Ferrari SF90 Spider makes world debut

                MARANELLO: The Ferrari SF90 Spider was unveiled digitally and is the Prancing Horse’s first production plug-in hybrid spider.

The SF90 Spider sets new performance and innovation benchmarks not only for the marque’s range, but for the entire sports car sector.

The retractable hard top (RHT) was adopted because it guarantees optimal noise insulation and protection from the elements when raised, does not deform at high speeds and provides exceptional occupant space and comfort.

The RHT is compact, simple and light it can be opened in just 14 seconds and can be deployed when the car is on the move.

In a first for a Ferrari production spider, the SF90 Spider has plug-in hybrid architecture in which the internal combustion engine is integrated with two electric motors at the front, which comprise the RAC-e (Cornering Angle Regulator, Electric) system, and one at the rear derived from and named after a Prancing Horse Formula 1 innovation, the MGUK (Motor Generator Unit, Kinetic).

The synergy between the internal combustion engine and the electric motors allow the car to unleash a maximum of 1,000cv.

The SF90 Spider’s powertrain architecture features the V8 turbo ICE, an 8-speed DCT with E-diff, the RAC-e electric front axle with two independent electric motors that also provide all-electric propulsion, the MGUK electric motor located at the rear between the engine and the gearbox, the high voltage battery and electric motor control system (inverter).

In addition to a massive 780cv, the V8 also unleashes 60cv more than any other V8 turbo ever built by Ferrari.

The SF90 Spider sports the completely redesigned 8-speed, dual-clutch gearbox pushing out 900Nm of torque.

It is blindingly fast as it goes from 0-100kph in 2.5 seconds.

Aside from having the same silhouette as the SF90 Stradale, the SF90 Spider has a unique dynamic allure when its top is down: the absence of the roof seems to visually lower the car’s centre of gravity, an impression further strengthened by the difference in colour of the trim on the roll-hoops that give rise to the buttresses.

The front of the car is dominated by a very pronounced profile which underscores its extremely aggressive character.

The three air intakes in this area cool the electric motors (front) and the internal combustion engine (sides). The SF90 Spider also uses matrix LED headlight technology to improve visibility in all driving conditions thanks to active beam control.

The rear of the car is dominated by high exhaust pipes, which are the result of optimisation of the exhaust line layout. Elongated luminous rings to create a more horizontal perception of the tail lights, which are a radical break from the iconic round shape normally used on Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined berlinettas.

Inside, the instrumentation is now predominantly digital with all the screens going completely black when the car is not running, lending the cabin a very minimalist look.

However, once the Engine Start button on the steering wheel is pushed, all the digital components in the driver cockpit gradually springing to life until the whole cockpit is aglow.

The central instrument cluster comprises a single 16” HD screen, which is curved towards the driver to make it easier to read and emphasise the wraparound cockpit effect.

In the default screen, everything is dominated by a large circular rev counter, framed by the battery charge indicator. The navigation screen is on one side of the rev counter with the audio controls on the other.

The screen’s large dimensions mean that there is huge flexibility in terms of personalising the displays, which are also very easy to navigate using the steering wheel controls. It is, for example, possible to select a full-screen version of the navigation map.

Thanks to the introduction of the head-up display, the main information can be projected onto the section of windscreen within the driver’s field of vision.

The SF90 Spider’s steering wheel completes that transfer process from the competition world and also ushers in a new era by introducing a series of touch commands that allow the driver to control virtually every aspect of the car without ever taking their hands off the wheel.

The traditional controls include the now iconic Manettino, steering-wheel mounted headlight control, windscreen wipers, indicators.

Of the new touch controls, the pad on the right-hand spoke allows the driver to navigate the central cluster screens, while voice and cruise controls are on the left-hand spoke. In the bottom left section of the central area, there are four buttons the driver uses to select the power unit mode.

The F1 bridge, a signature on the previous models, has now disappeared from the central tunnel and been replaced by a modern take on the gearshift gate, an iconic feature of Ferrari’s manual gearboxes.

In the new gate, however, the gearshift grille is digital as befits an automatic transmission.

At the bottom of the tunnel is the compartment for stowing the new ignition key, which is an exact replica of the Ferrari Prancing Horse badge found on the bonnet, adding an authentic finishing touch to the cabin’s styling.

Deliveries of the SF90 Spider will start in the second quarter of next year.


Govt disallows fuel discounts for now

                PETALING JAYA: Petrol station operators will not be allowed to offer discounts on fuel for the time being, said Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry corporate communications head Akhtar Sahari.

However, he added that petrol station operators would be allowed to offer promotions in the future.

"For now, they must follow the retail price set by the ministry. Yes, we will allow them to give discounts but not right now. We are unsure when the new measures will kick in," he said.

He added that the ministry would come up with a guideline to address concerns that such a move would affect low-volume petrol dealers.

Sahari also reminded consumers to be wary of smartphone apps displaying listings of fuel prices, saying these could be inaccurate.

On Thursday, the ministry released a statement rubbishing rumours of a "price war" between petrol stations after screenshots of a smartphone app's listing of lower fuel prices went viral.

The ministry released a statement asserting that petrol stations are only allowed to sell fuel at the retail prices set by the Government.

Earlier this month, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that petrol station operators could either follow the set ceiling price under the new system, or offer lower fuel prices for promotional purposes, provided they had obtained prior approval from the ministry.

Following that, the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia voiced concerns that small dealers, especially those in the rural areas, would not be able to afford discounts on fuel.

MyPetrol app gone offline

The popular MyPetrol app, which listed the prices of fuel from petrol stations around the country, is no longer available for download after only four days on the Google Play Store.

Developer Saw Ting Yik said he had to withdraw the app, which had over 87,000 downloads since its launch on March 27, because he now believes petrol stations will not be allowed to offer discounts on fuel.

The app, using crowd-sourced information, created confusion after inaccurate prices were listed, starting rumours of a price war.

Users of the app were allowed to update the latest prices from petrol stations in their vicinity.

Saw, 27, told The Star Online that the MyPetrol app was created to help people save money after the Government announced the weekly ceiling price mechanism for fuel.

He said he could introduce MyPetrol V2 if petrol stations are allowed to run discounted prices, with much better mechanism and features as the users have requested.


Benelli TnT25 on test

There are various reasons for buying a motorcycle. Some use it to go off-road, interstate touring while others just love the thrill of burning rubber on the race track. In most cases, it’s a daily mode of transportation.

Benelli Keeway Motorcycles Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Benneli in Malaysia, recently launched the Benelli TnT25, specially designed for daily commute.
The TnT25 is a functional bike with few surprises.

The slim body and the upright position makes this bike perfect for any city challenge and highways. The cockpit of this red bike is simple and easy on the eyes. It has an analogue tachometer in the centre with digital speedometer, digital odometer, digital trip-meter at the right side and gear indicator.

There is ample room for long legs like mine and the handle bars are designed well. This sort of design is very practical for daily city commute as you will not tire your hands easily. The foot pegs are situated in a position that allow my long legs to move without knocking on the engine.

Let’s go through the specs of this bike - the TnT25 is powered by a 249cc, single cylinder, 4-stroke engine which is liquid-cooled.

It produces 25.2hp at 9,000rpm and 21.5Nm of torque at 7,500rpm.

The 150kg bike comes with an electronic fuel injection system that ensures optimum fuel usage. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with a claimed top speed of 145kph.

I took it for a test ride in the city to find out how urban-friendly it was since the bike is designed as a daily commute machine.

The minute you thumb the starter, the engine comes to life without any hesitation.

After an hour’s city riding, it is obvious that the unique selling point of the TnT25 is its versatility.

Power from the engine is smooth and is available immediately as soon as I twisted the throttle.

In city centre, on many occasions, upon the traffic lights turning green, I was able to accelerate fast, leaving vehicles behind me even on first gear.

Meanwhile on hilly areas in the Klang Valley, this bike was able to tackle the steep roads with ease. However, on a few occasions while going uphill, I had to downshift a gear or so to get the necessary push.

In corners and twisties, the bike handled them like a pro. The stability of the bike around corners was very impressive.

Entering and exiting corners were sweet but not the best.

The soft clutch made it easy for me to upshift and downshift in the blink of an eye. While taking on few sharp turns on Petaling Jaya roads, I had to keep the revs up to ensure that the bike did not stall. You need to be watchful that the engine does not dip below 2,800rpm.

In traffic jams, the engine does not feel lethargic and the TnT25 is smooth on highways and can do 140kph confidently.

As a daily commute bike, I must say the front upside down forks and the rear telescopic coil spring suspension are able to absorb shocks from potholes, humps and bumps.

The ride is not the best but decent enough for a pleasant experience.

Rather than good brakes, reliable brakes are more important on motorcycles.

I was a bit disappointed with the front brakes of the TnT25. The front brake 280mm single disc does not bite enough compared to the rear brake which is more responsive.

Slamming hard on the front brakes at 100kph, the bike dragged on for a few metres instead of stopping immediately.

But I must admit that the brakes’ overall performance is still good enough for city riding. Like any other four-stroke single cylinder engine, the major setback of this sort of design is vibration.

However, I did not feel any vibration till I reached 130kph.

There was a slight vibration on the handle and from the belly but that did not bother me at all.
The bike performs well in low- and mid-range speeds.

While on the road, the bike picks up from 3,800rpm and I was doing about 105kph at that point.
The sweet spot of the engine is at 6,500rpm.

The TnT25 is an ideal urban commuter, able to meet any challenges that city roads can offer.

It has practicality and a combination of great Italian looks, good performance, fuel economy and easy entry price of RM12,990 (before GST).


Rocking it with the 5-door MINI Cooper S

Young families rejoice, for MINI has brought us a five-door variant (yes count them), that is not only bigger but also slightly spacious as well as having greater engine displacement and ... power.

Not to mention, the ladies would seriously find this five-door runner a joy to drive with its mesmerising colours and animations at the front of the cabin to keep the young ones buckled-up at the rear, while enjoying what the car has to offer - performance and practicality.

