Mercedes-Benz GLB arrives in 3 versions, prices start from RM270K

Dr Weidner (left) and Jopp with the GLB 35.
PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today launched the new GLB luxury compact seven-seater sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Our first encounter with the GLB was in Spain late last year where we first drove it.  The launch also saw the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz G 350 d.

Positioned between the smaller GLA and the larger GLC SUVs, the new GLB line-up for Malaysia starts with the GLB 200 Progressive Line and gets priced on-the-road without insurance at RM269,118.

Next is the mid-range GLB 250 4Matic AMG Line at RM318,009 while the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic gets tagged at RM363,137.

With MBM's MobilityPlus programme, its latest Possi-B-ilities Financing starts from RM2,688 per month based on a five-year tenure and a 19% downpayment.

The GLB 200 is powered by a 1.3-litre (1,332cc) turbocharged engine producing 163hp at 5,500rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,620 to 4,000rpm.

With its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), the GLB sprints from 0 to 100kph in 9.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 207kph.

The GLB 200 is equipped with the German carmaker's Comfort Suspension system and provides drivers with Dynamic Select driving modes of Eco and Comfort,

The seven-seater is fitted with 18-inch five-spoke lightweight alloys with 235/55 series tyres and aluminium roof rails.

There's also anti-glare mirrors for the interior and power-folding exterior mirrors, front fog lights, full-LED headlights and the brand's Progressive Line Exterior kit.

In terms of amenities, this SUV comes with automatic wipers, powered front seats with memory function and folding rear 60:40 seats that expand the 570-litre boot with a powered tailgate to 1,805 litres.

The third-row seats are stowed flush in the GLB's rear floorboard and are accompanied by two cupholders between the seats and two stowage compartments - each housing a USB port.

Inside, the cabin is furnished with a leather multifunction sports steering wheel with paddle-shifters, automatic climate controls and Velour floor mats.

Entertainment comes from the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) Multimedia system that's connected to an all-digital system providing Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

An LTE communications module is provided should owners wish to make use of the Mercedes me connected services.

Other services include hard-disc navigation, Live Traffic Information, Media display, Mercedes-Benz emergency call system and a Touchpad without Controller.

Safety is emphasised with the GLB having Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, keyless-entry with push-start button, airbags, a reverse camera and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Moving up to the GLB 250, this variant adds the 4MATCIC all-wheel-drive system for added traction when moving off from standstill and benefits from a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

The GLB 250 4Matic has an eight-speed DCT to manage its 2.0-litre (1,991cc) turbocharged engine producing 224hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,800 to 4,000rpm.

Power is sent to the 4Matic permanent all-wheel-drive system with fully variable torque distribution to help with traction.

This cuts century sprint times down to 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 236kph.

The GLB 250 is dressed up with AMG body styling that includes the diamond radiator grille with single louvre as well as sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather. Unfortunately, the front fogs have been removed here.

Further additions include the Off-Road Engineering package which provides Incline, Slippery and Trailer driving modes in addition to the Dynamic Select driving modes of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual driving modes.

The GLB 250 now rolls on larger 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke lightweight alloy wheels with 235/50 series tyres.

Additional highlights include ambient lighting for the cabin, AMG floor mats, carbon-structure cabin trim and galvanised paddle shifters.

The performance-oriented Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 4Matic also uses the same powertrain, only its engine has been uprated to provide 306hp from 5,800 to 6,100rpm and 400Nm of torque from 3,000 to 4,000rpm.

This GLB flagship shaves the sprint times to 5.2 seconds while boosting top speed to an electronically limited 250kph.

With designo red seat belts securing driver in place, adding to the GLB's long list of abilities are the adaptive high beams, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, Blind Spot Assist and a remote engine start system.

Present were Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president/CEO Dr Claus Weidner and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice president of sales and marketing Michael Jopp. Dr Weidner is also Mercedes-Benz Cars SEA II regional head.

"The GLB is the most versatile in our premium SUV range," said Jopp.

"Its iconic design lends it an unmistakable character, showcasing its classic off-road boxy design from the G-Class."

Mercedes-Benz GLB 200 Progressive Line

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 4MATIC AMG Line

Mercedes-AMG 35 4MATIC


KYB roadshow making its rounds

A Myvi fitted with KYB suspension kit and shock absorbers for public test drive.
PETALING JAYA: KYB-UMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd's roadshow will be making its rounds in several towns in Peninsular Malaysia to explain the importance of the car's suspension system.

At a recent stopover in Sungai Buloh, KYB customers, retailers and workshop operators were educated on the latest KYB suspension kit which was developed to improve vehicle handling and stability.

Customers who bought KYB shock absorbers should combine them with KYB suspension kit comprising coil springs, strut mounts and bump stoppers to optimise vehicle performance.

To prove the effectiveness of its new suspension kit with shock absorber combination, KYB provided three Perodua Myvis with different set-ups.

The first was fitted with KYB shock absorbers with KYB suspension kit while the second used KYB shock absorbers but had worn out suspension.

The third came with worn out absorbers and suspension.

The first Myvi had the best handling, drivability and ride comfort compared with the second while the third was the worst with a twitchy ride.

KYB said shock absorbers would wear out during their service life and recommended that absorbers be replaced every 50,000km or two years, whichever comes first.

The company also recommended that the strut mount, bump stopper and dust cover should be replaced with every shock absorber change.

The coil springs, meanwhile, should be replaced with every two changes of the shock absorbers. — EDDIE GOH


Hyundai  Tucson N Line teased

                LOS ANGELES: Hyundai revealed on Monday teaser images of its Tucson N Line model, an important addition to its all-new 2022 Tucson SUV line-up. The Tucson N Line is a key model in Hyundai’s plans to expand its N brand portfolio to seven models in various segments through the 2022 calendar year.

Hyundai’s plan includes three image-leading purist N models such as Veloster N and Elantra N, as well as N Line models, including Sonata N Line, Elantra N Line and Tucson N Line. The N brand strategy offers a steady cadence of sensational new N performance models to satisfy enthusiasts of all kinds.

Tucson N Line will offer aggressive and distinctive exterior design features and differentiating interior details. Unique equipment and colour selections are also planned for production models. Tucson N Line will be available in spring 2021.


TVR to unveil new 500bhp Griffith at London Motor Show

                LONDON: A resurgent TVR is unveiling a limited-run Launch Edition version of its new Griffith sports car at the London Motor show that runs May 17-20 at London's ExCel arena.

This will be the first public appearance of the car this year, and it comes just ahead of early customer cars going into production that won't be on the roads until 2019. Just 500 units of this Launch Edition are going to be produced, which will cost from £90,000 (RM482,000) each before options.

The car is intended to be a rival for the likes of the Porsche 911, and it's a two-seat sports car built on an all-new platform that uses Gordon Murray's iStream architecture. The design of the car is striking with inspiration drawn from the original TVR Griffith and Tuscan models, but the new Griffith incorporates more advanced aerodynamics to help raise performance.

Under the bonnet is a highly tuned version of Ford's tried and trusted 5.0-litre V8 engine that can be found in a more moderate form in the Mustang GT. This version of the quad-cam powerplant has been tuned by Cosworth to develop a whopping 500bhp, which means TVR's previously stated target of delivering 400bhp-per tonne with this car has definitely been met.

What that all means is the car will be able to get to 100kph from a standing start in less than four seconds, and will boast a top speed in excess of 320kph. As has to be the case in a true sports car like this, the power is sent to the rear wheels and it gets there through a Tremec Magnum XL six-speed manual gearbox.

Those who like the idea of owning one of the first 500 Launch Edition versions of the new TVR Griffith can reserve one with a deposit of £5,000 (about RM27,000), and they come painted in bespoke colours and also get their own version of the car's infotainment system.

Although £90,000 is the quoted starting price, actual prices are expected to vary considerably due to the amount of trim and equipment options available.

The Griffith will be the first car to come from TVR under its new owners, who took over from Russian Nikolai Smolensky around four years ago.


Ghosn escapes to Lebanon to flee ‘rigged’ Japan legal system

File pic of Ghosn under detention in Tokyo in April. — Reuters
PARIS: Carlos Ghosn, the fallen automotive titan facing trial in Japan for financial crimes, fled the country for Lebanon, marking a stunning twist in a saga that began with his shock arrest in Tokyo just over a year ago.

"I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” the former head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA said in an e—mailed statement today. "I have not fled justice — I have escaped injustice and political persecution.”

Ghosn’s escape to Lebanon, where he has citizenship, puts him in a country with no extradition agreement with Japan. The 65—year—old has said he’s the victim of a conspiracy between Nissan executives, prosecutors and government officials to prevent him from further integrating the company with Renault.

He was awaiting trial for what prosecutors and his former colleagues at Nissan called a pervasive pattern of financial misconduct and raiding of corporate resources for personal gain — allegations that Ghosn has denied. Ghosn fled Japan because he doesn’t believe he will get a fair trial in the country, a person familiar with the matter said earlier.

Neither Ghosn’s daughter nor his attorney in Japan responded to calls seeking comment. No one answered the phone at the Tokyo Prosecutor’s Office, the Tokyo District Court and the Immigration Bureau of Japan, and nobody was available to comment at the office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan is on public holiday from Tuesday through the end of the week.

Ghosn, a globetrotter who for years was a regular at events frequented by the rich and famous — including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — was released on bail in April under the condition that he live at a registered address and not leave Japan.

Terms of release

The strict terms of his release were designed to prevent him from absconding. He wasn’t permitted to spend more than one night away from his house without a judge’s permission. A video camera was trained on his front door, and at the end of each month, Ghosn was required to provide a list of everyone he’d met.

Around town, the former executive was tailed by unmarked sedans. At parks or restaurants, men would get out of the cars and follow him on foot. Ghosn’s overseas travel ban was still in place when he fled to Lebanon, according to Kyodo.

History shows beating a criminal charge in Japan is almost impossible. Courts there have a nearly 100% conviction rate as Japanese prosecutors have a range of procedural advantages unavailable to Western counterparts. In many cases, the prosecution can introduce evidence obtained without a proper warrant.

