All change as new owners steer F1 into fast lane

This season's F1 will see upheavals and a greater sense of adventure.— Reuters
MELBOURNE: Formula One ventures into the unknown zone of a long-awaited revamped and high-speed era under new American ownership this weekend when the engines roar into life at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Liberty Media’s takeover and the off-season departure of the sport’s veteran commercial ring-master Bernie Ecclestone have coincided with an overhaul of the technical regulations to usher in a new breed of ‘fatter and faster’ cars.

The wider new machines with broader tyres make much greater physical demands on the drivers and are expected to provide more noise and spectacle -- and hopefully better racing with more passing moves -- as Formula One bids to appeal to a younger, global, digital and social media savvy audience.

The retirement of 2016 drivers world champion German Nico Rosberg has also triggered change with Finn Valtteri Bottas switching from Williams to partner three-time champion and pre-season favourite Lewis Hamilton in the champion Mercedes team.

That has been just one of a ripple of moves up and down the pit lane that have added an even greater sense of adventure, and the unknown, to the competition with Ferrari performing well in pre-season testing to suggest they may join Red Bull in mounting a challenge to the dominant German team.

Already, Liberty have relaxed restrictions on teams’ paddock use of social media streaming of their live action during testing and made promises that there will be more substantial changes to come as four decades of Ecclestone’s leadership are dismantled and swept aside.

The sight of the struggling McLaren Honda team switching back to ‘retro’ chassis names and team colours, with the return of a flash of orange, and Force India’s bold introduction of pink livery has added to the sense of a bold new beginning.

But beneath the surface many of the old fears persist amid hushed warnings that only a much-improved ‘show’ with better racing will help the sport halt a slow but sure decline in its fan base in a highly-competitive global age of digitalised sport-media.

Despite the changes at Mercedes, that included the departure of technical team boss Paddy Lowe to join Williams, the champions will start 2017 as favourites again with Britain Hamilton the man to watch on the track. Lowe has been replaced by former Ferrari boffin Briton James Allison.

Bottas, whose switch from Williams meant that the British team had to ask Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa to make a rapid U-turn after retiring and come back to partner 18-year-old Canadian rookie Lance Stroll, has settled in quickly and easily alongside Hamilton.

But the top pre-season story has been the problems at McLaren where a boardroom upheaval led to the ousting of long-term chief Ron Dennis before testing confirmed that Honda’s latest engine -- in the third season of their much vaunted partnership -- lacks both power and reliability.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain made little attempt at hiding his feelings after a frustrating run of failures during testing. “There is no reliability and there is no power,” he said.

For one of the sport’s traditional grandee teams, it is an embarrassing situation that new executive director Zak Brown has inherited. And even before the start of the new season, team chief Eric Boullier had to fend off talk that Alonso is looking to move.

“He wants to be competitive and we need to be competitive to keep him happy... if not, he’ll take his own decisions,” he said.

Such discord has been a consistent backdrop to the razzamatazz of Liberty’s takeover which has seen former Benetton and Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn installed as the sport’s new motor sports director, a position created for the multi-championship winning Briton.

His job brief is to make the sport and the racing as attractive as possible despite Mercedes domination -- they have won the last three drivers and constructors’ titles and 51 of the last 59 Grands Prix.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner articulated the feelings of many when he said it was “unpalatable” to consider the prospect of three more years of Mercedes supremacy, but stopped short of insisting on any kind of handicap system.

Brawn acknowledged the problem and rejected any kind of synthetic solution. “The fans will see through an artificial solution,” he said.

“The real core of it is to look at how you level the playing field in terms of financial resources and so forth and that’s why a five-year plan must include the funding of the teams, budget control and distribution of funds.... There is a disparity...” he added.

That remains a problem for the future while F1 bids to make a resounding return with a louder and faster show this weekend.


Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover promotion treats 11 winners to unforgettable stay

A stopover at the dunes.

KUALA LUMPUR: Winners of last year's Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover promotion were treated to an unforgettable five-day, four-night visit to Dubai.

The 11 Malaysians were part of a privileged group of 189 Shell Rimula customers from 19 countries feted for their contributions to making Shell Rimula the best-selling heavy duty diesel engine oil (HDDEO) brand in the world.

All that was required was to purchase selected Shell Rimula products and submit their entries online.

The exclusive programme included a dinner by the beach with a stunning view of the fifth-tallest hotel in the world, the Burj al-Arab; visit to the 125th floor of the Burj Khalifa - the world’s tallest building; off-road driving in the sand dunes and updates on the latest truck engine and lubricant technology innovations at the Dubai Astronomy Centre.

“It was an eye-opening experience, especially with the technology updates on diesel technology and other lubricants for heavy duty applications. We were given insights into real world testing of the product through extreme environments, loads and temperatures and other immersive activities,” said William Teo from Sibu.

“I never expected to win although Shell Rimula has always been our preferred heavy-duty diesel engine oil brand, thank you Shell!” said Christy Bong from Kuala Lumpur.

According to Shell Lubricants (Malaysia and Singapore) general manager Baljit Singh, the Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover was created to celebrate commitment to hard work and offered the opportunity for a once-in-a lifetime adventure that only Shell Rimula can give.

“The next destination for Shell Rimula Ultimate Stopover in 2019 is Barcelona and we are sure our customers will go all out to be part of this unique experience," said Baljit.

For more information on Shell Rimula products, log on to www.shell.com.my/rimula.


Suzuki seek to break contract and quit MotoGP for financial reasons

                PARIS: Suzuki announced they want to quit MotoGP and are holding talks with the championship promoters Dorna over breaking their contract.

"Suzuki Motor Corporation is in discussions with Dorna regarding the possibility of ending its participation in MotoGP at the end of 2022," Suzuki said in a statement on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, the current economical (sic) situation and the need to concentrate its effort on the big changes that the automotive world is facing in these years, are forcing Suzuki to shift costs and human resources to develop new technologies."

Only last week Dorna said Suzuki had to stick to their contract — which runs to 2026 — when rumours first surfaced that the Japanese manufacturer wanted to pull out.

If the talks are conclusive it will be the second time Suzuki have quit the elite competition.

Suzuki left MotoGP at the end of 2011, before returning in 2015.

In the 500cc era, Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr. won world titles riding Suzukis.

Since the company returned in 2015, they have won one riders' title in 2020 when Joan Mir topped the standings with team-mate Alex Rins third.

Rins is fourth in this season's standings with Mir sixth, heading into this weekend's French race.

Last week specialist site Motorsports.com, which broke the story, said Mir was likely to join Honda to replace Pol Espargaro.

Rins admitted to being very emotional when the news was confirmed.

"We made a good start to the season, so it makes it even tougher to know that Suzuki will not continue in the championship," said Rins.

The 26-year-old Spaniard added he had been in tears on hearing the news after "having given everything to the team since 2017."

While they won the team championship in 2020, Suzuki struggle in the separate manufacturers' standings because, unlike Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and KTM, they do not have a satellite team.

In the current format, there are 24 bikes on the starting grid in each race, although wildcard entries increased that to 25 in the last two races.

Ducati have eight bikes on the grid this season. Suzuki and Aprilia are the only manufacturers with just two bikes on the starting grid.

The 24-bike format is fixed until 2026, when the current contract between the International Motorcycling Federation, Dorna and the International Racing Team Association, which represents the six manufacturers, ends.


Isuzu teams up with govt dept to train more technicians

                PETALING JAYA: Isuzu Malaysia’s collaboration with the government's Department of Skills Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran) has kicked off with its first intake of trainees.

The first five Isuzu Technical Schoolapprentices from the pilot batch began their six-month course recently and will be working towards graduating with their Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia – Level II certificates at the end of their term.

Isuzu Malaysia CEO Kenji Matsuoka who witnessed the initiation ceremony held at the Isuzu Development Centre in Shah Alam recently said that the creation of the Isuzu Technical School was to help build a stronger foundation of skilled mechanics in the country.

According to Matsuoka, the programme began by Isuzu Malaysia aimed to raise the capabilities of technicians and improve the competence of Isuzu service centres.

The department is under the Ministry of Human Resources.

The course covers a range of theory and practical classes, conducted over a period of six months with the syllabus developed by Isuzu Malaysia under the guidance of the Malaysian National Skill Department. It includes the basic principles of workshop operations, commercial vehicle operating systems, procedures of vehicle service and maintenance as well as component overhaul skills.

The final part of the programme includes internships at Isuzu workshops where apprentices are exposed to working conditions in commercial workshops, brushing up on their working procedures, dealing with customer expectations and handling parts operations.

To enroll in the Isuzu Technical School, candidates must have a minimum SPM credit in math and science. They can contact the school for more information on the training programme via www.isuzu.net.my


Volkswagen weighs autonomous driving from €7  an hour

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is considering offering autonomous driving on a pay-per-use basis, one of the brand's board members said in a newspaper interview.

"Regarding autonomous driving we can imagine to offer it on an hourly basis," Klaus Zellmer, in charge of sales, marketing and after-sales at the Volkswagen brand, told Die Welt.

"We assume a price of around  €7 (RM35) per hour. So if you do not want to drive yourself for three hours you can pay  €21 (RM106) to get it done," Zellmer said, adding that way autonomous driving would become available for everyone.

Carmakers are putting their hopes on software-related services for cars in a bid to generate new revenue streams, arguing that vehicles will become interconnected devices, much like smartphones.

The Volkswagen brand plans to offer digital services to drivers of its ID electric cars from the second quarter of 2022, Thomas Ulbrich, board member in charge of development at the Volkswagen brand, was quoted as saying.

"We are planning offers such as mileage or performance enhancements for electric vehicles, which can be booked. We are already coordinating this with regulators."


