Germany to create fund to foil foreign takeovers after China moves

A robot engineered by Kuka adjusting a windscreen in a Mercedes-Benz at the Daimler factory in Rastatt, Germany. — Reuters
BERLIN: Germany plans to pass legislation by the end of 2019 to create a state-owned fund that can protect key companies from takeovers by Chinese and other foreign firms, government sources said, in a marked shift from its “hands-off” approach to business.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier proposed the fund in February as part of a more defensive industrial strategy and three officials told Reuters the government was now working on draft laws so the fund could be up and running next year.

Two senior government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the idea was for the state-owned investment fund to work with the private sector when buying company stakes to foil unwelcome takeovers.

One official said the state could buy a stake initially and then sell it on as soon as possible to private investors while the other official said in some cases the fund could work with private investors from the start.

“In the past, Germany was too reluctant to define its national interests. This is changing now,” the first government official said.

“We see that we cannot lean back anymore and let everything be decided by the free play of market forces,” he said. “And this means more protection from the state.”

Long an ardent advocate of free markets, Germany’s move is a response to China’s state-driven metamorphosis from customer to competitor and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of unilateral trade sanctions and higher tariffs, the sources said.

For decades, German politicians followed the “ordoliberal” principles of post-war economy minister Ludwig Erhard who said free markets should decide winners and losers, with the state only providing a framework for fair competition.

The German move also comes at a time the European Union as a whole is reconsidering the bloc’s industrial strategy and relations to China in the face of increased investment in critical sectors by Chinese state-owned enterprises.

The European Commission has urged the bloc to back its ideas to curb Chinese companies and EU leaders are due to discuss the issue at a summit in Brussels this week.

Wake-up call

In Germany, the Chinese takeover of robotics maker Kuka in 2016 was the wake-up call for the government that underlined the urgency for the state to become more active, the officials said.

An attempt by China's State Grid last year to buy a stake in power grid operator 50Hertz also focused German minds. After Berlin failed to find an alternative private investor in Europe, German state-owned bank KfW stepped in to keep the Chinese out.

That’s why the German government is now aiming to pass new laws creating the investment fund by the end of the year so it can be ready for use in 2020, the first official told Reuters.

“Ideally, there will be stake acquisitions together with private investors,” the official said, adding that Berlin had no plans to intervene in daily business decisions. “It’s not about the state becoming entrepreneurial.”

The state-owned fund could be managed by KfW, or be an altogether new entity empowered to hold company shareholdings, the second official said.

The plan goes hand in hand with a decision by the government in December to lower the threshold for screening, and even blocking, purchases of stakes in German firms in strategic areas by non-European investors.

An economy ministry spokesman said investment by the state fund would be limited to “very exceptional cases” and stakes would only be bought for a restricted period.

Such cases would mainly involve the protection of critical infrastructure where the government viewed a non-European investor as a threat to Germany’s national interests, the ministry spokesman said.

“The idea and its possible implementation are being discussed now in the further process of the industrial strategy,” said the spokesman, who declined to comment on the fund’s expected size.

‘Economic sovereignty’

Altmaier said in February after presenting Germany’s industrial strategy for the next decade that key sectors were steel and aluminum, chemicals, machine and plant engineering, optics, autos, medical equipment, Green technologies, defense, aerospace and 3D printing.

Among the companies whose survival Altmaier described as crucial for the economy as a whole were marquee names such as Deutsche Bank, thyssenkrupp, Siemens and Germany’s big carmakers.

Altmaier told Reuters in an interview that his aim was to safeguard global competitiveness and technological leadership of German industry for the coming decades.

“This should also be a top priority for the next European Commission,” he said. “With this, we will secure jobs and prosperity in Germany and Europe. And, above all, it’s what will give Europe its economic sovereignty and independence.”

Germany and France, the two biggest economies in the euro zone, are liaising closely on how the EU could overhaul its competition and state subsidy rules to support European champions that can compete on a global level.

Following a decision by Brussels to block a rail deal between Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and Alstom - a merger that was meant to counter Chinese competition - German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to put reform of Europe’s competition laws high on the agenda during Germany’s EU presidency in 2020.

Business backlash

While Germany's powerful BDI industry association has welcomed the government's plan to tackle a more assertive China, support national champions and reform competition law, it has criticized the idea of a state investment fund.

“New instruments for state ownership should not be used to fend off company takeovers, they should only support projects of new technologies,” BDI director general Joachim Lang said.

In light of growing unease among coalition lawmakers and industry groups, Altmaier is trying to reassure critics that Germany will remain open for foreign direct investment and that the government wants to intervene as little as possible.

“However, there can be exceptional cases in which the state must take action to avoid severe disadvantages for the economy as a whole and the country’s national welfare,” Altmaier told Reuters. “For example in cases when our critical infrastructure is at stake or when it comes to game changer technologies.”

Carsten Linnemann, deputy leader of Merkel’s conservatives in parliament and head of the bloc’s business-friendly Mittelstand wing, said the government’s focus on national champions was problematic. “We shouldn’t confuse size with competitiveness,” Linnemann told Reuters.

He said Germany’s “hidden champions” - mostly family-run firms that are market leaders in niche segments - were a good example that innovation is often driven by small enterprises.

Linnemann also rejected the idea of state intervention.

“The state simply doesn’t have more knowledge than the market. This basic rule hasn’t changed in times of big technological disruptions, in fact rather the opposite.”

Asked if parliament would block legislation for a state investment fund, Linnemann said coalition lawmakers were still in the process of forming an opinion. He said they generally shared the government’s goal to support the industrial sector.

“But we won’t achieve this by copying the industrial policy of China, the United States and France.”


Shell Select turns food oasis

                PETALING JAYA: A change is coming to your local Shell Select store. Shell Malaysia launched its brand new retail concept, the ‘food oasis’ at the Shell station in Taman Connaught, Cheras which will also be introduced at 30 other Shell Select stores this year.

Shell Malaysia and Loob Holding have joined hands to introduce Chatime, llaollao and Gindaco outlets for patrons to enjoy savoury Gindaco takoyakis, llaollao frozen yogurt and Chatime bubble tea.

 Ben (left) and Loo.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Loob Holding as we share the same values of upholding cutomer satisfaction and enhancing customer experience. We want our stations to be a haven for the community to refuel, refresh and rejuvenate, leaving them happier than when they arrived,” said Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd head of retail marketing, Ben Mahmud.

Also present was Loob Holding managing director Bryan Loo.

Shell Malaysia and Loob Holding have already inked a memorandum of understanding to introduce Chatime outlets at Shell Select stores, 11 of which are already operational.

Each Shell Select store featuring the food oasis will be individually customised with different food offerings to meet the needs of local consumers, bringing together local and international food and beverage retailers which will compliment Shell’s own deli2go offerings.

Shell will be upgrading over a 100 stores to the new Shell Select format featuring facilities such as seating lounges, complimentary Wi-Fi and charge stations including upgraded restrooms and prayer rooms.


NZ WHeels Klang Autohaus gets new body and paint facility

                KLANG: NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, an authorised dealer for Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia, has added a new RM2mil body and paint facility to its existing NZ Wheels Klang Autohaus 3S facility.

Located at Lot 1385, Wisma NAZA, Klang (tel: +603-3343 9270), the new 8,330 sq ft body and paint facility has 14 dedicated work bays and is open daily from 8.30am - 5.00pm.

This comes after its RM6mil 3S (sales, service and spare parts) facility was officially opened with an AMG Performance Centre in February, while fronting the latest Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II Autohaus concept.

The services provided by the body and paint facility includes spot welding and MIG/MAG welding, dry sanding, infrared dryers, Glasurit water-based paints and a dedicated aluminium repair bay.

Also, in conjunction with the official opening, NZ Wheels together with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, hosted an exclusive Mercedes-Benz Discovery Learning Programme with its customers.

The programme was specially designed to enable their customers to understand their Mercedes-Benz and all its functions, technologies and safety features of their vehicle.

The main objective was to optimise ownership experience through information sharing and discovery sessions conducted by the German carmaker’s technical experts.

The highlight of the evening was when Daimler AG technical expert Andreas Roehl who demonstrated the importance of authorised retail network and genuine parts.

He also conducted an Information Sharing Session where customers were taken step-by-step through the Pre-Safe and safety features available within a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

A live demonstration was conducted to showcase some of a Mercedes-Benz’s abilities that included Park Assist and Hold functions to name a few.

This was followed by a special servicing and car care tips session, which was assisted by Mercedes-Benz Certified NZ Wheels Product Experts relating to their Mercedes-Benz during the Vehicle Discovery Session.

“Together with our principal, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, NZ Wheels always strives to deliver the best customer service possible and to make sure that our customers’ enjoyment of their Mercedes-Benz extends to their after-sales experience,” said Naza Corporation Holdings group chief executive officer (Automotive Group) Datuk Samson Anand George.


Honda Malaysia dealers open full swing

                PETALING JAYA: All Honda Malaysia dealerships have started full operations and reopened showrooms from May 13.

Honda Malaysia sales office and manufacturing plant are resuming operations in stages during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period.

Precautionary measures that have been activated at all dealerships nationwide:
Showroom Visit (Car Viewing)
Upon arrival at any Honda dealership nationwide, customers will undergo temperature screening and are required to use the hand sanitiser made available at the entrance, before entering the showroom.

Individuals recording temperature of 37.5°C and above or are exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath will be advised to leave the premises to immediately seek medical attention.

The customer flow at all dealerships has been restructured to have only one entrance and one exit for a more effective check-and-control measure.

High traffic or frequently used areas such as the door handles and washrooms are sanitized and disinfected on a regular basis every day.

Upon entrance into the showroom, face masks will be provided to the customers.

Both customers and Honda sales advisors are required to wear face masks before engaging in any discussion.

All display cars in the Honda dealerships are cleaned using certified sanitisers regularly every day.