Japanese prosecutors and the US Securities and Exchange Commission both claim he and Nissan violated pay-disclosure rules by being compensated US$140 million more than the company reported to shareholders.

Ghosn also faces breach-of-trust charges related to transactions that transferred personal investment losses to Nissan, and that moved money from a dealership in Oman into a company he controls in Lebanon.

Extradition pacts

It’s not clear how Ghosn left Japan since his passport was confiscated as part of the conditions of bail.

According to Lebanese media, he arrived on a private jet from Turkey. Neither is it clear how Japan might get Ghosn back: The country has extradition treaties with the US and South Korea, according to the foreign ministry’s website.

Ghosn’s allies have long feared he would be unable to get a fair trial in Japan. His wife Carole told Bloomberg Television last month that he should face trial in France, describing Japan’s "hostage justice system” as one that considers those who are charged "guilty until proven innocent.”

Ghosn was born in Brazil and raised in Lebanon, where he has investments in real estate and vineyards and continues to be viewed as a business icon and wunderkind. His image has been used for national postal stamps.

Since the early days of his incarceration, Ghosn won support from Lebanon.

Lebanon’s ambassador to Japan bought a mattress for Ghosn in December 2018 and pushed to have him moved from solitary confinement. Hady Hachem, the chief of cabinet of the minister of foreign affairs, said at the time that the government was also demanding the Lebanese citizen be allowed to contact his family and was making sure he had proper legal representation.

Ghosn’s escape leaves another ex-Nissan board member, Greg Kelly, still facing trial in Japan.

"We are studying the implications and don’t believe M. Kelly should have been indicted to begin with,” said James Wareham, a Washington-based attorney for Kelly.

Kelly was taken into custody at almost the same time as Ghosn, indicted for allegedly helping the car titan under-report his compensation, and then freed on bail in December 2018. Kelly has denied breaking the law.


Two new 150cc Vespa Primavera and Sprint launched

                PETALING JAYA: Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Vespa brand in Malaysia, has introduced two sporty and stylish scooters - Vespa Primavera S Special Edition 150 and Vespa Sprint S 150 priced at RM18,300 and RM16,900 respectively.

Vespa Primavera S Special Edition 150 highlights are the 12”-wheel rims, made of aluminium alloy and with a five-spoke design, black saddle with orange stitching and the orange horn.

READ MORE: Vintage Vespas live on in Africa

More charm is further added by the sporty stickers contrasting with the colour of the body. The Vespa Primavera S is available in two colours: Orange Tramonto (Glossy) and Grey Stile (Matt).

Meanwhile, the  S 150 comes in Yellow Sole, Grey Materia and White Innocenza. The Sprint S signature details are red horn cover and sporty decals on the body side and red spring.

Both models are fitted with LED front and rear lamps, together with LED daytime running light, a USB charging socket, anti-theft system (Immobilizer) and ABS front disc brake.

READ MORE: Looking after your Vespa during lockdown

The engine of these Vespas consist of the environmentally friendly single-cylinder 150cc Vespa i-Get mill, fed by EFI and producing 12.9 hp at 7,750 rpm and 12.8 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm.

The new 2020 Vespa Models are now available at all authorised Vespa dealerships and outlets nationwide.


Mazda in overdrive mode to expand SUV lineup from 2022

                HIROSHIMA: Mazda Motor Corporation today announced plans to expand its SUV lineup starting from 2022.

The new models will include the CX-50 to be produced in its new US plant, as well as bigger models including the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90, all of which are slated for introduction over the next two years.

Mazda said in a statement that it it leveraging on its
technological assets, such as Skyactiv technology, bundled planning and flexible production, to expand its SUV lineup.

The CX-50 is a crossover that will be added as a new core model to the lineup and be introduced in the US market, where a strong SUV presence as well as off-road performance are in high demand.

The production of the CX-50 will begin in January 2022 at the new Mazda-Toyota joint venture plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

Having a wide price range coming in above that of the CX-50 or currently available CX-5, larger models such as the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90, will offer two body types with two seating arrangements: two rows and three rows.

Markets with narrower roads and smaller parking lots such as Europe and Japan, will get the two-row seat CX-60 and the three-row seat CX-80.

The CX-70 and CX-90 will hit the road in North America and other markets where larger models with a big presence are preferred. Both models feature the wide body type, with the CX-70 having two rows of seats and the CX-90 having three. These models will expand Mazda's mid-size crossover lineup.

The Large Product group models will offer a variety of choices of electrified powertrains to respond to each country's electrification roadmap.

The European market, where electrification is already in-full-swing, will see the introduction of plug-in hybrid models with straight-four gasoline engines combined with a motor drive.

The straight-six new generation Skyactiv-X gasoline engine and Skyactiv-D diesel engine will also be introduced in combination with a 48V mild hybrid system. The aim being to achieve both high output and high environmental performance.

In North America where high-power performance is valued, Mazda will introduce both turbo-charged straight-six gasoline engine models and plug-in hybrid models to meet customer requirements and respond to environmental regulations.

Due to the enduring popularity of diesel engines in Japan, a straight-six Skyactiv-D diesel model with a 48V mild hybrid system and plug-in hybrid models will be introduced to the Japanese lineup.

In parallel, Mazda will carry out sales promotion activities for its first mass-production EV, the MX-30, and introduce models which incorporate multiple electrification technologies that use a rotary engine as a generator from the first half of 2022.

In addition, it will debut a product line that uses an EV-dedicated platform from around 2025. Through the introduction of these models, Mazda plans to complete the electrification of all the models it produces by 2030.

In the meantime, the CX-5, which has retained constant popularity since its launch in 2012, will see its design evolve and its model lineup enhanced through continuous product improvement.

Mazda said it will increase the appeal of the CX-5 by introducing the latest safety technologies and connectivity features.


Volvo Car Malaysia getting new MD, Stegland retiring

Jain (left) making his inaugural speech to the Malaysian media today. With him is the outgoing Volvo Car Malaysia managing director, Stegland.
PETALING JAYA: Come March 1, Volvo Car Malaysia will have a new managing director.

Nalin Jain will succeed Lennart Stegland, 65, who is retiring after a three-year stint in Malaysia.

The management change was announced at a Volvo media appreciation dinner in Kuala Lumpur today.

Jain was the chief financial officer with Volvo Auto India prior to his Malaysian posting. He has over 20 years' experience in the automotive, consulting and technology fields.

Jain holds a Master's degree in engineering from State University of New York and an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.

Stegland has served the Volvo group for 40 years, holding leading positions in research and development, marketing and sales as well as having managed various national sales companies. He took up the Malaysian posting in January 2016.

During Stegland's watch, he had instituted a transformation plan that involved an overhaul of retail operations, customer touch points and product offerings.

 Jain.

Last year saw Volvo Car Malaysia registering a 35% volume growth over 2017, with 1,384 vehicles sold, led by the XC60.

The company exported a total of 1,889 units of V40, XC40, S60, V60, XC60 and XC90 to Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, thanks to investments made to its Shah Alam plant to cater for more assembly volume and new platforms such as the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that underpins the new 60s and 90s range, and the Modular Compact Architecture (MCA) used by the XC40.

One notable achievement in 2018 was the rollout of the Volvo Service Agreement, which includes a comprehensive service package that covers replacement of most wear-and-tear parts (tyres excluded). It gave owners the freedom to choose between a 3-year or 5-year plan.

"It is common practice in the industry to include the cost of the service packages into the sticker price of the car," said Stegland.

"We are challenging this by being transparent about these costs and letting the customers select a plan that is more suited to their individual preferences."

Volvo Car Leasing was also set up in 2018 - a first for Volvo Cars in South-East Asia.

For 2019, Volvo Car Malaysia said it would open more dealerships, offer personalised service and a new parts management system to ensure quick availability. It is also expected to offer insurance services in a tie-up with AXA Insurance.

The company is projecting a double digit growth in 2019 with the new XC40 and the opening of more dealerships as the main drivers.


Lamborghini LB744 gets new monofuselage

                BOLOGNA: Italian super sports carmaker Lamborghini has introduced the new monofuselage, a new aeronautics-inspired monocoque concept made entirely of carbon fibre, for its first hybrid plug-in V12 high performance electrified vehicle (HPEV), codenamed LB744.

According to Lamborghini, the monofuselage represents a significant step forward from the Aventador in terms of torsional stiffness, lightweight qualities and driving dynamics.

It features a front structure in forged composites; a special material made of short carbon fibres soaked in resin.

What’s more, the LB744 is the first super sports car to be fitted with a 100% carbon fiber front structure: carbon fibre is also used for the front cone structures to ensure a level of energy absorption that is significantly higher when compared to a traditional metal structure – double that of the Aventador Ultimae’s aluminium front frame - combined with a substantial reduction in weight.

The LB744 monofuselage is 10% lighter than the Aventador chassis, and the front frame is 20% lighter than its aluminum predecessor.

Meanwhile, the rear chassis is made of high-strength aluminum alloys and features two important hollow castings in the rear dome area: these integrate the rear suspension’s shock towers and powertrain suspension into a single component with closed inertia profile, guaranteeing a significant reduction in weight, an increase in rigidity and a substantial reduction in welding lines.


Plan your trips around MyPublicInfoBanjir app this flood season

                PETALING JAYA: Members of the public are urged to download the MyPublicInfoBanjir mobile app to get up-to-date info on the latest flood situation to help plan their journey during the monsoon season.

The app provides real-time updates of water levels at rivers and dams in every state as well as information about rainfall in the area. An alert or warning will be indicated at the specific area if the water level is rising or receding.

Users can also key in certain points of interest for flood information or weather alert and access a list of emergency contacts for the rescue and civil defence force.

Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) secretary-general Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang said the app picks up data from 1,500 areas nationwide through the placement of hydrological telemetry stations.

