National cars have the edge in these troubled times

                PETALING JAYA: The uncertainties ahead, stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and its adverse impact on the local economy, may bring some benefits to national carmakers.

Industry observers believe that consumers may opt for smaller engine capacity vehicles or more fuel-efficient vehicles during times of uncertainty.

“In an economic slowdown, people tend to downgrade towards cheaper, more fuel-efficient vehicles. This would bode well for the local car companies, ” said an analyst who tracked the sector.

Total vehicle sales plunged 99% year-on-year to 141 units in April, as the government’s movement control order (MCO) forced all automotive companies to cease operations during the month.

Year-to-date April, total vehicle sales for 2020 stood at 106,601 units, compared with 192,971 units in the previous corresponding period.To tackle the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country, the government implemented the MCO on March 18. On May 4, a conditional MCO (CMCO) was enforced to allow businesses to re-open to recover the economy. The CMCO has been extended to June 9.

Year-on-year, Perodua’s market share dropped 1% to 42% in the first four months of 2020, while Proton’s year-to-date April 2020 market share increased to 20% from 13% in the previous corresponding period.

Year-to-date April 2020, the total market share of the national car companies grew to 63% from 54% in the previous corresponding period, while the total market share of the non-national marques shrank to 37% in the first four months of this year compared with 46% last year.

Kenanga Research in a report, however, said it expects national marques to fare less favourably compared with the non-national marques, as the target market of local brands tends to be consumers within the lower to mid-income group - the segment that is most financially distressed during an economic downturn.

“Furthermore, the planned new launches for the second-half of 2020 could be delayed, given the weak consumer sentiment.

“But some relief could arise from the better incentives programme under the National Automotive Policy 2020 and positive impact from Bank Negara’s overnight policy rate cut and pre-emptive measures to assist those who might be financially challenged by the Covid-19 impact.”

The research house noted that the units registered in April were only a statistic from the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) e-Daftar system, with no actual delivery, as all the marques’ showrooms, vehicle productions and deliveries were temporarily closed, halted and delayed from March 18 to May 12, with some showrooms only gradually re-opening from May 4. “Note that the official document from JPJ can only be retrieved starting May 13 for vehicle collection.

“The registrations that were carried out were for vehicle purchases in which car loans had already been approved pre-MCO, along with an issued letter of undertaking, and the completion of the registration was so there would be no lapse in the agreement, which would entail going through the whole process again.”

Kenanga Research, however, said the registered vehicles would not have physical documentation or road tax. With the car companies’ facilities closed, buyers would have had no avenue to collect the vehicles, rendering them mere statistics in the system.

Going forward, Kenanga Research said the final impact would depend on the outcome of containment measures and whether the movement restriction would be extended.

Separately, MIDF Research said a recovery post-MCO is likely to be pushed back, given the implications on job security, wage outlook and consumer sentiment, adding that consumers would have likely shifted into ‘survival mode’ now with little priority for discretionary spending.

“The sector is likely to be dominated by negative news flows and datasets in the near term. Earnings pressure is compounded by a weak ringgit and potential discounting post-MCO.


Henrik Fisker back in the electric car race

Could this be the new electric sports car from Fisker? It would appear so in this tweet from him last month.
DETROIT: Henrik Fisker, whose previous automotive venture collapsed in 2013 owing US taxpayers US$139 million, said on Tuesday he plans to launch a new electric car company next year to compete with Tesla.
 Fisker is dreaming up a new electric car.
Fisker declined to say who is funding his new California-based venture, called Fisker Inc, and a new battery subsidiary, Fisker Nanotech.

The Danish automotive designer's previous venture, Fisker Automotive, once was a rival to Tesla Motors Inc in the nascent market for electric luxury cars. Founded in 2007, Fisker Automotive built fewer than 2,000 cars through 2012 while burning through US$1.4 billion in private investments and taxpayer-funded loans from the US Department of Energy. Fisker left the company in March 2013, before it filed for bankruptcy protection.

In 2014, Fisker was purchased out of bankruptcy by Chinese auto parts maker Wanxiang Group Corp, and renamed Karma Automotive. Wanxiang also acquired bankrupt US battery maker A123. It relaunched the Fisker Karma gasoline-electric hybrid sports car in August as the Karma Revero.

In an interview, Fisker said his new company plans a battery-powered model aimed at the Tesla Model S, which is priced at about US$65,000. He did not specify when production would begin.

A second smaller Fisker electric car will follow, Fisker said, and will target the upcoming Tesla Model 3, which is expected to start at about US$35,000.

Fisker said his new electric cars will be powered by a long-range battery that uses graphene to extend its range and life and reduce charging time. The company is targeting a 645km driving range between charges, Fisker said. The new venture is not connected with Wanxiang, Fisker added.


Mitsubishi facelifts Mirage and Attrage for 2020

                TOKYO: After briefly teasing the models, Mitsubishi this weekend revealed the facelifted Mirage hatchback and Attrage sedan ahead of their debuts in Thailand next week.

As these redesigns are simply facelifts, the number of changes made to the models is small.

Most notably, the front end of both have been updated with a new grille that dominates the front fascia and connects the headlights. This wide feature serves to give the models a more "powerful" and "stable" appearance.

The rears were likewise enhanced with a squared-off form to beef up the models' presence.

 The Mirage interior.

On the inside, both cars were given subtle updates. The front armrests have been redesigned and finished in a new, softer fabric, and the meter and power window switch panels now feature a "sporty carbon pattern." The seats of the upper-trim level models have been re-upholstered in a combination of fabric and leather materials.

With the previous generations of the Mirage and the Attrage having retail prices under US$15,000 (around RM63,000) and these iterations having little about them changed, each will likely have a price tag within the same ballpark.

The 2020 Mirage and Attrage will be on display at the Thailand International Motor Expo 2019, which kicks off on Nov 28.


How to look after your Vespa during MCO downtime

                PETALING JAYA: Here are some tips for all you Vespa owners out there to keep your two-wheeler in the best shape possible shape during the movement order control (MCO) period.

If you're going to store it for an extended period, then disconnect the wires from the battery.

Check the tyre pressure regularly to prevent a flat.

Switch the engine on every three to four times a week for up to 10 minutes to prevent dead charge and petrol deposit.

Also, once you're warming up the engine, take the time to turn on the headlight, signals and keep an eye out for any warning sign from the instrument cluster.

Once you're ready to take it out for a ride, avoid flooring the throttle. Be gentle and let the engine warm up slowly and let the engine oil be distributed evenly.

And if you notice excessive black or white smoke from your first ride after storage, then this is  a sign of a potential mechanical problem.

If you have any questions, contact local Vespa experts Idon Pang at 018 983 1229 or Ashwad at 018 9621 2290.

Didi Resources is the exclusive distributor of Vespa in Malaysia.

READ MORE: Proton offers car care tips during MCO period


Hyundai announces future powertrain strategy

                SEOUL: For decades now, a lot of the focus on what future vehicles will be like has concentrated on the way they might look. Nowadays though, the main focus is quite clearly on their powertrains as sustainability and emissions are now the overriding priority. It's therefore no surprise the Hyundai Motor Group decided to clearly outline its future powertrain development strategy at its International Powertrain Conference in South Korea this week.

The two-day event saw more than 1,200 engineers and academics from some of the world's leading powertrain companies taking part, and it featured presentations looking at the grand main theme of "Knock the Limit of Powertrain Technologies: To Enhance Value for Customers."

Hyundai took the opportunity to showcase the first four engines and two transmissions from an upcoming lineup of what it describes as "Smart Stream" powertrains. The concept brings together a number of advanced technologies designed to help Hyundai meet its long-term global emissions goals.

The company expressed its view at the conference that it believes the internal combustion engine will remain a key component in the market until 2025, and that's because plug-in and electric powertrains will need that long to gain wider acceptance and uptake. The South Korean auto giant therefore plans to produce a larger proportion of electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid powertrains in the future, which will sit alongside extremely efficient Smart Stream combustion engines in the brand's model range.

The "Smart" in Smart Stream is defined as being smart in design, in control, and in operation, while "Stream" corresponds to the dynamic movement of mobility. So, these next-generation Smart Stream engines will optimise Hyundai's existing powertrain structure by reducing the size and weight of components to improve fuel efficiency. By adopting and developing Smart Stream technology, the automaker is hoping to maximise the thermal efficiency of its engines by as much as 50 percent in the future.

This shift towards producing more alternative powertrains than it does at the moment will go alongside plans all automakers are likely to be embracing, which is to improve battery capacity to increase the electric-only range of electric vehicles, and therefore deliver greater value to customers.

The first of the new Smart Stream engines will be 1.6-litre petrol and diesels that will improve Hyundai's current levels of petrol and diesel engine efficiency, but new electric, plug-in hybrid and even FCEV developments are also part of the strategy.


Rolls-Royce unveils Wraith Eagle VIII collection

UPDATE: Malaysia has been allocated a unit of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection cars.

LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its latest Collection Car, namely the Wraith Eagle VIII, on the shores of Lake Como at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (24 - 26 May).

Limited to only 50 units, the Wraith Eagle VIII cars commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown in June, 1919.

Alcock and Brown flew non-stop from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber aircraft.

The bi-plane was powered by twin 20.3 litre, 350 bhp, Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars commented, “Wraith Eagle VIII is at once an object of desire; an homage to heroes and a protagonist to today’s visionaries. This Rolls-Royce Collection demonstrates the extraordinary skill of our Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. Bespoke remains the jewel in the crown of the marque, creating luxury items that defy the trend of mass luxury manufacturers using ‘tick-box’ options to answer customer demand.”

The exterior of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Car is evocative of Alcock and Brown’s compelling night time adventure.

Swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone, the colours are separated by a brass feature line, a hint at the detailing that lies within.

The black grille vanes draw immediate reference to the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers Vimy aircraft, the wheels are part polished with a translucent shadow finish.

