Proton Iriz driven

                Proton offerings in the past have had a tendency to raise more questions than answers, even prompting skepticism as to whether the new Proton Iriz is the car to take the national carmaker to the next level.

Proton has listened to the feedback and criticism, and in response, has possibly delivered a game-changing car not just for Malaysians, but also with the international market in mind.

With close to 30,000 initial bookings and counting, Malaysians have taken quickly to the Iriz’s potential - and I can see why.

My first impression of the Iriz is that the car looked like a re-imagined version of the Perodua Myvi.

In my opinion, Proton has a car that stacks up competitively against its highly favourable Perodua counterpart, both aesthetically and technically.

The Iriz, as I found after spending two days with the 1.6L premium variant in Penang recently, packs quite a punch in terms of power and handling.

Its 1.6-litre engine comes with a maximum power of 107bhp and torque of 150Nm.

The Iriz has essentially been designed with driving pleasure and comfort in mind, everything from the seats to the interior.

In that regard, the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is a minor obstacle to comfort.

The CVT still causes the engine to revv unnecessarily to higher speeds, thus making the engine noisier.

This also causes the acceleration of the car to be restrained and requires me to step more on the accelerator pedal.

It gives me the feeling that the car is underpowered but that is not really the case.

The CVT issue is a recurring one across Proton’s range of models - I’ve encountered similar issues with my 1.6L Saga FLX.

It is something that the national carmaker must look to rectify as soon as possible if they are to fully leverage on the other technologies that went into this car.

The Iriz is able to navigate sharp bends and winding roads competently.

This is in large part thanks to the advanced electric power steering system (EPS) installed on the Iriz, which makes a long journey far less tiring.

Two things that make the Iriz a value-for-money buy are its safety and convenience features, which Proton clearly did not stinge on.

All variants come with dual airbags (six airbags for the premium model), traction control, anti-lock braking system and brake assist for emergency braking.

The Hill-hold Assist is useful while stopped on slopes as it allows you sufficient time to move your foot from the brake to the accelerator without causing the car to slide backwards or onwards.

The Iriz is well prepared in the event of an accident, as it is equipped with an impact sensor that automatically unlocks all doors in the event of an emergency, while the head restraints provide added protection against whiplash injury if the car is hit from behind.

What impressed me was the Iriz’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a feature that is usually found in luxury cars, which allows the driver to make sudden lane changes safely during emergencies.

To make its point, Proton even invited members of the press to perform an emergency lane change demonstration of the Iriz and a competitor.

The outcome. . . the Iriz fared a little better.

These features and more justifies the Iriz’s 5-star Asean NCAP safety rating, which impressively enough, was obtained before the car was officially rolled out.

The sporty looking interior and 3D-stitched textured instrument panel give the Iriz a measure of youthfulness, and in a sense, emulates the kind of vibe you get from the sportier Myvi SE variant.

The Android-powered infotainment system, which is available in the 1.6L variants, also gives added value to the driving experience, even if many would view it as more of a luxury accessory than a necessity.

The built-in GPS and bluetooth connectivity is particularly useful I find, as well as USB ports to access media files and charge your mobile devices.

The Iriz has ample space to fit a family of five. Its trunk is also similar in capacity to most hatchbacks of its class.

One thing that bugged me about the car was that you get a significant volume of outside noise when driving at high speeds on the highway.

I’ve experienced a similar issue with the Saga and Myvi, which is why I was hoping that the Iriz would come installed with windows that were more soundproof.

However, if you enjoy blasting the stereo like I do, then it should be no problem.

Those who are worried about the hike in fuel prices will be happy to know that the Iriz is rather fuel efficient.

A drive of 100km from the Proton headquarters in Shah Alam to the Gopeng rest area only used up 7.5 litres of fuel.

The fuel consumption is displayed on the car’s digital instrument panel and makes for easy reference.

All in all, the Iriz looks like a promising attempt by Proton to regain its market dominance and brand desirability.

It could be the national carmaker’s ‘diamond in the rough’ if its long-term reliability holds out.

The Iriz Premium comes with an on-the-road with insurance price of RM61,743.

Available colours are Citrus Green, Silver Moon Dust, Atlantic Blue, Fire Red, Genetic Silver, Solid White, and Tranquility Black.  - AKIL YUNUS


Ferrari installs 1MW fuel cell plant to speed up carbon neutrality

                MILAN: Italy's Ferrari said a new fuel cell plant had been recently installed at its historic headquarters facilities in Maranello, in a further step by the luxury car maker to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The new 1 MegaWatt solid oxide plant, which converts fuel into electricity through an electrochemical process without combustion, provides 5% of the energy required by Ferrari's production operations, the group said in a statement on Thursday.

The "Prancing Horse" unveiled last week its new business plan aiming to make electric and hybrid models 80% of its offer by 2030.

The plant, which was built by renewable energy firm Bloom Energy, will cut fuel consumption and emissions, with gas requirements lowered by around 20% compared to combined heat and power cogeneration systems, Ferrari said.


All-new Range Rover L460 to make its debut locally next month

                PETALING JAYA: Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is set to debut the vastly improved all-new fifth-generation Range Rover L460 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) in mid-February.

The flagship model is powered by a 4.4 litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine producing 530hp and 750Nm of torque.

Among its ppremium features are 22-inch alloy wheels, all-wheel steering system and sumptuous semi-aniline leather seats.

These are complemented by cutting-edge technology such as a 3D surround camera, a 13.7-inch interactive driver display, a 13.1-inch curved glass floating touchscreen and a Meridian audio system ranging from 400watts to 1,600watts.

Along with a minimum trim of High Specification Equipment, the new Range Rover represents the pinnacle of modern luxury in the SUV segment with abundant bespoke customisation and personalisation options.

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia managing director Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz said the Range Rover L460 is the best-in-class luxury performance SUV that is primed to be a game-changer in the segment.

“With a perfect blend of innovation and effortless refinement, this will mark the most desirable Range Rover yet and we are excited to bring this to the Malaysian market very soon,” he said.

Interested parties can visit www.landrover.com.my for details.


Renault reviewing prices worldwide after Tesla cuts

                PARIS: French carmaker Renault is reviewing its pricing policies of electric cars worldwide to ensure it stays competitive after a wave of price cuts by US rival Tesla Inc, a top executive said today.

After slashing prices several times in the United States, Tesla on Friday cut prices in Europe- including on Renault's home turf of France - as well as Israel and Singapore, expanding a global discount drive it began in China in January.

"We will analyse country by country, market by market, which level of competitiveness we need to have to stay in the game," Fabrice Cambolive, the chief executive of the Renault brand, told reporters today.

The brand's sales rose 9% in the first quarter of the year, indicating a restructuring strategy focusing on the most profitable models may be starting to pay off after four years of declining revenues.

Cambolive said the rebound had extended into April, adding however that Tesla's price cuts were a wake-up call for competitors.

He said sales of Renault's Megane electrified model, one of its most popular, had risen sharply in March, with strong orders despite a very limited discounting policy. But the model now costs as much as its main Tesla competitor.

After last week's price cut by Tesla, the Model 3 in France starts at 41,990 euros, compared with 42,000 euros for the Megane electric.

 Cambolive.

The Megane E-Tech sold 3,570 units in France in the first quarter, compared with 3,158 Tesla Model 3s, though the US carmaker also sold 9,364 of its more upmarket SUV Model Y in the country.

"It's clear that (Tesla cutting prices) is a challenge, starting with the cost side of things. It's a warning that we are looking at," Cambolive said.

Worldwide sales for the Renault brand reached 354,545 vehicles in the first three months of the year.

The whole group, which also produces Dacia and Alpine cars and will release group-wide sales data on Thursday, posted a 5.9% decline in sales in 2022, hit by the loss of the Russian market following the war in Ukraine. Sales for the Renault brand, which represents two-thirds of the group's total, fell by 9.4% last year, their fourth consecutive annual decline.

The French company, which was hit harder than most rivals by the Covid-19 crisis and a global chip shortage, is betting on higher-margin cars to boost profits, and plans to spin off and list its electric vehicles (EV) unit on the market this year.

An early mover in the EV race which then struggled in the face of Tesla's stellar growth, Renault ranked as the third EV brand for sales in Europe behind Tesla and Volkswagen last year. It was also third in the electrified segment, which includes hybrid vehicles, behind Toyota and Tesla.

In a sign on the pressure carmakers face on costs and margins, Tesla's Shanghai factory workers took to social media to appeal to boss Elon Musk after being told at the weekend about plans to cut their performance bonuses, according to online posts and employees who spoke to Reuters.


MAA lauds govt move to drive adoption of EVs

                PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has welcomed the government’s tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) under Budget 2022, as well as the extension of the sales and services tax (SST) exemption on passenger vehicles for another six months.

“We are thankful for the incentives on EVs to encourage foreign investment and to increase sales of such vehicles in Malaysia,” MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad tells StarBizWeek.

“The extension of the SST exemption will help spur passenger vehicles’ sales to reach pre-Covid 19 automotive total industry volume (TIV),” she adds.

Under Budget 2022, to support the development of a domestic EV industry, the government has proposed to provide full exemptions on import and excise duties and sales tax, as well as road tax (up to 100%) for EVs.

Individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 will also be given on the costs of buying, installing, leasing or repayments of EV charging facilities.

Also, the SST exemption, which is 100% for locally assembled or completely-knocked-down passenger vehicles and 50% for imported or completely-built-up passenger cars, has been extended till June 30, 2022.

Meanwhile, Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah says the tax incentives for EVs will help raise the adoption of EVs and the proliferation of offerings.

“Proton has a planned roadmap towards introducing hybrid, plug-in hybrid vehicles and EVs – so perhaps this development can help to push our plans forward.

