It's only a scratch: How to fix your car's paint damage yourself

                HAMBURG: Most problems with a car are best left to professionals, but a few things like light scratches and flaking paint, for example, aren't worth bringing a car into the shop for.

You'll often be able to deal with minor surface damage to a paint job on your own.

First, you'll need to clean in and around the scratch, before applying some touch-up liquid with a soft cloth. The key thing here is to not use too much liquid and to polish in circular movements, not sideways wipes, which can leave streaks.

Stains and uneven sections of paintwork can be treated with a paint restorer. These are lightly abrasive and remove the damaged paint particles, allowing the surface underneath to be polished to its usual sheen.

If the scratch is still visible after this, you'll probably need to get professional help. The same goes if you've spotted some rust on the scratch.

To ensure any scratches don't need a professional and costly paint job, it's worth tending to them before rust has a chance to set in.

To prevent scratches, you can avoid going to older automatic car washes, which often use abrasive brushes instead of softer cloths.

These will only scratch the paintwork, since the dirt and grit removed during the pre-wash phase stick to the brushes and gets rubbed back into the paint surface.

Your best option is a touchless car wash, which use high-pressure water jets with detergents to hose off the dirt. With no brushes or cloths to touch the paintwork, the risk of cosmetic damage is minimal. Self-service, coin-operated wash areas, on the other hand, are ideal for getting rid of a heavy dirt build-up, especially on the lower half of the car.


Hyundai shows first design impression of new Tucson

                BUSAN (Korea): Hyundai has unveiled its first hints about the design of the upcoming all-new Tucson compact SUV, which will premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March.

"The all-new Tucson has a bold and athletic presence and a proud stance. Its design is characterised by flowing surfaces, bold proportions, sharp lines and – most important – our brand signature hexagonal grille,” said Hyundai Motor Group president and chief design officer Peter Schreyer.

The strong, sporty SUV appearance is enhanced by the upright silhouette and sleek character line.

At the front, Hyundai Motor’s distinctive chrome-framed hexagonal grille is connected to the headlamp clusters creating a powerful impression.

With more than one million SUV sales in Europe since the introduction of the first Santa Fe in the early 2000s, Hyundai Motor has established its credibility in the SUV segment.

Follow the link below to access the teaser video, showing the creation of a first design sketch of the All-New Tucson, including design insight from Peter Schreyer.


FUSO truck buyer wins Mercedes-Benz GLA 200

                KUALA LUMPUR: The coveted grand prize of a Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 in Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's Diamond FUSO Contest 2015 was won by Metfab Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Last year, over 2,500 entries were received for a chance to win the grand prize worth RM236,888.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd is the authorised distributor of FUSO trucks, which are supported by 45 service centres nationwide.

"I have been a supporter of FUSO trucks and have found them a reliable vehicle for the long distance journeys that is required of my business. I look forward to investing in more FUSO trucks in the future,” said Vincent Teh from Metfab Engineering.

MHP-Miracle Health Products Sdn Bhd, Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM) and SDS Bakeries Sdn Bhd also emerged winners, taking the first, second and third place prizes of holiday vouchers worth RM30,000, RM25,000 and RM20,000 respectively.

In the grand final draw, a total of 41 customers won prizes valued at RM373,888.

“The Diamond FUSO contest started in 2006 and was created to acknowledge our valued customer base. The contest also serves as a platform for us to engage with customers,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice president of commercial vehicles Albert Yee.

The 2015 Diamond FUSO contest comprised two categories.

The mini draw was open to all FUSO trucks registered between December 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015; while FUSO trucks registered between December 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015 were eligible for the grand final draw.

Throughout the Diamond FUSO contest, a total of 74 lucky customers have won prizes valued at approximately RM480,000.

Held at The Royal Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the grand finale award and dinner was attended by 650 guests, which included customers, dealers and employees of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

Following enthusiatic response from customers, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will continue the FUSO Diamond Contest with the first mini draw set for July 2016.

Trucks registered between January 1, 2016 and December 1, 2016, will be eligible to enter this year’s contest and vie for RM480,000 worth of prizes.

Financial partner, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, currently provides an interest rate starting from 3.08%, with a minimum down payment of 15% to acquire a FUSO vehicle.

This offer is applicable for 2016 stocks of model: FE71PB, FE83PE and FE83PG with tenure of 3 to 7 years.

The campaign period began in March 1, 2016.


Graffiti star Futura 2000 teams with BMW for three new Art Cars

                LOS ANGELES:  BMW will present three exclusive versions of the BMW M2 Competition, all decorated by New York graffiti artist Futura 2000, on the occasion of the Frieze Los Angeles 2020, a major contemporary art event that will take place in Hollywood Feb 13-16.

BMW has continued with its enduring commitment to the "Art Car" project initiated by the German manufacturer in 1975. A total of 19 artists have already taken part, including Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Ernst Fuchs, Matazo Kayama and David Hockney. Now it's Futura 2000's turn to take on this creative challenge.

Leonard McGurr, aka Futura 2000, is a pioneering graffiti artist in New York City where he has been painting since the early 1970s. He is one of the great names of modern New York art, along with the late Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.

The artist has signed up to decorate a limited edition of the BMW M2 Competition, which will be available from June 2020.


Microsoft, Nike, Unilever team up to combat global carbon emissions

                SEATTLE: Microsoft Corp, Nike Inc, Starbucks Corp, Unilever NV and five other industry titans from various sectors are teaming up to help businesses globally achieve zero carbon emissions.

Called “Transform to Net Zero”, the group plans to recruit other members and will work with the Environmental Defence Fund and focus on delivering guidance, research and blueprints for businesses to achieve zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.

The announcement gave no details of any investment the companies would make, outlining only initial research and other work to be completed over the next five years.

Some aims for net zero carbon emissions include reductions across the entire value chain, including impact of products and services, and the substantial commitment and willingness to invest in and speed innovation.

The current alliance also includes French food group Danone SA, German automaker Mercedes-Benz AG, top shipping container firm A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S, Indian tech firm Wipro Ltd, and Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura & Co.

While many companies have made commitments to improve, critics say action by the corporate world still falls far short of the sort of far-reaching change needed to meet UN targets on emissions and capping the global rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Microsoft in January had announced plans to be carbon negative, pledging to remove as much carbon as it has emitted in its 45-year history and allocated US$1 billion to create a “Climate Innovation Fund” to invest in developing carbon removal technology.


Xpeng expands self-driving capability to Beijing, eyes wider expansion

                HONG KONG: Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng Inc on Thursday expanded its self-driving capability to Beijing as part of the automaker's expanded launch of City NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) across the mainland.

City NGP is now available in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, with plans to expand it to dozens of cities within this year, Xpeng said in a statement.

Xpeng said the latest launch made the company China's first Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) available in the urban areas of Beijing and applicable on the major ring roads and expressways.

City NGP can be accessed on some Xpeng models including G9 Max, P7i Max, and the P5 P version, it added.

Xpeng had said in March that it was upgrading its advanced driver assistance software and planned to make all of its functions available to drivers across China by 2024, as it seeks to gain an edge over US rival Tesla.


Take advantage of big savings on Indian motorcycles

                PETALING JAYA: Harmony Fabulous Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of the Indian Motorcycle in Malaysia, is offering fans of the legendary American motorcycle big savings during the tax holiday period which ends on Aug 31.

Models on offer are as follows:

Indian Scout (model year 2016) in Smoke Silver colour:
RM79,000 on-the-road without insurance at 0% GST (Normal price: RM111,000)

Indian Scout (model year 2017) in Brilliant Blue colour:
RM88,000 on-the-road without insurance at 0% GST (Normal price: RM111,000)

Indian Scout (model year 2018) in Willow Green colour:
RM99,000 on-the-road without insurance at 0% GST (Normal price: RM111,000)

Indian Chieftain Limited (model year 2018) in Thunder Black Pearl Graphics:
RM204,000 on-the-road without insurance at 0% GST (Normal price: RM233,000)

Every purchase of either the Indian Scout or Indian Chieftain Limited come with a standard two-year warranty package with unlimited mileage, five times free service maintenance worth RM2,500 inclusive of labour charge, free vouchers worth RM3,000 and an exclusive gift.

 Indian Scout in Brilliant Blue.

As America’s first motorcycle company, the Indian Motorcycle brand traces its history from 1901, when it produced America’s pioneer motorcycle and swiftly rose to become the best-selling motorcycle brand worldwide with the introduction of the first V-twin motorcycle in 1907.

Boasting advanced technologies, design and engineering innovations, the Indian Scout offers a breakthrough chassis design featuring a lightweight and rigid cast aluminum frame coupled with a low seat height for exceptional comfort, balance and manoeuvrability.

Powered by liquid-cooled 1,133cc 100hp V-Twin engine with 6 speed transmission, the Indian Scout generates a peak torque of 97.7 Nm at 6,000 rpm – deeming it a powerful yet approachable beast.

 Indian Scout in Smoke Silver.

Its low seat height, ease of handling and lightweight design makes the Indian Scout appealing to riders of various skill sets and abilities while the high horsepower and superior handling make it a bike that will thrill even the most experienced riders.

This iconic cruiser is also equipped with ABS for front and rear wheels, gear primary drive and equipped with a 12.5-litre fuel tank.

Another of Indian Motorcycle’s most iconic style is the Indian Chieftain Limited, which delivers a ride like no other as it is powered by the award-winning Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine delivering 161.6 Nm of torque.

 Indian Scout in Willow Green.

It also features ABS brakes, push-button power windshield, cruise control, remote locking hard saddlebags, keyless ignition and internally wired handlebars for the rider’s ultimate comfort.

The Chieftain Limited is also fitted with superior functionality such as Ride Command, an industry-leading infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen and premium 100-watt of audio system.

View the entire Indian Motorcycle range along with accessories and apparel lines at the showroom at Naza Automall, Petaling Jaya from 9:00am to 7:00pm daily.


