Ford revamps to run EV and engine businesses separately

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. will separate its fast-growing electric vehicle operations from its legacy combustion engine business in a historic reorganisation of the 118-year-old company.

The new Ford Model e unit will scale up the automaker’s EV offerings and develop software and connected-vehicle technology and services for all of the company.

Ford Blue will focus on combustion vehicles, cutting costs and simplifying operations.

Ford’s ambition will be "to become a truly great, world-changing company again, and that requires focus,” chief executive officer Jim Farley said in a statement today.

"We are going all in, creating separate but complementary businesses that give us startup speed and unbridled innovation.”

The automaker plans to spend US$50 billion on its stepped-up EV strategy, Farley said on a call with analysts.

The investment covers 2022 to 2026, after Ford had previously targeted US$30 billion from 2021 to 2025.

The shake-up - along with new targets for higher EV production and overall profitability - sent Ford shares up 7.3% to US$17.92 at 9:41 a.m. in New York, the biggest intraday gain in almost two months.

Ford said it plans to be able to make 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026, a big step up from the 600,000 it’s aiming for in 2024.

The automaker also is now targeting adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of 10% by 2026, up from as much as 8% expected for this year.

Ford’s split represents a "better allocation of dollar and human capital,” BofA Securities analyst John Murphy wrote in a note to clients.

The move will also allow Ford to attract more EV talent and gain access to a lower cost of capital including through green bonds.

Accelerating ford’s transition to a battery-electric future has been a major focal point for Farley.

He raised the automaker’s wager on EVs months after taking over as CEO. Bloomberg News first reported last month that the company was contemplating a further increase in expenditures towards EVs, and that Farley had wanted to wall off electric operations from Ford’s internal combustion engine business.

Farley said today that Ford "carefully” considered a spinoff as it weighed options to separate the business lines.

The chosen path allows Ford to keep its combustion-engine operations as the "profit and cash engine” of the company, he said.

Implementing major structural change at Ford requires the backing of the company’s founding family, which controls the automaker through a special class of stock.

Farley has been working closely with Doug Field, the former head of Apple Inc.’s car project, on reviewing Ford’s operational and manufacturing structure to prepare for the company ramping up its EV offerings.

It’s boosted output of the electric Mustang Mach-E and prepared more production capacity for the F-150 Lightning pickup going on sale this spring.

Under the new structure, Farley will also assume the role of president of Ford Model e, while Field will be the unit’s chief EV and digital systems officer. Kumar Galhotra will serve as president of the Ford Blue business.

"Is this about winning? 100%,” Farley said on the call today.

"We want to beat the old players. We want to beat the new players.”


Aussie broker Vantage gets YouTuber Supercar Blondie to help push ESG message

                SINGAPORE: Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a topic that is trending worldwide among companies amid climate change.

Working with a celebrity often helps make the message more visible in the public eye.

Australian broker Vantage is an example of a company doing exactly that by aligning itself with motoring YouTuber Supercar Blondie to push its ESG programme.

This marks the first time both parties are working together. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

The partnership will focus on driving innovation for electric vehicle production, promoting gender equality, and putting a spotlight on climate change.

Supercar Blondie is a popular YouTuber, best loved for their light-hearted videos on luxury supercars, with over 75 million social followers across her channels. Her real name is Alexandra Mary "Alex" Hirschi and she's also Australian.

Vantage is a sponsor of McLaren MX Extreme E, an all-electric off-road series.

Supercar Blondie will join Vantage in Sardinia, Italy, participating in Extreme E's Blue Carbon sustainability initiative to restore vital seagrass ecosystems, during the week of Sardinia's Extreme E race.

Vantage also has an ESG ambassador, who will be coordinating the programme.

"For us, ESG is more than just a framework or an opportunity that companies and investors can jump on," said Vantage ESG ambassador Sofiia Starchevska.

"Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the world we live in in a positive way. We aim to make ESG a part of our daily lives by giving our employees the opportunity to contribute to ESG projects, and ultimately give back to the communities they live in. "

Vantage, a 10-year-old company, allows its customers to trade in contract for diferences on forex, commodities, indices, and shares.

It has over 1,000 employees spread across 30 branches around the world.


GKN Driveline uses Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 to showcase torque vectoring to four wheels

                LONDON: British driveline specialist GKN Driveline has begun testing an SUV technology research vehicle that features mechanical and electric Twinster torque vectoring, a plug-in hybrid system, and a new control systems.

The vehicle of choice is a Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 to promote the one-off GKN Technology Demonstrator 2018 vehicle (GTD18).

The standard road car has been modified to become a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid with a zero-emissions pure-electric drive mode, and axle-split eAWD functionality that is independent of the combustion engine. Torque vectoring by GKN’s Twinster system is available on all four wheels, which is a world first.

Following initial testing at GKN Driveline’s Lohmar R&D centre in Germany, the GTD18 begins more extensive validation and proof-of-concept demonstrations this month at the company’s Wintertest facility in northern Sweden.

This year marks the 30th anniversary since GKN first started testing and demonstrating technologies at its dedicated vehicle development facility near the Arctic Circle.

For the front axle drive, GKN’s technical showcase harnesses the donor car’s 381 PS four-cylinder powertrain, and integrates a mechanical Twinster unit directly to the gearbox, replacing the final drive and differential. This allows GKN’s software to have complete control of torque distribution through the unique twin-clutch system that can make rapid and precise adjustments between the front left and right wheels by application of torque vectoring.

As part of the complete tear-down of the brand-new donor vehicle, the front Power Transfer Unit, propshaft and rear axle were all removed. In their place, at the rear of the car, GKN has integrated its new two-speed eAxle – ‘eTwinsterX’ and a high-performance battery.

Despite a high output of 163 PS and 210Nm of torque, the integrated e-motor’s coaxial format means that the electric drive (eDrive) unit is smaller than other systems with equivalent power outputs. This allows it to easily integrate within existing vehicle platforms, providing ‘bolt on’ eAWD hybridisation.

The eTwinsterX system also features a GKN-designed two-speed transmission, as well as full torque vectoring capability.

The unique ‘All Twinster Hybrid System’ setup of the demonstrator car means that GKN can precisely control the distribution of torque to all four wheels.

New electronic control units (ECUs) were installed to govern the dynamics of the one-of-a-kind driveline, and all software was developed and calibrated by GKN engineers. This also extended to the integration of GKN’s hardware and software with the standard car’s systems, to ensure that the electric drive at the rear runs in harmony with the petrol powertrain at the front.

GKN’s eTwinsterX system promises the GTD18 a high level of agility, with all-wheel torque vectoring capabilities, including the capability to over-speed the outside wheel in a corner to induce a yaw moment, helping to bring the car into a tighter line when turning.

The driving modes – which are switchable ‘on-the-fly’ – can be selected via a touch pad inside the car. The eTwinsterX system allows for a pure-electric, zero-emissions drive mode through the rear wheels. Conversely it can also operate in solely front-wheel drive mode. The combination of the two delivers a hybrid eAWD mode with the two powertrains working together.

In total, 99 assemblies needed significant mechanical or electrical modifications, resulting in 1,340 new parts being added to the vehicle.


Honda Malaysia announces Double Joy campaign with rebates

                PETALING JAYA: As the nation celebrates Malaysia’s unity and Honda commemorates its 70th anniversary, Honda Malaysia is honouring this double celebration with a Double Joy campaign that rewards customers with rebates.

During the campaign, customers can now enjoy double bonuses in the form of Honda Bonus together with Honda's 70th Birthday Bonus.

This starts from the Civic with a rebate of RM2,500 to the Civic Type R with RM20,000 for selected models registered from Sept Sept 1 to 30.

The campaign is an added bonus for customers to own a Honda model at attractive prices, especially after the new pricing which came into effect on Sept 1.

During the campaign period, customers are also entitled to participate in the Joy of Buying contest, in which they will stand a chance of winning one of the seven City being given out as grand prizes over seven weeks.

Also, the company is looking forward to launching its latest HR-V compact sport utility vehicle and has made firm that it will continue to sell its hybrid vehicles with a soon-to-be announced prices for its Hybrid CKD models.

For more information, log on to www.honda.com.my or call Honda Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020.


Volkswagen to sell Polo and Beetle via Instagram

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has joined the 12.12 shopping frenzy by offering 12 units of the Polo and 12 units of the Beetle for sale on its Instagram account on Dec 12.

The Polo comes with JOIN accessories package and the Beetle would be offered with a free spoiler and VW Tint at a RM12,000 discount.

Both models would be sold on Volkswagen Malaysia’s Instagram shop (@volkswagenmalaysia). This marks the first time an automotive brand is selling cars on its social media platform in Malaysia.

To qualify for the deal, customers need to place a booking fee of RM500 for the Polo or RM1,000 for the Beetle on the payment platform via credit card. Once processed, customers will receive a call from a Volkswagen representative for arrangements on their preferred dealership and to complete the registration and delivery of the vehicle.

Volkswagen Malaysia has used other novel approach to sell cars previously. It has partnered with the Lazada e-commerce site to sell the special edition Beetle and Polo during their 12.12 sale the past two years.

For more details, follow Volkswagen Malaysia on Instagram at @volkswagenmalaysia or visit https://bit.ly/2RDlNzW.


Mercedes-Benz announces sales launch of DRIVE PILOT self-driving tech

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has released details of the sales launch of DRIVE PILOT in Germany.

The system for conditionally automated driving (SAE Level 3) can be ordered from May 17 as an optional extra for the S-Class for €5,000 (RM23,000) and for the EQS for €7,430 (RM34,000).

This makes Mercedes-Benz the first car maker in the world with an international valid certification for conditional automated driving, to offer such a system as an option ex-works for vehicles from series production.

DRIVE PILOT enables customers to hand the driving task over to the system under certain conditions in heavy traffic or congestion situations on suitable motorway sections in Germany up to a speed of 60kph.

For customers, this means they can relax or work and win back valuable time.