Within, the finely executed interior mirrors the exterior hue. Selby Grey and black leather are accented by brass, redolent of the brass sextant so integral to the success of the transatlantic journey.

Executed in a contemporary fashion, the material populates key areas throughout the cockpit of the Collection.

Brass speaker covers depict the estimated flight distance of 1,880 miles and ‘RR’ monograms are embroidered in brass coloured thread onto headrests.

A flash of brass complements the navigator door paniers, whilst the door of the driver includes a brass plaque with Churchill’s quote commending the duo’s remarkable achievements.

Perhaps the most alluring feature of the Collection is the extraordinary unique starlight headliner.

A total of 1,183 starlight fibres show the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919, the flight path and constellations are embroidered in brass thread, whilst the exact moment the pair left the cloud to navigate by the stars is indicated by a red fibre optic light.

Clouds are embroidered and a plaque reading, “The celestial arrangement at the halfway point 00:17am June 15th 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” shows the half-way point of the momentous journey.


VW Golf loaded up with goodies from RM150K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Malaysia has introduced the upgraded Golf today and priced it lower than before.

Two variants are offered. The Golf Highline will retail at RM159,888 and the Golf Comfortline at RM 149,888.

The engine has been tweaked to produce 10hp more to 150hp.and a maximum torque of 250Nm accelerating in from as low as 1,500rpm to 3,500rpm. The 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged direct petrol injection 4-cylinder petrol engine is paired with a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 8.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of 216kph.

READ MORE: VW Golf specifications

Fuel consumption is rated at 5 litres/100km.

The upgraded Golf 1.4 Highline comes with Keyless Entry & Push Start (KESSY) engine start-up technology,  Park Assist and Rest Assist. It also gets new 17” Madrid wheels, LED tail lights and new sport seats with “Mel Stripe” fabric for better grip and hold.

The Golf is available in Limestone Grey, Sunset Red, Pure White, Deep Black, Pacific Blue and Tungsten Silver. It was "World Car of the Year" in 2009 and 2013.


Proton's assembling operations taking off in Pakistan

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton has achieved a new milestone in Pakistan when the Proton Saga started rolling off production lines in the country on Oct 13.

Presented during a ceremony graced by the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, the Saga is the first Proton model to be assembled by Al-Haj Automotive, the exclusive distributor of Proton models in Pakistan.

The Saga is being built at Al-Haj Automotive's new green field production plant in Karachi that was constructed at a cost of US$20mil (RM83mil).

 Dr Arif (third from left) being given a tour of the plant by Hilal Khan (fourth from left).

With an initial annual capacity of 25,000 units, the potential sales volume of the Pakistan market makes it a critical part of Proton’s plan to grow exports in the future.

Al-Haj Automotive chief executive officer Hilal Khan Alfridi said the company was confident thatits new assembly plant would set new industry standards and enable more models to be produced that meet the international quality levels set by Proton.

Following the heels of the Saga, the X70 sports utility will be second Proton model to be assembled by Al-Haj Automotive with a tentative roll-off scheduled in December.

 The final shipment of X70 to Pakistan.

A total of 602 units of the X70 has been exported to Pakistan with the final 154 units sent on Oct 17.

Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the demand for the Saga and X70 remained high in Pakistan despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the company's project timelines.

He said Al-Haj had received 2,500 orders for the Saga and over 2,000 orders for the X70.

“Now that the final shipment of CBU units is on the way and local assembly has started for the Saga with the X70 to roll off the production line before the end of the year, we can finally work to catch up to market demand. This will allow Al-Haj Automotive and Proton to establish a strong market presence in the country to benefit future sales growth,” said Roslan.

 Roslan.

He also said 20 Proton staff specialising in various manufacturing related fields are currently stationed in Karachi to assist in assembly operations.


Mazda Biante: Bring on the space

                Space – the looming question that comes to mind when we recently drove a Mazda Biante over the course of a weekend.

And what a tiring weekend it was after becoming a makeshift ‘pick-up’ service for friends with this RM149,797 (on-the-road with insurance) eight-seater that’s in direct contention with the similarly-sized and shaped Nissan Serena S-Hybrid.

Without passengers, the boxy Biante, with a 2,850mm wheelbase, seems relatively well-sized for a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) measuring 4,715mm-long, 1,770mm-wide and 1,835mm-tall.

The Biante isn’t going to win any beauty pageants, because there’s nothing eye-catching about it, except for its beak-like front end – probably for aerodynamic purposes, and the attempted wrap-around effect of the headlights to the sides.

Other than the front-end, there’s nothing dramatic about this MPV’s styling to shout about.

Until you get in.

It’s all space inside, in fact there’s so much of it that my passengers are left expressionless, but wide-eyed, dropped-jawed and loose-necked.

It’s amazing how many would simply stare upwards into the ‘void’, trying to comprehend their surroundings, furthermore, the dashboard simply exasperated the experience.

To give an idea, I’m 175cm-tall and once seated, I am able to fully extend my arm and place my palm onto the roof-liner – that’s how much headroom there is, and unless I was Reed Richards, I would be able to reach the length of the dashboard.

In any case, whatever spatial concerns were left simply got lost in the void, but this does make ingress and egress effortless with the tall gaping doors.

Although Mazda says the Biante is an eight-seater, some of my good ‘buffalo’ friends – including myself, did find it a touch tight on fitting in the second row, perhaps even for a long distance cruise.

As for the third row, lets just say two would be comfortable and three would be a squeeze – but there was still a range of adjustability for the sake of comfort by offering knee-room adjustment and reclinability and actually being of use when compared to other third row seats.

After dealing with the excess space, it was time to turn the key and the Biante gets the usual unique ‘Mazda’ engine start-up before resting into a comfortable hum.

The instrument cluster is a unique one on its own that may cause a love-hate debate to ensue with its purple-hued eclipse in the centre of each instrument dial, but what seemed to stick out like a sore-thumb was the rudimentary digital display off to the left.

While mated to a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, a 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine with a compression ratio of 12:1 resides under the hood, producing 147bhp at 6,000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 4,100rpm.

Although the Mazda3 uses the same engine, it has a higher compression ratio at 14:1, which produces 162bhp at 6,000rpm and 210Nm of torque at 4,000rpm, for something that has a kerb weight of 1,292kg – verses the Biante’s 1,664kg.

On paper, the Biante already seems underpowered in comparison, but once you’ve got it up to pace, it’s a whole different story.

There’s a sure footedness about the Biante – being able to take tight bends with unexpected grace and composure during a solo drive, and if there’s one particular thing that Mazda has done right it would be in this respect.

Some roll can be experienced, but the Biante’s high centre of gravity isn’t very pronounced, although we were honestly expecting more since it’s 16-inch wheels were outfitted with 205/60 tyres for a little more comfort.

Getting it pointed in the intended direction won’t be a problem, with the steering giving plenty of feedback and there’s hardly an instance where the driver doesn’t know what the front wheels are doing.

Paddling through its six-speed automatic makes the Biante’s sporty behaviour even more pronounced with every gear shift hitting the power band’s sweet spot, but the braking department will need a little adjusting to – probably attributable to its heft.

No doubt, the Mazda Biante is not going to win any drag races and taking on a full payload of passengers is going to have you wanting more ‘grunt’ from the 2.0-litre four-banger.

But if it’s about the effortless configurable seats, the easily accessible third row seats, endless headroom, great road control, direct steering feel, then it’s probably going to be money well spent.


Volvo maxes out the lux in 4-seater XC90 Excellence

                GOTHENBURG: Meet the XC90 Excellence, Volvo's most luxurious vehicle, which will be unveiled at the Shanghai International Automobile Show.

The XC90 Excellence – an elegant and refined four-seat version of its recently launched XC90 - has been crafted by Volvo’s designers and engineers to offer customers a distinct and individual automotive experience that incorporates the latest Scandinavian innovations in design, refinement, comfort and style.

The XC90 Excellence is based on Volvo’s all new XC90 sports utility vehicle, but the similarity ends there. The XC90 Excellence has just four seats compared to the original’s seven, creating an enormous amount of additional space for rear seat passengers that helps to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Volvo said it's the most luxurious car ever built in its 88-year history.

The extra space is used to offer a First Class automotive experience that begins with broad, spacious individual reclining rear seats complete with massage, ventilation and increased leg room, as well as a retractable control touchscreen, folding tables, a refrigerator with bottle and glass holders, a heating/cooling cup holder and handmade crystal glasses from leading Swedish glass design company, Orrefors.

“This is our new flagship car,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President, Design. “We have created the ultimate luxury experience of Scandinavian design. Volvo has never launched a car like this before. This is the car that demonstrates what the name Volvo now means.”

The XC90 Excellence offers its passengers footrests, ambient lighting, illuminated storage and unique leather detailing in blond or charcoal, a luggage compartment dividing screen, additional sound insulation in the cabin and Pirelli Noise Cancelling System tyres.

Excellence passengers will also enjoy a specially-augmented Bowers & Wilkins audio system that adds an extra speaker to its 19 speaker system, resulting in unrivalled high fidelity sound reproduction and surround effect in the rear seats.

“What we have designed is amongst the best rear seat experiences available in a luxury car,” said Ingenlath. “The result is a superlative environment for relaxed comfort or doing business.”

Reinforcing the Swedish love of fresh air, the XC90 Excellence also comes with an integrated ionic air cleaner in the CleanZone climate system. The ionic air cleaner works by positively charging electrons in airborne particles (dust or smoke for example) so they are removed from suspension in the cabin environment.

The XC90 Excellence also offers a leather instrument panel with contrasting thread, while the headliner of the cabin is colour coordinated pure Nubuck textile. Exterior styling differentiators including an Excellence rank mark, chrome B- and C-pillar cappings and lower door mouldings.

Volvo’s all new XC90, launched in August 2014, is proving to be popular with customers seeking a luxury SUV. Over 24,000 have been ordered before it has even reached Volvo showrooms. This accounts for half of Volvo’s expected volume for the car in 2015.