READ ALSO: Short take - 5 reasons to get this MINI

Guys fret not, for although this new MINI has strong appeal among the ladies, the performance is assured to be “grin-tastic”.

The new third generation MINI (F56) with five doors that we tested is currently priced at RM236,888 on-the-road including GST without insurance. It shares the UKL 1 platform with the MINI Clubman (F54), which simply means the interior boasts more legroom and elbowroom for passengers in the rear.

What we loved the most was the Jukebox-like multifunction appearance with a 6.5-inch LCD display that’s surrounded by a LED light bar, which flashes green when in “Green” mode and red when in “Sport” mode.

But we’d have to say that the biggest improvement would be the boot space that’s been increased by 118 litres to 278 litres compared to the second generation MINI Cooper (R56).

The five-door Cooper S is significantly larger than the outgoing R56 with a wheelbase of 2,567mm (+100mm); it stands 1,425mm-tall (+18mm), 1,727mm-wide (+43mm) and 4,005mm-long (+276mm).

Despite the increase in dimensions, it still retains those subtle curves all around, the flat “floating roof” and the lack of overhang for the front and rear, which proudly states its bloodline.

Under the hood, lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged B48 engine from BMW (marking a departure from the Prince engine), and married to a six-speed gearbox which produces 189hp from 4,700 to 6,000rpm and 280Nm (overboost: 300Nm) of torque from 1,250rpm.

While rolling on 17-inch wheels with 205/45 series tyres, the five-door is capable of sprinting from 0-100kph in 6.8 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 230kph.

The dashboard design goes back to more conventional ways where the tachometer and speedometer are located behind the steering wheel.

The most significant part about the five-door MINI is the ease in which all of us can get in and plonk ourselves on the comfortable anthracite-leather seats. It simply feels far less claustrophobic than before.

As for cabin space, the five-door MINI has made a quantum leap forward and admittedly, after taking a seat in the relatively upright position and flipping the bright red start-stop engine toggle to fire up the B48 engine, the tune seems to indicate performance.

Rolling off the line, many would already surmise that the five-door MINI’s ride is a stiff one and that’s just in normal mode; Green mode will have the suspension feel marginally less harsh and the engine a little less responsive if comfort and economy are the priorities.

Sport mode simply transforms the car into something else. The exhaust pops and crackles, the suspension disallows roll, the gearbox hastens the shifts and the engine perpetually wants to reside nearer to the red zone.

Piloting this plus-sized MINI is effortless; the view is aplenty with the cabin feeling cosy while the controls are within easy reach and rear-seated passengers actually feel a touch of comfort.

The go-kart handling characteristics are very much pronounced when flinging it around corners although it could do with a little more firmness to its bite when getting up to and probably over our highway’s speed limits.

When travelling above the 115kph, wind noise will become quite apparent, which could be attributed to the rather upright windscreen.

It doesn’t seem that aerodynamic at all, but it’s been infused with dollops of fun that simply perks up anyone that needs a little “pick-me-up” - it simply welcomes everyone with open doors.

Although the MINI’s gotten larger, there’s always “room” for improvement and while the rear doors have added practicality to them, it can be a tad challenging for those with bigger body size.

We also found that while the car was still moving, it was possible to shift the stalky gear selector into reverse - which wasn’t alarming, till we looked down and realised what had happened.

A locking mechanism or some sort would be very much preferred once its gone out of gear and simply requiring the driver to press the button on the gear shifter to re-engage it would be best.

Although the car is still rather compact, the ladies seem to all agree that a reverse camera and a powered tailgate would ideally complete the package when parking and removing their collapsible pram from this “five-door cutesy” (their words).

But with its newfound levels of practicality, the five-door MINI is able to bridge the emotional divide between man and machine - making it a bundle of joy, especially with its more powerful engine.


Audi tops US Consumer Reports vehicle ratings as Tesla falls

                WASHINGTON: German luxury automaker Audi on Tuesday topped the annual ranking of new vehicles by influential US magazine Consumer Reports despite the brand's emissions-cheating scandal while quality problems hurt Tesla Motors Inc's Model S luxury car.

Audi was followed by Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru unit, Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus brand, Porsche and BMW AG.

Volkswagen AG's Audi unit was named best overall brand, based on the magazine's road testing, reliability, safety and owner satisfaction scores.

In September, VW admitted to secretly installing software that allowed its vehicles to emit up to 40 times legally allowable limits. In November, Audi admitted using separate software that allowed its diesel US SUVs and larger cars to emit excess emissions and was forced to halt US sales of new diesel vehicles indefinitely.

Consumer Reports did not rank any VW Group US diesel vehicles since they cannot legally be sold.

David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research, said the top ranking would help Audi even though its image has not suffered as much as its parent's.

Audi US sales were up 2.7 percent in January, while VW brand sales were down 15 percent. "Audi hasn't borne the brunt of what happened," Cole said.

Tesla's Model S electric car was named Consumer Report's best overall car in 2014 and 2015, but this year the magazine opted not to name any best overall vehicle.

Jake Fisher, director of auto testing, said because of faltering reliability scores, the Model S is no longer the top ultraluxury car and ranks behind the BMW 750i xDrive, Lexus LS 460L and Audi A8 L. He said Tesla's quality problems including issues with hatches, door handles, electric motors and batteries have increased as the automaker has ramped up production.

"They are having issues and they need to work that out before they introduce new models," Fisher said.

Consumer Reports unveiled the results in Washington. The non-profit magazine has more than 8 million subscribers and gets survey data from 740,000 owners. Many car shoppers consult the ratings, and automakers routinely tout favorable ratings in advertising.

US brands lagged most other automakers, but General Motors Co's Buick brand ranked seventh, just ahead of Mazda. Motor Corp. Toyota finished eighth, ahead of Hyundai Motor Co's Kia unit and Honda Motor Co's Honda brand. The Volkswagen brand ranked 15th overall.

GM's top-selling Chevrolet brand ranked 20th, while the GMC brand ranked 23rd and Cadillac 24th.

Ford Motor Co's Ford brand ranked 16th, but its best-selling F-150 pickup truck was named best pickup for the first time since 1999.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV continued to struggle in the rankings. The automaker's Fiat unit finished last among 30 brands rated, with its Jeep brand in 29th place. FCA's Dodge and Chrysler brands also rated near the bottom.

Fiat Chrysler said in a statement it is aggressively working to improve quality.

Tesla did not have enough models tested to be considered for overall brand scores.


Hyundai to enter US commercial vehicle market in major offensive

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co  plans to spend around US$1.8 billion by 2020 on a major offensive in commercial vehicles, including entering the race in the United States, to catch up with rivals in a rapidly growing global market.

Hyundai, the world's No.5 automaker when paired with sister Kia Motors Corp, has targeted a market it sees growing almost 30 percent in each of the next five years, but where its share ex-China is a paltry 2.1 percent. In 2014, its commercial vehicle sales fell at home, in China and elsewhere.

To expand, Hyundai said it will invest 400 billion won (US$363.13 million) to raise production of vans, trucks and buses in Korea by 2020, and that it has earmarked 1.6 trillion won for research and development in such vehicles until the end of the decade.

Hyundai, in a statement on Monday, also said it plans to introduce "premium models in North America and Europe," without providing a time frame or other details.

Hyundai lost share in the overall vehicle market last year in the United States, partly due to having few fuel-guzzling pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles - segments which surged in popularity as oil prices plunged.

The US is Hyundai's second-biggest overseas market after China. To launch commercial vehicles there and challenge established rivals will take considerable time, analysts said.

"Hyundai and Kia need to bolster their weak commercial vehicle business to reach an annual production capacity of 10 million vehicles, from about 8 million currently," said analyst Suh Sung-moon at Korea Investment & Securities.

Hyundai started making heavy-duty trucks such as the Trago in China last year for the local market, and plans to start building its H350 light commercial vehicles in Turkey in March to enter Western Europe.

On Monday, it said it plans to boost annual production capacity at its factory in the southwestern Korean city of Jeonju by 54 percent to 100,000 commercial vehicles by 2020, from the current 65,000.

Hyundai Motor Group, which spans scores of firms including auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd, in January said it would spend US$73 billion over four years. The announcement followed a government call for conglomerates to spend more to help revive Asia's fourth-biggest economy.

Hyundai's latest announcement is also likely to be seen part of efforts to alleviate investor complaints about the lack of clarity on a future direction following the automaker's involvement in an expensive property deal last year, Suh said.


Cycle & Carriage electrifying the month of August

                PETALING JAYA: Cycle & Carriage Malaysia is bringing an experience themed “Electrifying The Future” at its lifestyle concept store, neu by Cycle & Carriage, at 1 Utama Shopping Centre this month.

In line with the brand’s ESG strategy to reduce carbon footprint, the showcase aims to create exceptional and sustainable journeys for customers.

Currently, one of Cycle & Carriage’s steps towards electrification and sustainability include installing solar PV systems in six of its locations - Petaling Jaya, Mutiara Damansara, Batu Caves, Ipoh, Johor Bahru and Bukit Tengah.

This offers a total capacity of 631kWp which replaces an average of 20% of their buildings’ consumption.

This month, the lifestyle concept store will be featuring Cycle & Carriage’s green energy partners to offer the public the opportunity to truly experience what it means to live sustainably for the benefit of future generations.

Some of these strategic partners who will showcase and educate about renewable energy include Dawn Breeze, a green energy solutions provider specialising in solar renewable energy, and Energreen-Tech who specialises in energy management services, EV charging solutions, second life EV batteries and GreenTech Lab Services.

To further augment the theme of electrification, fans of Mercedes-Benz and the shoppers alike can walk into the store to get up-close and personal with the latest vehicles on display.

These include a wide range of Mercedes-EQ vehicles who will make their appearance throughout the month, such as the EQA 250 AMG Line, the newly launched EQS 450+, soon to be launched EQB 350 4Matic and EQC 400 4Matic.