After activating DRIVE PILOT, the system controls the speed and distance, and guides the vehicle within its lane.

The route profile, events occurring on the route and traffic signs are all analysed and taken into consideration. DRIVE PILOT also reacts to unexpected traffic situations and handles them independently, e.g. by means of evasive manoeuvres within the lane or by using braking manoeuvres.

Mercedes-Benz's system for conditionally automated driving (SAE-Level 3) builds on the vehicle sensing technology of the Driving Assistance Package and includes additional sensors that the manufacturer considers indispensable for safe operation.

These mainly include radar, LiDAR and cameras, but ultrasound and moisture sensors also provide valuable data.

In parallel to the successful launch of DRIVE PILOT in Germany, Mercedes-Benz aims to obtain regulatory series approval for the two US states of California and Nevada by the end of the year, provided the legal situation permits the system operation.

"Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer to put a Level 3 system with international valid certification into series production," said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, responsible for Marketing & Sales.

"As a first step, we are offering this world-leading technology in Germany in the S-Class and the EQS. At the same time, we also want to receive certification in the US by the end of the year. Responsible handling of future technologies such as conditional automated driving is the key to acceptance among customers and in society."


5 reasons to like the refreshed BMW 3 Series

                The ‘original’ sports sedan gets new features to stay in competition with its other Teutonic rivals.

1. Always in control
Stiffer suspension keeps the driving confidence high.

2. Smooth yet powerful operator
The new 340i comes with a six-cylinder engine that stays smooth and is responsive to throttle input.

READ ALSO: First drive of new BMW 3 Series3. Complementary transmission
The updated eight-speed Steptronic automatic matches new engine’s power band perfectly.

4. Piercing looks
Fresh headlamp design and LED running lights retain the aggressive visual stance.

5. Clear info display
New state-of-art navigation system with better graphics.


VW to sell electric cars in America under 'Voltswagen' name, says source

UPDATE: No change. Details here.

WASHINGTON: It seems that Volkswagen is planning to change its name to "Voltswagen" when selling its growing line-up of electric cars in America.

Automotive News claimed it confirmed the name change with a person familiar with the company's plans.

The unnamed source said the change was in line with the company's strategy to only sell electric cars in the United States in future.

The buzz over the name change was sparked by a leaked VW press release on Monday. It was briefly posted on the VW media site before it was taken down. In the press release, it was revealed that Volkswagen of America would use the brand name “Voltswagen” to differentiate its EV line-up.

Apparently, the name change is restricted to the North American market. The Voltswagen unit would remain part of Volkswagen of America.

Volkswagen began deliveries of its ID.4 to US dealers this month and has started an advertising campaign to market the electric crossover.

Like the ID.3 hatchback, the ID.4 is based on a new modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform that offers a spacious interior as a result of the compact design of the electric drive. Thanks to the low drag coefficient and scalable battery system, ranges of more than 500km are possible with the ID.4.


MCO: Volkswagen service centres open, make appointment first

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced that a majority of its service centres have received approvals to resume operations during the movement control order (MCO), which has been extended until May 12.

The approvals come from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, which has allowed the service centres to operate at limited capacity in accordance with approved guidelines.

Car owners are advised to contact their preferred service centre to make an appointment. Those who have previously signed up through the 'Welcome Back' aftersales campaign will receive priority. They include frontliners.

The centres will implement health and safety precautionary measures to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) with regular sanitisation of the premises.

Also included in the measures are safety screenings and briefings for staff, temperature checks, contactless vehicle acceptance, vehicle sanitisation (before and after) as well as pick-up and drop-off arrangement with selected dealers.


Audi RS Q e-tron poised to be test lab in 2022 Dakar Rally

                INGOLSTADT: Audi Sport has started testing the new RS Q e-tron, with which Audi will take on one of the greatest challenges there is in international racing in January 2022: the Dakar Rally.

Audi wants to be the first car manufacturer to use an electrified drivetrain in combination with an efficient energy converter to compete for overall victory against conventionally-powered competitors in the world’s toughest rally.

“The quattro was a gamechanger for the World Rally Championship. Audi was the first brand to win the Le Mans 24 Hours with an electrified drivetrain. Now, we want to usher in a new era at the Dakar Rally, while testing and further developing our e-tron technology under extreme conditions,” said Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH and responsible for motorsport at Audi.

“Our RS Q e-tron was created on a blank sheet of paper in record time."

The characteristics of the Dakar Rally presented the engineers with special challenges. The marathon event lasts two weeks and the daily stages are up to 800km in length. “That’s a very long distance,” said Andreas Roos, responsible for the Dakar project at Audi Sport. “What we are trying to do has never been done before. This is the ultimate challenge for an electric drivetrain.”

Because there are no charging opportunities in the desert, Audi has chosen an innovative charging concept: On board of the Audi RS Q e-tron, there is the highly efficient TFSI engine from the DTM. It is part of an energy converter that charges the high-voltage battery while driving. Since the combustion engine is operated in the particularly efficient range of between 4,500 and 6,000 rpm, the specific consumption is well below 200 grams per kWh.

The drivetrain of the Audi RS Q e-tron is electric. The front and rear axles are both fitted with a motor-generator unit (MGU) from the current Audi e-tron FE07 Formula E car which has been developed by Audi Sport for the 2021 season. Only minor modifications had to be made to use the MGU in the Dakar Rally.

A third MGU, of identical design, is part of the energy converter and serves to recharge the high-voltage battery while driving. In addition, energy is recuperated during braking. The battery weighs about 370kg and has a capacity of around 50 kWh.


EV maker Bollinger Motors relocates base to fit in growing team

                DETROIT: Electric vehicle maker Bollinger Motors has moved its headquarters to a larger facility in Oak Park, Michigan, near here to accommodate personnel expansion as it ramps up towards production.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time. We were bursting at the seams with new engineers, putting desks out in the shop at the old building; it was especially difficult to keep everyone more than six feet apart,” said CEO Robert Bollinger.

The Oak Park facility is more than four times larger than the company’s Ferndale shop, and it will be the primary base of operations for the growing Bollinger Motors team. Oak Park is a mere 5-minute's drive away from Ferndale.

The company estimates its current team of 40 will double in size by the end of 2020 as it works towards production on the all-electric B1 Sport Utility Truck and B2 Pickup Truck, as well as the B2 Chassis Cab variant and Chass-E.

Bollinger Motors has operated out of the new space since Aug 10.


Proton X70 a connected car

                PETALING JAYA: Everyone's heard of Proton's first SUV, the X70, which is creating quite a buzz ahead of its expected launch in November.

Proton has been doing everything it can to fan the anticipation. It announced today that online booking of the X70 will kick off on Oct 17 and also revealed more details of the SUV, which will initally be sold as fully imported units before local assembly starts in the third quarter of 2019.

Customers who are interested to place a booking for the X70 will be able to book and pay a deposit for their order online at the Proton website.To promote the online booking channel, Proton will run a promotion for three days from Oct 17, where those who place a booking for the X70 will also receive special gifts.

The X70, based on the Geely Boyue, will be available in four variants: Standard 2WD, Executive 2WD, Executive 4WD and Premium 2WD. Customers can pick from a choice of five colours namely Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Cinnamon Brown and Flame Red. We reckoned the Executive 2WD will be the popular choice of Malaysians provided the price difference with the base Standard 2WD is small. The Executive 2WD has the most attractive specs that would appeal to the mainstream.

All versions of the X70 are powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol direct injection engine, producing 181hp at 5,500rpm and 285Nm from 1,700-4,400rpm.

This model happens to be the first Proton to use voice recognition technology as well. It has 9 speakers with power amplifier and subwoofer. To cater to the phone addicts, six USB ports are available with five clustered in and around the centre console box and one on the rear view mirror for dashcam recording.

Today's media preview also sought to emphasise how connected the X70 is.

The second round of previews (read the first round) for the first co-developed vehicle by Geely and Proton focused on the Integrated Cockpit Information System (GKUI), which will offer owners multiple user functions via apps as well as the option to stay connected to the car via their mobile device.

Featuring an embedded eSIM card, the GKUI in the X70 is preloaded with five apps offering services such as online radio, online music, navigation, weather forecasts and voice recognition. Access to the apps and other car functions is via an 8-inch Android based touchscreen interface featuring a 1280 x 720 full colour display with 16GB of internal memory space. The system also has Wi-Fi connectivity so the X70 can be used as a mobile hotspot.

 The 8-inch hi-res touchscreen is the centrepiece in the Integrated Cockpit Information System.

To fully exploit the connectivity capabilities, owners can pair their cars with their personal mobile device via Proton Link and use an individual ID that is assigned to every buyer. They can then create a profile of their driving thanks to the on board telematics that will record data such as distance travelled, fuel economy, journey times and even keep track of service intervals. Should an X70 resell the vehicle, he can go back to Proton Edar to have his ownership details de-registered.

There is also a "find my car" function that will be useful when parking in huge and unfamiliar parking complexes.

“The GKUI system in the X70 allows owners to stay almost constantly connected to their car. It’s an active two-way system that allows for multiple options to fit the preferences of individual owners. In the future, the ability to download additional apps will also be offered and just like mobile devices, it means no two cars will be exactly alike,” said Proton Edar CEO Abdul Rashid Musa.

Because it runs on an Android operating system, the GKUI offers Android mobile device users full mirroring capabilities. That means apps owners have on their device can be accessed on the X70’s touchscreen thus offering yet more connectivity possibilities. Apple OS user won’t be able to do the same though they will be able to connect to the X70 via Bluetooth to access telephone and contact list functions.

 A full digital meter cluster that makes the X70 thoroughly in tune with the times.

True hands-free operation of a number of functions on the X70 is now possible thanks to advanced voice recognition software that allows the use of spoken commands. Access to the system is granted when an owner utters the phrase "Hi Proton" which opens up a variety of choices that can be controlled simply by speaking a command. This includes operating the windows and air conditioning system and even accessing the navigation app to look for places to eat nearby.