The XC90 Excellence incorporates all the features that underpin the XC90’s ongoing success, such as world leading safety features, new powertrain technologies and an unrivalled combination of power and fuel efficiency.

The XC90 Excellence will be available globally later this year and via digital commerce in selected markets.


Nico Rosberg welcomes a Rimac

                ZAGREB: Ex-Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg is one of just 150 people worldwide who will own a C_Two, having ordered his car in early 2019, following a viewing with the founder and CEO, Mate Rimac.

Just recently, Nico visited the team – now numbering more than 700 – in Sveta Nedelja near the Croatian capital, to decide on the bespoke configuration of his car, which will be delivered along with other customer cars in 2021.

Following an 11-year career in Formula One that saw him crowned World Champion in 2016, Nico has embarked on a career as a sustainability entrepreneur and investor in green technologies. He is invested in more than 20 mobility start-ups as well as the all-electric Formula E championship.

In 2019, he founded the Greentech Festival, a global platform for sustainable innovation and lifestyle.

“For us, it’s an honour that Nico chose to become a part of the Rimac Automobili family," said Rimac.

"Nico is a great guy through and through – as a driver, sustainability entrepreneur, tech lover, and future-focused individual, he understands exactly what we want to achieve with the C_Two; simply, that we want to set new standards for performance by using advanced electric technology developed entirely in-house here at Rimac Automobili.”

Despite delays due to Covid-19, the development of the C_Two has continued to advance quickly. Earlier this year, Rimac Automobili announced a new production line in Croatia, where the 150 production cars, including Nico’s, would be built.

The Rimac C_Two will deliver a 0-100kph time of 2s (0-160kph in 4.3s) and a top speed of 415kph in final production form.


Japanese auto groups to create fund to survive virus pandemic

                TOKYO: Toyota president Akio Toyoda said Japan’s auto industry is banding together to avoid "fatal injury” as the coronavirus pandemic slams demand for cars and stymies production.

Toyoda, speaking as chairman of the Japan automobile Manufacturers Association, said the industry is considering creating a fund carmakers can use to help retain technology and workers after lockdowns and global restrictions on travel and movements have choked off economic activity.

"Japan’s auto industry needs to avoid fatal injury and to avoid using up extra energy now,” Toyoda said in an online press briefing today. Losing essential technologies and skilled workers could kill the industry, he said.

The industry will need "a substantial amount of money” to create the fund, but its size is undecided, Toyoda said.

Automakers around the world have been laying off some workers as car buyers delay purchases and some production lines grind to a halt.

Japan’s vehicle makers are also contributing to efforts to secure medical equipment to help confront the pandemic, amid rising concern about shortages of ventilators and protective equipment for workers, Toyoda said.

Toyota has agreed to make masks for its own use and to help secure at least 20,000 ventilators in Japan to help ensure patients can receive treatment.


Tax incentives power rising demand for EVs in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: With government tax incentives, more public battery charging points for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and accessibly priced new models, the adoption of such zero emission cars is expected to rise quickly in Malaysia in the next few years.

According to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) data, a total of 2,631 EVs were sold in Malaysia in 2022 - a tiny fraction of the automotive total industry volume (TIV) in the country, which hit a record high of 720,658 units last year.

Still, MAA’s data does not include EVs imported via parallel channels or the grey market.

In December 2022, Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim had said about 10,000 BEVs are registered in Malaysia.

Datuk Thiruchandran Thiruchelvam from Charge N Go Sdn Bhd, a local EV charge point operator, told The Star that the next 10 years would see a a total transformation of the transport industry, in terms of electrification.

“It is not just a couple of fancy EVs coming (into the country). Besides climate change, the primary driver for vehicle electrification is the falling prices of the EV battery,” he said.

Thiruchandran said in the last 10 years, prices of EV batteries have dropped by around 90% - resulting in EVs getting closer to reaching price parity with cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE).

“Studies are forecasting that between 2025 and 2030, EVs will be as cheap as the ICE cars. Initially, price parity will be achieved for compact cars but by 2030, EVs may be cheaper than ICE cars in all segments including larger vehicles,” he said.

However, an international research paper published in March 2023 on Nature Communications (www.nature.com) pointed out that a recent surge in prices of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, four critical materials in EV batteries, could significantly impact production costs, and thus, hinder EV uptake.

The research paper, entitled “China’s electric vehicle and climate ambitions jeopardised by surging critical material prices”, noted that higher prices for EVs would make ICE cars more economically attractive.

“The long-term supply and demand analysis of these critical materials suggests persistent and deepening shortage of their supply. According to the International Energy Agency, at least 30 times as much lithium, nickel, and other key minerals would be required by the EV industry by 2040 to meet global climate targets, which far outstrips the committed mine production of these minerals,” said the researchers.

Regarding range anxiety for EV owners, especially on long-distance trips where EV charging points would be lacking on road stretches, Thiruchandran pointed out that many EVs offer a 300km to 400km range nowadays.

“Statistics show that the average Malaysian driver records about 2,000km per month. While the public EV charging infrastructure is still in the early stages, EV drivers should be able to charge their cars on long-distance trips, with some planning ahead,” he said.

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (MITI) industrial development division senior director Datuk Hanafi Sakri had recently said the country currently has 900 EV charging points, and this is expected to grow to 4,000 charging points this year.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz also noted that by 2025, the government aims to provide 10,000 public charging facilities comprising 9,000 units of alternate current type and 1,000 units of direct current type.

Still, Thiruchandran noted that unlike those staying in landed properties, high-rise residents would have issues charging their EVs.

“This is something that needs to be addressed, if we want to encourage EV adoption.

Given the growing numbers of EVs, of course we need to build more charging points,” said Thiruchandran.

Meanwhile, as seen in Japan and the European Union, government rollout of financial incentives such as purchase subsidies and tax sweeteners are critical for pushing BEV adoption.

The revised Budget 2023, tabled in February, had proposed that duty exemptions for fully imported and locally-assembled EVs be extended till end-2025 and end-2027 respectively.

Also, import tax exemption for components used in local assembly of EVs would be extended by two years to end-2027.

Under Budget 2023, EV charging equipment manufacturers get 100% income tax exemption for assessment years 2023 to 2032, as well as 100% investment tax allowance for five years.

Also, companies that rent EVs get tax deductions (maximum eligible rental amount is RM300,000).

Meanwhile, Petronas’ clean energy solutions unit Gentari will provide 500 units of EV charging facilities throughout the country, while national utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd will install EV charging facilities at 70 focal locations.

As for the high prices of BEVs which are mainly offered by premium and luxury marques, the arrival of more China-made models may be a game changer.

The fourth quarter of 2023 may see the arrival of BYD’s B-segment all-electric Dolphin compact five-door hatchback, with 2023 prices in China ranging from 116,800 yuan (RM76,165) to 136,800 yuan (RM89,208).

The Dolphin (up to 401km on a full charge) could see strong demand here if it is priced below RM100,000.


New Toyota 4S outlet in Muar

                MUAR, Johor: E.S. Yang Motor Sdn Bhd has opened a new Toyota 4S centre which offers sales, after-sales services and also body and paint services.

The newly opened outlet has 66 staff dedicated to sales and service.

The service centre has 12 bays and can handle up to 33 vehicles daily.

There is also a comfortable lounge for customers to wait in, with complimentary amenities such as refreshments, wifi and TV.

E.S. Yang Motor started as an authorised Toyota dealer in 1993 with just a showroom in Muar.

The company expanded the business to include a service centre in 1994, becoming a 3S outlet that could offer sales, service and spare parts.

In 2012, the company set up a Body & Paint (B&P) Centre.

This facility is important for customers to ensure that when they need repair work after an accident or refinishing the paintwork, Toyota’s highest standards will be applied as the B&P centre must adhere to standards set by Toyota Motor Corp.

E.S. Yang Motor is located at 333, Jalan Dato Haji Kosai, Muar.

Call 06 - 952 8333 for Sales and 06 - 955 6333 for Service.

It is opened Monday till Saturday, 8.30am till 5.30pm.


Ecclestone's exit marks end of an era for F1

Ecclestone. - Reuters
LONDON: Bernie Ecclestone used to joke that retirement would come on the day of his funeral but in the end it was an American businessman in a suit who quietly ushered Formula One's 86-year-old ringmaster towards the exit.

Formula One's new US-based owner Liberty Media on Monday completed its takeover of the sport's commercial rights and with it ended one of the longest, most colourful and controversial reigns in global sport.

Chase Carey, the man with the twirly moustache who had been appointed chairman in September, took the Briton's place as chief executive overseeing a new management team that includes former team principal Ross Brawn.

On a landmark day for fans and teams alike, some of whom had come almost to believe that Ecclestone might defy the very laws of nature and hang on forever after 40 years in charge, the news still came as a shock.

Ecclestone was handed the title of 'Chairman Emeritus', a newly-created position that recognised the Briton's historic contribution while removing him from the day-to-day running of the sport.

 Carey (left). - AFP

"The sport is what it is today because of him... and he will always be part of the F1 family," said Carey in a statement.

For decades, Ecclestone has called the shots and made the deals that transformed a once deadly and disjointed sport into a $1 billion enterprise with races from Azerbaijan to Australia, Brazil to Bahrain.

He has been a controlling presence, a billionaire who enriched himself and the teams while missing no opportunity to drive a wedge between them when it suited his commercial interests.

"He was the circus master. He was in charge and sometimes you need a sport to be run like that," former racer Martin Brundle told Sky Sports television. "It was his way or the highway.

"He might not be very tall but he was certainly feared in the paddock... and we all did extremely well hanging on to his shirt-tails."

If some breathed a sigh of relief that a long-awaited shake-up could now bring the sport into the digital age, there was also gratitude.

"Formula One wouldn’t be the international sporting power-house that it is today without the truly enormous contribution made over the past half-century by Bernie Ecclestone," commented McLaren executive director Zak Brown.