Sales advisors are required to adhere to the recommended social distance of 1 metre from customers during the explanation on the exterior of the Honda models.

During the demonstration and explanation of interior features of the car, the sales advisors will sit in the rear seat to maintain social distancing at all times.

2. Customer Test Drive

All test drive cars also are sanitised using certified sanitisers before and after each test drive session with particular attention to the areas and accessories that are frequently touched such as the steering wheel, switches, dashboard, door handles and car keys.

To provide assurance and maintain hygiene at all times during a test drive, gloves are provided, and both customers and sales advisors must wear their face masks and gloves throughout the test drive.

To continue social distancing, the sales advisor will sit in the rear seat at all times while the customer is conducting a test drive.

3. Booking a Honda car

In terms of car booking, Honda Malaysia encourages customers to make payment directly into respective dealership’s accounts via e-transaction to minimise contact with common items such as table, stationery and also Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal.

Honda Malaysia has also enabled online renewal for car insurance, making it more convenient and safer at the same time.

4. New Car Delivery

Honda Malaysia understands that the receiving of a new car delivery is a celebration for both dealers and customers.

In view of the current situation and with safety being of utmost importance, the Company advises customers to limit guests present during the new car delivery occasion to ONE person to avoid having a large crowd in the showroom.

Every new car will be thoroughly sanitised before the customer takes possession of it.

5. Honda After-Sales Services and Honda Cars Warranty Extension

It is compulsory for customers to make appointments for their car service at the dealerships as Honda Malaysia is enforcing stringent measures including crowd control and social distancing.

The number of customers present at any one time for car service in the dealership is limited at minimum capacity.

Advance appointments will ensure that the customers are able to enjoy a smoother aftersales service experience.

For the warranty extension, Honda Malaysia has made special considerations as follows:

General precautionary measures at dealerships

Honda Malaysia is also taking extra precautions to ensure the highest safety and good personal hygiene of its sales and service advisors.

Temperature checking is implemented on all employees and they are reminded to wash their hands regularly.

All Honda sales and service advisors are required to practise social distancing by maintaining a distance of 1 metre from one another at all areas.

Honda dealers has also set up hand sanitising stations at key areas in all dealerships, such as the showroom entrance, customer lounge, discussion area, reception counter, workshop entrance, service advisor counter, cashier counter and washrooms.

In addition, the windows or doors of the dealerships are opened every 30 - 60 minutes to ensure good ventilation while the Kids Zone and Café remain closed for the time being.

Honda Malaysia has also prepared educational materials on prevention guidelines and these are made available at the reception counters and every discussion table as a reminder for all associates and customers.


Shell says UK can bring forward petrol car sale ban to 2030

                LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell Plc expects the UK can end the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles in just a decade, as the nation attempts to eliminate emissions by the middle of the century.

The ban can be brought forward to 2030 with "the right policy and incentives,” Sinead Lynch, the head of oil giant Shell’s operations in Britain said on LinkedIn.

That’s five years earlier than the deadline set by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February, and also beats the 2032 date that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said may be possible to achieve.

Johnson’s government is seeking to ban the sale of new cars powered by fossil fuels by the middle of the next decade as it seeks to ensure net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

That oil companies, which have been built on the back of demand for automobile fuels for over a century, are predicting the end of gasoline cars in the near future is a pivotal moment for the industry.

Europe’s biggest oil companies have been preparing for a slowdown in fuels demand, and are increasingly turning their attention to electricity production, primarily from renewable sources. Shell and rivals BP Plc and Total SA have all set their own net-zero emission targets.

Still, there are hurdles for the UK achieving the ban on oil-fueled car sales.

The government needs to continue providing incentives to help customers use electric vehicles, Lynch said. Infrastructure for charging these needs to be built out, and investments are required in electricity networks to meet the extra demand, she said.


Khairy moots online complaints portal to tackle potholes in the country

                KUALA LUMPUR: A special online complaints portal should be introduced to tackle the issue of potholes throughout the country, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister told Berita Harian that he would discuss this suggestion with the Works Ministry as soon as possible.

According to him, such a portal was important as it allowed the public to be the "eyes and ears" of the relevant agencies tasked with various aspects of road maintenance.

"Real time monitoring is important as I was told that only a few days ago, there was no pothole on the road where I had my accident.

"Agencies like the Public Works Department (JKR) do not have the manpower to constantly monitor all Federal roads," Khairy told Berita Harian today.

On Sunday, he suffered injuries to his face after falling while cycling in Jalan Kampung Sri Cheeding, Banting, Selangor.

A cycling enthusiast, he landed in a ditch after his bicycle hit a pothole at about 11am.

Khairy confirmed the incident on his Twitter account by uploading a photo showing his bruised face and the location of the accident.

His press secretary, Raja Syahrir Raja Abu Bakar, had also posted on Twitter that Khairy sustained light injuries.

When asked about the incident, the Rembau MP could not go into detail as he told Berita Harian he was suffering from temporary memory loss after being warded in hospital on Sunday.

"I uploaded the incident to Twitter as a reminder to road users to keep an eye out, but it also caught the attention of the JKR.

"I am thankful that JKR has taken prompt action but it should not just happen because I am a minister," he said.

Khairy added that he was aware of worse incidences, including where lives had been lost, due to potholes in the roads and he said the causes of the issue should be investigated.

"I have already discussed with (Works Minister) Datuk Seri Fadillah (Yusof) on how we can use technology to combat this issue.

"With a special complaints portal, details such as picture, videos and the location of damaged roads can be shared quickly," he told Berita Harian.

"What is important is that if there is a pothole, there should be no delays in fixing it.

"If we can see it, we can avoid it but I was cycling at a speed of 40kmh and did not manage to spot the pothole. What more motorcycle riders?" he asked.

The Rembau MP added that he took a positive view of online feedback asking him to have an accident in various areas so that immediate rectification work could be carried out.

"The root of the issue is that potholes need immediate attention as it is an issue close to the hearts of road users," he said.


BMW beats pre-pandemic earnings, but chip troubles hit fourth quarter

                BERLIN: BMW more than doubled pre-pandemic earnings in 2021 to €16 billion (RM74bil), the company said on Thursday, as higher prices and strong sales of top-end cars boosted revenue despite supply chain constraints.

The premium carmaker, which sold a record 2.52 million vehicles last year despite semiconductor shortages, reported a 10.3% earnings margin for the year, its highest since 2017.

Still, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in its automotive segment took a 4.2% hit in the fourth quarter as the global chip shortage, which BMW has so far weathered better than competitors, caused a drop in deliveries of 14.2%.

Quarterly net profit for the group came in at €2.25 billion, a third higher than last year but well below 2019 levels of €5.02 billion.

BMW's share price tumbled 7% from yesterday's close to €70.95 at 1303 GMT, hitting the bottom of Germany’s bluechip index alongside Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz Group and in line with a European-wide slump in auto shares amid fears over disruptions to supplies.

French carmaker Renault, Stellantis as well as Swedish Volvo were all among the worst performers of their respective indexes on Thursday.

Premium carmakers have largely been better positioned to weather supply chain troubles than value brands because they can push higher costs onto consumers through elevated prices.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, registered a 24.7% fall in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2021 but still boosted its EBIT by 12% in its cars and vans division.

BMW's revenues climbed 12.4% from last year to €111 billion, with net profit reaching a record high of €12.46 billion.

"We are in a good position and optimistic about the future," chief financial executive Nicolas Peter said.

The company will propose a dividend of €5.8 per share, up from last year's €1.9, it said.


VW CEO Diess rumoured to be stepping aside at Skoda, SEAT

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess is stepping down as head of the supervisory boards at subsidiaries SEAT and Skoda to focus on building up a stronger software-development team, a person familiar with the matter said.

Volkswagen declined to comment.

Handelsblatt had reported the news earlier.

At SEAT, Diess would be succeeded by current technology head Thomas Schmall and at Skoda by Murat Aksel, head of procurement on the Volkswagen board, the source added.

Volkswagen has been heavily focused on regaining lost ground in the fast-growing field of software-heavy electric cars, where United States and Chinese manufacturers are seen as having a lead.


Police investigating viral video of child falling out of moving car

A screengrab taken from a dashcam of a car following behind the Myvi.
RAWANG: Police have urged witnesses to come forward after a video went viral of a child falling out of a moving vehicle near Jalan Tasik Puteri here.

Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Zainal Mohamed Mohamed said police detected the one minute 37 second video on social media believed to be dashcam footage from a vehicle on Friday.

The video shows a Perodua Myvi making a U-turn and after the car moves forward, a child is seen lying on the road.

A man, believed to be another motorist, can be seen picking up the child from the road before a young girl and a woman are seen running towards the child.

The woman is then seen carrying the child and walking back to the Perodua car.

"The incident is believed to have occurred near Green Valley, Jalan Tasik Puteri.We are investigating the case under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for exposing a child to danger and causing physical or emotional injury," he said in a statement today.

He urged anyone with information on the incident to contact Insp Nik Nor Aqeela Nik Abdullah at 019-926 0203 or 03-6126 2222.


Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe goes on the prowl from RM774k

SEPANG: Budding owners seeking a high-powered coupe from within the three-pointed star’s C-Class models, then look no further than the AMG version of the C 63 S Coupe which made its official debut at the Sepang International Circuit.

With a 66-litre fuel-tank feeding the handcrafted M177 4.0-litre (3,982cc) twin-turbo V8 engine that has a bassy exhaust note thanks to an AMG quad sports exhaust system under the 355-litre boot - all of which seems to justify the on-the-road without insurance price-tag of RM773,888 from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

With 510hp from 5,500 to 6,250rpm and 700Nm of torque from 1,750 to 6,250rpm under the hood, an AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters sends it all to the rear wheels for some tail-happy occasion whenever the driver desires.