“We want the public to use the app as it provides very specific data related to floods,” he said in a Bernama report, adding that such information would be useful when planning balik kampung trips or inter-state travel.

He said more hydrological telemetry stations will be installed to enable data collection about flood in more localities, specifically in rural areas. MyPublicInfoBanjir was launched on Nov 12, 2020.

The MyPublicInfoBanjir app is available on both the Google and Apple app stores.

Alternatively, users can also head to the official MyPublicInfoBanjir website to get the latest flood information, weather alerts as well as tips on what to do when caught in a flood situation.


Hyundai reveals all-new design for 7th-generation Grandeur flagship sedan

                SEOUL: Hyundai has unveiled the new design of its seventh-generation Grandeur flagship sedan. The all-new model comes six years after the sixth generation launched in 2016.

The Grandeur is badged as Azera in markets outside South Korea.

Since its original debut as Hyundai’s high-end sedan in 1986, Grandeur has led the Korean sedan market, with design and innovations as its strong suit.

The seventh-generation Grandeur has evolved into a model with a new level of refinement and sophistication, innovative design cues and high-tech details, while retaining some retro cues.

The new Grandeur’s exterior design takes inspiration from previous models and applies Hyundai Motor’s philosophy to reflect on its past while setting a course for the future.

One of the model’s most prominent aspects is its pure volume and sense of proportions that balance premium and dynamic styling attributes.

The Grandeur is defined by a "Seamless Horizon Lamp" inspired by the first light of dawn, accentuating the model’s wide stance and harmonising with its parametric jewel grill.

The large sedan’s volume is accentuated by a single character line that runs horizontally from the headlamps to the rear combination lamp over clean body sides with frameless doors and auto-flush handles.

Grandeur’s stretched wheelbase blends with the receding cowl point and C-pillar to provide a sense of spaciousness as well as dynamic and sporty proportions.

The "Seamless Horizon" design is also applied to the signature combination lamp that spans the taut rear end, emphasising the model’s slim yet confident stance.

For the Grandeur cabin, Hyundai created a wrap-around interior space trimmed in premium and sustainable materials to provide a clean, comfortable respite for busy lives.

The ambient mood lighting spreads softly across the door trim and the front of the dashboard, and interactive lighting on the upper right of the integrated display provides a new user experience.

The pattern details on the door trim are designed with a delicate Korean aesthetic. Together, these elements provide passengers a calming space for relaxation and recovery.

The steering wheel was also inspired by the single-spoke design of the first-generation Grandeur and reborn in its current form by integrating and rearranging controls to provide a more optimised layout for the driver.

With the gear knob moved to the steering wheel, the console space provides neat and clean storage conveniences and wireless charging tailored for diverse customer lifestyles and connectivity needs.

On the sleekly styled interior surfaces, designers applied real wood, aluminum and naturally dyed Napa leather quilted in a traditional Korean pattern to provide further differentiation and refinement.

The sedan’s interior and exterior abound with sustainable materials. In addition to eco-process Napa leather, there is hygienic, anti-bacterial leather applied to various touchpoints.


BMW Group Malaysia offers CNY 2020 deals

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW and MINI buyers will enjoy attractive offers, cash rebates and financing solutions this festive season at authorised dealerships.

From now until March 31, new BMW owners can look forward to attractive financing interest of 1.38% for the 530e M Sport and 1.88% for the models including the 330i M Sport, 530i M Sport, 520i Luxury, 740Le xDrive LCI,  630i GT,  X1 sDrive20i,  X3 xDrive30i Luxury and  X3 xDrive30i M Sport.

During this period, new owners of the 330i M Sport will also receive a one-year complimentary BMW Ultimate Protection Programme – a first-of-its kind insurance plan that covers both the owner and their BMW vehicle.

Owners of other models mentioned above will also enjoy the same benefit, with the added advantage of a one-year complimentary BMW Comprehensive Insurance.

Additionally, any purchase of the 530e M Sport or  740Le xDrive LCI from now until March 31 will present owners with a complimentary BMW i Wallbox and BMW ChargeNow card to power their new electric drive.

MINI Malaysia also "Springs Into Action" with festive offerings for the Chinese New Year. From now until March 31, new MINI owners will enjoy monthly instalments, starting from RM2,388 a month and cash rebates of between RM8,000 and RM22,000 on selected MINI models.

In addition,  an invite to the MINI Track Driving Experience will be offered to the first 20 owners of the MINI 3 Door or MINI 5 Door during the campaign period.


Daimler juices electric trucks with road tests, investments

                STUTTGART: Daimler said it would deliver battery-powered trucks to selected clients for road testing and announced major new investments in electrifying its heavy-duty line.

Ten Mercedes-Benz electric eActros trucks from the Stuttgart-based group — the world's largest manufacturer in the sector — will hit the road in the coming weeks, weighing in at either 18 or 25 tonnes.

Customers "will be testing their everyday feasibility and economic efficiency under real-life conditions," Daimler said in a statement.

While the new vehicles have a range of just 200km and take between three and 11 hours to charge, that would be enough for delivering packages or restocking supermarkets, the company added.

It hopes to put the trucks into full-scale production by 2021.

Meanwhile, Daimler plans to invest around 1.3 billion euros per year in research and development in its world-beating haulage vehicles division in 2018 and 2019.

Around 500 million euros of the total will flow into development of electric trucks, as well as connected and autonomous driving, the firm said.

Daimler's toe in the water with heavier electric trucks comes as Germany's top administrative court could open the way to bans on older diesel vehicles in the most polluted parts of some cities.

In December, Daimler announced delivery of some 500 of its smaller 7.5-tonne Fuso eCanter electric light trucks, aiming to enter mass production by 2019.

It has no plans to match US competitor Tesla's battery-powered articulated truck, a 40-tonne model with a range of 800km which the Silicon Valley darling plans to make from next year.


Swedish firm claims discovery of Europe's largest rare earth deposit

                KIRUNA (Sweden): Large deposits of valuable rare earth metals - which are needed, among other things, for the construction of electric cars and wind turbines - have been discovered in northern Sweden.

Swedish mining company LKAB announced on Thursday that more than 1 million tons of rare earth oxides were found near Kiruna, which would make it the largest known deposit of its kind in Europe.

The deposits could provide a significant boost for the production of important raw materials that are crucial for the transition to renewable energy, explained LKAB boss Jan Moström.

Moström said it is difficult to estimate how large the deposits are compared to others outside Europe.

LKAB operates the world's largest underground iron ore mine in Kiruna. The ore mining means that parts of the country's northernmost town will have to move several kilometres away - about 6,000 residents will be relocated, which is one third of its population.

The world's rare earth market is currently dominated by China. There is no mining of rare earth elements in Europe as of yet. European countries therefore depend on imports for the production of e-cars and wind turbines.

Rare earths are also found in consumer goods such as smartphones, laptops and televisions.

In Kiruna, a representative of the German automotive supplier Schaeffler emphasised the importance of raw material extraction in Europe.

Schaeffler plans to produce many millions of electric motors, said Florian Schupp, the purchasing manager responsible for the car business. For this, it needs rare earths.
Today, Schaeffler buys outside Europe, but the goal is to increasingly cover the demand in Europe.

According to LKAB, the road to possible mining of the metals is long however, in particular due to the necessary licensing procedures.

It could take at least 10 to 15 years before mining can actually begin and raw materials can be brought to the market.

This spring, the European Commission will propose measures to strengthen Europe's capacity to source its own critical raw materials, meaning that projects such as the one in Sweden could receive EU support.
One argument for this is that without this autonomy there can be no environmental and digital transition.

Moreover, a Commission report from 2020 said the EU was sourcing 98% of its rare earth needs from China at the time.

This means that Europe would have a huge problem if China were to cut back or even stop supply for political or strategic reasons, hindering its autonomy.

Lastly, rare earth demand is likely to continue to rise sharply in the wake of electrification.

"Demand for rare earths used in permanent magnets, for example for electric vehicles, digital technologies or wind generators, could increase tenfold by 2050," said the Commission paper.


Mercedes-Maybach GLS: Born in the USA

                PETALING JAYA: Luxury SUVs are the in-thing these days and car makers are cashing in on the trend before it fizzles out. Mercedes-Benz has announced that it would be making the Mercedes-Maybach GLS at its US plant in Alabama.

Sources say the "halo car" would be priced at around US$200,000 (RM817,000), making it the most expensive passenger car to roll out of an American plant.

Based on the third-generation GLS platform, it uses a 560+ hp V8 mill. The Maybach GLS is expected to go on sale in 2020 after its world premiere this year, probably in China.

The full-size Maybach GLS in full camouflage has been spotted testing in November last year. From what we know, it will have a more advanced Magic Body Control aka an enhanced suspension for ultra-comfort. The drive mode is expected to have a setting customised to chauffeurs.

 Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury.

It is likely to have the same wheelbase as the regular GLS but the back row would be remodelled to specifications that billionaires and Arab oil sheiks are more accustomed to. Think two seats and plenty of creature comforts and bespoke fittings to delight the senses.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury that was introduced at Auto China 2018 in Beijing last April hinted of the Maybach GLS to come, though the actual production model would not have the heavily stylised lines of the show car.

Daimler is aiming the Maybach GLS at luxobarge rivals like the Bentley Bentayga and the Range Rover SVAutobiography.

Mercedes has been making cars in the US for over 22 years. At present, the Vance, Alabama plant is the global production hub for the GLS, GLE and GLE Coupe. The plant is being expanded and will be assembling EQ-series electric vehicles in the early 2020s.

You may recall that BMW's global production hub for its SUVs is also stationed in the US, some 570km north-east in Spartanburg, South Carolina. With the impending arrival of the Maybach GLS, BMW would need to respond in kind to the challenge. A more luxurious X7 is  in the pipeline, we gather.


Kawasaki invests in rider safety

                SEPANG: Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMSB) is doing its part to enhance the safety of motorcyclists by introducing its first-ever safety course for its customers.