“There is still a long way to go, as the building of a charging infrastructure to help support larger numbers of EVs is a considerable obstacle that needs to be overcome,” says Roslan.

He also agrees that the extension of the SST exemption will help spur car sales and boost the economy in the first half of 2022.

“The automotive industry has been beset by production delays as a result of lockdowns and component shortages this year.

“By extending the period of the SST exemption, it gives our customers a chance to enjoy this benefit and doesn’t unfairly penalise them,” he adds.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser says the EV tax incentives will not only increase uptake of EVs but also encourage further development of the EV infrastructure and ecosystem to drive smarter, low-carbon communities and cities in the country.

“We have always believed that the future is electric and we have been at the forefront of electrified mobility in Malaysia since 2015, when we introduced BMW i,” says de Visser.

He points out that as the country’s leading provider of premium electrified vehicles, the company has delivered over 21,000 electrified BMW and MINI cars in Malaysia.


On the road in Thailand with Honda BR-V

                BANGKOK: CarSifu is in Bangkok for the media drive of the Honda BR-V.

Today is an informal drive day not far from the downtown city hotel where we are staying. We are among the first of three groups of Malaysian media arriving in three waves who will try out the crossover that will be Honda Malaysia’s first product launch in 2017.

As an entry SUV model, the vehicle is positioned below the HR-V, which was one of Honda’s bestsellers at launch nearly two years ago.

The demand is still there for the HR-V but it’s off its initial highs. Honda Malaysia is banking on the BR-V to bring back the verve and catalyse sales in 2017 amid predictions by research analysts that the auto industry would improve a wee bit moving into the new year

Today was a short drive to a bear-themed cafe in Bangkok so as to avoid the city’s notorious jams. Well, they say all the best laid plans can still go awry. Such was the case here. The convoy was caught in the evening rush-hour traffic on the way back to the hotel.

READ MORE: Honda Malaysia opens BR-V booking

But tomorrow will be a long and proper drive as we will be taking the BR-V for an over 200km round trip run between the Thai capital and Ratchaburi, a scenic provincial town that boasts natural and cultural attractions – the most popular being the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

The seven-people carrying capacity of the BR-V is obviously its selling point and Honda Malaysia is confident it would draw buyers with big families and those with big families aspiring to upgrade from lesser brands.

A Honda official said this was borne out at the recent Malaysia Autoshow when it previewed the BR-V, with enquiries coming mainly from people with big families.

While the HR-V is derived from the Jazz platform, the BR-V is based on the versatile A-segment Brio platform that has spawned a hatch, a sedan, an MPV and now an SUV.

During the short drive in city traffic, the BR-V showed itself to be a pleasant vehicle to handle with enough urge from the 1.5-litre engine to pull it along at a brisk pace. The steering is light and the vehicle is manoeuvrable through traffic packed like sardines.

There’s little to complain about the space, and third-row passengers are able to get more legroom by sliding the mid-row seats forward. Third-row passenger comfort has also been considered seriously by the Honda designers with a ceiling mounted air-cond blowers in mid-row to pump cold air to the nether regions. In addition, third-row passengers get two of 7 cupholders in the cabin and side armrests.

The Thai-specced 7-seat BR-V has full leather seats, and a 5-seat BR-V was also included in the convoy. Nope, the 5-seater will not be coming to Malaysia, if you are asking.

Meanwhile, we will save the details of Day 2 for a fuller report soon.

A Honda product launch is always an occasion for fans to get excited about and for observers and rivals to sit up and take notice. The BR-V will have that influence, come next year.

The BR-V is slated for a first quarter launch. It will be locally assembled and its positioning in the Honda lineup will already give you an idea that it’s going to be a sub-RM100K model. Around RM80K-ish, maybe? We will just have to wait and see.

 Shades of the Civic tail-light design.


Nov 21-27: Fuel prices up across the board

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will increase across the board from Nov 21 to Nov 27.

The Finance Ministry said that RON97 petrol would be priced at RM1.94 per litre, up by two sen from RM1.92 per litre previously.

The price of RON95 petrol will also increase by two sen from RM1.62 per litre to RM1.64 per litre, while the price of diesel will increase by seven sen from RM1.74 per litre to RM1.81 per litre.

"The government will continue to monitor the trends of global crude oil prices and take appropriate measures to ensure the continued welfare and well-being of the people," the ministry said in a statement today.


Ford all set to reveal electric F-150 Lightning

                DETROIT: Ford’s smartest, most innovative truck yet will be all-electric and called F-150 Lightning. The all-new F-150 Lightning will be revealed today at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn near here and livestreamed for millions to watch.

The F-150 Lightning boasts fresh innovation, technologies and capabilities to the F-Series, America’s best-selling vehicle, combined with the hallmark power, payload and towing capability.

The reveal takes place at 9.30pm EDT (9.30am Thursday in Malaysia), from the Ford base and would be broadcast live with 30+ ways to watch across physical and digital destinations, including the Ford Facebook and YouTube channels, Twitter, key national publications as well as 18 out-of-home locations such as Times Square in New York City and Las Vegas Boulevard.

“Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game … Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3. Now comes the F-150 Lightning,” said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley.

READ MORE: Biden to pitch his US$174bil EV plan in Michigan

“America’s favourite vehicle for nearly half a century is going digital and fully electric. F-150 Lightning can power your home during an outage; it’s even quicker than the original F-150 Lightning performance truck; and it will constantly improve through over-the-air updates.”

Production of the F-150 Lightning begins next spring at the all-new Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre.

US president Joe Biden who drove the F-150 Lightning briefly today was impressed.

"This sucker's quick," he told reporters, adding it could go from 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. "It feels great."

Biden was on a visit to the Ford electric-vehicle plant to see the F-150 Lightning.


VPCM adopts new logo, Arteon and Passat R-Line to arrive

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has formally introduced its new logo and brand design in Malaysia that's representative of its new vision, attitude and above all else, a new era for the brand.

The logo has been simplified with a flat two-dimensional design that the company says is more digitally adaptable and is further accompanied by a sound logo that uses a female voice for the first time.

A total of 21 dealerships will be revamped internally and externally in stages over the next few months including the company's website and all its social media which have already implemented the new look.

The website is said to have been simplified with new user navigation that aids accessibility for both desktop and mobile users.

Now, comprehensive information on its model range, sales and aftersales offerings, test drive bookings, dealer network information, stories and a newsroom section has been incorporated into its website.

"We recognise the need to be even more customer-centric in such challenging times and to be able to move to the new brand design completes this transformation for us," said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

Winter added that the principles of 'people first', 'new attitude' and 'digital first' will help in the company's future direction, reach and in creating a new customer experience with the brand.

VPCM was the first carmaker in the country to start selling vehicles on eCommerce sites as well as having a digital showroom.

Additionally, it was announced that the new Golf (Mk8) may arrive in Malaysia next year and when it does, it will be fitted with the new logo like the all-electric ID3 which hasn't been planned for the Malaysian market.

Also, Winter added that the flagship Arteon - with a 190hp 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine, and Passat R-line will be arriving in Malaysia this year, but there was no mention on estimated pricing or launch date.

The realignment of Volkswagen’s brand design is one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns involving over 171 markets and 10,000 dealerships.


Putting Kia to the test

                PETALING JAYA: You may have heard that Kia had recently been voted one of the highest valued brands in the world.

According to Interbrand, the Korean carmaker's value has grown 6% in the last year to US$6.68bil (RM28.19bil).

In that time, a number of Kia models have come by CarSifu's way with each of them having their own unique strengths. Over the last year or so, we've managed to test the Cerato Koup, Sportage, Rio hatch, Rio sedan and the Grand Carnival.

1. Kia Grand Carnival

The recently launched Kia Grand Carnival is a handsome endeavor by the Korean carmaker that arrives as a stylish drive with its LED daytime running lights for character, power-sliding doors for convenience and that fun-to-drive handling characteristic.

This eight-seater MPV also has plenty of features and amenities within its cabin ranging from a six-speaker sound system with a reverse camera to the reclinable rear fold-flat seats that helps to expand its boot space to copious levels when needed. READ THE REVIEW

2. Kia Rio sedan

With the Rio hatchback already seen as a practical car, the B-segment sedan variant takes it a step as a car that's able to capture the hearts of many.

This car is powered by a decent 1.4-litre engine and its affordability is simply packed with features with new owners also enjoying the comfort-oriented ride that helps it outshine the competition at the time of writing. READ THE REVIEW

3. Kia Rio hatchback

Earlier in the year, our CarSifu writer was whisked away to Melbourne, Australia during the final weekend of the Australian Open Tennis Championships to try out the latest Rio hatchback.

The practical car  impressed with its larger and sharper profile, newly designed daytime running lights, lowered stance, longer wheelbase, refined ride and a more accommodating boot among others. READ THE REVIEW

4. Kia SportageCarSifu was invited to test the latest Sportage in and around the sands of the once backwater desert-edge Bedouin settlement of Dubai, to which the world's tallest building - the 830m Burj Khalifa, calls home.

Although the new Sportage is significantly different from the outgoing model, the only tell-tale sign was its size and Peter Schreyer's 'tiger-nose' grille that helped link it back to the model and brand respectively. READ THE REVIEW

5. Kia Cerato Koup

Within the compact dimensions, the Cerato Koup is a surprisingly spacious interior that provides comfort, convenience and well-placed cupholders.

But one of the most celebrated features (probably) would be its ventilated drivers seat with lumbar support over the praiseworthy 204PS 1.6-litre turbo-licious engine. READ THE REVIEW


VW sets up Lisbon software development hub

                LISBON: The Volkswagen Group has picked Lisbon as a software development centre for its passenger vehicles as well as MAN trucks and buses.

In the medium term, about 300 IT specialists are to work here and they are tasked with the development of cloud-based software solutions for expanded digitalisation of corporate processes and connected vehicles.

