The ergonomic triangle of handlebars-seat-footrests was revised to achieve a more upright seating position. With handlebars that are higher than the BMW R nineT, slightly reduced seat upholstery and rider footrests that are positioned somewhat lower and further to the rear, the new Scrambler gives the rider a relaxed ride feel.

The longitudinally mounted 2-cylinder boxer engine with power transmission via universal-shaft drive has been synonymous with BMW motorcycles for more than nine decades. The bike features the familiar air/oil-cooled boxer engine with 101-millimetre bore, 73-millimetre stroke and therefore a capacity of 1,170 cc. Its peak output is 110 hp and the maximum torque of 116 Nm goes on stream at 6,000 rpm, with a maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

Fuel consumption stands at 5.3 l/100km. Power transmission to the rear wheel is via the 6-speed gearbox and the universal-shaft drive.

ABS is standard and there are 320-millimetre brake discs at the front and a 265mm single-disc brake at the back.

The bike will be made available in the Monolith metallic matt paint finish. A limited edition Hand Brushed Aluminium Fuel Tank with Visible Weave Weld is available. The bike will be displayed at the Oct 28-30 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.


Exec promises tomorrow's Porsche will snarl at data hackers

                STUTTGART: Once upon a time you bought a Porsche because you knew obsessive German engineers had tuned its engine and roadholding to make it the world's best sports car.

Tomorrow, you may buy a Porsche because obsessive German software experts promise the car's data can't be hacked by spies.

The company’s IT chief, Lutz Meschke, sees data security and data protection as a competitive advantage for German automakers in the medium term. Germans are more focussed than just about any other nation on preventing Big Brother surveillance.

Porsche can ensure that control over data remains with customers, who themselves decide how their data should be used; this, as Meschke notes, could become an important selling point.

In sales departments, everything revolves around digitalisation too, but that means Porsche does want some way of peeking over your shoulder as you drive.

"We must not only get to know the customer," says Meschke, "Porsche also needs to have access to customer data ourselves, in order to develop business models of the future."

In the medium term, Porsche is looking to generate a double-digit percentage of its overall business through digital services. The sports-car manufacturer is thus looking to invest heavily in development, explained Meschke, Porsche’s deputy chairman, at the company’s digital lab in Berlin.

The facility aims to soak up ideas from other tech companies in the city, where many of Germany's start-ups and digital research units are concentrated.

Autonomous driving in particular is set to dramatically alter the efficiency of vehicle use and, as Meschke notes, "we should therefore start from the premise that we need to create significant growth potential beyond the vehicle itself, at the latest by the arrival of the autonomous driving era."

The automotive industry is undergoing a major upheaval, and should thus remain open to cross-pollination of concepts and ideas from other industry sectors.

"If we do not want automotive manufacturers to be reduced to pure hardware suppliers," says Meschke, "we have to demonstrate our digital competence now."

As an example, Meschke recently announced the production of an extra-fast charging station for electric sports cars such as Mission E, which should hit markets by the end of the decade.

The Berlin lab will also create solutions for the digital transformation of the parent company, the Volkswagen Group.

"We have to become a bit of an Internet company," says Meschke. The automotive industry will change more in the coming five years than in the past 50, but one thing remains clear: "You will definitely want to drive a Porsche yourself in the future - just not in a traffic jam."


Proton extends Amazing 5 Value campaign till May 31

                SHAH ALAM: Proton has extended its Amazing 5 Value campaign till May 31.

Also, for May 2017, all new Proton car buyers get a RM500 festive bonus.

For May 2017, there is also a loyalty bonus of RM1,000 applicable to registered owners, as well as immediate family members (parents, spouse, children) of existing Proton car owners. (Example: Father owns a Proton car, and the son wishes to buy a Proton car in May. The son is entitled for the RM1,000 Loyalty Bonus. In total, son gets RM1,500 worth of bonus).

Also in May, there is a special bonus for teachers and nurses worth RM500, valid on top of the Festive and Loyalty Bonus. (Example: Mother is a nurse, and spouse owns a Proton car. Hence, mother will be entitled for the RM500 bonus plus the Festive (RM500) and Loyalty (RM1,000) bonus. In total, mother gets RM2,000 worth of bonus.)

The Amazing 5 Value campaign applies to all Proton cars including the Saga, Iriz, Persona, Ertiga, Exora, Preve, Suprima S, and Perdana.

Cars bought during the campaign period get a five-year free service package (inclusive of parts, lubricants and labour).

The free service package will expire after five years or 100,000km, whichever comes first.