KMSB unveiled on Dec 20 its inaugural course for 10 selected buyers of its motorcycles at the Sepang International Kart Circuit. What makes this significant is that KMSB is using Malaysian trainers who have been trained by some of the best instructors from Japan, a move supported by its principal, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

“This programme is the first-ever to be organised by KMSB in collaboration with our principal, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI), and K-TEC Corporation of Japan, to provide opportunity for Kawasaki owners to be exposed to the aspect of safety and responsible riding in theory and practice,” said Ahmad Faez Tan Sri Yahaya, KMSB’s executive chairman.

Ahmad Faez said the programme is aimed at raising awareness on safety and responsible riding to motorcycle users when they are on the road. “We believe this course will contribute to the increase in awareness on safety and the effort to reduce road accidents involving motorcycles.

“This is in line with the government and related agencies’ efforts to reduce road accidents, in which the majority of casualties are motorcyclists. It will enhance riders’ knowledge, focus and confidence in handling bikes and with positive attitude when dealing with traffic,” he said.

Citing statistics on Malaysia’s road accidents, he said records from 2007 to 2016 showed that there were 73,954 fatalities from road accidents, of which 63% (40,609) are motorcycle users.

This is where KMSB hopes that the Kawasaki Safety & Responsibility Riding (KSRR) could would make a difference.

“Research has shown that the most common traffic offences by riders are speeding, disobeying traffic lights, queue jumping, using cellphones while riding, overtaking at unsafe spots, and riding on the emergency lane. Based on this, we can say that the low awareness on safety, and poor attitude, are the most common cause of road accidents,” said Ahmad Faez.

Among those present at the event were Hideto Yoshitake, general manager of quality assurance for KHI, Hiroyuki Saito, president of K-TEC Corporation Japan, Yoshiro Segawa, managing director for K-TEC, Prof Datuk Mohamad Dalib, director of the Road Transport Department’s automotive engineering division, Wee Hong, chairman of the Malaysia Motorcycle & Scooter Dealers Association, and Datuk Jeffrey Lim, KMSB director and general manager.


UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman prepares for first endurance race

PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor’s deputy chairman Akio Takeyama will be in his maiden endurance race for the upcoming Sepang 1,000km (S1K).

Wing Hin Motorsports, one of the most distinguished motor racing outfits in the country will prepare two Toyota Vios for the up-coming Sepang 1,000km (S1K) race including Car 39 racing under “Team Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia” colours.

The cars will compete this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit in the premier MTC class for modified production cars below 1,600cc using TRD race-prepared engines in Toyota Vios chassis prepared at Wing Hin’s own facility in Balakong, Selangor.

Buoyed by the team’s impressive performance in the 2018 event where a Toyota Vios driven by the pairing of Boy Wong and William Ho scored a remarkable podium finish, Wing Hin Motorsports Principal Simon Loh is confident that the cars will be among the front runners again in this year’s event.

Also, bringing his valuable experience to the team this year will be Japanese touring car legend Akira Iida.
With six Le Mans 24-hour race finishes under his belt, Iida has been instrumental in developing Toyota GAZOO Racing’s competitive edge particularly in the Japan Super GT series.

“Having only raced in the Vios Challenge for two and a half seasons, going into the S1K will  be a totally new and exciting experience for me. I look upon it as a challenge and an opportunity for me to push my own boundaries. I also hope to pick up some valuable insights from my team mates Iida and William who have a wealth of circuit racing experience,” said Takeyama who is also UMW Toyota Motor chief motorsports officer.

The Sepang 1,000km kicks off with a rolling start at around noon on Nov 23.

The race on the 5.45km circuit will take over eight hours to complete with the top cars expected to clock over 180 laps.


VW boss sees a future for combustion-engined cars

                BERLIN: The European Union might be planning to ban sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in 2035, but Volkswagen still sees a promising future for internal combustion engines.

According to VW's new chief Oliver Blume, the aim is to leave the combustion engine in the market "because it is very popular in many regions of the world," reports German trade journal Automobilwoche.

At the same time, the intention is to "increase interest in and sales of fully electric models."

In contrast to his predecessor Herbert Diess, Blume has always been a fan of e-fuels. Diess was dismissed by the board by "mutual consent" last July.

The synthetic combustible e-fuels can be used as low-carbon replacements for petrol or diesel, allowing carmakers to continue manufacturing combustible engine vehicles.

Above all the millions of cars that have long been on the roads could benefit from using e-fuels. Making e-fuels is, however, very energy-intensive and critics say their production consumes about five times as much energy as using the electricity directly.

"Petrol engines can be operated with them (e-fuels) in an almost CO2-neutral way. So all vehicles can do their part to reduce CO2 - regardless of the type of drive," Blume also told the Auto Motor & Sport car mag.

Moreover, e-fuels "as a hydrogen derivative can be mixed excellently with fossil fuels". And every percent of admixture is a contribution to climate protection, said Blume.

Toyota announced last year that it would be investing US$383 million to create new four-cylinder powertrains. Split across four US-based factories, the money will fuel the development of future petrol and hybrid drive systems.

READ MORE:  Toyota carries on funding combustion-engined cars


Electric hypercar maker Rimac says SPAC funding hype could damage industry

                FRANKFURT: A surge in the use of special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) for raising money for electric vehicle start-ups could harm the long-term prospects of the industry, Mate Rimac, founder of electric hypercar maker Rimac, said today.

Managers of SPAC companies are not held to the same level of liability about potential growth prospects as managers who raise cash via an initial public offering (IPO) on equity markets, spurring concerns about an investor bubble.

“You can get so much money now for companies that do not have a product. Personally, I am scared a little bit,” Rimac told the Financial Times Future of the Car summit today.

“When we go public, I want to show the numbers, to go public on reality, and not on hype,” Rimac said.

“I hope that these SPACs will be successful. A lot of them won’t. I hope it won’t hurt the industry too much.

SPACs are small companies with an established track record of filings at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which are then used to buy up promising companies in high-growth sectors.

Wall Street has used SPACs to sidestep the IPO process, with their shorter preparation time and fewer legal hurdles making it easier to tap the investor optimism towards electric vehicles that helped Tesla reach a US$554 billion valuation.

“We were profitable last year, and we want to be profitable this year as well,” Rimac said, adding that he built up his company, which was founded in Croatia in 2009 and now employs 900 people, by focusing on profitability rather than growth.

“For a start-up, we have built up steam the hard way,” he told the FT’s web-based conference, adding that sometimes he feels like he is missing out by not pursuing the SPAC path.

Rimac had a hard time raising money in 2011 after electric car maker Fisker went bankrupt and with Tesla yet to establish itself as a high growth company.

Rimac was thus forced to raise money by taking on development contracts for other carmakers. Today Porsche, Kia and Hyundai are shareholders and Rimac makes electric powertrains for supercars built by Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and others.

“We started with hypercars and we are now working with more mainstream vehicles,” Rimac said. “Want to be the leader in high performance electric vehicle components. Want to be the intel inside.”

Rimac declined to comment on speculation that he would buy Bugatti, but added cryptically “maybe soon”.


Dec 26-Jan 1, 2021: Fuel prices up

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will surge up 2 sen across the board from Dec 26 to Jan 1, 2021.

The Finance Ministry said RON97 petrol would be priced at RM2.10 per litre, while the price of RON95 will go up to RM1.80 per litre.

The price of diesel will increase to RM1.98 per litre.


Carmakers look to resume China output after virus forced closures

                SINGAPORE: Automakers including Daimler, Ford and Tesla are looking to resume production in China after being forced to shut factories following the outbreak of a new coronavirus.

> BMW China venture with Brilliance said on Feb 5 the Chinese firm planned to restart production on Feb 17.

> Daimler said on Feb 3 it plans to resume passenger car production in Beijing on Feb 10.

> Fiat Chrysler said on Feb 6 that disruption to parts supplies could threaten production at one of its European plants within two to four weeks.

> Ford Motor said on Jan 29 it planned to resume production on Feb 10 at its factories in Chongqing and Hangzhou with joint venture partner Chongqing Changan Automobile.

> General Motors said on Feb 10 it plans to restart production in China on Feb 15.

> Honda said on Feb 7 it would restart its three plants in Wuhan, which it operates with Dongfeng Motor Group, on Feb 13. Honda said there were no supply chain issues that would impede production.

> Hyundai Motor and sister firm Kia Motors will gradually increase production in South Korea from Feb 11, the companies said in a statement on Feb 10.

> Nissan Motor said on Feb 4 it was considering restarting production in China at its venture with Dongfeng sometime after Feb 10. Production in Hubei will start sometime after Feb 14, it said. Its sales in China fell by 11.8% in January.

> PSA Peugeot Citroen, which is in the process of merging with Fiat, said on Jan 31 its three plants in Wuhan will remain closed until Feb 14.

> Renault said on Feb 7 that its South Korean unit RSM would suspend production at its Busan site for four days from Feb 11 due to supply chain disruptions.

> Suzuki Motor Corp said on Feb 7 that it was considering sourcing vehicle components from outside China because the outbreak was threatening to disrupt vehicle production in its biggest market, India.

> Tesla’s factory in Shanghai will resume production on Feb 10 with assistance to cope with the outbreak, a Shanghai government official said on Feb 8.

> Toyota Motor said on Saturday it plans to resume output at three of its four main auto plants in China next week. The resumption of production had initially been slated for Feb 3 following the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, but was delayed because of the new coronavirus outbreak in China.

> French car parts maker Valeo said on Jan 31 its three sites in Wuhan will remain shut until at least Feb 13.

> Volkswagen said on Feb 8 that it has postponed restarting production at most plants at its Chinese JV with SAIC Motor and the Tianjin plant of its JV with FAW Group until Feb 17. One plant it operates with SAIC in Shanghai and most of the plants in the FAW JV will restart on Feb 10.


Mercedes-Benz A250 Sedan AMG Line: Punchy drive

By JAY WONG

IF there’s ever a compact sedan that’s to be had, look no further than the Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sedan (V177) AMG Line.