“The X70 is the first Proton model to use voice recognition technology, which is something we think our owners will appreciate," said Abdul Rashid.

"Hundreds of voice samples were recorded for each phrase to ensure the system would have a high degree of accuracy even when you take dialects into account. For ease of use, the GKUI will also type out each spoken phrase on the screen to confirm each command.

“Currently, the GKUI offers voice recognition for English phrases only as there are software limitations but we have ensured the phrases it recognises are easy to use even for owners who are not fluent speakers of the language.”

As for options, the X70 owner can choose from either "Tom" or "Ava" for male or female voice assistant.

In addition, the X70 allows for Over-the-air (OTA) software updates of the infotainment system, which Proton assures is free for the life-cycle of the vehicle.

Abdul Rashid hinted that Thailand and Indonesia are likely to be the first countries the X70 will be exported once local assembly gets under way in late 2019.

Hosting the media preview was Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong, Proton deputy CEO Datuk Radzaif Mohamed and senior management members.

 The X70 provides six 6 USB ports, two of which are located at the base of the centre console.


Nvidia launches new products to plug cars, factories into its Omniverse

                DETROIT: Nvidia is launching new technology to expand its reach in the automotive industry, including a virtual driving assistant that can park a standard car and a system to speed up the training of autonomous vehicles.

As part of its fall new product event, centered around its "Omniverse" simulation technology, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said the company will begin offering automakers a system called Drive Concierge.

It uses Nvidia hardware and artificial intelligence software to provide a variety of services, including an autonomous driving function that allows a human-driven vehicle to park itself.

Another extension of the Omniverse strategy will be a system called "Omniverse Replicator" that will simplify and speed up the tasks required to create a virtual world for training automated vehicles.

Nvidia, the world's biggest maker of graphics and artificial intelligence chips, has been pushing for years to expand technology originally developed for computer gaming and graphics into the auto industry.

Now, Nvidia is looking to capitalise on the intense competition among automakers to develop vehicles that can drive themselves and deliver sophisticated entertainment and information to the humans on board.

The firm is working to put high-powered chips and software into vehicles, and also sell technology that can create a highly detailed simulation of a factory to help manufacturers cut costs when building new plants, or an artificial universe for a robotaxi or self-driving truck to learn how to drive.

Nvidia now has US$8 billion in automotive revenue booked over the next six years, including business from automated trucking and robotaxi companies, said Danny Shapiro, Nvidia's vice president of automotive.

 Huang.

A number of automakers, including Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicle brand, VolvoCar AB and Nio, have partnered with Nvidia to catch up with Tesla Inc's lead in software-driven features.

Mercedes and Nvidia announced in June 2020 a partnership to develop a new generation of Mercedes vehicles with Nvidia's Drive Orin AGX platform engineered to provide autonomous driving and other functions.

The first of those Mercedes vehicles is planned to launch in 2024.


Carmakers can’t turn out EVs cheap enough to convert Indians

The Mahindra & Mahindra Atom concept electric vehicle was unveiled at Auto Expo 2020 near Delhi last Wednesday. — Bloomberg
MUMBAI: More so than anywhere else, automakers are chasing the holy grail of electric mobility in India: a lower price.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s launch of its e-KUV at a price of 825,000 rupees (RM48,000), compared to its next cleanest option — a mid-range petrol variant at 650,000 rupees (RM38,000) — highlights the challenge of pricing electric cars that can entice buyers. A global model such as Hyundai Motor India Ltd.’s Kona electric SUV starts at 2.5 million rupees (RM146,000) and has sold just about 300 units in seven months since its launch.

More than half of the passenger vehicles sold in India last year cost US$8,000 (RM34,000) or less, according to BNEF. Electric cars won’t achieve price parity with gasoline-powered cars until the early 2030s, BNEF said.

"Mass adoption of electric cars in India will not happen unless the gap in upfront prices of electric and ICE vehicles is brought down,” said Shantanu Jaiswal, head of research for India at BloombergNEF.

To address this, Hyundai is working on a mass-market electric car for India, according to Tarun Garg, sales director at its Indian unit. The company plans a launch in 2-3 years, he said.

Apart from price, a lack of charging infrastructure that creates range anxiety and rapidly evolving technology, which promises to bring the cost of vehicles down, is also keeping potential buyers on the fringe.

"Pricing EVs at below 1 million rupees (RM59,000) is going to be very difficult,” Pawan Kumar Goenka, managing director at Mahindra & Mahindra said in an interview. "The price we have done for e-KUV is very aggressive and the reason we’ve done that is to kick start the ramp-up of EVs.”

Goenka expects a decline in cell prices and increased local manufacturing to bring prices down over 3-5 years. Lower prices could drive sales volumes, spreading the fixed costs and lowering prices even further, he said.

Muted demand

Meanwhile, the muted demand for electric vehicles is keeping some automakers on the sidelines.
"In India, the problem is customer demand for EVs is not that great.

For a new entrant like us, it frankly doesn’t make sense,” said Manohar Bhat, head of sales and marketing at Kia Motors India Pvt. "We came into the SUV segment because the largest demand is there — that’s the sweet spot for us.”

India’s government is pushing for a faster adoption of electric vehicles — hoping at least 15% of all vehicles on the road will be electric in five years starting 2018 — to deal with the deadly air pollution in its cities and curb carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

An increased fleet of such vehicles is also seen as boosting demand for electricity, which has declined for five straight months ended December.


Ex-SEAT exec to lead Alfa Romeo design

                LONDON: Alfa Romeo rarely make headlines nowadays. When it does, well, it's news.

Stellantis, of which Alfa Romeo is part of, has announced today that the Italian brand is getting a new chief designer.

Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos will start work at Alfa Romeo from July 1. He will report to Jean-Pierre Ploué, chief design officer at Stellantis.

At the 110-year-old Alfa Romeo, he will focus on refreshing its line-up and lead its electrification and modernisation process.

Mesonero-Romanos had worked for SEAT where he had left his mark on the the Cupra Tavascan and Formentor, Leon, Arona and Ibiza.

Mesonero-Romanos is an alumnus of the Royal College of Art, London.


Peugeot and Total developing Le Mans hypercar

                PARIS: Peugeot and Total are kicking off their hypercar (LMH) project under the newly created Le Mans Hypercar class that is set to replace the Le Mans Prototype LMP1 class from the 2021 season.

Both companies have begun development of the electric hybrid hypercar, which will be able to reach 500kW power and be 4-wheel driven, as required by the regulations.

The car is expected to be ready for endurance racing in 2022.

According to Peugeot Sport WEC programme technical director Olivier Jansonnie, the car would have an electric motor and a maximum power of 200kW/268hp on the front axle.

Up to 500kW (670hp) would be distributed between the two axles.

In comparison with what we currently know in LMP1, the car will be heavier so as to be compatible with road vehicles. It will also be longer and wider.

The car would have to comply with a parameter called "Balance of Performance". It sets limits, but also allows room for technical possibilities such as the general shape, as long as a certain overall aerodynamic efficiency is not exceeded as measured in a 1:1 scale wind tunnel.

The collaboration has already resulted in the drafting of sketches that reveal the first conceptions of design and include the fundamental required elements, particularly the dimensions.

"These sketches are the first design drafts intended to help us identify the important segments on which we should focus on. The three claw marks and the colours are symbols that we wish to produce on our hypercar," said Peugeot design director.
Matthias Hossann.

"Our signature found in the light impressions are part of the strong identity emblems present on our production vehicles and that we wish to reproduce in the race."


It's adventure time with Ducati's new Multistrada 1260 Enduro

                Ducati's venture into the adventure bike segment was in 2016 with the Multistrada 1200 Enduro.

All the other motorcycle brands took notice of the 1200 Enduro as it was the talk of the town.

The bike was designed to conquer any off-road terrain and at the same time cruise comfortably on open roads.

Now, Ducati has come out with another beast which is the Multistrada 1260 Enduro.

At a glance, the bike is huge and tall.

The minute I got myself comfortable on the saddle, I realised I was sitting in it, rather than on it.

I felt enveloped by the bike, thus giving me the confidence to manage this bike better.

The truth of the matter is that the 1260 Enduro is designed for riders who are 178cm tall and above.

Anybody shorter will find it challenging to keep the bike upright.

The scooped-up saddle is wide, firm and comfy.

I find it delightful for long-distance rides on this saddle.

There is enough legroom to ensure no fatigue on the legs while on long rides off-road or on the tarmac.

This bike comes with a large tank designed carefully to sync with the wide handlebar and the recognisable Ducati Multistrada front beak.

Not to forget the 254kg bike's low centre of gravity made manoeuvring easy.

There are a lot of electronic goodies on this bike such as cornering traction control and ABS, cruise and wheelie control, up/down shifter, hill hold, rider and power modes, LED cornering lights and four riding modes.

In the motorcycle world, I have personally experienced that bigger bikes do not necessarily mean a better riding experience.

But in the 1260 Enduro's case, bigger is better.

Why? This machine gets the latest 1,262cc Testastretta engine.

This engine has the torque-boosting Desmodromic Variable Timing system, offering a large amount of torque from as low as 3,700rpm.

In layman’s term, the 1260 Enduro needs less gear shifting and can deliver satisfying performance at lower revs.

You will be surprised to know how easy it was riding up and coming down from Genting Highlands.

I was shocked at the agility of the bike despite its size.

The weight distribution on the bike is decent but I do feel a bit of top-heaviness.

The 1,260cc block churns out an impressive 158hp at 9,500rpm and a torque of 128Nm at 7,500rpm.

Priced at RM131,506 (before SST), the 1260 Enduro is available in two colours of Sand and Ducati Red.

On the open road, this beast is fast enough for any speed demon.

I will admit that it will never outgun a superbike.

I was able to go way beyond the legal speed limit on third gear without straining the engine at all.

