MINI unveils special editions to celebrate International Women’s Day

                MUNICH: Today is International Women’s Day. And MINI decided to unveil the Pat Moss Edition for the MINI 3-door and the MINI 5-door, which pays tribute to the female British racing driver 60 years later.

The two models would have their market launch in May.

In May 1962, the classic Mini was added to the list of winners of an international rally event for the first time. In the international Tulip Rally – from the Dutch municipality of Noordwijk to the French Riviera and back again – Patricia Ann Moss achieved the best time over the distance in the classic Mini Cooper.

If the name sounds familiar, it is. Moss is the younger sister of Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss.

 The woman rally driver whom MINI named its special editions after.

The Pat Moss Edition of the MINI 3-door and MINI 5-door, limited to just over 800 vehicles, not only commemorates the launch of the classic Mini’s extraordinary sporting career, it also marks a pioneering achievement for female power in motorsports. Success in the Netherlands turned the classic Mini, Pat Moss and her co-driver Ann Wisdom into enduring heroines in a discipline otherwise dominated by significantly larger vehicles and entirely the preserve of men.

Unconventional design features and stylish details characterise the Pat Moss Edition.

With 4-cylinder turbo engines offering an output of 178 hp or 231hp (MINI John Cooper Works), these cars bring the thrills of sporty driving fun to everyday traffic.

The exclusive design of the edition models cites the racing history of the British premium brand as well as the sporting careers of Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom.

It also incorporates MINI product innovations such as the Multitone Roof.

An additional variant of the Multitone Roof is available for the first time in the Pat Moss Edition. The colour gradient of the vehicle roof extends from Chilli Red to Melting Silver and Jet Black.

With the innovative paint finishing process fully integrated in production at the MINI plant in Oxford, this will be the first time a second colour variant has been introduced.

It is available for customers to order now.

On the new edition models, the roof paintwork is combined with the body finishes Pepper White or Midnight Black metallic and also red exterior mirror caps.

A stylised tulip symbolises the first rally victory: it appears on the C pillars and side scuttles of the edition vehicles along with the inscription “Pat Moss”. The wheel hub covers also feature an exclusive design with a graphic which is based on the outline of the typical Dutch flower and the MINI wordmark.

The key facts of the 1962 Tulip Rally appear below the side scuttles on the front side panels: the route Noordwijk – Monte Carlo – Noordwijk, the distance of 2 500km, the vehicle, namely a Mini Cooper, and its starting number 104.

These are supplemented with the slogan that still applies to MINI to this day: “born to compete”. The tulip motif, the name inscription and the key facts about the first ever rally win are also to be found on the screen-printed aluminium door sill trims designed exclusively for the edition model.

Another design element used for the first time in the Pat Moss Edition is the horizontally aligned bonnet stripe in white.

The printed combination of three-dimensional numbers and letters – 737 ABL – is the registration number of the classic Mini that won the 1962 Tulip Rally, likewise recalling the historical model. Meanwhile the original signature that Pat Moss wrote on the bonnet of her car after one of her victories adorns the front apron of the edition model as a graphic imprint.

In the interior of the edition vehicles, the iconic signature on the Piano Black interior surface in the passenger area is another tribute to the woman rally driver, who passed away in 2008, aged 74.

The sports leather steering wheel bears the edition emblem in the form of a tulip graphic, which appears on the clip of the lower spoke.

The abstract depiction of engine pistons moving up and down serves as the motif for a graphic on the interior surface on the driver’s side. With bars of different heights forming the shape of the letters “M” and “W” – standing for “Moss” and “Wisdom” – they symbolised that coordinated duo that caused a sensation in the rally scene decades ago.

Wisdom insisted on taking part in the Tulip Rally despite being pregnant at the time: she went on to provide her team mate with navigation guidance over the 2,500km route.

Mossie and Wizz – as they were known in the paddock – formed a successful duo for seven years.

Moss also won the Sestriere Rally in Italy in 1968, achieved a podium finish in numerous other international competitions and was crowned European Ladies’ Rally Champion five times.

Wisdom is considered the first professional woman co-driver in the history of rallying.

The two viewed their courageous foray into a male-dominated domain with typical British understatement. “We didn’t see ourselves as pioneers back then,” said Wisdom years later. “We were just entering a rally.”

Moss and Wisdom paved the way for an extraordinary career for the classic Mini. In 1964, 1965 and 1967, the British small car secured outright victory in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Decades later, MINI became the dominant brand in the world’s toughest endurance rally, achieving overall victory in the Dakar Rally four times in a row from 2012 to 2015. Two more overall victories followed in 2020 and 2021.


Geely Auto: Carsifu visits Geely's Shanghai facilties

Geely Design China vice president Guy Burgoyne (left) showing Malaysian journalists a Geely prototype at a media tour in Shanghai.
SHANGHAI: The Geely Group has four research and development centres in China, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as four design centers in Shanghai, Gothenburg, Barcelona and California.

Presently, there are over 400 designers from 19 countries led by chief designer Peter Horbury, working at Geely Auto’s design centres.

To recap, in June 2017, the group struck a deal with DRB-Hicom Bhd under which the latter will acquire a 49.9 per cent stake in national automaker Proton Holdings Bhd for RM460.3mil.

Geely’s popular Boyue sports utility vehicle (SUV) is expected to be used as a base for Proton’s first-ever SUV model.

Also, Zhejiang Geely will be paying 100mil pound sterling (RM540mil) to Proton for a 51 per cent stake in British sports car maker Lotus.

READ MORE:

2017 Geely Boyue: Quick test drive in Ningbo

Geely group's remarkable rise via tech takeovers

Technology tour in Shanghai and Ningbo

Recently, the Geely Group held a familiarisation trip for a group of Malaysian media to its facilities in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

At Geely Design in Pudong District, Shanghai, we found it curious that the complex was also shared by Chery Automobile and Qoros Auto.

"It's all right. Yes, visitors might find it strange but our facilities are separate although we have do have lunch in the same places," said Geely Design China vice president Guy Burgoyne.

 Geely's Emgrand EV (electric vehicle) mid-sized sedan, which can travel 400km on a single charge.

We were not allowed to take photos, but we saw full-size clay replicas of car protoyptes being milled and also concepts like a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) that had its global debut at the Shanghai Auto show 2017.

"This is the fullest, most busy studio I have ever worked in. We have 200 people in the studio every day. I have developed and designed more models in the last 5 years here than my whole career elsewhere," said Burgoyne, who worked for Volvo Cars from 1995 to 2005.

We also observed a concept coupe SUV, with a distinct European design flavour, which Burgoyne said might be a year away from a potential launch.

"The concept coupe SUV is an ego car, with a prominent bonnet featuring the Geely logo surrounded by expanding cosmos rings," he said.

Burgoyne also explained that the Geely logo is actually based on six-pack abs, and was the result of a global design contest in 2007 where the prize money was 3.6 million renminbi.

 The GS, which is Geely's first crossover SUV.

The following day, we were bussed 150km away to the Geely Automobile Research Institute (GRI) in Ningbo, where we visited powertrain laboratories, noise control facilities and vehicle testing facilities.

Powertrain testing and calibration equipment are supplied by German specialist AVL.

All 68 test cells at the centre are monitored by a central control room.

A senior engineer showed us a car mounted on a five-motor performance test cell, which can simulate various road conditions.
"We can do 60 per cent of vehicle calibration off-wheel. This means we don't have to drive the car on the road to test it. Benefits include significant reduction in vehicle development time and costs," he said.

 The GS, which is Geely's first crossover SUV.

Another facility was a climate control room, where vehicles are tested under extreme conditions.

Here, temperatures can reach a bone-freezing minus 40 degrees Celsius or even up to a scorching 60 degrees Celsius.

Journalists were also shown pads and rigs for vibrating test equipment on which, cars are put through durability testing.

We also visited acoustic test chambers designed by noise control experts from Germany's Faist.

"Currently, we have 8,000 engineers working here," said GRI president Hu Zhengnan.

 Geely Auto R & D centre in Hangzhou.


Polish your driving skills at Cayman GT4 Clubsport Racing Experience

                SEPANG: Calling all Porsche owners. Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is starting the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Racing Experience at the Sepang International Circuit.

The Cayman GT4 Clubsport Racing Experience is a half-day track programme designed for Porsche owners who already possess ample driving experience on the track with their own road car. As the next step, these customers will now get the chance to step into a race car.

Under the close supervision and advice of the best experts available, the programme includes a one-to-one coaching with experienced Porsche race car drivers.

The driving programme will include general vehicle control and gives the participants the opportunity to fine tune their skills on the track. Participants will be able to familiarise themselves with the circuit’s corners, find the perfect driving line, determine the most effective braking points and learn to avoid unnecessary steering inputs.

In addition, the programme will focus on race car specific topics like car set up, interpretation of driving characteristics, driving on slick tyres, and making immediate adjustments in the cockpit. Each participant will be equipped with the entire safety equipment including a suitable helmet, HANS safety equipment, a racing suit and Nomex clothing.

“The new Cayman GT4 Clubsport Racing Experience is the logical next step for SDAP in our customer motorsport activities," said Sime Darby Auto Performance CEO Arnt Bayer.

"Our Open Track Days are already a long tradition by now and they have provided our customers with the opportunity to drive their road cars in a safe environment with expert advice on the Sepang International Circuit. With the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Racing Experience, we take our motorsport programme one step further by offering our customers the chance to drive a race car, in our own Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR. This will for sure be a driving experience and excitement on a completely different level. And it might be the first step into a racing career for some of them. In addition to the training content, the programme ensures that the fun side of driving is not forgotten.”