Cycle & Carriage also held a Mercedes-Benz Discovery programme on Aug 6, where 60 customers attended a workshop to get to know their cars better and familiarise with the brand’s after-sales service offerings.

Conducted by product experts from Cycle & Carriage and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, customers gained a deeper understanding about their vehicles while getting a true brand experience in an intimate setting.

The neu by Cycle & Carriage concept store will run from now until Oct 31 for Malaysians to embark on an exceptional journey and discover Cycle & Carriage’s commitments to delivering service excellence through different lifestyle touchpoints, both physical and digital.

The coming months will include a line-up of exhibitions and workshops in the theme of “high-street fashion” in September and “outdoor adventure” in October.

The neu concept store is open to all from 10am to 10pm daily and is located at Lot G316, Level G, 1
Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing).

Visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/ or https://www.facebook.com/cyclecarriagemy to stay
up-to-date on the latest Cycle & Carriage happenings.


Toyota group firms to set up JV for self-driving technology

                TOKYO: Four Toyota Motor Corp group companies said today they will form a joint venture to develop software that manages brakes, steering and other components for automated driving.

Advics, Aisin Seiki Co, Denso Corp and Jtekt Corp aim to launch the company in March 2019 with Denso to be the biggest stakeholder, owning 65 percent, they said in a joint statement.

The Nikkei business daily had flagged the deal last week.

In addition, Aisin and Denso said they would set up a 50-50 joint venture to develop and sell electrification driving modules. They will focus on modules for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles, especially in China.


Toyota confirms production of 986bhp GR Super Sport

                TOKYO: Since the Toyota MR2 went out of production in 2007 there hasn't been much evidence of sportiness in the Japanese automaker's lineup beyond the somewhat underpowered GT86, but that's about to change in a big way as it's now been confirmed a production version of the 986 horsepower GR Super Sport is in the pipeline.

At the moment we only have images of the concept first shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of this year, but news of a production version was released by Toyota on the eve of the Les Mans 24 hour race. That's very appropriate as the GR concept shares its hybrid powerplant with the TS050 Hybrid LMP1 race car that competes at events like Les Mans.

The system in question uses a 2.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine driving the rear wheels, which is paired to a couple of electric motors powering the front wheels that also contribute to driving the rear axle. In the racing version of the car a lithium ion battery is charged by two motor generator units, with one housed in each wheel.

But before we get too excited, Toyota does have a little history in this area. This isn't the first time Toyota has looked at building a production Le Mans racer, because in 1998 the company brought us the GT-One (TS020) Le Mans Prototype where a road-going concept was produced with a view towards building a handful of production models. In the end only two were homologated for road use, and one of the pair is currently on display at Toyota Motorsport's headquarters in Germany.

Of course, even when a GR Super Sport becomes available it's not going to be in a price range accessible to most Toyota customers. The good news is that this isn't the only sports car Toyota is going to be putting into production as a new Supra is also imminent that will be something aimed at a much wider audience than the GR Super Sport.


CNY rewards for new Honda Malaysia customers

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia is offering triple rewards amounting up to RM10,000 comprising Prosperity Rebate, RM888 Extra Bonus and Exclusive Gift to those who register selected models of new Honda cars between 1st and 31st January 2020.

This “2020 Starts Now” campaign applies to the Jazz, Jazz Hybrid, City, City Hybrid, HR-V, HR-V Hybrid, BR-V, CR-V and Odyssey models.

On a separate note, Honda Malaysia recorded more than 78,000 sales units from January to November 2019.

Honda Malaysia also maintained its No.1 non-national car brand position for the first 11 months of last year.

As of November 2019, Honda's top seller was the B-segment (non-national segment) leader —  the City with the highest contribution to sales at 36%, followed by the HR-V (at 19%).

The CR-V is the third best-selling model during that period with 14% contribution recorded.

To-date, Honda Malaysia has 100 dealerships nationwide.


Limited edition BMW X5 with M Performance parts arrives at Auto Bavaria

                PETALING JAYA: The second batch of limited edition locally-assembled electrified BMW X5 with M Performance Parts, which was introduced at Auto Bavaria dealerships nationwide last year, has arrived and is limited to only 22 units.

The limited edition BMW X5 retails at RM480,800 in Peninsula Malaysia and comes with complimentary gifts worth RM22,000.

Sime Darby Auto Bavaria managing director Vi Thim Juan said the popularity of the limited edition unit is attributed to the M Performance parts, which are inspired by motor racing.

“These parts not only enhance the look of the vehicle but also add to the vehicle’s aerodynamics,” he said.

The BMW X5 Limited Edition with M Performance Parts package includes:

> Gloss Black Front Grille
> Carbon fibre for the left and right exterior mirror caps
> Light alloy wheel Star Spoke 748M, 20-inch that combines physical lightness with extraordinary design, sporty performance and Tyre Pressure monitoring system

Buyers will also get complimentary gifts worth RM22,000 inclusive of:
> Luxury Suitcase
> BMW Umbrella
> BMW Leather Care Set with UV Protection
> BMW Brake Pad & Brake Disc Voucher
> STTOKE Classic 16oz Insulated Ceramic Reusable Cup

“The first batch of X5 Limited Edition, 30 units sold fast within one week at Auto Bavaria dealerships last year as the vehicles were extremely limited, offered more dynamic and sporty appeal matched with already best in class product offering in terms of design, technology, comfort and performance.

“We are now able to once again offer our esteem customers a second opportunity to own this extremely premium vehicle. Auto Bavaria brand has become synonymous with top-notch quality for both sales and service, which is why we are the preferred BMW dealership,” said Vi.

Auto Bavaria, the Sime Darby-owned dealer network, has over 30 years of experience representing the brands of BMW Group Malaysia, namely BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

The dealership has won multiple awards over the years, including the title of best BMW dealer in the Diamond Category in BMW Excellence Club for ten years in a row at the annual BMW Group Dealer Awards event in Malaysia.

Auto Bavaria is the largest retail and service company for BMW, MINI and Motorrad in Malaysia, with six branches, namely Sime Darby Motors City Ara Damansara, Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Tebrau.


Hertz’s electrified fleet could be the auto industry’s safety net

                DETROIT: It wasn’t that long ago that sales to rental fleets were seen as a sign of failure. With the dawn of the electric-vehicle age, that’s changing.

In the past, automakers typically took aging or unpopular models, stripped them of many creature comforts and sold them to the likes of Hertz and Avis at discounted prices.

It was a way to keep production lines moving until a freshened version of the car got to market.

Electric vehicles are hot sellers right now, so cutting big deals with Hertz and other fleet buyers isn’t the desperate move that it once was, but it sure is an insurance policy.

Both Tesla and General Motors are both cranking up production of EVs over the next several years.

If middle market consumers don’t make the switch, both companies and Polestar—the all-electric automaker controlled by Volvo and its Chinese owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group—will have already secured fleet deals to boost sales and keep building economies of scale.

That insurance plan might be needed.

Right now, electric vehicles are 5% of sales in the US. That’s about double what it was last year, but no one in the industry is sure how quickly sales will keep growing.

The buyers today are the early adopters, many of whom are passionate about climate change or technology, or just having the newest and coolest car on the block.

The average electric vehicle in the US sells for about US$67,000, which is about US$20,000 more than average ICE models, which are themselves at record levels.

As automakers introduce cheaper EVs — like GM’s Chevrolet Equinox that will start at US$30,000 next year and the Chevy Silverado and Ford Lightning pickup that will offer US$40,000 versions — that could change.

But at the moment even the Kia EV6 starts north of US$41,000. EVs are out of reach for most consumers.

Until those sticker prices come down, we’ll see more fleet deals.

Hertz alone has already agreed to buy 175,000 EVs from GM over the next five years, along with 100,000 from Tesla and 65,000 from Polestar.

If GM sells the same number to Hertz in each year, that rental deal alone would be 3.5% of the 1 million EVs that the company hopes to sell in 2025.

Automakers will probably sell even more EVs to fleets.

Fedex said it will buy as many as 20,000 electric delivery vans from GM’s BrightDrop unit in the next several years.

Similarly, Ford said in August that it’s sold 8,300 of its E-transit electric vans. Startup Rivian Automotive plans to sell 100,000 electric vans to Amazon.

Avis has made little noise about renting out EVs, but consumers can find a Tesla to rent on its website. Other carmakers will likely sell more of their electrified production to the rental trio of Hertz, Avis and the industry’s giant, Enterprise Rent-a-Car.

Avis and Enterprise should take note if they haven’t already.

On the company’s most recent earnings call, Hertz chief executive officer Steve Scherr said that its EVs command an extra US$30 to US$35 a day at the counter and the company has lower fuelling and maintenance costs.

He said the resale values are also stronger than they are for many internal combustion models.

When GM and Hertz announced their agreement, GM North America president Steve Carlisle said that car buyers are twice as likely to consider an electric vehicle once they have driven one. Renting them out can prime the market.

And if consumers balk at plugging in, these deals will serve as a safety hatch in case automakers are building more electric models than American drivers want.


VW apprentices show off 400hp Golf showcar at Wörthersee

                WOLFSBURG: You may not have heard of the VW Golf GTI Aurora or the Golf Estate FighteR. That's because they are not production cars at all but are showcars created by VW apprentices to stretch their imagination - and ours.

Fast, loud, spectacular and digital, both cars were showcased today at Wörthersee in Austria.

Golf Estate R 4MOTION FighteR

The olf Estate R FighteR with all-wheel drive is powered by a 400-hp TSI engine with 7-speed direct shift gearbox – and this power (100 hp more than the series vehicle Golf R Estate) is instantly visible on the FighteR thanks to its broad- shouldered body design on the front fenders and rear wheel wells that have been widened 3cm on each side.

The FighteR was built by apprentices at the automotive plant in Zwickau, the engine works in Chemnitz and the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden. Together they created a Wörthersee showcar that – thanks to a rooftop light system and front strobe lights in the grill – will be used as the safety car at racing events on the Sachsenring.