The Lisbon team will comprise software engineers, web developers and UX designers.

“We want to recruit highly qualified, highly motivated IT specialists in Portugal. Our new software development center in Lisbon will be the decisive next step. We are transferring the success story of our Berlin digital labs to Portugal: combining exciting tasks with the most advanced agile working methods of the IT scene,” said Volkswagen Group CIO Martin Hofmann.

The Volkswagen Group has been a key element in the Portuguese economy for more than 25 years. Volkswagen Autoeuropa, the largest automotive plant in the country, is based in Palmela with a workforce of about 5,900 people, producing the T-Roc, the Volkswagen Sharan and the SEAT Alhambra.


Jaguar Land Rover's UK output at risk from coronavirus-hit supplies

                LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has flown Chinese parts in suitcases to Britain to maintain production and could run out after two weeks as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak hits firms across countries and industries.

Britain’s biggest carmaker, which operates three car factories in its home market making nearly 400,000 vehicles a year, joined major global companies such as Apple in warning of the impact of the virus on supply chains.

Fiat Chrysler said last week it had temporarily halted output at its Serbian plant, the first such suspension by an automaker in Europe in response to the health crisis.

Components made in China are used in millions of vehicles assembled around the world and Hubei province — the centre of the virus outbreak — is a major hub for vehicle parts production and shipments.

“We are safe for this week and we are safe for next week and in the third week we have ... parts missing,” chief executive Ralf Speth told reporters at the official opening of the National Automotive Innovation Centre in Coventry, central England.

“We have flown parts in suitcases from China to the UK,” he said.

Production at the firm’s Chinese factory would re-start on Feb. 24 and was “safe for the very first week”, he added.

The new coronavirus has killed some 1,900 people in China and infected around 72,000, confining millions to their homes, disrupting businesses and delaying re-opening of factories after the extended Lunar New Year holiday break.

Speth said sales in China, the world’s biggest auto market, had been hit. That comes after JLR had seen a recovery in sales there, helping it to return to profitability in recent quarters.

“That’s completely stopped. It’s zero,” he said. “You don’t know whether the economy will catch up or whether this kind of loss is just a loss.”

The boss of Tata Motors, JLR’s parent company, speaking at the same event, said its Indian suppliers did not have sufficient visibility regarding parts from China.

“We are safe for the month of February and for a good part of March,” said Guenter Butschek. “Are we fully covered at this point of time for the full month of March? Unfortunately... not.”

 Jaguar Land Rover's engine plant in Changshu, China.


Porsche and more Audi models sucked into 'Dieselgate'

                WASHINGTON: Volkswagen used devices to cheat air pollution tests in diesel luxury vehicles, US environmental regulators said on Monday, in a new blow to the automaker already reeling from similar allegations regarding millions of smaller diesel engines.

The US Environmental Protection Agency said it is now looking at 3.0-liter V6 diesel engines used mostly in larger, more expensive models like the Porsche Cayenne sport utility vehicle in addition to engines on Jettas, Passats and other mass-market models whose test-deceiving software were initially targeted by the agency in mid-September.

Volkswagen in a response Monday took issue with the EPA's findings, saying that "no software has been installed" in its 3.0-liter V6 diesel engines "to alter emissions characteristics in a forbidden manner."

VW made similar denials for more than a year to US regulators before admitting to cheating on the four-cylinder diesels.

A VW group source familiar with the EPA investigation on Monday said, "We want to know more from the regulators about how they came to this conclusion. We're not sure how they came up with their findings, and would like a better opportunity to review the data with the regulators."

The V6 diesel was designed by VW's Audi unit and widely used in premium models sold by the VW, Audi and Porsche brands in model years 2014 through 2016.

The move pulls Porsche and Audi deeper into the scandal that has already engulfed the corporate parent Volkswagen AG and its mass-market VW brand, shaving nearly 20 billion euros (US$22 billion) off its market capitalisation.

On the road, emissions of the smog-causing pollutant nitrogen oxide on the affected high-end vehicles could be nine times higher than allowed, the EPA said.

“The latest revelations raise the question, where does VW’s road of deceit end?," House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton said in a statement, adding that the disclosure "prompts questions regarding the prevalence of the emissions cheating and how it went undetected for so long.”

Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey said the automaker "should be held accountable for illegally using defeat devices to cheat consumers and emissions controls. The administration should reverse any CAFE or other benefits VW might have enjoyed as a result of illegal behaviour."

About 10,000 of the luxury cars from Volkswagen units are fitted with the illegal software device, US and California regulators said. Many more may be on the road. VW in 2013 said it had built and sold more than 1.6 million 3.0 V6 TDI engines worldwide, just before the current version of the engine was introduced in 2014.

It is not clear how many models fitted with the current version of the V-6 may have the illegal software. The EPA said it cited only those vehicles and model years that it had recently tested. It did not say if it has tested earlier versions of the engine.

In September, Volkswagen admitted it installed software that can cheat emissions tests, called defeat devices, in smaller, four-cylinder engines on about 482,000 cars in the United States and more than 11 million worldwide.

Among the diesel models officials named on Monday as being in violation of US laws are five Audi models, including the A6 sedan and the Q5 SUV. Also cited were the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.

In a separate statement, Porsche said it was "surprised to learn this information."

"Until this notice, all of our information was that the Porsche Cayenne Diesel is fully compliant," it added.

The emissions cheats allowed the vehicles to pass tests meant to monitor vehicles' emissions of nitrogen oxide.

The mechanism detects when an engine is being tested for tailpipe emissions and then alters the emission controls to permit more pollutants in actual driving.

Carmakers are permitted to use software to optimize engine performance in some cases, but sidestepping emissions controls with a defeat device is prohibited by law.

Volkswagen has yet to come up with solutions to address illegal software on three generations of four-cylinder diesels first cited by the EPA on Sept 18.


Elderly woman believed to be part of tyre scam syndicate in Melaka

                MELAKA: An elderly woman is believed to be part of a syndicate involved in cheating tyre shops here, says Melaka Chief Minister’s special secretary Yong Fun Juan.

Yong said in the latest case, a 33-year-old clerk of a tyre outlet in Durian Tunggal here was conned out of RM28,000 by a member of the syndicate on Aug 3.

“The fraudster claiming to be a managing director of a wood factory placed an order online for 20 lorry tyres and issued a purchasing order and cheque to the tyre shop.

“The cheque was deposited on the same day as the order and the clerk of the tyre shop was told that it would take three days for the bank clearance before she can receive the money,” he said on Thursday.

Yong said on Aug 5 morning, a driver from an on-demand delivery platform reached the outlet to collect the tyres.

“The clerk then checked with her shop’s accountant and was told the cheque has been deposited into the company’s account but yet to be cleared.

“The scammer also told the clerk that she needed the tyres to be delivered urgently and the cheque will be cleared by the evening,” he said.

Yong said the clerk allowed the consignment to be delivered to a factory in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

However, the delivery driver was asked to deliver the tyres along a roadside in Selangor and upon reaching the site, the driver was asked by an elderly woman to load the consignment into another lorry.

Yong said the clerk quickly contacted the scammer when she received a notice that the cheque had bounced back but her calls went unanswered before she lodged a police report at the Tanjung Minyak police station at 10.30pm on Aug 5.

He said the delivery driver described the woman as someone in her early 70s.

Yong said similar cheating cases targeting tyre shops here had been rampant based on the feedback from Melaka Tyre Shop Owners Association.

“However, this was the first time where the consignment was delivered before the payment was made,” he added.


Aston Martin gives sneak peek of Valkyrie AMR Pro

                LONDON: Due to arrive in 2020, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro is a track-only car offering F1 levels of performance but only to 20 lucky owners.

The new car is a racing version of the recently announced Valkyrie, a car co-designed with Formula 1 Team Red Bull racing that will offer levels of performance never experienced in any type of Aston Martin, but in a carbon fibre package that is road legal.

And while the road-going version can comfortably be called the company's first true hypercar, the AMR Pro version can easily be called the most ferocious thing on four wheels ever to roll off the Aston production line.

Just as with the multi-million-pound road-going version, this version - which will come with mandatory driving lessons - has been designed by Adrian Newey, the most successful F1 designer in recent history.

READ MORE: Behold the Mercedes-AMG Project One

It will also feature the same naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine built by Cosworth and Rimac Energy Recovery System to offer drivers an extra boost of acceleration or power at the touch of a button. But that's where the similarities between the road car and the track car will end.

"With the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro, we have the freedom to create an extreme evolution," said Newey.

"While the core elements of the road and track versions are shared, every aspect of the AMR Pro - aerodynamics, chassis, powertrain and weight - has been optimised to significantly extend the performance envelope. It offers a level of track performance significantly beyond any previous two seat closed roof car."

That's a huge statement to make, but on paper at least this car could conceivably match the lap times of a current-generation F1 or LMP1 car.

The car has a heavily revised exterior focused on aerodynamics and downforce generation in an extreme exercise of form following function. It will roll on comparatively tiny 18-inch wheels but that's so that they can be fitted with F1 or LMP1 Michelin racing tyres.

Meanwhile to cut weight and up performance, every unnecessary element, from the car's heaters and infotainment system to its adjustable leather seats, have been jettisoned. The car's cabin will be a very sparse space with two fixed, lightweight carbon fibre seats. Even the glass windows have been replaced in favour of ones formed from lighter polycarbonate.

The chassis and suspension system have been overhauled to reduce weight further. A host of suspension components are now of the carbon fibre variety, as are the brakes.

But these changes mean that the car should be able to reach speeds in excess of 402kph and to be able to continue cornering and holding the perfect line even when experiencing forces in excess of 3.3g. Likewise, it can withstand 3.5g when under deceleration.