At standstill, while holding the brake down with the left-foot, pulling both paddle-shifters, then the right paddle and then flooring the accelerator puts the coupe into Launch Control mode. Releasing the brake sucks the coupe’s occupants into the back rest as it reaches 100kph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to an electronically-limited top speed of 250kph. An optionally extra AMG Driver’s package ups the limit to 290kph.

Externally, the coupe gets AMG-ed with the twin-blade front grille and bumper, while the German carmaker’s three-pointed star is found in the centre. There’s also a tri-fin diffuser at the rear, carbon fibre side skirts and ‘V8 Biturbo’ badges on each side just aft of the front wheels to act as a reminder or deterrent to anything lesser.

An AMG Night package as an optional-extra applies a gloss-black finish to the trim strips at the A-wing, rear bumper, external mirror housings, shoulder-line and window surrounds.

The V8 coupe rolls on matte black 19-inch AMG nine dual Y-spoke wheels with high-sheen rim flanges and gets fitted with 255/35 (front) and 285/30 (rear) series tyres for grip, while an electronic rear axle locking differential has been exclusively fitted to aid traction and a three-stage adjustable AMG Ride Control sports suspension system takes care of the handling department.

Inside, it’s either red-black or white-black perforated Nappa leather for the cabin and can be further enhanced by an AMG Performance Studio interior package as an extra, which provides a choice of either carbon-fibre and aluminium or matte silver and aluminium combination trim.

The AMG performance seats have been wrapped in Artico man-made leather and is accompanied by some grippy Dinamico microfibre in key areas while an AMG badge resides on the backrests.

Other than the usual availability of the AMG Dynamic Select’s list of Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes to alter the suspension, steering, throttle sensitivity and gearshift mapping accordingly, owners now have the newly added option of choosing Race mode.

For an additional RM22,000, a wilder ‘Edition 1’ version of the coupe is available at RM795,888, which comes with a few upgrades to help it differentiate itself from the milder-looking C 63 S Coupe by rolling on a set of larger 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) blackened Performance five-twin-spoke forged wheels wearing 255/35 (front) and 285/30 (rear) series tyres.

The design is inspired by the appearance of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM race cars which means it comes in two designs, one that has all exterior paint finishes available with added graphite grey matte sport stripes and the rim flanges of the matt black forged wheels in high-sheen cross-spoke design. Additionally, custom sport tyres and a high-performance ceramic compound brake system are available as an option.

The other variant comes in designo magno selenite grey matt paint finish with a yellow film coating (a tribute to this year’s C 63 DTM race car). Bright yellow is again used to accent the car's looks with sport stripes on the front hood, roof, boot lid and side lines above the rocker panels as well as the rim flanges.

Both variants get the high-gloss black AMG Aerodynamics package that includes a large front spoiler, side sills, integrated rear bumper stall strips, rear diffuser and a boot lip.

Inside, the DINAMICA microfibre Performance flat-bottom steering wheel and AMG Performance seats upholstered in Nappa leather greets its driver.

Yellow has been predominantly splashed throughout the cabin for contrast and is found on the instrument cluster, AMG-specific IWC analogue clock, floor mats and the diamond-pattern topstitching for the door centre panels, armrests, steering wheel and belt-lines, while a lone matte carbon trim is used for the centre console.


Volvo S60 T8 R Design arrives: RM296K, AWD plug-in hybrid with 407hp

                KUALA LUMPUR: The new Volvo S60 T8 R Design is expected to boost sales for the premium Swedish marque in the country, as the mid-sized sports sedan is priced competitively and packed with lots of luxury and safety features.

Priced at RM295,888 on-the-road without insurance, the new S60 is powered by an award-winning T8 Twin Engine AWD plug-in hybrid system that delivers 407hp.

Labelled ‘a true driver’s car’ by Volvo, the S60 is billed as combining performance, sustainability and safety.

Turbocharged for maximum responsiveness, the engine balances strong performance with low emissions and fuel consumption, so the driver can enjoy the feeling of power, responsibly.

 Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Nalin Jain (left) and product manager Sharon Wong launching the Volvo S60 T8 R Design in Kuala Lumpur.

“What makes the Volvo S60 a driver’s car is the dynamic chassis and drive modes as it delivers excellent control and an engaged performance. This, combined with the acclaimed technology from our 90 Series and other 60 Series cars, ensures that the Volvo S60 T8 R Design it is on its way to being one of the best sports sedans on the market,” said Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Nalin Jain.

The new Volvo models are the most luxurious that Volvo Cars has ever built, with the Volvo S60’s interior exuding quality and craftmanship.

Users will enjoy its contour seats with exclusive Charcoal Fine Nappa Leather/Open Grid Textile upholstery and tailored dashboard. Not to mention the Harman Kardon Premium Sound system and panoramic roof.

Using the three principles of proportion, the intelligent use of technology and the best Scandinavian expression of luxury, the Volvo S60 is raising the level of luxury in the premium sedan market.

The Volvo S60 shares Volvo Cars’ own Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, safety technology and infotainment system, which is used in the top-of-the-line 90 Series cars and award-winning XC60, all of which have achieved industry-leading safety ratings.

This makes the new Volvo S60 one of the safest cars on the road.

The City Safety with Autobrake technology assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions and is the only system on the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals.

In a world-first for the mid-size sedan segment, City Safety now also engages auto braking to mitigate oncoming collisions.

The Pilot Assist system – which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130km/h – has been upgraded with improved cornering performance.

The Volvo S60 also includes Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other steering assistance systems.

The Cross Traffic Alert further enhances safety for people inside and outside the car.

Volvo S60 T8 R DesignPrice: RM295,888 on-the-road without insuranceWarranty: 5 years

- 1,969cc Drive-E engine with Turbocharger & Supercharger
- 407hp at 5700rpm
- 640Nm at 1200 - 5400rpm
- 8-Speed Automatic Transmission with Geartronic
- Acceleration, 0-100kph: 4.4 seconds
- Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 2 litres per 100km
- 235/40 R19 tyres
- Service Intervals: 20,000km
- Fuel tank: 60 litres
- Kerb weight: 2,041kg

Driving Dynamics

- Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD)
- All Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Drive Mode Settings
- Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS)
- Adjustable Steering Wheel Force
- Dynamic Chassis
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function
- Hill Start Assist (HSA)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Engine Start/Stop System
- 11.6 kWh Lithium-Ion Hybrid Battery

Driver Display, Controls & Information

- Digital Instrument Cluster with 12.3” TFT Adaptive Digital Display
- Head-Up Display (HUD)
- Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS)
- Sensus Navigation
- Road Sign Information System (RSI)
- 3-Spoke R-Design Leather Steering Wheel with Perforated Leather
- R-Design Sport Pedals
- R-Design Gear Lever
- Diamond-Cut Engine Start/Stop Knob, Drive Mode Selector & Volume Knob
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Voice Control
- Digital Owner’s Manual

Intellisafe - Preventive Safety

- City Safety - Collision Avoidance & Mitigation with Intersection Support Pedestrian, Cyclist & Large Animal Detection
- City Safety with Steering Support
- Front & Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation Support
- Driver Alert Control (DAC)
- Lane Keeping Aid (LKA)
- Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection
- Oncoming Lane Mitigation
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist
- Cross Traffic Alert (CTA)
- Seat Belt Detection with Graphical Indicator for All Seats
- Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)

Intellisafe - Protective Safety

- Pre-Prepared Restraints (PRS)
- Run-Off Road Protection
- Dual Stage Driver & Front Passenger Airbags
- Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with Dual Chamber
- SIPS Airbags
- Full-Length Inflatable Curtains (IC)
- Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) for Front Seats
- Post-Collision Auto Braking & Unlocking
- Collapsible Steering Column
- Brake Pedal Release
- Energy Absorbing Seat Cushions

Intellisafe - Child Safety

- Power Child Safety Lock
- Passenger Airbag Cut-Off Switch
- ISOFIX Attachment Point, Rear Outer Seats
- Power Windows with Pinch Protection

Security

- Volvo Guard Alarm with Immobiliser & Interior Mass Movement
- R-Design Leather Key Integrated Remote with Central Locking
- Remote Key Tag / Sport Key
- Private Locking, Trunk
- Home-Safe Light

Exterior

- R-Design Grille
- Dual Integrated Tailpipes
- Door Handles with Illumination & Ground Lighting
- Glossy Black Exterior Mirrors
- Power Retractable Exterior Mirrors
- Windscreen Wipers with Integrated Washers
- Capless Refuelling System
- Welcome Light / Approach Light

Wheels

- 19” 5-Triple Spoke Matt Tech Black Diamond Cut Alloy
- Wheels with 235/40R19 Tyres
- Indirect Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (iTPMS)
- Tyre Sealant Kit
- Safety Triangle

Lights

- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Full LED Illumination Headlights with Active High Beam and Active Bending Lights (ABL)
- High-pressure Headlight Cleaners
- Automatic Headlight Levelling System
- Rear Fog Lights
- High Position Rear Brake Light
- Emergency Brake Lights - Flashing Brake Lights and Hazard Warning

Interior

- R-Design Metal Mesh Decor Inlay
- Frameless Rear-view Mirror
- Tailored Instrument Panel
- R-Design Front Tread Plates
- R-Design Textile Carpets
- High-Level Interior Illumination Package
- Charcoal Headliner

Seats & Upholstery

- R-Design Seats in Leather/ Nubuck textile
- Power Adjustable Driver Seat
- Power Adjustable Front Passenger Seat
- Memory for Driver Seat including Exterior Mirrors
- Memory for Front Passenger Seats
- Power Adjustable Lumbar Support - 4-Way
- Power Cushion Extension, Driver Seat
- Power Cushion Extension, Front Passenger Seat

Convenience

- Keyless Entry & Drive
- Rain Sensor with Tunnel Detection
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Pilot Assist
- Park Assist Front & Rear
- Park Assist Pilot, Parallel Parking & Perpendicular Parking
- 360-degree Surround View Camera
- Automatically Dimmed Inner & Outer Rear View Mirror
- Illuminated Vanity Mirror, Driver & Front Passenger
- Parking Ticket Holder
- Power Operated Trunk with Hands-free Operation

Climate

- 2-Zone Electronic climate control (ECC)
- Clean Zone Interior Air Quality System
- Parking Climate with Cabin Pre-Conditioning
- Second Row Air Conditioning with B-Pillar Vents
- Panoramic Sunroof

Entertainment

- Sensus Connect with 9” Portrait Integrated Colour Touchscreen
- Harman Kardon Premium Sound Audio System - 14 Speakers (600W Output)
- 2 USB Type-C Port in Front Tunnel Storage
- Apple Carplay & Android Auto

Load & Versatility

- Cup Holders and Storage with Jalousie Enclosure in the Tunnel Console
- Cup Holders and Storage in the Rear Seat Armrest
- 12V Socket in Tunnel Console & Cargo Area
- Net Pocket on Tunnel
- Protective Scuff Plate, Trunk
- Charge Cord Bag


Naza appoints deputy group CEO for automotive group

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has appointed Ramasamy Devaraju (pic) as deputy group CEO, Automotive Group with immediate effect.