Now available as a locally-assembled (CKD) vehicle, the A 250 sits between the entry-level A 200 Sedan and the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic Sedan. The latter is the apex predator of this model line-up.

Perfectly sized for that young single executive, this A-Class Sedan isn’t too cramped for space with a useable 420-litre boot and is also the epitome of the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Rather than the Renault-sourced M282 1.3-litre turbocharged engine with a respectable 163PS and 250Nm and managed by a seven-speed dual clutch (wet) Getrag gearbox used in the A 200, the A 250 instead gets a Mercedes-Benz M260 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing a proper dollop of 224PS and 350Nm.

The same gearbox manages power delivery to the front wheels here as well.

Exterior
Out of the box, the A 250 is a definite looker - from the outside in, having in its possession a good combination of style, simplicity, sportiness and elegance to win over this writer whole-heartedly.

Equipped with a wide “diamond-studded” grille with two spears flanking the centralised three-pointed star logo, the LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights still remain relatively slanted and slim - even though they’ve been pushed further outward.

Below, the faux brake ducts flank the main honeycomb grille and while they seemed to have no purpose, they do have some aero-effect at high speed by connecting to vents on either side just forward of the front wheels that help the front end stay planted via venturi effect.

The side profile presents its curvaceous disposition and while it shows off rather cavernous wheel wells, they are properly filled out with five twin-spoked 18-inch AMG-badged wheels fitted with 225/45 series tyres which aren’t too low profile and can be said to be the car’s first line of defence against any rough road-going spots.

At the rear, the boot shows off a slight ducktail to capture some air to help keep the posterior planted and coupled with the rear diffuser, a strong sense of stability can be had during high speed cruises.

Vents just aft of the rear tyres and the chromed exhaust outlets are there purely for looks.

Interior
The cabin looks like a thoroughly blacked-out canvas with a combination of Artico man-made leather and Dinamica microfibre while satin-finished metal parts, piano-black plastics and red-stitching litter to the interior for contrast.

Colour comes from the dual-10.25-inch displays with 64-colour ambient lighting system, 10 colour themes as well as the Mercedes me connectivity and that “Hey Mercedes” voice recognition command.

The “black” interior does well to hide the cabin’s spatial deficiencies and brings about a more cosy feeling instead with all controls easily within reach and there’s three USB Type C ports - two for the front and one for the rear of the cabin, to help keep gadgets topped off with power.

Although the front door cards may seem lacking in stowage space - even more so for the rear doors, they are still able to accommodate a wide variety of water bottles while deep cup holders help to hold your choice of beverage securely during commutes.

Moving to the aft, the rear bench seemed a little on the tight side and would ideally fit two with an adequate amount of leg and headroom.

Unfolding the rear centre armrest will allow seated passengers to deploy the integrated cup holders.

All-around visibility is deemed good and the inclusion of a bezel-less rearview mirror adds to this effect.

While the powered seats with three memory slots provide some stiff opposition, they do very well in the support department for both lumbar and thighs.

The drive
When out and about, the A 250 is nothing but smooth in its operation and drivers will be happy to note how well-insulated the interior feels against noise, vibration and harshness.

At slow speeds, uneven road surfaces will be noticed and the somewhat girthy steering almost feels effortless to handle.

Cruise along highways and the appreciation takes a step higher with very little wind noise intrusion as the suspension simply soaks up imperfections.

This particular A Class provides thee pre-programmed driving modes of Eco, Comfort and Sport, a fourth Individual mode was preferred in which Steering and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) were left in Sport mode while Drive was set to Comfort.

This allows for a more engaging drive that accords a somewhat responsive throttle, taught steering feel (lightens up to aid with manoeuvrability when in tight spaces) and a non-intrusive ESP when at speed.

Paddling through the gears when in Manual mode was found not to be too abrupt, in fact, it was more skewed towards the smoother side of things.

When taking on tightly twisted routes, roll is perceptible - just not alarming in its degree with steering response feeling sharpish and when coupled with plenty of access to the engine’s 163PS and 250Nm, it drastically transforms into a proper thoroughbred that keeps one coming back for more.

Combine this with its strong brakes and it certainly makes for a confidence-inspiring drive.

Verdict
The cosy and quiet cabin does feel arguably upmarket, somewhat sporty, chic and technologically advanced.

If anything, this little sedan, with an on-the-road without insurance price of RM243,857, is capable of providing plenty of smiles-per-miles - even for more experienced drivers.
Spatially, it may seem compact, yet still accommodating when considering its overall size and the young (including the young-at-heart) would still find the A 250 a delight.

SpecificationsEngine: 1,991cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged
Maximum power: 224PS at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm from 1,800 - 4,000rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch (wet)
Acceleration (0-100kph): 6.3 seconds
Top speed: 250kph
Features: Seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability programme, blind spot assist, active parking assist, active brake assist, exit warning assist, Pre-Safe positioning for front powered AMG sports seats with driver-side memory, rain-sensing wiper, emergency call system (Hermes), cruise control, LED High-performance headlamps, AMG body styling, AMG Line, lowered comfort suspension, Dynamic Select switch (Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual), auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors (powered), keyless-entry with push-start button, MBUX multimedia system with MB Connect (Vehicle Setup and Monitoring), Smartphone integration package, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, remote engine-start, 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.25 touch-sensitive media display, touchpad with haptic feedback, engine sound via speakers, reverse camera, 18-inch AMG five twin-spoke alloy wheels fitted with 225/45 series tyres (includes tyre-pressure monitoring system), Active Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Keyless-Go Comfort Package and wireless charging
Price: RM243,857 (on-the-road without insurance and SST)
Warranty: Four-year unlimited-mileage


Lexus races into the virtual reality app market

                LOS ANGELES: A new app, compatible with Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift, promises to get users as close as possible to the real experience of racing a Lexus RF C sports car around the track.

Captured at the Ascari circuit in Spain, Lexus employed cameras throughout the inside of the car, at specific points around its exterior and around the track too, to create the most immersive 360° experience possible.

The resulting app can be installed and used on an iPhone, iPad or Android device, but has also been built from the ground up to make the most of virtual reality headsets.

Lexus has developed its own branded version of Google Cardboard for the app, which will also work with Oculus Rift and with YouTube's latest innovation – 360° YouTube video.


First production Acura NSX rolls off line in Ohio - VIDEOS

                MARYSVILLE (Ohio): Acura celebrated on Tuesday the line-off of the first serial production 2017 Acura NSX hybrid sports car at the new Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) here. The PMC is the exclusive plant to make the NSX.

The first customer, Rick Hendrick (top pic, left), earned the right to custom order the first NSX with a winning bid of US$1.2mil at the Barrett-Jackson auction in January. All proceeds from the sale went to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.  Hendrick drove his Valencia Red Pearl Acura NSX off the line. VIN 001 features exclusive interwoven wheels, carbon ceramic brake rotors, leather and Alcantara interior trim and carbon fiber upgrades including the engine cover, roof, and rear decklid spoiler.

"Taking delivery of this first new Acura supercar and knowing the proceeds will benefit two remarkable organisations for children makes this a very special moment for me and everyone on our team," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. "It's especially rewarding to see this incredible supercar coming to life in the United States."

Innovations to the NSX construction, painting, assembly and quality confirmation process include fully robotic MIG welding of the aluminum-intensive space frame, 14 hours of meticulous hand assembly by 16 technicians, and a dynamic performance testing and confirmation process drawn from the company's extensive race experience.

The NSX's 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V-6 engine is hand-assembled by another plant near Marysville, and it is then mated to a 9-speed dual clutch transmission and rear direct drive electric motor.  Acura said each NSX engine is machine balanced, bench tested and broken-in to the equivalent of 241km of service to ensure it is track-ready upon customer delivery.

The NSX engine makes 500hp at 6,500 - 7,500 rpm and 550Nm of torque at 2000 - 6000 rpm. Helping to power the car are three electric motors. System output is 573hp with top speed of 307kph.

Development of the Acura NSX involved a global R&D team led by engineers at the Ohio Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Raymond, Ohio near here.  The final design was created at the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, California, based on an original concept from the Wako Studio in Japan.


Weststar Maxus T60 pick-up truck: RM99k and 6 airbags, surround view camera

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Weststar Maxus T60 pick-up truck is priced at RM99,000 on-the-road and has a powerful engine as well as many premium features.

The T60 is due to be officially launched in the third quarter, and Weststar Maxus Sdn Bhd had a preview of the T60 at its showroom in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur today.

Imported from China, the T60 is powered by a 2.8-litre VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox.

This powertrain outputs 148hp at 3,400rpm and 360Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,800rpm.

Fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litre per 100km, and the T60 has a wheelbase of 3,155mm.

Features on the T60 include leather seats, a 10-inch touchscreen, 360-degree surround view camera system, push-start ignition, LED headlights and Adaptive Front Lighting System.

Safety features include six airbags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

There's also a rotary dial for selection of 2H, 4H and 4L drive modes.

The T60 also claims to have the most spacious rear passenger area in its class.

Maxus is a brand owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), which is the leading automaker in China, thanks to its joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.

Weststar Maxus Sdn Bhd is the sole distributor in Malaysia for vehicles from SAIC Motor.

Besides the upcoming T60, Weststar Maxus has the V80 commercial van and the G10, a 10-seater premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in its vehicle line-up.

Weststar Maxus T60 pick-up truck

- 2.8-litre VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) engine
- 6-speed automatic gearbox
- 148hp at 3,400rpm
- 360Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,800rpm.
- 6 airbags
- 360-degree surround view camera system
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- LED headlights
- Adaptive Front Lighting System
- PEPS Remote keyless entry
- Push-start ignition
- 3 drive modes (Normal/Eco/Power)
- 10-inch touchscreen
- Leather seats

READ MORE:

Maxus V80: A promise of versatile performance

Maxus T60 pick-up truck may enter Malaysia

Maxus G10 MPV selling well in Malaysia

Maxus G10 features top technologies from SAIC Motor


First official pictures of new Alpine A110

                PARIS: After months and months of teasing and of publishing carefully cropped or camouflaged images, Renault has finally published the first official pictures of the long-gestating Alpine sportscar - the Alpine A110.