The bike comes with four riding modes of Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro.

Touring was perfect for cruising purposes. There were no surprises, everything was under control.

Meanwhile, on Sport, the bike was too aggressive for me.

Urban was definitely better for city riding compared to on the highway.

I am an off-road novice but decided to give it a try on this machine.

Got the 1260 Enduro mode on for the less challenging off-road in a rubber estate.

On first gear, the bike was under my total control.

The minute I stood on the footpegs to manoeuvring the bike, I experienced the agility and how planted it was.

That instilled confidence in me to go faster on the second gear and occasionally on third gear.

The gearing on this bike is shortened for better off-road handling.

The Enduro mode default setting offers a soft throttle response so there was no sudden burst of power.

The Enduro kept me safe throughout the one-hour ride in the estate.

On many occasions, the traction control was able to keep the bike upright and kept me from losing balance when I was riding on sandy terrain with loose stones.

The 1260 Enduro is fitted with Brembo brakes and the brakes worked well.

The bite of the front and rear brakes was fierce and yet controllable.

Ducati has always been consistent with their motorcycle design and performance.

Every Ducati bike is a masterpiece and there is no exception for the 1260 Enduro.

This machine is powerful, fast, agile and obedient.

Don’t fear the size, swing your leg over and experience the bike yourself. You will not regret it.

SPECIFICATIONS: Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro

Engine: 1,262cc, Testastretta DVT engine, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Maximum power: 158hp at 9,500rpm
Maximum torque: 129.5Nm at 7,500rpm

Transmission: Six-speed

Front suspension: Sachs 46mm upside-down forks, semi-active
Rear suspension: Sachs single rear shock adjustable, semi-active

Front brakes: Two 320mm Brembo front discs with four-piston Brembo monobloc radial callipers with cornering ABS
Rear brakes: 265mm rear disc with twin-piston callipers and ABS
Fuel capacity: 30 litres
Range: 530km
Dry weight: 225kg

Features: Vehicle Hold Control (VHC), Four Riding Mode, Power Mode, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS Bosch + DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), cruise control, Hands-Free, Backlit handlebar controls, Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) ready, Automatic indicator switch off, anti-theft ready.
Price: RM131,506 (before SST)


2017 Detroit auto show: What cars are coming

                DETROIT: Thanks to new and interesting ways of reaching the car-buying public, plus the fact that the International CES tech show is now a magnet for automakers, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) here has started to lose some of its lustre.

However, there's still a lot to be excited about in terms of new US, European and Asian automobiles that will be making their first appearances on Jan 9 when NAIAS opens to the press.

Chevrolet is widely expected to bring its fastest, most potent ever production Corvette, the ZR1, to the show.

For ‘Vette fans it will be bittersweet as it will most likely be the final Corvette with a V8 up front and power going to the rear wheels. Chevrolet's hottest car will be going mid-engine and potentially hybrid in the future.

From objects of desire to objects of ubiquity, Toyota will be taking the wraps off the new Camry, one of the most popular cars on US roads. And even though it's usually a vehicle designed to blend in, Toyota's promising that the latest model will be breaking with tradition and will be as good-looking as it is reliable.

At the other end of the Toyota spectrum, its luxury marque Lexus will be unveiling the LS, its flagship sedan and a car that is going to have to be spectacular to look at and to drive and be full of game-changing technology if it is to compete with the Mercedes S Class, BMW 7 Series and Cadillac CT6.

Kia, a company known primarily for affordability and reliability, will be looking to assert some sporty credentials with a new GT. All the company has thus far confirmed is that it will be the fastest-accelerating Kia yet (0-100kph in 5.1 seconds) and will be a proper grand tourer sedan.

A company with no need to underline its sports or GT credentials is Mercedes, who will be bringing the all-new E-Class Coupe to this year's show.

Sharper, more aggressive and more purposeful in looks than its sedan counterpart, the coupé also gets an entirely new cabin layout with twin widescreen displays replacing traditional knobs, dials and centre console infotainment system.

Meanwhile VW will be continuing its brand repositioning work by taking the wraps off another SUV aimed squarely at the US market. The Tiguan Allspace is an elongated take on the company's existing compact model that shares a number of design cues and underpinnings with the Golf. However, rather than the current five seats, this one will have room for seven and will be going on sale in the US and China from the summer.

The 2017 NAIAS opens its doors to the press on Jan 9 and to the public on Jan 14.


VW and Ford reach outline agreement to share electric, autonomous tech, says source

                FRANKFURT/DETROIT: Ford and Volkswagen have reached an outline agreement to share electric and autonomous car technologies, extending their alliance beyond a cooperation on commercial vehicles, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

VW will share its MEB electric vehicle platform with Ford, the source said.

Volkswagen’s supervisory board is due to discuss deepening the alliance at a meeting on July 11, said a second source.

A VW spokesman declined to comment on the details of a potential alliance but said that talks with Ford are progressing well.

A Ford spokesman said, “Our talks with Volkswagen continue. Discussions have been productive across a number of areas. We’ll share updates as details become more firm.”


Rolls-Royce charts bespoke record as well

Cullinan is Rolls-Royce's first SUV.
LONDON: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has charted a double firsts in 2018. It recently announced its highest annual results in its 115-year history. It also said 2018 was its most successful year for its bespoke division.

The marque has a deep understanding of the super-luxury market’s requirement for personally tailored and finely crafted items that are more frequently found in the world of horology, super-yachts, architecture and private aviation.

Each car is crafted by hand at its base in Goodwood, West Sussex.

Here are three of the bespoke cars.

Cullinan Viewing Suite
The Rolls-Royce Viewing Suite is automatically deployed at the touch of a button. Two rear-facing, contemporary, fine leather chairs and a cocktail table emerge from within the rear compartment – creating a luxurious viewing platform from which to take in the surroundings; whether that be a sporting engagement or some of the world’s most breath-taking vistas.

The launch of this US$30,000 (RM125,000) feature previewed the near-limitless opportunities for enhancing the SUV with highly Bespoke modules to suit all manner of lifestyle requirements. Incidentally, the Cullinan will be launched in Malaysia this month.

Wraith Luminary Collection
This "highly charged" series of just 55 Wraiths presented a world first for Bespoke craftsmanship. On opening the coach doors, the owner is met by an innovative statement of modern luxury, with perforated Tudor Oak wood veneers admitting light from an array of 176 LEDs. The wood is sourced from the forests of the Czech Republic, selected for its depth of colour and the density of the grain structure.

Phantom in Fuxia
A Bespoke Phantom was delivered in 2018 to renowned collector, Michael Fux, during Monterey Car Week. The Phantom was his eleventh Bespoke model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, following the "Dawn in Fuxia" that was handed over during Pebble Beach 2017. As with a number of his other cars, the Phantom is finished in a truly unique paint colour, which is his alone to use – "Fux Intense Fuxia Pearl". Carrying over some of his favourite hues from earlier cars, the interior is trimmed in a combination of vibrant purple "Fuxia" and "Arctic White" leather.

This striking Phantom joins Fux’s collection of more than 140 unique cars, which he uses to help raise funds for his charity – the Michael Fux Foundation – providing support to children and their families at the Miami Children’s Hospital.


VinFast hiring 8,000 additional employees to boost production

                HANOI: Vietnam's VinFast is looking to hire 8,000 more employees for its electric-vehicle plant in Vietnam as it ramps up production to deliver its first battery-powered SUVs to the United States by the end of this year, the company said.

VinFast, a unit of Vietnam's biggest conglomerate Vingroup, currently employs 6,000 people in total.

"New recruitments are for VinFast's production expansion," the company said in a Facebook post on its verified account announcing the hiring for its plant in Haiphong, Vietnam.

"New staff, including assembly workers, technicians, and engineers will start working from August and September."

The Haiphong plant has capacity to produce 250,000 cars per year and VinFast has said it expects to upgrade that capacity to 600,000 by 2026.

In March, VinFast announced it would build a plant in North Carolina with an initial projected capacity of 150,000 EVs a year. The company has said that plant would create 7,500 jobs.

VinFast has said it expects to sell 750,000 EVs per year by 2026, started with the VF8 and VF9 all-electric SUVs it plans to begin producing in Vietnam for sales in North America and Europe.

The company said it had almost 8,000 reservations in the United States and expects to export and deliver VF8 models from the plant in Haiphong to US customers before the end of the year.

VinFast's expansion and hiring in Vietnam comes at a time when Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has scaled back production at its massive smartphone plant in Vietnam in response to slower demand.

Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker and Vietnam's largest foreign employer, produces half of its global output in Vietnam.


Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L arrives in Malaysia: RM127,888

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L is priced at RM127,888 inclusive of GST, on-the-road without insurance (*RM133,888 – for Sabah & Sarawak).

The new Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L also comes with an early bird offer of two years/40,000km (whichever comes first) free service and maintenance.

The same offer is now also available for the Wildtrak 3.2L variant.

To celebrate the launch of the Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L and SDAC’s 10-year anniversary, customers who register to purchase any Ranger model from now to 30 June 2018 will stand to win a grand prize of one Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport.

There are also 15 units of Huawei Mate 10 Pro smartphones up for grabs.

Winners will be determined through monthly lucky draw, with five smartphones to win each month.

The grand prize winner will be announced after the final draw in June.

Additionally, specially designed ‘Built Tough’ luggage tags are available for test drive of any Ford models during the campaign period.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L comes in three colours including Cool White, Pride Orange and Shadow Black.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak 2.2L has a turbocharged 2.2-litre Duratorq four-cylinder TDCi diesel engine producing 160ps at 3,000rpm and peak torque of 385Nm at 1,600 to 2,600rpm which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system also provides precise steering at higher speeds while offering more control for low-speed manoeuvring.

The Wildtrak 2.2L has class-leading 800mm water-wading capability, 235mm ground clearance, and unbeatable towing ability of 3,500kg.