G-7 drops aim to shift new car sales away from oil by 2030

                LONDON: Group of Seven nations backed away from plans to set a target for making sure most new cars sold are greener vehicles, instead pledging only speed up efforts to move away from combustion engines.

In the final communique Sunday, the bloc include an autos section that was far more modest than earlier versions being discussed. It pledged to do more to electrify the transport sector but didn't set firm target dates.

"We recognise that this will require dramatically increasing the pace of the global decarbonistion of the road transport sector throughout the 2020s, and beyond," the leaders wrote.

"We commit to accelerate the transition away from new sales of diesel and petrol cars to promote the uptake of zero emission vehicles."

The language is an apparent compromise between the nations, several of whom are major automakers.

Earlier drafts of the communique suggested that the G-7 "strive to ensure that the majority of all new passenger car sales are not petrol or diesel-powered "by 2030 or sooner."

The communique reiterated the promise for rich countries to release US$100 billion (RM412bil) annually in support for developing world efforts to cope with climate change transitions.

It said the G-7 members will all increase their contributions but did not disclose by how much.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said getting to US$100 billion a year would not be "easy" but he was confident the target would be met.

Johnson will host the COP26 UN climate summit in November in Glasgow, Scotland.

"Whilst G-7 leaders re-affirmed their overdue promise of US$100 billion a year in climate support to poorer countries, those same countries will be disappointed that they leave Cornwall with no new money apparently on the table," said Gareth Redmond-King from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.


Defenders conquer extreme terrain in Terengganu

                It was supposed to be a fun and "not too tough" 4-day/3-night off-road excursion in the rainforest over the Merdeka weekend.

However, the dreadful floods last year had wrecked much of the off-road tracks around Sungai Loh, Terengganu.

Add in rainy weather into the mix, and participants of D' Defender Day off-road trip found what a veteran off-roader described as a "mini Camel Trophy."

The convoy of 15 SUVs (sport utility vehicles) and pick-up trucks including 10 Land Rover Defenders, had driven 380km from Kuala Lumpur to Bandar Al-Muktafi Billah Shah in Terengganu before making the 12km off-road excursion starting from the Cengal Besar staging point.

The excursion was a collaboration between the Land Rover Owners Club and Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia, to celebrate and experience the true ruggedness of the 2.2-litre diesel-powered Defender.

This year marks the last year of production of the Defender which have been produced for over 65 years.

The off-road section proved to be extremely challenging, as vehicles were stuck in the mud and participants used snatch straps and shackles to pull them out.

Adding to the challenge were vehicles that did not have extreme off-road tyres needed for the severe terrain encountered, as well as drivers who had never negotiated such tough conditions before.

This meant the convoy took 12 hours to reach the Sungei Loh campsite, after an exhausting night off-roading.

It was well worth it, though, as the sunrise illuminated the magnificent clear water of Sungai Loh after the convoy had set up the camp site.

After two days in the rainforest, the convoy made another exasperating drive on slippery and muddy downhill terrain to get back to the Cengal Besar staging point.

The more experienced particpants took things in stride, and using established off-road techniques, won through the jungle after 19 hours.

The Land Rover Defenders, once again, proved to be invaluable all-purpose wheels with massive off-road capabilities.


March 31-April 6: RON97 petrol up 8 sen to RM3.91

                PETALING JAYA: The price of RON97 petrol will increase by 8 sen to RM3.91 per litre from March 31 to April 6, according to the finance ministry today.

RON95 petrol and diesel prices remain unchanged at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 a litre respectively.

The ministry said the prices of the RON95 petrol and diesel are capped "to protect consumers from global oil price increases."


Touch ‘n Go eWallet kicks off phase 2 of #JOMTEKSI

                PUTRAJAYA: Touch ‘n Go eWallet has announced the second phase of its #JOMTEKSI initiative which sees several new programmes being introduced, all with the aim to provide a more inclusive ecosystem for taxi drivers while also providing passengers with an additional mobility option.

At the launch event, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said, "Not only does Touch ‘n Go eWallet improve payment experiences by going cashless, but they have shown tremendous commitment to transforming the taxi ecosystem with #JOMTEKSI.

"The ministry is positive that through the continuation of the #JOMTEKSI initiative, the rakyat will not only benefit from a more systematic ecosystem but this will ensure the taxi industry continues to soar.”

Among the programmes introduced are refurbishment of five taxi stands within Putrajaya and Cyberjaya area. The refurbished taxi stands are located at Putrajaya Sentral, D’Pulze, Tamarind Square, Shaftsbury Square and in front of LimKokWing University in Cyberjaya. Through the refurbishment, Touch ‘n Go eWallet hopes to encourage the public to use the designated areas.

Each of the stands will be equipped with USB ports to keep their mobile devices charged, and solar panels to power up theUSB ports and light up the taxi stands at night.

The 22 taxis belonging to the #JOMTEKSI ambassadors will also be equipped with 4G Wi-Fi connectivity, supportedby YES 4G.

Other than the 22 #JOMTEKSI ambassadors, there are now more than 6,000 taxi drivers in Malaysia who have opted to adopt Touch ‘n Go eWallet as a cashless payment method.

Through #JOMTEKSI, each of these taxi drivers will earn an additional incentive of RM4 for each passenger that uses Touch ‘n Go eWallet to make payment for the first time.

In conjunction with the launch, users will receive a RM3 flag fall cashback if payment is made via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet to any of the 6,000 #JOMTEKSI drivers.

The cashback promotion is applicable to any destination within Malaysia and is available starting from today until June 12 next year.


Awas traffic system begins

                PETALING JAYA: Drivers, take note: the Awas system is finally off the ground.

This means traffic offenders caught by the system will face suspension and even revocation of their driving licence.

Awas or Automated Awareness Safety System – an integration of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras and Demerit Points System (Kejara) – started from yesterday. It is aimed at weeding out habitual traffic offenders.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron said the system would only use the 14 AES cameras installed nationwide and was aimed at two offences for now – speeding and running the red light.

“This is still the initial stage of the project and we want to focus on advocacy. For now, the system will only include two offences for the Kejara system – speeding and running the red light,” Nazri said when contacted yesterday.

JPJ expects to fully include the other offences by the end of this year, and install more cameras.

Amendments to the Road Transport Act to allow for the implementation of Awas were passed in Parliament last year.

Besides facing a RM150 fine under AES, drivers could have their driving licence suspended under Awas for overtaking at double lines, running the red light, using the emergency lane and speeding.

JPJ has upgraded its computer system to handle Awas.

Under the new system, motorists start with 20 points each and their driving licence will be revoked once all these are deducted.


myTukar adds three new outlets

                KUALA LUMPUR: myTukar has opened three new showrooms in Penang, Melaka and Johor, as part of their goal to strengthen its physical presence and capabilities across Malaysia.

The new showrooms reflect the commitment of the country's fastest growing digital pre-owned car ecosystem to give customers a top-notch, transparent, and trustworthy car-buying experience.

 Juru, Penang.

With the new showrooms, myTukar has a total of 30 outlets nationwide.

myTukar CEO Derrick Eng said the strategic move is aimed at catapulting myTukar’s growth to greater heights.

 Melaka.

“The new showrooms cover untapped regional locations and extend our offerings and services to an even wider audience. In line with our rebranding efforts, we are committed to providing our customers with nothing less than excellence and efficiency,” he said.

All three new showrooms are strategically located at high-traffic and OEM-centric areas in line with major automotive players, so customers can easily view the latest array of myTukar Certified cars.

 Skudai.

With a built-up area ranging from 4,000sq ft to 184,618sq ft, the facilities can accommodate up to 500 vehicles each and feature a wide range of cars.

Customers can also visit the showrooms for viewing, purchasing and financing services, as well as tap into aftersales services such as servicing and tinting among others.

myTukar rebranded in early July to reflect its strengthened branding identity as part of the regional Carro network.

 Flatbed truck.

As part of the CARRO group, myTukar is able to leverage Carro’s technological capabilities, business data intelligence and technical knowledge to deliver myTukar Certified Pre-Owned cars to customers in several key states through the new outlets.

myTukar has also introduced a fleet of flatbed trucks, which will directly deliver vehicles to the doorsteps of customers to provide a truly seamless car ownership process.

To find out more information on myTukar, visit https://mytukar.com/locate-us.


Toyota recalls 2.86 million cars globally over emissions control unit

                TOKYO: Toyota said today it was recalling 2.87 million vehicles worldwide over a possible fault with their evaporative fuel emissions control unit.

The recall covers vehicles produced between April 2006 and August 2015, and includes the Japanese automaker's hybrid Prius model, the Auris compact hatchback and Corolla compact models.

Earlier in the day, the Japanese automaker said it was recalling 1.43 million Prius and Lexus models worldwide because of a separate issue involving a possible airbag inflator defect.


Vincent Cobee to become new head of PSA's Citroen, says mag

                BERLIN: Vincent Cobee (inset), a former Mitsubishi production chief, is set to become the new head at PSA’s Citroen unit, German trade magazine Automobilwoche reported today, citing company sources.

The report cited a PSA spokesman as saying that Cobee had already joined the brand’s management team. Asked by Reuters, a PSA spokesman declined to comment.

Current Citroen CEO Linda Jackson would take on a new role inside the group, the report added.

A source in September said Cobee was set to make a move to the French carmaker.


Aston Martin unveils limited edition Vanquish Zagato - VIDEO

LONDON: Aston Martin today announced a limited series production of the Vanquish Zagato Coupe; the latest creation from its long-standing partnership with the Italian design-house Zagato.

Customer deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2017.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept was unveiled at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, Italy in May. Sparked by unprecedented customer interest, a limited production run of 99 cars will be built to order at Aston Martin's production facility in Gaydon, England.