Customers will benefit as they do not have to worry about regular service and maintenance cost for the first five years of ownership, and also, they are assured of genuine parts, which in the long run will have a positive impact on the resale value of their cars.

They also enjoy peace-of-mind with a 5-year or 150,000km (whichever comes first) warranty.

Those who prioritise vehicle safety will be glad to know that Proton cars such as the Iriz, Persona and Preve have a maximum five-star safety rating from Asean NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asia).

The Suprima S and Preve also have a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme).

For details, contact Proton Customer Care – 1800 888 398 or email customercare@proton.com or www.facebook.com/ProtonCarsOfficial or instagram@ProtonCars.

For added convenience, download MyProton app on Google Play and Apple App Store.


Proton's latest Saga launched, 4 variants priced from RM34,400

                PETALING JAYA: The new Proton Saga is launched today sporting  improved features, safety and quality in a refreshed design.

The Saga lineup is now expanded to four variants instead of three: the 1.3L Standard MT, 1.3L Standard AT, 1.3L Premium AT and a new 1.3L Premium S AT. Prices have also increased.

The variants are priced respectively at RM34,400 (+RM1,600), RM38,300 (+RM2,500), RM41,300 (+RM1,500)  and RM44,300. All prices are on-the-road excluding insurance and are valid until June 30, 2022.

The 2022 Saga is powered by the same engine as before - a 1.3 litre four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC VVT mill with a maximum output of 94hp at 5,750 rpm and 120Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm paired to a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Proton's entry-level sedan gets the new round tigerhead logo as well as red strip on the new front grille ala X50 in the top Premium S.

The updated model also offers upgraded features both inside and out as well as improved fuel
efficiency with the help of features such as an ECO Drive Assist indicator to highlight how efficiently it is being driven.

The 2022 Saga offers significant enhancements that raises the bar in its class and provides greater appeal to younger, first-time buyers as well as those looking for an A-segment sedan.

 Only the top three variants were on display.

To add a fresh touch to the Saga’s familiar and distinctive form, the new model comes with bold new front and side skirts offering a sporty feel complimented by new 15-inch alloy wheels and LED daytime running lamps.

Inside, the new Premium S variant features a sporty dark colour scheme, redesigned semi-leatherette seats for a touch of elegance, and new carpet mats with red edging.

The steering wheel, which comes with tilt adjustment builds on the theme, and is wrapped in leatherette for improved comfort, with red finishing on the steering switches.

This is supplemented by meter combination rings and air outlets carrying the same flash of red while the finishing touch is provided by redesigned climate control switches that are paired to the N95 Cabin Filter to filter out smoke particulates, dust, bacteria and other pollutants.

Improved convenience features include intelligent entry and door mirrors that automatically unfold when unlocking the car.

A new push start button makes it easier to start the engine while a remote trunk release on the key fob ensures easier to access the boot.

With 420-litres of boot space, luggage capacity is generous, and can be expanded by using the rear seat fold function to transport oversized items.

Other touches further improve the driving experience.

The 7-inch touchscreen head unit now has the latest operating software and Bluetooth 4.2 for better wireless connectivity. It also pairs seamlessly with Android and iOS smartphones, allowing drivers to access their favourite apps while on the move.

Switches located on the steering wheel allow for easy access to change audio settings and answer calls while driving, and three conveniently located USB ports make it easy to charge electronic devices.

Finally, a friendly reminder appears on the monitor once the engine is switched off, telling owners to check they have all their belongings and haven’t left their children behind.

The 2022 Saga offers a raft of safety features for greater peace of mind.

For a start, two SRS airbags are standard across all variants together with Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

All automatic transmission variants are also equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) to help maintain control in slippery road conditions, while the Hill Hold Assist (HHA) feature allows driver to confidently move off without worrying about slipping backwards on a slope. A  reverse camera paired to front and rear parking sensors makes it easier to perform parking manoeuvres in tight spaces.

A total of 123,512 units of the third-generation Saga has been sold since Aug 2019 - when the first facelift was carried out - up until last month.

Along the way, Proton had made running changes to improve the Saga.

For example, new tyres have been fitted to the Saga to increase grip and reduce road noise. Damping rates have been retuned to improve ride comfort and handling.

The new Saga is available in five exterior colours – Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Rosewood Maroon and Ruby Red.

It is now open for bookings online and at authorised Proton showrooms.

To find out more about the differences among the Saga variants, click on the Specifications link below.

> 2022 PROTON SAGA SPECIFICATIONS The original Saga that gave birth to a Malaysian icon.
Saga 1.3L Premium S
Other Saga variants (assorted)


Bugatti opens its largest showroom in Dubai.