Key highlights include:

- SYNC 3 the latest generation of Ford’s in-car connectivity system with an eight-inch touchscreen, giving drivers smarter and safer ways to stay connected using natural voice commands
- A 240-volt power socket that can be used to power a laptop or tablet computer anywhere
- Lane Departure Warning alerts drivers with a vibration in the steering wheel if it detects the vehicle straying from its lane. If no action is taken to correct the drift, Lane Keeping Aid applies steering torque to guide the vehicle back into its lane
- Adaptive Cruise Control makes use of radar sensors to adjust to the flow of traffic. Once the cruising speed is set, it decelerates automatically when traffic slows down and returns to the pre-set speed when the road clears ahead
- Adjustable Speed Limiter helps ensure drivers avoid unintentionally exceeding the maximum speed that has been pre-selected
- Forward Collision Alert & Mitigation by Brakes lets out a chime and flashes a visual warning on the windscreen when it detects a high probability of a collision. The system also pre-charges the brakes for enhanced stopping power
- 4x4 shift on the fly allows for switching between 2WD and 4WD High or Low mode with a knob on the centre console
- Electronic locking rear differential helps lock rear wheels together to improve traction in difficult conditions
- MyKey system allows owners to customise car settings including top speed, audio volume and seatbelt reminders
- Electronic Stability Program with traction control, rollover mitigation and trailer sway control helps to keep the vehicle under control even in adverse conditions
- Hill Launch Assist makes steep grades safer to maintain a constant speed while descending
- Hill Descent Control helps drivers confidently start off from a slope
- Adaptive Load Control calculates the weight and centre of gravity when hauling a load further optimising safety and driving performance
- Rear view camera with front and rear parking sensors
- Emergency Brake Assist
- Six airbags (dual front, side and curtain)
- Volumetric burglar alarm system
- Immobiliser
- ISOFIX mounting points for child seats


VW's Dresden plant a testbed for new tech

                DRESDEN: Volkswagen's Dresden plant has managed a world firsty - the headliner for the e-Golf is now being fitted by a robot as standard instead of by hand.

This manufacturing step will also be used in production of the ID.2 from the end of 2019 at Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant. Volkswagen said it makes the e-Golfs in small batches with 72 e-Golfs per day.

Other projects at the Dresden site include the automated assembly and removal of the car doors and the human/robot collaboration.

The systems are tried and tested in the Gläserne Manufaktur before being rolled out to mass production throughout the group.

“We want to achieve a 30% improvement in productivity in the Volkswagen brand factories by 2025 compared to 2018 to ensure our competitiveness in the long term and to make a decisive contribution to improving the profitability of the Volkswagen brand," said Dr Andreas Tostmann, member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics of the Volkswagen brand.

"To achieve this, the factories must become faster, leaner and more efficient. The various technical centre projects in Wolfsburg, Emden and Dresden make an important contribution to this by testing innovative technologies.”
In addition to the Wolfsburg and Emden factories, the Dresden plant named Gläserne Manufaktur is part of a “technical centre” project to develop into the Volkswagen Group’s primary test location for trialling innovative technologies. The main idea is to achieve automation of complex work steps within assembly.


JPJ irons out kinks, improves security to app and website

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has improved the security and user-friendliness features of the MyJPJ application and its public portal which can be accessed gradually starting today.

JPJ director-general Datuk Zailani Hashim said the improvements included introducing third-level security using the last eight characters on the back of users’ driver’s licence for online JPJeID registration.

He said this is an addition to the existing two-level security feature, namely password and TAC code.

“We have also added a function that allows users to retrieve the account using the last eight characters of the driver’s licence as a solution to the issue of some new users who are unable to register an account after being notified that they have already registered.

“The problem occurs when the users have an existing account on the JPJ strategic partner portal that integrates with JPJ’s system,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Bernama reported that the department has also added an “email reset” function for users who have forgotten the email they used or need to update their email with an additional eight driving licence characters.

According to Zailani, the improvements were implemented in response to feedback from the public on the use of the MyJPJ application and the JPJ public portal, following the introduction of the digital Motor Vehicle Licence (eLKM) and digital Malaysian Driving Licence (eLMM).

The public can contact the JPJ hotline at 03-2724 2522 or send an email to infodigital@jpj.gov.my for further enquiries.

On a related note, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said Transport Minister Anthony Loke was open to healthy discussions over weaknesses in MyJPJ app.

This comes after both leaders had a casual chat over the matter during the sidelines of Parliament proceedings today.

"Bumped into Minister of Transport YB Anthony Loke at the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

"He has taken note of the breach of personal data on the MyJPJ app since last Friday (Feb 10) and is ready to accept constructive criticism while admitting that there are weaknesses in the app, just as I had raised in my debate of the Royal Address yesterday (Feb 15)," the Ayer Hitam MP said in a Facebook post today.

The Facebook post by the former Transport Minister comes after he raised the possibility of data breaches involving some 16 million licence holders occurring with the MjJPJ app owing to weaknesses.

Dr Wee suggested the government take immediate steps to address the issue and re-look the entire system and not merely through piecemeal measures.

He added that a few other MPs also joined in the conversation and offered some views on the matter.


Half the range is gone when you hitch a trailer to an EV

                BERLIN: As the e-mobility movement gathers pace, the first electrics and plug-in hybrids with a trailer coupling are beginning to arrive. Some large SUVs in particular claim to be able to lug a heavy load with all-electric power.

And yet it comes at a cost.

The towing loads in some high-end electrics can be almost as high as those in petrol and diesel cars, but once your trailer is attached, you say goodbye to around half of your range.

According to the ADAC, Europe's largest car club, the most powerful electric towing vehicle is the new BMW iX with a towing capacity of 2,500kg - about enough for a horse trailer or a larger caravan.

Tesla's Model X can pull trailers weighing as much as 2,268kg. Audi's e-tron, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 and Kia's EV6 are in the middle of the field with 1,800kg for Audi and 1,600kg permissible towing capacity. The Polestar 2 and the Volvo XC40 are also capable of a mid-level load.

In general, however, few electric cars are suited to towing caravans or trailers, and most EV manufacturers won't sell you a tow hitch for your electric, while the permissible axle load is rarely stated.

The reason why is because towing a trailer comes with massively increased power consumption in an electric car, meaning your driving range plummets accordingly.

In addition, most EVs simply aren't built, let alone approved, for the extra strain on brakes and motors that towing brings.

As a result, if you've bought a Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro, Nissan LEAF, Mazda MX-30 or VW ID.3, you may have noticed that the manufacturer isn't giving you much details on trailers or drawbar loads.

However, Volkswagen is now offering buyers a trailer coupling for the ID.3 for a low drawbar load, although this isn't suited to anything heavier than a bicycle carrier.

Things are different with hybrids, however, and most of these are better suited to heavier loads as they can still fall back on a traditional combustion engine.

According to the ADAC, how much load an electric can manage depends on the weight and air resistance of the trailer as well as the speed you want to drive at.

If you're driving on the motorway, you can expect your range to be roughly halved when a heavy caravan is hooked up.

At the same time, taking a trailer to the charging station can be impractical. At many public charging stations, the trailer will have to be unhooked before charging because it might block the road.

For many campers who want to go on long holiday tours, these factors might be reason enough to avoid the EV-and-trailer combo.

On the other hand, those who are only towing a trailer to the DIY store will hardly notice the higher consumption.


Cockpit of Mercedes' new Maybach SUV will smell like a bed of flowers

                STUTTGART: The new Maybach version of Mercedes-Benz sports utility is set to be one of the best-smelling mudpluggers of all time.

Owners who recline in the Maybach's sumptuous seats will be treated to an exquisite fragrance based on a blend of native Asian flowering osmanthus plants, leather and spicy tea, say the makers.

Mercedes-Benz has already used designer fragrances for the flagship S Class limousine, but the Maybach is one of the first high-riding luxury cars to get the olfactory makeover. The scent is unique to the model.

The scented cockpit is in marked contrast to the mighty look of the Maybach SUV which wowed the crowds at the Pebble Beach automotive event in California earlier this year.

The Maybach features a huge grille of vertical slats topped by the brand's "MM" mascot along with unique headlight and tail-light graphics. Much chrome has been added and there are exclusive wheels to set the Maybach apart from the Mercedes-Benz GLS on which it is based.

The Maybach's interior is truly regal, with rose-gold, wood rim and embedded LEDs on nearly every surface. Power is likely come from a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 mated to an all-wheel-drive system through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Due to be built in the US state of Alabama, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS is rumoured to cost around US$200,000 (RM839,000).

The Maybach marks Mercedes-Benz's foray into the world of ultra-luxury SUVs and it will square up to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Bentley Bentayga.

Like its rivals, the Maybach will seldom venture into muddy terrain, although road testers say its platform sibling, the GLS, shows remarkable off-road ability for such a bulky car.


Toyota sells electric vehicle technology to Chinese startup Singulato

Singulato workers unwrapping a concept car, dubbed the iC3, which is based on a discontinued EV of Toyota, in preparation for the upcoming auto show in Shanghai on April 14. — Reuters
BEIJING: Toyota Motor Corp has agreed to sell electric car technology to Singulato, its first deal with a Chinese electric vehicle startup, allowing the fledgling firm to speed up development of a planned mini EV.

In return, Toyota will have preferential rights to purchase green-car credits that Singulato will generate under China’s new quota system for all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

It will also gain a bird’s-eye view into how Chinese EV startups operate and the strategies they pursue in a fast-changing marketplace, said Singulato Chief Executive Shen Haiyin and two sources at the Japanese automaker.

“With electrification, autonomous driving and car-sharing shaking up the industry, old ways need to be re-examined,” one of the Toyota sources said, declining to be identified as he was not authorized to speak on the matter.

“We have a century’s lead in automotive technology, but we also need to be humble enough to learn from newcomers.”

Singulato will acquire a licence to use the design of Toyota’s eQ - a battery electric microcar. The deal is due to be announced on Tuesday at the Shanghai auto show, where Singulato will unveil a concept car based on the eQ.