“Devaraju brings extensive knowledge of automotive operations across all segments which will benefit the group’s wide ranging automotive businesses. His knowledge and expertise will be key in bringing improvement to the Automotive Group,” Group CEO, Automotive Group Datuk Samson Anand George said in a statement.

In his capacity as deputy group CEO, Devaraju will support Samson in managing automotive operations, focusing on elevating and enhancing retail customer experience.

An automotive engineer with over 30 years of experience in the auto industry, Devaraju has previously worked in India and the Middle East where he handled automobile retail operations at companies such as Hindustan Motors, Tata Motors and Mercedes-Benz India.

He went on to spend nearly 14 years in Malaysia with Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd where he last held the position of director of operations.


Using 3D maps to probe complex traffic accidents in Singapore

Dr Khoo (left) and Dr Koh with a 3D laser scanner used at crash sites. — JASON QUAH/The Straits Times/ANN
SINGAPORE: In 2016, a Mercedes-Benz barrelled down the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) against the flow of traffic, before crashing into a car and a scooter. One person was killed in the accident and four injured.

At the Mercedes driver’s trial in 2019, there was a question about whether the expressway’s slope had contributed to the car’s speeding as it moved against traffic flow, said Grace Wong, acting deputy laboratory director of Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory.

Technology, in the form of a three-dimensional map of that stretch of the expressway, helped the forensic scientists calculate the gradient of the AYE stretch, without having to manually scan accessible parts of it.

The driver was eventually sentenced to a year’s jail.

“The ability for us to go back in time, so to speak, and revisit that scene (digitally) was invaluable,” said Wong.

Technology now forms a cornerstone of the work by HSA’s traffic crash reconstruction team, which can conduct more of its investigations remotely.

In the past, a larger number of expressways and roads had to be closed for forensic scientists to manually take 3D laser scans of the crash sites, while investigating complex and fatal traffic accidents.

It was time-consuming and disruptive to the flow of traffic, said Dr Alaric Koh, acting division director of HSA’s Forensic Science Division.

Before laser scanners were used, the scientists even had to use measuring rollers and tapes to measure the width and distance of a site.

Dr Koh added that while its traffic crash reconstruction team looks into about 80 cases annually now, compared with up to five a year more than a decade ago, its use of advanced technology has helped the team investigate these accidents more efficiently.

In 2021, there were 100 fatal road accidents.

These technologies include three-dimensional replicas of the accident site and simulation models that recreate events leading up to the accident and its aftermath.

Recreating the accident helps forensic scientists answer investigative questions, such as whether the vehicles were speeding or flouting traffic rules.

The HSA team can use digital replicas from the Singapore Land Authority’s (SLA) National 3D Mapping Programme, which started in 2014, to measure the length of a stretch to calculate a vehicle's speed. Through the SLA initiative, every road, lane and highway in Singapore was mapped via a 3D laser scanner with cameras mounted on a car.

The scanner sends out millions of laser pulses in a second, and when the pulses hit objects such as a road stretch, trees or lamp posts, these objects’ heights and geometry are plotted in a 3D space.

Since 2019, HSA’s Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory has used SLA’s 3D map for about 50 cases.

While the forensic scientists have to take their own scans at times, mainly because the SLA data is outdated due to factors such as road reconstruction, Dr Victor Khoo, director of SLA’s survey and geomatics division, said the government body will continue to update the map regularly.

“We are going to start another campaign to continue to capture (3D data of the roads). This ought to be a continuous process. And autonomous vehicles will also depend on these 3D point cloud data to drive themselves,” he added. – The Straits Times (Singapore)/Asia News Network


Tesla boss game for merger

                FRANKFURT: Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on Tuesday said he was open to discussing a merger of his start-up electric carmaker with a rival.

Speaking at an Axel Springer event in Berlin, Musk was asked whether he would consider buying a rival carmaker given that Tesla’s market value of more than US$500 billion would make it easy to launch a takeover bid.

“We are definitely not going to launch a hostile takeover. If somebody said it would be a good idea to merge with Tesla, we would have this conversation,” he said.


Hot stuff: The best way to cool down your car in a heatwave

                BERLIN: One of the hardest parts of any heatwave is the instant discomfort that comes from jumping into an unbearably hot car.

Rather than feeling like a steak on a barbecue the next time you want to go for a drive, testing organisation Dekra has some advice for keeping cool behind the wheel: Contrary to what seems logical, drivers should refrain from turning on the air conditioning straight away, as it will only recycle the hot air already in the car.

To remove the air, all doors and the boot of car should be left open for a few minutes before driving, at which point drivers should leave the windows open for the following few minutes.

Only then are they advised to close the windows and begin using the air conditioning at a low temperature and with a strong fan.

The interior should be cooled to no more than six to eight degrees lower than the outside temperature so as not to shock the driver's cardiovascular system when exiting the car.

In order to protect children from direct sunlight, motorists are also advised to install sun protection mats and roller blinds on the rear windows. However, they should not attach these devices to the windscreen or two side front windows, to maintain full visibility.


VW plans farewell to legendary Santana model in China

                BEIJING: Volkswagen plans to stop making Santana cars in China, bidding farewell after over three decades to its first Chinese-made model that became a symbol of the country's rising middle class and helped fuel the German carmaker's popularity.

Volkswagen AG's joint venture with SAIC Motor will end production of the Santana, Skoda's Rapid and a current version of Tharu sport-utility vehicles (SUV) at its plant in the eastern city of Yizheng, government documents showed.

That plant is the main factory responsible for making Santanas in China and has the capacity to manufacture 224,400 units a year.

Volkswagen did not directly comment on its plans for the Santana but said in a statement to Reuters consumer tastes had shifted away from sedans towards SUVs.

"Customer preferences are gradually shifting away from notchback ICE (internal combustion engine) models towards BEV (battery electric vehicle) and SUV models," the company said.

Production of Santanas began in China in 1985 and Volkswagen said more than 6 million had been delivered to Chinese customers over the years. It was unclear whether Volkswagen would continue to make Santanas in other markets.

The affordable sedans - which became status symbols in the 1990s as China's economy boomed - have been credited with helping Volkswagen break into the Chinese market and rise to the top rank of foreign automakers there in terms of sales.

Volkswagen sold 3.85 million vehicles in China last year, ahead of second-ranked foreign manufacturer General Motors Co, thanks in part to its shift in focus to more popular and profitable SUV models.

Competition in the family car market has intensified with the entry of more international rivals and Chinese firms, putting pressure on some of the established foreign manufacturers.

In the first 10 months of this year, SAIC-Volkswagen sold 970,438 vehicles, down 18% from a year earlier. Companies such as Hyundai Motor, Renault and Suzuki Motor have shut plants, exited joint ventures or quit the Chinese market entirely.

Instead of Santanas and Rapids, the Yizheng plant would make T-Cross and facelifted Tharu SUVs, Polo hatchbacks and Lamando sedans, according to the document. These arrangements would be completed in 2023.

Volkswagen has other joint ventures with FAW Group and JAC. All ventures are building new plants for electric vehicles.


US army testing Chevrolet Colorado as a hydrogen-fuelled truck

                DETROIT: General Motors and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center (Tardec) are modifying a Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck to run on a commercial hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and will expose the truck to the extremes of daily military use for 12 months.

“Hydrogen fuel cell technology is important to GM’s advanced propulsion portfolio, and this enables us to put our technology to the test in a vehicle that will face punishing military duty cycles,” said Charlie Freese, executive director of GM’s Global Fuel Cell Engineering activities.

Fuel cell propulsion has very high low-end torque capability useful in off-road environments. It also offers exportable electric power and quiet operation, attractive characteristics to both commercial and military use.

"The potential capabilities hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can bring to the Warfighter are extraordinary, and our engineers and scientists are excited about the opportunity to exercise the limits of this demonstrator," said Tardec director Paul Rogers.

"FCVs are very quiet vehicles, which scouts, special operators and other specialties place a premium,” he said. “What's more, fuel cells generate water as a by-product, something extremely valuable in austere environments."

GM and Tardec have fuel cell development and research facilities located 20 minutes apart in Pontiac and Warren, Mich. The two collaborate to evaluate new fuel cell designs and materials, and Tardec’s state-of-the-art facility enables it to test and integrate fuel cell systems it has been developing for more than a decade.

In 2007, GM launched “Project Driveway,” a 119-vehicle fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-equipped Chevrolet Equinoxes that were driven in daily use for more than 3 million miles by more than 5,000 consumers.

Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology helps address two major environmental challenges with automobiles today – petroleum use and carbon dioxide emissions. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on renewable hydrogen from sources like wind and biomass. Water vapour is the only emission.

Since the launch in 2014, the Chevrolet Colorado provides true truck capabilities in a refined, fuel-efficient midsize package. The Colorado is powered by a 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine, one of three available powertrains.