Set to do battle against the Porsche Cayman and the Alfa Romeo C4 in the fight for keen drivers' attention, the new car's final specifications are still unknown -- Renault is keeping them under wraps until the first press day of this year's Geneva motor show on March 7.

However, we do know that the new car will come with rear-wheel drive, a mid-mounted engine and potential 50:50 weight distribution over its two axles. The car will also make the most of latest-generation active aerodynamics including a flat floor and rear diffuser to maximise downforce at higher speeds.

It's also going to be much lighter than any of its direct rivals thanks to prodigious use of aluminum and composite materials -- even the chairs, though wrapped in leather, only tip the scales at 13.1kg each.

All of which suggests that the car's engine won't be all that potent, but that because the car is potentially lighter than even a top spec Cayman, it won't need to output more than 250-300hp.

As for aesthetics, the car is very much a modern interpretation of the iconic original Alpine A110 from the 1960s when the marque was well and truly in its ascendancy.

Founded in 1955 as a company specialising in racing engines, Alpine had huge success on the road and around the track and subsequently became part of Renault where the two firms combined their experts for some eclectic and very exciting road cars. However the last car carrying an Alpine badge rolled off the production line back in 1995.

The marque was wound down and despite serval attempts in recent years to bring it back to life, the new A110 will be the first genuinely new Alpine for some 22 years when it makes its Geneva debut.


2016 LA Auto Show: Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV concept

                LOS ANGELES: The Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV concept was unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Sitting on huge 265/55 R21 tyres, the VIZIV is a concept series embodying Subaru's future vision of car development for “enjoyment and peace of mind”.

"The concept expresses our core brand values, safety, dependability, capability for outdoor activities and a forward looking attitude,” said Takeshi Tachimori, corporate executive vice president, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

“We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle and the next 3-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever.”

With full three-row capability and Subaru’s Dynamic and Solid design philosophy, the VIZIV-7 SUV concept shows the size direction of the all-new three-row midsize SUV to be introduced to the North American market in early 2018.

The name VIZIV is derived from Vision for Innovation.


How Los Angeles plans to achieve 100% renewable energy

Los Angeles is a test case. If it can do it, the pressure will be on other major US cities to be ambitious about their transition to renewables. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: The city of Los Angeles is giving itself 15 years to make the switch to 100% renewable energy. Construction of solar photovoltaic and wind power plants, development of heat pumps and electric cars are on the city's roadmap to achieve this goal.

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has concluded that Los Angeles is capable of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035. It will be interesting to see how a megalopolis of more than 18 million people goes about becoming this "green."

Because if Los Angeles can do it, the pressure will be on other major US cities to be ambitious about their transition to renewables.

The goal is to eliminate all fossil fuels from Los Angeles's power supply. To achieve this, the plan includes the mass construction of solar photovoltaic plants (also called "solar farms") and wind turbines. At the same time, solar panels on roofs, electric heat pumps in houses and electric cars in garages should abound.

For instance by 2035, Los Angeles should no longer need natural gas to produce its electricity. Hydrogen could be a credible alternative, although it is still very expensive.

Other technologies which are more affordable and proven, such as offshore wind turbines in the Pacific are more likely to be used in the short term.

The goal is to have a base large enough to guarantee a year-round supply of electricity, day and night, without any blackouts, in a region where they are currently relatively frequent.

According to NREL's simulations, achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2035 should cost about US$86 billion(RM356bil).

It remains to be seen how this will affect the electricity bills of Los Angeles residents.

Most of these new installations will be outside the city, on land yet to be determined. Then it will be a matter of transporting all the energy produced to Los Angeles, a process which will require at least ten years of work to establish.

A goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 is still a challenge, but one viewed as viable by authorities.


Chinese electrics are coming: The top new EVs to watch out for

                BERLIN: A new wave of Chinese-built electric cars is heading for Europe, carrying a raft of affordable pure EVs and hybrids that are set to light up the sales charts.

The whole automotive sector is undergoing a transformation at the moment as online marketing competes with traditional sales outlets like showrooms. The Chinese hope to benefit too from these changes.

Until now niche Chinese brands like start-ups Nio, Byton and Xpeng have been trying to win over Tesla customers with innovative technology and striking designs.

It's now the turn of manufacturing giants, little known in many places outside China, who hope to lure away customers from makers like Germany's Volkswagen.

"We really should take them seriously this time around," says car guru Stefan Bratzel from Bergisch Gladbach Economic University in Germany.

"Most of them have done their homework and they have learned from past mistakes."

These days Chinese cars absolve crash tests with the same aplomb as their European equivalents. This is a far cry from several decades ago when their copycat models were lambasted for being unsafe at any speed.

Aiways is a brand few people in Europe will be familiar with. The company builds electric cars only and the snub-nosed U5 sells in Europe from €36,000 (RM174,000).

It is as long as a VW ID.4 and the premium version comes with decent-sized 63kWh battery pack. Range is give as 410km between charges.

MG was relaunched by a Chinese company in 2011 and the once-famous British sports car brand has since been building value-focused models, with increasing success.

The MG Marvel R is the latest electric offering and prices start at €40,000 (RM194,000). The 4.67-metre SUV has a generic look to it and squares up against the ID.4 from VW.

Ora and Wey are also newcomers. Both brands belong to Great Wall Motors which plans to undercut VW's ID.3 with an EV priced below €30,000 (RM145,000). The cute-looking Ora claims a range of 300km or 400km for the uprated variant.

Wey's oddly-named Coffee01 is a smart plug-in hybrid with so-called "Coffee Intelligence" on board, thanks to a cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 computer chip. A 14-inch display dominates the cockpit of this upmarket offering which can manage around 150km in electric mode.

Arcfox based at the town of Magna near Graz in Austria will also be sending the fully electric Alpha S series powered by Huawei technology into the fray. The car was launched at the 2021 Shanghai International Auto show back in April.

Mercedes-Benz stakeholder Geely is launching the first model of its offshoot brand Zeekr, its second all-electric make alongside Polestar.

The 001 is claimed to be the world's first pure electric shooting brake.

Designed in Sweden at Geely Design Gothenburg, the "exciting" look seems to have been strongly influenced by the Porsche Taycan.

"The heart of an electric car is its battery and China is at the forefront here. The outlook for the country's carmakers is rosy," says German car industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer.

The quality of Chinese cars is now on a par with established makers, says the professor.

"And when it comes to software solutions the Chinese are now ahead of the competition."


BMW's Designworks creates user-friendly hydrogen dispenser concept for Shell

                MUNICH: BMW Group subsidiary Designworks and Shell have teamed up to introduce a new type of hydrogen dispenser that will improve the refuelling experience.

Hydrogen dispenser models currently on the market are based on those designed for conventional fuels. To inspire a world of clean energy, Designworks created Oasis, a dispenser concept that departs from the “H” or “L” shaped fuel dispensers presently on the market. It introduces a new product typology with an “I” shaped, pillar-like design with a friendly appeal.

The Shell dispenser design is clean and simple with all mechanical parts made invisible. When approaching the dispenser, the user will experience a light guidance system, a generous information screen and an innovative nozzle for refuelling. The light concept helps guide the overall flow of cars on the forecourt by providing precise and clearly visible information about the dispenser´s occupancy and the remaining fuelling time.

For the refuelling nozzle, the design team created a new pick up and mount mechanism, which provides a highly intuitive way of removing and returning the nozzle. To make the refueling experience even more comfortable, a screen was integrated directly into the nozzle guiding the user through the refuelling process step by step.

The dispenser concept will be introduced at Hannover Fair from April 24-28.


Ford inks Argentina lithium supply deal with Lake Resources

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co said on Monday it has signed a preliminary deal to buy lithium from a Lake Resources NL facility in Argentina, marking the first time the automaker has publicly announced where it will procure the electric vehicle battery metal.

The deal is a major bet by Ford on direct lithium extraction (DLE), a relatively new breed of technologies that filter the metal from brines and use far less acreage than open-pit mines and evaporation ponds.

General Motors Co, BMW, Stellantis NV and other Ford rivals have inked supply deals of their own with companies planning to use DLE technology.

Ford aims to buy 25,000 tonnes annually of the white metal from Lake's Kachi project in northern Argentina, which is being developed with privately held extraction startup Lilac Solutions Inc.

Lilac's technology, like all DLE technologies, has yet to work commercially, though it has the support of Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy Ventures and other high-profile investors.

The agreement between Lake and Ford is nonbinding and would need to be finalised to include a specific delivery timetable.

Ford chief executive Jim Farley said in February that his company was working on deals to secure supply of key raw materials for batteries such as lithium, nickel, rare earths and copper.

"This is one of several agreements we're exploring to help Ford secure raw materials to support our aggressive EV acceleration plan," said Ford spokesman Jennifer Flake.

Sydney-based Lake Resources is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, which requires supply deals to be publicly disclosed.

The Kachi project, in northern Argentina near the Chilean border, is expected to cost about US$540 million and open by 2024.

Lilac's technology uses 10 tonnes of water for every tonne of lithium produced. Lilac has said it could use a desalination plant to filter brackish water to avoid using potable water.


Volvo exploring a BMW X7 fighter

                PETALING JAYA: Volvo believes its crossover line-up has room to expand beyond the XC40, XC60 and XC90.

Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said the company is interested in having a model bigger than the XC90 and a smaller one than the XC40.

“We are not excluding the idea of additions, especially in very core segments like the SUV. I think we are looking into this possibility now. You should not exclude the idea that there might be a bigger one, but maybe also a smaller one. We will surprise you about that in the future,” he told Auto Express of Britain.

With the SUV/crossover trend still going strong globally, a model below the XC40 would make sense in the narrow streets of European cities and the biggest Volvo ever could be pitched at customers in China, where the thinking is bigger is better.

 The XC90.