Toyota C-HR previewed in Serdang

                SERDANG: Two units of the Toyota C-HR are on display at the Malaysia Autoshow, which is being held at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang.

The compact SUV is powered by a 1.8 litre Dual VVT-i engine and equipped with a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with sequential shifter.

It comes with a range of safety features including Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Other features include side mirror puddle lights, follow-me-home headlights and a premium interior.

The C-HR is already selling in Japan since last year and is available there in four grades priced from under RM100,000.

The C-HR made its world debut at the 2016 Geneva motor show, and gives Toyota a powerful new presence in the crossover market.

Viewed from any angle, the C-HR combines facetted gemstone-like shapes with fluid surfaces and elegantly integrated detailing.

To the rear, the strongly tapered cabin integrates the back door while securing luggage space.

The C-HR is the result of a global cooperation between Toyota design centers on 3 continents.

The original exterior design was created by Calty, Toyota's design studio in California.

In Europe, the C-HR uses Toyota’s latest 1.8-litre hybrid system which delivers 122hp or a 115hp 1.2-litre turbocharged engine.

Also, a 2-litre model with CVT is offered for certain markets.

In Europe, the Toyota Safety Sense system that will be offered as standard on C-HR includes a Pre-Collision system, Lane Departure Alert, Road Sign Assist and Automatic Highbeam, as well as Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control.

More information on the C-HR can be found in toyota.com.my and Toyota Malaysia Facebook page while interested customers are welcomed to register as prospective buyers to receive updates on the model.

Toyota C-HR


Chinese cars can’t be ignored anymore at Frankfurt Motor Show

                FRANKFURT: Traditional heavyweights Fiat, Peugeot and Volvo may have shunned this year's Frankfurt auto show (IAA), but for Chinese and Taiwanese carmakers looking to make inroads in Europe the chance to step into the limelight was not to be missed.

Two years after becoming a surprise hit at the last IAA with an electric sedan concept car to rival Tesla's Model S, Taiwanese upstart Thunder Power was back at Europe's top industry showcase, which runs until Sept 24.

 The Thunder Power SUV.

But this time there was no mistaking its ambitions.

Positioning itself a stone's throw away from luxury brands Maserati and Ferrari, Thunder Power unveiled a second prototype, a high-end electric SUV with which it hopes to capture a slice of the booming 4x4 market.

"I'm not interested in gasoline cars. I want to build an electric car that is the best in the world," said chief executive Wellen Sham.

The sedan is set for mass production in 2019, followed by the SUV a year later, he said, adding that the firm already had a factory in China and planned to set up one in Spain.

Starting with Germany and Britain, Thunder Power eventually aims to sell 40,000 units a year in Europe, he said.

On the other side of the mammoth Frankfurt convention centre, fairgoers marvelled at the renaissance of storied German brand Borgward, which went under 50 years ago but was brought back to life in 2015 with the help of Chinese truck maker Beiqi Foton.

"We are coming to Europe this year," said chief executive Ulrich Walker, adding that its limited-edition BX7 SUV, priced at around 45,000 euros (US$53,000), will go on sale in Germany first before other models are launched across the continent.

 Isabella concept.

Tapping into nostalgia for the brand's heyday, Borgward also unveiled a sporty Isabella concept car inspired by a legendary 1950s coupe of the same name.

The reborn German-Chinese manufacturer, which is already producing cars in China, plans to increase its European footprint by building an assembly plant in Borgward's original hometown of Bremen in northern Germany next year. The plant will manufacture electric vehicles for European consumers, with production slated for 2019.

"Like the Japanese and South Koreans in the past, Chinese manufacturers want to show they can be successful in Europe, it's a mark of quality, a test before expanding to other markets outside Europe," said Walker.

 Wey XEV concept.

Two other Chinese manufacturers, high-end WEY and the mass-market Chery, made their IAA debuts this year.

WEY, the newly created luxury label of Chinese carmaker Great Wall, showcased a range of compact 4x4s offering both petrol and hybrid drivetrains.

It also wowed with its XEV concept, a sleek crossover with futuristic-looking gull-wing doors, but did not make any announcements about when it might land in Europe.

Chery showed off the Exeed Tx, an urban crossover designed for European tastes that it says will be made available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric drivetrains.

"We have the firm intention to come to Europe, but it's too early to disclose the details," Chery CEO Anning Chen said, hinting only that "this product isn't going to be the cheapest car on the market."

Chinese carmakers' more visible presence at this year's IAA is not just for European consumption, said industry expert Laurent Petizon at consultancy AlixPartners.

Showing that they appeal to an international audience is also a way for the brands to increase their cachet back home in the world's largest car market, he said, pointing out that those jostling for attention at the IAA were not China's biggest players.

"The goal is not to invade the European market, at least not for now," he said.

But analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of Germany's CAR research centre noted that Chinese manufacturers had worked hard in recent years to improve their chances of gaining a foothold in Europe's competitive and mature car market.

"The design and quality are now at the level of those seen in general European manufacturers like Renault, Opel, Volkswagen," he said, calling the Chinese focus on offering electrified SUVs "a good strategy".

Chery boss Chen for his part said he was "confident" of a European breakthrough.

"We are not just a Chinese automaker, we are a global automaker," he said, brushing off concerns about the crowded European market.

"In China, we are not afraid of competition," he said.


Optima is Kia's first PHEV

                SEOUL: Meet Kia's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model, the Optima PHEV that features 53km of pure electric range.

The 1,718kg (kerb) is a 4,854mm-long PHEV that has a 2,804mm wheelbase and stands 1,859mm-wide and 1,460mm-tall, while having a 130mm of ground clearance.

Under the hood lies a 2.0-litre (1,999cc) direct-injection petrol engine made of aluminium with 154bhp at 6,000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 5,000rpm, which gets managed by a six-speed electronic automatic transmission before sending it all to the front wheels.

The combustion engine is supplemented with an Interior-Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor - lets call it an electric motor shall we? Ok, so that alone has 66hp from 2,330 to 3,300rpm and 205Nm of torque from 0-2,330rpm, which gets fed by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack located under the rear bench which reduces the boot capacity to 307 litres of luggage space.

The combined output is 202PS at 6,000rpm and 375Nm of torque at 2,330rpm.

In pure electric mode, the Korean PHEV is able to travel a maximum distance of 53km and has the potential to achieve a fuel economy rating of up to 1.33 litres per 100km.

With a top speed 120kph, 0-100kph is dispatched in 9.1 seconds while in hybrid mode and the switch between electric and hybrid driving is seamless, while the electric motor's 205Nm of torque from standstill ensures rapid acceleration and instantaneous response from the throttle pedal.

The Optima PHEV uses an active air flap grille to help increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the 0.29Cd steel body by dropping it to 0.25Cd instead, while rolling on 17-inch wheels with 215/55 series tyres that obscure the upsized disc brakes from the standard 262mm to 300mm due to the additional weight from the battery pack.

Although the suspension uses front McPherson Struts and an independent multi-link rear suspension, which has been retuned for the additional weight.

The Korean PHEV gets fitted with LED daytime running lights, LED headlights with automatic levelling, welcome and follow-me-home lighting, black cloth and faux leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment on the driver's side, front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera.

The list continues with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshifter, steering wheel mounted controls, all-round electric windows, cruise control with speed limiter, remote central locking and an electronic parking brake.

Inside, there's an 8.0-inch touch-screen navigation system with European mapping, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (available later in the production run), Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom, a wireless mobile phone charger, a 270-degree around-view monitor and a 10-speaker harman/kardon Premium Sound audio system with Clari-Fi technology

Active safety provisions include electronic stability control, vehicle stability management and hill-start assist control.

Other technologies include regenerative braking, a driving style guide, an ECO-DAS (ECOnomy Driver Assistance System) featuring Coasting Guide Control, a Drive Mode Select button so that drivers can personalise the powertrain's dynamics, and an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) Select switch. It also has an intelligent heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to save battery power.

HEV Select gives access to two driving modes via a button in the centre console that includes EV (charge depletion) mode, where the car runs as a purely electric vehicle when the energy stored in the batteries is adequate.

In HEV (charge sustaining) mode, which allows the powertrain to balance the use of motor and petrol engine for a seamless combination of electric and internal combustion power, where reliance comes from the latter.

The Drive Mode Select gives the driver the choice of Eco and Normal settings to obtain maximum energy efficiency or greater performance. This switch is also located in the centre console. A driving style guide delivers information through the instrument panel about how efficiently the car is being driven so that drivers can adapt their driving style as necessary.

Kia's regenerative braking system, now in third generation guise in the Optima PHEV, allows the car to harvest kinetic energy – energy created by motion – to top up the batteries when coasting or braking.

The advanced HVAC system has been adapted from that in the Soul EV, and permits only the driver's side of the car to be cooled when the other seats are unoccupied to minimise energy usage.

It does this through a smart air intake, in contrast to rival systems which merely divert the airflow towards the driver when other vents are closed and consequently do not reduce energy consumption.


Daimler Trucks to test truck 'platooning' technology on US roads

                PORTLAND: German automaker Daimler AG’s trucks division said it would test on US roads a new technology called “platooning”, which allows large digitally-connected trucks to save fuel by driving close to each other in a row.

Portland, Oregon-based Daimler Trucks North America LLC said on Monday it received permission from the regional regulatory body, Oregon Department of Transportation, after successful trials in its proving ground in Madras, Oregon.

In truck “platooning”, connectivity and automated driving improve safety within the vehicle convoys, support drivers and enhance efficiency with closer distances between the connected trucks, the company said.

Daimler Trucks would test its “platooning” technology in two connected Cascadia, Freightliner’s heavy duty semi-trailer truck, in the first step called “pairing,” the company said.