The one-off has a glossy paint job in the base colors Crystal Silver and Nardo Gray; design colors are Misano Red and Piano Black.

The technological focal point is a 360° camera installed on the roof of the FighteR. Ahead of the event, it was used to record a scorching lap on the Sachsenring, which can be viewed during the GTI gathering at Wörthersee in the vehicle – with the integrated VR glasses.

The interior was also completely customised by the apprentices. The full leather interior with Alcantara extends all the way to the luggage compartment and is adorned by red decorative stitching and Alcantara inlays in the door panels and bucket seats. The auditory highlight is a sound system that has been custom-built for this one-off.

Golf GTI Aurora

The Golf GTI Aurora is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an output of 380hp and a 7-speed direct shift gearbox. The GTI one-off is painted in the colors Nardo Gray and Deep Black Pearl Effect (in the rear), as well as the one-off accent colour Mint Green. The bodykit with rear diffuser and all the decorative elements were painted by hand by the apprentices from here.

The Golf GTI Aurora was created with the aid of several digital technologies. The apprentices first created the exterior and interior designs on the computer, with the details of the two-seater’s sound and multimedia tailgate package posing particular challenges. The apprentices therefore initially designed the rear side cladding and the mounts for the speakers and subwoofer on CAD computers.

Additional displays in the center console show the driver engine and vehicle data, which is useful on racetracks. The front passenger can follow everything at the same time on a tablet device, which he can also use to control the 3,500 watt sound system.


Kia Champ Into The Arena crowns Puchong Fuerza A as champions

                KUALA LUMPUR: NAZA Kia Malaysia's futsal tournament – Kia Champ into the Arena, ended with Puchong Fuerza A being announced the champion out of the 63 men's contending teams, and will now have the honour to represent Malaysia at the upcoming international tournament in France.

The six-player team received an all-expense paid trip to Bordeaux, France for the international Kia Champ Into The Arena futsal championship on July 1, along with a total of RM19,000 in cash as well as a championship cup, medals and tickets to the quarter finals of EURO 2016.

Also going home with cash and goodies were first runner up silver-medallists M.A.C FC A with RM4,000 in cash, second runner up bronze medallists Raff MBC B won RM2,500 and third runner up bronze medalists Ally F.T won RM1,500.

As for the Women’s Open, it would be gold medallists Shardy FC who won RM2,000 in cash followed by first runner up REM FC with RM1,500 and bronze medals, while second runner up Power to Surprise claimed RM1,000 and bronze medals.

Additionally, Naza Kia Malaysia is also giving one lucky Malaysian customer who test-drives any Kia model a lucky draw coupon that will be automatically be entered into the contest for the opportunity to win an all-expense-paid trip to France to watch the Opening Match at EURO 2016. The winners will be announced in May, 2016.

Both men and women's registered teams came from all over the country to participate in the

Kia Champ into the Arena futsol competition, which is a global initiative by Kia Motors Corporation for Malaysians to experience and be a part of the excitement of EURO 2016.

Kia Champ Into the Arena was open to 87 teams via online registration starting early March 2016 with matches commencing on April 24 at the Sports Planet in Ampang.

The format of the tournament was on a group stage with 21 groups of 3 teams, with only the top two teams being able to move on to the knock-out stage – each game uses a seven-plus-seven minute format with a five minute foul limit for each half.

During the knock-out stage, in the event of a draw, an additional one minute and 30 seconds will be added and will be played on a golden gold basis, followed by penalty kicks.

“Malaysians’ love of Futsal and football is undeniable. These sports unite Malaysians and inspire passion, dexterity and determination. With Kia Champ into the Arena, these qualities are masterfully showcased and stands to reason why the winning team deserves a place to compete at the Futsal tournament to be held in conjunction with EURO 2016 in France,”

“We are pleased to be able to have Malaysia represented in France at the global futsal tournament through our champions today. Possessing ‘The Power to Surprise’ will serve you well when competing against European players,” said Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings group chief operating officer Datuk Samson Anand George.


Grab enters digital maps business, targets app builders in S-E Asia

                SINGAPORE: Grab announced today plans to enter the digital maps business, offering other businesses access to its GrabMaps mapping and location technology.

The service is being positioned as a competitor to other enterprise mapping solutions like Google Maps Platform and Bing Maps for Enterprise, and claims to do a better job of offering “hyperlocal” routes that make use of back alleys and narrow side streets common in South-east Asian cities.

Grab aims to capture a slice of the annual US$1bil (RM4.39bil) market opportunity for mapping services in South-East Asia.

The technology was first developed to power Grab’s ride-hailing and delivery platform, and is in currently used for this purpose in seven of the eight countries in which Grab operates – Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Indonesia is the exception.

The technology enables Grab to allocate drivers or deliverers to customers, calculate estimated trip times, and plan and optimise routes.

Grab said its GrabMaps system currently handles more than 800 billion requests a month across all its services.

Its services will be fully powered by GrabMaps by the third quarter of this year.

Grab co-founder Tan Hooi Ling said: “The third-party mapping services that we relied on did not have these small lorongs (alleyways) that South-East Asia so commonly relies on, or they didn't have the right pick-up or drop-off points in the big malls in South-East Asia. These were capabilities that everybody relied on day to day and got used to.”

Updating the third-party maps with the correct information would often take months, she added.

“Because we couldn’t get the quality of service that our consumers and partners deserved, we decided that it was time for us to build and invest in it ourselves.”

Tan added that Grab has invested to turn its mapping and location intelligence into a competitive advantage.

“Commercialising this technology is another step forward to our young but fast-growing enterprise and new initiatives business.”

Grab’s target customers include South-East Asian tech platforms, telcos, logistics companies, ecommerce platforms and government agencies.

GrabMaps has launched with two services as a start.

First, it offers access to Grab’s base map data, allowing companies to license its data on places, roads, traffic and 360-degree street images.

Second, it offers access to software-as-a-service map-making tools such as its KartaCam map-making camera, which is currently being piloted by partner companies in Paris, Joannesburg, Dubai and Seattle.

Grab estimates its KartaCam tool is 10 times cheaper than alternatives on the market, while offering about the same quality.

Grab will launch an application programming interface to allow developers to create apps that make use of GrabMaps by the third quarter of this year. It will also launch mobile software development kits for iOS and Android developers next year.

Philipp Kandal, Grab’s head of geo, said GrabMaps’ community-driven approach to mapping will set it apart from its competitors.

“We have the largest fleet of drivers and delivery partners in South-East Asia, (including) cars, two-wheel vehicles and any kind of form of transportation that you can imagine... Every time a trip or a delivery is made, this data improves our map.”

Grab also responds to community feedback quickly, Kandal added.

“Our community is our drivers, merchants and consumers of our services that constantly provide us feedback directly from within the Grab app.

“If a pick-up point has changed, if your condo has a new pick-up point, the users can easily add that and we will process this within a matter of days.”

Kandal said GrabMaps will also build capabilities for indoor navigation in the future.

Asked if Grab will price its new offering aggressively to compete with established players, Kandal said the company's focus is on building “the best maps for South-East Asia”.

“Having said that, obviously, the cost of our offering is always going to be very, very competitive, so we definitely expect that we are offering a high-value service to our partners.”

There are no plans to develop a navigation app for consumers, like Google Maps.


Consumer Reports drops 'top pick' rating for Tesla Model 3

                NEW YORK: Tesla's decision to drop radar sensors from two of its US vehicles has cost it top safety ratings from a widely followed insurance industry group and the influential Consumer Reports magazine.

The move came a day after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Wednesday Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built after April 27 will no longer be labelled as having some advanced safety features after the automaker said it would switch to a camera-based Autopilot system.

Consumer Reports cited NHTSA's decision in no longer listing the Model 3 as a Top Pick.

"It is extremely rare for an automaker to remove safety features from a vehicle during a production run, even temporarily, but this isn't the first time that Tesla has done this," Jake Fisher, a senior director of Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also plans to remove its highest safety designation for the Model 3 vehicles built after April 27, a spokesman said, adding it plans to evaluate Tesla's new system. read more

Tesla, which said on Tuesday it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

Tesla said its decision to ditch radar may lead to the limitation of some features such as lane-centering and parking assistance, but that software updates "in the weeks ahead" would restore these functions.

Meanwhile, photos of a Tesla message posted by a Twitter user indicate Tesla has introduced a driver monitoring system based on cameras for its new models, after recent accidents rekindled concerns about misuse of the Autopilot system.

Tesla currently alerts drivers when they keep their hands off the wheel for a period of time, but regulators and consumer groups have said that is not enough to ensure drivers pay attention.

Under the heading "Cabin Camera Updates", a message from Tesla shown on a vehicle's dashboard said: "The cabin camera above your rearview mirror can now detect and alert driver inattentiveness while Autopilot is engaged," according to a photo in a Tweet by Kevin Smith, who identified himself as software engineer.

Tesla said the camera data cannot be saved or transmitted unless data sharing is enabled.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment about the driver monitoring system.


Why car companies are coming out with toy cars

                BERLIN: It’s red, small and, at just under 40 euros, is one of the cheapest “new cars” you can buy: the Bobby Car.

It’s a plastic toy car designed for toddlers to sit on and push along with their legs, and it's one of the best-known of its kind around the world.

Toy companies have been making them for decades and these toys not only promote the motor skills of kids but maybe perhaps combat the dwindling enthusiasm for cars that researchers have discovered among the young.

Audi TT or AMG GT for the little ones

It’s no accident that almost every vehicle manufacturer now has a licensed version of a toy car in its range of accessories. In that sense, car marketing begins already in kids’ playrooms.

Miniature Porsche 911s, VW Beetles and Tiguans, Audi TTs, and Mercedes-AMG GTs — all are intended to promote auto mobility and the fun of cars.

For kids old enough to walk, the car manufacturers offers pedal cars. And beyond the bobby and pedal cars, there are numerous electric cars for older children.

