Auto show visitor scouting for upgrade options with 'must-have' sunroof

Diego and wife Deborah posing with the Corolla Cross Hybrid.
KUALA LUMPUR: A shopping stint at the Mid Valley Megamall turned into an opportunity for an investor to check out the various cars on parade at the CarSifu Auto Show 2022.

Gavino Diego, 29, said he didn't even know a car show was going on at the time. Nevertheless, he seized the opportunity to size up the vehicular exhibits upon seeing them.

In particular, he found the Corolla Cross Hybrid at the Toyota booth to be appealing as an upgrade option.

Diego, 29, who was accompanied by his wife, Deborah Edgar, said he was drawn to the Toyota hybrid as the vehicle was bigger and has more cabin space than his Mazda CX-30.

 The couple likes the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

"The Corolla Cross seems to be an attractive buy as the vehicle is a hybrid that delivers good fuel economy and has been upgraded with a better sound system this time," he said.

Aside from the CX-30, Gavino also has a Toyota Vios TRD.

However, he lamented that the majority of cars sold in Malaysia do not come with a sunroof.

"I must have a sunroof. I like the feel of having a good view above and spaciousness when I drive with the sunroof open," he said.

He said many people avoided cars with sunroofs as they were afraid of possible water leakage around the roof linings as their cars aged.

"But car technology and design have improved over the years and such leaking instances are rare."

He said more auto shows should be organised as interested car buyers were usually busy people who do not have time to go around and visit the showrooms of different car brands.

"At auto shows, it will be easy for car buyers to view many kinds of cars and brands under one roof," he said.

 The XV GT Edition caught Ryall's attention.

British retiree Martin Ryall, who is on a long-term social visit pass in Malaysia, and his wife Jeya, were checking out the Subaru XV.

He said it made more sense to get their own vehicle as the couple was going to be in Malaysia for long periods.

"Anyway, Grab prices are getting expensive," he said with a laugh.

Ryall, 73, said the couple was interested in a mid-size vehicle as parking bays in some locations in Kuala Lumpur could be narrow and tight.

Ryall said he drives a Nissan X-Trail whenever he is back in London.

The five-day CarSifu Auto Show 2022 at Mid Valley Megamall here is organised by Star Media Group and runs until Sunday.

Participating car companies are Volvo, Toyota, Subaru, Proton, Honda, Perodua and Nissan.

Also participating is local anti-bacterial car mat maker Trapo.

The auto show will also be appearing at The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey in Johor Baru from Oct 26-30.


First Proton-Geely car to roll out by end 2018

                SERDANG: The first Proton car following the national car maker’s tie-up with Geely will enter the market by end-2018 or early 2019, International Trade and Industry Malaysia Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said.

He said Proton and Geely were curently focusing on the establishment of a plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, which is set to be the principal and pioneer automotive factory in the country to implement the new manufacturing technology under the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).

“Geely will facilitate Proton in terms of technology and at the same time assemble its four-wheel drive model, intelligent artificial car and develop their right hand drive technology in Malaysia,” he said after an Engagement Session at Universiti Putra Malaysia here today.


Geely introduces Galaxy premium electrified brand

                HANGZHOU: Geely Auto Group today launched a new high-end electrified sub brand called Galaxy here today.

The first car from the Galaxy range, the Galaxy L7 long-range PHEV SUV was unveiled along with a fully electric concept model, the “Galaxy Light.”

At the ceremony, Geely Auto also unveiled a multitude of new advanced electrified technologies including the new Aegis battery safety system, NordThor Hybrid 8848 powertrain, and its latest smart vehicle operating system Galaxy N-OS.

Geely said the Galaxy series integrates its global car development capabilities to offer end users best in class intelligent and electrified vehicles with the product range offering highly efficient long range plugin hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

Geely Galaxy products will use a dedicated smart electrified architecture as well as E-CMA, for its long range hybrid product range. The Geely Galaxy range has also adopted a futuristic new design language created specifically for the smart electrified model range.

Coming up: Seven Galaxy products

It is expected that Geely Galaxy will have seven new vehicle models within the next two years.

Of the seven new products planned, four will be long range hybrid electric models including the Galaxy L7 SUV and L6 sedan, which begin deliveries in the second and third quarter of 2023.

Three models will come under the pure galaxy E range, with the first Galaxy E8 scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Galaxy series will be the first by the brand to use the Geely’s Aegis battery safety system which offers the highest level of user protection and piece of mind throughout the lifespan of the battery unit.

The battery safety system has taken the lead in protecting against direct impacts to the battery during crash situations. In tandem with the vehicle’s Wise Star Cloud Connected Central Computing System, the Aegis system can accurately predict and pre-empt thermal runaways and other situations, increasing battery life by 20%.