Some companies, including Silicon Valley startup Peloton Technology, are working on this technology. Peloton is working with several truck makers, including Volvo, on its platooning system, which it sees as a precursor to autonomous systems.

Tesla Inc, which has been a leader in developing self-driving technology for its luxury cars, is developing a long-haul, electric semi-truck that can drive itself and move in “platoons,” Reuters reported last month.


Toyota wants to be known as a 'human movement company'

                TOKYO: Toyota wants the world to know it’s not a car manufacturer — it’s a human movement company.

Japan’s largest automaker is using the Tokyo Motor Show this week as a pulpit for its global rebranding and forays into other markets including rehabilitation robots to mobility services.

The company has dubbed the initiative “Start Your Impossible,” drawing inspiration from the athletes who’ll compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, of which Toyota is a top sponsor. That year looms large on Toyota’s calendar — it plans to showcase a network of connected fuel cell buses, AI-powered autonomous highway driving, a redesigned national taxi fleet, and possibly even a flying car.

“The passion for mobility goes beyond cars,” Toyota executive vice president Didier Leroy said during a presentation to open the motor show Wednesday. “For us, it means expanding our capability into technologies that can help people move around town or across the room.”

Toyota is far from alone in seeking new revenue streams amid what president Akio Toyoda has called a once in a century paradigm shift for the auto industry. From General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG, legacy carmakers are seeking revenue from services like ride-sharing and to monetise car data as vehicle sales plateau in major markets like the US. They’re also facing challenges from upstarts like Tesla Inc.

Toyoda is also eyeing the evolving needs of rapidly aging populations in developed countries including Japan. One of the in-house companies that Toyoda introduced last year deals specifically with robots aimed at keeping people moving.

The unit launched its first product, a walking rehabilitation robot, earlier this year. At the motor show, Toyota unveiled a wheelchair-accessible microcar and a Segway-like device that doesn’t require the rider to lean in order to turn.

“We have to make sure we can provide the appropriate mobility” for Japan’s elderly, Leroy said in an interview following the presentation. Giving people the freedom to move is “the best way to keep a young spirit.”


Mercedes-Benz Cars invests one billion euros in new car plant in Hungary

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz Cars is starting construction of its first “Full-Flex Plant“ in Kecskemét, Hungary, about 90 km in the south of Budapest.

Overall, the company is investing one billion euros in the new car plant and creating over 2,500 jobs.

The first global “Full-Flex Plant” of Mercedes-Benz Cars is the next step on the road to smart production: It is based on the “Factory 56” principles introduced in February, and is thus digitised consistently, designed for sustainable production and puts the human right at the centre of all activities.

“With an investment of one billion euros, we are building in Hungary the first ‘Full-Flex Plant’ in the global production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. In a ‘Full-Flex Plant’, several vehicle architectures from compact models to rear-wheel drive sedans and various drive forms, including electric vehicles, can be flexibly produced on one line. Thereby we lift the production concept of ‘Factory 56’ to the next level,” says Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.

The new car plant in Kecskemét consists of a press shop, a body-in-white shop, a paint shop and an assembly.

The plant is highly efficient and has a CO2-neutral energy supply. With the “Full-Flex Plant“, Mercedes-Benz Cars is creating additional capacity and also technical requirements for the flexible production of future vehicles.

This includes passenger cars with a wide variety of body and drive variants. Both passenger cars with conventional drive variants and also electric vehicles using the latest technology in automated driving can be produced - under the premise of safety and in compliance with the statutory regulations.

To mark the laying of the cornerstone for the second plant at the Hungarian site in Kecskemét on June 5th, 2018, representatives from the worlds of politics and business came together.

Besides Markus Schäfer, Péter Szijjjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki, Mayoress of Kecskemét and Christian Wolff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft. and site manager for the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét plant, took part in the celebrations.

Péter Szijjjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, says: "A new era has begun in the global economy: a modern industrial revolution is taking place and the automotive industry is the flagship. The task of the Hungarian economy is to remain successful in this era - and the results to date show that the country is not only able to hold its own, but is also one of the most successful countries in Europe."


Audi to receive new MIB 3 infotainment system

                INGOLSTADT: Audi says the latest Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB 3) system will be found in its vehicles headed for the US in the second half of this year.

The new system is touted to be faster, richer and more immersive for users than the previous modular infotainment platform II (MIB II).

Equipped with a new chipset, the new system is said to be up to 10 times faster than previous Audi hardware and will provide customers with a number of new features which includes SiriusXM with 360L and hybrid digital radio and Function on Demand.

For the A4 and A5 models, the MIB 3 hardware will allow customers to purchase in-vehicle navigation for vehicles not optioned with it from the factory.

Additionally, the new Audi Connect Generation 3 service introduces basic unlimited Wi-Fi included in Audi connect Prime with connectivity for up to eight devices.

The models expected to receive the latest MIB 3 features include the A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8 with other models to be announced at a later date.

For the US, the MIB 3's wireless provider for in-vehicle functions will be handled by Verizon and will have an LTE Advanced Pro modem that's rated for up to 1 Gbps download speed as well as a Wi-Fi, HD voice communication and a new Linux-based operating system.

For applications, the system will possess SiriusXM with 360L, Hybrid digital radio, myAudi app digital storefront experience with myAudi marketplace, Function on Demand and Navigation for the time being.

There will be monthly map updates compared to quarterly updates with MIB 2+ (when equipped with available navigation) along with the inclusion of Amazon Alexa Auto - available in more models, Expanded Integrated Toll Module availability (ITM).

The ITM, first introduced in the e-tron and Q7 and is being added to the Q5, Q8, A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8, is a rearview mirror-based toll payment solution developed by Gentex to provide convenient access to select toll road services in the US while eliminating windscreen clutter and helping to manage multiple toll accounts.

Drivers are able to adjust module settings through the vehicle’s MMI – including turning the ITM on/off - making the German brand the first automaker to implement this technology into production vehicles.


And the best virtual drivers in the world are… Finnish

                LONDON: While many of us have not experienced the joys of driving as much as we usually would with restrictions on travel due to the pandemic, racing games are an alternative for those who want to hit the road.

But do they improve our motoring ability? It depends where you're from. New research by UK's Pentagon Motor Group reveals which country is the best at driving video games.

This study analyses gaming data of "achievements" from over 800 of the most popular driving video games, such as "Mario Kart," "Grand Theft Auto Online" and "F1."

It takes into account metrics like high scores, fastest laps and completion times to determine which country is home to the Mario Andretti and Lewis Hamilton of the gaming community.

The results reveal that Finnish gamers have logged more high-ranking achievements per capita than any other country, followed by the people of Estonia and New Zealand.

Australian virtual drivers follow on the leaderboard, while American gamers have only managed to squeeze in at 8th. While the United Kingdom is home to real-life racing champions like Lewis Hamilton and Colin McRae, it only placed in 15th. It seems that Britons could use some driving lessons as soon as they will resume at the end of the national lockdown.

However, all is not lost for the virtual drivers of the United Kingdom.

According to the research, they rank at No. 4 for the "Gran Turismo" titles and the "F1" series. British gamers have also mastered racing in the classic "The Simpsons: Hit and Run," although they are not as accomplished as inhabitants in Finland (No. 1) and Australia (No. 2). While Japan is left out of the top 15 of the countries with the best virtual drivers, it claims gold for the popular "F1" series.

Discover the 15 countries that have the most accomplished virtual racers below:

1. Finland

2. Estonia

3. New Zealand

4. Australia

5. Switzerland

6. Sweden

7. Lithuania

8. United States of America

9. Denmark

10. Canada

11. Uruguay

12. The Netherlands

13. Bulgaria

14. Hungary

15. United Kingdom


Facial recognition could help prevent motorcycle theft

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad will soon offer facial recognition on upcoming models in its Boxer range, a world first. The concept behind the innovation is to fight against theft with a system that only allows the vehicle to be unlocked when the driver is recognised.

BMW Motorrad is believed to be the first motorcycle manufacturer in the world to introduce this type of technology, which it has named BMW iFace.

This facial recognition system uses a 3D technology directly integrated into the TFT display of the motorcycle.

Once the helmet is removed, the face is biometrically scanned in three dimensions. This three-dimensional image is then compared to pre-registered data stored in the system.

If the pilot is wearing a helmet, identification can then be done by scanning the iris and cornea of the eyes. In all cases, if the individual is recognized, the ignition, steering lock and other locking functions are released and the rider can start up the motorcycle.

The system has been honed to function regardless of the lighting conditions, day or night. According to the manufacturer, a special filter allows eyes to be scanned even through strongly tinted visors, as well as through types of glasses and contact lenses.

The system has additional security features; for instance if someone attempts to steal the motorcycle, BMW iFace then communicates with the eCall emergency call service.

In such cases, the data from the face or eye scans as well as the GPS position of the motorcycle will be automatically transmitted to the police authorities (initially in Germany).

BMW iFace is expected to be officially launched in the fall of 2023, exclusively on BMW Motorrad Boxer models.

While this may be a world first in motorcycles, such a system also exists in the automotive domain, on the Genesis GV60 and the Zeekr X.

This is the first solution for unlocking your car by facial recognition, directly implemented in the vehicle, to be rolled out on production models.


Experts on engine fires: Spray extinguisher through front grille

                HAMBURG: Vehicle fires are one of the most frightening things that can happen on the road, and they take place more often than you think.

The nightmare scenario for car drivers often starts with an acrid smell from under the dashboard. Suddenly smoke pours from under the bonnet and flames start licking around the bodywork.

Most motorists survive car fires like these unscathed, since they pull over and get out of the vehicle before it is consumed in flames. In some cases, an alert driver can manage to put out the blaze before emergency services arrive, although this is hazardous.

Having a fire extinguisher on board is a good idea, but only if you know how to use it. It is important to stay calm, but act quickly. By observing a few simple rules, experts say a dangerous, full-blown blaze can be avoided.