Little wonder that owners will need to learn how to drive all over again. However, the driving lessons will be conducted with Red Bull at its F1 facility where each car will also be tailored to each owner's driving style.

"Valkyrie has always been about pushing the limits and redefining the possible," said Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer.

"The road car will set new benchmarks for performance, engineering and technology - a hypercar in the truest sense - and with the track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro those limits will be pushed further still. It's a remarkable project."


20,000 Bezza cars delivered

                KUALA LUMPUR: Since its launch on July 21, Perodua has registered 20,000 Bezzas which is the automaker's highest ever deliveries achieved within 90 days for a new model.

The Bezza is the national compact carmakers’ first compact sedan, which upper body was designed by Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Perodua sold 150,900 vehicles for the first nine months of the year, capturing an estimated total industry volume (TIV) market share of 36.1 per cent.

“We thank our customers for choosing us as their brand of choice and we give our assurance that we will deliver the Bezza, in particular, with minimal waiting for our customers,” said Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

“On a year-to-year comparison, we are cautiously optimistic that we will further reduce the sales deficit gap which currently stands at 4.2 per cent,” said Aminar said.

For comparison, Perodua sold 157,500 vehicles the first nine months of 2015.

Perodua has come up with several key initiatives to drive sales in the fourth quarter.

These initiatives include the “Test Drive and Win” contest whereby the winner stands a chance to win a Perodua Bezza Advance (with GearUp accessories); and an opportunity to win a holiday trip to China.

There is also savings for selected Perodua models in October.


Maserati to arrive late to crowded luxury SUV party

                FRANKFURT: As competitors gear up to put on display new luxury sport utility vehicles at the Frankfurt auto show, Maserati keeps its fans waiting a little longer as it makes final tweaks to a model meant to reverse falling sales of the Italian brand.

Bentley's Bentayga and Jaguar's F-Pace will be shown in Frankfurt and deliveries of Tesla's electric Model X are due to start in two weeks.

The love affair with SUVs and their higher ground clearance have also prompted Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce to seek to compete in the popular segment.

Maserati goes to the 2015 Frankfurt show with upgrades for all current engines to the Euro 6 standard and adds exclusive new contents for the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons.

Forecaster IHS Automotive expects global sales of premium and luxury SUVs to grow by more than 40 percent to 1.4 million vehicles between 2008 and 2018. Overall SUV sales are expected to triple to more than 25 million over that period.

"With gas prices low, it's a good time to launch an SUV...my only concern is that Maserati may get lost in the clutter because there are so many luxury crossovers coming out at the same time," said Lincoln Merrihew, an industry consultant at Millward Brown Digital.

Set for a 2015 launch according to a growth plan announced last year, the Maserati Levante SUV is now expected to debut by the end of the first quarter of 2016, most likely at the Geneva auto show in March.

Workers at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, northern Italy, are preparing for commercial production which Sergio Marchionne, chief executive at Maserati parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), expects to start by January.

"It's a complex car and we need to test it before launching it," Marchionne said this month.

A Maserati SUV has been in the making for more than a decade since the first concept was presented in 2003.
Maserati hopes the Levante will help it emulate the success of Porsche, which set the standard for multiplying sales of an expensive brand without damaging the exclusive image that reaps big profits.

Marchionne is betting Maserati can still offer something unique: Italian design and engines made by sister brand Ferrari.

Key to Levante's success will be its reception in North America, home to 40 percent of Maserati's sales last year.
Maserati has a strong image in the United States, combining a recognised racing heritage with Italian luxury, said Jane Nakagawa, managing director at U.S.-based product and market strategy consultancy Portia Consulting.

"The chances are always good for luxury brands that don't have to sell a lot of cars," she said.

Analysts expect the Levante to cover a price range of between 70,000-140,000 euros (US$79,051-US$158,102), similar to Porsche's Cayenne, but wonder whether the Maserati SUV will stand out sufficiently to match the success of its German rival, especially as it comes more than a decade later.

Marchionne is counting on the Levante to halt a fall in Maserati sales in recent quarters.

They fell 11 percent in the first half of the year as higher sales in Europe failed to offset weaker demand from China and the United States.

"(The Levante) will certainly change the earnings generation capability of Maserati," he said. "We need to wait until then." The brand's profitability was also hit by worse pricing arrangements for imported vehicles in China and as customers turned to the entry-level Ghibli model at the expense of the higher-margin Quattroporte Coupe.

IHS sees Maserati selling just under 48,000 vehicles in 2018, with the Levante contributing around 17,200 vehicles at peak.

The performance at Maserati is watched for clues about the potential success of a revamp at sister brand Alfa Romeo which is seen as even more crucial to FCA's global expansion plan.

Alfa's first new model, the Giulia sedan, will be shown at the Frankfurt auto show.

"If Maserati serves as a template for FCA's rejuvenation efforts at Alfa Romeo it is worth noting that Maserati's own renaissance seems to have run out of steam after just 24 months," said Arndt Ellinghorst, an analyst at Evercore ISI.


Owners of heavy vehicles that fail Puspakom standards will face action, says JPJ

                KUALA LUMPUR: Owners of heavy vehicles will face action if they do not comply with national vehicle inspection company Puspakom's standards.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim said statistics showed an increase in accidents involving heavy vehicles.

“Based on police statistics, a total of 19,888 lorries have been involved in road accidents across the country between January and June. This is a 28% increase over (the same period) last year," he told a press conference today at the Puspakom inspection centre near JPJ headquarters here.

A special operation was conducted today to check standard operating procedure compliance and ensure roadworthiness of heavy vehicles.

The “end to end” inspection was conducted from 9am to 2pm and done on a Monday because of the large number of inspections usually conducted on the day.

“This is based on our data. Mondays and Fridays are normally the most. On average we inspect nearly 400 vehicles on a Monday,” Zailani said.

He also emphasised the importance of safety standards in operating commercial vehicles.

“Heavy vehicles take longer to brake. They need more distance.

“If it’s overloaded, the momentum would also affect the vehicle,” he said.

Out of the 256 vehicles inspected, action was taken against 140 and 73 summonses were issued.

Infractions ranged from improper compliance to non-adherence to safety standards and failing drug tests.

Three of the drivers tested positive for drugs and were handed over to the National Anti-Drug Agency.

Zailani added that following Monday's operation, JPJ would implement several improvements in vehicle inspection procedures at Puspakom.

“We will increase the frequency of our inspection and audit operations at Puspakom, especially at offices that inspect heavy vehicles.

“The procedures to inspect items that require a high level of safety assurance, such as brakes, tyres and other components, will be checked again in the near future,” he said.

He added that while he would prefer not to seize vehicles due to the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on businesses, JPJ would not hesitate to do its duty when standards were not followed.

“We are looking at a win-win scenario,” he said


Acer self-driving concept car revealed

                TAIPEI: Acer unveiled its self-driving concept car last week at the Taiwan Automotive Technology Innovation Summit 2018.

The Level 4-ready self-driving concept car is based on the Luxgen S3 electric vehicle platform, with Acer’s autonomous driving system in control of sensing and decision-making.

Acer said its self-driving system is able to make dynamic vehicle control decisions through AI (artificial intelligence) models based on key data including image recognition, 3D Lidar obstacle detection, high-precision maps and real-time positioning to help the car steer, brake, cruise, maneuver, or park.

It also has a cloud management system for car sharing services so that a control centre can dispatch vehicles when users make transportation requests through their mobile device. The cloud management system can manage scheduling, monitoring, notification, and reporting, and allows safety monitoring and human intervention.

In the future, Acer’s self-driving system can enable multiple levels of autonomous driving, with plans to open the platform to partners and developers to work on even more advanced self-driving services.

The concept car was built in collaboration with Luxgen and Yulon Group, one of Taiwan’s top automakers and its subsidiaries automotive electronics provider HAITEC.


2023 will be the year of the electric SUV in US

                NEW YORK: In the evolution of the electric vehicle, 2022 will be remembered for its megafauna: Massive electric trucks finally roamed the land, with equally outsized prices.

Next year, however, should bring some subspecies - a diaspora of SUVs, including some slightly smaller options and, rarer still, a precious few with more modest window stickers.

Here are four prognostications to keep in mind.

Expect to see more EVs at Costco

Somewhere around 20 all-new electric vehicle models are expected to launch in the US over the next 12 months, roughly the same amount as debuted this year. Critically, however, many of them are aimed at a sweet spot in the American market, which is to say good for carrying cargo and families, and not extremely expensive.

Days ago, Nissan’s long-awaited Ariya finally rolled into dealerships with a starting price of US$43,190. A few months from now, Chevrolet says it will add its Blazer EV at just shy of US$45,000, followed by the smaller, cheaper Equinox EV in the fall. Kia’s EV9, a bonafide three-row, will probably land in somewhat affordable territory as well, if it tracks its smaller sibling, the EV6.

And on the startup front, VinFast, a Vietnamese manufacturer, will debut with its VF 8, a small SUV priced at US$40,700 (though the battery is packaged in a monthly subscription plan).

European drivers can expect many of the same options, plus a few that are strictly Continental, like the Jeep Avenger, a stubby SUV that stands as the brand’s first all-electric offering. It’s joined by some sporty station wagons, including the Opel Astra Electric and the Peugot e-308 SW.

In part because of their lower profiles, both cars boast impressive efficiency, posting road-trip-ready range figures with batteries far smaller than those found in most American EVs.

The US$100,000+ market isn’t slowing down

Plenty of swankier SUVs are in the offing in 2023, including a version of GMC’s Hummer EV, with a price tag squarely in six-figure territory; the first electric Lexus, dubbed RZ; an "Electrified” version of Hyundai’s GV70; two more small crossover-type things from Polestar, named simply 3 and 4; and at the top of the luxury pyramid, the Mercedes EQE and EQS. There’s even talk of a large electric Volvo.