                DUBAI: Dubai is the single biggest market for Bugatti's hypercars so where better to build the marque's biggest official dealership to date? Located on the Sheikh Zayed Road, the showroom is impossible to miss despite the exclusivity of the address or of neighbouring structures, thanks to an architectural recreation of the marque's famous horseshoe grille that serves as a 4m high arch over the plate glass doorway.

The space occupies over 240 square metres, a huge area for a dealership dealing in a single model. However, as the United Arab Emirates boasts more Bugatti owners per capita than any other region in the world, the space, created and managed by Al Habtoor Motors, needs to be something special.

"A location of this significance and appeal for our brand has earned a superlative showroom," said Dr Stefan Brungs, Bugatti's global head of sales, marketing and customer service. "Many Bugatti customers who have been the closest and most loyal ambassadors of our brand for many years live in this region."

Indeed, Al Habtoor Motors is the world's most successful official Bugatti dealer. It maintains 55 Bugatti Veyrons for their owners and is now in the process of honouring 30 local orders for its replacement, the 1,500hp multi-million-dollar Chiron.

"The UAE is always striving to be the best. Our target was therefore to bring the largest, most beautiful Bugatti showroom to the heart of Dubai," said Sultan Al Habtoor, President of Al Habtoor Motors.

The experience is meant to be akin to a private art viewing while ordering a bespoke suit. Clients are welcomed into a lounge furnished with unique Bugatti furniture where they work through every conceivable option and element of personalization they would like to see on their Chiron, before examining the car itself and taking in art and design drawn from Bugatti's rich heritage.

Such attention to detail or to personalization may seem extreme, but the average Bugatti owner also has a fleet of other equally exotic and rare automobiles and every step must be taken to make the Chiron seem like a true object of desire. "Some of [our UAE clients] are proud owners of car collections with even several Bugatti super sports cars," said Dr Brungs, "The new showroom will not only be the perfect platform for the Chiron but also honours our special customers."

The Chiron will be capped at exactly 500 examples. Bugatti has confirmed that over half have already been sold and that to date, 26% of all orders taken have been from clients living within the UAE.


Honda Civic Type R to be revealed to the world on July 21

                TOKYO: Honda has today released its first teaser image of the all-new Civic Type R, ahead of its world premiere at 10am (Malaysian time) on July 21.

The global unveil will also showcase the car ahead of its arrival in Europe in early 2023.

Today also marks a day of celebration for Honda, as it is the 50th anniversary of the Honda Civic series, which first went on sale July 12, 1972.

This year represents the 25 years of the Civic wearing the crimson Type R badge.

In getting the car ready, Honda has subjected it to various tests including testing it at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The all-new 2023 Civic Type R is already showcasing its trackworthy credentials, having recently set a new track record for a front-wheel drive car at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.

In the last revelation in June, the Civic Type R remained in camouflage, but one could see the car was fitted with Brembo brake calipers and retained the 3-exhaust system and huge rear wing.

The front-wheel drive hot hatch will also be more aerodynamic and will have improved cooling to cope with a more powerful engine to make for "the most powerful, best performing Civic Type R ever."

Honda is expected to tweak the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine to squeeze out over 306hp/316hp (dependent on region-specific emissions rules) that was present in the outgoing FK8 model.

Also the fact the new Civic Type R is running around on the Nurburgring suggest it wants to set a record that would be another selling point to crow about once the car goes into series production.

For that, it would have to beat the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Nürburgring Pack, which scored 7 minutes and 40.1 seconds in a lap in 2019.


The Hoversurf Scorpion-3 shows real potential for a hoverbike

                SAN FRANCISCO: If you don’t know what a hoverbike is, the image above gives you an inkling.

Russian start-up Hoversurf has created the world's first manned hoverbike prototype that meshes together a motorcycle with quadcopter drone technology.

The Scorpion-3 looks like a whole lot of fun as the Hoversurf promotional trailer below shows, with the rider piloting the craft around in a warehouse.

At the same time, the hoverbike looks potentially dangerous as rotor blades are spinning at high speed inches from the rider’s legs, who as you can see, is wearing protective gear. We could think of fixed leg guards or rotor cages/housing to make the hoverbike safer to use and more “human-friendly.”

The idea of a hoverbike isn’t new as several companies such as Malloy Aeronautics have been rolling out prototypes since 2014. They looked futuristic-cool but remain untested unlike the Hoversurf vehicle.

The Scorpion-3 is a single-seater and is electrically powered. It has enough charge to stay in the air for nearly 30 mins. It can carry up to 120kg in weight and could achieve speeds of up to 48kph and fly at up to 10 metres above ground (or water, we presume).