“The pure thrill of driving this mid engine race car on the track including the unfiltered sound and vibrations of the 3.8-litre Boxer racing engine mounted just centimetres behind the driver and the extremely responsive yet well balanced set up of the chassis guarantees goose bumps,” he added.

The programme is conducted through a one-to-one coaching programme with Porsche Carrera Cup Driver, Will Bamber. An intercom system will be installed in the car enabling Will to give the driver immediate and direct feedback when it is most valuable, right on the track. In addition, a data recording system will be connected to the the CAN Gateway of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport which will monitor every move that was made on the racetrack.

The programme is conducted through a one-to-one coaching programme with Porsche Carrera Cup Driver, Will Bamber.

An intercom system will be installed in the car enabling Will to give the driver immediate and direct feedback when it is most valuable, right on the track.

In addition, a data recording system will be connected to the the CAN Gateway of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport which will monitor every move that was made on the racetrack.

This system will provide the instructor a detailed post session analysis. Data and video footage will be used to analyse the participant’s driving performance and to discuss potential changes to their performance behind the wheel.

This system will provide the instructor a detailed post session analysis. Data and video footage will be used to analyse the participant’s driving preformance and to discuss potential changes to their performance behind the wheel.

Will Bamber rose to the occasion in 2017 and tackled the regions toughest one-make championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, finishing as the Champion Rookie and third overall. As a regular race winner and championship frontrunner, Will passes on his knowledge and experience to enthusiasts throughout Asia in a range of events and levels including high performance track days and launches.


California startup touts battery-swapping to juice demand for electric vehicles

                SAN FRANCISCO: Ample, a seven-year-old startup here, wants to skirt one of the big hurdles to widespread adoption of electric vehicles by reviving the idea of quick, automated battery swaps for owners concerned about running out of juice while driving.

The main benefits, according to co-founders Khaled Hassounah and John de Souza, are time and cost savings.

EV owners would no longer face long lines and wait times at charging stations. And the cost of the modular batteries that Ample has developed could be amortized over longer periods of time, which in turn could lower the initial cost of an electric vehicle, much of which currently is tied to the battery pack.

Hassounah, Ample’s chief executive, and de Souza, president, said their system can replace a depleted battery with a fully charged one in less than 10 minutes, using an automated process that “works with any electric vehicle,” at a cost “as cheap as gasoline.”

Despite Ample’s bold business model, the road blocks to success are many.

The concept of battery swapping was tried more than 10 years ago, with great fanfare and lots of funding, by Israeli startup Better Place. The company raised - and eventually burned through - more than US$800 million before closing its doors in 2013 after failing to convince enough vehicle manufacturers to embrace its concept.

Ample, which faces competition from at least six startups with similar strategies, has raised $55 million from such backers as Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Spain’s Repsol SA, according to investor website PitchBook.

Although Tesla Inc initially tested, then withdrew, a plan to offer battery swapping to customers, EV maker Nio Inc lets customers swap batteries at some 200 locations in China. Honda Motor Co Ltd has partnered with Yamaha Motor Co Ltd and scooter maker Piaggio to develop swappable batteries for light electric vehicles.

Automakers also are rolling out vehicles with improved battery packs that provide longer range between charges, as well as shorter charge times, which could make battery swapping obsolete.

A greater impediment may be that automakers including Tesla and General Motors Co already have or are working on proprietary battery systems, and are likely uninterested in redesigning their vehicles to accommodate Ample’s modular batteries.

Hassounah said Ample is working with four of the world’s 10 largest automakers, but declined to identify them. The company also has partnered with Uber Technologies Inc in San Francisco, swapping batteries in Nissan LEAFs.


Coronavirus could force GM to delay its redesigned 2021 SUVs

                DETROIT: General Motors told suppliers on Monday it is postponing work on at least half a dozen future models to conserve cash during the coronavirus pandemic and suggested it could delay the planned launch in late April of its highly profitable large sport utility vehicles.

GM previously told suppliers that it planned to begin production in late April of the redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs at its Arlington, Texas, plant after winding up production of the outgoing models this week, according to an email reviewed by Reuters.

A GM spokesman reiterated on Monday what the automaker had said last week - that the situation with its US plants was “fluid” and that the automaker would “continue to evaluate” whether and when to reopen those plants on a week-by-week basis, with “employee safety” guiding that decision.

The big SUVs are among GM’s most profitable vehicles.

In an email to suppliers viewed by Reuters and confirmed as authentic by GM, the automaker also said it was suspending development work on six future vehicle programs, including updates of the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Cadillac XT4, Bolt EV, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

GM said preproduction work on those programs would be pushed back to calendar year 2021, with most of the updated vehicles scheduled to be launched as 2022 models.

GM last week told employees and suppliers it was delaying work on some future vehicles while pushing ahead with near-term models such as its redesigned full-size SUVs and the GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Cruise Origin, as well as its new Ultium battery system.

GM said previously that it was closing most of its US plants indefinitely.

In its Monday email, GM asked suppliers to stop work on all pre-production tooling and pre-production parts manufacturing, but also not to dispose of any tooling or materials.

In separate emails to suppliers, GM said it planned to run out production this week of the outgoing Escalade, Yukon, Tahoe and Suburban SUVs in preparation for the launch of the redesigned 2021 models.

GM told Reuters it had solicited volunteers from its workforce to finish the build-out of the current SUVs on a single shift in Arlington. In addition, GM is installing more safeguards in the plant to help protect workers, including thermal temperature scanning and additional personal protective equipment.

The work is expected to be completed in a week.


Hyundai i30 N Line now gets entry-level 1.0 mill with 120PS

                LONDON: Hyundai UK has announced the introduction of an entry-level 1.0-litre T-GDi derivative to the i30 range. Prices will start from £19,995 (RM106,000).

The i30 N Line 1.0 120PS 6-speed manual includes N Line exterior styling features including 17” alloy wheels equipped with Michelin tyres, N Line exclusive front and rear bumpers, twin exit exhaust muffler, gloss black wing mirror covers, body coloured door handles and N Line badging. Interior specification includes N Line sports cloth seats, black head lining and N branded steering wheel and gear lever.

Aside from N Line styling, the i30 N Line 1.0 has a high level of standard specification, including keyless entry with start/stop button, 8” touchscreen display audio with DAB and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear view camera and cruise control with speed limiter function.

As with all i30’s, the i30 N Line 1.0 120PS offers a high level of safety equipment, with Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Driver Attention Alert and Hill Start Assist Control featuring as standard.

“With the identity of the N Line range already established in the i30 range, the introduction of the 1.0 120 PS engine is the natural next step," said Hyundai Motor UK managing director Ashley Andrew.

"This engine accounts for over 65% of petrol engine sales in the i30 range and with a clear market demand for smaller capacity engines combined with a sports focused trim, we have high expectations for this new N Line model.”

In Britain, all i30 N Line models come with Hyundai’s industry leading 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Roadside Assistance package, 5 Year Annual Health Check, and 12 Year Anti Corrosion Warranty.


VW produces last e-Golf, prepares to ramp up ID.3 rollout

                DRESDEN: Volkswagen is phasing out the e-Golf, which is being replaced by the ID.3

The last e-Golf rolled off the production line at the Transparent Factory here on Wednesday. With the e-Golf in Urano Grey, a total of 50,401 vehicles have been manufactured in Dresden since March 2017.

At the start of 2021, the production area of the Transparent Factory will be reconstructed for three weeks before the first ID.3 series vehicles roll off the assembly lines at the end of January.

During the revamp, the production floor of the Transparent Factory would be converted to meet the requirements of the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB).

The first conversions for the ID.3 already took place in summer 2020. As one of seven stations, the "marriage", where the body and chassis are bolted together, was adapted.

The conversion measures in winter include, for example, the installation of a system on which the panoramic roof is fitted and the adaptation of the gripping devices for the installation of the cockpit and seat system.

The e-Golf was launched in 2014 and was produced in Wolfsburg until summer 2020.

In 2017, the Transparent Factory started production in parallel to meet the high demand.

In total, 145,561 left the two German production facilities in more than seven years. Measured by sales figures, the e-Golf is one of the most popular e-cars in Europe - especially with customers in Norway and the German home market.

The Dresden plant also makes the Phaeton and Bentley Flying Spur.


China EV maker Byton to get Aurora self-driving system

                SAN FRANCISCO: US autonomous driving startup Aurora has added Chinese electric vehicle maker Byton to its growing list of clients for self-driving systems, Byton said on Monday, marking the latest partnership between automakers and tech companies.

China’s Byton - a newcomer co-founded by two former BMW executives - has already released plans for a premium electric SUV vehicle, the latest in a series of China-backed autonomous prototypes shown off in the past two years.

Aurora, launched in 2016 by a group of self-driving veterans, is already working with Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motor Co to develop a platform for autonomous driving within the carmakers’ vehicles.

The company was co-founded by Chris Urmson, the former head of Alphabet Inc’s Google’s self-driving program, Sterling Anderson, who ran Tesla Inc’s autopilot program, and robotics expert Drew Bagnell.

Unveiled last month at CES in Las Vegas, Byton’s US$45,000 (RM177,000) vehicle features a dashboard screen spanning the width of the car and a tablet device on the steering wheel.

Byton plans to build the vehicle in Nanjing. It it will be available in China near the end of 2019, with the United States and Europe to follow.

First models will be partially autonomous, providing advanced driver assistance systems, with full autonomy to be enabled from 2020 through a software upgrade, Byton has said.