The Vanquish Zagato is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin's dynamic and material qualities with Zagato's design language. As well as spectacular sporting ability, Vanquish Zagato showcases the very best of Aston Martin’s bespoke luxury.

The collaboration with Zagato began with the muscular DB4 GT Zagato racing car of 1960 – now valued at over £10 million -, and includes the V8 Vantage Zagato launched in 1986, the 2002 DB7 Vantage Zagato and the V12 Vantage Zagato revealed in 2011.

The Vanquish Zagato adds to that portfolio; a GT car that blends Aston Martin's refinement and capabilities with Zagato's design details. Aston Martin's 6.0L V12 powertrain has been uprated to increase its output to 600PS, capable of delivering a projected 0-100kph time of 3.5 seconds. This added performance matched to a unique suspension setup will create a unique GT driving experience specific to the Vanquish Zagato model.

The design of the production Vanquish Zagato will be closely related to the concept exhibited at Villa d'Este. The new bodywork is shaped from carbon-fibre, with the split lines on the body reduced by the use of large one-piece panels.

Other design details include new lights with round tail light reflectors that evoke the classic Zagato rear view, using the same 'bladed' LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan, while the wing mirrors are closely related to the units developed for the One-77. The Vanquish Zagato's sculptural rear end has a close relationship to DB11's aerodynamic profile, complete with retractable spoiler and rear hatch for easy access to the luggage compartment. Rippling carbon fibre sills run around the lower body to create a pronounced line from front to rear, with a quad-exhaust nestling within the curvaceous shapes.

The Vanquish Zagato’s glasshouse wraps around the bodywork like a visor, enhancing its aggressive stance. A new evolution of the classic side strake runs from wheel arch to door just like the new DB11 and a detail originally showcased on the celebratory CC-100. A sharp crease on the rear wheel arch transforms into the rear flanks, where it meets the cascading roofline.

The roof features the iconic 'double-bubble', its shallow radius dipping into the rear window glass to give the car an unmistakeable rear silhouette. A Zagato trademark since the early 1950s, originally arose from the need to accommodate racing helmets with a minimum impact on the aerodynamic profile.

Inside, the Vanquish Zagato embodies the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship, replete with many singular touches. Herringbone carbon fibre is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and optional aniline leather to give the facia, vents and rotary dials a rich material quality. The Vanquish Zagato is also defined by the unique ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch used on the seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on headrests and stitched into the centre console.

In a related development, Aston Martin has begun production of DB11’s new v12 in Cologne.

The 5.2L twin-turbo V12 was designed in-house and develops 608PS and 700Nm of torque, making DB11 the most powerful production DB model ever. It’s also the fastest and most accelerative, too, with a top speed of 322kph and a 0-100kph time of 3.9s.


Ford to buy cheaper CATL EV batteries to catch Tesla

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co today said it will import lower-cost lithium iron batteries for its North American electric pickup trucks and SUVs from Chinese battery champion CATL, as it works on a broader alliance with CATL and an array of separate deals to secure battery and battery materials into the next decade.

Ford vice president Lisa Drake said the automaker plans to secure lithium-iron, or LFP, batteries from a new 40 GWh factory in North America starting in 2026.

Drake would not say if that factory would be built by CATL. Reuters reported in May that CATL was looking at US sites to build EV batteries to serve Ford and BMW.

Ford's decision to use lithium-iron batteries in its best-selling North American EVs is the latest sign that lithium iron's lower cost - Ford said the chemistry can cut material costs by 10-15% - is worth the trade-off in range.

Tesla is offering LFP batteries in some lower-priced Model 3 sedans sold in the United States. Electric truck and van maker Rivian also has said it intends to use LFP batteries.
 Drake.

Drake said Ford wants to secure more batteries and battery materials from North America, but cautioned: "I wouldn't say that we have 100% confidence that all of these can be localised...It's hard work."

Ford said it also has agreed with CATL to explore using the Chinese company's batteries in Ford vehicles sold in the United States, Europe and China.

CATL said in a statement "the two companies plan to leverage their respective strengths to jointly explore new business opportunities worldwide," involving lithium-iron and other battery technologies.

The CATL agreements are part of a series of deals Ford disclosed to show that it is speeding up efforts to secure battery capacity and raw materials. Among them was an agreement to explore buying lithium from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto (RIO.AX), and nickel from Vale SA's units in Canada and Indonesia, China's Huayou Cobalt and BHP.

Some of the metals agreements are linked to projects that likely will not be producing until the later part of the decade. The Rio and Compass Minerals deals involve so-called direct lithium extraction technologies that have never worked at commercial scale.

Investors are concerned that supplies of battery materials and battery-making capacity will not keep up with demand for electric vehicles, leaving some automakers short in the later years of this decade.

Ford said it has now sourced about 70% of the battery capacity it needs to support its goal of building more than 2 million EVs worldwide by late 2026.

US government officials are increasingly concerned about the auto industry's reliance on China as the dominant source for battery materials and battery cells.

Ford's decision to use CATL's lithium iron phosphate batteries for the Mustang Mach-E starting next year, and the F-150 Lightning in 2024, marks a significant win for the Chinese battery maker, and a shift in US marketing strategy for Ford.

Lithium-iron batteries typically deliver less driving range than comparable batteries that use nickel and cobalt, and until recently, automakers had stuck with more expensive nickel-cobalt chemistries for the US market, where longer driving range is a key competitive measure.

"We know battery material costs is where the war will be won," Drake said during a call today. "LFP will give the biggest step function down" in costs.

Lower-cost batteries could allow Ford to drop prices for the Lightning and Mach-E, or boost profit margins.

Ford said it is aiming for 8% pretax profit margins on its EVs by 2026. The company has said its EV business currently is not profitable. Even an 8% margin would be short of the 14.6% operating margin Tesla Inc reported Wednesday for the second quarter.

Ford is aiming to expand its annual EV production rate to 600,000 vehicles globally by late 2023, and more than 2 million by the end of 2026. It expects the compound annual growth rate for EVs to top 90% through 2026, more than doubling the forecast industry growth rate.

In March, Ford boosted its planned spending on EVs through 2026 to $50 billion from its prior target of US$30 billion, and reorganised its operations into separate units focused on EVs and gasoline-powered vehicles with Ford Model e and Ford Blue, respectively.

The company is also working with LG Energy Solution and its long-time battery partner SK Innovation.


China's Baidu to create an intelligent EV company with automaker Geely

 Geely said the collaboration would be based on its EV-focused platform called Sustainable Experience Architecture.  — Reuters

BEIJING: China’s search engine giant Baidu Inc said today it will set up a company to partner with car maker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group to make smart electric vehicles (EV), the latest move by a tech company in the fast-evolving sector.

Baidu, which has been developing autonomous driving technology and Internet connectivity infrastructure, said the new EV company will count on Baidu’s intelligent driving capabilities and Geely’s car manufacturing expertise.

Geely will also be a strategic investor in the new company, which will be an independent subsidiary of Baidu, Baidu said in the statement.

Reuters reported Baidu’s plan to form a smart EV company with the help of Geely last week. Sources said Baidu would hold a majority stake and absolute voting power in the new firm and that Geely would have a minority stake.

Geely said in a separate statement today the collaboration would be based on Geely’s EV-focused platform, Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA).

Baidu’s move comes as many tech companies around the world are racing to develop smart cars, after Tesla Inc’s success in commercialising EVs.

Apple is pushing to design an electric vehicle and batteries, aiming at a possible 2024 launch, sources said last month.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has formed an EV joint venture with China’s biggest automaker SAIC Motor Corp while China’s Didi Chuxing is making EVs designed for ride hailing services with automaker BYD.

Baidu established its autonomous driving unit Apollo in 2017. The unit mainly supplies technology powered by artificial intelligence and works with automakers such as Geely, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and Ford Motor Co.

Baidu operates autonomous taxi service Go Robotaxi with safety drivers on board in Beijing, Changsha and Cangzhou, and plans to expand to 30 cities in three years, which analysts say is a potential scenario for Baidu to eventually commercialise its automous driving technoglogies. It gained approval last week to test five cars in Beijing without safety drivers.

Baidu’s car-making plan is likely to strengthen the concept of “software-defined vehicles,” said Jason Chen, transportation analyst at researcher Analysys.

“However, the success of Baidu’s car making will also depend on support from government policies, equipment cost reduction, and user demand.”

All automakers need to transform themselves into more tech-oriented companies as intelligent connectivity will play a much more important role, said Shi Ji, an analyst at Haitong International.


Over 4,000 m-cyclists summoned for modified exhausts in just three weeks, says IGP

                KUALA LUMPUR: In less than a month, more than 4,000 motorcyclists have been issued summonses for exhaust modifications.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said police issued a total of 4,087 summonses for the offence during 15 operations this month.

"We seized 2,309 motorcycles during operations which were carried out between March 1 and 21," he told reporters at Bukit Aman here today.

He said a total of 59,727 motorcycles were inspected during the operations.

"We are aware that when we started the operations many criticised us, saying that while people were going through a tough time we were going out to collect money for the government, but this is simply not true.

"The sound that modified motorcycle exhausts emit is a nuisance and the modification serves no real function," he added.

He said investigations revealed some motorcyclists spent between RM200 and RM2,000 on these modifications, but it did not actually give their motorcycles extra performance.

"Based on our observations, these motorcyclists only modify the exhaust systems for cosmetic reasons.

"They think it makes their machine look more stylish and go faster at the same time," he said.

Abdul Hamid added that it was time for action against errant motorcyclists because they contribute to more than 70% of fatal accidents.


Energy firms battle startups to wire Europe's highways for electric cars

                PARIS/FRANKFURT: The battle over how and where Europeans charge their electric cars is expanding from the continent’s cities to its motorways.