With the XC90 able to stuff 7 people inside, a bigger XC model would find traction among affluent Chinese.

Volvo Cars, owned by Chinese car maker Geely, is still doing well amid the political and economic uncertainties.

It reported last week a record revenue for the first six months of 2019 of SEK130.1 billion (RM5.6bil), up from SEK122.9 billion (RM5.4bil) year-on-year and buoyed by the best first half-year sales performance in the company’s history.

For the first six months, sales amounted to a record 340,286 cars, a year-on-year increase of 7.3 per cent. During the period, Volvo Cars grew consistently faster than the overall market.

The company has gained market share across the US, China and Europe, with the UK and Germany recording growth of 30 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.

For the remainder of the year, Volvo Cars expects continued growth in sales and revenue, boosted by continued strong demand for the fully renewed product portfolio as well as increased production capacity.

 The XC40.


Harley-Davidson celebrating its 115th anniversary in Prague

                MILWAUKEE: Harley-Davidson fans will be heading to the Czech capital, July 5-8, to celebrate the 115th anniversary of their favourite cycle-maker.

An eclectic programme of events is in store for the occasion, with exhibitions, concerts, test rides, guided tours, a motorcycle parade and more.

Harley-Davidson enthusiasts from 75 countries are expected in Prague for four days of festivities. Highlights include an exhibition showcasing 150 historic Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as a show of custom builds from all across Europe. Plus, the brand's 2018 range will be on display and available to test. Riders will also be able to discover and test Jeep vehicles, as the brand is a partner and sponsor of the event.

The celebrations continue with various concerts — from rock and metal to reggae and rap — on several stages. Plus, anyone keen on exploring the region can sign up for a guided motorcycle tour taking in the Central Bohemia region around Prague. Incidentally, Prague is home to one of the world's oldest Harley-Davidson motorcycle clubs, which has been up and running for 90 years.

Note that the celebrations coincide with some other major events in the city, such as a Rolling Stones concert, July 4, and the 2018 European Muay Thai Championship.

For more information, go to h-d.prague115.com, the official website of the Harley-Davidson 115th anniversary.


BMW iPerformance Roadshow in Bangsar this weekend

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia is inviting members of the public to experience its 'Best of Both Worlds of Sheer Driving Pleasure and Electric Driving Pleasure at the BMW iPerformance Roadshow.

The roadshow will be held at the Concourse of Bangsar Village II from June 16 to 18 (10am till 10pm daily), and will showcase a selection of its BMW iPerformance vehicles such as the BMW 330e, X5 xDrive40e, 740Le and i8.

Cars aside, the roadshow will also feature the Bavarian carmaker's eDrive technology, which happens to include its BMW EfficientDynamics suite of technological wizardry as well as the current BMW eDrive system used in all its electrically powered vehicles and 'i' plug-in hybrid models from BMW.

At the roadshow, the company will demonstrate how its BMW eDrive provides efficiency and everyday practicality while also delivering its well-renown driving dynamics and quality.

In addition to the tour, Ingress Auto Damansara, Sungai Penchala and Ingress Auto Puchong, Bandar Puteri will also be hosting a special Supper at the roadshow on June 17 from 8.00pm till midnight.

Ingress Auto is inviting the public to join them in observing the breaking of fast and will be offering special promotions for selected models as well as a 1.88% financing programme and free vouchers up to RM10,000 with the purchase of selected models (available until June 30).

For current BMW owners, there will also be a free 20-point check service conducted that evening in preparation to ‘Balik Kampung’ and those interested are required to pre-book their appointment slots prior to the evening.

Lastly, there will also be a 20% discount on labour fees for body and paint repairs along with engine oil change as well as free wheel alignment and balancing services offered with the purchase of four new tyres (until July 31).

“Experience has always been a key factor in implementing innovative automotive concepts and this is precisely what BMW Group Malaysia aims on bringing to the public with this roadshow. We hope that our vision for forward-looking mobility will be better experienced here as we create greater understanding of premium vehicles that are strongly defined by sustainability,” said of BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Han San Yung.


Big and bad is back at Detroit

 The Nissan Titan.

Big and brash is beautiful after all. Or so it appears in the world of the American vehicle enthusiast, after the Detroit auto show this week rolled out a series of ever-larger cars and menacing trucks.

At a time when there is a trend for many objects to become smaller, and after some hints the auto world was going the same way, this year’s Detroit auto extravaganza presents a stark contrast.

It has much to do with the low cost of gasoline, experts say, but is also about taste.

Take the aptly named new Nissan Titan pick-up truck, unleashed Monday at the North American International Auto Show and a hulking beast that can tow more than five tons and is over five meters long.

This is a true “warrior,” Brent Hagan, Nissan senior planner, told AFP.

“It’s a very appropriate name for the full-size truck segment. Truck customers like trucks that are big and bold, they match the personality of the customer.

“With trucks it’s about capability and performance. No other vehicle that you can buy can tow the levels of a full-size truck, so the name Titan matches the fullness, capability and capacity.

“At focus groups the name resonates very well. Truck customers tend to have a little bit of bravado about them and think of themselves as‘Titans.’"

Nissan has its work cut out to catch up with Ford’s F-150 pick-up - named North American truck of the year in Detroit and the best selling-car or truck in the United States.

 The Ford F150 Raptor.

With the pick-up segment the most profitable for automakers, the bigger-is-better trend looks set to continue - to the chagrin of those more concerned about the environmental impact.

And then there is the increasingly popular CUV ("crossover") and SUV segment of an auto industry buoyed by the best sales figures last year in nearly a decade in the United States, and low interest rates and cheaper gas.

At a lavish reception in downtown Detroit - itself on the slow upturn after bankruptcy - Mercedes presented its GLE Coupe mid-size crossover.

Meanwhile another luxury brand, Bentley, gave tantalizing glimpses of its first SUV and announced it would be called the Bentley Bentayga. It will hit the streets in 2016.

The Bentayga will be “the most exclusive SUV in the world,” said Wolfgang Durheimer, chief executive of Bentley.

Also at it was Audi, which unveiled its next-gen Q7 luxury crossover, and Volkswagen with a concept crossover.

Even Hyundai displayed a concept pickup, among the many others.

Alec Gutierrez, a specialist with Kelley Blue Book, a vehicle valuation and automotive research company, said that the desire for big, luxurious vehicles was strongly linked to low gas prices.

“There’s a shift in consumer preferences that we observed in the last three months from smaller cars to big cars,” he told AFP.

“That shift has accelerated lately. It may last at least six more months - it is sustainable and viable.

“Our expectation is that gas prices will stay low for at least six months.”


New Audi A8 debuts in Barcelona

                BARCELONA: The new fourth-generation Audi A8 (D5) flagship model makes its world debut at the Audi Summit in Barcelona with a new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive.

The new Audi A8 and A8 L are being built at the Neckarsulm site and will hit the German market in the third quarter of 2017 with prices starting at 90,600 euros (RM440,000) while the A8 L costs 94,100 euros (RM460,000).

The new A8 has been has been comprehensively re-engineered to take the fight to the S-Class and 7 Series.

It will come featuring a new hybrid drivetrain that offers an electric-only range of up to 50km along with advanced road-scanning active suspension.

Among other optional equipment is the Bavarian carmaker's automated driving system - Traffic Jam Pilot, which relies on cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner; which helps to autonomously start, accelerate, brake and steer the car.

With a wheelbase of 2,998mm, the new A8's dimensions come measuring in at 5,172mm-long (+37mm), 2,130mm-wide and 1,473mm-tall (+13mm).

The A8 L has a longer wheelbase at 5,302mm (+130mm) and is also taller at 1,478mm (+4mm).

There's more materials used compared to its predecessor, with 58% of the structure made of aluminium, while the rest is a combination of carbion fibre, magnesium and high-strength steel.

Among the list of redesigned items are the dashboard, multi-function steering wheel and touchscreen controls.

Weight savings have been applied to the new front seats that are now 4kg lighter than before, while fitting in a newly revised Multi-media interface (MMI) with a pair of high definition graphics on a 10.1-inch screen and a unique curved 8.6-inch screen.

As for power delivery, there will be two engines avaialble - a turbocharged V6 3.0 TFSI petrol engine with 335bhp and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel with 264bhp - both will utilise an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the highly-acclaimed quattro all-wheel drive system with an optional sport differential.

As standard, it will also come equipped with a 48V electrical system.

Early next year, the German carmaker will look to introduce a 4.0-litre TDI V8 turbo diesel with 429bhp as well as 6.0-litre turbocharged W12 petrol engine with 585bhp.

Looking to the future, a L e-tron variant is apparently also in the books, combining a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 443bhp, which should provide a range of 50km in pure electric mode.

Audi also plans to offer the new model with an optional wireless recharging system for its 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery located in the boot's floor, or simply allow it to be charged charged using a standard plug-in cable at either 3.6kW or 7.2kW - An 80% charge is achievable within two hours at 7.2kW.

The suspension is predominantly made out of aluminium - double wishbones at the front while the rear sports a five-link set-up and coupled to a set of air springs as standard which provides for four different ride heights.

Another option would be to obtain the active suspension system that relies on cameras mounted within the windscreen - scanning the road 18 times per second while altering the damping at the same time.

An optional all-wheel steering system will be available once the new A8 goes on sale.

Reuters, meanwhile, reported that the technology-packed A8 is aimed at allowing Audi to overtake rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW as it struggles to overcome its biggest-ever corporate crisis.

Last week, Munich prosecutors arrested an Audi employee in connection with "dieselgate", the latest setback to Volkswagen's luxury car arm and main profit driver, after the German government a month earlier had accused Audi of cheating on emissions tests.

On Tuesday,  Audi shifted the focus back to its products with its top management hosting 2,000 guests in Barcelona to unveil the new A8, whose Level-3 self-driving technology enables the car to completely control driving at up to 60kph, beating the Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7-Series.