There will be greater numbers of EVs like the Rivian R1S and Cadillac’s new Lyric, which are technically on the market but still uncommon on most American roads. On the truck side, GM will finally start stamping out its Silverado EV, a model that regularly wins more than half a million gas customers a year.

Manufacturing issues will barely ease up

Those on the hunt for an electric SUV will see their choices double in 2023. But choosing a new whip and actually buying a new whip will continue to be very different things.

Supplies will stay tight, prices will stay elevated and legacy automakers will still be eager to sell gas vehicles while they spool up almost the entire EV market.

Startup automakers, meanwhile, are still figuring out how to actually build an auto at scale. Rivian, for example, only made about 25,000 vehicles this year, though it has more than four times that many orders on its books. Lucid Group was aiming for just 6,000 to 7,000 EVs in 2022 after halving its production goals late in the summer.

S&P Global Mobility expects drivers around the world to snap up 10 million EVs in 2023, almost 14% of the entire market, but they won’t come cheap. S&P warns that EV fever is pushing prices even higher and a rash of new incentives laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act will only lessen the sting slightly.

Making money on EVs won’t get much easier

While the suits in Detroit, Seoul, Stuttgart and Tokyo may finally get the computer chips they need, the unit economics on electric vehicles are still crummy. Lithium-ion battery prices increased in 2022 for the first time on record, a 7% bump.

And some of the biggest brains in the business, including Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Rivian CEO and co-founder RJ Scaringe, worry that it will take years for the battery supply chain to catch up.

That’s why the best strategy for auto executives may be to stick with the simple bait-and-switch: Get drivers hyped to go electric with low base prices, while predominantly stamping out far more expensive, higher-trim models. If you already can’t make enough cars, the logic goes, make the most profitable ones.

But if the economy stays on shaky ground and interest rates continue to climb, banking on indefinite demand may be unwise.

"US consumers are hunkering down,” says S&P analyst Chris Hopson, "and recovery towards pre-pandemic vehicle demand seems like a hard sell.”

The ironic thing is no one really has any idea just how many drivers want to go electric, but safe to say it’s a lot.

Surveys regularly peg the EV-curious between 25% and 50% and that share will only increase as products proliferate. For green driving, as the saying goes, it’s the best of times and…well…it could be better.


Kawasaki Z900RS has much riding joy

                The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS is built on the 70s styling taking cue from the Kawasaki Z1.

While fitted with the modern technologies, this bike appeals to the present riders who have a penchant for retro Kawasaki styling.

The design of the bike is very similar to the Z1.

The seat is wide and comfortable. The instrument panel has two round gauges with a LCD display in between.

The LCD display offers information on fuel gauge, gear position, ambient and engine temperatures, and the traction control setting.

Kawasaki has made operating the LCD display simple.

All I had to do was to manage the toggle which is placed on the rightside of the handlebar.

The big round LED headlight and the iconic teardrop fuel tank that Kawasaki was well known for during the 70s and 80s is the key design to ensure the retro look.

Without that headlight and teardrop tank, every other design on this bike would have failed to revive the retro look that Kawasaki envisaged.

The long side mirrors further enhance the retro look complemented by the header pipes which are extremely shiny with a three-step buffing.

These pipes will not discolour within a short period of time due to the heat omitted by the engine unlike other bikes in the market.

This bike comes with cast wheels but I preferred spoke-wheels, staying true to the original design.

A must mention is the ducktail light which I find a nice final touch to the whole design.

Besides the retro design, the performance of the bike is anchored on modern technology like ABS, traction control, fuel injection and essential information for riders about the bike via LED display.

From the design of the bike, it is evident that the ergonomic of this bike is upright sitting position on a long and wide saddle.

My ride to Morib via the backroads was very pleasant where the saddle was comfortable.

Reach to the handlebars and the gearshifter were natural.

The bike was designed not for aggressive but rather relaxed riding.

Please be mindful, even though it is designed for ‘pleasure riding’, the bike comes with huge amount of torque.

The bike delivers 110hp at 8,500rpm and 98.5Nm torque at 6,500rpm and mated to a six-speed transmission.

The first and second gears are shorter compared to the rest of the gears.

This sort of gearing ensures a more linear power build-up compared to other much aggressive bikes.

The engine on this machine has been designed to offer linear power delivery.

As I twist the throttle on the highways, power picks up gradually without any lag at all.

At 1,900rpm, I can feel the torque kicking in.

The sweet spot of the torque is at 5,800rpm and the Z900RS transforms from a law-abiding machine to a speed demon.

I could easily power beyond the legal speed limit, tackle sweeping corners above 100kph and overtaking every single vehicle on the road.

It was insanely amazing experience.

The throttle, clutch and gear-shifting worked clockwork and seamlessly.

Even in sixth, there was still so much torque left, I was looking for the non-existent “seventh” to slot in to.

I am able to ride this bike anywhere in the city at low rpm and it does not stall because of its punchy torque.

The only challenge I have with this bike during rush hour in Kuala Lumpur was the difficulty to squeeze in between cars due to its long wing mirrors.

The Z900RS is fitted with Kawasaki TRaction Control (KTRC) which comes with two modes.

Mode One allows full power and less restrictions and second mode is very useful during rain or on wet roads where KTRC minimises tyre skids and slips.

KTRC is designed to keep riders safe.

While riding the bike through the B roads and the corners, the rear suspension features 140mm rear suspension travel, gives me the comfort that I was expecting.

It has an aggressive but yet pleasant characteristic that I personally feel is a good combination.

I guess the reason for this mix is because of how the bike behaves which is a lot of torque; yet it is designed for a pleasant ride without the aggression.

Meanwhile the front fork works well with on corners, humps and bumps.

It is a bit soft but does not lunge.

Priced at RM64,050 (without GST), the Z900RS is an ideal bike for daily use that can also be enjoyed on open highways.

The present technology and the retro design are a perfect blend which experienced and new riders will very much appreciate.

What is more even exciting about this bike is its timeless design which will always stay relevant in many years to come.

SPECIFICATIONS - Kawasaki Z900RSEngine: 948cc, liquid-cooled DOHC four-cylinder
Maximum power: 110hp at 8,500rpm
Maximum torque: 98.5Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed

Front suspension: Fully adjustable fork
Rear suspension: Single shock adjustable for rebound damping and pre-load

Front braking system: 2X267mm discs with radially-mounted four-piston Mono bloc calipers
Rear braking system: 216mm disc and single-piston caliper

Fuel capacity: 17 litres

Price: RM64,050(without GST)


From turbos to twin-pots - how to pick the ideal engine size

                BERLIN: Petrol and diesel engines for cars will be around for a long time to come, despite the huge progress on improving electric vehicles seen in recent years.

There are loads of combustion engines out there in all shapes and sizes, so picking the right engine configuration for your needs can be tricky.

Let's take a look at different engine sizes in order to help you work out what capacity you need.

Engine sizes the world over are measured in either litres or cubic centimetres (cc), where 1,000cc amounts to one litre. This is a measurement of the room in the engine's cylinders where combustion takes place in order to generate motive power.

More litres or cc add up to more power, although these days technological advances mean that small engines can provide much more usable performance than they could say 30 years ago.

Generally speaking, regular long-distance journeys call for a car with a larger engine which has power in reserve so that it does not have to work too hard. Smaller engines are more than adequate for city driving or shorter trips.

Two-cylinder: Downsizing the power plants of cars and other vehicles has been seen for some years now as a method of making engines more compact and frugal without sacrificing power output.

In 2010 Fiat introduced the TwinAir two-pot motor which uses a balancing shaft to reduce vibrations and run smoothly - not a strong point with older two-pot motors which used to be thought of as being only suitable for motorcycles.

Three-cylinder: Three-pot motors mated to a turbocharger are all the rage in compact cars and can sometimes get by without balancer shafts. They are small too, and drivers appreciate the elastic and smooth power delivery up to the red line.

Opel and VW rediscovered the three-pot at the end of the 1990s. Along with BMW, Ford and BMW they have perfected the triple.

"The sound is good, they are fun to drive and offer remarkable economy," said BMW powertrain development boss Markus Duesmann.

Four-cylinde: More cylinders mean smoother running and while the humble four-pot is not perfect, it offers a lot of plus points. A four-cylinder motor was standard on most cars for many decades and its history goes back to the pioneering Ford Model T.

The up-and-down motion of the pistons still produces annoying vibration through an inherent imbalance, which gets worse when the engine is larger. Modern versions have smoothed out these gremlins.

Volvo fits four-pots to the XC90 and S90/V90 instead of more expensive six-cylinders and in the Porsche Boxster and Cayman a turbocharged four-cylinder has won over initially sceptical marque enthusiasts.

Six-cylinder: Engines with five cylinders have vanished from the market, leaving the six-cylinder to rule the roost when it comes to combining smoothness and economy.

Marques like Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz established their reputation with six-cylinder engines and upmarket maker BMW has stayed loyal to the layout.

Inline sixes, with the cylinders lined up in a row, are silky smooth, although they do take up more under-bonnet space than a V6, which has two opposing banks of three cylinders.

"For us the six-cylinder is an engine with a long tradition, a great sound of its own and a good blend of snappy power delivery and refinement," said BMW man Duesmann.

Eight-cylinder: Such engines usually come as V8s and are famous for their burbling sound and balance, which all but eliminates annoying buzzes and vibration.

Ten to  12-cylinder: V10 and V12 engines are confined to exotic sports models and supercars, but in engineering terms these units are no smoother than a good V8. On the downside, the extra cylinders add weight, complication and cost.


Maseratis not enough, PNG orders Bentley from Malaysian firm for Apec

                WELLINGTON: Papua New Guinea has reportedly bought three Bentley limousines to use at an Asia-Pacific summit next month, in a move set to rev-up further outrage after the purchase of 40 Maseratis for the same event.