Cars do not catch fire easily.

"Carpets, cladding and trim are generally made of fire-resistant material," said Burkhard Boettcher of the ADAC car club.

Fuel-line malfunctions or split fuel pipes are among common cause of car blazes, along with blown fuses and bared electrical cables.

Minor car accidents can also trigger a fire when damage causes fuel to leak onto a hot engine or the catalytic converter underneath the floor. The devices run very hot.

Neglected maintenance is another cause of unexpected fires, so it is a good idea to take the car in for a tune-up at least once a year.

Aftermarket navigation devices, loudspeakers and other accessories are other overlooked potential fire flashpoints. These are often wired up with the wrong fuses, which allow current to flow even when the devices get too hot.

Statistics show that car fires are more common than people think but "explosions like you see in the movies are fortunately the exception," said Boettcher.

Occupant safety is the priority when a car catches fire.

"If you smell something burning, just signal or activate the hazard warning lights and pull over to the side of the road," said Boettcher. Drivers should not try to make it home before determining the cause, or waste time trying to remove luggage.

"It is important for the driver and passengers to get out swiftly. Then call emergency services."

Before running, shut off the engine, which will halt the flow of fuel and reduce the risk of a full-blown fire.

The driver and passengers should put at least 50 metres between themselves and the burning car. Onlookers and others should be kept away.

If you see smoke coming from around the engine, do not open the bonnet the whole way since the air rushing in could turn a tiny fire into a big blaze.

The best method is to squirt extinguisher foam through the front grille.

There is no point in trying to smother tyres if they start to burn - the risk of injury is too high.

In most countries, having a fire extinguisher on board is not a legal requirement. Fire prevention expert Wolfgang Kluge, who runs his own advisory business, recommends buying a compact model weighing 2kg.

"For novices, 1kg (of chemical) is not enough if you are trying to put out an under-bonnet fire," said Kluge. Larger cylinders weighing up to 5kg are too unwieldy when tackling a car fire.

Kluge advises using an extinguisher filled with foam, since the water content of the substance evaporates in the heat of the fire and helps to smother flames.

Powder-filled extinguishers are faster acting than the foam counterparts and come in smaller packages for the same effect. The powder forms a blanket or crust over the fire to starve the fire of oxygen.

However Kluge is not a fan of powder extinguishers, explaining: "If a user operates one of these by mistake in the enclosed cabin space of the car, the fine powder can blind the user within seconds."


Mercedes to launch C-Class as all-terrain model

                STUTTGART: After giving the E-Class a rugged makeover, Mercedes is now also sending the C-Class into off-road terrain. For all those who find the C-Class too well-behaved for an estate and too chunky for an SUV, an all-terrain model is coming.

The third model variant of the series is to celebrate its premiere at the new version of the Frankfurt car show taking place in Munich (Sep 7-12) and go on sale later this year.

The maker isn't naming prices yet, but if the ordinary estate with comparable drive and equipment starts at just under €50,000 (RM248,000) in its home market, then we can expect the All-Terrain to be somewhat higher.

So what makes it more rugged? According to Mercedes, the All-Terrain differs from the conventional estate mainly by having 4cm more ground clearance and two additional driving programmes for loose surfaces, mud and snow.

In addition, the body is fitted with distinctive plastic parts to protect against scratches and give the car a robust appearance.

According to Mercedes, there is a choice of petrol and diesel engines. Both are designed as mild hybrids and have four cylinders as well as an electric starter-generator.

Mercedes says the petrol engine in the C 200 has a capacity of 1.5 litres and 204hp, while the diesel engine in the C 220 d has a capacity of 2.0 litres and 200hp. Mercedes is not yet providing fuel consumption figures.


Sydney fans enjoy live concert at Covid-19-safe drive-in

Singer Casey Donovan performing at the drive-in concert in Sydney on Thursday.— Reuters
SYDNEY: Singer-songwriter Casey Donovan performed on stage here on Thursday in a free concert that treated fans to some of the first live music many had heard in months. But they had to stay in their cars to enjoy it.

Drive-in concerts are emerging as a trend that allows performers to connect with fans in real life while maintaining safe social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Donovan, who shot to fame after winning Australian Idol more than a decade ago, headlined the performance in a car park to about 40 vehicles.

“I’ve been missing live music so much that I’ll go and see it in a car park, in my car just so I can see live music in front of me. It’s good,” said audience member Mick Radojkovic.

To ensure physical distancing, audience members were not allowed to leave their cars but could tune into an FM band on their radios to get full high-definition sound, or simply wind down their windows despite the rain.

Instead of clapping or cheering, fans blared their car horns.

Drive-in Entertainment Australia plans to have several more car park concerts in coming months with many more people being able to attend as Covid-19 restrictions are eased further.

Musicians around the world have had to adapt how they engage with their audiences due to mass closures of concert venues, with many performing online from their homes in virtual concerts.

Concert venues are expected to be among the last to reopen because of the challenges of social distancing.

Country music star Keith Urban performed a surprise live show at a drive-in movie theatre in Nashville, in a test drive for how concerts might look in the era of social distancing.

It was thought to be the first major live music show of its kind in the United States, following the cancellation of hundreds of concerts and tours and the closure of large venues in March because of the coronavirus epidemic.


Soon you’ll be able to fill in roads missing in Google Maps

                PARIS: A brand new tool integrated into Google Maps will soon allow anyone to modify the route of a road, or even to create one not yet referenced. This is yet another tool offered by Google to its community in order to make its mapping service more complete and exhaustive.

Anyone with a Google account will be able to interact with a new road editing tool for computers. It will soon be possible to report a missing road on the Google Maps platform.

To do this, simply click on “Edit the map” in the side menu and select “Missing Road”.

Then, the user will have to draw the road on the map by using more or less long segments, name it correctly and indicate the direction of traffic. It will even be possible to indicate if a road is temporarily closed and until when.

Each of these updates will be examined and then validated – or not – by Google’s teams before being definitively published in order to limit abuse (or bad pranks).

Until now, it was only possible to leave a note, without specifying the details of the route. This new feature will be deployed in the coming months, first in the United States, then in nearly 80 countries.

Other new features announced include the ability to show support for local businesses and the ability to update photos by uploading new images with additional information.


Kia EV9 SUV exterior teased in video clips

                SEOUL: Kia has unveiled a set of video clips to tease its highly anticipated EV9, the brand’s dedicated battery electric SUV.

The teaser video of the flagship SUV showcases a silhouette of the flagship SUV model, featuring its prominent front and sleek body surfaces.

It's as big as the three-row Telluride and uses the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 7, which has yet to arrive. It's reasonable to expect a rear motor version and a dual motor version for all-wheel drive.

While battery specs are not known yet, the EV9 is said to have a 480km range. It will be able to charge on a 350-kW fast charging station.

The striking lighting patterns created by the front and rear lamps complete the EV9’s bold identity.

The video clips also preview the EV9’s unique blend of sleek and sculptural design and confident and assertive geometry.

Like the EV6, the EV9 is built upon the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

Kia will reveal both the exterior and interior design in mid-March, and the product information will be fully disclosed during the EV9 world premiere in late March.


Renault takes on 'range anxiety' in electric sales push. But it's a long road

                PARIS: Steve Tomlin, who runs a Renault dealership in Britain, says sales of the Zoe small electric car have shot up this year, a turnaround he partly puts down to a fading of “range anxiety”, the fear of running out of power mid-journey.

The revamped model, which has accounted for a third of Tomlin’s sales for a couple of months this year, has a range of 400km. By contrast the previous model, which drew much lower sales, offered 300km when fully charged.

“Range anxiety has gone away and once you explain how easy it is to live day to day with an electric vehicle, that has a big impact on sales,” said Tomlin, general manager of Martins Renault & Dacia in Reading, about 65km west of London.

Renault said UK sales of the Zoe had more than doubled this year, and that in France its zero-emission cars had outsold its diesel models this year through to the end of September - 19% versus 18% - in a significant milestone.

The company said it had trained 30,000 dealer staff across Europe on electric-vehicle technology.

“At the beginning, we were facing some psychological barrier linked to autonomy: oh la la, am I going to have a breakdown, I won’t have any more electricity,” said Denis le Vot, Renault’s head of sales. “We learned these lessons very well.”

Yet there’s a hard road ahead, and range and staff training is not enough. High battery costs and lack of manufacturing scale mean electric vehicles (EVs) are still more expensive than conventional vehicles - often in the region of 20-30% more.

This means Renault and other automakers rely on government subsidies to support demand, but such aid is patchy across Europe.

Battery costs are, however, expected to fall further, meaning some EVs should cost the same as or less than combustion-engine models around the middle of this decade, according to industry experts.

“The first firms to achieve the ultimate goal - an affordable, unsubsidised electric vehicle - will gain a valuable competitive advantage,” Bain & Company said in an Oct 29 report.

Until then, carmakers need to sustain electric sales and build up production muscle, but avoid overstretching their finances while they sell a lower-margin product.

Renault said its approach relied on making use of government subsidies and offering discounts on EVs, installing free charging stations for customers, along with the staff training.

In France, government subsidies, combined with a scrappage scheme and discounts from Renault, can shave up to €11,500 (around RM56,000) - more than a third - off the price of the Zoe, for example.

Intense competition

Aside from the financial pressures and the challenges of changing decades-old consumer behaviour, however, Renault also faces fierce competition at a time when all carmakers have to build up EV sales to meet strict EU emissions limits.

The Zoe may be accruing sales, but it was still a distant second to Tesla's Model 3 globally in the first half of this year, while the race is intensifying as carmakers from Volkswagen AG to Toyota Motor Corp invest hundreds of billions of dollars to flood the market with new models.

Transport & Environment, a group campaigning for cleaner travel, estimates EVs will triple their market share in Europe this year, after making up 8% of European car sales in the first half of 2020.