"Indeed, I can’t think of a single other person who has had anything like as much influence on building a global sport as he has," he added, hailing Ecclestone as a "visionary entrepreneur".

"Bernie will be a very hard act to follow, but he’s created a fantastic springboard from which Chase Carey and his Liberty Media colleagues will be able to take Formula One forward and make it even bigger and even better."

Ecclestone has been immersed in motor racing since the 1950s when he entered a few grands prix as a driver but failed to make the grade.

He was much more successful off the track, gaining control of the commercial rights to the sport from the 1970s onwards and profiting from a growing TV market and expansion into emerging regions.

More famous than many of the drivers who have come and gone over the years, he has become known to millions of fans as Bernie or Mr E.

If the end of his reign was often foretold, time and again he confounded his critics -- a classic example being the bribery trial in Germany that ended in 2014 after he agreed to pay $100 million as a settlement.

His mobile phone ringtone hinted also at his sense of humour, resonating to the tune of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' -- a classic 1960s Italian Spaghetti Western that was just right for Formula One's stone-faced "Little Big Man" and his endless quest for a few dollars more.

The money rolled in, multiplied by amazing deals that saw him sell Formula One several times over while retaining a tight grip on the top job.

By his own admission he was reluctant to delegate, preferring to act as a dictator - a man who did a deal on a handshake and had an aversion to emails.

An avowed admirer of Russian president Vladimir Putin and U.S. president Donald Trump, Ecclestone was clear about where he stood.

"I don't think democracy is the way to run anything," he once said. "Whether it's a company or anything, you need someone who is going to turn the lights on and off."


The 'Dutch Reach' trick we should all know to avoid dooring cyclists

                BERLIN: There's perhaps nothing more scary for a cyclist than the sight of an opening car door. That's because thousands of bike rides end in hospital every year due to people in cars not looking properly when exiting.

But there's one simple thing all car passengers can do to make things safer for cyclists: Open the car door with your other hand when you get out.

"This manoeuvre, known as the Dutch Reach, will twist your body slightly and make checking easier," Australia's Bicycle Network explains. It's just one of numerous bicycle advocacy groups calling for drivers to memorize this trick.

By reaching across your chest to open the door, you will automatically turn and look over your shoulder, meaning you will likely spot a passing cyclist before "dooring" them.

Experts also suggest getting into the habit of always checking your mirrors before getting out of a car and then just opening the door a little so you can get a proper look at the road.

Every year, over 500 people across England, Wales and Scotland are injured by opening car doors, according to Cycling UK, while Germany's ADFC bike club estimates dooring is responsible for at least one in 10 bike accidents.

A 2019 study of a thousand German cyclists found that almost half (45%) had, in their own view, almost collided with a suddenly opening car door at least once.

Prominent cases of cyclists being killed by opening car doors have even led some countries such as Australia to introduce fines on negligent drivers.

Is there anything cyclists can do?

Cyclists themselves can hardly prevent dooring accidents. If someone opens a car door while you are cycling at a speed of 20 km/h, then you would need to see it about 11 metres in advance in order to be able to brake in time.

That means you can only try to reduce the risk of an accident. The road safety experts with the Auto Club Europa car club therefore advises cyclists to always keep a distance of at least 80 cm between them and the parked cars beside them.

It also helps to pay close attention to warning signs like indicators, turning wheels, brake lights and tail lights in parked cars. Wearing bright clothes will also increase the chances that someone in a car will see you before opening the door


EQA debuts: Mercedes joins Tesla, VW in race to sell small electric cars

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz is taking on one of the most complex industry challenges with the rollout of its battery-powered EQA: selling small electric cars without a big profit squeeze.

The brand’s first fully electric compact model will hit European showrooms this spring, flanking the mid-size EQC sport-utility vehicle and the EQV van, the Daimler AG unit said Wednesday. Prices in Germany start at 47,541 euros ($57,734) and the vehicle offers 486km of range.

Unlike Tesla Inc.’s Model 3 or Volkswagen AG’s ID.3, the EQA is based on technology from an existing combustion-engine car, which is also available as plug-in hybrid.

The German manufacturer modified the underpinnings of its GLA crossover to reduce upfront investment and save time compared to building an all-electric vehicle from scratch. It’s a trade-off that often comes at the expense of driving distance and production-cost efficiencies.

The first generation of Mercedes’s lower-priced electric cars likely will drag on profitability until the company develops EV-specific underpinnings and battery prices drop further, said Michael Dean, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Still, the company’s mass-market EV push will help it meet emissions rules in Europe and China, he said.

While the first Mercedes based on dedicated EV technology -- the electric sibling of the full-size S-Class sedan -- will be introduced later this year, a separate platform that will make producing small and mid-size battery-powered models more efficient is roughly four years away.

The world’s biggest luxury-car maker has little time to waste when it comes to bolstering its EV offerings. Surging demand for plug-in hybrids helped Daimler meet Europe’s CO2 targets in 2020, but it’s unclear how long subsidies for vehicles relying partially on combustion engines will last.

Rival factory

Elon Musk has signalled Tesla might add production of a hatchback for Europe to the planned Model Y output at its factory under construction near Berlin, which would further up the pressure on domestic manufacturers.

Daimler chief executive officer Ola Kallenius has pledged to focus more on larger luxury cars like the S-Class and GLS SUV to generate the funds needed for the electric-car shift. The EQA is targeted primarily toward young, urban customers and will be flanked by an all-wheel drive version, Mercedes said. It will also introduce a version with a battery range of more than 500 kilometers.

READ MORE: Mercedes-Benz EQA highlights

“For the first time we are offering our customers an all-electric Mercedes in the compact segment with an extensive range that ensures its viability in everyday use,” Mercedes sales chief Britta Seeger said in a statement. “The new EQA is an important vehicle along our path towards the electrification of all our vehicle segments.”

While it might take Mercedes until 2024 or 2025 to make competitive mass-market EVs, the manufacturer likely will enjoy “continued positive earnings momentum” as sales of the new S-Class kick in, UBS Group AG analysts led by Patrick Hummel said in a note last week.


Ford Ranger Raptor and WildTrak buyers stand to get big savings

                PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, is offering attractive savings on selected Ford Ranger Raptor and WildTrak Year Make 2020 models from now until April 30, ahead of the upcoming festive season.

The Ranger Raptor comes with savings up to RM8,000, while buyers can save up to RM7,000 with the Ranger WildTrak.

“As models at the top of their class, the Ranger Raptor and WildTrak are the epitome of lifestyle pickup trucks that are gaining in appeal to discerning customers and pick-up enthusiasts in Malaysia.

"With these special deals, we hope to offer customers more savings this festive season,” said Sime Darby Auto ConneXion head of sales Turse Zuhair.

The Ranger Raptor remains as the first and only factory-built high-speed performance pick-up truck in Malaysia, infused with the Ford Performance DNA which exceeds expectations and thrill even the most hard-core extreme adventure enthusiast.

The Raptor’s performance off-roading credentials are seen through its race-bred suspensions, the legendary Fox Racing Shox, cutting-edge Terrain Management System with Baja Mode and the next generation 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel engine carefully calibrated with Ford’s latest 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers 213PS and 500Nm of torque.

 Ranger WildTrak.

For customers seeking a level refinement unseen in the pick-up truck segment, the intelligent Ranger WildTrak is the ideal choice.

It offers an extensive array of smart safety technologies including first in-class features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking with Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning.

The Ranger WildTrak also comes with the first and only in-class Semi-Automatic Parallel Parking, that helps drivers find the right size parking space and automatically steers itself in for a perfect park.

Those interested are encouraged to contact a Ford Authorised dealership or to WhatsApp the Ford Digital Salesperson at +60 19-204 1200 to know more or visit www.sdacford.com.my.


Mercedes customers waiting over a year for cars, says Kallenius

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz customers are facing waiting times of more than a year for their orders because of interruptions to production caused by chip shortages, Daimler chief executive Ola Kallenius told a German newspaper in an interview.

"Demand is huge at Mercedes-Benz and at the same time there are unfortunately severe limitations," he told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Friday.

"For some models the waiting times are longer than we would like, in some cases over a year."

Kaellenius repeated a previous forecast that the troubles with chip supply plaguing automakers worldwide would continue into 2023, as structural problems as well as pandemic-induced lockdowns in key supplier countries persist.


Mustang for preview in KL

                PETALING JAYA: Ford’s iconic Mustang can be previewed at Publika in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur from now until  Sunday, ahead of its official arrival in showrooms nationwide by December.

This event marks the first time that the next-generation of this iconic Ford vehicle is being displayed in Malaysia.

To mark the Mustang’s 50th anniversary of continuous production, the all-American sports car is going global, with Malaysia being one of a select number of right-hand drive markets to receive the new model.

The Mustang will be offered in Malaysia in both fastback and convertible variants, and with a choice of a 5.0-litre V8, producing 435 horsepower or a turbocharged, fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, producing 310hp.

From the racetrack to the silver screen, the Mustang has become an enduring part of American automotive and pop culture.


Honda Malaysia: Seven Honda City units for the best slogan submissions

                PETALING JAYA: For seven weeks, one lucky winner per week in Honda Malaysia's Joy of Buying campaign will each drive home the grand prize of a Honda City, the best-selling non-national sedan in its segment.

The campaign will run from 1 September 2018 until 31 October 2018.

Honda Malaysia will be giving away the prizes on a weekly basis, starting the third week of September 2018.

The Joy of Buying campaign is open to all Honda Malaysia customers who place a booking for new Honda cars (any model) between 1 August 2018 and 31 October 2018 and have it registered (for the same model) between 1 September 2018 and 31 October 2018.

All Honda Malaysia customers have to do is to answer how the slogan “The Power of Dreams” has changed their way of life, in not more than 50 words.

The answers can be in Bahasa Malaysia or English and submissions can be made on the Honda Malaysia official website, www.honda.com.my.