The Little Car Company in the UK sees itself more as a toy manufacturer than a car manufacturer, even though its vehicles, which are built to 75 per cent scale, can be driven by teenagers.

The cheapest start at around 35,000 euros, more expensive than many full-size cars, while the top-end models can cost six-figures.

The company invests a lot of time and effort in development and testing — prototypes cover more than 5,000km and many of the parts come from the same suppliers as the genuine cars use.

Currently, there are three models — the Ferrari Testa Rossa, the Bugatti Baby and the Aston Martin DB5.

All bear the blessing of the respective manufacturer and share paint colours, leather interiors, and some of the same parts as the originals.

Hand-made, fast, expensive

The cars are hand-built in the company’s factory in Bichester and consist of an aluminium body built on a lattice tube frame.

Powered by an electric motor, they have a range of around 30km, a very tight chassis, and surprisingly direct steering.

As the cars are electrically powered and very lightweight, the torque is almost explosive. They can be unlocked for full power, which means a top speed of up to 100kph.

It’s just as well they’re not allowed on public roads as the temptation to take a spin in real life might be too great.

The UK has several miniature car-makers offering similar models at a cheaper price.

For example, Harrington builds more than a dozen classic vehicles as half size junior cars, including a Formula 1 car from the 1960s, a Porsche 356, a Mercedes 300 SL, and a Land Rover Defender.

With prices starting at just under 10,000 euros, these are still pretty expensive toys.

In addition to a 20kph electric drive, there are also 7-horsepower internal combustion engines available that combined with a semi-automatic three-speed transmission can accelerate the mini sports cars to almost 70kph.

But these little speedsters are of course an absolutely no-go for public roads. As the manufacturer warns, "these are toys that you shouldn't leave private grounds with."


Third Aston Martin hypercar to debut in 2021

                LONDON: Aston Martin’s next step into the mid-engined hypercar market has been confirmed with the release of the first official details of Project "003".

Project 003 is the third hypercar to be developed by Aston Martin following the Aston Martin Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro (formerly 001 and 002), 003 has its DNA deeply rooted in concepts and technology currently being developed for those road and track-only machines.

Project 003 will be built around a lightweight structure and powered by a turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid engine. Combined with active aerodynamics for strong downforce in a road-legal car, active suspension systems, control and driver connection like the Valkyrie and Valkyrie AMR Pro, Project 003 is touted as having class leading dynamics on both road and track.

At the same time, Project 003 is also being designed and engineered to offer more practical concessions to road use, including space for luggage. Fully homologated and available in all markets in both left and right-hand drive, production will be limited to 500 coupe examples globally, with the first cars arriving to market in late 2021.

“It was always the intention for the Aston Martin Valkyrie to be a once-in-a lifetime project, however, it was also vital to us that Valkyrie would create a legacy: a direct descendent that would also set new standards within its own area of the hypercar market, creating a bloodline of highly specialised, limited production machines that can exist in parallel with Aston Martin’s series production models," said Aston Martin Lagonda president and group chief executive Andy Palmer.


Lower price for Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 with sales tax exemption

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has launched the XC40 Recharge T5 sports utility vehicle (SUV), making it the only car company in Malaysia to offer a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variant in its entire model line-up.

This move also bring the Volvo brand closer to its ambition of reducing carbon emissions per car by 40%.

Available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide, the XC40 Recharge T5 was originally priced at RM255,888 on-the-road without insurance but now costs RM241,997 after sales tax exemption.

The sales tax exemption for all vehicle purchases ends on June 30.

Built on Volvo's Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, the XC40 Recharge T5 is Volvo’s first-ever 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with the Drive-E powertrain that uses an electric motor mounted to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to drive the front wheels.

This twin engine setup provides a more sustainable drive, with CO2 emissions of just 50 grams per km, while maintaining the refinement and performance of a Volvo.The powertrain delivers a combined output of 262hp and 425Nm of torque with the electric motor contributing 160Nm of torque and 82hp for an instantaneous boost.

The petrol engine and electric motor combination allows the XC40 Recharge T5 to complete the 0-100kph sprint in just 7.3 seconds.

Its top speed is capped at 180kph following the Volvo’s announcement in March last year to lower the top speed of its cars to promote better road safety.

Made by Sweden and assembled in Malaysia with emphasis on high quality, the XC40 Recharge T5 is equipped with award-winning safety features, connectivity and infotainment technology along with a sporty design.

Among the technologies are safety and driver assistance features such as the Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation and Cross Traffic alert with brake support.

The XC40 Recharge T5 also has five different drive modes of Hybrid (default), Pure, Off-road, Power and Individual for a more dynamic driving experience.

Featuring a stylish and urban look, the XC40 Recharge T5 is bold and expressive while highlighting its signature R-Design trim that allows drivers to stand out from the crowd when exploring the city without blending into the crowd.

While embracing the elegant Scandinavian design language, the XC40 Recharge T5 looks near identical to the current petrol-powered XC40 variant except that it has a charging port on the left-hand front wing.

Inside, the occupants are provided with functional storage space in the doors as well as retractable hooks for hanging items.Five distinct colour options are Blackstone, Crystal White Pearl, Bursting Blue Metallic, Glacier Silver Metallic and Coral Red Metallic.

VCM managing director Nalin Jain said the company was excited to finally offer one of its most successful SUVs as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and thus completing VCM's full line-up of PHEVs.

"The launch of the XC40 Recharge T5 is a sign of greener times ahead as we continue to strive towards a more sustainable future and do our part to not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also help our customers reduce theirs as well,” said Nalin.

He also said the fundamentals surrounding safety, design and performance are the same for this variant as with any other Volvo.

"Through the dedication of our team, we are confident that this car checks all the right boxes to provide an enjoyable driving experience.

"At the same time, we hope that the launch of XC40 Recharge T5 will provide a more sustainable choice for Malaysians and spur everyone to think about taking active steps in sustainability together, so we can recharge our environment and the future,” he said.

The XC40 Recharge T5 is also available for online booking through Volvo Car Malaysia’s website as a safer alternative and in adherence to the government’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

For details, visit www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG for more updates.


New Audi A8 to be lighter and more rigid with use of CFRP

                INGOLSTADT: The next generation of the Audi A8 will use an intelligent mix of four materials for the first time in the weight-bearing body structure.

The use of aluminium, steel, magnesium and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sets the stage for multi-material construction in the Audi Space Frame (ASF) for the next generation of the A8.

This would mean the new flagship’s torsional rigidity would improve on that of its predecessor by a factor of about one quarter.

Rounding out the intelligent mix of materials is the magnesium strut brace. Aluminium bolts secure the connection to the strut tower domes.

Audi has also changed the production process to cater for the new mix of materials in themaking of the A8.

The use of CFRP in the car's body structures is not new as the BMW 7 Series is already doing the same thing with its "Carbon Core"


You can now charge your EV at Genting Highlands

                GENTING HIGHLANDS: The highland resort now has a charging station for electric cars.

It is located at the Awana SkyCentral Transportation Hub Carpark at Genting Highlands Premium Outlets.

The charger works with all electric vehicles on the road today, according to Schneider Electrics, which supplied and installed the device.

It can charge up to 10 times faster than a domestic socket outlet, depending on the EV used and the charging power capacity of the solution, the company said.

With a rated charging power of 7.4kW and a Type 2 socket outlet, it will take EV users an average charging time of four hours for a typical electric passenger car to achieve a range of 40km from near depletion, which is just enough for an EV driver to reach Karak town from the charging station.

Schneider Electric Malaysia snagged the installation deal with Resorts World Genting.


Ferrari already factoring cost inflation into estimates, prices

                MILAN: Ferrari does not see an immediate impact from rising costs, a spokesman for the Italian luxury sports carmaker told Reuters, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine pushes up prices of energy and raw materials.

The Ukraine crisis is driving up the price of metals used in cars, from aluminum in the bodywork to palladium in catalytic converters to the high-grade nickel in electric vehicle batteries, increasing pressure on the industry, already facing higher energy costs.

"We are constantly monitoring raw materials and energy prices and we are already incorporating cost inflation in our estimates and future products' prices in this still evolving situation," the spokesman said on Thursday, replying to a request for comment.

Ferrari, which produces some 10,000 cars annually and sells them to a highly selected club of super wealthy clients, can rely on strong pricing power, with its models costing upwards of €200,000 (RM923,000).

The company has said Russia was a very small market for it and that it did not see any impact on its supply chain at the moment as a consequence of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.


Refreshed Honda Accord open for booking, to launch in Q3

                PETALING JAYA: The refreshed ninth-generation Honda Accord is now open for booking at all 88 Honda authorised dealers nationwide. It will be launched in the third quarter.

As is common with most facelifts, the car gets new front and rear bumpers. It  also comes with new lighting design to complement the forward front look with solid wing face design. The rear tail lights have been revised, and now feature LED combi lights bars. New alloy wheels are added to freshen it up further.

New body colours are also available for the upcoming Accord, with it being the first to wear the colour Obsidian Blue Pearl. Other new colours that will be introduced are White Orchid Pearl and Lunar Silver Metallic as well as Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.

Being a facelift, the Accord engines are unchanged. It is offered in a choice of 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre engine displacement locally. The 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 engine sold in other markets offers cylinder deactivation, where one bank of cylinders could be shut down during cruising to save petrol.

Prices will be announced at launch. The current Accord is priced at RM141,100, RM152,300 and RM178,200 for the 2.0 VTi, 2.0 VTi-L and 2.4 VTI-L respectively.

Honda actually introduced the facelift model for Asia in the Philippines three months ago. Note that the Proton Perdana that was launched in June is based on the eighth-generation Accord.

The new Accord will go on a road tour across the peninsula from Aug 12-Sept 4, starting in Kuala Selangor and ending in Malacca. Details on locations can be found at the Honda Malaysia site.