“What has changed this year is not the subsidies but the fact that carmakers have invested in and brought forward adequately-priced vehicles with adequate performance,” said Julia Poliscanova, Transport & Environment’s senior director for vehicles.

Subsidies drive sales

Yet, for the foreseeable future, subsidies are crucial.

“Whether it’s China or elsewhere, you still need a government mandate and support for EVs,” said Terrence Curtin, CEO of auto supplier TE Connectivity Ltd.

Norway has shown that huge subsidies for EVs, including tax breaks and low road tolls, have worked so well that a typical buyer of a small electric Nissan LEAF is “an average working man aged 30 to 50,” according to Frode Lehne, head of Mobile Skøyen AS, a Nissan Motor Co dealership in Oslo.

Ulf Tore Hekneby, a managing director at Harald A. Moller AS, which imports many Volkswagen group brands into Norway, said 91% of the Audis and 58% of the VW brand cars the company sold in Norway this year to September were electric.

Some European governments are upping their commitments.

Germany, for instance, doubled its electric car subsidies to €6,000 in the summer as part of a recovery plan for an auto industry hit hard by the pandemic, while France also raised its subsidy to €7,000 from €6,000.

But it’s harder in other European markets with less generous subsidies or where incomes are lower.

Sales in the Baltic states, for instance, have suffered because the countries either don’t offer subsidies, or those on offer are not enough to make EVs affordable, according to Hekneby of Harald A. Moller, whose parent group has dealerships there.

A total of 191 EVs were sold across the industry in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia during the second quarter, versus 12,156 in Norway, even though the Baltic countries have a combined population slightly larger than Norway’s.

“Demand is close to zero,” Hekneby said.


Car sales expected to slow down until December, says Perodua

The Myvi draws in the most money for Perodua.
PETALING JAYA: Perodua says it expects the re-introduced Sales and Service Tax (SST) to dampen car sales industry-wide until December.

“Perhaps, the impact would be up until December 2018 where, typically, most players would give good offers to reduce their carry-over stock into the following year,” said Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, adding that his prediction was based on the assumption vehicle prices would rise from September.

“Our sales peaked in May at almost 22,000 units. However, we do not foresee this momentum continuing in the subsequent quarters of the year. While engagement with the government is on-going, we are still unclear on the full mechanism of the impending SST.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced on July 17 that services would be taxed at 6% and the sale of goods will incur a 10% tax under the new SST, which kicks in from September.

The new Myvi continues to be Perodua’s most popular model. Since its November launch last year, over 65,000 have been registered out of over 115,000 bookings collected.

On bookings, Perodua received over 185,000 orders in 1H18, a 24% boost over 1H17 and another half-year record. In June alone orders surpassed 40,000, and the carmaker is working overtime to meet the demand, said Aminar.

“Apart from a few units of the Alza, we expect all orders made this month to be fulfilled only from Sept 1 onwards."

Perodua sold 117,100 vehicles for the first six months of 2018, 17.5% up on the 99,700 units sold in the same period last year and a half-year record for the carmaker.

The 117,100 registrations comprised 46,860 Myvis, 33,870 Axias, 23,555 Bezzas and 12,815 Alzas, retaining the top spots for all four models in their respective segments.

Perodua is maintaining 2018 sales target at 209,000 units, while production target is also maintained at around 215,300 vehicles, a 7.5% increase compared with 200,100 vehicles made last year.

On aftersales, Perodua’s service intakes at its 179 service centres nationwide saw a 6% growth from 1.026million vehicles in 1H17 to 1.083 million in 1H18.


Velocity Motor Show (2017) heats up Bukit Jalil

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Velocity Motor Show 2017, now in its second year running, was recently held at Carpark B, Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur after touring through Pahang, Johor, Penang and various parts of the Klang Valley.

Organised by FitzGerald Events, the carnival-like motor show had some 1,300 exhibitors, 45 of which were foreign participants from Thailand (Kevmannz Bodykit and KJModify), Vietnam and Singapore.

 Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin bin Datuk Sri Mohd Najib Razak (left) with Velocity Motor Show founder Jason Tan.

The show was organized by FitzGerald Events and is one of the largest “Gathering Stance” of the year for, often times, outrageously modified cars.

According to the organiser, the show saw more than 9,600 visitors throughout the two-day event including visitors from Thailand and Indonesia to check out the wide range of modified cars.

Other than the various vehicle accessories available at the show, there was also a rock stage that graced the performances of Rockanova artistes, Mad August, Alienoids, No Name and Blast Jam (featuring Man Keedal).

The show also had BMX and skating activities at the extreme sports section.

 Man Keedal 'ripping' his guitar

There were also competitions and activities involving all-things automotive such as AutoShowoff, Soundoff, Stance, Mega Meet, Bass Up, Miniature Drift and test drives.

Food trucks also rolled in for the gastronomically inclined.


Crunch time for car makers as Apple takes a bigger bite

                LONDON: Apple’s sweeping update to its CarPlay system, revealed at the company’s annual World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) last week, has presented car manufacturers with a crucial choice about the digital experiences they offer their customers: accelerate their efforts to create something unique, or cede control of their customers to Silicon Valley, says connectivity pioneer VNC Automotive.

While CarPlay has until now been restrained within the infotainment display, Apple’s new set-up will unleash the system across the vehicle’s other screens, including the instrument cluster.

At the same time, the next generation of CarPlay seeks to tighten its grip on the vehicle’s existing systems. Instead of being limited to smartphone-related functions such as music and navigation, the new system will gain access to all vehicle data – everything from speed to fuel level – while also taking over control of features such as cabin climate settings.
 Blackie.

“While on the face of it Apple’s advances seem like a good thing, giving customers a familiar interface to interact with, it also cuts vehicle manufacturers out of the in-car experience and limits opportunities to create brand loyalty,” warned VNC Automotive CEO Tom Blackie.

Systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been at the forefront of efforts to make cars more smartphone-like in their operation, driven by the widespread adoption of touchscreens and car manufacturers’ efforts to increase digitalisation as a way to appeal to a more tech-savvy customer.

“Initially, the rise of the touchscreen was all about saving hardware costs by implementing everything in software,” said Blackie.

“Now, some cars feature a swath of screens right across the dashboard, offering a digital landscape almost as wide as the car itself. Recently, though, there’s been growing disquiet as drivers push-back against the level of attention these interfaces demand.”

In a recent study, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory found that drivers took their eyes off the road for as long as 20 seconds when asked to play a track from Spotify, long enough to travel a third of a mile at motorway speeds.

The European Commission, meanwhile, estimates that driver distraction is a factor in up to 30% of all accidents in Europe, signalling the potential for legislators to step in with new regulations.

At the same time, many OEMs are set on a path that will see them become software houses first and car manufacturers second, with the likes of Volvo and Volkswagen both hiring huge numbers of developers as they look to software rather than hardware to create differentiation in a marketplace that is increasingly electrified.

“That work is now at risk of being undermined,” warned Blackie.

“By ceding control of everything from the speedo to the seat controls, OEMs are giving Silicon Valley unprecedented access to their customers’ lives, and relinquishing their own opportunities while they’re at it.”

READ MORE: Geely acquires Alibaba-backed smartphone maker Meizu

There’s a risk, too, that a car’s features may become inaccessible to its owner if they switch to an alternative ecosystem or refuse to upgrade to the latest handset.

Some may even disappear altogether should Apple decide to withdraw support in an overnight iOS update.

“The car makers we work with go to great lengths to ensure features work just as well after ten years as they did the day the vehicle left the showroom. With customers now keeping their cars for longer than ever, there’s a real risk of digital decomposition. Only now, car manufacturers won’t be able to stop it,” said Blackie.


Electric BMW 7 Series spied

The electric 7 Series undergoing dynamic testing. — Images from drivingelectric.com

LONDON: Just as Mercedes is working on an all-electric S-Class, BMW is also executing a similar plan for its luxury limo.

According to UK-based Drivingelectric.com, the electric 7 Series may be badged the i7 and has already been spotted undergoing testing, wrapped in heavy camouflage.

The next-generation electric 7 Series will use BMW’s fifth-generation electric drivetrain, joining the i3 and iX3, and the forthcoming i4 and iNEXT models in the brand’s "I" range.

BMW will have 25 electrified models on the roads by 2023 with half of them fully electric.

Although the styling is hard to make out, BMW's trademark 'Hofmeister kink' in the C-pillar is there. A large grille is retained for identity purpose although it's unnecessary as there's no engine to cool.

This all-electric 7 Series is still in the early stage of development and is unlikely to be ready until at least 2022 or 2023. BMW previously confirmed its intention to offer its next-generation 7 Series with a pure-electric powertrain.

In a release about responsibility and sustainability, the maker also confirmed zero-emissions versions of the smaller 5 Series and X1 SUV are on the way.


AirAsia BIG member wins big, gets a Nissan X-Trail

                KUALA LUMPUR: Being an AirAsia BIG member proved to be a truly rewarding decision for Vimal Krishnamurthy who won a Nissan X-Trail at the budget airline’s loyalty points conversion contest.

Vimal, who expressed delight at his win, said it was his first time at winning a car.

“It was easy to participate in the contest. I only needed to make that call to my bank to convert my credit card reward points,” said Vimal.

The 30-year-old businessman said he had signed up with AirAsia BIG last year.

The Jan 18-Feb 23 contest was organised by AirAsia’s loyalty programme, AirAsia BIG, in partnership with Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor and nine other banks. The banks were Alliance Bank, AmBank, Citibank, Maybank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, RHBInvest, Standard Chartered Bank and United Overseas Bank.

The contest, which attracted over 3,000 entries, was designed to provide AirAsia BIG members who are also credit cardholders with top financial institutions, an opportunity to turn their credit card reward points into chances at winning an SUV, apart from the AirAsia flights they could redeem with their BIG Points.