Winners will be chosen based on the most creative answers.

17 others will stand a chance to win a Sony Blu-ray Home Cinema System each as second prize and a total of 277 winners will win Honda Malaysia official merchandise as third prize.

The City has a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine mated with Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT).

In addition to the roomy legroom, the City has the biggest trunk space in its class at 536 litres.

The City also offers safety features such as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) across all variants.

Honda Malaysia recently recorded the highest number of registrations in its history with 12,808 cars registered in July 2018.

The City, Civic and Jazz were the best-selling models in that month at 36%, 19% and 16% respectively.

To date, Honda Malaysia’s CKD models which consist of the City, Jazz, HR-V, BR-V, CR-V, Accord and Civic are leaders in their respective segments.


New Toyota 2S centre opens in Klang

                KLANG: UMW Toyota Motor, the sole importer and distributor for Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, has officially opened a new 2S (sales and service) centre in Klang.

Operated by PS Otomobil (Bukit Tinggi) Sdn Bhd - an authorised Toyota dealer since 2015, the centre offers aftersales services to owners in Pandamaran, Bukit Tinggi and Bandar Botanik among others.

The service centre is equipped with 19 service bays along with diagnostic equipment and necessary Special Service Tools specifically for Toyota vehicles.

Inside, customers can enjoy the comfort and convenience of the lounge facility.

“We are delighted to see that with the growth in their business, they have made the decision to upgrade their facilities to enhance their aftersales services. This truly reflects the Toyota “Customer First” philosophy where priorities and value-added services are prepared for our customers’ convenience,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s President, Ravindran K.

PS Otomobil (Bukit Tinggi) Sdn Bhd is located at PT 7420 Jalan Kim Chuan, Pandamaran, 42000 Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan and can be contacted via 03-3323 9398 (Sales) or 03-3385 2381 / 010-396 0468 (Service).

For more information, log on to www.toyota.com.my.


Costly petrol is altering US driving habits, says AAA

                HOUSTON: Americans are driving less, combining errands and shopping or dining out less since gasoline prices rallied in March, according to a survey by auto club American Automobile Association (AAA).

A survey of 1,002 US adults last month showed 64% of Americans adapted their driving or lifestyle habits in response to high fuel prices.

Of these, 88% said they drove less, 74% said they combined errands while more than half reduced shopping or restaurant visits.

Many Americans have also postponed taking a holiday this year, according to the survey.

Slowing demand and a weaker global oil market drove average pump prices in the US lower for 41 straight days, including the single biggest weekly drop in almost 14 years. But at US$4.355 a gallon, prices still are 38% higher than a year ago.

Lower pump prices alone may not be enough to get drivers back on the road as long as disposable income continues to lag, said Michelle Michot Foss, a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston.

"Lower prices will spur gasoline sales but more important are views on inflation, levels of confidence going forward,” Foss said.


Don't worry, driverless cars are learning from 'Grand Theft Auto'

                NEW YORK: In the race to the autonomous revolution, developers have realised there aren’t enough hours in a day to clock the real-world miles needed to teach cars how to drive themselves. Which is why Grand Theft Auto V is in the mix.

The blockbuster video game is one of the simulation platforms researchers and engineers increasingly rely on to test and train the machines being primed to take control of the family sedan. Companies from Ford Motor Co. to Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo may boast about putting no-hands models on the market in three years, but there’s a lot still to learn about drilling algorithms in how to respond when, say, a mattress falls off a truck on the freeway.
If automakers and tech enterprises want to make their deadline, they have to hurry up.

The test cars tricked out with lasers, sensors and cameras being put through the paces on tracks and public roads can’t do it on their own. Simulators never run out of gas -- and the ones at Waymo can model driving more than 3 million miles in a single day.

“Just relying on data from the roads is not practical,” said Davide Bacchet, who leads the simulation effort in San Jose, California, for Nio, a startup aiming to introduce an autonomous electric car in the US in 2020. “With simulation, you can run the same scenario over and over again for infinite times, then test it again.”

Simulation benefits
As improbable as it may seem to the lay person, hyper-realistic video games are able to generate data that’s very close to what artificial-intelligence agents can glean on the road. AI software has been playing around with games from Super Mario Bros. to Angry Birds for a while now, tackling problems in controlled environments and learning through trial and error.

Last year, scientists from Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany and Intel Labs developed a way to pull visual information from Grand Theft Auto V. Now some researchers are deriving algorithms from GTAV software that’s been tweaked for use in the burgeoning self-driving sector.

The latest in the franchise from publisher Rockstar Games Inc. is just about as good as reality, with 262 types of vehicles, more than 1,000 different unpredictable pedestrians and animals, 14 weather conditions and countless bridges, traffic signals, tunnels and intersections. (The hoodlums, heists and accumulated corpses aren’t crucial components.)

The idea isn’t that the highways and byways of the fictional city of Los Santos would ever be a substitute for bona fide asphalt. But the game “is the richest virtual environment that we could extract data from,” said Alain Kornhauser, a Princeton University professor of operations research and financial engineering who advises the Princeton Autonomous Vehicle Engineering team.

Waymo uses its simulators to create a confounding motoring situation for every variation engineers can think of: having three cars changing lanes at the same time at an assortment of speeds and directions, for instance. What’s learned virtually is applied physically, and problems encountered on the road are studied in simulation.

Quick Brown Fox
Whenever a human has to grab the wheel of a test car because self-driving software hasn’t responded properly, “we’re able to play back the exact situation and predict via simulation what could have happened if the car had been left to drive itself,” Waymo said in a self-driving project report. “If the simulator shows better driving is called for, our engineers can make refinements to the software, and run those changes in simulation in order to test the fixes.”

At Toyota Motor Corp.’s Toyota Research Institute in California, engineers try to “break the system” through what’s known as the Quick Brown Fox test: running mile after mile in the most challenging weather and traffic conditions.

For all the stupid mistakes motorists regularly make, the human brain is far superior to a computer in perceiving and reacting to the unexpected, from a pothole to a construction zone to a toddler chasing a ball into the street.

That’s the great challenge for all the companies competing to be first in the autonomous space: how to make on-board systems better than people at driving, and make driving safer.

A looming question is what state and federal safety regulators will demand as proof an autonomous car should be given licence to roam. Hundreds of billions of miles may have to be racked up, one way or another. The authorities will probably accept a combination of real and replicated, but rules spelling out requirements have yet to be written.

Gill Pratt, chief executive officer of the Toyota institute, told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee in February that simulation should “be an acceptable equivalent to real-word testing,” with follow-up validation. That’s the road developers are increasingly traveling.


Porsche win Le Mans, torment for Toyota

LE MANS (France): Porsche floored Hong Kong actor and stuntman Jackie Chan's audacious bid for Le Mans glory as Toyota suffered fresh torment in a gripping 85th edition of the 24-hour endurance race on Sunday.

Timo Bernhard overtook Ho-Pin Tung in Chan's LMP2 class Oreca-Gibson with less than an hour to go to claim a 19th Le Mans title for the German constructor.

While Bernhard, who won with Audi in 2010, and his New Zealand co-drivers and childhood chums Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley were celebrating, Toyota's agonising wait for a maiden title continued.

As night fell on Saturday Toyota, who made their Le Mans debut in 1986, were sitting pretty with the car of Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Stephane Sarrazin holding a comfortable lead.

But with Kobayashi - who had set a record lap for pole - behind the wheel his hybrid car limped out of contention with clutch problems.

A little later, the Toyota of Japanese rookie Yuji Kunimoto, Nicolas Lapierre and Jose Maria Lopez was also kyboshed after a shunt in the Dunlop Chicane.

"Le Mans is a truly ruthless race," said Pierre Fillon, president of race organiser Automobile Club de l'Ouest.

That twin disaster left Toyota with one car still out on the track, driven by Sebastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima.

Last year Nakajima's Toyota had the race at his mercy only for his car to give up the ghost on the final lap, handing victory on a plate to Porsche.

He and his co-drivers had to settle for ninth this time around.

The impish Le Mans gods that wreaked havoc on Toyota also poked fun at Porsche, the constructor's No.1 car with Andre Lotterer driving breaking down with a massive 13-lap lead and only three hours to run.

As Lotterer - teamed up with last year's winner Neel Jani and Nick Tandy - climbed out of his stricken machine and broke down in tears, Chan was dreaming of a historic first ever Le Mans success for a privately entered team.

But the remaining Porsche 919 Hybrid, stone last on Saturday evening, reeled in the film star's surprise leader, pouncing to seize control on the fastest section of the fabled Sarthe circuit on lap 348.

As a bleary-eyed and sun-baked 250,000 crowd watched on, Bernhard crossed the line with a lap to spare over Dutch-born Tung with Nelson Piquet Junior in another Oreca in third.

Quite a reversal of fortune for Porsche's No.2 car after a one-hour pit stop on Saturday.

"I was driving at the time when I heard it go 'bang' and I thought it was our race done," Bamber, the 2015 winner, told Eurosport.

"I brought it back to the pits and the guys looked into it, and we were back out in under an hour.

"It was a matter of fighting back into the top five at first, then that became a podium and then a podium became a win."

This was Porsche's third successive win in endurance racing's Holy Grail, first staged in 1923.

"They never gave up and this is their reward," tweeted Porsche as Toyota vowed to return next year.

"You don’t choose to win Le Mans, Le Mans chooses you. We hope one day it will choose us. We’ll be back," said Toyota.

Chan, who was absent, is the latest silver screen star to be seduced by Le Mans after Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Patrick Dempsey.


What's coming to 2015 NY auto show

                This year's New York show is expected to be bigger than Detroit for new model unveilings and will have a greater mass-market focus in terms of cars on show than the Geneva show that only closed its doors to the public two weeks ago.

And of course, being a North American show, there are going to be a host of new US cars on show.