Byton chief executive Carsten Breitfeld said in September that current carmakers, for the most part, have not built vehicles taking full advantage of consumer electronics.

“Apple created a platform and profits from every transaction made with their objects. We will offer content for our consumers,” Breitfeld said, adding that designing a car where drivers and passengers can watch movies, make conference calls or surf the internet is his goal.

“For this you need a completely different architecture and computing power,” Breitfeld said.

The company opened a North American headquarters in Silicon Valley in December and has already announced it is working with global auto suppliers Bosch and Faurecia SA on powertrain and braking systems, and interiors, respectively.

In a related development, Nvidia Corp and German auto supplier Continental AG said on Monday they had teamed up to develop a self-driving system based on the US chipmaker’s artificial intelligence platform, underscoring the need for collaboration in the fast-moving industry.

The announcement is the latest of many collaborations for Nvidia, whose Drive platform that helps enable autonomous driving is ubiquitous in the industry. The Silicon Valley-based company known for its graphics chips said last month that 320 companies involved in the development of self-driving cars use Nvidia Drive.

Automakers and their suppliers have sought alliances to share the high costs of developing self-driving cars, which are expected to start appearing in the marketplace over the next few years as so-called robo-taxis at first.

Still, experts expect the transition from human-driven to automated cars could take a decade or more.

Nvidia and Continental said in a statement their self-driving vehicle system, which will integrate a range of Continental sensors, will be introduced in 2021, after a period of collaboration between engineering teams from both companies. The companies did not disclose financial terms for the partnership.

At CES in Las Vegas last month, Nvidia announced partnerships with Uber Technologies and Volkswagen AG . The company also works with electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc and China’s Baidu.

Continental - which also works on self-driving with Baidu - is part of a separate consortium of automakers and suppliers working together to develop full autonomous driving systems.

Led by BMW, that alliance also brings together Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Intel Corp and Intel’s vision systems subsidiary Mobileye, with Continental handling integration of components and software. U.S. auto supplier Aptiv is also part of the alliance.


Aston Martin to replace all models within 10 years

                SHANGHAI: Aston Martin plans to replace all models in its current line-up within 10 years and up to three new models lines would be added.

Under the company's “Second Century” plan, Aston Martin will focus on delivering a new wave of products that are being developed under the largest investment plan in its 102 year history.

“The Second Century plan not only delivers exciting and highly desirable new luxury sports cars in the traditional sense, but also embraces new powertrain technology," said Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer at the Shanghai auto show.

 The DBX Concept (also below).

"I have challenged not only convention but also my team to investigate an electric version of the Rapide, a product which will undoubtedly be attractive for the China market. Our relationships with leading Chinese companies such as Hanergy and now with Letv shows the potential to connect British craftsmanship with the very latest in Chinese technology,” said Dr Palmer, who is attending his first auto show in China.

The newly appointed CEO had already signalled Aston Martin's dramatic renewal at the Geneva Motor Show in March, where the DBX Concept made is global premiere. The DBX Concept is Aston's first all-electric, all-wheel drive car, showcasing the brand’s world-class engineering and design capabilities.

The concept car and the Lagonda Taraf spearheaded Aston Martin’s display at the China show.

The strategic plan also encompasses the brand’s intention to enter the luxury sedan market in China.  Strictly limited to a global production run of just 200 super-saloons, the Lagonda Taraf follows in the wake of other bespoke special projects by Aston Martin such as the creation of the extreme Aston Martin Vulcan supercar, Vantage GT12, One-77, V12 Zagato and the CC100 Speedster Concept.

 The Lagonda Taraf.

The luxurious new super saloon draws inspiration from the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976 and features many of the same cutting-edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports cars, such as the extensive use of carbon fibre body panels.

This year, the brand will expand its  personalisation service – Q by Aston Martin – and integrate it into the company’s Special Products Division. The new business unit is able to deliver anything from unique interiors to creating the DB10 that will feature in the next James Bond film, Spectre.

And it is this team that has created the new Lagonda Taraf. Q by Aston Martin takes bespoke automotive tailoring to the ultimate level, and has enabled the brand to create ultra-personalised luxury sports cars for an increasing number of Chinese customers.

Guests on the show stand were able to take a closer look at the wide array of options available through the Q by Aston Martin service.  The Q by Aston Martin Rapide S on display, with its unique specification of a White Essence exterior and Saddle Leather interior, served to highlight thepersonalisation possibilities through the service.

While the DBX Concept highlights the future of luxury GT sports cars for the brand, the new 8-speed models on display at the Aston Martin stand – the Vanquish and Rapide S – are now available to order in China along with the exclusive Lagonda Taraf.


The RX-7: 100 years of Mazda

                HIROSHIMA: The joy of driving, lightweight design and the rotary engine are the three elements that define Mazda’s DNA —  all thanks to its RX-7 sportscar.

Rotary engines were offered in most of this Japanese carmaker's models until the oil crisis of 1973 to 1974, when skyrocketing fuel prices pushed the peppy but thirsty powerplants out of favour with consumers.

Unfortunately, the Japanese carmaker decided to drop the engines for most of its saloons, hatchbacks and wagons —  almost abandoning them entirely.

But then-head of R&D Kenichi Yamamoto resisted by arguing how crucial a differentiator the rotary was for the company.

Yamamoto then led the team of engineers that developed Mazda’s first rotary engines in the 1960s set out to overhaul the existing 12A engine and significantly improve fuel economy.

Among other things, his team added more durable apex seals – a problem spot – and improved lubrication.

They then helped design the ideal vehicle for it which resulted in a small and light yet smooth-running, powerful and rev-happy rotary sports car that became a sleek, low-slung coupe with a wedge-shaped nose and wraparound window on the rear hatch.

By 1978, the first RX-7 (FB) sports car began rolling off the production line headed for the mass market with its compact rotary engine and would subsequently go on to thrill driving enthusiasts the world over.

The distinctive howl of the RX-7’s twin-rotor powerplant turned heads at European race tracks in the beginning and managed to win the British Saloon Car Championship in 1980 and 1981 as well as taking overall victory at the 1981 24 Hours of Spa – the first Japanese car to achieve this.

Over in the US, this Japanese sports car won over 100 International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) races, more than any other model of any brand.

The FB had a kerb weight of just over a tonne and came with a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

The engine sat behind the front axle for a mid-mounted setup for the 1,146cc 12A twin-rotor engine that was able to produce a respectable 100 to 135PS for the rear wheels at that time.

The 12A was later joined by a 160PS turbocharged version for Japan, while North America got a slightly larger 13B powerplant with fuel injection.

In 1985, the second-generation RX-7 (FC) was introduced and featured a Porsche-inspired design as well as a number of performance improvements that included Dynamic Tracking Suspension System (DTSS) as well as turbocharging.

Forced induction proved to be very well suited to rotary engines thanks to their exhaust flow characteristics, and quite effective for boosting mid-range torque.

The 1.3-litre 13B was standard for all markets soon after, and although the RX-7 would be offered in Europe initially with a naturally aspirated 150PS engine, a higher-tuned 180PS and later 200PS twin-scroll turbocharged versions would follow.

The higher-powered model could achieve a 0 to 100kph sprint time of just 6.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 240kph.

The third and final generation FD model arrived in 1992 and came with a new sequential twin-turbocharger that boosted output from the latest 13B engine to 239PS on the European version.

Said by fans to be the best handling of all RX-7s, this 1.3-tonne two-seater sports car could sprint from 0 to 100kph in 5.3 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250kph - putting it in a league with other high-end sports cars – fitting for the brand that had just won at Le Mans.

Unfortunately, the RX-7 was discontinued in most of Europe by 1996 due to emissions regulations and eventually boosting power output on later Japan-only models to as high as 280PS.

The year 2002 marked the end of Mazda's exceptional sports cars with a total of 811,634 units produced between 1978 and 2002.

2003 saw the arrival of the RX-8 that brought about the hydrogen-powered rotary RX-8 Hydrogen RE which could run on hydrogen or petrol as well as the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid multipurpose vehicle featuring an electric drive motor and a dual-fuel rotary.

Later, the company developed a prototype Mazda2 Electric Vehicle (EV) with a small single-rotor engine used as a range extender.

A similar system would find its way onto the Mazda MX-30 with an entirely new battery-electric crossover sport utility vehicle that recently made its arrival.

Nonetheless, the RX-7 remains the icon of rotary-powered sports and production cars.

Thanks to the RX-7, Mazda was able to learn much from its endeavours that included lightweight engineering, sporty design and infusing fun into its vehicles - something that has managed to trickle into current Mazda models of today.

Mazda reached its 100th anniversary on Jan 30, 2020. It celebrated the milestone by revealing on April 3 its 100th Anniversary Special Edition series, a range of special versions of all the key passenger cars in its global line-up.


Patchy road repairs make PJ folk see red

                PETALING JAYA: Residents in some areas here welcome Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd’s pipe replacement project, but they are unhappy with the resurfacing of affected roads.

Section 12 and 17 residents said workers carrying out the tarmac resurfacing job had done a haphazard job.

Engineer Hwang Yoong Jenn, 59, who lives in Jalan 17/22, said Air Selangor needed to check the quality of work done.

“The (pipe replacement) work starts at 9pm and goes on for about 10 hours, and the main road of Jalan 17/22 must be reopened by 8am.

“When they finish the digging, workers must lay tarmac over the top of the road, but they don’t level it properly.

“They would need about five hours to lay the premix, but they are rushing it.

“So it is not long before the road cracks.