Renault Fluence tested

The C-Segment market in Malaysia is certainly flooded with plenty of the usual suspects that it’s easy to forget that there are many notable alternatives in the field.

One such example is the Renault Fluence.

A pleasant refresh was introduced last year to bring the model more in-line with the family look of the brand, and this face-lift addressed one of the main concerns of the previous model - the slightly dated look of the front.

Now incorporating a sleek new look with emphasis on the large diamond badge, the overall design is elegant and pleasing to the eyes.

Our review unit was a Dynamique variant, which comes with all the bells and whistles, namely daytime-running-lights (DRLs) up front, LED tail lamps at the rear and leather upholstery inside.

There’s also Renault’s 5inFluence package included, but more on that later.

The unit also came in a gorgeous new shade called Crimson Red, which certainly was a sight for sore eyes, given how most cars in this segment seem to come in various shades of white, grey and silver.

Getting inside is an easy affair, with keyless entry thanks to Renault’s familiar keycard that can be either left in the pocket or placed into a slot in the centre console.

The dashboard borrows heavily from the Megane III which the car shares its platform with and while it isn’t as flashy as most French car interiors, it is still functional and ergonomically sound. Fit and finish is top-notch and choice of materials seem to be built for the long haul.

The meter cluster still looks reasonably futuristic today, with its central circular digital speedometer and analogue tachometer combo.

Legibility is excellent at night with its soft blue lighting, but in the bright daylight it can appear slightly dull due to the heavily-backward-leaning nature of the meter face which is a rather odd design quirk.

The central multimedia touchscreen interface still feels fresh as is the TomTom built-in navigation system.

The Fluence’s reverse camera is among the clearest in the segment and provides excellent viewing when backing up.

As most European makes, the interior of the Fluence is a comfy place to be in.

Safety is also top-notch with six airbags and Electronic Stability programme (ESP) equipped as standard.

We took a trip up to Batu Gajah, Perak to experience the driving nature of the Fluence.

The car’s suspension is tuned more towards comfort, soaking bumps and uneven surfaces well.

Its CVT X-Tronic transmission certainly feels most at home when driven at a leisurely pace.

Power from a 2.0-litre engine provided adequate oomph to cruise briskly along the expressway.

It isn’t meant to be a very sporty ride, so those hoping for doses of RenaultSport performance will be disappointed.

However, the car seats five comfortably and takes you to your destination without any fuss.

Buyers of the Dynamique variant are also entitled to the 5inFluence, which is a comprehensive aftersales package that includes a five-year (yes, five) manufacturer’s warranty, five years (yes, five again) free maintenance and one year unlimited mileage on Renault genuine parts.

You don’t even have to worry about sending your car to the service centre as Renault will even save you the hassle and pick up your car and return it once its done, and if servicing requires more than 48 hours they’ll even provide a courtesy car for you.

How’s that for first-class customer service?

Overall, the Fluence provides a comfortable and family-oriented alternative to the familiar choices in the segment, and at RM123,481.97 (including GST) full-specced, certainly provides excellent value for money, given its comprehensive specs list and aftersales service.

And also given how it isn’t as common on the road, some exclusivity as well.


Toyota Supra back on track!

                TOKYO: From the start of 2019, the Toyota Supra will be looking to prove its mettle out on the track.

The Japanese iconic sports car in race form will debut at the American NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race in Daytona on Feb 16, 2019.

“When you talk Toyota and cool cars, Supra is the first thing that comes to mind for many auto enthusiasts. The Supra’s return in production form is huge news, but now we’re also going to see this iconic sports car return to American motorsport,” said Toyota Division Marketing group vice president Ed Laukes

Toyota worked with its subsidiaries, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) in Costa Mesa, California, and Calty Design Research, Inc. (Calty) in Newport Beach, California, to develop a Supra for NASCAR competition.

The two teams applied key learnings from their prior collaborative efforts in NASCAR, which included the 2018 Toyota Camry which clinched the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

To build the Supra for NASCAR, TRD and Calty scaled the car to fit within NASCAR’s specifications for race vehicle entries into the NXS.

The 2019 season marks the first year Toyota will field a different model in all three of NASCAR’s national series – Camry at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) level, Supra in the NXS, and Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

Supra previously raced in both America and Japan, where it was a dominant force in Super GT competition and a contender in the IMSA Camel GT Series in the 1980s. It also made two appearances in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in the 1990s.


BYD set to be China's top-selling car brand for November

                SHANGHAI: BYD was the top-selling car brand in China in the first four weeks of November, brokerage data showed, outperforming the Volkswagen brand in a reversal that highlights the pressure on legacy brands in the world's largest auto market.

Tesla's retail sales in China also nearly doubled in November, from a year earlier, after the US automaker cut prices and offered incentives on its Model 3 and Model Y, the data from China Merchants Bank International (CMBI) showed.

Retail sales for BYD totaled 152,863 vehicles from Nov 1 to Nov 27, logging a nearly 83% increase in average daily sales compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the data.

BYD's tally was higher than Volkswagen's retail sales of 143,602 retail sales and Toyota Motor Corp's 115,272, which were 0.3% and 0.5% lower, respectively, on the year.

However, the Volkswagen AG group still outsold BYD, when the 36,847 units sold under the Audi brand are included.

If the retail sales trend holds for the full month, it would be the first time that BYD, which only began making cars in 2003, has topped the sales charts in China and the first time a company with a line up of plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles (EVs) has led the charts.

Automakers have been bracing for a wider downturn in China's market on the view that the effect of incentives is waning and that the country's zero-COVID policies have kept consumers away from showrooms and weighed on sentiment as the economy slows.

Overall retail sales of cars produced in China fell 7% year-on-year in terms of average daily sales in the first four weeks of November, compared to the 2% decline in the first three weeks of October, according to CMBI data.

Established global carmakers, other than Tesla, have been losing sales and market share tumble in China to their domestic rivals who win consumers with a wider range of affordable EVs and features like in-car entertainment and autonomous drive.

Stellantis said in October that its Jeep joint venture in China would file for bankruptcy, the first JV failure by a foreign brand in the EV era.

Other established brands, including Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford and Hyundai, have seen plant usage in China fall by between 30 percentage points and over 50 percentage points in the past five years.


Mercedes-Benz S-Class Exclusive Edition in Coupé and Cabriolet await Geneva limelight

                GENEVA: "Exclusive Edition" is the name given to two new lavishly equipped special models of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé and Cabriolet.

The special two-door models, will be making their world debut at the Geneva Motor Show (Mar 6 - 18) with sales expected to start in April.

The Exclusive Edition comes as standard with the LED Intelligent Light System with Swarovski crystals as well as "Exclusive Edition" lettering on the cup holder cover in the centre console.

With regard to the exclusive paint finishes for the special models, there is a choice between aragonite silver and rubellite red.

To match, there are 19-inch multi-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, painted in aragonite silver or in himalaya grey/thulium silver.

Available in conjunction with the AMG Line are 20-inch multi-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in black with a high-sheen finish.

The cabriolet soft top is available in dark red or beige, depending on the paint finish.

A special interior feature is the trim in light brown high-gloss sen (an Asian hardwood).

Also part of the standard equipment are the Burmester surround sound system and the Exclusive package, which includes seats in designo exclusive nappa leather in porcelain/titian red or porcelain/espresso brown with contrasting top-stitching and piping; seat upholstery layout in diamond design with placed perforations; front and rear centre armrests and armrests in nappa leather with contrasting top-stitching.

Also, the top part of instrument panel in nappa leather with contrasting top-stitching; door centre panels in nappa leather with top-stitching; designo roof liner and sun visors in DINAMICA microfibre; rear parcel shelf in ARTICO man-made leather; door sills with illuminated Mercedes-Benz lettering as well as map pockets on driver/front passenger backrests in nappa leather. Additionally, there are special floor mats with trimmed edges in either titian red or porcelain.

Both cars have had their driving assistance systems extended extensively to include the Widescreen Cockpit, new generation of steering wheels, ENERGIZING comfort control, OLED tail lights.

Furthermore, a V8 twin-turbo engine will power both the S 560 Coupé and S 560 Cabriolet .


Land Rover Defender heads to Frankfurt — from remote Kazakhstan

                LONDON: Land Rover has given a first glimpse of the new Defender ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Sept 10.

The road to reveal for Land Rover’s most capable and durable 4x4 started in one of the most land-locked locations on earth, among the towering 300m canyons of the Valley of the Castles in the remote Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan. The Defender would make its way from there to Frankfurt and is expected to arrive in time for the motor show opening.

The 70-year-old Defender has earned a unique place in the hearts of explorers, humanitarian agencies and adventurous families across the world. Proven in the harshest environments on earth, the new Defender maintains its reputation for toughness and durability.

The Land Rover family comprises the luxurious Range Rover, the versatile Discovery SUVs and the new Defender.

Land Rover said the new Defender would deliver improved capability and advanced all-terrain technologies, while staying true to the pioneering spirit that has been a Land Rover hallmark for 71 years.


Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept unveiled

                HANNOVER: Nissan unveiled the out-of-this-world Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept at the 2018 Hannover Motor Show, proving that the sky is never the limit.

Developed in the UK, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the concept vehicle functions as a mobile astronomy lab, featuring a world-leading, observatory-class telescope on a bespoke off-road trailer.

As the latest embodiment of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the vehicle comes with ProPILOT driver assistance technology, which has been upgraded to make it the most capable pickup for safe and convenient towing.

ESA is mapping the stars with unprecedented precision using the Gaia satellite, which has already observed more than a billion stars.

The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept supports this project by helping astronomers conduct follow-up observations of the universe from hard-to-reach, so-called “dark sky” locations – away from the nighttime glow of urban areas, which decreases visibility.