Home-grown stars

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited of those will be the Cadillac CT6, the luxury marque's new flagship and the first one that really could give Europe's finest -- the S Class Mercedes and BMW 7 Series - a run for their money.

Chevrolet will be showing off the Malibu, which promises more cabin space and a hybrid powertrain; a new full electric vehicle based on its recent the Bolt concept; a second-generation Volt -- its plug-in hybrid town car; plus a new version of the Spark, its tiny supermini.

SUVs and crossovers

Stepping up in terms of size and ground clearance, a number of crossovers and SUVs, both foreign and domestic, will also be making a first official appearance when the doors of the Javits Center open to the public on April 3.

Mercedes will be parading the GLE, the replacement for the ML luxury six-seat SUV, and Lexus will be unwrapping its equally refined RX, the teaser images for which suggest that it will be a coupe-styled rather than boxy crossover looking to challenge the BMW X6.

Mitsubishi will be showing off the production version of the Outlander, its family-sized futuristic SUV, and Hyundai the real-world version of its smaller Tuscon crossover. Still, most eyes will be over on the Land Rover stand, where two new premium off-roaders are making their global debuts.

The first, The Range Rover Sport HST, is a new model within the existing range that brings unique performance and handling characteristics - thanks to a different chassis set up and a new 3-liter supercharged V6 engine -along with some new active safety and creature comfort features.

The second is simply described as the "most luxurious Range Rover" the company has ever built and took everyone by surprise when it was teased on Tuesday.

Sportscars

Ford has confirmed that the crazy Focus RS it unveiled in Geneva for the European market - 315bhp and four-wheel-drive - is also going to be on show in New York, and therefore will be going on sale in the US later this year.

Mazda has announced that it will be unveiling a more aggressive Club Sport version of its MX5 Miata drop-top roadster.

Potentially the biggest sportscar reveal of the event will be the new McLaren. The supercar company has been teasing it for 12 months and with less than a week to go before the show proper, the company confirmed that the new car will be called the 570S because it has 570PS (562hp) and will be the first of three models under a new Sports Series range.

 Cadillac uses an advanced mixed-material approach for the lightweight body structure of the CT6 range-topping sedan.


Rolls-Royce Cellarette luxury whisky and cigar chest unveiled

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce has introduced its newest collectible — the Rolls-Royce Cellarette.

The set comes with a leather-lined, black anodised aluminium bottle holder that can fit different bottle sizes,  a Spanish Cedarwood-lined humidor with built-in hygrometer and a cigar cutter and lighter made by S. T. Dupont, Paris.

The polished aluminium chassis, enveloped by embossed Rolls-Royce Havana leather complete with an Obsidian Ayous Open Pore veneer serving tray with Spirit of Ecstasy inlay, makes the Cellarette a nice accessory for any Rolls-Royce owner who's out to make an impression when hosting.

Although, the Cellarette will fit into the rear of any Rolls-Royce car, it's better to show it off at an al fresco dining event or at an intimate gathering.

The dark exterior opens to emit a warm ambient glow and Armagnac leather highlights are accentuated by a soft light.

The accessories are revealed in a mechanical fashion, mirroring the opening of the coach doors of a Rolls-Royce car.

Once unfurled, the client is presented with hand-blown lowball glasses, each finished with the ‘RR’ monogram.

The ‘RR’ embellished holder can adapt to different bottle sizes, with the bottle held in place magnetically by a polished aluminium fastener, ensuring safe stowage of  the client’s refreshments.

At the opposing end is a humidor which when opened offers the user a cigar tray.

Cigars are nestled in Spanish Cedarwood at the right humidity level, monitored by a hygrometer. Featuring unique detailing, the hygrometer recalls the hands of the Rolls-Royce clock.

Magnetically held at either end of the cassette are two smaller containers – one for the cigar cutter and lighter  and the other for an ashtray.

The Cellarette can be customised to the client’s specification.

The collection is available through Rolls-Royce dealerships, with prices starting from £44,150 (RM251,000) excluding local taxes.


Tesla puts India entry plan on hold after deadlock on tariffs, say sources

                NEW DELHI: Tesla Inc has put on hold plans to sell electric cars in India, abandoned a search for showroom space and reassigned some of its domestic team after failing to secure lower import taxes, say three people familiar with the matter.

The decision caps more than a year of deadlocked talks with government representatives as Tesla sought to first test demand by selling electric vehicles (EVs) imported from production hubs in the United States and China, at lower tariffs.

But the Indian government is pushing Tesla to commit to manufacturing locally before it will lower tariffs, which can run as high as 100% on imported vehicles.

Tesla had set itself a deadline of Feb 1, the day India unveils its budget and announces tax changes, to see if its lobbying brought a result, said the sources with knowledge of the company's plan.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government did not offer a concession, Tesla put on hold the plans to import cars into India, added the sources, who sought anonymity because the deliberations were private.

For months, Tesla had scouted for real estate options to open showrooms and service centres in the key Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru but that plan is also now on hold, two of the sources said.

Tesla did not respond to an email seeking comment.

An Indian government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla has assigned additional responsibilities for other markets to some of its small team in India. Its India policy executive, Manuj Khurana, has taken on an additional "product" role in San Francisco since March, his LinkedIn profile shows.

As recently as January, chief executive Elon Musk had said Tesla was "still working through a lot of challenges with the government" in regard to sales in India.

But the strong demand for Tesla's vehicles elsewhere and the standoff over import taxes prompted the shift in strategy, the sources said.

Modi has sought to lure manufacturers with a "Make in India" campaign, but his transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, said in April it would not be a "good proposition" for Tesla to import cars from China to India.

But New Delhi had clinched a win in January, when German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would start assembling one of its electric cars in India.

Tesla had looked to gain an early advantage in India's small but growing market for electric vehicles, now dominated by domestic automaker Tata Motors.

Tesla's price tag of US$40,000 (RM176,000) at minimum would put it in the luxury segment of the Indian market, where sales make up just a tiny fraction of annual vehicle sales of about 3 million.


Motor parts traders air grouse to minister over parts shortages for Proton X50 and X70

                PETALING JAYA: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong says the ministry will help motor parts traders who have expressed concerns over scarcity of spare parts for the Proton X50 and X70 models.

The traders said they were not able to get ready parts to repair the two popular SUV models, forcing car owners to fix their vehicles at the original makers’ 4S facilities.

Even then, the continuing supply chain issues and the shortage of parts in the industry has led to delays in repairs at 4S centres.

"We will look into whether this violates any rules of competition or reduces the right to report for owners of these models," said Dr Wee.

Proton had said in March that it was working hard to resolve the parts shortages and that it aimed to have at least enough stock of high demand parts by the end of this month.

It also said recently that it had secured enough supply of chips for May and June and are projecting a quick turnaround in the coming months.

 The delegation met Dr Wee on Thursday in hopes of resolving various issues that included parts shortages and certification difficulties.

A delegation from the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association of Malaysia (Empta) had met the minister on Thursday to voice several other issues as well including the difficulty in obtaining E-mark certification for car parts, HS Codes and streamlining Component Type Approval (CTA) and Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) application.

"I listened to their feedback on several issues faced by more than 1,100 member companies associated with Empta and many other companies nationwide involved in trading after-market auto parts.

"We will coordinate with the relevant authorities and ministries to help their members expedite their processes in these matters," he said in a Facebook post.

The Empta delegation was represented by their deputy chairman Tan Hang Chai, secretary-general Kenneth Cheng and assistant secretary-general Darren Wong.

Dr Wee also invited the group to write to the ministry to hold more dialogues to discuss current issues that might arise related to the automotive and auto parts industries.

READ MORE: Delivery from July for bookings made in May, says Proton


Hyundai Ioniq 5: Bold & electric

                It's a funky-looking car. It draws stares and queries from passers-by, who will often stopped by to ask for little nuggets like charging time, range and price.

Yes, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 grabs attention wherever it goes. Such curiosity is natural as it's still early days for electric vehicles (EVs) in Malaysia.

With EVs becoming the next hot thing, the fully imported Ioniq 5 serves to whet public appetite for more of its kind.

At first glance, one might think it's an oversized hatchback but the Ioniq 5 is actually an SUV with the size and interior space to firm it up.

Launched in March this year, it comes in three grades: Lite, Plus and Max.

Lite and Plus use a 58kWh Li-ion battery pack and a rear electric motor, while the Max gets a 72.6kWh battery with front and rear motors for an all-wheel drive car.

Note that in other markets, the bigger battery has since been upgraded to 77.5kWh for a bit more power and range.

Ours was the Max.

Out and about

The angular appearance inside out highlights its minimalist focus. The Ioniq 5 features Hyundai's first-ever clamshell hood, spanning the width of the car to minimise panel gaps for a clean, high-tech look.

The LED headlamps with their 256 Parametric Pixels look sharp and unique, helping to make the car stand out further.

The same type of lighting is also used in the rear. Aerodynamics have been optimised in the EV to extend range and quieteness, and the result is a body that can slip through the air with a 0.288 drag coefficient. The flushed door handles helped a bit.

Exclusive to the Max variant is a solar roof that helps charge up the battery and adds up to 6km of range per day.

The car is also special in another way: it supports two-way charging provided it has over 15% charge left. There's a 3-pin socket under the rear seat and an adapter is required to plug into the external charging port to use the Vehicle to Load feature. Hyundai says the adapter comes free with the purchase price of the Max.

With such  capability, the Ioniq 5 can actually be viewed as an oversized power bank that can charge up a laptop, an electric lawn mower, an e-bike or another EV albeit slowly. It can even be used to boil a kettle of water to make tea. Or charge up camping gear; the applications are diverse. Few cars can lay claim to this party trick. At least for now.

The Ioniq 5 is one of the few EVs that support both 400V and 800V charging. With a 50-kW DC charger, it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 47 minutes. A standard 11 kW home AC charger can charge from 0% to 100% in 6.1 hours.