READ MORE:
Here's what we thought of the present Honda Accord
Honda Accord Hybrid introduced in Thailand
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Volkswagen Touareg V8 TDI with extra-low NOx emissions

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has launched a new range of very clean diesel engines (TDI) on the market.

The TDI engines are characterised by extremely low nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx).

The Touareg V8 TDI, generating 310 kW (421 PS), is among the first Volkswagen to feature an exhaust purification system that filters nitrogen oxides at this low level: it emits between just 10 and 20 mg/km.

One test was carried out in the topographically flat federal German state of Lower Saxony while two further tests were conducted on routes in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria that included differences in altitude.

The fact that the all-wheel drive Touareg V8 TDI reliably came in below the NOx limit in each of the tests – regardless of the route, differences in altitude and individual traffic volume – was particularly remarkable.

This positive result has been made possible by elements including multi-stage exhaust gas treatment featuring a very large NOx storage unit (capacity: 2.3 litres) with high-grade coating and SCR (selective catalytic reduction) with complex conditioning.

The SCR catalytic converter converts NOx to harmless steam and nitrogen using AdBlue (synthetic urea solution).

Like all Volkswagen TDI models, the Touareg V8 TDI also features a diesel particulate filter.

More new models featuring TDI engines that undercut the nitrogen oxide limits by generating minimum emissions will follow.


Two young Asian winners in Rolls-Royce global designer contest

                LONDON: A young Chinese and Japanese were among the four global winners in Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' Young Designer Competition, which invited children around the world to design their dream Rolls-Royce of the future.

The other two hailed from France and Hungary.

The four category winners range in age from six to 16, will each enjoy a chauffeur-driven journey with their best friend in a Rolls-Royce to school.

They are Chenyang, age 13, China; Saya, age 6, Japan; Florian, age 16, France; and Léna, age 11, Hungary.

The designs of the winners and three additional Highly Commended entrants have all been transformed into beautiful digitally-rendered illustrations by the Rolls-Royce Design Team, using the same software and processes as they would in a ‘real’ Rolls-Royce design project.

Devised to provide a creative outlet for children aged 16 and under, confined by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the competition attracted more than 5,000 entries from over 80 countries. With no rules or specified judging criteria to limit them, children were able to let their imagination run free, creating designs of extraordinary richness, creativity and diversity.

The judges selected overall winning designs in four categories – Technology, Environment, Fantasy and Fun – based on the most popular themes that emerged from the 5,000-plus entries. Three further entries that defied categorisation but caught the judges’ attention were Highly Commended; the panel also selected winning entries from the various regions around the world in which Rolls-Royce Motor Cars operates.

Launched in April as lockdown conditions were imposed across the globe, the competition proved an instant success; so much so, the original deadline for entries was extended. Asked only to design their "dream Rolls-Royce of the future", children had complete creative freedom.

Entries included designs inspired by (amongst other things) unicorns, turtles, space travel, the Egyptian pyramids, Pablo Picasso and bumble-bees. Many are capable of flying or travelling underwater; the designs also featured a host of clever devices and novel technologies to save labour, provide pleasure and entertainment and benefit humanity and the environment.

"There is some amazing talent out there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of our entrants went on to work as car designers one day – perhaps even at Rolls-Royce,” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.


Honda PCX Hybrid debuts in Indonesia

                JAKARTA: Honda has introduced the Indonesian-made PCX Hybrid, the world’s first two-wheeled hybrid.

The automatic scooter is produced at PT Astra Honda Motor's Sunter plant here. The model will be available in Indonesian showrooms in the second half of the year, priced at around 40 million rupiah (RM11,264).

The scooter gets a petrol engine mated to an electric motor powered by a Li-ion battery pack. The hybrid technology comes on when accelerating the bike, triggering the motor to chip in for improved torque and responsive acceleration.

To highlight its hybrid nature, the scooter is painted in a so-called Hybrid Blue colour and has a hybrid logo on its side body cover. The scooter sports new features such as a full digital panel meter showing the full array of information that includes riding mode status, battery charge level, and lithium battery indicator.

The 150cc engine makes 15hp at 8,500rpm, while the electric motor adds 1.9hp at 3,000rpm. Peak engine torque is 13.2Nm at 6,500rpm, while the motor contributes 4.3Nm to the total.

The riding mode is located on the left handlebar. The rider can choose among three modes: D (Drive), S (Sport) and Idling (blank).

D is the standard mode which kicks in when the assist motor lends more power for a mix of performance, comfort and fuel efficiency. As the name suggests, S is for higher performance riding. In idling mode, the rider can de-activate the idling stop system feature, which still maintains active power support as in D mode.

The new internal combustion engine architecture dubbed eSP (enhanced Smart Power) uses a stop-start micro hybrid system and a range of low friction technologies to offer optimised fuel economy.

LED lighting is standard and a smart key integrated with anti-theft alarm and answer back system adds to the appeal. The scooter comes with a DC socket for power charging, which is located inside the front console box.

At 8-litre capacity, the scooter has the biggest fuel tank in its class. There are also practical features such as fuel cap and seat opener switch integrated with the ignition key. There is also a seat stopper feature to avoid the seat being closed on its own when the rider store or take out items from the storage comparment. The riding position and the rear double suspension have been designed for comfort ride. Other standard kit are ABS and all-disc brakes.

Honda also sells the PCX Electric in other markets. Both the PCX Hybrid and PCX Electric were developed based on the conventional PCX Scooter.

As the PCX Hybrid is a global model, it will be sold in Japan and Asia as well as in Europe and the United States. It could arrive in Malaysia later this year to add some excitement to Honda's two-wheel line-up.


Toyota GR Supra GT4 Concept at 2019 Geneva Motor Show

GENEVA: Toyota showed the world debut of the new Toyota GR Supra GT4 Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, held from Mar 7 to 17, 2019, here in Switzerland.

The GR Supra GT4 Concept was developed as a racing study model based on the GR Supra, Toyata Gazoo Racing's first global model. The model was developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH, Toyota's motorsports foothold in Europe, to explore the possibility of using the GR Supra in customer motorsports such as privateer racing.

READ MORE:
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The GR Supra GT4 Concept is even more light-weight than the commercial Toyota Supra, and is equipped with race specific parts such as roll cage, suspension, brake and rear-wings.

Supra has taken part and has played an active role historically in various motor sports worldwide and the all-new Supra will continue this tradition.

For 2019, in addition to NASCAR Exfinity Series, Supra will take part in the Nurburgring 24 Endurance Race. In 2020, Toyota Supra will also take part in the SUPER GT, GT500 Class.


BMW's Dingolfing plant leads way to electrification

                DINGOLFING (Germany): BMW Group says that its Dingolfing manufacturing site will be where the iNEXT electrified vehicle will be produced and will also be the where mobility gets redefined once more as production for electrified maintains its year-on-year doubling-effect to a current 9% of total production output as of 2018.

With Dingolfing plant to be the iNEXT 's birthing site from 2021 onwards, extensive investments have already been mobilised to prepare for the model and the expected expansion to meet demand for electrified vehicles.

"The BMW iNEXT brings together all key automotive technologies: it is fully electric, fully connected and highly automated. It is the technology flagship for the future of the entire BMW Group. And we are proud that this car of the future will be built here at our (Dingolfing) plant,” said new BMW Group plant director Ilka Horstmeier since November, 2018.

The iNEXT will be the first all-electric BMW to be produced in Dingolfing, where it will be assembled on a single line together with plug-in hybrid and combustion-engine models.

According to Horstmeier, the new addition would also allow the location to play a pioneering role in the future-oriented field of autonomous driving.

“We want to, and will, emerge as a winner in our industry’s technological transformation. And we will continue to pioneer future topics such as e-mobility and autonomous driving.”

In this context, the plant director announced that “we will increase the number of Dingolfing-based jobs in the production of e-drive components several times over in the next few years – to a total of up to 2,000.”

In 2018, the share of electrified models more than doubled year-on-year, to around 9% of the total production output. Almost 30,000 plug-in hybrids of the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series rolled off the assembly lines at the Dingolfing plant.

A total of around 330,000 vehicles were built at the location in 2018, including the new BMW 8 Series’ coupe and convertible variants -making Dingolfing BMW Group's largest European production site in terms of production output once more.

According to Horstmeier, the number of jobs is to rise from its current 600 to 2,000 employees in the long term with Dingolfing already supplying the BMW Group's global vehicle plants with batteries and electric motors for the production of electrified vehicles and next year, the company's new fifth-generation electric drives will roll off the production line.

Besides managing the production output and the launch of the new BMW 7 Series and 8 Series models, 2019 is above all a year of new beginnings, renewal and shaping the future for the new plant director.

“Today, we are benefitting from decisions taken five years or more ago. It is now up to us to do both as well: master our day-to-day business perfectly while at the same time taking the right decisions for the future. This is the task I intend to tackle together with the entire Dingolfing team," said Horstmeier.


VW to offer 'zero emission' car sharing service

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has announced a vehicle-on-demand fleet — consisting entirely of electric cars — set to kick off in Germany in 2019 and expanding to major cities in Europe, North America and Asia by as soon as 2020.

The German automobile manufacturer is “convinced that the car sharing market still has potential” and is planning a continuously expanding platform for customers that goes by the name of WE/We, which will facilitate "zero-emission, sustainable mobility,” explained Jürgen Stackmann, VW Brand Board Member for Sales, in an announcement, also noting that its “an intelligent way to relieve the strain on urban areas.”

It's a vision that could provide young adults in big cities a way to travel short or long distances in environmentally friendly vehicles at an affordable price. Potential benefits of car sharing could include reducing pollution and traffic and saving riders money on fuel, insurance and the price of the car itself.

VW's announcement goes on to suggest that its “recently presented progressive e-mobile solutions,” in the form of two electric scooters — ID Cityskater and the ID Streetmate — could also play a part in the brand's vision of “vehicle-on-demand services” as "micro-mobility solutions.” The brand didn't mention which electric vehicles they have envisioned for the sharing service, however an image of an I.D. study is used to illustrate their announcement.