Singulato plans to redesign the car, tailoring it to local tastes to come up with a model by early 2021 that is more affordable and offers a longer driving range.

“This deal gives us a way to save on time and costs to develop a reliable car and focus on what we excel in,” Shen told Reuters.

Financial terms are not expected to be disclosed. A Singulato source said the startup agreed to pay “several tens of millions of dollars” for eQ’s design.

Toyota said it was taking various measures to accelerate its business in China, a key market, but it would not comment on specific steps.

The agreement is a vote of confidence by Toyota in Singulato’s prospects, said Shen. Founded in 2014 and backed by Intel Corp and Japanese trading house Itochu Corp, Singulato is one of at least 50 Chinese EV startups seeking to survive in a competitive market.

It plans to sell its first self-developed battery electric car called the iS6 this year, competing with models from rival startups like Nio and WM Motor as well as those from global automakers.

Willing to share

Singulato’s version of the eQ will be a so-called connected car offering young buyers a host of entertainment, safety and navigation features. The car, which will be called the iC3, will also feature some self-driving technology.

Toyota sold about 100 eQ cars in 2012 and then discontinued it due to concerns over the limits of EVs, including their high price tags, short driving range and long charge time. But Singulato believes technological advances, especially in batteries, have made the car much more marketable.

Shen said the iC3 should be able to go as far as 250-300km on a single full charge and will be priced around 100,000 yuan (RM62,000). Singulato aims to sell 200,000 units over five years.

According to the two Toyota sources, the deal is part of efforts to share more technology with China as the Japanese automaker seeks more growth in the world’s largest auto market by beefing up manufacturing capacity and distribution channels.

The deal dovetails with Toyota’s announcement this month that it would be offering automakers and suppliers free access to nearly 24,000 patents for EV technologies.

Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi told Reuters the Japanese automaker intended to become a tier 2 supplier of hybrid systems and that it had already received more than enquiries from more than 50 companies.

The green-car credits are also an important part of the Singulato deal.

Keen to combat smog, jump-start its own auto industry and lower reliance on imported oil, China is aggressively pursuing the adoption of electric cars. Under a production quota system taking effect this year, automakers are required to produce and sell a certain number of new-energy vehicles in proportion to their overall sales volume.

A carmaker that fails to achieve its quotas will have to acquire NEV points from an automaker with surplus credits or face penalties.

Toyota has said that initially it won’t be able to meet its quotas without buying credits from others. It has also agreed to produce and help sell a car for GAC Motor, a joint venture partner, to generate credits.

According to the Toyota sources, the deal with Singulato has already yielded intriguing glimpses into the thinking of Chinese EV startups and their non-traditional approach to engineering.

One such example was Singulato’s idea to look at linking headlights with satellite, cellular network location data and the driver’s planned trip. That could help turn the headlights along the driver’s route for enhanced visibility and driving safety.

It might not be something Toyota would consider but as an idea, “it was eye-opening,” one of the sources said.


Volvo banks on hybrid cars to avoid paying hefty fines

                STOCKHOLM: Volvo Car AB is counting on tripling sales of plug-in hybrid models this year as a way to avoid paying what could amount to hundreds of millions of euros in European penalties for the sale of its more polluting yet popular combustion-engine SUVs.

A fifth of all new Volvos sold in 2020 should be plug-ins or all-electric, compared with just 6.5% of the total last year, according to chief executive officer Hakan Samuelsson.

That would see hybrid sales rising to more than 150,000 based on the pace of growth in 2019. The company is only planning to start shipping its first fully-electric model – the XC40 Recharge – later this year.

The stakes are high for Volvo’s electric strategy because conventional SUVs made up more than half of sales last year and are largely behind the carmaker’s success since the takeover by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co a decade ago. As Europe’s tough emissions rules kick in, the company could pay dearly.

PA Consulting Group puts Volvo’s potential fines for this year at a quarter of annual operating profit.

“Paying fines is something that just shouldn’t be in the equation, ” Samuelsson said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“That’s not part of our plans. We want to invest in product development, not in fines to Brussels.”


KLIMS’18: UD Trucks previews Kuzer light-duty truck

                KUALA LUMPUR: UD Trucks' new light duty truck Kuzer was previewed at the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow (KLIMS’18), which is being held till December 2 at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

UD Trucks and its sole distributor partner, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) presented the all-new light duty truck, Kuzer, which was unveiled by Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president and KLIMS’18 chairman Datuk Aishah Ahmad and Minister of Transport Anthony Loke.

Also present were Toshio Shiratori, product design director, UD Trucks; Tan Keng Meng, executive director, TCIE; Steve Hedouin, managing director - Malaysia and Oceania, UD Trucks and Wong King Yoon, director, TCIE.

Kuzer is the newest member of the UD Trucks range joining the popular heavy-duty Quester and the medium-duty Croner in the list of offerings by the leading Japanese truck manufacturer.

The new light duty truck is billed as delivering extra with its robust build and design, modern solutions and strong engine power.

“We are very happy to be to be back for the 9th KLIMS and to showcase our latest innovations in trucking solution for smart logistics. Together with our long-time partner, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment, our participation in this important industry event is a response to market demand for logistics solutions that can maximize productivity and uptime. Following the vision of UD Trucks’ founder, Kenzo Adachi - to make the truck the world needs today”. Kuzer is the perfect truck for urban driving, especially the narrow roads of inner cities,” said Hedouin.

The name ‘Kuzer’ is inspired by the Japanese onomatopoetic sound of wind, taking on the meaning ‘run as if flying swiftly against the wind’.

The Kuzer carries the UD Trucks’ heritage and design of the hexagon grille, a family look that can also be found on the Quester and Croner.

The Kuzer has the largest cab in its class, providing the driver a spacious and comfortable environment when driving or taking a short break.

The optimized engine, gear ratio and aerodynamic cab design of the Kuzer is said to give superior fuel efficiency, hence lowering cost and increasing profitability.

Tan said, “TCIE has successfully built the footprint for UD Trucks in the market and achieved tremendous growth alongside the growth of the country’s automotive commercial vehicle industry over the last 40 years.

With the successful introduction of the all-new Kuzer, we hope to continue to offer our esteemed customers the best trucking solution and quality services in smart logistics.”

TCIE is supported by an extensive network of 43 service centers and dealership throughout Malaysia.

Buyers of UD Trucks are also supported by the UD Extra Mile Support services which includes UD Genuine Service and Parts, UD Driver Training and UD Trust Service Agreements.

For more information on UD Trucks and TCIE, please call 03-61899832.


Goodyear tyres using soybean oil-based rubber

                KUALA LUMPUR: The first commercial use of a new soybean oil-based rubber compound is helping Goodyear enhance tyre performance.

A Goodyear team of scientists and engineers created a tread compound, or formulation, using soybean oil, which is naturally derived, cost-effective, carbon-neutral and renewable.

“Goodyear's legacy of innovation drives us to continue to apply new technology solutions, developing superior performing tyres that meet consumer demands," said Eric Mizner, Goodyear’s Director of Global Material Science.

By employing soybean oil in tyres, Goodyear found a new way to help keep the rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, a key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing the vehicle’s grip on the road surface.

Goodyear’s tests have shown rubber made with soybean oil mixes more easily in the silica-reinforced compounds used in manufacturing certain tyres.

This also improves manufacturing efficiency and reduces energy consumption.

Goodyear cooperated on the project with the United Soybean Board (USB), a group of farmer-directors who oversee the investments of a checkoff program on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers.

The USB provided some funding support for the development of Goodyear’s soybean oil application in tyres.

The commercialization of soybean oil in tires as the latest technology breakthrough by Goodyear builds on the company’s other recent innovations, such as the use of silica derived from rice husk ash, another component Goodyear is using in certain consumer tyres, along with current and past uses of components such as carbon fiber, DuPont Kevlar, volcanic sand and more.


Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors unveil extended warranty programme

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has launched an Extended Warranty Programme for selected Hyundai models with expired manufacturer’s warranty that are no longer than eight years from the manufacturing date and with a travelled mileage of under 300,000km on the fifth year from the car’s purchased date.

The models are the AD/MD Elantra, LF Sonata, TL/LM Tucson, DM Santa Fe and TQ Starex.

The Extended Warranty Programme aims to offer Hyundai customers peace of mind while they keep their vehicles beyond five years, after the expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty.

The extended warranty will function just like a new car’s warranty but subject to yearly renewal and only covers mileage of not more than 30,000km a year.

HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung said most extended warranty programmes were offered by premium and luxury car brands.

"We are offering this programme for Hyundai cars as we are confident of the quality of our vehicles and we want to help our customers maintain their cars longer with peace of mind,” he said.

With a yearly renewal of RM1,280, the programme offers extended warranty on internal and primary components of the transmission system as well as other electrical components of the engine, transmission, motoring, and modular parts of the vehicles.

It also covers complimentary repairs and part replacement while under warranty.

The coverage limit per claim is set at RM10,000 but any item that has been claimed beforehand can be claimed again should it be proven faulty with a claim of up to RM50,000 on the total aggregate, until it is fulfilled.

All vehicles registered under this programme must have a good service record with Hyundai authorised service centres and owners are required to send in their vehicles to an authorised service centre for a routine service according to HSDM’s recommended service interval.

This programme is introduced as part of the company’s promise to deliver distinctive products and services to customers under its tagline ‘Geared for Distinction’.

This programme is currently only available at all Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH) branches but will soon be extended to the other authorised service centres nationwide.

For details, contact Hyundai at 1300-13-2000 or log on to www.hyundai.com.my.


New VW Golf R teased ahead of Nov 4 world premiere

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen will introduce the new Golf R on Nov 4.

The new Golf R is the most powerful Golf model in the history of this best-seller, of which more than 35 million units have been sold.