The more points converted, the higher the chances of a contestant winning.


EVs at Detroit Auto Show: Consumers have questions

                DETROIT: The emerging fleet of electric vehicles (EV) provoked fascination at the Detroit Auto Show, but many consumers were not yet ready to take the plunge to own one themselves.

Some, like Justin Tata, wanted a first-hand look at new EV offerings, saying "it's embracing the change that's coming because I think the internal combustion engine (ICE) is on the way out."

But Tata, who works in the packaging industry, still has questions about EV battery disposal. He came to the Sept 14-25 Detroit show to survey the state of play, but doesn't foresee buying an EV for another five to 10 years.

Among other attendees, the less-EV enthused included Tim Stokes.

"I think eventually that's going to be the only option," said Stokes as he admired a new gasoline-powered Ford Mustang, adding that he wants to "prolong (driving ICE vehicles) as long as possible."

Friends in the auto industry have advised waiting three or four years for the industry to "work out the kinks" with EVs, said Stokes, who works in telecommunications.

Mainstream options

Long considered a niche sideshow in the auto world, the prominence of EVs at this year's Detroit gathering underscored their new mainstream status as big automakers respond to rising concerns about climate change and government policies promoting EVs.

Chevrolet's showcase highlighted EV versions of three of the GM brand's top-selling products: the Silverado pickup, and the Blazer and Equinox, both SUVs. Chevy expects to begin deliveries on the vehicles in 2023.

Ford too has targeted its EV campaign towards its most popular vehicles, unveiling a battery-powered version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck and launching the Mustang Mach-E, a new SUV that has also attracted strong interest from consumers.

A 2022 Consumer Reports survey showed 14 percent of Americans saying they would "definitely" buy or lease an EV if they were searching for a vehicle, up from four percent in 2020.

While the vehicle launches have brought unprecedented attention to EVs, auto experts say that a meaningful transformation of the ICE-dominated US fleet is still years away.

Price remains a big problem, with the average price of an EV nearly US$67,000 (RM307,000), according to Cox Automotive.

Experts also cite the lack of EV charging stations as a concern.

President Joe Biden signed into law a bill to provide US$7.5 billion to build more stations, as his administration announced the first tranche of funding in parallel with a presidential address at the Detroit show.

Can the industry deliver?

Auto insiders also point to doubts about the availability of critical materials such as lithium and cobalt needed for batteries.

These issues have come to the fore during the Covid-19 pandemic, when shortages of semiconductors and other supply chain woes forced automakers to restrict vehicle production and store tens of thousands of partially-built autos.

Ford said on Monday that it expects to have some 40,000-45,000 mostly built vehicles in inventory at the end of the third quarter due to needed parts.

Last Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company had delayed some vehicle deliveries due to a shortage of badges with the company's blue oval logo.

Don Lamos, who works for auto supplier, had placed an order on a Ford Lightning, but is backing off after Ford raised the price on that version to above the US$80,000 cap that would allow car buyers to qualify for a US$7,500 tax credit under new US legislation.

Lamos and his wife, Janice, were drawn to the Chevy offerings, including the Equinox, which starts at US$30,000.

"If they can hold that at $30,000, then awesome," he said. "I don't know if they'll really be able to meet production next year, so we'll see."

Don Lamos cited cost savings as the main impetus, while Janice Lamos described climate change as a priority. The couple are sold on EVs, but pondering how much to spend now when battery technologies will likely improve in the future.

Many of the vehicles being released are touted for being able to travel 480km without being recharged, but the capacity is much lower if the vehicle is towing cargo.

"You know when you need gas you can go to the corner and there's a station. I don't think there's enough (charging) stations for one of these," Carlos Rubante said when asked about the Lightning.

Consumers at the show described climate change as a worry, but were not necessarily convinced that EVs were the solution.

Besides battery disposal, another concern is the unwanted consequences of the mining boom in critical materials, such as the use of child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo to produce cobalt, said Cristian Damboiu, who works for an auto supplier.

"When you're considering all these things, maybe they aren't as clean as they seem," said Damboiu.

"I understand (EVs) have some advantages, so we'll see how it plays out."


Bentley cruises to record sales in 2022 despite China drop

                LONDON: British luxury carmaker Bentley on Tuesday reported record vehicle sales for 2022, with strong demand offsetting a 9% drop in China caused by coronavirus-related lockdowns.

The Volkswagen unit said it had sold 15,174 vehicles during 2022, up 4% from in 2021, which was itself a banner year for Bentley.

"In what was another year of unpredictability, the business overcame significant headwinds and demonstrated great resilience to deliver the third consecutive record sales year," Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said in a statement.

The company reported sales growth in every regional market except China. But in the Americas, Bentley's largest market, sales only grew at a modest pace of less than 1%.

The Bentayga luxury SUV, which has a starting price of around US$180,000, remained Bentley's top-selling model in 2022, accounting for 42% of vehicle sales.

Bentley has increasingly focused on customization, from hand-stitched leather to finishes ranging from walnut to koa wood, or even 5,000-year-old wood fished out of England's low-lying wetland Fens. This lifted Bentley's average pre-tax sales price nearly 30% to US$236,500 a car in 2022 from 2018.

The company said last month it expects a slight drop in production in 2023 as shutdowns in China have slowed orders.

Bentley has committed to going fully electric by 2030.

This week another German-owned British luxury brand, BMW unit Rolls-Royce, reported record sales for 2022 with an average price tag of around US$534,000 for its luxury cars, also despite a drop in Chinese demand.


Ducati merchandise available online in Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: The movement control order got the folks at Ducati Malaysia thinking about how to serve their customer best and that is how it recently recently launched its online shop selling various Ducati and Ducati Scrambler apparel and merchandise.

Visit here to see what is on offer from Ducati Malaysia and go here for Ducati Scrambler.

There are good bargains to be had and believe it or not there are discounts up to 80% on selected items. All goods bought via online will receive a free delivery within Malaysia.


Tesla to expand parts production in Shanghai to meet export demand

A truck transporting new Tesla cars at its factory in Shanghai on May 13 last year. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc plans to expand parts production at its Shanghai factory to meet growing demand for exports, according to a document it filed with the city government.

The automaker will add production workshops, increase the number of workers and lengthen the time equipment is operational, the document.

Exact figures were redacted from the document, which was filed on Tuesday. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Tesla's Shanghai factory currently has the capacity to produce a combined 450,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles a year.

Last year, it sold over 470,000 China-made cars.

Xinhua news agency has reported that more than 160,000 Tesla China-made cars were sold overseas in 2021.

In November, the state-backed Beijing Daily newspaper reported that Tesla plans to invest up to 1.2 billion yuan (RM795mil) to expand production capacity at its Shanghai factory, allowing it to employ 4,000 more people at the site.


New Proton 3S Centre opens in Kota Kinabalu

                KOTA KINABALU: Harapan Maju Sdn Bhd has officially opened its new Proton 3S centre here today.

It is the second dealer outlet to be opened in Kota Kinabalu which carries the company’s new corporate identity.

Minister of Youth and Sports Sabah Phoong Jin Zhe and Proton marketing director Cheng Seng Fook  jointly officiated the event.

This new outlet which cost RM 8 million to build has a built-up area of 1686 square meters.

It consists of 12 service bays and 6 service hoists and the parking lot can accommodate up to 50 cars.

Amenities such as free Wi-Fi, a coffee bar, laptop charging area, kids’ area as well as prayer room are available in the showroom.

Bucking the industry trend, Harapan Maju is led by a team of women. They are involved in the daily operations of the business – overseeing sales, service and marketing.

“We took the opportunity to start a Proton dealership because we have a lot of faith in the brand. The technologically advanced features as well as the competitive pricing have also caught the attention of the public,” said Jovinia Wong Kyau Yun, director of Harapan Maju Sdn Bhd.

Year-to-date, sales for East Malaysia increased by 22% compared to the same period last year whilst in Sabah, the increase is at 32%.


Nissan Switch car subscription launched in Houston

                HOUSTON, United States: In Houston, Texas, Nissan is launching "on-demand driving" through its test of a subscription service model called Nissan Switch.

Drivers can switch their rides everyday with Nissan's first subscription service.

The program launches in the Houston area and offers a variety of vehicles, including the all-electric Nissan Leaf Plus, Titan pickup, and GT-R.

Just like other popular subscription services for television and music, there is no long-term contractual commitment.

"Nissan Switch is another way that Nissan is testing alternatives to the notion of traditional mobility, without long-term financial commitments for our customers," said Andrew Tavi, vice president, Legal, External Affairs and Business Development, Nissan North America, Inc.

"This program provides more choice, convenience, and flexibility. For those who want a sedan during the week and an SUV or sports car, like the GTR, on the weekends, Nissan Switch provides the solution."

The Nissan Switch subscription program, powered by Clutch Technologies LLC (Clutch), offers vehicles that represent the latest model year featuring well-equipped trim levels.

Some include driver-assist technology, allowing shoppers to try innovative features like Nissan ProPILOT Assist.

There are two tiers to Nissan's subscription services with the ability to switch tiers each month.

After a US$495 membership activation fee, the monthly subscription includes the vehicle (unlimited switches, as often as a new vehicle each day), delivery, cleaning, insurance, roadside assistance, and regular maintenance.

Nissan is working with Central Houston Nissan to administer this new subscription service. A dealership concierge member will deliver the vehicle anywhere within the Select Service area and will help transfer items from car to car.

The concierge also offers to walk-around the vehicle at the time of delivery to answer any questions about key features, safety, and driver-assist technologies.

"We are eager to explore subscription services to understand how we can best serve customers' evolving wants and needs," said Chad Milow, general manager, Central Houston Nissan.

"This is a great opportunity for people to drive what they want when they need it for one, predictable payment."