Power utilities, tech start-ups and oil majors are fighting to establish themselves as the dominant players in the fast-growing business of charging stations – but advances in electric vehicles means where they build them is changing.

Refuelling conventional petrol and diesel cars on motorways has long been the domain of the oil companies, which typically have their own networks of filling stations. Several are now talking about setting up high-power charging networks, creating major competition for limited space at motorway service areas.

“It is a bit of a landgrab now to win this sector,” said Tim Payne, chief executive of British charging start-up InstaVolt, which has raised 12 million pounds to install 3,000 charge points across Britain by 2020.

While the range of electric vehicles (EVs) was less than 100km , Europe’s utilities were happy to help cities and companies install slow and inexpensive charging points at homes, offices and shops, often supported by state subsidies.

But Tesla, Porsche and BMW are now making battery-powered cars with enough range to drive across countries. Daimler and Volkswagen also announced plans on the eve of this week’s Frankfurt motor show to accelerate their shift to electric cars.

Charging infrastructure remains nowhere near it needs to be. “Where is the network of charging points that will be required? Indeed where is the power and the grid?” Ralf Speth, boss of Britain’s Jaguar Land Rover, asked last week.

Experts including ChargePoint and Engie are, however, making plans to build pan-European networks of high-voltage fast-charging stations which can refill a battery in less than half an hour instead of overnight.

In Britain, InstaVolt is renting land from filling station operators, bringing them additional revenue from the lease as well as the increased traffic to their shops at the sites. It earns a margin by selling power through the chargers.

InstaVolt struck a deal in May with ChargePoint, which itself is on a US$125 million expansion spree in Europe, to install about 200 of the U.S. group’s ultra-fast chargers close to popular roads across Britain.
Morgan Stanley estimates that 1-3 million public charging points could be needed in western Europe by 2030, adding that while utilities have natural skills in the new industry, it was too early to determine who will come put on top. “The winning business model is up for grabs,” it said.

Today, there are fewer than 100,000 public charging points available in Europe, with only about six percent of them fast, according to the International Energy Agency.

Almost none of these is super-fast, a term usually used for charging stations with an output of at least 150 kilowatts. More than three times faster than current-generation chargers, they are now being targeted by those trying to become market leaders.

Contenders include Dutch EV-Box, one of Europe’s biggest makers of charging stations, which was snapped up by French utility Engie in March.

“We expect hundreds of millions of annual revenue from EV-Box in a few years,” Thierry Lepercq, head of innovation at Engie, told Reuters. He sees Engie’s EV charging revenue growing by a factor of 20 in three to five years. Last year, EV-Box had sales of 16 million euros.

EV-Box chief executive Kristof Vereenooghe said that unlike most of its competitors EV-Box has been profitable from the start, a claim that makes it stand out in an industry where gaining scale is considered more important for now.

That’s why German utility E.ON, too, announced a strategic partnership with Danish startup CLEVER and said it had the ambition to roll out several hundred ultra-fast charging stations along European motorways.

CLEVER, which is owned by a group of Danish utilities and runs charging networks in Denmark, Sweden and Germany, wants to extend its network to France, Britain and Italy with E.ON.

The firm, which unlike EV-Box and ChargePoint does not make its own hardware, is also still looking for other partners. “We want to connect cities so that you can easily drive across Europe in an electric vehicle,” CLEVER Chief Executive Casper Kirketerp-Moeller said.

Among the oil majors, BP, Shell and have all either announced plans or launched pilot projects for EV charging. Few people, however, expect them to become serious contenders for a business that would effectively curb demand for their chief product: oil.

BP did not respond to repeated requests for comment. A spokesman for Shell said it did not make economic sense yet to equip petrol stations fully with EV charging points.

“People like Shell and Total talk a lot, but nothing happens. We are putting the grid connection in place,” said Michiel Langezaal, founder and chief executive of Fastned, which has 63 EV charging stations in the Netherlands.

Leasing plots of land, the group wants to raise 100 million euros over the next two years to branch out into Germany, Belgium, France and Britain. So far it gets the stations from Swiss ABB but is also in talks with ChargePoint.

Unlike utilities and charging station startups, electric vehicle makers see fast charging networks not as a profit centre, but as a loss-leader needed to persuade customers that electric vehicles can drive across continents.

That seems to work for some.

Tesla, for example, operates a proprietary charging network throughout Europe, mainly in hotels, but it is stretched thinly - in the Ile de France region around Paris it has just a handful of “superchargers”.

This year, the group’s market valuation surpassed that of General Motors, making it the biggest US carmaker by that measure.

“Tesla has never been in the black, but had enormous growth,” said Elke Temme, who co-heads the e-mobility unit of Germany’s Innogy.

“Going forward, however, the business must pay off.”


BMW teases new 8 Series Coupe

                MUNICH: The new BMW 8 Series Coupe is coming.

Long expected to make a comeback, it was finally confirmed by BMW AG Harald Krüger at the company's annual general meeting here today.

He said the 8 Series design study would be presented at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 26, providing an exclusive look ahead to the grand tourer's world premiere in 2018, probably at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is an elegance competition for classic and vintage cars that takes place every year near the picturesque Lake Como.

“The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination,” says Krüger, looking ahead to the new model. “The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”

The Mercedes S-Class Coupe rival is expected to also include an M8 to compete with the likes of Ferrari.

The E31 8 Series was introduced from 1989 and had a 10-year run before it was discontinued because it did not meet new emission regulations.

The original 8 Series was powered by either a V8 or V12 engine.


SsangYong breathes new life into Rexton name

                SEOUL: SsangYong has announced that its new large SUV to be launched this week will be called Rexton.

Developed under the project name of Y400 and seen as the LIV-2 concept at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the new car inherits the heritage and DNA of the original Rexton as a large SUV. It will be known internationally as Rexton, and G4 Rexton in South Korea.

SsangYong expects this new generation Rexton to compete with traditional D & E segment SUVs, and will continue the renewal of SsangYong’s brand identity which began with the launch of Tivoli. Inheriting the brand values of the original Rexton as its flagship, it will also further underpin the company’s reputation as South Korea's oldest vehicle manufacturer and only 4x4 and SUV specialist producer.

With a refined and luxurious interior, the new Rexton will feature Apple Carplay and Android Auto with device mirroring, 3D Around View Monitoring (AVM) and a wide 9.2-inch HD screen.

The new car has SUV styling and promises drivability with high levels of safety that includes nine airbags. It has a front mounted engine, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. SsangYong said it would offer excellent driving characteristics on and off-road, balanced weight distribution, great towing capability and NVH performance.

Built using a Quad-Frame body structure using 1.5Gpa giga-steel - a world first, it also features 63% advanced high strength steel (AHSS) to create greatly improved body strength while reducing weight.

Rexton is 4,850mm long, 1,920mm wide, 1,800mm high, and has a 2,865mm wheelbase. It will be powered by both petrol and new clean-burning diesel engines.

The car will go on sale in South Korea during the first half of this year, and internationally before the end of 2017.

SsangYong cars are manufactured in South Korea by SsangYong Motor, which is 73 per cent owned by the Indian engineering conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra.


Don’t speed and pay traffic fines, IGP tells motorists

                GOMBAK: Don’t speed and end up paying hefty traffic fines, says the Inspector General of Police.

Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar urged motorists to take their time to drive home safely.

“Instead of forking out money to pay traffic fines, use the money on your children this Hari Raya,” said Khalid.

Since the Ops Selamat started a week ago, 86 people have been killed and 7,274 accidents have been reported nationwide.

The death toll, he said, was 35% higher than last year’s figure during the same Hari Raya period.

Most of the accidents happened because people disregard traffic laws, said Khalid.

“People are just rushing, not being patient, trying to cut queues and running red lights. Every year it’s the same.

“People are careless and drive like they have to be the first ones to arrive back home,” he said.

Since the start of Ops Selamat, police have issued 1,880 summonses to those driving on emergency lanes and cutting queues.

Khalid warned that those issued with summonses during the Ops Selamat period will not be given any reductions.

Federal roads were the most deadly stretches with 47 deaths in the past week, followed by 26 deaths on state roads and 18 on highways.

Johor and Selangor had the most number of accidents and deaths.

Meanwhile, Khalid and Bukit Aman officers were at the Gombak toll plaza heading towards Genting Highlands and Kuantan for a light hearted Hari Raya traffic safety campaign with motorists.

Khalid and officers passed out durian puffs and road safety pamphlets to drivers at the toll plaza.


The SUV is conquering the US and Europe but how long will it reign?

                DETROIT: The past year saw record car sales on both sides of the Atlantic and a huge jump in demand for crossovers and SUVs in particular, to the point where they account for over 40% of US car sales and 25% of European sales. But even with unprecedented levels of demand, not all consumers are sold on the idea of owning an SUV.

Of the 17.5 million vehicles sold in America over the last 12 months, 6.7 million were crossovers or SUVs and 2.7 million pickups.

And as sales of 4x4s increases, all other vehicle types have started sliding in popularity. Sales of large cars have plummeted 44.7% in the US over the course of 2016 while sales of large SUVs have jumped 21.6%.

Honda has sold 357,335 CR-V crossovers, Nissan 329,904 Rouges, and Toyota 352,139 RAV4 models. To put those figures into perspective, America's most popular car, the Toyota Camry, managed 388,616 sales, and while it's still ahead of the chasing crossover pack, it has seen sales fall 9% over the past 12 months, while Nissan has seen a 14.9% spike in demand for the Rogue.

According to J.D. Power, it's taken five years for the SUV and crossover to move from a 34% to a 42% market share. "Low fuel prices, favorable lease deals and the availability of low-interest loans are attracting buyers to SUVs," said Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power.