“Technically, the surface is uneven because they need to let the soil and sand settle in the trench for about a week,” he said.

Last year, StarMetro reported of work to replace ageing water pipes with concurrently at a 0.5km stretch along Jalan 12/16A as well as 1.2km of Jalan Tuanku Salahuddin Syah 16/9, including a 1.2km stretch from Jalan 17/1 to Jalan 17/22.

The project, known as Package 38 of Air Selangor’s Old Pipe Replacement Programme, is to replace old pipes, especially those made of asbestos cement.

It said the replacement exercise was expected to be completed by July next year.

“This is long overdue because many of these old pipes burst,” added Hwang.

Section 12 resident David Foo questioned the authorities’ lackadaisical attitude in maintaining the roads.

He said roads go through wear and tear and should be repaired and maintained without residents having to complain.

“Even after the matter is brought to the attention of Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) nothing is done and the road condition deteriorates further.

“I can understand that it’s a temporary job to resurface the road until all the pipework is done, but there has to be a degree of quality rather than just a shoddy patch up job,” he said.

“Private companies, certain utility companies and developers don’t make it a point to repair damaged roads.

“Instead MBPJ will go in and do the repairs at taxpayers’ expense,” said Foo in urging the local council to compel parties involved bear the cost.

Last year, Air Selangor Planning and Capital Works Department assistant vice-president II Haslina Mohd Yahya said throughout the pipe replacement project period, the roads would be temporarily repaired, and once the upgrade was completed, all stretches would be resurfaced from kerb to kerb.

Self-employed Kelvin Yap, 40, who lives on Jalan 17/22 was peeved that residents were not informed about the work in the neighbourhood.

He said no notice was given in their neighbourhood group chats or social media pages.

“Had there been communication, we could have parked our cars away from the affected roads,” he said.

Yap said the stretch along Jalan 17/22 was bumpy and posed a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

“Drivers tend to avoid the uneven roads and bumps and steer to the inner side which may endanger motorists and pedestrians,” he said.

Air Selangor, in a statement, said pipe replacement works had been completed along Jalan 12/16a to Jalan 16/9 as well as on Jalan Sultan Salahuddin.

“In Jalan 17/22, pipe replacement work is ongoing and the road repairs are in progress.

“However, once the work is completed, Air Selangor will work closely with our designated contractors to ensure that all road conditions are fixed and restored to their best condition.”


Volkswagen invites all to "Raya Open House"

                KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with the Hari Raya festivities, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) will be hosting a nationwide “Raya Open House” this from July 8 to 9 at all authorized Volkswagen dealerships.

Visitors to the “Volkswagen Raya Open House” will stand a chance to win special gifts and gadgets by test driving or placing a booking for a Volkswagen car during that weekend.

Last chance to grab the special and limited offer of a five-year free maintenance for any variants of the Vento or Passat purchased before July 31 as well as RM500 petrol vouchers for all Volkswagen vehicles registered before end of the month.

The Volkswagen Raya Promotion is still ongoing and will end on July 31 with 'duit raya' rebates for the Polo (RM7,000), Vento (RM11,000), Jetta (RM10,000), Golf (RM21,000), Passat Comfortline (RM15,000), Passat Trendline (RM15,000) and Tiguan Comfortline (RM5,000).

As part of the weekend celebrations, visitors can also feast on durians and satay, delicious spreads as well as enjoy many fun-filled activities for the entire family.

For more information log on to www.volkswagen.com.my.


Hyundai shuts down factory after worker tests positive for Covid-19

The plant that was shut down makes the Palisade along with other SUV models.
SEOUL: A Hyundai Motor worker has tested positive for the new coronavirus, leading to a suspension of production at one its factories in South Korea’s south-eastern city of Ulsan, the company said today.

Shares of the automaker dropped more than 5% after the news, while the wider market was down 2.6%. The closing deals a fresh setback to Hyundai Motor, which has gradually resumed production at local plants hit by a Chinese parts shortage in the wake of the virus outbreak.

South Korea has the most infected people outside China, affecting companies like Samsung and Hyundai. South Korea today reported 256 new cases, bringing the total number of infected to 2,022.

There is no cure for the coronavirus, which can lead to pneumonia, and a vaccine may take up to 18 months to develop.

A union spokesman confirmed that a worker had tested positive, but he did not have more details.

“The company has also placed colleagues who came in close contact with the infected employee in self-quarantine and taken steps to have them tested for possible infection,” Hyundai Motor said in a news release. The company added that it was disinfecting the factory.

Ulsan is less than an hour from Daegu, the epicentre of outbreak in South Korea.

Hopes the coronavirus would be contained to China vanished today as infections spread rapidly around the world, countries started stockpiling medical equipment and investors took flight in expectation of a global recession.

Hyundai operates five car factories in Ulsan, which has an annual production capacity of 1.4 million vehicles, or nearly 30% of Hyundai’s global production. Hyundai employs 34,000 workers there in the world’s biggest car complex.

The factory that was shut down produces sport utility vehicles such as Palisade, Tucson, Santa Fe and Genesis GV80.

A factory run by Hyundai supplier Seojin Industrial had been closed after the death of a virus-infected worker there. It re-opened Wednesday.

"The coronavirus now looks like a pandemic. Markets can cope even if there is big risk as long as we can see the end of the tunnel,” said Norihiro Fujito, chief investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

“But at the moment, no one can tell how long this will last and how severe it will get.”


First Polestar 1 prototype cars with carbon fibre body start production

                GOTHENBURG: Momentum in the development of the Polestar 1 has increased with the production of the first series of road-going verification prototype (VP) cars in Sweden.

Produced for a number of purposes including crash tests, weather testing and on-road assessment, the VP cars form the very first fleet of Polestar 1 cars on the road.

Construction of the cars, which takes place in a specialised prototype production facility here, is largely done by hand.

It acts as the first testing phase for production of Polestar 1 customer cars which will be built at the new Polestar plant in Chengdu, China.

The carbon fibre-body of the Polestar 1 required the development of new specialised production equipment and construction techniques that will be transferred to the factory and used to build the production cars.

“The assembly of the VP cars means that the Polestar 1 has taken its next step towards production,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

“This first batch of 34 cars will enable our engineers to tune the finer details of the car, ensuring that the Polestar 1 is perfect when we start to produce customer cars in the middle of next year.”

Production of the Polestar 1 marks the first time that a brand in the Volvo Car Group has explored carbon fibre construction. The VP cars have allowed engineers to design, test and execute complicated construction processes with positive results.


Porsche spills more details about upcoming electric Macan

                STUTTGART: Porsche is fettling an all-new, electric SUV set to slot in above the Cayenne and herald a series of further electrics as the traditional maker of combustion-engined performance cars seeks to reduce emissions.

The first car with no local emissions to carry the Macan badge gets the same 800-volt architecture as the Taycan sports car and will be capable of powerful 270 kW charging.

The Macan uses a new electric platform (PPE) developed together with Audi. This allows more flexibility in terms of drive and dimensions and is designed for larger unit numbers.

From 2025, Porsche wants to sell every second car as a plug-in hybrid or pure electric vehicle and to achieve a battery share of 80% by 2030.

Porsche previously announced that its final petrol-powered models will roll off the production line in 2024.

The new SUV will have a 100 kWH battery, which is good for a range of some 500km. Porsche said fast charging will replenish the cells by up to 80% within 25 minutes.

Range-topping Macan versions will come with twin electric motors turning out up to 450 kW/612hp and with stump-pulling 1,000Nm of torque to match.

The upright Macan takes styling cues from the low-slung Taycan with similarly-shaped headlamps.

Porsche has promised that the electric Macan will offer "long range, highly efficient quick charging and reproducible best-in-class performance figures." This would make it "the sportiest model in its segment."

The Macan is one of the bestselling Porsche models and the company shifted 18,000 units in the first quarter of 2022.


Toyota gears up its first EV with safer, longer-lasting battery

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp, a late-comer to the battery electric vehicle (BEV) market, is weaving in all efforts to make sure its first mass-market model is safer and lasts longer than rivals' products when it goes on sale later this year.

BEVs have grown in popularity globally, but some consumers have been put off by EV battery-related fire risks and rapid degradation.

General Motors and Hyundai Motor were forced last year to recall EVs, carrying batteries made by LG Energy Solution, after reports of fires.

"We focused on balancing three factors: cruising range, battery degradation and charging speed," Masaya Yamamoto, a project manager at Toyota, said at a test-drive event for the bZ4X sport utility vehicle (SUV) prototype last week.

BEVs typically take hours to charge, and using quick-charging methods often cause the battery's cells to heat up, leading to degradation. That, in turn, reduces cruising range over time, hurting a vehicle's resale value.

Toyota said its batteries, developed with Panasonic Corp, contain a special coolant that does not conduct electricity easily. Battery packs are also structured to keep the cells and coolant separated in case of a leak.

This and other innovations mean the new BEV series' batteries would retain more than 90% of their capacity after a decade, Toyota said.

For consumers in Japan, where EVs have been slow to take off, Toyota is considering offering the EVs only through "subscription" - a bid to address worries over battery life and resale value.

The subscription fee would cover the cost of maintenance and battery replacement among other features.

Toyota has said it would start selling the SUV model in Japan and other major markets in mid-2022.

Toyota has set a goal of selling 3.5 million BEVs annually by 2030 through an 8 trillion yen (RM294bil) investment to electrify its vehicles.


PLUS to submit proposal to install speed cameras on all its highways

                SEREMBAN: Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Bhd (PLUS) will submit a proposal to the authorities to install speed cameras on all six expressways under its jurisdiction.