The Bentley Flying Spur luxury cars ordered for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Port Moresby cost more than A$320,000 (RM948,000) each, the Australian newspaper reported.

It said the cars were en route to the poverty-stricken Melanesian nation by sea, publishing an invoice purportedly detailing the purchase from a Malaysian company, South Pacific Ventures.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is already under fire after splurging A$6.4 million (RM19mil) on the fleet of Maseratis to chauffeur dignitaries around Port Moresby, where half the population live in squatter settlements.

Critics say the money could have been better spent dealing with chronic social problems in a developing nation where diseases such as polio and TB have recently re-emerged.

Opposition lawmakers are threatening a national strike over the issue, saying it symbolised government corruption.

"We are disgusted," opposition politician Bryan Kramer posted on social media Monday after meeting fellow MPs to discuss the issue.

"We agreed that we are sick to death of seeing our people suffer while our own members of parliament... (collude) with overseas opportunists only to steal from our people."

The strike was originally scheduled for this week but Kramer said it had been deferred to Oct 25 to avoid clashing with school exams.

The PNG government says the luxury cars are needed for a prestige event like Apec and the cars would be sold on to the private sector after the summit finishes.

It says buyers are already lined up, a claim disputed by the opposition.


Caterham has pre-ownership programme

                LONDON: British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, has launched its Selected pre-ownership service that’s designed to offer buyers the finest pre-owned Caterham Sevens in the country.

The Caterham Selected is the manufacturer’s first approved pre-owned car service that allows car enthusiasts who seek a modern or vintage Caterham better accessibility.

Caterham said that its Selected service also provides the same peace of mind as buyers of a brand new vehicle via an 81-point check as outlined by Caterham’s engineering team.

Additionally, the Caterham Selected service also provides a 12-months parts and labour warranty as well as a year of the UK’s Automotive Assurance (AA) breakdown coverage - including Home Start, free Ministry of Transport (MoT) tests throughout the ownership of the vehicle and a Caterham HPI certificate.

All Caterham Selected vehicles go through a selection process and are thus ‘selected’ based on their condition, specification and provenance.

To top it off with icing, Caterham has teamed with Bookatrack and the Lotus 7 owners club to offer Selected customers a BookaTrack trackday voucher, as well as a one-year membership of the Caterham owner’s club.

“We now offer a wide range of pre-owned Caterham cars with market leading benefits designed to provide as much reassurance as possible and since Caterham’s customers are enthusiasts at heart; they want to concentrate on enjoying the thrilling driving experience, while we look after the rest,” said Caterham Group chief executive officer Graham Macdonald.


Mat rempit want winnings in cash, not women

                PETALING JAYA: With winnings from street racing surging to as high as RM50,000 a race, mat rempit have found it hard to turn down the lucrative but illegal activity, Kosmo! Ahad reported.

In interviews with illegal racers, the daily said the group also stopped the practice of offering women in wagers because mat rempit now view it as a “low class” practice.

A mat rempit known as Halim, 25, said he could earn up to RM6,000 a month by racing on the streets of Kota Baru, Kelantan, every weekend.

“The races are usually held at Jalan Padang Kala and the winnings can go as high as RM50,000. This would then be split between mechanics, jockeys and bike owners,” Halim said.

Rafi Jamal, 25, said he had spent tens of thousands of ringgit on modifications to his motorcycle to compete in races.

“Indeed, there were some races that offered women as wagers but that was low class. It was popular in the 1990s, but now mat rempit want money,” he said.


Mustang GT can now blow away the competition with a little help from Roush

                LAS VEGAS: Despite having the biggest stand of any carmaker at this year's SEMA — complete with over 50 suitably supped up vehicles — for many, the biggest reveal Ford made in Las Vegas concerns a little alloy casing in a box.

Automotive historians will argue that the Pontiac GTO was the vehicle that ushered in the age of the muscle car. And while technically speaking the GTO did arrive first, the Ford Mustang is the vehicle that defined the automotive genre and has always been the car to keep up with since its unveiling in April 1964.

And to ensure that the Mustang maintains its lead in what is fast becoming a second golden age of the muscle car — one littered with Camaros setting Nurburgring lap records and drag strip racing yet road-legal Dodge Challengers — Ford has partnered with racing and modification experts Roush on a new aftermarket supercharger.

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When fitted, a current model-year Ford Mustang V8 GT's power rockets up to 700hp — that's just 7hp shy of the ferocious Dodge Hellcat — as long as the car is running on 93 octane fuel. The blower also ups torque significantly to 829Nm. Better still, this package has been designed specifically to work with the V8 Mustang and the V8-engined F-150 Ford pickup, regardless of whether the vehicle in question has an automatic or manual transmission.

"Ford and Roush have teamed up on performance for years on and off the track," said Doug White, Global Ford Performance Parts Manager. "This new supercharger is another great example of our innovation in performance, greatly improving horsepower and torque so people can enjoy two of our most iconic vehicles even more."

The supercharging kit, if installed by a Ford or Roush dealer, is also covered under a three-year warranty like an official Ford part — that's how robust and reliable the supercharger is.

"Our teams collaborated to create the most highly engineered, tested and performing supercharger kit on the market," said Roush company chairman, Jack Roush. "The combination of the 2018 5.0-litre engine and our all-new, fully integrated 2650 supercharger system yields simply incredible, no-compromise performance."

The kit will go on sale officially at the beginning of 2018 and hopefully then the companies will also reveal its other vital performance statistics, such as how much acceleration is improved or if the system boosts top speed without the need for external aerodynamic alterations.


Shell FuelSave 95 refreshed

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia has rolled out its latest brand campaign; “Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometer, Ternyata Berbeza”, giving a refreshed look at the benefits of the Shell FuelSave 95.

Designed with Dynaflex technology, FuelSave 95 delivers extra kilometers by:

* Extra Savings, Instantly (Ekstra Penjimatan) - FuelSave 95 reduces friction by up to 90% in critical engine parts to maximise fuel economy.

* Extra Clean (Ekstra Bersih) - FuelSave 95 prevents 95% of deposit formation for a cleaner engine.

* Extra Protection (Ekstra Perlindungan) - FuelSave 95 protects engines from wear, corrosion, and deposit build-up with its ‘Triple Action’ formula.

These key benefits align closely with the findings from a consumer study which revealed that Malaysians chose “better mileage” and “cost-savings” as their top considerations for a quality main grade fuel.

For close to 130 years in Malaysia, Shell has been a leader in developing high quality fuels and investing in the best people and science to drive fuel innovation.

With its aspiration of instant fuel economy from, FuelSave 95 has a long and proud lineage as the firm foundation for Shell’s innovation.

Shell Malaysia Trading and Shell Timur managing director Shairan Huzani Husain said the company placed customers at the heart of everything.

"All our fuels are developed with their needs in mind. With the current Covid-19 pandemic affecting many Malaysian households financially, we resonate strongly with our customers and understand that a little extra goes a long way.

"Shell FuelSave 95 aspires to deliver instant fuel economy from the very first drop and is the smart choice for customers.

"But don’t take my word for it, try it today and experience for yourself the difference of Extra!” he said.

To initiate the launch of “Shell FuelSave 95 Ekstra Kilometer, Ternyata Berbeza” Shell treated Malaysians to a campaign teaser video showcasing not all fuels are created the same, while highlighting Shell’s promise of Extra.

Malaysians can look forward to more engaging content in this campaign, including a heartwarming TVC that follows the story of a loving dad who takes care of his baby, with the help of FuelSave 95 (Scan the QR code to watch).

To make this journey extra rewarding, Shell Malaysia has partnered with BonusLink to give customers up to 4X Points whenever they spend a minimum of RM50 to refuel at Shell.

For details, visit www.shell.com.my.


Even free transport can't shake Luxembourg's love of the car

                LUXEMBOURG: Three years after Luxembourg declared all public transport free in a bid to clear its roads of jams and cut pollution, the car is still king of the congested Grand Duchy.

Traffic permitting, it is barely an hour's drive from Weiswampach in the far north of Luxembourg near the German and Belgian borders to Dudelange in the south, next door to France.

So the wealthy country of just 650,000 people appeared the perfect place for a bold experiment — making public transport on trains, trams and buses free nationwide.

But Luxembourg, despite its lack of long-distance highways, has one of the highest rates of car ownership in Europe, with only Poland exceeding its rate of 681 vehicles per 1,000 residents.

Cross-border workers bring in tens of thousands more vehicles every day as commuters head to jobs in Luxembourg, and long-distance drivers often pass by to fill their tanks in a country with low fuel taxes.

"I often say that Germans build cars and Luxembourgers buy them," joked Deputy Prime Minister Francois Bausch, who is in charge of mobility and public works.

So, three years after ticket offices closed, there's no sign that Luxembourg has ditched the automobile for the tram, even if Bausch sees a thinning of traffic in the capital.

Car culture

"Car culture is truly dominant and it remains pretty tricky to attract motorists onboard public transport," said mobility expert Merlin Gillard, of the LISER research institute.

Luxembourg, along with the rest of the European Union, is attempting to transform itself into a carbon neutral economy by adopting green technologies in transport, energy, factories and farms.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's government is a coalition of liberals, socialists and greens, and it boasts of investing 800 million euros (RM3.8bil) a year in public transport.

The duchy has Europe's highest-funded tram network per capita, costing 500 euros (RM2,381) per person each year.

"It is the country that invests the most in Europe," Gillard acknowledged, "but Luxembourg is coming from far behind. We're making up for investment that has been very weak for years."

In Luxembourg city, a modern financial services centre built around an historic old town nestling in tight loops of the Alzette river, passengers appreciate the changes.

The central station is undergoing a thorough renovation, an ultra-modern funicular links the upper town to the riverside, and road lanes have been set aside for buses and trams.