And the crossover craze is now sweeping through Europe too. For the first time, high-sided vehicles accounted for one in every four cars sold on the continent in 2016. JATO Dynamics says that registrations of these types of cars grew by 21.4% over 2016 - a year where car sales were at their highest across all sectors for nearly a decade.

"[It] was a great year for the industry, with the second highest volume of registrations since 2007. European car registrations have shown good momentum, with 27 out of 29 markets in Europe recording positive growth last year," said Felipe Munoz, JATO's Global Automotive Analyst.

Over the next 12 months, car companies will be betting even more on the persuasive powers of the SUV with new models coming from Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz Nissan, and Volkswagen among others.

However, J.D. Power notes that the majority of US car shoppers are actively trying to resist the lure of SUVs. Just 24% of the 27,500 car owners who took part in its most recent Auto Avoider Study said that they went out to buy a new SUV rather than any other type of car.

"Since consumers, on average, pay a 9% premium for an SUV compared with a comparably equipped sedan, many consumers still are not considering an SUV," said Sargent.

What's more, in US car-buying circles, SUVs struggle to build the same levels of loyalty that other vehicle types achieve - 38% of SUV owners are new to the vehicle's maker.


2021 New York auto show postponed to August

At the 2014 New York auto show.
NEW YORK: Covid-19 has turned the world upside down. For auto show organisers as well, most of whom are forced to cancel or postpone their events.

The 2021 New York International Auto Show, initially slated to start in April, has been pushed back to Aug 20-29.

The 2020 show was cancelled.

"Looking at all the issues we’re facing, we have determined that moving the dates of the 2021 NYIAS to August is not only the responsible thing to do, but it puts us in a unique position to occupy the expanded Javits Center with an additional 100,000 square feet of new exhibit space on the main floor and much more," said show president Mark Schienberg.

In the latest revision of US auto shows that are set to open in 2021, the Chicago show is set to kick things off next February followed by the Los Angeles show (May 21), the New York show (Aug 20) and Detroit show (Sept 28).

Only Detroit's shift to the fall slot is believed to be permanent. With the current Covid-19 crisis in the United States showing little sign of easing off, the Chicago slot may yet change.

A third wave of the coronavirus infections is sweeping across the United States now, threatening to be the worst yet. Over 8 million Americans are infected with over 220,000 deaths.


Mazda3 is the coolest car in the US

                LOS ANGELES: Kelley Blue Book, the consumer and industry serving vehicle valuation and automotive research firm has published its annual list of what it believes are the 10 coolest affordable cars on sale in the US at the moment. "Cool" is a very subjective term especially when it comes to cars.

A vehicle could be a nightmare to own and potentially deadly to drive but something about it makes all of these drawbacks no difficulty to live with.

For entrance onto its latest list, a car was defied as cool by KBB if it cost US$18,000 (RM65,000) or less, was fun to drive and fun to own - i.e., spent most of its time in the driveway rather than with a mechanic or an after-sales service department.

For the second year running, the Mazda3 takes the top honours pushing the Volkswagen Golf into second place. And, proving that design is just as important as practicality or performance, the diminutive SUV-styled Kia Soul takes third place. Although technically now part of Fiat, Jeep is the highest-ranking US car on the list. Its new "sub-compact" SUV jumped into fourth place in its first year on sale. The top five is rounded out by the ever-reliable Honda Civic.

Cars that hail from Japan tend to perform very well in consumer tests, whatever the criteria and alongside the Mazda3 and Honda Civic, the Honda Fit (in seventh) and the Subaru Impreza (10th) also made this year's list. However, buyers are also finding much to like about home-grown cars, too.

The Ford Fiesta is in sixth place and the Chevrolet Sonic in eighth. The Fiat 500 which hasn't received any significant exterior update since its launch in 2007, still managed to make 10th place, making it one of only two truly European entry in this year's list.

"This year's list of budget-smart cool cars includes a repeat winner, an all-new Jeep and a few cars that have been completely redesigned for 2015. All of them are fun, stylish and versatile to varying degrees, and each and every one is enticingly affordable," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.

"Still riding high on the strength of a well-received redesign for 2014, the 2015 Mazda3, which could be called the reigning king of the Coolest Cars Under US$18,000, claims its spot at the top of our annual list for the second year in a row."


Detroit's Big Three automakers to let workers stop wearing masks

                WASHINGTON: Detroit's Big Three automakers said on Thursday they will allow autoworkers to stop wearing masks at workplaces where US health officials have said it is safe to do so.

General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV and the United Auto Workers union said in a joint statement they would adopt the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance allowing workers at US facilities to not wear masks regardless of Covid-19 vaccination status, if those facilities are not in high-risk counties.

The CDC said Thursday that 93% of Americans live in counties that are not high-risk.

Nearly all of Michigan, where the Big Three automakers have many of their plants are in areas where the CDC has deemed it safe to take off masks, including in the counties home to the headquarters of GM, Ford and Stellantis North America.

Other states home to many plants like Ohio and Illinois are also mostly deemed safe to drop masks, according to the CDC.

The Big Three, unlike some other major manufacturers, never mandated vaccines for thousands of unionized US workers.

Last fall, Ford and Stellantis both required its US salaried non-union workers to be vaccinated to seek exemptions.

GM, Ford and Stellantis all mandated vaccines for all autoworkers in Canada.

In August 2021, the US automakers reinstated requirements to wear masks at all US plants, offices and warehouses after a surge in Covid cases.

The CDC and other global public health agencies have advised wearing masks to prevent the spread of Covid but some have raised questions about their efficacy.

Mask mandates have been opposed by various government officials and people who see the mandates as a government overreach.


UMW Toyota Motor rolls out Ramadan/Raya video

                KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor has launched its Ramadan/Raya campaign this year with the theme ‘Bersama Lebih Bermakna’.

Continuing the celebration nationwide, the video is inspired by the importance of family, especially with the travel restrictions Malaysians had to endure these past two years.

‘Kota Raya’ highlights the struggles of millennials in the city.

The protagonists' deeply rooted sense of family and togetherness made the inability to celebrate together that much harder.

The video stars Aedy Ashraf as Aidil, while Fitri is played by Amerul Afendi, and also features a special appearance by Toyota Gazoo Racing and Toyota Yaris ambassador, Janna Nick as Aqilah.

The video is also available on Toyota Malaysia's Facebook.


Pay-as-you-go car insurance launches in Britain

                LONDON: By Miles is an insurer asking drivers to pay a flat-rate annual motor insurance fee that covers the car when it's not in use. After that, the driver pays an additional amount for every mile they drive.

The product is designed particularly for those who drive fewer than 12,000km per year, or an average of 225km per week. The upfront flat-fee insures the vehicle against theft or damage when parked and not in use, and after that the customer is charged purely for the amount they actually use their vehicle.

In essence, it allows those who need to have a car available for short journeys or infrequent use to avoid paying over the odds for their insurance.

On the face of things, it seems perfectly reasonable and a pretty good and innovative idea. However, there are elements of the scheme that may start to ring alarm bells with some people, and might lead them to think the cons outweigh the pro of slightly cheaper insurance premiums.

And that's because to monitor the mileage the car is doing means having a telematics device plugged into the vehicle's On Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) port. Journey mileages and charges can be monitored with a dedicated smartphone app, and the user will be billed each month based on the distance they cover.

Although By Miles is at pains to assure us drivers will not be charged in any way based on how or how fast they drive, that data is also inevitably going to be recorded by the system.

By Miles insists they will "never share any of your personal driving data with the police, unless we are obliged to as a direct result of a court order." It doesn't mention the data being used for other purposes.

If a user agrees with that, then here's what it will cost. The minimum flat-rate, regardless of whether the vehicle is driven or not, will be £150 (RM802) per year, and each mile driven adds an additional charge of 3p (16 sen). That's just the start though. For a 25-year old living here, the flat charge rises to £315 per year (RM1,683), and the mileage charge is a whopping 8.5p (45 sen).


Osoplus aiming to make its mark in lubes

                PETALING JAYA: Aiming to promote a range of quality lubricants among Malaysian motorists, new local brand Osoplus is offering lubricants that are specially formulated and blended in Germany.

Its lubricants range are available in the mineral, semi-synthetic and fully-synthetic range and are suitable for all types of vehicles with pricing that are comparable with other brands.

The lubricants also come with high API ratings of SN, attesting for quality, performance and meeting international standards.

Its products are sold via six membership programmes where members are entitled up to 30% discount on products purchases.

The company has also tied-up with Tokio Marine to provide free insurance coverage up to RM20,000 to their members with just a membership sign-up of RM500.

 Mazlan (second from left) and senior officials of the company.

Members also get free service for road tax and insurance renewal and tour vouchers of up to RM400.

Since its launch recently, Osoplus Sdn Bhd marketing director Datuk Mazlan Sabli said the company had received encouraging response to its membership drive, which he attributed to product quality and competitive pricing.

"There are 13 million registered vehicles in Malaysia and the market is huge for lubricants and vehicle servicing," he said.

At the moment, Osoplus lubricants can be bought at the D Champion Auto workshop at Bandar Sunway where customers can also have their vehicle serviced.

The company is in the midst of appointing exclusive dealers nationwide with plans to export its lubricants to Asean countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia.

 Cars being serviced at Osoplus workshop D Champion Auto in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.

To stay competitive, the company is planning to package its diesel engine lubricants in 7-litre containers as diesel engines would usually require that amount during each oil change.

This would ensure the entire amount of lubricant in the container is used up without any leftover that could lead to wastage.

For details, call tel: 03-5613 3339/010-361 1858 (Peggy) or 013-959 5222 (Stevie).