The aforementioned WE platform provides a number of services, including apps like We Park, We Deliver, Car Net and more that would allow car owners to use their cars as a pick-up point for deliveries, pay parking meters, or simply check fuel levels and other stats. This platform, along with the vehicle-on-demand services is also designed to complement mobility solutions of the Volkswagen Group's MOIA brand, which focuses primarily on ride hailing and pooling services.

VW is not the only one with its sights set on addressing commuters' needs; both PSA and Renault have said they will soon launch electric car-sharing services in Paris. Furthermore, premium brands, BMW and Mercedes have also outlined for new types of mobility solutions order to scale up in the increasingly popular sector, while earlier this week Volvo announced its own M mobility brand.


Fancy taillight image heralds imminent arrival of Bugatti Atlantic

                PARIS: Bugatti is recalling a 1930s model for active duty in the 21st Century.

We are referring to the 2-door Atlantic coupe, of course, which was characterised by a long bonnet and a flowing short back. Giving it a distinctive look at the time was a spine that ran front to back and on the front and rear fenders. The passenger compartment was moulded in the form of a tear drop.

Bugatti has just released a teaser image of the revived and modern Atlantic, showing the taillights illuminated by LEDs.

Going by the Atlantic of yore, the upcoming one will likely deviate from the current rear-engined layout and go with a front engine.

The car would probably be rear-wheel driven if Bugatti decides to use the Chiron's quad-turbo W16 8.0-litre engine.

The one-off Atlantic is expected to be created in a set of four, just like the original. The car was rumoured to be created at the behest of Volkswagen CEO Ferdinand Piëch, a Bugatti fan himself. The project cost is said to be almost €16 million (RM74mil).

We can expect to get the details on the Atlantic when it shows up at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in a few days.

 The original Type 57 SC Atlantic. — Image source: ultimatecarpage.com


Continental expands rubber compound mixing capacity

                ALOR STAR: Continental officially opened its advanced rubber compound mixing facility at its tyre plant here today.

The 3,200 square metre site would ensure Continental continue to deliver quality and performance tyre products, the company said in a statement.

The site, built at a cost of RM65mil, expands on local content and mixing capacity of the plant.

Since 1979, Continental has been making passenger tyres, light truck tyres and motorcycle tyres in Malaysia for the Asia-Pacific market.

 The newly-opened mixing facility.


Volkswagen's Zwickau plant to focus on making electric cars

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen's Zwickau plant will focus on making electric vehicles (EVs) following the final rollout of a car with a combustion engine last Friday.

The seventh generation Golf R Estate with 2.0-litre petrol engine in Oryx White Pearl Effect was produced for a customer in Germany.

Volkswagen aims to make the Zwickau plant Europe’s largest electric vehicle factory, producing six electric models of the brands Volkswagen, Audi and SEAT from 2021.

Planned annual capacity of EVs will increase to 330,000 units.

Work has already started in Hall 6 where the Golf Estate has been produced so far. After a conversion phase lasting several weeks during the summer, the first electric vehicles will be produced there at the end of the year – alongside the ID.4, an SUV from the sister brand Audi is also planned. Series production of the ID.3 1st Edition already started at the site in west Saxony in November 2019, and the start of production of the ID.4 will follow this summer.

With the step-by-step transformation of the Zwickau plant, Volkswagen is for the first time switching a large car factory completely to electric mobility.

The investments for conversion amount to around 1.2 billion euros. In the final expansion stage from 2021, six MEB models will be built for three Group brands in Zwickau. All 8,000 employees will be prepared for production of electric cars and for handling high-voltage systems as part of various training measures.

The Zwickau team will complete around 20,500 days of training by the end of 2020.

The ID.3 is the first vehicle based on the modular electric toolkit (MEB) from Volkswagen.

The platform was developed specifically for electric cars and optimally exploits the possibilities offered by electric mobility.

The ID.3 is characterised by long ranges, plenty of interior space and dynamic driving behaviour. The base version will cost less than 30,000 euros. Early birds have been able to place binding orders for their reserved vehicles since June 17. The market launch of the ID.3 1st Edition will take place almost simultaneously throughout Europe in September 2020.

The bodies for the Lamborghini and Bentley luxury SUVs will continue to be produced in Zwickau.

The e-Golf will roll off the production line at the Transparent Factory in Dresden by the end of the year, and from 2021 the ID.3 will also be produced there.

The leap into the modern automobile age has been a long one: since 1904, cars with combustion engines have been built in Zwickau - initially for many years, including Horch models, and in GDR times the Trabant came off the assembly line here.

In May 1990, Volkswagen started production at its plant in western Saxony. Over the course of the past 30 years, 6,049,207 Volkswagen cars of the models Polo, Golf, Golf Estate, Passat Saloon and Passat Variant have been produced in Zwickau.


Bentley to ramp up production of — honey

                LONDON: There's such a thing as World Bee Day and Bentley is doing its part for the winged pollinators.

The carmaker announced on Friday that it is expanding its apiary or beehouse in Crewe, increasing the colony size of the famous ‘Bentley Bees’ from 600,000 to over 1 million through the installation of seven new bee hives.

As part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy, Bentley is focusing on making its historic Crewe campus even more environmentally friendly as the company aims towards becoming the leaders in sustainable luxury mobility.

In a further move, Bentley is encouraging its colleagues to enhance local biodiversity by handing out wildflower seeds for them to plant in their communities.

Bentley and its staff have been cultivating the bees for the past five years. The bees have produced over 2,000 jars of honey for the staff and customers to date.

The Crewe-based manufacturer, hopes that in 2023 Bentley can surpass last year’s record honey harvest, where the bees produced over 1,000 jars of honey whilst helping to pollinate the on-site flora and bring wider benefits to the surrounding Cheshire countryside.

World Bee Day is celebrated annually on May 20.


Electrify America and Stable Auto to develop robotic arms that help recharge autonomous vehicles

                WASHINGTON: Electrify America has partnered with Stable Auto to begin testing robotic arms designed to charge self-driving vehicles.

As autonomous vehicles come nearer and nearer to deployment on public streets and highways, those without a human supervisor inside need a way to get recharged without a person having to manually hook it up to a power supply.

To answer this concern, Electrify America announced Thursday that the company has made an agreement with San Francisco-based EV charging tech company Stable Auto to "deploy robotic charging solutions for self-driving vehicles."

The pilot solution that will be tested in San Francisco would allow autonomous vehicles to be recharged without human intervention via the attachment of a robotic arm to a 150kW DC fast charger.

According to Electrify America, if all goes according to plan, the location of this pilot demonstration with be that of Stable Auto's first commercial autonomous charger site which is expected to open next year.

Without a human driver or a human recharging operator, self-driving EVs will be programmed to "park themselves anywhere inside a standard parking space, and Stable's robot will automate the connection between the vehicle and the charger."

Creating this type of charging solution allows for self-driving vehicles to be truly autonomous; however, the official use of vehicles using this type of technology is still a ways away from legal deployment.


Intel buys Moovit transit app for US$900mil to help develop robotaxis

                JERUSALEM/NEW YORK: Chipmaker Intel Corp has bought Israeli public transit app maker Moovit for about US$900 million (RM3.9bil) to help it develop self-driving “robotaxis” that could take to the streets in early 2022, the company said on Monday.

Moovit will remain independent while its technology and the data it collects from more than 800 million users in 102 countries will be integrated into Intel’s Israel-based autonomous car unit Mobileye.

The price paid was nearly twice the US$500 million valuation when Moovit last raised money in 2018. Intel owned about 7% of Moovit through a previous equity investment and paid about US$840 million in cash to assume full ownership.

The deal talks started with Moovit seeking to do a capital raise before the novel coronavirus outbreak globally, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Moovit had enough cash to sustain itself for about a year, and when the economic impact of the pandemic became evident, it decided to explore an outright sale to Intel, the source added. The deal was negotiated in 40 days through virtual meetings, according to the source.

“Moovit is an acquisition that fills some very critical gaps that we have going forward,” said Mobileye CEO Amnon Shashua.

The initial goal, he said, was to have a small fleet of driverless taxis in countries like Israel, France and South Korea.

Moovit is popular for helping commuters or tourists find the best way to a destination by showing them bus and train routes, bike paths and car-pooling options.

Once integrated with Mobileye, the app will be a platform to order the robotaxis and the real-time data will ensure the vehicles are deployed in high-demand areas, Shashua said.

Intel forecasts robotaxis will be a US$160 billion market by 2030.

The decision to buy now, when much of the world economy is at a standstill due to the coronavirus outbreak, stems from Mobileye’s ability to more accurately predict when its technology will be ready, Shashua said. And the target is 2022.

“For a company like Intel, which has a very orderly plan of how the future should unfold, the coronavirus should not be a setback. On the contrary, you should look at the crisis then find opportunities,” Shashua said.

Moovit has raised US$133 million from investors including Intel, BMW iVentures, and Sequoia Capital. In 2018 it raised US$50 million in an investment round led by Intel Capital.

Intel has made significant investments already in Israel, including its US$15.3 billion acquisition of Mobileye in 2017. In December it bought Israeli artificial intelligence firm Habana Labs for US$2 billion.


Nissan designs sleep soundtrack to help LEAF owners lull their baby to sleep

                PARIS: Nissan has introduced what they refer to as "the world's first zero-emission lullaby:" the LEAF Dream Drive.

Instead of parents having to rely on driving around their baby in a petrol-powered vehicle to lull them to sleep - therefore producing unnecessary emissions - Nissan put the sounds of a combustion engine into a soundtrack.

While research revealed that parents often believe that it's the vehicle's movement that encourage sleep, "in fact it is the soothing sound frequencies of an internal combustion engine (ICE) that is the biggest contributor to a child falling asleep in the car."

Naturally, as the Nissan LEAF is powered by an electric powertrain, taking babies out for a spin doesn't have the same soothing effect as an ICE car, which is why this soundtrack was created specifically for the model.