Its managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said, if approved, the speed cameras would also be installed on the Penang Bridge.

"We will bear the cost of installation but the authorities would have to operate them as we cannot issue traffic summonses to motorists who violate the rules.

"The whole idea is to ensure motorists obey traffic rules and to create road safety awareness," he said at the launch of Ops Selamat 14 by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim on Tuesday (Jan 22).

The event was held at the north-bound Seremban R&R along the North South Expressway.

Azman declined to elaborate when asked on the cost to install the equipment but said it was substantial.

Earlier, Noor Rashid said Ops Selamat would be held from Jan 29 to Feb 12 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.


Having a blast with the all-new Honda Civic

                SEPANG: Fresh from the launch  of the all-new Honda City Hatchback last week, Honda Malaysia is keeping the momentum going with a media teaser drive of the new generation Honda Civic at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

The all-new model, expected to be launched in the first quarter of next year, comes from a long line-up that has an enduring appeal among buyers.

While Honda has injected a degree of elegance into the 11th-generation Civic, the four-door sedan still has a high level of sporty styling and flair.

The new Civic's DNA doesn't run far as it maintains the outgoing model's coupe-like profile and wide stance with a low-slung appearance.

Compared with the 10th-generation model which was introduced locally in 2016, the latest edition is 30mm longer, 3mm wider and 1mm lower, while its 35mm longer wheelbase should translate into more interior space.

On the Sepang track was the new Civic dressed in the top-of-the-range RS trimming.

The RS trimming comes with a dark theme that includes 18-inch black matte alloy wheels, black side mirrors and automatic LED headlamps with black highlights as being the immediate standout items.

Other black-painted items are the trunk spoiler, shark fin antenna, door garnish and outer door handles.

However, the exhaust pipes get chrome finishers to add a bit of sparkle to an otherwise dark surrounding.

Other than the RS, Honda Malaysia has not released any details on other variants expected to be offered along side.

Powering the new Civic is a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged engine that produces 182PS and 240Nm of torque mated to a continuous variable transmission (CVT) with Econ, Normal and Sport drive modes.

The 1.5-litre VTEC turbo engine in the older Civic delivers 173PS (-9PS) and 220Nm (-20Nm) of torque in comparison.

Nevertheless, the outgoing model is still a quick car with good handling and exciting looks.

The new Civic seemed to have better looking rear lights with a 3D design and a triangular cut compared with the quirky C-shaped lights of the previous Civic that had generated plenty of conversation.

Other than the new Civic, there were also the 10th-generation Civic and a current C-segment competitor sedan for us to benchmark against on the Sepang track.

With more power under the bonnet, the new Civic was able to take off faster compared with the older model.

Turbo lag was also hardly noticeable and the new Civic was able to accelerate rapidly to reach 160kph on a straight stretch of the track before we had to slow down to take a turn.

Its CVT was also programmed to simulate a gear upshifting pattern similar to a traditional automatic gearbox for a more engaging driving feel.

The competitor vehicle, fitted with a 1.8-litre non-turbocharged engine with 139PS and 172Nm of torque, was slower off the blocks even when compared with the outgoing Civic.

We also did a slalom course and concluded that improvements to the new Civic's steering and suspension had enabled it to have better turn-in with more precise control and less body roll compared with the other two cars.

Tyres fitted to the Civic were the 235/40R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 which afforded plenty of grip and control especially when taking sweeping corners at high speeds.

We were also told that the suspension of the Civic, consisting of front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link, had been improved to reduce harshness level by 20%.

Other features of Civic RS include RS emblem, LED daytime running lights, LED front fog lamps, remote engine start and walk away auto lock.

The Civic RS also comes with Honda LaneWatch camera and Honda Sensing that gets a new feature of Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN) system.

LCDN would alert the driver if he had not taken any action to drive his car after the vehicle in front had pulled away during start-stop traffic or at the traffic lights.

Other usual Honda Sensing features are Adaptive Cruise Control, Low Speed Follow, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keep Assist System, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System and Auto High Beam.

Standard features for the Civic RS include six airbags, vehicle stability assist, anti-lock braking system, auto brake hold, hill start assist, emergency stop signal, and front and rear sensors.

With the amount of enhancements made, hardcore Civic fans are unlikely to be disappointed by the latest model.

Bookings for the new Civic can be made at Honda dealers nationwide.


Amsterdam and Helsinki to trial taking more responsible urban routes

                PARIS: The cities of Helsinki in Finland, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, are inviting motorists to participate this fall in a program aimed at relieving congestion in city centres in favour of more environmentally and socially responsible routes.

For two months, in October and November 2021, motorists with an Android smartphone can take advantage of a program called Code The Street, which aims to offer them alternative routes that are more environmentally friendly, but also more community-minded.

This includes avoiding areas of the city where pollution is high, as well as residential areas and roads leading to schools.

During this test phase, drivers who use the TomTom AmiGO application or the Mercedes-Benz navigation service will be given a recommendation for the fastest "social" route, with explanations provided each time.

In addition to simplifying life for drivers and making certain areas a little quieter, the idea behind the trial is also to relieve congestion in the two cities' centres.

The municipality of Helsinki is studying the possibility of introducing a congestion charge for driving in the city centre.

This type of study could therefore demonstrate whether motorists are prepared (or not) to take routes in which they avoid certain areas.

The data collected on these trips will be used to evaluate how effective the tack of encouraging users to choose an alternative route is.

Volunteers can register directly on the Code The Streets website. This initiative is supported by the European Union.


Batteries included as Hyundai amps up electric car ambitions

                SEOUL:  Hyundai Motor Co is developing its first dedicated architecture for electric vehicles, an executive told Reuters, seeking to catch up with the likes of Tesla in the growing segment with multiple, long-range models.

While the platform will not be completed soon, Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia Motors Corp plan to roll out small electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) based on an existing underpinning next year, said Lee Ki-sang, who leads Hyundai-Kia's green cars operations.

The separate platform represents a major push into the battery electric-car segment for a firm which has long trumpeted rival fuel-cell vehicles, reflecting strong investor pressure to compete more vigorously in a market that has been stimulated by US-based Tesla Inc's longer-range models.

Industry executives also say tough fuel-economy and emissions regulations in the United States, Europe and China are compelling automakers to push fuel-efficient cars even though low oil prices have undercut demand.

Hyundai's electric-car platform would allow the automaker to install a battery pack in vehicle floors to accommodate more battery capacity and maximise cabin space, Lee said.

"The electric-vehicle platform will require high up-front investments but we are doing this to prepare for the future," he said at Hyundai-Kia's green car research centre in the city of Yongin, outside Seoul. He did not reveal the cost.

Lee, a senior vice-president at Hyundai Motor, was speaking during an interview on the eve of an auto show that kicked off in Seoul on March 30.

Analysts said Hyundai had no choice but to join the likes of Tesla, General Motors Co and Daimler AG unit Mercedes-Benz in building separate electric-vehicle platforms to be relevant in the segment.

"The separate platform may incur losses initially, but Hyundai will be left behind the market if they don't offer long-distance models, like 300 km, 500 km and 600 km," said Ko Tae-bong, an analyst at Hi Investment & Securities.

Hyundai Motor said in a statement on March 30 that it plans to launch a new luxury electric vehicle under its Genesis marque in 2021, after introducing a plug-in hybrid version of an unidentified Genesis model in 2019.

Cautious outlook

Hyundai will launch an electric SUV, followed by a sibling model by Kia Motors next year, Lee said, citing strong demand for SUVs.

The subcompact or compact models would have a range of more than 300 km per charge, and would be "more competitive" than rival offerings, Lee said.

Hyundai Motor's IONIQ hybrid sedan fell short of its sales target, while Kia's Niro hybrid SUV exceeded its forecast last year.

Kia Motors was also working on its first fuel cell vehicle, following Hyundai Motor's lead in the segment, Lee said.

Despite Hyundai's beefed-up plans for the electric car market, Lee was cautious about the outlook given the planned phase-out of government subsidies in China and other markets.

Limited charging infrastructure and problems with battery technology, such as lengthy charge times on long-range vehicles, were also holding back demand, he said.

Lee expected electric vehicles to account for about 10% of total global vehicle sales by 2025, from some 1% now, with China leading the way. Fuel-cell cars, by comparison, were unlikely to take off until 2025 but had long-term potential.

In China, Hyundai Motor was considering sourcing batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) or a couple of other Chinese firms, because of subsidy restrictions on South Korean batteries, he said.

As part of efforts to meet Chinese electric car quotas, Hyundai and Kia planned to introduce electric versions of its China-exclusive sedans and SUVs, while readying electrified models under local brands made with Chinese joint venture partners, he said.


Ford to launch new customer relations and service model

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co  is launching a new, global model for harvesting data and earning revenue from customers by offering services beyond the sale of new vehicles, the company said today.

FordPass will be unveiled later today at the Detroit auto show as if it were a new car - such as the revamped Ford Fusion sedan which will also get its debut at the show.

FordPass aggregates under a Ford-branded umbrella the services customers now access through separate channels – parking lots managed by ParkWhiz, car-sharing services and digital payment apps. FordPass will be available to consumers whether they own a Ford vehicle or not, the company said.

Ford will also open “FordHub” storefronts in New York, London, Shanghai and San Francisco to draw would-be customers. Consumers will still have to visit Ford dealers to buy cars.