Most of all, though, and uniquely in Europe: the network is free.

This, said Edgar Bisenius, owner of a financial services business, is the prime consideration when choosing between a car and the bus. "And it's very positive for the environment," he said.

French teacher Ben Dratwicki travels around the capital by bicycle on personal business, but takes the funicular and the train to get to his school 20km north of the city.

"Transport is a basic right for residents," he argued. "If we have the right to work, we should also have the right to be taken to work, without paying over the odds."

But Dratwicki seems to be in a minority across the country, where traffic jams of private cars still block major arteries during rush hour.

Part of the explanation may be the 220,000 cross-border workers, vital to Luxembourg's economy, who arrive every day from neighbouring countries to enjoy higher wages... but a longer commute.

Cross-border park and ride?

The trains and buses they could board in France, Belgium or Germany are not free until they cross into Luxembourg, and many daily workers remain wedded to their cars.

Bausch, a Green, has a plan to help some of the French workers, who after all pay their income taxes in Luxembourg.

He aims to finance car parks on the French side of the border, and has promised that from 2027 or 2028 there will be a train from the French town of Thionville to Luxembourg every seven minutes.

Experts like Gillard, however, are sceptical, saying the problem is embedded in the underlying structure of the Luxembourg economy.

French workers can't afford rents or property prices in Luxembourg, but much of the cash they save by living at home is wasted on the busy and polluting commute to work.


US proposes to slash EV mileage ratings to meet fuel economy rules

                WASHINGTON: The US Energy Department (DOE) on Monday proposed reducing electric vehicles' (EV) mileage ratings to meet government fuel economy requirements, a move that could force automakers to sell more low-emissions cars or improve conventional models.

DOE wants to significantly revise how it calculates the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy rating for electric and plug-in electric hybrids for use in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program.

The current system has not been updated in more than two decades.

"Encouraging adoption of EVs can reduce petroleum consumption but giving too much credit for that adoption can lead to increased net petroleum use because it enables lower fuel economy among conventional vehicles, which represent by far the majority of vehicles sold," DOE said in its proposed regulation.

Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe) ratings are determined by using values for national electricity, petroleum generation and distribution efficiency and driving patterns.

Environmental groups note fuel economy ratings for EVs is far higher for determining CAFE compliance than those listed on the government's consumer fueleconomy.gov website.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major automakers, warned last year that lowering the values could have far-reaching implications and would discourage EV adoption.

The group said on Monday it was unclear how the proposed DOE calculation would be incorporated in future CAFE standards.

A Volkswagen ID.4 EV with a current 380.6 MPGe under CAFE would get 107.4 MPGe under the DOE proposal, while a Ford F-150 EV drops from 237.1 to 67.1 MPGe and Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid falls from 88.2 to 59.5 MPGe.

The Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club petitioned for the change in 2021, arguing "excessively high imputed fuel economy values for EVs means that a relatively small number of EVs will mathematically guarantee compliance without meaningful improvements in the real-world average fuel economy of automakers' overall fleets."

Tesla backed the environmental groups petition.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday will propose new rules to spur sweeping cuts in vehicle emissions that will push automakers towards a big increase in electric vehicle sales, sources told Reuters last week.

The 2027 to 2032 model year pollution cuts are expected to result in at least half of the new US vehicle fleet by 2030 being electric or plug-in hybrids, sources said, in line with a goal President Joe Biden outlined in 2021.

NHTSA is expected to soon propose parallel new stringent CAFE requirements. In 2022, NHTSA sharply boosted CAFE standards for vehicles, reversing former President Donald Trump's rollback.

Automakers buy credits or pay fines if they cannot meet CAFE requirements. Stellantis, then known as Fiat Chrysler, paid US$152.3 million in total CAFE fines for 2016 and 2017 and faces additional civil penalties. In 2022, NHTSA more than doubled CAFE penalties.


July 21-27: RON97 petrol down 10 sen to RM4.65

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol will drop by 10 sen from RM4.75 to RM4.65 per litre, while the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the week from July 21 to 27, says the Finance Ministry.

The ministry said today that RON95 petrol and diesel will remain at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 per litre, respectively.

The ministry said the new price is based on the weekly retail prices of petroleum products in accordance with the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Veteran German auto boss joins board of US self-driving software startup Apex.AI

Neumann had in the past served as Continental AG CEO.
NEW YORK: A company working to make open-source self-driving software reliable enough to be used in commercially available vehicles said it had hired a former German car boss as it seeks to expand its reach.

Palo Alto, California-based Apex.AI has added Karl-Thomas Neumann, an industry veteran who in the past served as the chief executive of Continental AG and led Volkswagen AG’s China business, to its board.

“Karl-Thomas is a great fit for us as we’re trying to learn off what worked in the past and reach out to more industry players,” Apex.AI co-founder Jan Becker told Reuters in an interview this week.

The US firm is expanding to Europe, opening an office in Munich, Germany in July.

Founded by Becker and Dejan Pangercic, two longtime self-driving car engineers formerly at automotive technology supplier Bosch Corp, Apex.AI plans to make a safer and more reliable version of the so-called Robot Operating System, or ROS.

That software is used by scores of labs and companies in their self-driving car and robotics efforts, including Intel Corp, Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc.

The software is open source, meaning that anyone can adopt it and use it free of charge, but it has so far mainly been deployed in research settings.

Apex.AI aims to create a robust, failproof version of the software that can be deployed by carmakers in later stage commercial applications to guarantee safety-critical driving functions.

It hopes to finish the software by the end of the year and submit it to German inspection firm TÜV for approval in early 2020. Once certified, the software could then be deployed by carmakers worldwide, Becker said.

The company wants to license the software and charge for support services, with the exact pricing model currently under discussion, Neumann said.

Apex.AI to date has raised US$15.5 million in venture capital funding, including from the venture arms of Airbus SA and Toyota Motor Corp. Becker said the company was well-funded into 2020.


A merry send-off for Land Rover convoy

                SHAH ALAM: A 16-strong Land Rover Defender convoy also took part in the 2015 Landy De Langkawi Geopark event which was held from March 15 to 19, 2015.

The convoy was flagged-off by Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the exclusive importer of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in Malaysia.

More than 70 participants comprising members of the Friends of Langkawi Geopark (FLAG) and their families were treated to a sumptuous brunch at Sisma Auto’s newly completed Glenmarie dual-brand showroom before being flagged off by company chairman Syed Hussain Syed Mohamed.

According to the South and Central Region convoy leader Ayub Yasir, the 2015 Landy De Langkawi was held to promote Langkawi Geopark as a leading destination for off-roading enthusiasts through the concept of eco-tourism.

The convoy from Petaling Jaya joined more than 30 other 4WD vehicles from the Northern region in Kuala Perlis before crossing over to Langkawi.

“We want to change the perception that off-roading can be destructive to nature and the environment. We believe that responsible travel to natural areas can help conserve the environment and improve the well-being of the local communities. Many Land Rover enthusiasts are firm believers of this,” he said.

The Land Rover Defenders lined up outside the new showroom was a sight to behold.

The most striking vehicle was a bright yellow 1979 Series 3 88-inch half-tonne lightweight Land Rover owned by Englishman Howard Randall, 56.

Although dwarfed by many of the bigger and better accessorised Land Rover Defender pickups and wagons, the little Series 3 simply oozed character and charm with plenty of history.

Built to fit into a transport aircraft to be parachuted into war zones, the lightweight Series 3 featured prominently in many British Army campaigns.


Apis takes win in 2017 BMW Motorrad GS Trophy SEA Qualifier

                CYBERJAYA: The BMW Motorrad GS Trophy Southeast Asia Qualifier 2017 in Malaysia recently concluded with Mohd Apis bin Sagimin winning the spot to represent Malaysia as part of the Southeast Asia team competing at the sixth BMW Motorrad
International GS Trophy in Mongolia next year.

Held over two days, 36 participants were made to face eleven obstacles which tested their knowledge on BMW Motorrad models as well as challenge their enduro riding capabilities in off-road situations.

The challenges also included navigation, endure loop riding, on bike and
off bike skills challenge, blindfold riding, orientation, tyre and tube repairs, team exercises and challenges, fitness, clutch control tests and the ‘coffee grinder’ test.

The challenges conducted were to filter through riders who had knowledge and stamina by pushing their limits.

As the first day concluded, only ten participants were shortlisted for the challenges of the second day.

 Apis (centre) wins a spot to represent Malaysia as part of the Southeast Asia team in Mongolia next year.

On day two, the ten shortlisted participants were provided a specially-prepared BMW R 1200 GS Adventure and had to navigate through 12 obstacles, which included balancing the motorcycle, garage, water crossing, U-turn, emergency stop, up-hill pull away, slalom, sand riding, pipes, stop downhill, on-hill full lock and off-camber.

At the end, Apis emerged the overall winner while the second and third places went to Ghazi Fawwaz Bin Md Arif and Wan Harith Taqiyuddin Bin Wan Deraman respectively.

 Khaizatul (left), the only female competitor, will head to Thailand.

Additionally, Khaizatul Akmar Binti Zabidin, the only female participant from Malaysia will head to Thailand from September 1 to 3 for another round of challenges in the women’s category to represent an all-female team at the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy event in Mongolia next year.

The qualifying rounds in Malaysia also featured six participants from Singapore, three of who were also shortlisted to further compete in Thailand for the last spot for Team Southeast Asia at the sixth BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy in Mongolia in 2018.


PSA, Dongfeng to drop two China auto plants, halve workforce, document shows

                BEIJING/PARIS: Peugeot maker PSA Group and partner Dongfeng Group have agreed to cut thousands of jobs in China and drop two of their four shared assembly plants, according to a document seen by Reuters, in a last-ditch bid to curb mounting losses as the world’s largest auto market loses steam.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobiles (DPCA), the carmakers’ joint venture based in Wuhan, central China, will halve its workforce to 4,000 as it closes one plant and sells another under plans agreed last month between PSA boss Carlos Tavares and Dongfeng chairman Zhu Yanfeng, the document showed.