The Scorpion-3 will require more work before it is considered ready for production. Hoversurf will also have to convince legislators that its hoverbike is safe and viable as a mode of transport in future.

The hoverbike has built-in software that limits its speed and height in the interest of safety. As with most high-tech products, flying cars included, the Scorpion-3 won’t come cheap. Hoversurf says it is hoping to charge US$150,000 (RM668,000) for the production hoverbike.

Assuming it is able to make it that far in the development process. But then, there will be more than a few investors and geeks rooting for its success.


Ford teams up with Snapchat for LeMans

                DETROIT: Ford and messaging service Snapchat are co-operating to provide special access to 2016's edition of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Starting on June 18 from 3pm local time in France (1pm UTC), exclusive videos and photos will be distributed via the Ford24Story account on Snapchat, allowing followers to see the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team witness the race in real time.

Cockpit video will be available via FordPerformance.tv in co-operation with YouTube.

The race is especially important to Ford as it marks the 50th anniversary of its own historic overall victory in 1966, at which it the marque occupied all three podium places.

That 1966 victory is considered especially significant as, thanks to a combination of groundbreaking technology and some of the biggest names in motorsport, Ford toppled Ferrari from LeMans' peak.

Fast forward to the 2016 race and its the Porsche Team that is 2015's defending champion, with an Audi vehicle having won the race 13 times since the turn of the century.


Hyundai reports lowest monthly sales in decade as virus dents demand

Employees wearing masks to prevent the coronavirus walk at a Hyundai Motors factory in Ulsan last Friday. — Yonhap/Reuters
SEOUL: Hyundai Motorreported its lowest monthly global sales in a decade in February as the coronavirus outbreak hurt demand, in what is the first major indicator of damage to the broader auto sector from the epidemic.

It turned in a preliminary sales figure of 275,044 vehicles for the month, 13% below 315,820 vehicles sold a year earlier. Hyundai last reported sales lower than this in February 2010.

South Korea’s Hyundai, which with affiliate Kia Motors is the world’s No.5 car maker, is the first major automaker to announce sales for the month. Chinese and US players will turn in their numbers in the coming weeks.

The flu-like virus, which originated in China, has killed nearly 3,000 and roiled global financial markets as investors and policymakers brace for a steep knock to world growth.

South Korea has the most cases of infections outside the mainland, with the total at 4,212, affecting companies like Hyundai and Samsung Electronics.

“Inside South Korea is now more urgent than China,” Korea Investment & Securities analyst Kim Jin-woo wrote in a note.

“With sluggish consumption affecting demand on top of it all, means auto sales are certain to be hit in the first quarter, and the impact expected to continue until at least the beginning of the second quarter.”

Hyundai was the first major automaker to flag a hit to its manufacturing outside China when it halted production at home, its biggest manufacturing base, in February due to a shortage of parts from China.

While the automaker has gradually resumed output, virus-related uncertainties remain. Just last week, a worker at its factory complex in the south-eastern South Korean city of Ulsan tested positive for the virus, prompting it to shut a factory.

The plant, which makes popular models such as the Palisade sport utility vehicle, resumed production on Monday, a Hyundai spokesman said.

South Korean coronavirus cases are concentrated in the fourth-largest city of Daegu and the North Gyeongsang province, home to about 20% of auto parts suppliers in the country, Statistics Korea data shows.


Electric cars to account for 79% of lithium demand by 2030, says Chile

                SANTIAGO: The electric car industry will dominate demand for lithium over the next ten years, Chilean state mining agency Cochilco said today, accounting for more than three quarters of the ultralight battery metal’s consumption by 2030, up from one third in 2019.

Cochilco said demand for lithium for electric vehicles had been muted this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, expected at around 75,000 tonnes, but would surge to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030.

Meanwhile, demand not associated with electromobility but with cell phones and other consumer goods would reach 377,000 tonnes in 2030, compared with the 242,000 tonnes expected for this year.

Lithium prices have been on a steady decline in recent years amid festering global trade tensions, the scaling back of electric vehicle subsidies in China and a wave of new production.

The coronavirus pandemic and associated economic downturn has hit demand, prompting some miners to put off near-term investments.

However, Cochilco predicted a rise in demand over supply would firm prices by 2025-2026.

It foresaw Australia and Chile maintaining by slimmer margins their leads in production, with growing competition from the United States and Argentina reducing Australia’s global supply from 48% today to 31% by 2030, and Chile’s from 29 to 17%.


Lamborghini head and earphones anyone?

                NEW YORK: Automobili Lamborghini collaborated with Master & Dynamic, the New York-based premium audio brand, to create a co-branded range of headphones and earphones.