Alternatively, log on to www.osoplus.com.my or e-mail osoplus888@gmail.com. — EDDIE GOH


MAA confident Proton X70 will help boost total industry volume to 585,000

                PETALING JAYA: Proton’s sport utility vehicle (SUV) launch will help boost vehicle sales to close the year on a high, with the sales figure so far this year already outnumbering the 2017 figure.

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said vehicle sales should reach the total industry volume (TIV) target of 585,000 units by the year-end. She said TIV from January to October was already 6% higher at 502,244 units, compared with 472,719 over the same period last year.

Despite the 23% fall in vehicle sales in September after the end of the GST tax holiday on Aug 31, October sales shot up by 5.1%, according to MAA figures.

“We did not expect it but in October, the numbers were good and in November, the numbers were also doing well,” Aishah said yesterday.

The highest TIV by the industry was 69,371 units in December 2015.

READ MORE: Proton X70 launched on 12/12, 4 variants priced from RM100K to RM124K

Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong said over 10,000 bookings had been received for the X70 SUV.

“This is a good start. We will work hard to deliver on our product and brand promise,” he said, adding that delivery of the X70 would start soon.

Four versions of the X70 are available with prices ranging from RM99,800 to RM123,800.

The model represent the first collaboration between Proton Holdings Bhd and Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group.

Malaysians on Facebook praised the new SUV, with Hom Rissay Iduasneb calling it “high tech and rich in features”.

“This car is pretty cheap compared with other car brands in its segment,” he said.

Ujang Rais said considering the specifications and accessories of the vehicle, the SUV was value for money.

Kay Stevenson felt that the car was also affordable. “It is cheaper compared with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5,” said Stevenson.


Photographer adds magical touch with Lego Porsche 911 RSR in the desert

                STUTTGART: Tomek Makolski is on a mission to slow us all down. In our hard-charging digital world, where most images are only appreciated for a few seconds, the Polish photographer wants his creations to give us pause.

You might well remember one of Makolski’s earlier works. In 2017 the successful commercial photographer took a series of atmospheric night shots of his native Warsaw before superimposing an apparently life size Lego 911 GT3 RS onto the images.

The idea caught the public imagination, its mixture of skilful camera work and ingenious post-production techniques creating striking and playful pictures that stood apart from the more familiar tropes of automotive social media.

Makolski is passionate about his subject.

A keen driver himself, he attends regular trackdays and is not averse to driving 10 hours to revisit his favourite alpine passes. He also loves Porsche.

 Makolski. — Image from facebook.com/makolski

“As a car enthusiast I think Porsche is a special brand,” the 29-year-old says. “I was born in Poland in 1990 and we didn’t see many in the streets growing up, so it’s always been a dream car. I’ve had a few opportunities to drive different models thanks to my work and Porsche is definitely my favourite sports car brand. I really like the whole community.”

Amid a busy professional schedule that covers portraiture, fashion, food and lifestyle photography, the automotive sector still has a special place and when Makolski is not working with Formula 1 teams and major car manufacturers, he remains keen to experiment.

When Porsche and Lego revealed the new 911 RSR, Makolski jumped at the chance to try something new. He travelled to Dubai and shot numerous locations that would serve to both contrast and enhance the RSR, the desert’s dramatic light and arid landscapes a far cry from the familiar surroundings of Porsche’s championship-winning GT racer.

The results are an eye-catching collection of static and action images, complete with motion blur and even the occasional flicker of unburnt fuel. But the defining characteristic of all the images, amid the dry dust and the hot black asphalt, is the authentic light that Makolski was at such pains to accurately replicate.

“I shot the car in the studio in Warsaw,” he explains, “and applied all the light there. It was essential to reproduce it exactly as it was on location before going into post-production. There, with the help of Kamil Karpinski at adspringer.com, we put everything together, including the additional blur and flames.”

Today, the RSR sits behind him on a shelf in his apartment. He built it during lockdown and found the process strangely cathartic. “It took three evenings and was actually a great experience. I just poured myself a glass of wine and turned on some music. There is so much disturbance these days and this exercise allowed me to focus on one thing, which is so healthy for the mind.”

Following a second successful project, Makolski is determined to pursue this avenue of photography, where the real and imaginary meet almost seamlessly, and is currently exploring the possibilities of introducing CGI to extend the idea still further.

“Images today only exist for a few seconds before they’re forgotten, so I want to really capture the viewer’s attention and make them think for a while, to analyse the picture as if it was in a gallery or museum. We produce so much content these days that it is hard to do something that makes a bigger impact. So I love the idea of playing with people’s perception.”


F1 Malaysian GP to continue until 2018

                SEPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced that the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix will continue for the next three years.

"After negotiations with Formula 1 management we have succeeded in procuring the extension until 2018.

"With that Petronas has also agreed to be the title sponsor for the next three years," he told reporters after giving the winning trophy to Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel at the Sepang International Circuit Sunday.

Najib said there was a need to develop the race further as an event that would not just gain international spectators but also Malaysian fans to come.

"Other agencies and ministries including Tourism Malaysia must work together to make this an important event in the tourism calendar.

"We need to create more excitement and buzz to lure more spectators," he said adding that the Sepang International Circuit management has voiced some ideas but needed more support from other government departments in terms of event organising and promotions.


BMW mulls converting hybrids to electric only mode in polluted cities

                LOS ANGELES: BMW said it can force its hybrid cars to switch to an electric-only mode in heavily polluted inner-city areas, helping its vehicles compete with pure battery-driven rivals as a raft of cities seek to create emissions-free zones.

“The car switches off the combustion engine automatically,” BMW’s board member for development, Klaus Froehlich, said at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Because of BMW vehicles’ connectivity and navigation systems, its cars can be converted to automatically disable engines, Froehlich said, adding that the new X5 sports utility vehicle has an operating range of 80km in electric-only mode.

BMW is currently demonstrating the technology to local authorities in German cities which may be forced to ban heavily polluting diesel cars as a way to meet European Union clean air rules.

A global clampdown on vehicle pollution in the wake of Volkswagen’s 2015 diesel emissions cheating scandal has prompted cities including London, Paris and Stuttgart to consider bans of combustion engine vehicles.

But customers have shied away from buying electric cars because of a lack of charging infrastructure, making hybrids a more attractive option for now.

Such a vehicle could be very important in regions such as Europe, where most drivers do not own multiple cars for different uses, he said.

Germany’s highest administrative court in February ruled cities could ban diesel vehicles from some streets in order to improve air quality.


TOC collaborates with MSF to create future motorsport leaders

From left: MSF principal Adian Yein, Adelaine and MSF superbike representative Liew Chin Hooi.
PETALING JAYA: The Otomotif College (TOC) and national racing event series Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) have officially in partnership to provide a new MSF Motor Racing course at the college.

The new course will seek to enrol 30 or more existing TOC students who will attend 20 classes (spread over six months) and will receive a free uniform as well as an allowance of RM50 per race day.

The course will teach students about the business of motor racing where graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and technical experience of working in various racing series.

The coverage of topics include racing event safety and scrutineering, race control and driver discipline, timing and gridding, body and chassis preparation, engine modification and preparation, basic aerodynamics, suspension setup as well as testing and strategies.

Additionally, major local motorsports industry players will be invited to give talks throughout the course and includes confirmed people from Fawster Suspension, K-Tech Suspension, Hankook Motorsports Malaysia and Proton-R3 Motorsports among those confirmed.

"Over the last 10 years TOC has been helping to develop technicians for race teams. Now, we feel that it is time to help create future leaders for the local motorsport industry as a whole and help propel it to greater heights", said TOC founder and CEO Adelaine Foo


SenseAuto driving tech in nearly 30 mass-produced cars at Auto Shanghai 2023

                SHANGHAI: At Auto Shanghai 2023, automotive driving technology provider SenseAuto presented a futuristic demo cabin featuring an AI virtual assistant that welcomes guests and directs them to their seats.

In addition, SenseTime's latest large-scale language model (LLM), "SenseChat", interacted with guests and provided personalized content recommendations.

The "SenseMirage" text-to-image creation platform has also been integrated with the exhibition cabin for the first time.

With the help of SenseTime's AIGC (AI-Generated Content) capabilities, guests can enjoy a fun-filled travel experience with various styles of photos generated for them.

At the exhibition, SenseAuto unveiled six industry-first features including Lip-Reading, Guard Mode, Intelligent Rescue, Air Touch, AR Karaoke and Intelligent Screensaver.

 SenseAuto made its third appearance at Auto Shanghai

With six years of industry experience, SenseAuto has accumulated to date a portfolio of 29 features, of which, over 10 are industry-firsts.

Meanwhile, the SenseAuto Pilot Entry is a cost-effective solution that uses parking cameras for driving functions.

SenseAuto's parking feature supports cross-layer parking lot routing, trajectory tracking, intelligent avoidance, and target parking functions to fulfill multiple parking needs in multi-level parking lots.

At Auto Shanghai 2023, SenseAuto showcased the GAC Aion LX Plus all-electric mid-size crossover, which leverages SenseAuto's surround BEV (Bird 's-Eye-View) and Navigated Driving Assist (NDA).

The Neta S all-electric mid-size sedan also has SenseAuto's assisted driving technology in highway scenarios.

Meanwhile, the Nio ES7 5-seat mid-size luxury SUV supports functions such as driver fatigue alerts, Face ID, and child presence detection.

SenseAuto's visual AI technology has boosted the accuracy of driver attention detection by 47% to 53%.

The Zeekr X SUV showcased SenseAuto's B-pillar interactive system, a first-of-its-kind that allows for contactless unlocking and entry.

Recently, carnewschina.com reported that the all-electric Zeekr X SUV (sport utility vehicle) was launched in China at prices starting from 189,800 yuan (RM122,068), and travel ranges of up to 512km or 560km on a single charge.