The original version of the sports car made its debut in 2002 as the Golf R3202 with 241 PS and all-wheel drive. In 2003, it was the first Volkswagen to be equipped with a dual clutch gearbox

A day after the world premiere, presales of the new sports car will launch in Germany and Europe.

Volkswagen has been rapidly deploying a range of sporty Golf models. The debuts of the GTI, GTI Clubsport, GTE and GTD are now followed by the flagship model of the eighth Golf generation: the new Golf R.

Like all Golf models, the Golf R is also produced at the Wolfsburg plant

Volkswagen boasts that the new Golf R is more powerful, more dynamic, more efficient, more closely integrated and more digital. It also comes with an all-wheel drive system featuring selective wheel torque control on the rear axle.

The all-wheel drive system is controlled by a Vehicle Dynamics Manager that has been closely integrated with other running gear systems such the electronic front differential lock (XDS) and adaptive chassis control DCC.

The result, Volkswagen claims, is that the new Golf R offers optimum traction characteristics, neutral and precise handling, as well as maximum agility.

The development goal was to achieve maximum driving pleasure at a previously unrivalled level. The corresponding drive output is generated by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged power plant in the most powerful version of the EA 888 engine series available for the new Golf.

The high-tech, direct-injection engine is characterised by innovative solutions for individual details, such as integration of water-cooled exhaust gas routing to the turbocharger in the cylinder head or variable valve timing with dual camshaft adjustment.

Looking back - from 238hp V6 to 300hp 4-pot

The first Golf R32, introduced in 2002, proved to be an automotive sensation.

With its 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine generating 177 kW (241 PS) it was the most powerful Golf that Volkswagen had built up to that point. It was also equipped with all-wheel drive and raced to 100kph in only 6.6 seconds. It sold three times as well as had been anticipated.

From mid-2003, it was the world’s first Volkswagen available with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG).

In 2005, the second Golf R32 made its debut, and with 184 kW (250 PS); it was even more powerful.

Four years went by until the 2009 International Motor Show in Frankfurt: at this event, Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of the successor on the basis of the sixth Golf generation, changing from a V6 naturally-aspirated engine to a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine (TSI)02 that was 21 percent more efficient.

The R32 became the R and with it, the output of the third generation increased to 199 kW (270 PS).

In September 2013, the fourth Golf R generation followed on the basis of the Golf 7, once again making its debut at the Frankfurt motor show. With now 221 kW (300 PS), it broke through the magic threshold.


Alfa Romeo Stelvio is ready for launch

                TURIN: The first ever SUV in Alfa Romeo's otherwise sportscar-focused 107-year history is about to hit the market, and to make the most of the occasion, the company has decided to take a leaf out of Mercedes-Benz's book and offer it initially as a special, limited launch edition.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio First Edition will boast more than just a special paint job or badges, though there will be external details that will subtly set it apart from the standard production models set to come later this year.

For instance, it will get some chrome touches around the window frames, privacy glass at the rear, plus a set of 20-inch alloy wheels that will sit over painted brake callipers. The look is completed with bi-Xenon headlights at the front and courtesy lights integrated into each of the car's door handles.

However, Alfa is selling the concept of the Stelvio to its biggest fans by highlighting its handling poise and performance, so the company is offering the First Edition with a 280hp four-cylinder turbocharged engine matted to an eight-speed transmission. This will ensure the Stelvio goes from 0-100kph in a best-in-class 5.7 seconds.

All of the power from that engine goes to the rear wheels by default, but when grip becomes an increasingly valuable commodity, the Stelvio's Q4 all-wheel-drive system can send 50% of available torque to the front wheels, instead.

It's why the car is called the Stelvio. It's the name of a phenomenal mountain road in Italy that boasts 75 hairpin turns over 20km. And while other companies are taking their SUVs to the Nurburgring for testing, Alfa took its car to this road to ensure it behaves like a sportscar on the straight and like a proper off-roader in the bends and on the inclines.

Technological aids alone will only keep things under control in certain situations. To ensure the balance one expects from a car with sporting pretensions, Alfa has done everything it can to reduce weight, including using a carbon-fibre propeller shaft to drive the rear wheels, and to make sure the weight is evenly spread.

As a result, the Stelvio can claim a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, just like a supercar.

As for cabin comfort, the First Edition offers full grain leather heated seats, real wood dashboard trim, a sports steering wheel with integrated starter button, aluminum column-mounted paddle shifts, and a premium infotainment and navigation package.

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, a rear camera, plus front and rear parking sensors.

The Stelvio First Edition retails in Europe for €57,300 (RM272,000).

 The Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps.


How to pick the right pair of sunglasses for driving

                BERLIN: Wearing sunglasses during a drive helps protect from any glare from the sun. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind when buying a pair for use in the car.

Normally style comes first for sunglasses, but not when driving. To ensure safety, some countries like Britain and Germany have introduced fines for driving with sunglasses with unnecessarily dark tints or using them at night.

The Advisory Board for Good Vision (KGS), a Berlin-based NGO, has provided a few tips.

1. Drivers should aim to pick a model with a brown or grey tint. This will mean the least amount of colour distortion. That way road signs, traffic lights and brake lights will stay easy to recognise. For glasses tinted yellow, orange, green or red on the other hand, there is a risk that the colours you see will look different.

2. The tint intensity of a pair of glasses also influences the driver's vision. The maker of the glasses will usually indicate the anti-glare visor category, with a range of between 0 and 4 - the higher the number, the darker the filter and thus the higher the light absorption. Sunglasses categorised as a 4 are not suitable for driving, according to the KGS, as they only allow three to eight percent of the light through.

3. Sunglasses with gradient lenses are ideal for driving. They offer glare protection higher up, and at the same time allow the driver to glance down at the dashboard without seeing through a dark tint.

4. Anyone required to wear their glasses while driving a car of course also need a pair of sunglasses with the appropriate prescription.

And one more thing. When driving in tunnels, drivers should always remove their sunglasses before entering, otherwise some vehicles might be overlooked.

Even though many tunnel passageways are lighted, driving through a tunnel while wearing darker-tinted glasses can lead to overlooking other vehicles if their headlights are not turned on, said Wolfgang Wesermann from an NGO in Berlin focusing on vision awareness.

Drivers who use prescription sunglasses may also want to bring their normal glasses with them so as to maintain full vision while driving through any long and dark tunnels.


New Mitsubishi Triton Athlete lifestyle pick-up truck launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, has introduced the new Mitsubishi Triton Athlete.

The Triton Athlete is the new flagship model of the Triton 4X4 pick-up range, replacing the Triton Adventure X.

The stylish pick-up truck comes with on-the-road and without insurance price of RM141,500 for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia.

In Langkawi, the Triton Athlete is priced at RM132,827, Sabah (RM143,500), Sarawak (RM143,550) and Labuan (RM135,278).

Warranty period is five years or 200,000km whichever comes first.

The Triton Athlete is the embodiment of toughness refined and is available in three colours of Sun Flare Orange Pearl, White Diamond and Jet Black Mica.

Packing extra accessories to match its rugged presence, the Triton Athlete is accentuated by a gloss black front under garnish and ‘Dynamic Shield’ front design concept incorporating a glossy black radiator grille and sporty ‘ATHLETE’ graphic design side stripe sticker.

The black-theme appearance also extends to side mirrors, door handles, aero type window deflectors, 18-inch gloss black wheels and side steps.

Inside, the Triton Athlete features with orange-stitching leather wrapped steering, gear knob and LED illuminated scuff plates.

The Triton Athlete also comes with first-in-class rear air circulator and is powered by a 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine with Variable Valve Timing technology that produces 181PS and 430Nm of torque.

Safety features include Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Auto High Beam (AHB) and seven SRS airbags.

Also available as standard are All-Round Monitor (ARM), Driving Video Recorder (DVR), and an Apple Carplay and Android Auto ready audio system with a 7-inch touchscreen.

For ride control, the Triton Athlete is fitted with Super Select 4WD II with off-road mode for optimum traction and handling characteristics in any given terrain.

The Triton Athlete also comes with Hill Descent Control where the vehicle speed is electronically controlled while it is in a descent mode.

It can do an impressive turning radius of 5.9m, making parking or turning in the tight spaces effortless.


Three New BMW i Charging Stations at WEIL Hotel

PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia and Tian Siang Premium Auto today unveiled three new BMW i Charging Stations at WEIL Hotel, Ipoh.Speaking at the unveiling, Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “The introduction of these new BMW i Charging Stations for the first time here in Perak further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to drive Future Mobility in the country. "Having charted an all-time high deliveries for our BMW iPerformance range of vehicles last year, and with Malaysia being the fifth largest market for BMW Hybrid with eDrive technology vehicles, we are pleased to be taking the lead in electro-mobility and future mobility in the country. In part, it is also important to continuously expand accessibility of charging stations to our customers, particularly through our network of authorised dealerships.” (from left) BMW Group Malaysia head of sales Raymond Tan, Tian Siang Premium Auto dealer principal Tan Ka Kin, BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Harald Hoelzl, Weil Hotel chairman Datuk Liew Sew Yee and Weil Hotel executive director Liew Yu-Wei.Tan Ka Kin, Dealer Principal of Tian Siang Premium Auto, meanwhile, added that 2017 was also a successful year for the premium dealership. He said, “We delivered over 400 BMW vehicles in the state of Perak last year. More than 45% of these vehicles comprised of BMW iPerformance vehicles and this number will continue to grow steadily. It is only natural that we take a step forward to further develop the charging infrastructure together with our premium partners here in the State.” The three new BMW i Charging Stations in Ipoh arrives following the introduction of BMW i Charging Stations at the Holiday Inn Melaka and The Equatorial Melaka by Seong Hoe Premium Motors, and at CityONE Megamall Kuching by Regas Premium Auto Sarawak.BMW Group Malaysia’s portfolio of Visionary Mobility with the BMW iPerformance vehicles are also supported by the ChargEV platform through its partnership with the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation. The BMW ChargeNow service, which is offered as part of the BMW 360° ELECTRIC programme, also grants straightforward access to partner charging stations like ChargEV, where customers can enjoy 24/7 support and access to all charging locations in ChargEV’s growing network which now offers more than 270 charging facilities nationwide.