Hop in

For the most part, the cabin exudes a premium feel with plenty of quality touchpoints. Two large, high-resolution displays are anchored on the dash. The centre screen is responsive when swiped or poked at.

The column-mounted shift selector is ergonomic and intuitive to use.

It's void of clutter, being designed to be roomy ala Hyundai's "Living Space" concept.

Leather seats are heated but front ones are ventilated as well. On top of that, the front seats come with legrests and are able to angle up and back in relaxation mode such as when waiting inside while giving the car a top-up charge. Rear seats can move back and forth and can be reclined a little.

The flat floor means the centre console can be moved back for walk-through access to either front seats. What's also neat is the glovebox is actually a big drawer. In addition, some of the cabin trims are made of recycled materials.

At 527 litres, the boot of the mid-size SUV is big enough for most storage needs and the back seats can be folded 60:40 to expand that space to almost 1,600l if required. The Ioniq 5 also gets a frunk under the bonnet to store small items like cables. The frunk is smaller than those in the Lite and Plus versions because of the second motor under the compartment.

Step on it

The dual motors make 305 PS and a massive 605Nm of torque. That translates to rapid speed from the get-go, with a 0-100kph time of 5.2s. The low centre of gravity from a heavy battery under the floor makes for a car that's highly stable and smooth at highway speeds.

There's some tyre roar that seeps into the cabin though from the absence of a "noisy" engine.

The light steering could do with more feedback but then this makes it easy to maneouvre a car that has been set up with a comfort-bias. It absorbs most road irregularities without drama but bigger ruts may unsettle the suspension a tad.

Fitted with EV-specific 20-inch Michelin tyres, the SUV holds the line well at most speeds.

It's able to shuffle through twisty roads with plenty of lateral grip. It's competent but it's no sports car - albeit Hyundai is aiming for that with an N variant next year.

The Ioniq 5 is equipped with one-pedal driving which helps charge the battery and extend the life of the brakes as well as make driving less stressful. It's appealing once you quickly get used to it. The paddle shifters vary the brake regeneration levels from strong to mild to none.

A full tank of electrons gets a range of 416km, which is not far off from the 430km (WLTP) official number from Hyundai. As always, range will vary depending on road conditions, driving style, temperature and tyres used.

Tyres and warranty

Speaking of tyres, it's an even more important consideration in an EV. Conventional tyres used in combustion-engined cars will wear out faster if fitted to an EV. Plus they are noisier.

EV-specific tyres offer a smoother, more energy-efficient and low-impact ride. That's because they have a different construction and formulation to make them more durable and better able to handle the high instant torque, higher weight of the battery, and demand for long range.

But then such special tyres are more expensive than conventional tyres - especially of this size. So it's something to think about.

In addition, all variants come with a standard vehicle warranty of 2 years or 50,000km (whichever comes first) and an EV battery warranty of 8 years or 160,000km (whichever comes first). You have to cough up an extra RM10,000 to get an extended warranty and service package.

The package will upgrade the standard warranty to 5 years/100,000km and service maintenance for 3 years/50,000km. So you end up paying RM280,408 if you want to take up this option.

The gist

All things considered, there's nothing quite like it on the road. The styling looks outstanding. It fulfils its mandate as an SUV and adds a few tricks of its own as an EV. The Ioniq 5 is certainly a tempting buy for those with deep pockets.

SPECIFICATIONSHyundai Ioniq 5 MaxElectric motors: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor 70kW+155kW
Maximum power: 225kW (70kW+155kW)
Maximum torque: 605Nm
Battery capacity & type: 72.6 kWh, Lithium-ion Polymer
Range: 430km (WLTP)
Charger Type: Type 2 (AC) / CCS2 (DC)
Transmission: Single speed reduction gear
Features: 7 airbags, all-wheel drive, Surround View Camera, 12.3-inch touchscreen, dual zone automatic climate control, 4 drive modes, rear seat power adjustment (Slide), 5 USB ports, dual LED headlights, LED daytime running light, i-Pedal, Hyundai Smartsense safety suite, wireless phone charging, paddle shifters for regenerative braking control, Bose Premium Sound System, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, 20-inch alloy wheels
Normal charging (AC,11kW 0-100%): 6.1 hours
Quick Charging (DC, 50kW 10-80%): 47 mins
Quick Charging (DC, 350kW 10-80%): 18 mins
Suspension: McPherson Strut (front), Multilink (rear)
Acceleration (0-100kph): 5.2s
Top speed: 185kph
Kerb weight: 2,100kg
Boot capacity: 527l to 1,587l
Price: (OTR without insurance): RM270,408.


Govt considers taxing Uber and Grabcar platform

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry has no plans to tax Uber and Grabcar drivers but is looking at taxation on the service platform.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said this was because the Uber and Grabcar application platform raked in millions of ringgit in profits from their operations in the country.

“We (ministry) will not imposed tax on the taxi drivers but will see how to levy tax on the platform (Uber and Grabcar)... because the drivers also have to pay 25% (of revenue) to the platfrom,” he after launching the 1Malaysia Community programme and Jalur Gemilang Tour 2016 for Titiwangsa, Setiawangsa and Wangsa Maju here on Saturday.

Johari said his ministry was considering to have the platform registered as a local company to ensure that the profits made by Uber and Grabcar could be made known.

“We are thinking of making it compulsory for the platform to register... so we can see how much they make and from here how much tax they should pay,” he added.

This was to ensure an equitable system for the drivers as well as those who provided the service platform for Uber and Grabcar, he said.


Expedition on a mission with B10 biodiesel

                PETALING JAYA: The Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong officially flagged off the 4x4 Expedition using B10 biodiesel (a blend of 10% Palm Methyl Ester and 90% fossil diesel) at the Leaning Tower, Teluk Intan, Perak.

The 4x4 expedition involving a duration of 3 days will cover a total 1,220 kilometers, starting from Teluk Intan to Sungai Koyan, Pahang and then proceed to Gunong Stong and onwards to Pos Tohoi, Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Kangsar and back to Kuala Lumpur.

Throughout the expedition, all the vehicles will be using the B10 biodiesel fuel.

The B10 Biodiesel fuel is not yet officially available at the petrol stations and the expedition will serve as a further testing platform to prove that B10 biodiesel is not only cleaner, but more beneficial and not detrimental in the long run as it has been wrongly perceived.

Earlier in his opening speech, Mah reiterated that B10 Biodiesel has undergone a series of tests, with ongoing improvement efforts. It has been validated by comprehensive benchmarking and long-term field testing both domestically and abroad; adheres to international biodiesel blend standards; and is backed by experiences, evaluations and millions of problem-free genuine on-the- road kilometers recorded by various make and model of vehicles that are currently in operation in countries with the B10 or higher biodiesel mandates.

The expedition sees 12 models of diesel vehicles taking part such as those from the Land Rover Club; Ford Ranger Club; Hilux Club; 4x4 ACKL; Buaya Puchong Group; Jungle Princess Female Off-Roaders Community; Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre; Mitsubishi Triton Club; Off-Road Princess; and Jalan Kebun 4x4 Community.

The drive is jointly organized by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) in collaboration with the Malaysian Recreational Off-Roaders Society (MyRoff).

Apart from that, the Ministry has also made use of this opportunity to deliver monetary and relief package in form of foods to some of the oil palm smallholders affected by the monsoon season along the expedition route.


Musk thinks he has moderate case of Covid-19

Elon Musk did not say whether the Covid-19 results were from polymerase chain reaction tests, which are more accurate than rapid tests. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc chief executive officer Elon Musk said on Saturday he “most likely” has a moderate case of Covid-19, as he continued to question the accuracy of the tests.

"Am getting wildly different results from different labs, but most likely I have a moderate case of covid. My symptoms are that of a minor cold, which is no surprise, since a coronavirus is a type of cold," Musk wrote in a tweet.

He did not mention whether the results were from polymerase chain reaction tests, which are more accurate than rapid tests.

"A little up & down. Feels just like a regular cold, but more body achy & cloudy head than coughing/sneezing," the Tesla CEO wrote in reply to a user asking about symptoms.

Musk said on Thursday that rapid antigen test results from the same machine and the same test showed he tested positive twice and then negative twice all on the same day.

Musk’s presence at the weekend launch of four Nasa astronauts into orbit aboard his SpaceX company’s spacecraft had been thrown into question due to Covid-19.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s first full-fledged human mission using a privately owned spacecraft, has slipped from Saturday to Sunday evening due to forecasts for gusty, onshore winds over Florida, officials for the US space agency said on Friday.


Micromobility vehicle feasibility testing ongoing in Shah Alam

                SHAH ALAM: The Transport Ministry has launched the National Regulatory Ground Test for micromobility vehicles to gauge the feasibility of its operation here.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the ground test would monitor the operational feasibility of using micromobility vehicles in terms of enforcement, licensing and usability of the infrastructure based on the guidelines prepared.

"Ground tests will be carried out in areas where appropriate infrastructure has been provided as outlined in the Town and Country Planning Department (PlanMalaysia) Guidelines.

"The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) and Futurise Sdn Bhd will assist the Shah Alam City Council to monitor the ground test from all aspects with support from the police and Road Transport Department to ensure micromobility users comply with the set regulations," he said after launching the State Regulatory Ground Field for Micromobility and the National Level Micromobility Vehicle Safety Day 2023 at Dataran Merdeka here, which was also attended by Shah Alam mayor Dr Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid and Miros director-general Azhar Hamzah.

Hasbi said use of micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and be used as a "first and last mile" link to ensure public transport connectivity and reduce road congestion.

"Nevertheless, we also need to pay attention to safety as using micromobility vehicles on roads is very risky because it is used in mixed traffic areas with speed limits meant for other motor vehicles.

"On Dec 17, 2021, the Transport Ministry took the initiative to implement a ban on the use of some micromobility vehicles including e-scooters. However, the government has not totally banned the use of all such vehicles, as they can still be used in recreation areas, subject to the availability of infrastructure," he said.