The Geely Galaxy series launch also introduced the latest generation of Geely Auto’s NordThor dedicated hybrid engine, the NordThor 8848 has achieved a peak thermal efficiency of 44.26%.

The NordThor 8848 powertrain uses the industry’s first predictive energy management system to improve fuel economy by up to 15%.

Paired with the NordThor three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), the NordThor hybrid powertrain offers users the best combination of performance and fuel economy, said Geely.

On the upcoming Geely Galaxy L7 SUV model, the hybrid powertrain enable to vehicle to reach a top speed of 200kph and 0-100kph in 7.5 seconds.

Real world fuel consumption for the long range hybrid model has been tested to reach 5.23L/100km allowing the Galaxy L7 to drive 1,370 km on a single tank of fuel in hybrid driving conditions.

Pure electric battery range will be announced in due course.

Galaxy N-Operating System: The brain

The new operating system was developed in line with Smart Geely 2025 strategy under which Geely is focusing on self developed chips, operating systems, intelligent cloud computing, and satellite networks to secure the future of the brand.

Backed by Qualcomms Snapdragon 8155 vehicle chip, the Galaxy N OS allows its models to have the fastest system startup and response time in its class, only taking 0.5 seconds to reach a ready operational state.

With the help of Geely parent company Geely Holding Group’s network of satellites, Geely Galaxy vehicles have access to centimetre accurate precision positioning and high-precision maps to assist in intelligent driving functionality.

It is expected that by 2025, Geely Holding Group will complete the launch of its 72 satellite network, providing full global coverage for Galaxy models.

Geely said the launch of the Galaxy series not only showcased the latest technological advances by the company, but raises the benchmark in the industry and offers users safer, smarter, and electrified experiences.


2018 Mazda6 earns five-star rating from Euro NCAP

                LONDON: The new 2018 Mazda6 has been awarded the maximum five star rating by Euro NCAP in its latest series of tests.

This is the first Mazda to achieve an overall five star rating under the new, more stringent 2018 Euro NCAP crashworthiness ratings.

Key to the new Mazda6's success is an increase in the rigidity of its impact-absorbing yet lightweight SKYACTIV-Body architecture, an even wider range of advanced i-ACTIVSENSE safety technologies to help drivers identify potential risks and reduce the likelihood of damage or injury, and an improved pedestrian protection performance.

Of the four test categories involved in the Euro NCAP ratings - Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User (pedestrian safety) and Safety Assist, the new Mazda6 bettered or equalled three out of four scores achieved by its predecessor in 2013.

The new Mazda6's Adult Occupation score improved by 3% to an exceptional 95%, with maximum points scored for frontal impacts with a stationary car, and both side barrier and side pole impacts.

The Child Occupant score rose by a significant 14% to 91%, with maximum points scored in both frontal and lateral impact categories.

A creditable 66% in Vulnerable Road User (pedestrian safety) matches that of the outgoing model, with the new Mazda6 scoring an impressive 73% in the Safety Assist category.

Building on an already substantial spread of i-ACTIVSENSE safety features, the 2018 Mazda6 features an updated Mazda Cruise Control (MRCC), an improved Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH) array, an Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) system, Mazda's auto-hold function and a 360° View Monitor.

Pedestrian protection performance has also been enhanced by the adoption of an active bonnet design.

Superior driving dynamics also contribute to the new Mazda6's five star Euro NCAP achievement, in the form of its linear, responsive and predictable acceleration, braking, handling and steering.

By making the car easier to drive safely, such attributes further reduce the potential for accidents without compromising Mazda’s traditional fun-to-drive character.


Thailand approves incentives to promote EV shift

                BANGKOK: Thailand's cabinet today approved a package of incentives including tax cuts and subsidies to promote a shift to electric vehicles (EVs) in Southeast Asia's major auto production base, a government spokesman said.

The package for 2022-2025 is in line with a zero emission vehicle policy plus a goal to ensure 30% of Thailand's total auto production are EVs by 2030, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told a news conference.

In the first two years, the measures will focus on encouraging widespread domestic use of EVs by providing tax breaks and subsidies for imported models and those made locally, he said.

In the last years of the package, the support will mainly be on promoting domestically produced EVs, while cancelling some benefits for imported models, Thanakorn said.

"This is to encourage operators to accelerate the production of electric vehicles in the country to meet increasing demand," he said.

Thailand last year produced 1.7 million regular vehicles, for firms that include Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi.

Thanakorn did not give further details on the incentives, which he said would need to be worked out with the energy ministry.

According to earlier media reports, the package will help reduce the price of each EV by between 70,000 baht (RM9,057) and 150,000 baht (RM19,409).

An earlier Bloomberg has more details.


New York debut for Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

                NEW YORK: Toyota has unveiled the first RAV4 Hybrid at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.