Both carmakers declined to comment on details of their restructuring plans.

“We are working with our partners to improve the overall performance of our business in China in all its dimensions,” said a PSA spokesman.

The agreement may avert a threatened withdrawal by PSA, according to two sources at the French carmaker who said their chief executive had signalled that PSA might otherwise exit the 27-year-old partnership with its 12.2% shareholder Dongfeng, or even leave China altogether.

“We’re just a whisker away from having to withdraw from China,” said one person close to the PSA board. “It really is that serious.”

PSA is attempting a reboot in adverse conditions. Once an auto industry cash cow, the Chinese market contracted last year for the first time since the 1990s and is expected to decline another 5% in 2019, squeezed by a worsening US-China trade war.

Many Western carmakers were already struggling before the downturn, as Chinese consumers abandoned their mid-market brands for increasingly assertive domestic rivals here including the global manufacturers' own local partners.

PSA’s deep China problems go back even further, spanning four years of plunging sales and 400 million euros written off its DPCA stake, which is now valued at 500 million euros.

Its sales in the country shrunk almost threefold to 251,700 vehicles last year from a 2014 peak of 731,000.

“We’re not giving up,” a PSA spokesman said. “We are still pursuing our action plan to cut fixed costs.”

DPCA will now close its original assembly plant, Wuhan 1, and redevelop the site in a commercial partnership with the local government, according to the plans. The factory’s tooling and production will be transferred to the Wuhan 3 facility.

Headcount across DPCA will fall from 8,000 to 5,500 by the end of 2019 and to 4,000 within another three years, as it also sells off its idling Wuhan 2 facility, according to the document - which noted ongoing discussions with unidentified potential buyers.

Underperforming vehicles will be dropped as the Peugeot and Citroen lineups are streamlined around more profitable models, mirroring the European turnaround strategy now powering record margins in PSA’s home markets.

The carmakers’ dealings have often been fraught, and PSA executives including Tavares have voiced frustration with DPCA’s management. The French group’s shares briefly spiked on an Aug. 7 report that Dongfeng was preparing to divest its PSA stake, acquired in a 2014 bailout.

Questioned by analysts about China operations, Tavares pledged during PSA’s July 24 earnings call to “accelerate variable cost reduction, reduce fixed cost” and boost pricing.

“Our partner is in the same mindset,” he said of Dongfeng. “They also want to accelerate.”

The restructuring faces hurdles, not least the challenge of finding a Wuhan 2 buyer amid mounting uncertainty - although Chinese government restrictions on greenfield sites may help.

Over the past 18 months, Dongfeng’s chairman Zhu tried repeatedly to persuade Honda or Nissan to take over one of the DPCA plants, Reuters reported on Aug 1.


Four Audi models weaved into 'The Gray Man' action thriller

                INGOLSTADT: You may or may not have watched the recent action thriller The Gray Man. The Hollywood stars are not the only appeal here as Audi has added some automotive eye candy into the mix.

Audi and Netflix have worked on The Gray Man to bring the world of Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) to fans around the world.

As the film’s official automotive brand, four Audi vehicles were featured including the all electric Audi RS e-tron GT and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, as well as the Audi RS 7 Sportback and Audi R8 Coupe.

The Gray Man opened in select theaters globally on July 15 and was released worldwide on Netflix on July 22.

The Gray Man is a modern-day global action thriller that features a star-studded cast: Ryan Gosling (Sierra Six), Chris Evans (Lloyd Hansen), Ana de Armas (Dani Miranda), Jessica Henwick (Suzanne Brewer), Regé-Jean Page (Denny Carmichael), Wagner Moura (Laszlo), Julia Butters (Claire), Dhanush (Avik San), with Billy Bob Thornton (Donald Fitzroy), and Alfre Woodard (Margaret Cahill), and more.

The fully electric RS e-tron GT is driven by Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling) and the fully electric Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is driven by Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas). The Audi RS 7 Sportback is featured in a chase sequence with Agent Dani Miranda behind the wheel and the Audi R8 Coupé is seen in a drive up sequence with Avik San (Dhanush).

“This film has a global appeal and intrigue,” said Henrik Wenders, Head of Brand, Audi AG.

“This cooperation made us feel action and high speed. Like the Russo brothers we at Audi are leveraging technology to create something unseen and unexperienced before,” he said. “Audi worked with the directors Joe and Anthony Russo on selecting the new cars. It was fascinating to be partners on this film production and to work closely with Netflix.”

“As storytellers, we have always been very interested in finding and exploring new technologies to find new tools to do something no one has ever done before," said Anthony Russo.

"As much as I love the cars of the past and today, I am certainly most interested in where cars are going tomorrow. That is an exciting new frontier that’s going to bring whole new experiences for us not only as drivers or consumers but also as people who have to coexist with cars.”

 The Russo brothers are Anthony (left) and Joe.

Following the Netflix launch, Audi told the story behind the Q4 Sportback e-tron in a digital short film where viewers learnt how Agent Dani Miranda (Ana De Armas) was first acquainted with her electric car.

This collaboration between Audi and Netflix came to life across nearly 30 countries around the world, with global premiere arrivals that included Audi’s fully electric fleet as well as social and digital activations for fans to further immerse themselves in the world of The Gray Man.


VW sets up Malaysian auto academy

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Car Malaysia (VPCM)'s newly set up automotive academy is aimed at creating technical manpower of global standards, capable of dealing with the challenges in the industry.

The academy, sited in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, covers over 14,117 sq ft and is fully equipped to conduct complete sales and after-sales (technical and non-technical) training, said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

"The Volkswagen Passenger Academy is capable of accommodating up to 150 trainees who will undergo intensive training programmes covering Volkswagen's product and services conducted by 13 dedicated training staff," he said at the opening of the academy on Friday.

Among others, trainees would be taught soft and hard sales skills, technical simulations, diagnostics and functions.

The academy is equipped with four work bays and two technical service centre bays, wheel alignment machine, headlight adjusters, in-ground hoist, electronic board systems training, diagnostics systems and tools to provide trainees with a hands-on learning experience.

"There is also a designated room for parts system management where trainees will undergo practical and simulated training on how to manage, store and categorise parts and equipment," said Winter.

The academy also features a multipurpose hall and six classrooms.

Winter said the academy was a testament to VPCM's commitment to further enhance, grow and nurture local talent and dealers.

"This is one of the major steps VPCM is taking to uphold its philosophy to provide value-added, quality service to customers," he added.

Volkswagen sold 3,164 passenger cars from Jan-July 2017, with the Polo and Vento rated as its best selling models.


New Ferrari 812 Superfast limited edition delivers brutal performance

                MARANELLO: A new special edition of Ferrari's 812 Superfast production flagship features the most powerful petrol engine ever fitted to a road-going car from the Maranello factory.

Owners can expect brutal performance from the tweaked V12 which unleashes 830hp at a screaming 9,500 revolutions.

Most combustion engines would blow up if forced to spin to such limits but Ferrari said it has redesigned many of the unit's key components, enabling them to take the strain. Changes include new valve-timing and a revamped exhaust system.

Naturally, the car offers visual and mechanical updates compared to the standard issue. Ferrari has altered the aerodynamics to give the Superfast a more hardcore look.

The glass rear screen has been ditched in favour of a single-piece aluminium structure which creates a backbone effect that underscores the car's sculptural forms.

A carbon-fibre blade that traverses the bonnet makes it seem shorter, emphasising the width of the car, and the tail now has a more powerful, fastback look despite sharing the 812 Superfast's silhouette and proportions.

The special edition is aimed at passionate, well-heeled Ferrari collectors and a low production run is expected. Pricing has not been revealed but the special edition is likely to cost a whole lot more than the Superfast's already hefty list price of around US$363,000 (RM1.5mil).

The model's name and further technical information will be revealed on May 5 during a live-streamed event on Ferrari’s social media channels.


Some cars' systems designed to keep drivers' eyes on the road fail, says AAA

                MIAMI: Some vehicles equipped with automated assistance technology aimed at keeping drivers alert and watching the road fail at that job, an American Automobile Association study found today.

The AAA study said monitoring systems that rely only on how drivers' handle the steering wheel were not successful.

Those that use cameras to monitor drivers' eye and head position were significantly more effective at keeping drivers focused while vehicle software is engaged.

On average, those direct monitoring systems issued an alert to the driver around 50 seconds sooner than those relying on indirect steering wheel input, AAA said.

Monitoring systems are becoming widespread as part of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which can automate some driving tasks and control a car's braking and acceleration. Automakers are offering them on more vehicle models and the cost of the technology boosts car sales prices.

Automakers tout the systems as improving safety and convenience, but insurance groups and safety researchers have repeatedly warned that drivers can mistake them for self-driving systems, leading to overreliance.

The AAA study tested two camera-based monitoring systems, a 2021 Cadillac Escalade with General Motors' "Super Cruise" system and a 2021 Subaru Forester with "EyeSight" technology, and two systems that only rely on steering wheel engagement: a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe with "Highway Driving Assist" and a 2020 Tesla Model 3 with "Autopilot."

The Hyundai system performed worst, followed by the Tesla. Subaru's and GM's systems were much better at keeping drivers engaged, but none of the monitoring systems performed perfectly.

"Driver monitoring systems are a good first step to preventing deadly crashes, but they are not foolproof," said Greg Brannon, director of AAA's automotive engineering.

Tesla Model 3s and Ys produced in 2021 and later offer cabin cameras to determine driver inattentiveness, the carmaker says.

AAA said it got a 2020 Model 3 strictly based on availability.