Ford chief executive Mark Fields said FordPass is a key part of his strategy to expand Ford beyond its core manufacturing business. The market for transportation services, such as car sharing, could be as big as US$5.4 trillion a year, he said, and Ford’s share of that pie is zero.

For now, Fields said, Ford plans to expand FordPass services using targeted partnerships with companies such as McDonald's and 7-Eleven, not big equity investments to match General Motors' US$500 million investment in ride hailing start-up Lyft.

Silicon Valley companies including Alphabet Inc's Google and Apple Inc, Uber and Lyft and others also want to profit from information about what people do in their cars, or offer alternatives to the business models automakers have relied on since Henry Ford launched the Model T.

 Ford Fusion.

Ford’s carmaking rivals are also racing to head off Silicon Valley challengers and use connected vehicles to build service businesses.

GM has sold 2.2 million vehicles with embedded high speed Internet connections and uses those connections to alert customers when cars need repairs or help them reserve hotel rooms, Phil Abram, GM’s chief infotainment officer, said in an interview.

GM told investors last year it expects to bring in US$350 million in revenue from connected services over the next three years. Nevertheless that still pales in comparison with the profits GM reaps from selling large trucks and SUVs - which still rely on technology rooted in the auto industry’s earliest days.


All Citroën diesel cars now Euro 6D compliant

                LONDON: The whole of the Citroën passenger car range with BlueHDi diesel engines will comply with the latest ‘Real Driving Emissions Step 2’ standard officially referred to as Euro 6D.

The Euro 6D standard means that emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), in real world driving conditions, are permitted to be a maximum of 1.43 times the laboratory limit of 80mg/km.

This development, well in advance of the official January 2021 deadline for existing vehicles on sale, will result in customers taking delivery of new Citroën passenger cars from Feb 19 benefitting from reduced Total Cost of Ownership.

Citroën BlueHDi diesel models now benefit from a 4% reduction to the Benefit in Kind (BIK) taxation rate imposed on company car drivers, whilst private buyers will enjoy lowered Vehicle Excise Duty (and consequently a reduction to On The Road prices).

Models positively affected by the re-homologation are C3, C3 Aircross Compact SUV, C4 Cactus Hatch, C5 Aircross SUV and the Citroën MPV range, including Berlingo (5 and 7-seats), Grand C4 SpaceTourer (7-seats) and SpaceTourer (6, 7 and 8-seats).


Maybank introduces financing solution for EV, hybrid users

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has introduced a first-of-its-kind integrated automobile financing solution for electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid customers covering various aspects of owning such a vehicle.

This includes holistic financing solutions, insurance and takaful coverage and EV charging privileges.

In a statement, the bank said this is in line with its aspiration to become the sustainability leader in the region by fulfilling its commitment to mobilise a recently revised target of RM80 billion in sustainable financing by 2025 and to achieve a carbon-neutral position by 2030.

Community financial services group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk John Chong said apart from that, the group’s initiative is also to support the government’s vision to grow the EV market share to 38 per cent by 2040 through the low carbon nation aspiration under the National Energy Policy 2022-2040.

Meanwhile, Maybank Islamic will become the country’s first financial provider to embark on the EV charging infrastructure landscape having installed EV charging stations at Dataran Maybank, the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

It is also targeting to install several more EV charging stations within the Klang Valley and other states in West Malaysia by December 2024 to help strengthen the ecosystem to promote EV and hybrid usage.

Maybank Islamic CEO Datuk Mohamed Rafique Merican said the EV financing membership programme InCharge offers rebates when utilising charging stations owned by Maybank Islamic and all other charging stations via the ParkEasy app.

On the insurance front, Etiqa also introduced insurance and takaful coverage for EV home chargers in October last year.

The coverage is available as a complimentary add-on to the Etiqa private car policy or certificate for newly registered battery-powered electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.


Lamborghini's first SUV fetches hefty price at auction

                NEW YORK: At lot of publicity is understandably being generated by Lamborghini's new Urus performance SUV, but it's not the first venture into the world of SUVs by the Italian supercar manufacturer.

In fact, its first foray into the high-riding vehicle world was back in the early 1990s, and a rare 1990 American specification example of the LM002 that really was the first Lamborghini SUV, was auctioned last week for a hefty price by RM Sotheby's.

At the auction in New York, the LM002 sold for US$467,000 (RM1.9mil), which is more than twice as much as a brand new Urus costs. The Lamborghini has covered just 30,823km since new, it's undergone a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration, and it originally cost US$158,000 (around RM645,000) when it first entered the United States through Florida.

The LM002 was the first Lamborghini production SUV, but it was based on the Cheetah, which was a rear-engine 4x4 the company developed with an American defence contractor for the US army.

The Cheetah didn't win the contract with the military, but Lamborghini took its basic underpinnings and added a big dose of wood and leather to the interior along with the 5.2-litre V-12 engine from the Countach, and put it into production as the LM002.

Only 301 units of the Lamborghini SUV were built between 1986 and 1993, and only 48 of these were made to LM/American specifications and delivered to the United States.

Restoration of this particular example was valued at US$325,000 (RM1.3mil) and covered the Countach engine, a new exhaust, an entirely new interior, and the addition of modern amenities such as an Alpine stereo head unit and integrated Bluetooth.

The LM002 also features a massive and entirely necessary 287-litre fuel tank, and this one that has just been auctioned also has a specially designed set of Pirelli Scorpion run-flat tyres.


Mazda takes top spot in US reliability survey

                YONKERS: For the first time ever, the Japanese brand Mazda ranks at the top of the latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey from Consumer Reports (CR)’s reliability list.

Historically, that top spot has been held by its much larger competitor Toyota and Lexus.

The key to Mazda’s success is that it redesigns models conservatively—and has avoided introducing risky new powertrains and infotainment systems. The entire lineup benefits from many shared platforms and components, with only modest changes during redesigns.

Toyota and Lexus came in second and third respectively for reliability, continuing their long record of building some of the industry’s most reliable vehicles.

All Toyota models have average or better reliability. The popular RAV4 SUV is just average, with some minor transmission problems and other issues. Lexus’ rating was marred by the premium LS sedan’s much-below-average reliability. All other Lexus models have outstanding reliability.

But Ford and Lincoln struggled with the introduction of new SUVs, and Tesla remained near the bottom of the new car brand rankings with subpar reliability for three of its four models.

Closely-watched Tesla now sits second from the bottom among all 26 ranked brands. It was pulled lower by the newly-introduced Model Y SUV, which has well below average reliability and thus cannot be Recommended by CR.

The Model Y had some build quality issues with body hardware and paint. Many owners reported misaligned body panels that had to be fixed and mismatched paint. One owner reported dust, debris, and even human hair stuck in the paint.

Only the Model 3 sedan is reliable and CR-Recommended. Tesla’s S dropped to below average reliability and is no longer Recommended, and the Model X remains subpar.

Lincoln ranked in last place, dragged down by its SUV-focused model line, especially the new Aviator and Corsair.

"A car might be great to drive and have all the features you want, but all that won't matter to you much if you have to keep going back to the dealer for repairs,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “We use extensive feedback from owners to help you avoid hassles by choosing a reliable car."

The 2020 Auto Reliability Surveys, which rank among the largest surveys of their kind in the US, are based on data collected from CR members about their experiences with more than 300,000 vehicles.


BMW X7 updated with new looks and tech

                MUNICH: BMW has refreshed its largest sports activity vehicle (SAV) with external features as well as the latest-generation iDrive control/operation system including BMW Curved Display and BMW Operating System 8.

The three-row seating SUV (or SAV as BMW prefers to call it) can still be ordered with seats for seven or six persons.

The most visible change is the split headlight units that are making their debut, featuring horizontal LED light elements set higher up to house the position light, daytime driving lights and turn signal indicators.

The lower darkened portion houses LED units for the low-beam and high-beam headlights.

The new adaptive matrix LED headlights with non-dazzling high beam and adaptive light distribution now also provide the functionality of front fog lights with their automatic bad weather light.

The range-topping M60i xDrive variant now gets an “Iconic Glow” BMW kidney grille as standard that offers discreet cascade lighting even when the vehicle is stationary or on the move.

The rear end slim tail lights now get three-dimensional sculpting, while the connecting chrome bar is enclosed within an glass cover.

The dashboard has been revised with BMW Curved Display, slim air vents and an ambient light bar included in its lower section as standard.

The infotainment system, based on BMW Operating System 8, comes with a 12.3-inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches.

With the new display grouping in place and the continually expanding skillset of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, the new BMW iDrive is geared towards touch operation and gesture control as well as dialogue using natural language.

The cloud-based navigation system BMW Maps can be specified as an option with Augmented View on the control display.

Further enhancing the interior aura are LED units and a graphic including “X7” lettering or the M logo in the new M60i variant.

Also included are the four-zone automatic climate control, panoramic glass sunroof and hi-fi system, a Sport leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles and a new tray for wirelessly charging compatible mobile phones.

Options include Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof (illuminated by LED units) and Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System.

The X7 also gets the optional BMW Digital Key Plus that enables customers to lock and unlock their vehicle with their Apple iPhone via security-enhanced ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology.

The key shared feature of the X7's three engine offering is the integration of new-generation 48V mild hybrid technology.

Consisting of a crankshaft-mounted starter generator integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission, the system contributes an extra 12hp of output and an extra 200Nm of torque.

The new 4.4-litre petrol V8 for the range-topping M60i xDrive, from BMW M GmbH featuring M TwinPower Turbo technology and a cross-bank exhaust manifold, delivers 530hp and peak torque of 750Nm.