Toyota unveils new fuel cell car in fresh push on hydrogen tech

                TOKYO: Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp put its revamped Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car, with 30% greater range, on sale today in a fresh push to promote zero-emission technology amid growing demand for electric vehicles, including its own.

Toyota has failed until now to win drivers over to fuel cell vehicles (FCV), which remain a niche technology despite Japanese government backing, amid concerns about lack of fuelling stations, resale values and the risk of hydrogen explosions.

“The new Mirai will serve as a new departure point for creating a hydrogen-based society of the future,” Toyota said in a statement. It will cost about 5 million yen (RM196,000) after subsidies, about the same as its predecessor.

By the end of September Toyota had sold only 11,100 of its first generation Mirai, almost six years after its launch. Most other automakers have eschewed FCV in favour of electric vehicles (EV).

In 2019, automakers sold 2.1 million electric cars, 40% more than the previous year, the International Energy Agency says.

The new Mirai launch comes after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a goal in October to cut Japan’s carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Toyota had planned to use the postponed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as a platform to showcase its fuel cell technology, with 100 buses meant to shuttle visitors between venues.

The Japanese firm is also looking to China, the world’s biggest automarket, which has just about 7,000 FCVs, versus more than 4 million EVs, to boost demand.

Fresh support measures for FCVs announced in September included requiring projects with government subsidies to boost the number of hydrogen-charging stations and efforts to cut the price of the fuel.


Kia opens sixth 3S centre in Johor

                KUALA LUMPUR: Kia now has a dealership in Tampoi, Johor Baru, bringing the number of outlets to six in the state and 45 nationwide.

The Tampoi 3S outlet is operated by Supreme Priority Sdn Bhd.

Located along Jalan Tampoi, the Tampoi 3S centre has a built-up area of 18,000 square feet with the capacity to display seven vehicles in the showroom and accommodate over 100 cars per month with its two service hoist bays. It serves the needs of Kia customers in Tampoi New Village, Skudai, Nusajaya and Larkin.

Supreme Priority has invested RM5mil to open the dealership.


Honda CR-V gets two new replacement colours

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia announced two new colours for the CR-V.

The Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic colours will replace the Passion Red Pearl and Modern Steel Metallic colours in the CR-V.

Honda Malaysia said the new red colour makes the exterior of the SUV look more vibrant, while the new gray colour highlights the rugged look of the
model.

Since its launch in 2017, the fifth-generation CR-V has sold more than 63,000 units to-date.

The CR-V contributed 12% to the Honda Malaysia total sales between January and July 2022.

"With the CR-V as the latest model to receive both colour options, we have completed the expansion of the Ignite Red Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic colours into the Honda line-up," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Hironobu Yoshimura.

The CR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre VTEC turbocharged engine that produces peak output of 190hp and maximum torque of 243Nm.


US agency upgrades Tesla Autopilot safety probe, step before possible recall

                WASHINGTON: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was upgrading its probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with its advanced driver assistance system Autopilot, a required step before it could seek a recall.

The auto safety agency in August opened a preliminary evaluation to assess the performance of the system in 765,000 vehicles after about a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles struck stopped emergency vehicles - and said Thursday it had identified six additional crashes.

NHTSA is upgrading its probe to an engineering analysis, which it must do before demanding a recall if deemed necessary.

The auto safety regulator is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention. The agency added evidence suggested drivers in most crashes under review had complied with Tesla's alert strategy that seeks to compel driver attention,raising questions about its effectiveness.

In 2020, the National Transportation Safety Board criticized Tesla's "ineffective monitoring of driver engagement" after a 2018 fatal Autopilot crash and said NHTSA had provided "scant oversight."

NHTSA said the upgrade is "to extend the existing crash analysis, evaluate additional data sets, perform vehicle evaluations, and to explore the degree to which Autopilot and associated Tesla systems may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision."

Tesla, which has disbanded its press offices, did not respond to a request for comment.

NHTSA said it has reports of 16 crashes, including seven injury incidents and one death, involving Tesla vehicles in Autopilot that had struck stationary first-responder and road maintenance vehicles.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey praised NHTSA's upgrade. "Every day that Tesla disregards safety rules and misleads the public about its 'Autopilot" system, our roads become more dangerous," he wrote on Twitter.

NHTSA said its analysis indicated that Forward Collision Warnings activated in the majority of incidents just prior to impact and that subsequent Automatic Emergency Braking intervened in around half of the crashes.

"On average in these crashes, Autopilot aborted vehicle control less than one second prior to the first impact," the agency added.

NHTSA noted that "where incident video was available, the approach to the first responder scene would have been visible to the driver an average of 8 seconds leading up to impact."

The agency also reviewed 106 reported Autopilot crashes and said in approximately half, "indications existed that the driver was insufficiently responsive to the needs of the dynamic driving task."

"A driver’s use or misuse of vehicle components, or operation of a vehicle in an unintended manner does not necessarily preclude a system defect," the agency said.

NHTSA also found in about a quarter of the 106 crashes, the primary crash factor appeared to relate to operating the system where Tesla says limitations may exist in places like roadways other than limited-access highways, or while in visibility environments involving factors such as rain, snow, or ice.

Tesla says Autopilot allows the vehicles to brake and steer automatically within their lanes but does not make them capable of driving themselves.

A NHTSA spokesperson said advanced driving assistance features can promote safety "by helping drivers avoid crashes and mitigate the severity of crashes that occur, but as with all technologies and equipment on motor vehicles, drivers must use them correctly and responsibly."

Last week, NHTSA said it asked Tesla to respond to questions by June 20 after it received 758 reports of unexpected brake activation tied to Autopilot in its separate investigation of 416,000 newer vehicles.

Separately, NHTSA has opened 35 special crash investigations into incidents involving Tesla vehicles, in which Autopilot or other advanced systems were suspected of use involving 14 reported deaths since 2016, including a crash that killed three last month in California.

NHTSA asked a dozen other automakers including General Motors, Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen to answer questions on "driver engagement and attentiveness strategies" using driver assistance systems" during its Tesla probe but has not released their responses.


Continental tests new ‘feel-good’ robo-taxi in Frankfurt

                FRANKFURT: German parts supplier Continental has come up with a new driverless taxi which it calls a "feel-good cocoon."

The Cube, which is shorthand for Continental Urban Mobility Experience, is already being tried out at a proving ground here.

The robo-taxi will be put through its paces on the test track, which has a street infrastructure of junctions and curbs, before venturing out on public roads.

Continental says the robo-shuttle could help alleviate traffic problems in crowded cities.

The focus inside Cube is on privacy and communication for passengers who might otherwise baulk at being carried in a vehicle with no human driver to take over if things go wrong.

The interior is soothing, with foils, trim and upholstery materials offering what Conti calls "enhanced aesthetics, haptics, and durability."

The surfaces are also scratch and stain resistant to ensure the vehicle stays looking fresh and retains a new-car feeling.

"People in the car will be doing things other than driving it," says Alexander Jockisch, head of business development and marketing for surface materials in Continental's ContiTech division.

Cube gets around using laser sensors and technology familiar from the driver-assistance systems of many serial production vehicles.

Germany's Deutsche Bahn state-run railway has been testing similar shuttles.

"It's much more intelligent to operate driverless vehicles as often as possible than to have countless private cars that are often at a standstill, up to 23 hours a day on average," says Andree Hohm, who heads Continental's self-driving car project.

The German firm says its "feel-good cocoon" will go on display at the Frankfurt Car Show from Sept 16-24.

Continental last year teamed up with BMW, Intel and Mobileye to develop a platform for semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles. In April 2017, Daimler and Bosch announced a similar tie-up.

According to a study by the consulting company Roland Berger, driverless vehicles will account for around a quarter of transportation services by the year 2030.


BMW teases all-electric i4 Gran Coupe with up to 590km range

                MUNICH: The 4-door i4 Gran Coupe was revealed at BMW Group's annual conference on March 17.

It's a fully electric car and will enter the market later this year; an M Performance model would also go on sale.

BMW said the i4 offers a balance of typical BMW sportiness, comfort and sustainable performance that are unique in the EV segment.

READ MORE: BMW's new electric flagship, the iX SUV, set for November launch

“With its sporty looks, best in class driving dynamics and zero local emissions, the BMW i4 is a true BMW. It makes the heart of the BMW brand now beat fully electric,” said Pieter Nota, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales.

The BMW i4 model line will be available in different versions covering ranges of up to 590km (WLTP).

With a power output of up to 390kW/530hp the i4 can accelerate from zero to 100kph in around 4 seconds.

Full details on the i4 would be released over the next weeks.


Volkswagen CEO admits need to change e-car approach in China

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen must change its approach to how it sells electric vehicles (EV) in China, the world's largest car market, chief executive Herbert Diess said, in a response to poor EV sales there.

"Sales are picking up but it requires focus and different approaches as the customers for the EVs are much younger and different to our customer base we are having with the more traditional brands like Volkswagen in China," Diess told journalists after first-half results release.

By the end of the year, Volkswagen wants to sell between 80,000 and 100,000 of its all-electric ID series in China. In the first half, deliveries of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in China stood at 18,285.

"We are noticing that we have to change our approach," Diess said.

"We have the financial power, we have the sales network, we are coming forward with new formats in the shopping malls, we are becoming much more digital and it's going fast because we are much faster in China than we are in the rest of the world."


Tesla Model S falls short in crash test yet again

                WASHINGTON: In another setback for the high-flying electric carmaker, Tesla's Model S once again fell short of the top rating in a key crash test, an independent testing agency said Thursday.

On the eve of seeing its first mass-market Model 3 roll off the assembly line, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said that despite changes made to the vehicles produced after January, the Model S was again only able to attain an acceptable rating in the small-overlap test conducted in February. That test mimics a car hitting a tree or a pole.