Meanwhile, MBSA Urban Transport Division head Norazmizam Alias said the ground test initiative would be carried out in Section 14 here before being expanded to the commercial centre area in Section 7 here in stages. The programme is expected to last a year.


Britain sets out roadmap for self driving vehicle usage by 2025

                LONDON: Britain wants a widespread rollout of self-driving vehicles on roads by 2025, announcing plans for new laws and £100 million (RM530mil) of funding.

The government said on Friday it wanted to take advantage of the emerging market for autonomous vehicles, which it valued at £42 billion (RM222bil) and estimated could create 38,000 new jobs.

"We want the UK to be at the forefront of developing and using this fantastic technology, and that is why we are investing millions in vital research into safety and setting the legislation to ensure we gain the full benefits that this technology promises," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

While some vehicles with self-driving features could be allowed on large roads by next year, Friday's announcement also set out the framework for a much wider rollout, including for public transport and delivery vehicles.

The funding package included £35 million (RM185mil) for safety research, which would feed into new legislation planned to be in place by 2025.

"The legislation would state manufacturers are responsible for the vehicle’s actions when self-driving, meaning a human driver would not be liable for incidents related to driving while the vehicle is in control of driving," a government statement said.


The Land of Rovers: Falkland islanders cherish 4x4s like few others

                HORSESHOE BAY (Falkland Islands): For Michael Goss, the "girls" are part of the family. When the 37-year-old talks about his Land Rovers, you could easily think he was talking about real people.

Each car has a name and Goss can tell you the technical specification and the history of every one. That includes which engine is fitted, what needs to be fixed, along with when and from whom he bought the vehicle.

Goss reels off the information with passion as he lovingly strokes the cars. A tour of his fleet can take a while. For in front of his house in the Falkland Islands, Goss has parked 78 Land Rovers.

The sheep farmer is not the only one on these far-flung islands in the South Atlantic with a passion for Land Rovers.

Take Nick Pitaluga, for example, who currently has around 25 Landies on his Salvador farm, seven of which are used regularly.

"We just somehow ended up with some rare models and early examples of some types, some were saved from being broken up or modified irreparably," he said. "Some were accidental finds that just seemed to want to come and live with us..!"

The four-wheel drive vehicles are a common sight on roads in the Falkland Islands, known for their stunning landscapes, beaches and magnificent bird life.

A total of 2,986 Land Rovers are registered, according to the local road traffic office. With a total population of just under 3,500 people, that works out at roughly one Land Rover for every adult.

Islanders are convinced that there is no higher ownership ratio rate in the world. Certainly not in their British homeland, where the cars have a strong following and enjoy Royal patronage. Queen Elizabeth II could be often be seen at the wheel.

Army Land Rovers also saw military action during the 1982 Falkland Islands War, which ended with the surrender of the Argentine forces at Stanley to British troops who had forcibly reoccupied the islands.

The vehicles have enormous advantages. They cope with the rough and uneven terrain in this self-administered British Overseas Territory, where asphalt roads are few an far between.

"They are real workhorses," says Simon Benjamin, the only car dealer for miles around. The 39-year-old drives a Rover himself, a Defender 90 which inspired the name of his Instagram account.

A Land Rover will take you anywhere you want to go in the Falkland Islands," said Benjamin and added: "I mean up until the late 1980s, there were hardly any roads here, it was mainly tracks and the Land Rover is the perfect vehicle for that".

The route to Goss' farm at Horseshoe Bay is a gravel trail leading through endless sheep pastures. When it snows, traction here becomes difficult, even with a Land Rover.

"They are loud, uncomfortable and not very modern," Benjamin admits. "But they have personality of their own." There is not much technology but he sees that is a good thing since they are easier to repair.

The vehicles are also robust. "You can just throw a couple of sheep in the back. Not many people would want to do that with an expensive off-roader."

Unfortunately, time is not on the side of the Land Rovers. "There used to be a lot more of them," the dealer said.

Until the 2000s, there were hardly any other brands on the islands. Then Japanese models came on the market. "They are not as good on the terrain as Land Rover, but came pretty close and they were much cheaper," said Benjamin.

His business used to import them from Brazil but he now sells any make of off-roader he can lay his hands on. "We've got better roads now so people tend to go for smaller vehicles."

The Land Rover has evolved too but diehards like Goss and Pitalga have no time for the new restyled Defender model, which its British makers say "represents 70 years of innovation and improvement"

Michael Goss gets downright emotional when the subject comes up. "The new car is too ugly, too fancy and too expensive." No, it seems Goss doesn't want to discuss this topic at all.

Fellow collector Pitaluga adds ruefully: "Land Rover sales have declined on the islands since the old Defender went out of production."

Dealer Benjamin confirms this. "I think we have imported just four new Defenders, that's it," he said. "There is interest in them but they are pricey compared to the old Defender."

Falkland folk tend to stick to the familiar models and despite their age, many of these will see service in the Falkland Islands for a long time to come. Well-maintained examples are a good investment too, said Pitaluga.

For Goss, no other car will do.

"The Land Rover badge is stamped on my heart," said the burly man before breaking into a smile. He owns a total of 98 examples, at least according to the last count.

So is he yearning for two more to make it 100?

No, he wants to add an order to bring the number to 110 - the designation of a well-known Land Rover model.

Asked if that will mark the end of his collecting passion, Goss bursts out laughing.


BMW pumps up 4 Series appeal

                MUNICH: BMW has refreshed the 4 Series, giving it a sharper styling and a revised suspension.

Restyled LED headlights take the place of the outgoing cars’ xenon units. And all models in the range are equipped with LED front foglamps as standard. The LED rear lights fitted on the BMW 4 Series for the first time give extra impact to the car’s powerful looks. Modified air intakes, line-specific applications and the new rear apron add further striking touches.

Inside, the new electroplated detailing, chrome applications and centre console in high-gloss black reinforce the exclusive, high-quality feel. Another visual highlight is the double stitching on the instrument panel, while three new upholstery colours together with three new interior trim strips provide even greater personalising choice.

The new 4 Series get two new exterior paint finishes Snapper Rocks Blue and Sunset Orange. There is also one new model-specific wheel design each for the Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport equipment lines. Additional equipment options offers more customisation.

Sportier drive is the name of the game. The new 4 Series Coupe and 4 Series Gran Coupe now come with a stiffer suspension set-up promising even sportier handling without any loss of ride comfort. Both the lateral and longitudinal dynamics have been improved, regardless of the load on board.

This applies not only to the standard suspension, but also to the M Sport suspension and the Adaptive suspension. All new BMW 4 Series models now boast even more assured straight-line stability and more communicative steering. High-performance tyres are available as a factory-fitted option for all models from the 430d and 430i upwards.

There are three petrol engines (420i, 430i and 440i) and three diesel options (420d, 430d, 435d xDrive) available for all 4 Series versions.

The power output of the petrol-engined variants ranges from 184 hp in the 420i up to 326hp in the 440i (fuel consumption combined: 7.9 – 5.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 185 – 127 g/km). When it comes to the diesel line-up, the power spectrum extends from 190 hp in the 420d up to the 313hp of the 435d xDrive (fuel consumption combined: 5.9 – 4.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 155 – 106 g/km).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is available in a further diesel variant – the 418d with an output of 150hp (fuel consumption combined: 4.5 – 4.1 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 118 – 107 g/km).

A total of 12 model variants are available with the option of xDrive, while the 435d xDrive comes with all-wheel-drive as standard – in Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe guise.

The optional navigation system has also been updated to the current tile-style control pads that is said to be easier to use. The control pads can be arranged as desired and display a constantly updated version of the linked menu content, making for an even more intuitive operation.

The 4 Series range can be optionally fitted with the Multifunctional Instrument Display, giving the driver the choice of different visualisation options for all displays depending on the driving experience mode selected.

The M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible now come as standard with the adaptive full-LED headlights. And the newly designed full-LED rear lights again freshen up appearances and inject technical appeal. Besides this, a number of styling touches have been added to give the cabin of the sportiest 4 Series variants an even more sophisticated air. And the two M4 models likewise feature the updated version of the Navigation system Professional and other ConnectedDrive features.


Toyota Mirai goes the distance

                ASPEN: The future of mobility is ready to hit the road – and keep going…and going…and going. That's according to Toyota, lah.

The Japanese car maker is gearing up to make a splash in the key US market with the new Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle.

The Mirai will offer an EPA-estimated 67 miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) city/highway/combined (3.5l/100km) when it hits dealerships in California this fall, and an EPA-estimated driving range rating of 502km on a single fill of hydrogen.

Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz announced the EPA-estimated performance figures at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado.  Mirai is the only zero emission electric vehicle on the market that tops the 502km range milestone.

READ MORE: CarSifu drives the Mirai in Japan

“Toyota realised in the early 90s that electrification was key to the future of the automobile,” said Lentz.  “Just as the Prius introduced hybrid-electric vehicles to millions of customers nearly twenty years ago, the Mirai is now poised to usher in a new era of efficient, hydrogen transportation.”

The world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, the Toyota Mirai is a four-door, mid-size sedan with performance that fully competes with traditional internal combustion engines – but uses no petrol.  Instead, Mirai creates electricity on demand using hydrogen, oxygen and a fuel cell, and emits nothing but water vapour in the process.

Toyota wants its hydrogen car to gain traction with Americans as quickly as possible and has tossed in the following goodies:

> Three years’ worth of complimentary hydrogen fuel
> 8-year/160,000km warranty on key fuel cell vehicle components including the FC stack and power control unit; FC hydrogen tanks; hybrid battery pack and ECU; FC air compressor, boost converter and ECU; hybrid control module (power management control module); and hydrogen fueling ECU.
>  Three years complimentary Safety Connect and Entune, including hydrogen station finder app.
> Three years of 24/7 customer call support.
>  Mirai Complimentary Rental Experience for seven days per year for three years.
>  No cost scheduled maintenance for three years, or 56,327km, whichever comes first.