Marc Lichte, Head of Design, AUDI AG     Static photo
Colour: Volcano RedInteriorMatrix LED reading lights


CSH Alliance’s unit to distribute BYD Malaysia’s commercial van

                KUALA LUMPUR: CSH Alliance Bhd through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alliance EV Sdn Bhd (AEV) has been appointed by BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd as the distributor of its commercial electric van.

In a statement, CSH said the appointment by BYD was pursuant to the previous memorandum of understanding entered between both the company in March 2022 to jointly work together in the distribution of the commercial electric van, BYD T3 model.

The BYD T3 is a 100% electric compact van with low energy consumption and high performance. Powered by BYD’s proprietary NCM battery with a capacity of 50.3kWh, this silent-running vehicle produces zero emissions and features up to 300km driving range on a single charge. The vehicle has ample cargo space of up to 3.8m3 and a 780kg payload.

“Through the distribution and soon assembly of the fully electric commercial van, AEV aims to assist the Malaysia government to achieve zero-emission mission and also businesses in building Environmental, Sustainable and Governance (ESG) business approach.

“We expect a positive response from the transportation and logistics players in the adoption of electric vehicles to replace conventional fuel or gas vehicles which are harmful to the environment. Already, we have a committed customer who had expressed their intention to purchase 100 units of the electric van,” CSH Alliance executive director Peter Yap said.

As part of AEV’s strategic plan, the company also intends to build a completely knocked down (CKD) assembly plant or a fully assembly plant to reduce the EV vehicle cost and also to support the local businesses while creating job opportunities for Malaysians.

AEV also plans to develop the electric vehicle ecosystem which includes 4S (sales, services, spare parts and body and paint services), supplying charging stations, energy diversification into solar panels to provide an end-to-end electric vehicle solution for the consumers.


Local school makes use of worn Goodyear tyres

                KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear Malaysia recently donated used tyres to Sekolah Kebangsaan Seksyen 20 (SK 20) in Shah Alam to help impart the importance of recycling onto students for the sake of the environment and community.

The tyre maker recently donated tyres to (SK 20), for the school’s recreational activities and workshop training in addition to using them for practical purposes while some were used as decoration.

The SK 20 school, spearheaded by SK 20 teacher Aizatul Ashraf's initiative who noticed the bare school grounds, aims to reuse the tyres and create sculptures that would offer a differentiated learning environment for its students.

This idea was inspired by the unveiling of two statues crafted by professional sculptors, made entirely out of Goodyear tyres at the 2018 Cotton Bowl.

The Cotton Bowl is an annual college American football match, played between two teams in the semi-finals as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football league.

“The tyres that we donated to the school would have been recycled and so are unsuitable for the market. We are happy to see them serving a new decorative and practical reason, which to us is the same as being recycled," said Goodyear Malaysia marketing communication and service manager Anthony Fonseka.


UD Trucks and TCIE celebrate 40th anniversary

                KUALA LUMPUR: UD Trucks and Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) celebrated the 40th anniversary of partnership – the longest ever principal and distributor partnership in UD Trucks’ history globally - with a grand dinner celebration event themed ‘Powering the Nation Forward’.

This momentous event, held at Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur, was graced by Dato’ Rosie Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad and Jacques Michel, President of Volvo Group Trucks Asia and JVs Sales.

It was also attended by other top management of Tan Chong Group, UD Trucks and TCIE, as well as staff, partners, customers and members of the media.

Speaking at the evening, Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director Hub Malaysia, UD Trucks said, “Over the past 40 years, TCIE has been a pioneer and leader in the commercial vehicle services industry in Malaysia. UD Trucks, as a partner, has been able to introduce our innovative trucks that the world needs today and substantially grow our brand in Malaysia over the years because of a genuine, sturdy and trusted relationship between TCIE and UD Trucks.”

“TCIE has been constantly growing its all-rounded capabilities and enhancing service offerings for customers. Delivering comprehensive and satisfactory truck ownership experience to all valued customers has been our shared core focus, and we are proud to call TCIE our sole distributor partner in Malaysia,” added Van den Heede.

 Filip Van den Heede, Managing Director Hub Malaysia, UD Trucks delivering his appreciation speech at the event.

In 2007, Volvo Group acquired Nissan Diesel and several years later in 2010, rebranded it to UD Trucks, which essentially means Ultimate Dependability. The fundamental relationship between Tan Chong and UD Trucks remained strong despite the change in principal ownership, and continued to deepen and expand beyond various challenges.

Van den Heede continued, “When the Volvo Group took over, we continued to build on the legacy of Kenzo Adachi, the founder of UD Trucks, to ‘build the truck that the world needs today’. Despite the various challenges that both UD Trucks and TCIE had to face from time to time, our common values and goals drove us forward and we prevailed at every opportunity. We continued to look forward and stepped up on our collaboration to strengthen our partnership which resulted in the continuous creation of key milestones.”

“This led us in Malaysia to become the first market in the world to assemble UD Quester and UD Croner outside of Japan.  With this 40th year anniversary celebration, we are very thankful and remain confident that TCIE will continue to be the ideal Malaysian partner for us for local manufacturing, distribution and customer support. We certainly look forward to many more successful years to come!”

TCIE, in 1978, was the first to bring in the CK11 and half cab UG780 Nissan Diesel trucks to grace Malaysian roads back then and had been able to build on the brand with the latter model.

 Wong King Yoon, Director, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd giving his opening speech at the event held in Saujana Hotel.

Since then, UD Trucks and TCIE have continuously worked hand-in-hand in going the extra mile to provide new, innovative and creative trucking solutions for customers in Malaysia.

When Volvo Group entered the fray, it was the ultimate intention to combine the best of 3 worlds – UD Trucks’ immense history of Japanese craftsmanship, Volvo Group’s advanced technological know-how and TCIE’s local presence, extensive sales network and aftermarket expertise – to provide trucks that Malaysian customers can fully depend on.

In celebrating this occasion, Wong King Yoon, Director, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd shared, “The pioneering spirit of Tan Chong Group that was espoused by our founder, the late Tan Sri Dato’ Tan Yuet Foh, had allowed TCIE to pursue every new opportunity that came with new challenges. The strong bond and deep understanding we have developed with UD Trucks and Volvo Group has successfully established our reputation, credibility and reliability as one of the best sources for smart trucking solutions in the market today.

Wong continued, “TCIE has come a long way to be where and who we are today.  From our humble beginning, TCIE now offers the full range of services, from assembly to distribution, marketing, financial and insurance assistance to servicing and full aftermarket support. As the sole distributor and long-term partner of UD Trucks, we feel gratified to have contributed to the growth of the UD brand in Malaysia. We would not have achieved it all without UD Trucks and the unwavering support by our business partners and customers. I am happy to say that we have all powered the nation together for the past 40 years and many more years ahead!”

To commemorate this auspicious occasion and to reaffirm their continued partnership, top management of Tan Chong Group, UD Trucks and TCIE went on stage and took part in the Kagami Biraki ceremony, a traditional Japanese ceremony where the lid of the sake barrel is opened by knocking with a wooden mallet usually reserved for significant events worthy of being celebrated. Guests were also treated to a sumptuous 8-course dinner, live band performances, Ishikari Japanese dance and lucky draws.

In conjunction with this celebration also, UD Trucks and TCIE took the opportunity to express their appreciation to partners and customers by giving out the Golden Partnership Award to those who have notably contributed to this 40-year partnership.

The first Golden Partnership Award for customer went to ASAC Logistics Sdn Bhd, a truly loyal customer of TCIE. ASAC Logistics was the very first proud owner of the CK11 in 1978 and over the years up to-date, has continued to support the purchase of UD trucks.

They have more than 500 units of UD Trucks in their fleet and has evolved to be one of the largest logistic companies in Malaysia.

The Golden Partnership Award for Sales Dealer went to LK Utara Auto Sdn Bhd.

Appointed by TCIE as the authorized private sales dealer in 1999, the company focuses solely on the sale of UD Trucks and has to-date, successfully sold more than 880 units of UD Trucks; maintaining its position as the top 3 best performance private sales dealer for 19 consecutive years.

The Golden Partnership Award for Service Dealer was awarded to Mun Chai Auto Works Sdn Bhd. Established in 1980, Mun Chai Auto Works was appointed by TCIE as the authorized service dealer for UD Trucks.

Continuous and extensive service and technician training were provided to ensure the tip-top service quality.

Today, Mun Chai Auto Works has more than 20 service bays to cater for its growing business.

The final Golden Partnership Award for Parts Dealer went to Kaifa Auto Parts Sdn Bhd as it continues to maintain its top 5 best performance position since 1999.

TCIE appointed Auto Enterprise (M) Sdn Bhd as the authorized parts dealer in 1978, and in 1999, the role was transferred to its sister company, Kaifa Auto Parts Sdn Bhd to solely focus on UD Trucks.


Britain to have more electric car charging stations than fuel stations by 2020

                LONDON: There will be more public locations to charge electric cars in Britain than there are petrol stations by the summer of 2020, according to new analysis by Nissan.

At the end of 2015, there were just 8,472 fuel stations in the UK, down from 37,539 in 1970. Assuming a steady rate of decline, Nissan predicts that by August 2020 this will fall to under 7,870.*

In contrast, the number of public electric vehicle charging locations is expected to reach 7,900 by the same point in time. However, the accelerating adoption of electric vehicles means this crossover could happen a lot sooner.

Just over 100 years since the first fuel station opened – November 1919 at Aldermaston in Berkshire – the number in Britain has peaked, declined and is expected to be overtaken by charging stations designed for battery, not combustion, powered cars.

More than 75% of British petrol stations have closed in the last 40 years, whilst the number of electric vehicle charging locations has increased from a few hundred in 2011 to more than 4,100 locations in 2016, as electric car sales take off.

According to Go Ultra Low, the joint government and car industry campaign, more than 115 electric cars were registered every day in the first quarter of 2016, equivalent to one every 13 minutes. The campaign also believes electric power could be the dominant form of propulsion for all new cars sold in Britain as early as 2027, with more than 1.3m electric cars registered each year.