The "kryptonite album for angry babies" consists of five three-minute tracks containing the sound frequencies and rhythms of a combustion engine that can be played in a battery-powered vehicle.

The LEAF Dream Drive soundtrack is available on Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Deezer. Parents can play the lullaby in the car by connecting their smartphone to the in-vehicle infotainment system.


VW aims for EV range of 700km

                WOLFSBURG: As part of Volkswagen's goal to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream, it's working on raising the EV range of its MEB-based vehicles to 700km.

It is also seeking to improve charging speed and exploit new battery cell technology.

While future models would aspire to achieve the 700km target, current MEB-based models such as the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID Buzz would likely have their range extended in future updates.

In 2025, the ID Life and the larger Aero B are set to launch but Volkswagen is expected to focus on the pricier Aero B to ensure the 700km-milestone.

VW also said it would adopt a charging power of over 200kW for EVs in the coming years to speed up charging. That's up from 125kW at present.

At the same time, VW is working on cutting the 0-100kph sprint time of its fastest all-wheel drive MEB-based EVs to under 5.5s.

For now, the 299hp ID.5 GTX can muster 6.2s. With power increased to around 350hp, that could allow the GTX to shave acceleration time to meet the target.

The Modular electric drive matrix (MEB) is the underlying platform for the I.D. family.

These are Volkswagens in a variety of classes which have been designed as full electric vehicles and reach ranges of up to 500km and more.

The architecture of the MEB will essentially change electric cars and cars in general.

The Modular Electric Toolkit jettisons all the ballast of the fossil age as it has been designed only for electric cars.

This leads to fundamental changes in body design, interior design, the package and the powertrain characteristics of electric Volkswagens.

Looking beyond Volkswagen, automakers and suppliers in general are working on building EVs that are able to support faster-charging 800-volt architectures.

Most EVs in the market use 400-volt technology. Only the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT are capable of using an 800-volt electrical system.

With more charging power coupled with an 800-volt system, that would lead to faster charging time, a factor that contributes to making EVs more appealing to the public.


Next John Cooper Works GP is MINI's ‘extreme athlete'

The prototype John Cooper Works GP.
MUNICH: MINI has revealed that the 2020 model year version of the company's sporty John Cooper Works GP, which the company refers to as "the new extreme sports car in the model range of the British premium brand," will make its public debut — albeit wearing camouflage — during the Nürburgring-Nordschleife's pre-race programme in Germany.

As part of series development, the 2020 GP prototype is running test laps on the iconic racetrack. Currently, completion times are nearly half a minute faster than the records set by the previous prototype. Power comes from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that puts out 300hp.

The outside features details and components that parallel its sport capacity including wide open air intakes, large and lightweight alloy wheels, and a distinctive roof spoiler.

Only 3,000 units of the production version of the John Cooper Works GP will be available when it hits the market next year.


Nissan says new powertrains may cut hybrid costs up to 30%

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor Co. is developing new modular powertrains that will help streamline production and drive manufacturing costs for hybrid cars down by as much as 30%.

By enhancing the common parts that underpin a vehicle, the Yokohama-based automaker expects to be able to lower the cost of its hybrid cars to the same level as gasoline-powered cars by 2026, senior vice president Toshihiro Hirai said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Nissan unveiled blueprints for two new powertrains — one for its so-called E-power hybrids and another for its zero-emission vehicles. Both use similar technology that will help consolidate and localise production, points Nissan touched on late last month when it outlined its accelerated electrification strategy.

As carmakers globally rush headlong into electric vehicles, Japanese automakers, notably Toyota Motor Corp., say they’re taking a more nuanced approach, continuing to invest heavily in hybrids.

Their belief is that consumers won’t want to switch to electric cars overnight, preferring instead to wait until the technology develops and the cost of EVs comes down. There are also concerns about whether sufficient charging infrastructure for EVs will be in place.

Pure electric and hybrid cars accounted for about 52% of Nissan’s total sales in Japan during the second quarter of fiscal 2022. Although the bulk of that came from hybrids, it’s an improvement from just 12% in 2016.

Nissan’s new powertrains will go into production as early as 2024, Hirai said Tuesday.

Hirai also said that reliable, functioning batteries that don’t cost a fortune to produce or require dwindling rare Earth metals to create are still the missing linchpin for EVs. He added Nissan is committed to developing next-generation solid-state batteries.

“The introduction of solid-state batteries is key,” he said.


Electric vehicles could be the norm in 2026

                LONDON: Electric vehicles (EV) will be the vehicle of choice for motorists by 2026 as a new generation of budding car owners plan to plug-in to greener driving, research among teenagers and learner drivers has revealed.

As prospective motorists focus on a low emission future, new drivers will benefit from increased EV availability on the used market.

Also, renowned futurologist Dr Ian Pearson has forecasted that electric cars will become the ‘new normal’ by 2026, based on the research1 by the joint industry and government-funded Go Ultra Low campaign.

The findings revealed that that more than eight in 10 (81%) 14 year olds plan to make their first car purchase – in just over a decade from now – an electric one.

Go Ultra Low quizzed 800 teenagers aged 14-17 and the demand for greener-fuelled cars grew greater the younger the interviewees became.

The young people polled also revealed that their generation associates electric cars with fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (56%), cleaner air (48%), and ‘the types of cars that everyone will be driving one day’ (34%) – proving the positive impact that greener motoring is having among these budding drivers.

But it’s not just motorists of the future who want to drive an electric car, 17 year olds who are learning right now also specified that they want to get behind the wheel of an ultra low emission vehicle when they pass their test.

Furthermore, 88% of the young people surveyed felt that more motorists, regardless of their age, should be driving a plug-in car in 2015.

There were even more factors about electric cars that young people felt would benefit current drivers – with them costing as little as £0.02 (RM0.13) per mile to drive coming top (53%) in their list and contemporary technology (29%) plus the ability to travel distances of up to 1,127km (32%) ranking highly.

More than a quarter of young people also felt that a car that ‘feels good to drive in’ was a key consideration – a core strength of plug-in cars.

The research has led to predictions of a steep rise in electric car purchases over the next few years by Pearson - a world-renowned futurologist.

Pearson has been a full time futurologist since 1991, with a proven track record of more than 85% accuracy at the 10-year horizon.

"Young people are very aware of environmental issues and it is great that they also notice that electric cars will be cheaper to run, so it is a clear win-win. Battery technology continues to improve, and the amount of resources needed to make an electric car will continue to fall," he said.

"These technology developments will all add up, greatly reducing the environmental impact of cars while making them safer and cheaper. If current trends towards electric cars continue this means that, by 2026, demand for electric cars will almost certainly outweigh demand for 'traditionally fuelled' cars."


Foreign carmakers may lose China market share on EVs, says Greenpeace

                BEIJING: The world’s largest car market is rapidly going electric, and automakers risk losing sales if they don’t follow suit, climate campaigner Greenpeace said in a report.

Volkswagen AG could lose 3 to 7 percentage points of its China market share by 2030, while General Motors Co. could see its erode by 3 to 6 points as their fossil fuel-powered cars lose popularity, according to Greenpeace.

The firms combined for about 30% of car sales in China from 2019 to 2021. Meanwhile, Chinese firms with a heavier emphasis on EVs stand to gain.

“The era of gas and diesel vehicles is coming to an end, and EV sales are surging,” said Greenpeace East Asia campaigner Bao Hang. “Rapid electrification is necessary to stay relevant in China’s auto market.”

China accounts for more than half the world’s EV sales, and BloombergNEF expects drivers to buy about 8 million electric automobiles this year, up from about 6 million last year.

Greenpeace said Chinese automakers it surveyed all have at least 30% of their production capacity dedicated to new energy vehicles, led by BYD Co. with 100%.

BYD overtook VW as China’s top-selling car brand in the first quarter. Major foreign automakers, on the other hand, are all at 30% or below. If they don’t begin transitioning their factory lines to new energy vehicles, they could be left with heavy amounts of unused capacity in the years to come, according to Greenpeace.

Tougher emissions standards that come into effect July 1 could leave manufacturers and dealers with tens of thousands of non-compliant gasoline cars, putting pressure on legacy carmakers to clear stock.


McLaren unveils art car by Karwai Chan

                PETALING JAYA: It's truly one of a kind and an artwork on wheels.

McLaren Kuala Lumpur today unveiled an art car at its headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

Contemporary Malaysian artist Karwai Chan was offered the McLaren GT as a canvas to showcase her "Ride Every Wave" artwork, which depicted a series of ocean waves cresting around the body panels of the sports car.

"The project was inspired by how limitless, fearless and unstoppable a McLaren GT is. Just like waves," said Chan.

The artist looked to Chinese “Blue and White pottery” or “Qing Hua Ci” for ideas for the GT piece. McLaren said this is the first time Chinese porcelain art is hand-painted in oils on a supercar.

The 25-year-old lass said it took her 200 hours or two weeks to finish the latest project on the exterior of the GT, which was pre-wrapped for the oil paints to be applied.

She had done some touch-up work yesterday and the paint on the car was still drying at the unveiling today.

Some of her paintings were also displayed at the showroom.

Chan, a self-taught artist, has been learning her craft since the age of 14. Her myriad works include paintings of Formula 1 drivers, celebrities, pop icons and other supercars. She has also contributed some of her paintings to charity.

The RM908,000 GT was launched in Malaysia in November, 2019.

The art car, to be sold at no extra charge, will be on display until it finds a buyer. Meanwhile, it has received expressions of interest.

The eventual buyer of the art car can of course choose to retain or remove the artwork. But it would be a shame to go the latter route, considering the painstaking artistic energy that went into creating this unique piece.

Chan said her next art car project could be a Lamborghini but talks are still at the preliminary stage.

The main shareholders of Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur (SunAgata Supercars Sdn Bhd) are also the franchise holder of McLaren Kuala Lumpur (MC Farren Supercars Sdn Bhd).

WATCH: An art car blooms