The new collection presents MW65 Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones and MW07 PLUS True Wireless Earphones, incorporating design elements inspired by the iconic Italian super sports cars.

The Lamborghini distinctive design, the inimitable sound of its naturally aspirated engines and the visionary approach to aesthetics and performance aligns with Master & Dynamic’s philosophy.

The inaugural collection is available in three distinct and eye-catching colourways. The headphones are available in silver metal/light grey/yellow Alcantara; black metal black/yellow Alcantara; and black metal/black/grey Alcantara.

The earphones are available in three colours: polished white/matt silver case; polished black/matt black case; matt black/matt black case.

“Sound resonates with Lamborghini: the peerless music of a Lamborghini aspirated engine has a highly sensory and emotive appeal,” says Katia Bassi, Chief Marketing & Communication Officer of Automobili Lamborghini.

“The combination of design sophistication and technology in delivering a purity of sound is a talent shared by Lamborghini and Master & Dynamic.”

Jonathan Levine, Founder and CEO of Master & Dynamic offers, “As a young boy obsessed with cars, I remember being mesmerized the first time I saw a Miura. That feeling and excitement is still with me today whenever I see a Lamborghini. To create something that initiates such a visceral response has always been my intention at Master & Dynamic.”

The collection features two of Master & Dynamic’s most technically sophisticated sound tools. MW65 Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones offer two modes of ANC so users can tailor their sound to their environment, and feature up to 24 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.0 with a 30m connection.

The MW07 PLUS True Wireless Earphone boasts 10mm Beryllium drivers for brilliant sound, and a stainless steel charging case providing 40 hours total battery life.


Tesla reduces US factory personnel as Musk offers to produce ventilators

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc has told employees it lowered the number of workers at its California vehicle factory to comply with government guidelines to curb the spread of coronavirus, as chief executive Elon Musk said the company may start producing ventilators to help ease a US shortage.

In an email to employees late on Wednesday night, Tesla said it had asked only “essential employees” to report to its Bay Area facilities, allowing all others to work from home with San Francisco on virtual lockdown.

In a previous e-mail to employees on Monday, Tesla described essential staff as all those directly supporting factory production, vehicle deliveries and service, saying people in those areas should continue to report to work.

US automakers Ford Motor Co, General Motors Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, on Wednesday said they were shuttering their US plants, as well as factories in Canada and Mexico, to stop the spread of coronavirus.

At Tesla, extra precautions are now being taken to try to protect workers from the highly contagious respiratory illness that has infected nearly 9,000 Americans.

Beginning on Thursday, workers will receive masks and have their temperature checked prior to entry, Wednesday night’s email said, adding that more hygiene stations will be added and the cleaning frequency of work areas be increased.

The electric carmaker also said it had not laid off anyone amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Tesla on Thursday did not respond to a request for comment.

A factory employee requesting anonymity told Reuters vehicle production appeared to continue unchanged, with workers at the assembly lines working in close proximity.

Tesla’s sole US auto factory employs more than 10,000 workers, with annualised production of slightly more than 415,000 units by the fourth quarter.

The coronavirus outbreak comes as Tesla ramps up production of its Model Y sport utility vehicle at the factory, which Musk has said will see higher demand than all of Tesla’s other models combined.

A spokesman for Alameda county, where the factory is based, on Wednesday said Tesla had agreed to reduce the number of active workers at its factory to around 2,500.

But the official said discussions were ongoing about halting vehicle production.

“It sounds to me like they very well could still be making cars. We are continuing to stress to them that they must move to minimum basic operations, if they are still making cars,” the spokesman said.

Alameda County, where the factory is based, is one of six covered by an order from regional officials to “shelter in place,” which limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential, and advises people to stay home except for the most crucial reasons.

Minimum basic operations under the county’s order include maintaining the value of inventory, ensuring security and processing payroll and employee benefits.

The county sheriff’s office said on Tuesday afternoon Tesla was not considered an essential business under that order and cannot continue to operate its factory normally.

Separately on Thursday, hundreds of Twitter users welcomed an offer by Musk to make ventilators for coronavirus sufferers, after the United States appealed for donations of respirator masks to combat a shortage.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation said it was in talks with China and others to help ramp up supplies of health equipment, while General Motors and Ford Motor said they were in talks with White House officials.

“We will make ventilators if there is a shortage,” Musk wrote on Twitter, responding to a fan’s suggestion the billionaire re-purpose a factory for the task.

The Trump administration on Tuesday urged US construction companies to donate respirator masks to hospitals and healthcare providers fighting the virus, amid a nationwide shortage.