“The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept is a brilliant example of Nissan serving as an authentic partner, empowering our customers to go anywhere,” said Ashwani Gupta, senior vice president of Nissan’s light commercial vehicle business. “Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility and ProPILOT, we are creating the best solutions for the next frontiers of business, no matter how complex the commercial need.”

At the heart of the trailer is the ultrahigh-power PlaneWave telescope. The upgraded Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies allow the telescope to be transported to wild, remote dark-sky locations.

The design of the Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept takes its inspiration from the cosmos. The dark exterior color scheme features nebula motifs using parametric patterning, and the interior brings together the deep hues of the night sky with the orange shades of a setting sun. Reflective orange piping on the seats also provides visibility inside the vehicle, negating the need for white lights that would disrupt the astronomer’s night vision.

Since red light affects human night vision least, both the vehicle and trailer exclusively use red lighting to avoid visual disruption during observations.

Working closely with ESA, the trailer module also incorporates a special refrigerated atmosphere, allowing the telescope to remain stable and calibrated at the optimum temperature in transit to any location.

Once at the desired, often hard-to-reach destination, the trailer module’s mechanized roof can be opened to focus the telescope on the night sky. Using a 40-centimeter (primary) mirror, it has the ability to give detailed views beyond the rings of Saturn, to distant galaxies, nebulae and supernovas.

The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept is robustly engineered to put business needs at the forefront. A secure towing hitch combined with a sturdy ladder-frame chassis; a 2.3-liter, 190 ps twin-turbo diesel engine; and 450 Nm of torque enable the Navara to tackle rough terrain in remote areas and easily handle the telescope module’s weight.

The Navara and trailer both feature portable EV battery packs, putting to use the brand’s tried and tested electric-vehicle battery technology. When docked in place, the battery packs are constantly in charging mode and ready for use when required.

Additional smart features include Wi-Fi, a laptop station and UHF transmission to relay data instantaneously, anywhere in the world. Eight combined radar units, on each corner of the vehicle and trailer, update the driver on the vehicle’s surroundings through the NissanConnect infotainment touch screen on the dashboard.


Continental defies downturn, sees strong parts orders continuing

                NEW YORK: Continental AG sees solid demand for auto parts continuing even as inflation and rising interest rates hit the industry.

The manufacturer’s third-quarter operating earnings jumped after it won more orders from auto manufacturers and raised prices to offset rising costs for energy and raw materials.

"We don’t see any severe issues in our order book coming up,” chief financial officer Katja Duerrfeld said in an interview with Bloomberg Television, adding that Continental will continue to address cost issues with auto customers.

The auto industry is navigating cost pressures and rising rates, but demand has been relatively resilient so far.

That’s partly due to backed-up order books as manufacturers struggle to secure enough chips. Continental last month won more than €2 billion in display orders from carmakers as the industry accelerates a shift to electric vehicles.

Cost cuts

Suppliers have increased cost-cutting efforts. Continental has achieved around 50% of the headcount reductions targeted in its 10-year program, Duerrfeld said, in part by retraining employees or shifting them to different roles.

While the company has no plans to expand the program, it will "take measures as needed” depending on how the economy develops, she said.
Continental warned that geopolitical uncertainties, supply-chain issues and energy inflation are weighing on business.

The manufacturer also cautioned that third-quarter results were not in line with its medium-term financial targets. It reported a net loss and negative adjusted free cash flow in the period.

Continental has had to deal with a few setbacks recently, including having to halt production of industrial hoses over quality-control issues. Earlier this week, the company confirmed that data was stolen in an August cyberattack.


SmartTag system can speed up rollout of multi-lane free flow at toll plazas

                KUALA LUMPUR: EFKON Asia Sdn Bhd, the Austrian technology provider of the Infra-Red (IR) toll collection system on Malaysian highways, has touted the system as being well-positioned to help speed up implementation of multi-lane traffic free flow and help reduce congestion at toll plazas.

Its director, Helmuth Blasch, said the current system which uses Touch ‘n Go (TnG) cards and toll reader units popularly known as SmartTAG has a combined customer base of five million users and growing.

His statement came in the wake of highway operator PLUS Malaysia's move to set up TnG RFID system at all its highways, with at least one lane per toll plaza, by early 2022 (see links below). The competing system would provide a cashless payment alternative for motorists, who will be able to pay using their Touch ‘n Go e-wallet and is also said to speed up traffic flow through toll plazas.

Blasch said continuous product upgrades has improved the system’s reliability and user experience, making it as one way to achieve the congestion-free highway objective outlined in the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Blueprint.

Blasch pointed out that this year alone, around 75% of the 270,000 new passenger cars and commercial vehicles registered in Peninsular Malaysia until September 2021 were delivered with either a SmartTAG compatible built-in toll reader or portable device.

READ MORE:
PLUS to have RFID at all toll plazas by early 2022PLUS to speed up vehicle pass-through rate through toll gates

Based on the public response to the recent announcement by the Works Ministry, most highway users  were said to prefer the convenience, reliability and good user experience of the IR system, which has been in use in the country since 2005.

Blasch believed that the authorities and highway concessionaires should look at increasing rather than reducing SmartTAG lanes if the objective was to reduce congestion at toll plazas.

“In Germany, the Nationwide Truck Tolling System installed on all highways in a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) configuration has proven to be highly effective, catering to more than two million trucks travelling at up to 100kph.

“It uses a similar IR technology, like in Malaysia, to validate payment. We have also successfully replicated this test in Malaysia.

“Our SmartTAG compatible units comply with DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) standards and are ECE R10 certified.

“They operate in the 400THz band and, therefore, able to transfer data 10,000 times faster than RFID. Being battery-powered, every unit is active with a wake-up time of just two milliseconds compared to the passive RFID’s 45 milliseconds,” Blasch said.

 Blasch.

EFKON Asia said it has been working with the local manufacturers of SmartTAG compatible devices to continuously introduce upgrades and improve the user experience.

“For consumers, SmartTAG compatible built-in toll readers are directly powered by car batteries while portable units such as the MaxTAG now come with a powerful and long-lasting rechargeable 1,000mAh battery and USB port for easy charging in the car to ensure availability at all times.

“For highway concessionaires, we are now offering new lane side antennas at subsidised cost to upgrade the performance of SmartTAG lanes to ensure smoother traffic flow.

“In Q1/2022, we will be moving towards digitalisation by enabling Bluetooth connection between our devices and smartphones and car media systems. Connection to an e-wallet for easy top-ups will also be possible,” Blasch added.

For details, visit www.efkon.com.


DS to launch DS 3 Crossback SUV EV in Paris

                PARIS: The luxury arm of Citroen, DS, is set to reveal the first PSA group model to use the new e-CMP platform technology. The vehicle with the honour of debuting this new platform is to be an all-electric supermini, possibly called the DS 3 Crossback, and it's expected to break cover at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Regardless of what it's eventually called, this new model from the young premium brand will be a physical manifestation of DS's strategy of electrification, which will see the brand move to selling plug-in and hybrid electric cars exclusively from 2025 onwards.

DS is now seen as the go-to brand under the PSA banner for introducing innovative new technology, which is why, according to DS vice president of product Eric Apode, it wasn't a Citroen, Peugeot or Vauxhall model chosen to launch the new e-CMP platform instead.

Specific details of the new model are being kept tightly under wraps for the time being, but the DS VP is adamant the DS 3 Crossback, or whatever it's eventually called, will be competitive alongside its EV peers and not some sort of superfluous boutique model. And as far as rivals this new DS is expected to have in its sights, the impressive Hyundai Kona EV is a prime candidate.

It's already a couple of years since PSA first announced an all-electric version of the CMP platform would be introduced to support smaller electric cars with maximum ranges of around 450km, which would be down to the platform supporting battery packs of up to a 50kWh capacity. Whether PSA sticks with that target or follows other automakers by also using smaller battery packs to offer EVs at more affordable prices remains to be seen.

But once we get the all-electric DS 3 in 2019, expect fully electric versions of both the next Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa to follow, also built on the e-CMP platform, of course.


WATCH: New Honda Civic preview drive in Thailand

UPDATE: The Malaysian launch of the Honda Civic has been pushed to early 2020. It was supposed to arrive in December but Honda Malaysia had to delay it due to external factors beyond its control.

PETALING JAYA: Whoaa! Time passes in the blink of an eye. It's less than three months to 2020.

And right before 2019 ends, Honda Malaysia is gearing up to launch its much anticipated Civic, which underwent a facelift a while ago.

As you know, the popular C-segment Civic is already open for booking, and it looks like it will be the car for Honda to end 2019 with a bang.

The new Toyota Corolla had just been launched last week and prospective buyers in this segment will be watching closely which car offers the better deal. We shall see...

Meanwhile, if you have missed our report on the media test drive of the new Civic in Thailand last month, we have come around to cutting a video clip that offers a visual insight to what happened there and our thoughts on the car.

Check it out in the clip above.


Make sure you have the right car for your personality

                BERLIN: Cars mean many different things to different people. For some, they are merely about getting from A to B. For others, they are a status symbol, or a collector's item.

Whatever our relationship with our four-wheeled friend, the car we drive can say a lot about our identity.

That's why German researchers have come up with a quiz that will tell you whether your car is the right fit for your personality - or whether it might be time to move on to pastures new.

Respondents are asked to state how much they agree with statements such as "I prefer traditional brands," "I pay attention to detail on the dashboard," "I never stay in my car longer than necessary," and "a car should above all be practical."

The quiz is part of a project by researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum in western Germany, who are examining what drivers look for in a car from a psychological point of view.

Plenty of drivers receive their car as a gift or inherit a used one from a relative or friend. If that's the case, they might be driving a car that doesn't reflect their values, says psychologist Ralf Buchstaller from the Tuv, a German vehicle inspection agency.

If you've chosen the car yourself, it's more likely to be a good fit. "Within our budget, we'll buy the vehicle that best meets our needs," says Buchstaller.