Other models on display that boast SenseAuto's cutting-edge DMS (Driver Monitoring System) and OMS (Occupant Monitoring System) technologies include Dongfeng Mengshi 917, GAC's Trumpchi E9, Emkoo, as well as the M8 Master models.

Moreover, HiPhi has collaborated with SenseAuto on multiple Smart Cabin features and Changan Yida is equipped with SenseAuto's health management product, which can detect various health indicators of passengers in just 30 seconds.

In 2022, SenseAuto Cabin and SenseAuto Pilot products were adapted and delivered to 27 vehicle models with more than 8 million new pipelines.

These products now cover more than 80 car models from over 30 automotive companies, including automakers such as GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Corp) and Neta.


Audi uses AI to design new rims

                INGOLSTADT: Audi is using artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time in the design of wheels.

Its AI application, called FelGAN, was developed and implemented in an entirely in-house collaboration between Audi’s IT and design departments.

FelGAN is aimed at opening up new sources of inspiration for designers.

It helps Audi design new wheels in an exhaustive process.

One of two computer algorithms, called the “generator”, makes artificial images of a specific motif – in the case of FelGAN, a vehicle rim.

The discriminator – the competitor, so to speak – sees a selection of images, consisting of real wheel photos alongside images from the generator. Now the discriminator decides whether each image is a creation of the generator or a real photo. This process is repeated again and again until training is completed.

Both algorithms are designed to learn from their mistakes and improve continuously. After enough runs, the generator’s creations are so deceptively real that even the human eye cannot, or can only barely, distinguish them from real photos.

The application’s intuitive user interface, which is based on Streamlit technology, creates short development cycles and quick feedback between the design and IT team.

Designers do not have to rely on high-performance local hardware when using the software solution. The components of the AI application – which require a lot of processing power – are run in the cloud.

Another benefit of FelGAN is that the software assigns a mathematical value to each design that the AI makes. Referred to by developers as “DNA”, these values can be used at any time to reproduce designs.

Audi designers can also feed the program with their own designs and photos, adding them to the virtual experimental surface. This is based on special algorithms that determine the appropriate DNA values for the images that designers feed in.

Often, designers only go on to use individual elements from FelGAN’s creations, refining them into an overall design. In addition to mastery of the tools of the trade, a creative eye and professional experience play the decisive role here.

Finally, the experts at Audi make the virtual design a reality by producing a prototype of the wheel, either in plastic or aluminum, using a high-tech milling machine.

In the future, the technology behind FelGAN could be expanded into a comprehensive AI design platform that could also serve as a source of inspiration for designers from other Audi departments.

An AI rating system is currently being developed in which each rim generated by FelGAN will be assessed on its carbon balance.

The name “FelGAN” is a mash-up of the German word for “rim” (Felge) and “GAN”, the latter being an acronym for Generative Adversarial Networks. GANs are a special form of self-learning computer program in which two algorithms compete as opponents during the so-called training, becoming better and better in competition with each other.


2019 BMW M340i xDrive sedan: World premiere in Los Angeles

                MUNICH: The new 2019 BMW M340i xDrive sedan, an extremely dynamic model variant of the new 3 Series, will have a world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2018 which starts on Nov 30.

A straight six-cylinder petrol engine with 374hp, M-specific suspension technology, M Sport differential, intelligent four-wheel drive provide outstanding driving dynamics that are unparalleled in the mid-sized segment.

Tyres of the format 225/45 R 18 are mounted on the front wheels, whilst size 255/40 R 18 tyres are used at the rear.

Standard equipment on the BMW M340i xDrive sedan include the M Sport suspension, variable sports steering, an M Sport differential, the M Sport brake system and 18-inch M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres.

The new TwinScroll turbocharged engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology provides the six-cylinder with an increase in output by 48hp to 374hp vs. the most powerful engine previously used for the BMW 3 Series, as well as an increase in maximum torque by 50Nm to 500Nm.

The BMW M340i xDrive Sedan completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds – half a second faster than the top-of-the-range model of the previous generation of the BMW 3 Series Sedan.

The BMW M340i xDrive Sedan comes as standard with the 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission.

The rear-wheel bias of BMW xDrive supports that brand-typical driving experience and is particularly strongly effective in the driver experience control modes SPORT and SPORT+.

The M sport brakes achieve this with a more direct ratio as well as a different hydraulic configuration including four-piston, fixed calliper brakes and 348 millimetres discs at the front and single-piston, floating calliper brakes with 345 millimetres discs at the rear.

A further integral part of the M Sport suspension and the Adaptive M suspension is the Variable Sport Steering feature, which supports agile cornering with outstanding feedback as well as spontaneous and precise response.

Unique design elements include the BMW kidney grille boasting a mesh design, the rear spoiler in body colour and trapezoidal exhaust tailpipe trims.

Inside the car, there are sports seats with M-specific upholstery in a Sensatec/Alcantara trim, the anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, the M leather-clad steering wheel with shift paddles and interior trim strips in Aluminium Tetragon.

Meanwhile, the BMW X7 and Series Convertible and BMW Vision iNEXT will also celebrate their world premieres at the international motor show in California.

The BMW X7 and BMW 8 Series Convertible are the next step in the Munich-based premium carmaker’s ongoing model offensive in the luxury segment.

The BMW Vision iNext will give visitors an enthralling insight into all-electric, fully connected and highly automated driving.

The production model based on the BMW Vision iNext will serve as the company’s new technological flagship, with the first examples rolling off the assembly line at BMW Plant Dingolfing in 2021.


Cadillac excites with Escala Concept

                SAN FRANCISCO: Cadillac has something to shout about at Pebble Beach and it’s the Escala Concept.

The concept flaship sedan showcases an array of three curved OLED screens in the front of the cabin. The thin, curved displays are layered in front of the driver, with the back sides wrapped in hand-stitched leather embossed with the Cadillac script. The array of screens consolidate the traditional “cluster” of driving gauges with the “centre stack” into one integrated unit.

Escala includes new designs for connectivity and control, providing a prototype for the user experience in development for future production models. The system features a central control module that enables the driver to execute tactile commands across the spectrum of connectivity functions, in addition to voice and gesture control technology. Inside the controller sits a new edition of Cadillac’s “flying Goddess” icon, a nod to the brand’s heritage.

Like all Cadillac models today, the interior is assembled using hand cut-and-sewn techniques. However, Escala presents several new and unique touches, blending overt luxury with covert technology. Escala makes broad use of hand-tailored fabric on the door trim and seating areas. Inspired by suiting material used by Cadillac’s partners in the fashion industry, the fabric provides a new level of hand-applied craftsmanship and colour, unique in today’s auto interior landscape.

The Escala Concept uses Cadillac’s new RWD-centric large luxury car architecture, featuring one of the world’s most advanced body structures, which debuted on the new CT6. The mixed-material construction enables agility and efficiency.

Escala uses a new 4.2-litre twin-turbo V-8 engine, a prototype of a new system in development for future Cadillac models. The advanced engine uses Active Fuel Management technology, enabling fuel-saving 4-cylinder operation.

“Escala is a concept with two clear objectives,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Global Cadillac. “First, Escala is a statement of intent for the next iteration of the Cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future Cadillac models. Secondly, Escala builds Cadillac’s aspirational character, signalling the brand’s return to the pinnacle of premium.”

Escala — Spanish for “scale”— is a concept for a larger, more elite and expressive companion to the recently launched 2016 Cadillac CT6, the brand’s new range-topping prestige sedan. Escala is also the third in a series of concepts Cadillac has debuted at Pebble Beach in recent years, following the Ciel convertible (2011) and Elmiraj coupe (2013).

Escala is designed to be both a driver’s car and an indulgent flagship sedan. The large 4-door sedan features an expansive liftback design emphasising the car’s considerable scale and versatility. At 534.7cm in overall length, Escala is 15.2cm longer than today’s CT6.

Escala features a new and evolved face of Cadillac design that will begin appearing on production models soon. This includes a new expression of Cadillac’s vertical lighting, a brand signature since 1948. Organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting elements are thinner and set deep within the fascia, creating a sinister look, day and night.


Bridgestone rolls out Potenza Sport performance tyre

                PETALING JAYA: Bridgestone today rolled out its new flagship Potenza tyre - Potenza Sport.

According to Bridgestone, the new tyre exploits advanced tyre technologies and offers superior road holding performance.

Potenza Sport is said to inherit and enhance key performance characteristics from tyres across the Potenza family, promising exceptional cornering and straight line stability, offering drivers outstanding control on both dry and wet road conditions.

Potenza Sport features various new technologies in tread pattern design, compound and construction.

Innovative 3D sipes are applied to the tyre tread pattern design to increase shear stiffness, as well as to improve and enhance braking and abrasion resistance.

The compound contains an optimised formula that is combined with innovative mixing technology to improve the tyre’s wet and dry handling performances.

Bridgestone also deployed a new hybrid crown reinforcement to maximise tyre stability at high speed.

A sporty carcass package is also applied to increase stability and steering response, while optimising rolling resistance.

During the tyre design and development stage, virtual tyre development technology played a key role in enabling Bridgestone to accurately predict the tyre’s performance without having to physically produce and test it.

This has the dual benefits of being more environmentally-friendly due to the reduced amount of resources required, as well as shortening the duration of the development process, accelerating time-to-market.

“Succeeding Bridgestone’s flagship Potenza S007A, the Potenza Sport is designed to meet the wide range of premium sports sedans and SUVs as well as high performance sports cars’ driver’s needs and expectations by unlocking the performance of their vehicle while keeping them in control," said Bridgestone Tyre Sales (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Michael Chung.