A latest-generation six-cylinder in-line engine makes its debut in the xDrive40i that gets innovations in combustion process, gas exchange, valve control, injection and ignition system that enhance both performance and efficiency.

The output of the new engine is 47hp up on the predecessor unit at 380hp, while peak torque rises by 70Nm to 520Nm and can be boosted to 540Nm with the assistance of the 48V mild hybrid system.

The six-cylinder in-line diesel engine in the xDrive40d has also been improved to output 352hp and 700Nm of torque and be further raised to 720Nm with the input of the mild hybrid system.

The M Marina Bay Blue metallic paint finish can be ordered exclusively for the BMW M variant, while Sparkling Copper Grey metallic is a new colour addition.

Standard wheels are the 20-inch light-alloy wheels, while range-topping variants and X7s specified with the M Sport package come with 21-inch M light-alloy wheels.

Optional 23-inch light-alloy wheels are available ex-factory for the first time for a BMW model.

The worldwide market launch for the new X7 will get underway in August.


Bentley first to publish Covid-19 risk assessment

                LONDON: Bentley Motors is the first UK automotive manufacturer to publish its Covid-19 risk assessment to show that the company fully complies with its government's guidelines on managing the risk of the pandemic.

The risk assessment, which identifies all control measures in place to manage and control the risk of the virus, has been issued to all of the company's employees and published was also published on its corporate website alongside a government-issued poster to mark the achievement.

This follows the UK government's direction earlier this week that all employers with more than 50 employees will need to publish their own Covid-19 risk assessment.

On Monday, Bentley resumed production with over 1,700 colleagues following the 250 comprehensive and wide-ranging hygiene and social distancing guidelines implemented, all determined from the risk assessment, and helping to enable a safe return to work as part of the luxury coach builder's "Come Back Stronger" programme.

The Government condition falls into five distinct categories which start with a risk assessment and the results communicated, the implementation of cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures as well as the facilitation of working from home where feasible, maintaining social distancing onsite and a management plan to mitigate the transmission risk.

The risk assessment, performed by a cross-functional team and under the instruction of the company's Health and Safety department, highlighted the need for a redesigned manufacturing facility.

This allows for a 2.0m distance between workers and one-way movement paths as well as traffic flows.

The washrooms across the site have also been reconfigured to reduce the number of people being able to use them.

Next week, the company's Continental GT and Flying Spur line will resume production and will join the operational Bentayga and Mulsanne lines.

Across all lines, production will be running at approximately 50% for a number of weeks as the takt time of each car - the average start time from one manufacturing stage to the next - has doubled.

Additionally, each production cell now spreads over two stages rather than one, ensuring adequate distance between colleagues.

The key process changes behind the ‘Come Back Stronger’ employee programme impact all areas. Facemasks are now compulsory in all factory and office areas, while Bentley will maintain a work from home policy for those who are able to.

The robust measures will ensure Bentley staff stay as safe as possible at all times. There is also an enhanced cleaning routine and clear guidance to the workforce on limiting the risk of infection on areas such as meeting governance, site access and travel.

In relevant office areas and catering facilities where distancing is more challenging, plastic partitions - designed and manufactured by Bentley workers – now offer segregation between colleagues in addition to control measures limiting capacity, staggered times and distanced seating.

There are also new, stringent measures to control the population density onsite at any one time with all entry and exit points reviewed and reconfigured to disperse the volume of people.


May 19-25: RON97 petrol soars to RM4.33 per litre

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol will go up two sen per litre to RM4.33 per litre from May 19-25, setting a new all-time high.

The prices of RON95 petrol and diesel remain unchanged at RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre respectively, said the Finance Ministry in a statement today.

In the statement, it said the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel were maintained at their ceiling prices even though market prices have risen above this.

The ministry said new fuel prices are based on the weekly retail price of petroleum products in accordance with the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Porsche and Ferrari face US$59,000 tax on gas guzzlers in France

                PARIS: A draft budget law weaving its way through France’s parliament may force car shoppers to reconsider purchases of Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini models that guzzle gasoline.

The government in Europe’s second-largest auto market is planning to more than double the "malus” — or penalty — consumers must pay based on cars’ carbon-dioxide emissions to as much as €50,000 (RM244,000) in 2022. The proposal would increase what already are the continent’s costliest taxes on polluting passenger vehicles.

"This would be relatively bad news for supercars, luxury and exclusive vehicles, and a show stopper for foreign imported cars,” said Felipe Munoz, an analyst at auto-market researcher Jato Dynamics.

Governments around the globe are taking a range of approaches to hastening the demise of the internal-combustion engine. California announced plans recently to ban them by 2035. China’s government has poured upwards of US$30 billion (RM124bil) into nurturing its electric-vehicle industry. And subsidies gave plug-in hybrids and cars running entirely on batteries a major boost this summer in Europe.

If it goes through, France’s law would add to pressure put on the auto industry by the European Union’s 2030 Climate Target Plan, which calls for the bloc to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% from 1990 levels rather than the previously planned 40%.

To achieve this, the Commission sees carmakers needing to gradually phase out combustion engines and roughly halve CO2 emissions from 2021 targets.

While other countries in the EU also apply a special tax on passenger cars relative to their CO2 emissions, no nation charges nearly as much as France’s current maximum levy of €20,000 (RM98,000), according to the European automobile Manufacturers Association.

By comparison, the top rate in Belgium and Italy is €2,500 (RM12,197).

Under France’s latest malus plan, the minimum threshold for a car to qualify for an emissions-based tax will be lowered over the next two years, and penalties will be raised, according to a finance ministry budget document.

Cars emitting more than 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer will be taxed a maximum rate of €40,000 (RM196,000) next year and €50,000 in 2022.

The levy is capped at half the cost of a vehicle.

Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche sports cars, along with luxury Bentley, Rolls-Royce and top-line Mercedes-Benz models are among those that could be hit with the upper-limit levy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Models that would be subject to the full tax amount include Lamborghini’s Urus and Aventador; Ferrari’s Portofino and 812; Porsche’s 718 Spyder and 911; Rolls-Royce’s Ghost and Cullinan; Bentley’s Flying Spur and Mercedes’s AMG and G-Class cars.

The higher tax rates also pose risks to high-volume sport utility vehicles that are among automakers’ most profitable models.

Munoz, the Jato Dynamics analyst, said hybrid and electric cars could be high-end auto brands’ saving grace. Porsche plans for more than half of its global sales to be fully or partially battery-powered by 2025, and Daimler AG announced plans this week to launch its first electrified AMG model next year.


Malaysians holding back on cars amid wobbling economy

                PETALING JAYA: Sales of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) fell for the first-quarter ended March 31 as consumers responded to the weak economic sentiments and held off buying big-ticket items.

In a crisis, Perodua achieved one of its best sales ever. During the financial crisis of 2007/2008, the company achieved the most bookings in its 15-year history in July 2008.

The managing director then was quoted as saying: “We were in Nirvana.”

However, things seems to have changed. People have been holding back purchases in times of uncertainty while financial institutions have seen lower profits and higher doubtful debts.

Last Thursday, Perodua announced that its sales fell by 17.4% in the first quarter from 57,200 units a year ago.

“On a month-to-month basis, Perodua sold 17,300 vehicles in March 2016 against 22,400 units in the same month last year, a drop of 22.8%,” Perodua president and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

He attributed the decline to consumers rushing to buy their vehicles before the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in March last year. The GST came into effect last April 1.

Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) forecast Malaysia’s total industry’s volume to drop by 2.5% to 650,000 units in 2016 against last year.

The automotive industry grew for six consecutive years from 2010, and peaked at a new all time total industry volume (TIV) high of 666,674 units last year, albeit at a marginal increase of 0.03% against 2014.

The lower car sales, slower property market and slowdown in household loan growth could be a grim reading on the health of the country’s consumer demand and the challenging times.

Besides residential properties, cars would be the most expensive purchase most consumers would make in their lifetime. This explains why economists look to car sales to gauge the country’s economic performance.

According to analysts, the rising cost of living coupled with a series of subsidy rationalisations, higher car prices by major marques, relative to the lower disposable income will weigh on car sales with more downside pressure to be seen among national marques whose buyers are more sensitive to the cost of living.

“People don’t buy big ticket items when there is uncertainty about the economic outlook. Car dealers are sacrificing their margins and giving out big incentives to help attract buyers. The sense of consumer optimism does not appear to be strong,” an analyst said. In February, the country’s inflation rate rose at a faster-than-expected pace of 4.2% from a year ago following higher food prices and a jump in alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

The Statistics Department said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February rose by 4.2% to 114.5 compared with 109.9 a year ago. Economists had forecast a 4.1% increase.

Another element to this is the consumer credit. Banks have been imposing stricter lending rules over the past year for loan applications and approvals have shown a contraction.

Maybank Investment Bank Research sayid industry loan growth continues to slow, with the moderation in household loan growth notably more significant in February 2016.

“While still early days, our 2016 industry loan growth forecast of 6.5% (7.9% in 2015) is still within reach and this is premised on household loan growth of just 6.1% and non-household loan growth of 7.0%,” it said in a recent report.

It noted that loan applications rose 5.5% year-on-year on a three month monthly average basis but loan approvals contracted for the sixth consecutive month by 10% year-on-year in February 2016.

Association of Banks Malaysia (ABM), group president and CEO Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said the overall rejection rate for housing loans in Malaysia last year was only 20.39%.

“The total number of applications for housing loans to all banks in Malaysia was 456,000 and of this number, 93,000 applications were rejected,” he added.

For loans where principal amount borrowed was less than RM500,000, the rejection rate was 19%.