2017 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 MPi Premium 4WD for RM159,888

                SHAH ALAM: Hyundai Sime Darby Motors introduces the new Tucson 2.0 MPi Premium 4WD variant at RM159,888.

The new Tucson 2.0 MPi Premium 4WD variant shares the same powertrain as the 2.0L MPi Elegance.

The 2.0 MPi petrol produces 155ps at 6,200rpm and 192Nm at 4,000rpm and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

However, this new variant is mated with a 4WD-system that delivers 100% of torque to the front wheels during normal road driving and up to 40% to the rear wheels, automatically, depending on road conditions.

A manually-selected ‘Lock Mode’ splits torque 50/50% to enhance stability for off-road and low speed.

The Traction Control that comes with the system, also efficiently transfers torque to the wheels while maximising grip during cornering.

New premium features in this variant include Twin LED Positioning Headlamps with Static Bending Light, dual zone fully automatic air-conditioning; a panoramic sunroof and a roof rack for loading flexibility.

This variant also has six airbags, 6:4 rear seat folding and reclining seat function (also applicable to the 1.6 Turbo GDi and the R 2.0 CDRi variants).

“We hope to increase the market appetite for the Tucson by offering three powertrain options that cater to the different preferences of car owners. With the introduction of these new variants, we are confident SUV enthusiasts will find the Tucson ideal in every way,” said Lau Yit Mun, managing director of Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors.

The Tucson is now offered in four variants:

•	2.0 MPi Elegance - RM126,188 *OTR
•	1.6 Turbo GDi  - RM145,688 *OTR
•	R 2.0 CDRi - RM155,788 *OTR
•	2.0 MPi Premium 4WD – RM159,888 *OTR

*On-the-Road pricing excludes insurance.

All Tucson variants are entitled to 50,000km free service with three years validity.

The Tucson has received the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

It benefits from a solid body structure featuring 51% of ultra-high strength steel for improved torsional rigidity and impact resistance.

Safety features include Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and the Electric Parking Brake (EPB).

HSDM offers a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty on all its new passenger vehicles.

A 24-hour road assist service is now available for new and existing Hyundai vehicles.

All authorised Hyundai showrooms will be hosting a weekend of fun activities, which include an opportunity to test drive the new vehicle with light refreshments offered to all visitors.

There will also be an early bird promotion for those who place their booking this weekend.

Fantastic deals are also offered for other Hyundai vehicles this weekend.

For more information or to place bookings, interested parties can head to the nearest sales outlet or call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.


Toyota C-HR updated for 2019

                SHAH ALAM: The Toyota C-HR has been updated for 2019 and comes with an optional aerokit developed by TRD exclusively or the compact crossover model.

The price remains unchanged, starting from RM150,000 for private registration. Bookings are open now and deliveries are scheduled to start in February.

The latest C-HR gets a new design for the 17-inch lightweight alloy rims. The bolder dual-tone design has been specially chosen to match the trendy looks of the vehicle.

New garnish strips on the front and rear bumpers, and the addition of body mouldings along the sides highlight the exterior body surfacing.

The optional aerokit adds extensions to the front and rear bumpers which have a metallic finish and overfenders around the wheel arches give a more muscular look.

The TRD aerokit is installed by professionals at UMW Toyota Motor’s own facility and the parts are also covered by a warranty.

Customers have a choice of six exterior colours with Radiant Green Metallic being a new addition for 2019. The other colours are Metal Stream Metallic, White Pearl, Blue Metallic, Attitude Black and Red Mica. To accentuate its style, the vehicles in Blue Metallic, Radiant Green Metallic and Red Mica comes with a black roof.

For an improved user experience, the infotainment system has been upgraded with a new one that has a 6.75-inch display touchscreen as well as Apple Carplay and Android Auto Connectivity. Voice Recognition also makes it easier for certain operations, allowing the driver to keep his hands on the steering wheel.

The C-HR is powered by a Toyota 2ZR-FBE petrol engine with a 1.8-litre displacement, producing maximum power of 138hp and maximum torque of 171Nm. A Super ECT 7-speed automatic transmission with Shiftmatic provides a balance between performance and fuel efficiency. The driver can also choose from three driving modes – ECO, NORMAL and SPORT.

As with the other new Toyota models, the C-HR sits on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA), a platform that is touted as offering driving performance and improved safety.

Active safety systems in the C-HR include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Monitoring system, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

The C-HR is a CBU model from Thailand. UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has sold over 4,000 units since the model was launched locally in 2018.


Ford Kuga Vignale expresses 'affordable luxury'

DETROIT: The latest Ford to carry the Vignale insignia is based on the latest-generation Kuga mid-sized SUV but boasts the sort of creature comforts, craftsmanship and active safety tech more commonly associated with premium crossovers.

So, for instance, the Ford Kuga Vignale comes with a latest-generation voice-activated infotainment system complete with a premium audio system and ambient interior lighting.

It also boasts adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, a lane-keeping alert, road sign recognition and can even see around corners thanks to front-mounted wide angle cameras.

Its seats are covered in quilted Windsor leather and before each model ships to its owner it is given a two-hour hand polish and must pass a craftsman's inspection.

"Our Ford Kuga Vignale speaks directly to the growing trend for luxury SUVs and represents the very best of Ford with premium design, materials and craftsmanship," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

However, in this instance luxury doesn't mean taking a basic Ford model and offering it with every optional extra as standard - although every Vignale is very well equipped.

Rather it's about simplifying and personalizing the ownership experience. So offering customers a relationship manager to not only take care of all the annoying details of specifying and buying a car, but to hang around and remain a constant point of contact once the deal has been done.

It also means taking the pain out of things like maintenance and servicing. The car is collected and a courtesy car delivered, and when the vehicle is returned, it's been cleaned and valeted as part of the service.

"Our customers have high aspirations, and they want more from Ford," said Jim Farley, Chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe. "With Ford Vignale, we can offer them the absolute best of Ford in terms of luxury and personal service."

The Kuga becomes the fourth Vignale model in the European range following the launch of the Mondeo, S-Max and Edge variants over the past 18 months. And like existing models, as well as the standard specifications, customers can heavily personalize their models further.

"[It] is a more individualistic way to enjoy luxury and express your style," said Joel Piaskowski, director, Design, Ford of Europe.


BorgWarner sees EV, hybrid parts business generate nearly half of sales by 2027

                DETROIT: Auto parts supplier BorgWarner on Tuesday forecast its electrified-vehicle business would generate about half of its total expected sales of over US$10 billion (RM46bil) by 2027, as the company looks to tap strong demand for cleaner modes of transport.

It also expects the eProducts segment, which makes parts for EVs and hybrids, to bring in revenues of US$2.3 billion to US$2.6 billion for 2023 and grow to US$5.6 billion in 2025.

"EV-focused M&A is tracking ahead of plan," the company said ahead of an investor meeting.

Michigan-based BorgWarner has over the past two years sharpened its efforts to become an EV supplier, snapping up five companies and spinning off its fuel systems and aftermarket segments into a separate firm.

Its clients - Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford - have also been trying to roll out more electrified models.

In its most recent quarter, BorgWarner posted lower-than-expected adjusted earnings as supply chain constraints continued to be a headwind.


Turbo Esprit, Colin Chapman's last company car, gets Lotus programme rolling

                LONDON: Lotus is launching a Certificate of Provenance programme, revealing the first recipient as a Turbo Esprit that was the final "company car" of Lotus founder Colin Chapman.

The 1981 model, which was also driven by former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to Norfolk, has recently been acquired by Lotus. Local media had reported her as saying: “I was tempted to drive away in it.”

Following a restoration, the Turbo Esprit will join the company’s collection.

The new Certificate of Provenance is designed to appeal to owners of Lotus cars from any era. They could buy one for themselves or receive it as a gift from friends or family. It is delivered in a distinctive "For The Drivers" Lotus presentation box, which contains:

> The Certificate of Provenance – printed on premium paper, this provides a summary of the car’s details including the VIN, paint colour and specification. The certificate also notes the date on which the car completed its production at the Hethel factory and was passed to the Lotus sales team.
> The Build Specification Letter – drafted using detailed vehicle information from the Lotus archive*, this document provides more in-depth information about the car, including its engine, transmission, standard features and optional extras.
> A personalised letter to the customer signed by Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, thanking them for their purchase and updating them on the changes taking place at Lotus.

The three documents are presented in a simple black envelope placed inside the presentation box. Beneath it is a selection of Lotus collectibles, including an aluminium plaque engraved with the owner’s name and information from the Certificate of Provenance; a leather Lotus keyring; a carbon fibre bookmark featuring the brand’s nine most significant motorsport laurels; a presentation tin of four badges; and a Lotus ink pen.

The Certificate of Provenance is available worldwide through Lotus retailers. In the UK it costs £170 + postage. Prices in other markets may vary.

The 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit has the UK registration plate UVF 464X and was first registered to Lotus on 1 August of that year.

Its own Lotus Certificate of Provenance reveals it was allocated to company founder Colin Chapman for his exclusive use. Following Chapman’s death in December 1982, it was sold by Lotus in July 1983 and has been in private hands ever since, covering just 17,700km and regularly maintained.

Finished in metallic Silver Diamond paint with ‘Turbo Esprit’ decals, the factory-fitted optional extras include a full red leather interior, air-conditioning and a Panasonic audio system integrated into the headliner.

However, the specification is unique as it has several features added at the request of Chapman to improve his own driving comfort and enjoyment. These include power steering – it was the first Esprit ever to have this technology – plus modified and lowered suspension, modified brakes and BBS Mahle lattice alloy wheels.