As a result, Tesla failed to achieve the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, which requires a "good" rating in all five of its crash test scenarios. Carmakers often request a retest if they fall short of the highest rating the first time.

IIHS said the Model S in both tests fell short of the top rating because the safety belt did not sufficiently restrain the driver in the crash.

"The main problem with the performance of the Model S was that the safety belt let the dummy's torso move too far forward, allowing the dummy's head to strike the steering wheel hard through the airbag," the statement said.

The vehicle also had some structural issues in the second crash test, IIHS said.

Tesla in April recalled 53,000 vehicles to address a manufacturing defect that could prevent the parking brake from releasing, but there were no reports of injuries or accidents related to the issue.

The company also was investigated for a fatal crash in May 2016 involving a driver of a Model S using the Tesla's autopilot feature. But investigators found the driver was warned repeatedly for not keeping his hands on the steering wheel, and no safety defect was found.


New Toyota Body and Paint centre

                PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) announced their latest Body & Paint Centre (B&P Centre) in Kuching, Sarawak operated by Boulevard Jaya is now fully operational.

The new facility, which began operations at the end of last year, is located at the Pending Industrial Area and complements the Sales & Service Centre along Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli in Kuching.

The opening event was officiated by Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMWT, Ravindran Kurusamy, President of UMWT , Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho, Group Chairman of Boulevard Group of Companies and Mr. Ling Chiong Sing, Managing Director of Boulevard Jaya Sdn Bhd.

 From Left; Ravindran Kurusamy, President of UMW Toyota Motor; Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho, Group Chairman of Boulevard Group of Companies; Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.

The new facility cost approximately RM16mil, including the cost of purchasing about 3 acres of land. On the built-up area of almost 1 acre are 10 bays for vehicles with a full- sized Paint Oven to ensure that the finish is properly baked on for lasting quality. Toyota owners are assured of professional repainting services that are up to the high standards set by Toyota Motor Corporation.

At this B&P Centre, owners can also have their damaged vehicles repaired by trained personnel. Using body alignment equipment approved by Toyota Motor Corporation for repairs, they can restore a vehicle damaged in an accident to its correct body specifications. Assistance with insurance claims are also provided at the facility.

“As the authorised distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, we have a responsibility to ensure that when our customers require repairs to their vehicle after an accident, they can get the best services from trained personnel. This ensures that vehicle will be restored in accordance with Toyota’s high standards,” said Akio.

The new B&P Centre is located at Lot 1411 & 2115, Section 66, KTLD, Jalan Mersawa, Pending Industrial Area, 93450 Kuching.


All 15 Bentley Pikes Peak Continental GT Limited Edition delivered

                LONDON: Bentley has proudly announced that 15 of its limited-edition Pikes Peak Continental GT by Mulliner cars have made their way around the world to their new owners.

Celebrating Bentley’s record-breaking run up the world-renowned Pikes Peak - Colorado in the US, this unique and exclusive run has unfortunately sold out.

The Pikes Peak Continental GT Limited Edition is part of Bentley Mulliner’s new ‘Collections’ portfolio that's been restricted to just 15 examples - all hand-built at Bentley’s carbon-neutral factory in Crewe, England.

Owners are spread around the world, in locations as far apart as Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, New Zealand, Latvia and the United Kingdom.

Five of the new owners come from the US including New York (Manhattan), Florida (Fort Lauderdale) to Michigan (Troy), California (Rancho Mirage) and Nebraska (Omaha).

Eighteen months ago, a race-prepared version of a standard W12-powered Continental GT beat the coveted time for a production car by more than eight seconds, climbing almost 5,000ft through Pikes Peak’s 156 bends in just 10 minutes and 18.4 seconds.

The world’s finest Grand Tourer was driven on that occasion by three-time Pikes Peak champion, former ‘King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen.

To match the look of the record-breaking car, a third of customers have opted for the Mountain Decal Event Livery for their Limited Edition Continental GTs, whilst three owners have chosen a subtle gloss black exterior paint finish.

All 15 Pikes Peak Continental GT by Mulliner cars honour Bentley’s achievements on the world’s most demanding hill climb.

The British luxury coach builder first achieved the record for the fastest production sports utility vehicle (SUV) with the Bentyaga in 2018, and then took the production car record with the Continental GT in 2019.

The Pikes Peak Continental GT Limited Edition is distinguished by exclusive Radium by Mulliner paintwork, complemented by a lightweight, carbon fibre body kit. Acid Green brake callipers and Pirelli P Zero Colour Edition tyres.

The front, lower bumper inserts are enhanced with gloss black detailing, mirrored on the roof panel, wing mirrors and rear surfaces before clapping on a Pikes Peak decal on the front fender.

Mulliner’s 22-inch Driving Specification wheels are in Gloss Black have been included as standard, while an optional ‘100’ grille celebrates the record-breaking Pikes Peak run which took place during the brand's centenary year.

The sporting theme continues inside the cabin Alcantara contrasted by Radium thread stitching while a honeycomb Radium stitching design is used on the steering wheel that's complemented by a radium strip across the middle to match the Pikes Peak race car.

The fascia design on the passenger side sports a graphic design showing a section of the famous Pikes Peak track itself, with five different graphics being used across the 15-car run, along with the record-breaking time of 10:18.488.

Pikes Peak Radium embroidery continues on the headrest stitching, contrast binding on the overmats, with Pikes Peak treadplates and exclusive B&O speaker covers in Black Anodised and Radium finish before adding the brand's innovative Bentley Rotating Display.

The Pikes Peak Continental GT by Mulliner is equipped with the same 12-cylinder petrol engine as the car that broke the record last year.

The twin-turbo W12 produces 626bhp and 900Nm of torque - allowing it to accelerate from 0-100kph in 3.7 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 333kph.


Munich, home to BMW, considers diesel ban to tackle pollution

                FRANKFURT: Munich, home to German carmaker BMW, is considering banning diesel vehicles because of "shocking" nitrogen oxides emissions in the Bavarian capital, its mayor told a newspaper today.

The scandal over rigged diesel emissions tests at German carmaker Volkswagen has thrown the engine technology into doubt and has highlighted carmakers' struggle to comply with ever stricter rules capping nitrogen oxides emissions.

"As much as I would welcome avoiding such bans, I think it is just as unlikely that we can continue to do without bans in the future," Munich mayor Dieter Reiter was quoted as saying by Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Asked about the latest nitrogen oxide readings across the city, he said: "The results are shocking, nobody expected this."

The city of Stuttgart, home of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, is preparing to keep the city free of some vehicles from next year.

Between 133,000 and 170,000 vehicles could be affected by a ban in Munich, depending on how strict it will be, the paper said. Cars meeting the latest Euro 6 emission rules would be exempted, it added.

While only a niche market in the United States, about half the new cars sold in Germany ran on diesel engines before the VW scandal broke, though diesel market share has since declined.

Due to strong diesel demand in their home market, given the technology's fuel efficiency, Germany's three major carmakers have traditionally spent heavily on diesel plants and development.

The prospect of diesel bans is seen as weighing on the used vehicle market. Carmakers' leasing and vehicle financing divisions rely on stable used vehicle values because car loans are backed by the value of the underlying vehicle.


New Audi A6 allroad quattro due in Europe

                INGOLSTADT:  The fourth-generation of the Audi A6 allroad quattro is being launched 20 years after its debut.

With the standard all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension and increased ground clearance, it is just as much at home on the road as it is off.

The powerful V6 TDI engines offer ample pulling power for up to 2.5 tons of towing capacity. Thanks to its distinctive look and even more customized equipment options than the predecessor, the A6 allroad quattro appeals to customers that appreciate the combination of powerful design, extraordinary versatility and high comfort.

Audi offers the new A6 allroad quattro in European markets with a choice of three V6 TDI engines.

The top-of-the-line engine in the new A6 allroad is the 3.0 TDI with 349hp of power and 700Nm of torque between 2,500rpm and 3,100rpm.

The three TDI units transfer their power with an eight-speed tiptronic. The wheel-selective torque control is the ideal complement to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system that is also fitted standard.

The three TDI units come standard with Audi’s mild hybrid technology (MHEV = Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle).

The Audi A6 allroad quattro is fitted as standard with 18-inch wheels with 225/55 size tyres.

To coincide with the introduction of the new A6 allroad quattro, Audi is launching the “20 years allroad” edition model. Both its exterior and interior have been put together individually. Three paint colors are available: gavial green as well as glacier white and Soho brown.

The new Audi A6 allroad quattro is due to go on sale in Germany and other European markets in June.


PSA in UK offers 8-year/100,000 mile  warranty on PHEVs and EVs

                LONDON: Groupe PSA in the UK has introduced a new roadside assistance plan in an effort to bolster consumer confidence in its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and fully-electric vehicles (EV).

The French car maker owns Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall.

The company announced that from 2019 onwards, it will begin electrifying its petrol and diesel models within the five brands with the aim of achieving full electrification by 2025.

The new plan means that new buyers of the company's latest generation of PHEVs and EVs will receive an eight-year or 100,000-mile (162,000km) warranty.

Such models include the new Peugeot e-208 and 3008 SUV Hybrid, the new Vauxhall Corsa-e, Grandland X Hybrid and Hybrid4, new DS 3 Crossback E-Tense and DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4 as well as the new Citroën C5 Aircross Hybrid.

The plan includes roadside recovery as well as home and roadside repairs and if that's not possible, the vehicle will be transported to the nearest authorised repairer, while onward travel for up to seven passengers will be provided to their final destination in the UK.

Also, the plan covers for situations that include running out of fuel or charge, where electric vehicle owners will either be given a short charge at the roadside or will be recovered to the nearest suitable charge-point.

“Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles represent the fastest-growing vehicle segment in the UK. With more buyers looking to make the switch, we hope this initiative will give first-time electric car buyers the peace of mind they’re looking for,” said Groupe PSA parts and service director (UK) Richard Dyson.