Loans between RM500,000 and RM1mil saw a 20.71% rejection rate, between RM1mil and RM3mil saw 25% loans rejected, and those over RM3mil saw 36% being turned down.

Between January and February this year, the overall loan rejection rate was at 20.6%.

Retail Group Malaysia (RGM), which tabulates quarterly retail data, said the retail industry in the first three months of this year is expected to register a negative growth of 0.4%, compared with the same period a year ago.

RGM maintained its forecast of 4.0% growth rate for Malaysia retail industry in 2016.

It added that the 3% cut in employees’ EPF contribution from March 2016 was not expected to contribute significantly to overall retail sales in 2016.


Renault previews new C-segment crossover

                PARIS: Renault has revealed a teaser image of a new C-segment crossover designed with the intention of dramatically increasing the French brand's sales in Russia, which is now the second biggest buyer of its products after its home market.

The company has confirmed that the full reveal of the new SUV will take place at the 2018 Moscow Motor Show in August, which the automaker insists will be a fresh C-segment crossover and a new "global model" for the brand.

However, how global it will actually be remains to be seen as some markets such as the UK are unlikely to get the new model at all.

From what can be deduced from the image it appears likely the new model will be based on the current Kaptur, which is a model made specifically for the Russian market that's a little larger than the Captur sold throughout the rest of Europe.

 The Captur.

The as-yet unnamed SUV looks to be a sportier model than existing Renault crossovers, and with the current trend for coupe-like rooflines for sporty SUVs it's highly likely this one will go along those lines. The nose adopts Renault's latest design language, which was first used on the latest Megane, and includes C-shaped daytime running lights feeding out from the main headlight units.

Compared to the current Renault Captur this new model will sit on a slightly longer wheelbase, it will have a taller ride height, and will be available to buy with a selectable all-wheel-drive system.

To begin with, the new vehicle will be built at Renault's Moscow production facility, and it will be sold in Russia first before being rolled out to other select markets such as China.

Last year, Renault sold 414,000 vehicles in the Russian market, which is an impressive seven percent increase on the year before, despite the car market there shrinking by 2.8% in 2017. And it shows what an appetite there is for the company's products there and illustrates an outstanding opportunity for growth for Renault.


Thailand’s car, motorcycle sales may be affected by bank failure risk

                BANGKOK: Domestic car and motorcycle sales may suffer the brunt if Thai financial institutions are affected by the risk of bank failures in the US and Europe, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

The concern was raised after US and European banking executives and regulators stepped in to save California-based Silicon Valley Bank, New York-based Signature Bank and 167-year-old Credit Suisse in Switzerland from potential crisis, reported VNA.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong, FTI vice chairman, said that if the financial turbulence cannot be contained, the global financial system will be affected, which may eventually have a negative impact on Thai banks and non-banks that grant loans to car and motorcycle buyers.

The FTI is monitoring whether global financial institutions will face an impact, he said.

The FTI’s Automotive Industry Club predicted that if the Thai auto industry is not overwhelmed by these negative factors, its total auto production will reach the target of 1.95 million units this year, up 3.53 per cent from the more than 1.88 million units by 2022.

Vehicle production in Thailand rose 6.39 per cent in February from a year earlier to 165,612 units, as the shortage of microchips eased and export increased.

In the month, export climbed 11.42 per cent from a year earlier to 88,525 units. Domestic sales, however, dropped 3.94 per cent year-on-year to 71,551 units.


Hyundai Palisade 2023 open for booking with prices starting from RM368,888

Low with the Palisade.
PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has opened the order book for the 2023 Hyundai Palisade that has been refreshed with an upgraded premium look and a more luxurious and comfortable interior.

The large luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) is available in four variants offering choices of eight- or seven-seating layout, front-wheel or all-wheel drive and a 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine or a 2.2-litre turbodiesel block.

The petrol engine with dual CVVT and direct injection delivers 295PS and 355Nm of torque, while the turbodiesel CRDi block produces 200PS and 440Nm of torque.

HDSM says the Palisade offers more standard power than any other SUV in its competitive set and has an unsurpassed level of torque.

Transmission for both engine types is the eight-speed automatic with E-Shift.

The exterior of the Palisade now comes with a wider cascading grille and rugged parametric shield element for a more premium appearance.The SUV now gets a new forward lighting signature featuring vertically connected LED composite lights with the rear designed to emphasise a wide, stable stance via vertical LED taillamps and lower fascia skid plate details.

Included with the new appearance are 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and strake detailing on the lower front skid plate for a rugged look.

Aerodynamic benefits such as a fast A-pillar angle, rear spoiler side garnish, an optimised front cooling area with an extended internal air guide, aero underside panels, and rear wheel aero deflectors integrated into the design of the car.

The interior features slim horizontal air vents and offers a sense of relaxation and comfort to create a serene environment with seating for seven or eight persons.

The One-Touch second-row seat allows for easy operation to move the seat forward for easy access in and out of the third-row seats.

Total cargo space of 1,297 litres with the second and third row seats are folded and 509 litres when all seats are upright.

The infotainment system features a 12.3-inch LCD screen that is upgraded with a sophisticated new graphic user interface.

Wireless charging capability has been upgraded from 5 watts to 15 watts for faster device charging.

USB-C ports for faster charging are also made available for the driver and front passenger, as well as for the second and third row passengers.

Sime Darby Motors retail and distribution for Malaysia managing director Jeffrey Gan said the Palisade, which is Hyundai’s flagship SUV, sits on the premium segment and has received positive response from corporate customers as well as individuals who are looking for upmarket SUVs with advanced features.

“We have been receiving enquiries and bookings for the Palisade after its debut last year so we are a positive of the take-up for this facelifted version.

“As demand for SUVs continues to grow, there seem to be a growing demand for large SUVs as well,” Gan said.

HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung said the improved version boasts technology upgrades and a generous suite of advanced driver assistance systems featuring innovative technologies.

“The refreshed version offers a sharper and more rugged look as well as an upgraded interior that makes it a top choice when it comes to owning a large luxurious SUV.

“The Palisade is a practical all-purpose built E-segment SUV that is great for off-roading, road trips and even for daily use,” he said.

With more enhanced features and an advanced driver assistance systems introduced, the refreshed Palisade is priced only approximately 12% higher than its predecessor.

Other factors that contributed to the price increase include a price hike in raw materials and foreign exchange rates.

The Palisade comes with a two-year or 50,000km (whichever comes first) warranty.

An optional extended warranty of 5-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) as well as 3 years of free service is also available at RM11,000 for the petrol variant and RM12,000 for the diesel variant.

Interested parties can also book online via Hyundai’s new online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (www.hyundai.com.my/clicktobuy/)

More information can be obtained from Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000, its official website: www.hyundai.com.my or facebook page: www.facebook.com/hyundaimalaysia.


Lighter and more powerful Audi A4 coming to Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: If you have been going to the Audi Malaysia website lately, you would have noticed that it is teasing the arrival of the new A4.

It describes the BMW 3 Series rival as "more powerful, more efficient and more intelligent."

The latest Audi compact executive model is up to 120kg lighter and up to 21% more fuel efficient. In addition, it has the best drag coefficient in its class at 0.23.

Based on the MLB modular platform, the seven-speed S tronic and eight-speed tiptronic transmissions have been redeveloped. Power output has increased significantly and ranges from 150PS to 272PS. All engines promise responsiveness and refinement.

READ MORE: CarSifu drives new Audi A4 in Venice

The 2.0 TFSI has a new revolutionary combustion system: The 2.0 TFSI ultra with 190PS uses a new combustion method that makes it especially efficient.

Audi said the fifth-generation B9 A4 is also ahead of peers in terms of infotainment and assistance systems. In-car technology options include the Audi virtual cockpit, predictive efficiency assistant, rear cross-traffic assist, collision avoidance assist and turn assist.

All these improvements are likely to mean the next A4 would cost more. Hold this thought as we await the arrival of the new A4. The outgoing A4 1.8 TFSI is going for RM240,000 and the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro is RM312,000.


Roundabouts: They're more eco-friendly than traffic lights and they help save lives

                PARIS: Although often criticised, traffic circles, or roundabouts, are highly effective in reducing the risk of accidents at intersections.

For proof of this, look no further than Carmel, Indiana, considered a leader in the field, with around 140 roundabouts in the city.

The city of Carmel is now world-famous for its roundabouts. Since 1998, the city has built over 138 of them, mostly replacing traditional traffic lights. No other US city can boast as many.

In addition to improving traffic flow, especially during rush hour, roundabouts can significantly reduce the number of fatalities and serious-injury accidents.

In Carmel, injury accidents have been reduced by about 80% and the number of accidents overall has been reduced by about 40% over the last 20 years.

Moreover, roundabouts can help make it easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians to get around.

In Carmel, there are literally roundabouts everywhere. And this can help significantly reduce CO2 emissions because, without traffic lights, drivers don't have to stop, but simply idle, which means they use less gas.

And that's far from negligible, considering the number of roundabouts and journeys involved.

In addition, since they have no electrical infrastructure, roundabouts are more resistant to the severe weather that the United States can sometimes experience (storms, tornados, etc.).

In fact, for the city of Carmel, these modern roundabouts represent the most sustainable intersections out there.

To help residents better understand these roundabouts, the city of Carmel has published a detailed map of their locations on its website, along with various tips on how to use them.

With a total of more than 100,000 roundabouts, France is the world champion in the field. In comparison, there are just 8,000 roundabouts in the whole of the United States.