He adds that people tend to associate certain characteristics – whether consciously or unconsciously – with certain carmakers or brands, such as social status, a particular attitude or an outlook on life.

The quiz is only available in German, so you might have to enlist the help of your best German friend, or Google Translate.


Two-seat, open-top driving joy: What makes a roadster a roadster?

                BERLIN: When a road winds its way up a mountainside in tight bends and hairpin turns, many drivers take a deep breath and try their best to steady their nerves. But not roadster drivers - they are suddenly in their element, rejoicing not only in every sharp curve along the road, but also the feeling of cool wind blowing in their hair.

Cars were initially designed purely for transporting passengers or goods, not to offer their owners enjoyment through driving.

But the earliest roadsters, like the first Ford Thunderbird, changed that: They offered far more driving pleasure than actual utility.

"With open roadsters, owners can enjoy the ride, but they also like to show off," says design professor Paolo Tumminelli from the Technical University of Cologne.

 The Mazda MX5.

Unlike most convertibles, roadsters have only two seats and are minimally equipped. "A convertible is based on a comfortable coupe, with a folding roof that can be opened," says Tumminelli. In contrast, a roadster is an open sports car with a fabric roof.

Particularly in early models, roadsters were "sports cars that were driven open," explains Tumminelli. Their drivers were tough: Hats and lambskin jackets offered only cursory protection from rain or cold.

Today's roadsters, however, offer the comfort of convertibles and hardly differ from them when it comes to features, with insulated folding roofs in many models protecting occupants from the elements. The only difference? Roadsters still only offer seating for two, as compared to convertibles, which have four or five seats.

"Many customers treat a roadster like the BMW Z4 as a reward, as a driving machine for pure pleasure," says Andreas Ederer, product manager for the car. "Roadster owners usually have multiples cars."

 BMW Z4.

For these owners, it's really about driving. For them, the road is the goal rather than the destination. "No other car is as close to its surroundings – it's like a motorcycle," says Ederer.

Stefan Bratzel from the FHDW University of Applied Sciences in western Germany also sees the roadster's distinct driving behaviour as a special characteristic.

"Small, lightweight roadsters, with their low seating position, convey an especially sporty driving experience," says Bratzel.

On the whole, roadster sales are relatively low. "In this small segment, manufacturers have to carefully calculate whether there are enough customers and determine exactly how to position their vehicles," explains Bratzel.

For example, the Mazda MX-5 is considered an affordable roadster, while the BMW Z4 is designed for the premium segment.


New Monster 1200 R unveiled

                FRANKFURT: The new Monster 1200 R was unveiled by Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali at the Volkswagen Group Night here on Monday.

With its 160hp, the Monster 1200 R is the most powerful Ducati naked of all time. Its key features include the Testastretta 11° DS twin-cylinder engine in its “R” version (EURO 4 homologated) and a revised chassis to ensure maximum effect and enjoyment on track.

The new Monster is also marked out with a new tail and front section design.

Available in red and black, the new bike will be on the market from early 2016.

The Monster 1200 R will be exhibited for the first time at the Audi booth of the Frankfurt Motor Show.


Ferrari and clients raise funds to fight Covid-19

                MARANELLO: Ferrari has launched a fundraiser to support the health system of the province of Modena and will be matching all of the donations made by its clients.

The initiative is the result of shared efforts by Ferrari and its many international clients who, in the past years, have taken part at the wheel of their Ferrari cars in the Cavalcade, travel experiences organised by the Prancing Horse.

In a matter of days the fundraiser has already reached the million Euro mark, and it will continue over the coming  weeks.

Initial funds have immediately been made available to Modena, birthplace of Enzo Ferrari himself.

The Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL), the local health care unit of the Italian National Health Service, will use them to treat patients affected by Covid-19 and to purchase medical aids and equipment to counteract the infection.

Part of the funding  will be employed in the expansion of Telemedicine, which allows for  remote monitoring of citizens with potential Covid-19 symptoms through devices connected to smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth.

Thanks to the Ferrari donations, the AUSL Modena is already using this technology with patients residing in the province's nursing homes, who are already suffering from neurological disorders, and have been tested positive for the virus.

Ferrari has also recently donated an ambulance to AUSL Modena that is fully active and in daily use by the emergency department for all Covid related patients.

Ferrari continues to consider further actions to bring immediate tangible assistance to the community during the current emergency and thanks the generosity of its many clients from around the world.


No better time to get a Ford Ranger

                Never thought of owning a pick-up truck?

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has kicked off its Raya sales promotion that runs from May 1 to June 30 in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya festivities.

Under this campaign, customers can own the rugged Ranger with low monthly repayments from as low as RM463/month with savings up to RM11,000. On top of that, low interest rate as low as 0% per annum will also be offered.

During the two-month promotion period, 30 customers will stand a chance to win electrical goods worth up to RM2,000 each – ranging from smart TV’s, fridges, washers, tablets and many more.

Highly acclaimed for its ‘Built Ford Tough’ credentials and extensive suite of smart technologies, many of which are first and only in-class, combined with its refined car-like interior, there is now a Ranger to fulfil the needs and lifestyles of every market segment.

The Ranger also comes with a superior ownership experience, with a full manufacturer’s warranty of three years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first.

The multiple award winning Ranger is available in nine variants, including the high-speed, off-road performance Ranger Raptor, the high-series Ranger WildTrak, the versatile XLT Plus, XLT and XL.

Since last month, the Ranger Raptor has been given two new body paints – Absolute Black and Arctic White - to its existing Lightning Blue and Conquer Grey line-up.

 The high-speed, off-road performance Ranger Raptor.

The Ranger has continued to earn significant recognition in Malaysia since 2012, including most recently the ‘Pickup Truck of the Year’ at the 2018 Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) awards, ‘Pickup Truck of the Year’ at the 2018 DSF.my Allianz Vehicle of the Year Awards (VOTY), Gold for ‘Pickup Truck of the Year’ at the Carlist.my People’s Choice Awards & Editors’ Choice Award 2018, and TopGear Chinese Editor’s Choice Pick-up Truck of the Year Awards 2018.

“Providing a great ownership experience starts with lightening your load this Raya. This includes offering low monthly instalment plans with low interest rates as low as 0%, coupled with attractive cash rebates and prizes – this gives an even bigger reason to buy a new Ford Ranger this festive season,” said Sime Darby Auto Connexion managing director Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz.

For details on the Raya promotion or credible insights and reviews on the new Ranger by top Malaysian motoring journalists, visit SDAC’s multilingual website at https://www.sdacford.com.my/ford-stories/new-ford-ranger-stories.


BMW turns its iX SUV into an M-tuned sports electric with 690hp

                LAS VEGAS: Half a year after the launch of BMW's iX, the company is turning its rugged electric SUV into the first electric among the company's sports cars.

From June onwards, the tuning specialist's at BMW's M workshop will also be selling the SUV as their first electric model - the iX M60, starting in its home market at €130,200 (RM623,000).

BMW's factory tuners promise record-breaking performance data for about a third more in price compared to the previous top model.

The iX - presented at the electronics trade fair CES here - comes with two electric motors and a total of 690hp.

With 1,015Nm, it is the first BMW to achieve four-digit torque, meaning drivers are likely to disappear into their seat when they try to accelerate from a standstill to 100kph in the promised 3.8 seconds.

According to BMW, the so-called Launch Control can even unlock 1,100Nm for a short time. Although it weighs around 2.5 tonnes, this iX can reach a top speed of 250 kph, according to the manufacturer. That's 50kph more than the standard model.

BMW puts the range of the 111kWh battery at 566km and the consumption at 21.7 kWh at best. The design has also been sharpened up a little, the equipment expanded and the set-up made a little sportier.


Refreshed Acura NSX shows up

                SAN FRANCISCO: Acura might not mean a great deal to a lot of people outside North America, but just about anyone with an interest in fast cars will know the NSX.

Since the famous nameplate was revived by Honda under its Acura luxury brand a couple of years ago, over a thousand of these hybrid supercars have been snapped up by American buyers, and a refreshed 2019 version has just been unveiled at an event ahead of the annual Pebble Beach auto jamboree.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, was the venue for the unveiling of the refreshed 2019 Acura NSX, and it's one of many events surrounding the world-renowned Monterey Car Week festival that's more often referred to simply as Pebble Beach.

Although there are no major enhancements to the powertrain of the NSX to speak of for 2019, there are some refinements to the chassis and some impressive new colours that are sure to be appreciated by the fans of this very special car.

This is a sports car that's as happy on the track as it is on the road, so the tires it wears are extremely important to how it performs. The standard tires are still the all-weather Continental SportContacts, but they're now the very latest version 6.

This will make a difference because tyre technology is improving at quite a pace at the moment, although anyone looking to use their NSX on the track on more than an occasional basis should probably go for the optional Pirelli Trofeo Rs.

Mechanical enhancements include a front sway bar that's now 26 percent stiffer, a 19 percent stiffer rear bar, 21 percent stiffer rear toe link bushings and a 6 percent stiffer rear hub.

There's also some new calibration for the software of the computer-controlled items such as the SH-AWD system, magnetorheological dampers, electric power steering, and stability control systems.

Aesthetic changes include the availability of an extremely striking new Thermal Orange exterior color, while on the inside the leather/Alcantara seats can now be had in blue and the full-leather interior can now be ordered in red.

Prices have gone up slightly this year, But Acura says the performance upgrades can knock 2 seconds off a lap of the track at Suzuka and a number of previously optional items worth around three times the price increase are now part of standard equipment.


Any wheel size bigger than 23-inch is pointless, says Audi

                LOS ANGELES: While General Motors is looking at introducing 24-inch or 26-inch in selected future models, Audi takes a different view.

The German car maker says 23-inch wheels are really the limit. That opinion is coming from its present designer head Marc Lichte.

Lichte was referencing the 592hp RS Q8, which features 22-inch alloy wheels as standard but could be had in 23-inchers as an option. The SUV is also notable for having the biggest tyres ever installed on an Audi at 295/40.