Potenza Sport tyres are original equipment on some of the top car brands, including the Maserati MC20 supercar, Lamborghini Huracán STO, BMW 8 series, amongst others.

Potenza Sport currently available in 16 different sizes ranging from 18 to 19 inches and can be bought from Bridgestone authorised dealers.

The Potenza series has had a long history and has been well received amongst consumers.

The Potenza Adrenalin RE004 is another example of a performance tyre from the same series that provides excellent handling on dry and wet roads. It was launched in 2020 and is available from 15-18 inches.


Porsche and Piech families seek driving seat at Volkswagen, say sources

                HAMBURG: Volkswagen's controlling shareholder families aim to keep Europe's top carmaker on a shorter leash and want greater say over strategic matters in what marks a power play ahead of the planned listing of Porsche, people familiar with the matter say.

The Porsche and Piech families, who control holding firm Porsche SE - which owns most of Volkswagen's voting rights - are hoping to return the group to calmer waters after a turbulent period under outgoing CEO Herbert Diess, they added.

"They want to keep a closer eye on the implementation of the strategic guidelines," said a person with knowledge of the families' thinking.

Under Diess, Volkswagen took major steps towards electrification, but his forthright style provoked opposition within the company that sometimes eclipsed his achievements, testing the families' patience, the sources said.

As a result, they plan to run a tighter ship.

"The families are actively involved - an ability they have long been believed incapable of," a second source said.

The greater influence has already been reflected in the appointment of Oliver Blume as Volkswagen's next CEO, a move that has drawn fire from several investors because he will also stay boss of Porsche AG - even after a planned flotation.

Touted as the "preferred candidate" of the Porsche and Piech clan, Blume is expected to push through the long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) of Porsche AG, the families' namesake carmaker he has been leading since 2015, the people said.

Porsche SE and Volkswagen declined to comment.

The IPO is critical to the families as they would become a direct shareholder of Porsche AG again after the maker of the iconic 911 model was taken over by Volkswagen in 2009, following a botched attempt by Porsche AG to buy Volkswagen instead.

"The structure of the IPO primarily fulfils the families' interest in further tightening their grip on Porsche, and they will not be dissuaded from this plan," said Hendrik Schmidt, corporate governance expert at DWS, which holds shares in both Volkswagen and Porsche SE.

The agreed structure of the IPO, which has still to be confirmed, would give the Porsche and Piech families a blocking minority in the sports car brand that was founded by their ancestor Ferdinand Porsche in 1931.

Manuel Theisen, retired professor for business administration at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and a specialist in corporate governance, said this was a way to claw back some of the families' influence.

"The primary reason is power."


12 finalists for BMW Shorties 2016 announced

Seven of the 12 finalists.
KUALA LUMPUR: The BMW Shorties contest capped off its 10th anniversary this year with 115 short films received, its highest ever.

Because of the number of quality entries, BMW Group Malaysia had to expand the number of finalists from the usual 10 to 12. The journey was done earlier this month and this year's theme was known as "Journey".

The judges were personalities in the film industry of Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. They were Lina Tan, Liew Seng Tat, Lee Chatametikool, Nadira Ilana and Yuni Hadi.

One of the 12 finalists will win the grand prize award of a RM75,000 production grant alongside promising prospects in the filmmaking industry. The 12 finalists’ short films are open for public voting in the People’s Choice Award from Nov 30 to Dec 7 at www.bmwshorties.com.my.


SPONSORED: Renault Koleos 4WD refined and classy SUV

                The new Renault Koleos 4WD and 2WD variants offer exceptional cabin space, a generous equipment list and a high-end interior befitting a premium D-segment sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Its powerful 2.5-litre petrol engine produces 171PS and 226Nm of torque, mated to an X-Tronic CVT automatic transmission, and is also extremely responsive with 200Nm of torque available from 1,800rpm.

The Koleos 4WD has All-Mode 4X4-i technology, which permanently monitors grip levels to ensure optimal traction for more dynamic performance, greater stability and enhanced safety.

Also new to the 4WD version is an elegant Marron Red colour and a hands-free power tailgate, which can be opened by swiping the foot underneath the rear bumper. The Koleos offers class-leading space, and its front seats are among the biggest in its class. Rear passengers are pampered with a knee-room of 289mm, which outclasses rival models.

Boot space is abundant at 542 litres and can be expanded to 1,690 litres with the 60/40-split rear bench seat folded.

Pure Vision LED headlamps and permanently-lit LED tail lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, black leather upholstery, and customisable LED cabin lighting complete the premium look and feel.

Standard items include a powered driver’s seat, keyless entry with automatic “walk away” door locking, automatic wipers and headlamps, electronic parking brake, four USB ports, cooled front cupholders, three 12V sockets and eight audio speakers mated to a R-LINK 2 multimedia system with voice recognition, Bluetooth, and a 8.7-inch touchscreen.

Safety systems include six airbags, electronic stability programme with traction control, hill start assist, blind spot warning system, ISOFIX child seat points, a rear view camera and front, rear and side parking sensors.

The 4WD version, priced at RM209,000, is a dual winner at the CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2017, capturing the Best SUV/Crossover – Large-size 4X4 and the Most Well-Specced Large-size SUV/Crossover categories. The Koleos 2WD costs RM184,200.

The Koleos gets a five-year full manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage. This warranty is fully backed by Renault, giving owners better peace of mind.


Porsche puts 911 Speedster into production as 1,948-unit limited edition

The Porsche 911 Speedster with and without the optional Heritage Design package.
STUTTGART: Unveiled just a few weeks ago at the New York Auto Show 2019, the new Porsche 911 Speedster has gone into production as a limited-edition model.

This model is based on the 911 Speedster concept car that the German automaker premiered in 2018 at the ceremony for the "70 Years of Porsche Sports Cars" anniversary in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

This two-seater convertible production model promises sporty performances on the road thanks to its four-litre, 510-horsepower, six-cylinder boxer engine and manual six-speed transmission. It boasts 0-100kph acceleration in four seconds and a top speed of 310kph.

In terms of design, this 911 Speedster pays homage to the first Porsche — the famous 356 "No. 1" Roadster from 1948.

The limited edition of the new 911 Speedster is also reminiscent of this vehicle. According to Porsche, the 911 Speedster will notably stand out thanks to its aesthetically shaped convertible top compartment lid with double-bubble streamliners — the largest and most complex component to date that Porsche has used in a road model made of a single piece of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic.

The Porsche 911 Speedster is now available to order.

An optional Heritage Design package, created by Style Porsche and implemented by the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur customisation department, re-interprets the legendary design of models from the 1950s and 1960s, with features such as white paintwork on the front fascia and wings complementing the metallic silver body.

It also has motorsport-style decals on the doors and bonnet, with owners able to choose their own start number (up to two digits)!


Renault's new Austral to replace Kadjar SUV

                PARIS: No, it's not short for Australia, but the name Renault has chosen for a new SUV to "conjure up the vibrancy and heat of the southern hemisphere."

Renault says the "Austral" is destined to replace the oddly-named Kadjar in the current range and will be unveiled in spring 2022 as a rival to the Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Teaser images show that the styling for this C-segment model has been apparently inspired by the smaller Megane E-Tech electric with its similar LED lights and sharp, aerodynamic front end.

Renault said the new name, which was trademarked in 2005, resonates in many European languages, including French, Spanish, English and Italian.

"With two As and the consonants 'str' in the middle, the word is built around a harmonious balance of sounds that are 'easy to pronounce' and 'serene', evoking the SUV’s power and control," said Renault's model-naming strategy manager Sylvia Dos Santos.

The Kadjar name was more obscure, resulting from the word "quad" for a go-anywhere four-wheeled vehicle and jar which recalls the French words "agile" and "jaillir" for agility.


India auto hub lets car plants run at full capacity despite few vaccinations

A 2012 image of the Ford plant in Chengalpattu on the outskirts of Chennai. — Reuters
CHENNAI: Car factories, including those of Renault-Nissan, Hyundai nd Ford, can operate with full workforces in India's automaking hub from today, even though 75% of workers at the global carmakers' plants have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

India's southern Tamil Nadu state, known for its flourishing automobile industry, on Sunday allowed some industrial units including those of global automakers in and around capital city Chennai to operate at 100% capacity.

The move follows a Tamil Nadu Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health report dated June 18, reviewed by Reuters, which shows three in four workers at the plants of Ford, Hyundai and Renault-Nissan near Chennai have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Of those who were vaccinated, the report did not say how many had received one dose and how many had received two.

The report said one in seven workers in these companies had contracted the virus, and 21 had died. Workers at the three plants accounted for around 4% of cases in the two districts where the plants are located.

"Working condition in such assembly lines poses challenges in maintaining social distancing norms due to the close proximity of workforce," the report said.

Ford, Renault-Nissan and Hyundai halted work at their plants for several days last month, after workers protested and some went on strike over safety concerns.

On June 17, the Chennai plants were functioning at over 90% of workforce capacity and the cumulative output was nearly two-thirds of pre-lockdown levels, according to the report.

Hyundai, Ford and Nissan, which majority owns the Renault-Nissan Chennai plant, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

New cases in Tamil Nadu have fallen from more than 30,000 a day in May to about 8,000 but still account for one-seventh of all cases in India, which is second only to the United States in total infections.

The report by the industrial safety department was filed in response to an Indian court tasking officials with visiting carmakers to draw up uniform safety guidelines, after workers at Renault-Nissan India filed a case asking operations be halted as social distancing norms were being flouted.

The case will be next heard today.

The department recommended the speed of conveyor belts at the plants be reduced, and using idle workstations to ensure social distancing. It also recommended that workers employed in assembly lines be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Except for one of the two assembly lines at the Ford plant, the conveyor speed had not been reduced, the report said.