US-based Motor Authority quoted Lichte as saying that any size beyond 23 inches would "make no sense". Besides, future Audi SUVs are not going to get any bigger, so having bigger wheels is just plain silly, said Lichte.

Well, try telling that to General Motors.


Volkswagen wants to put valets out of business

WOLFSBURG: V-Charge is an ambitious project that will enable a car to find and pull into a free parking bay, recharge its electric motor and then automatically vacate the space when another electric car needs a recharge.

The "V" in V-Charge stands for Valet and that's because it's the benchmark towards which Volkswagen and its partners - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Braunschweig Technical University, Robert Bosch GmbH, Parma University, and Oxford University - are working.

A driver will be able to simply pull up outside a parking structure, activate the system via the smartphone app and go on his or own way. Just like throwing the keys to the valet outside a hotel or restaurant.

The European Union-backed project is already in a very advanced stage. Although each of the partners is working on a very specific piece of the technological puzzle - for example Braunschweig Technical University is developing the car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication systems so that vehicles can recognize obstacles and so that the parking structures can inform cars where free spaces are located - much has already been achieved with the technology already available on the latest-generation cars.

As such a version of V-Charge is functional today that enables a car to park with accuracy rates of 1cm and to navigate to and from a space while also avoiding other cars and pedestrians.

Parking is one of the most stressful and time-consuming elements of car ownership and therefore ripe for an overhaul. And as car companies move further towards goals of autonomous driving, the first breakthroughs that become features on real-world, mass-market vehicles will be in this area. Parking structures, be they city centre multi-storey lots or the owner's home garage are not on the public highway and therefore legislation doesn't need to change to allow these cars to drive themselves in these very specific situations.

The trend has already started. For instance a Tesla Model S can now be remotely summoned and remotely parked as long as the garage is off the road, and the new BMW 7 Series, unveiled in June has a smart key that serves as a remote parking tool, allowing the driver to exit the vehicle before it pulls into or out of a space.

The speed at which V-Charge can roll out once perfected will be governed by how quickly and cost effectively parking structures can be adapted to communicate with vehicles regarding layout and vacant parking bays.


750+ supercars in one location this August

Aston Martin One-77.
LONDON: More than 750 supercars are set to appear in one place at the Beaulieu Supercar Weekend to be held at Britain's National Motor Museum in Hampshire on Aug 4-5.

Among this incredible gathering of cars will be a special Aston Martin One-77 hypercar, one of the most expensive Astons ever built.

This landmark car for Aston Martin will form part of the Supercar Evolution display, which will be a new show feature for the 2018 running of the event and is sure to attract big crowds.

The One-77 boasts an impressive exterior and is powered by a 7.3-litre V12 engine developing an astonishing 750bhp - and is one of just 77 examples of this finely-honed flagship model produced by the legendary British manufacturer.

Of course, at an event such as this it won't be the only Aston on display by any means. There will be a number of Aston Martins at the show representing the proud history of the marque, including the race-inspired Vantage GT12.

The majority of the world's supercar manufacturers will be represented at Supercar Evolution, including the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Ariel, Ford, BMW and Toyota.

As well as the latest high-performance models from these and other brands, they will also be bringing along their historic counterparts to help create an overview of supercar history.

Honda fans will be particularly happy to see a display where the Japanese brand will be celebrating the history of its Type R high-performance models. This display will include a whole host of these impressive machines dating from the 1990s right up to the present day.

There will also be a number of club stands at the show, packed with supercars from Lamborghini, Marcos, Porsche, Lotus, Ferrari, McLaren and TVR.

A particular highlight to look out for will be a McLaren P1 MSO, which is a specially modified version of the legendary hybrid hypercar created by the McLaren Special Operations division.

Throughout the weekend, attendees will be treated to action-packed demonstration runs that are going to be happening twice daily and where high performance machines of the road and track are put through their impressive acceleration and braking paces on Beaulieu's Chestnut Avenue.

And so nobody will miss any of the main action, a giant screen that's new this year will provide a grandstand view of the action as it's broadcast live.


Driving new Peugeot 308 in France

The 308 was the comeback model for Peugeot in Malaysia after a hiatus. Now, the French carmaker aims to up its game with the latest generation 308.

Introduced in Malaysia in 2009, the Peugeot 308 certainly had a striking appearance.

Featuring a large front gaping-mouth grille, nose-like bonnet and steeply raked windscreen, the French hatchback was a sight to behold, especially with those wanting a car with an aggressive flair.

Being locally assembled, Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd was able to competitively price the 308 and turn it into an attractive buy, raking up sales of some 6,000 units to-date and putting the Peugeot brand back into the radar of middle-class buyers.

In 2012, the 308 underwent a facelift to incorporate the brand’s new design “DNA” spearheaded by the 508, which placed more emphasis on elegance while reining back on the bold look.

Although the styling of latest generation 308 follows the elegance theme, the car seems to have improved much in handling and ride as our recent test drive in Le Touquet, northern France had shown.

The improved driving dynamics, Peugeot says, can be attributed to a new compact design that helped to shave some 140kg of the total weight.

This includes the use of the French maker’s lightweight Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2), aluminium front wings and bonnet, thermoplastic tailgate, and increased usage of high strength steel.

Incidentally, the new Citroen Grand C4 Picasso multi-purpose vehicle also uses this EMP2 platform.

The car is slightly shorter and lower than the old 308 but its wheelbase has increased by 10mm to 2,620mm.

While it shares some design similarities with the 508 and the smaller 208, the 308 can still be easily recognised as an evolution of the original 308.

It gets LED headlights and daytime running lights, and the taillights project a three diagonal “lion claw” strips which is standard in Peugeot models.

The new 308’s soft touch dashboard is a total departure from its predecessor’s, now dubbed an “i-Cockpit” styling featuring a “head up” instrument panel similar to the 208’s, a compact steering wheel and a futuristic-looking 9.7-inch touchscreen multi-information display.

The large touchscreen display items such as infotainment data, GPS routing, reverse camera view and air-conditioner setting.

To allay the fears concerning the touchscreen’s longevity, Peugeot says it had successfully conducted 4.3 million presses on the touchscreen without failure.

The instrument panel styling is similar to the 208’s with a small centre multi-information display, except the tachometer runs anti-clockwise ala Aston Martin.

Its rear cargo volume of 470 litres, of which 35 litres are under the cargo mat, should be more than enough for the luggage of four persons on a short trip.

Our test units were the newly developed 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder “PureTech” engine with a six-speed manual transmission, and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel BlueHDI with six-speed automatic transmission.

Delivering 130bhp and 230Nm of torque, the 1.2-litre engine is surprisingly refined and punchy, making it a pleasant experience to drive the car.

Turbo lag was hardly noticeable and the engine responds smoothly without hesitation. Even for a “little” engine, it does not feel strained when tasked near to its limits.

Our unit also came fitted with a Sport mode button which once triggered, would increase the responsiveness of the throttle, reduces the electric power steering assistance for more road feel, and turns the instrument panel lighting into red.

While these are the usual characteristics that go along with the Sport mode of most cars, Peugeot has gone another step by providing a racy tune into the cabin’s speakers by “digitally enhancing” the engine sound.

Though the suspension was set towards firm and running on 17-inch wheels, the ride was still comfortable for our liking. Winding country roads outside Le Touquet can be taken fast without dramas as the good suspension ensured agility and minimal body rolls.

At high speeds, the 308 feels planted and maintains a rock steady poise.

Later, we got into 2.0-litre turbodiesel variant which came with a more powerful 150bhp and 370Nm of torque.

With more brute force, the turbodiesel is easily faster than the 1.2-litre petrol, needing only 8.6 seconds to do the 0-100kph sprint compared with the smaller engine’s 9.6 seconds.

Features include airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability system (Bosch V.9), Hill Assist, reverse camera, dynamic cruise control, emergency braking collision alert, emergency collision braking system, Peugeot Connect Apps, 9.7-inch touchscreen, Blindspot monitoring and Park Assist.

 The wagon variant known as 308 SW.

Besides our short stint with the new 308, we also got the chance to test the station wagon (SW) variant of the 308.

Sporting a longer wheelbase at 2,730mm and stretched tail with a rearward curved roof design, the 308 SW combines exciting looks with a larger trunk capacity of 660 litres.

For a much larger vehicle, the 308 SW’s driving dynamics is quite similar to the 308 hatchback’s, making it delightful to be on the driver’s seat.

Nasim general manager (product and marketing) Yasser Awan said the company was aiming to introduce the new 308 locally in the first quarter of next year.

“The original 308 has been a success story for Nasim, and we want to continue its momentum with the new model which comes with improvements in automotive technologies and styling,” he said.

He also said Nasim was still studying the possibility of launching the 308 SW.
“The demand for the station wagons in Malaysia is not as huge as in Europe but we cannot discount the fact that there is still a niche following for stylish-looking station wagons here,” he said.

The new 308 is expected to be locally assembled, which means Peugeot fans can still get the new car at competitive prices.

Features: Airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability system (Bosch V.9), Hill Assist, LED headlights, reverse camera, dynamic cruise control, emergency braking collision alert, emergency collision braking system, Peugeot Connect Apps, 9.7-inch touchscreen, Blindspot monitoring, Park Assist

Suspension: Pseudo MacPherson struts (front), deformable crossmember (rear)

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 1,199cc, 3-cylinder, turbocharged, Euro 6
Maximum power: 130bhp at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 230Nm at 1,750rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 4.6 litres per 100km
Acceleration (0-100kph): 9.6 seconds
Top speed: 207kph

Engine: 1,997cc, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel with variable geometry turbo, Selective Catalytic Reduction, Euro 6

Maximum power: 150bhp at 3,750rpm
Maximum torque: 370Nm at 2,000rpm
Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 4.0 litres per 100km
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 8.6 seconds
Top speed: 214kph