Its smooth and efficient powertrain combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor, with an additional motor powering the rear axle to deliver electronic all-wheel drive.

The AWD capability provides greater safety and stability when negotiating low-grip surfaces.

It also provides a towing capacity of 1,650kg, with Toyota’s Trailer Sway Control system providing added security and peace of mind.

RAV4’s new frontal design generates a stronger road presence and includes full LED headlights for the first time.

New technology features include Toyota’s 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, which gives the driver sight of obstacles that would remain hidden in blind spots when using conventional front and rear cameras.

RAV4’s safety specification is significantly improved.

In addition to the Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist features, RAV4 will further benefit from Adaptive Cruise Control and two significant enhancements to the basic Pre-Collision System functions.


Continental TechShow 2019: Electric axle drive and 48-volt system

                HANOVER, Germany: All-electric mobility is no longer science fiction, and technology giants like Continental AG are at the forefront of next-generation solutions for emissions free transportation.

While Continental AG is renowned as among the largest global tyre manufacturers, the technology company is also a leading automotive supplier for tyre and brake technology, vehicle dynamic control, as well as electronic and sensor systems.

At a recent 2019 Continental Technology Show held in Hanover, Germany, the technology company highlighted many of its innovations under the tagline of “Mobility is the Heartbeat of Life.”

Continental chairman Dr Elmar Degenhart pointed out the automotive industry is currently undergoing a huge transformation.

He predicted that due to increasingly tough emission regulations, diesel and petrol engines might not be sold after 2040 in Europe and China.

 Continental chairman Dr Elmar Degenhart says diesel and petrol engines might not be sold after 2040 in Europe and China.

"From 2050, roads and cities will ideally be free of CO2 emissions. Electric cars with a range of 300km will be the best choice in cities," he said.

Degenhart noted that in the past year alone, Continental had invested more than three billion euros (RM13.8 billion) in research and development for next-generation mobility solutions.

“Our alternative drive systems and Continental technologies for automated and autonomous driving, as well as for the connected car, are the key ingredients for a healthy mobility ecosystem."

First fully integrated electric axle drive

At the Technology Show in Hanover, Continental's highlights include its new electric axle drive which is aimed at automakers in in Europe and China.

As the electric axle drive is a fully integrated module, numerous cable connections and plugs can be dispensed with.

 Continental's new electric axle drive is aimed at automakers in in Europe and China.

Impressively, the electric axle drive module weighs less than 80kg and includes an electric motor, transmission, power electronics, and motor control.

This reduces the weight of electric vehicles by 20kg, which can help improve the car's performance and travel range.

The new, liquid-cooled drive module is available in two performance levels, with 120 kW and 150 kW.

It will also be found in the Sion electric car from German start-up Sono Motors.

 The Sion is the first series electric vehicle to have solar cells in its body.Autonomous driving and 5G connectivity

Another Continental breakthrough that is ready for production is a radar system that was specially developed for driverless vehicles, and has been fitted in an autonomous EZ10 shuttle bus from the French company EasyMile.

A total of seven radar sensors, each with a range of up to 200 meters, continuously monitor the vehicle environment.

With this data, the system adapts its driving strategy, avoids obstructions and therefore prevents dangerous traffic situations on the route ahead at an early stage.

This system in autonomous shuttle buses should help prevent accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists in particular.

 Continental is developing the CUbE, a small driverless shuttle.

Meanwhile, Continental is also developing its first worldwide 5G solution for a vehicle manufacturer.

On this new platform, Continental’s connectivity experts are combining the features of fifth-generation cellular communications with technologies for short-distance radio for direct data exchange between different vehicles and the infrastructure.

The vehicles talk to each other faster than ever before, with fewer interruptions.

They can warn one other, for example, of accidents behind a bend or traffic jams ahead.

Language assistants with natural speech in the car

Continental is also working on an adaptive voice-activated digital companion that reacts to natural speech.

This makes operation easier and drivers do not have to take their eyes off the road.

 Adaptive voice-activated digital companion that reacts to natural speech.

This increases attention to traffic, reduces the risk of accidents, and also lets the driver relax.

Another concept from Continental connected windows in the car, which can be specifically darkened to reduce sunlight penetration, or enhance occupant privacy.

Smart intersections in the smart city: everyone arrives safely

In pilot cities in North America and Asia, Continental is experimenting with ordinary traffic intersections that have been fitted with smart sensor technology.

Traffic lights and streetlights equipped with sensors exchange data with vehicles in the vicinity to protect pedestrians and cyclists, in particular.

 Continental is experimenting with smart sensors at traffic intersections for better pedestrian safety.

This technology can, for instance, warn a driver of concealed pedestrians or other more vulnerable road users when turning left.

Also, traffic data from street lamps can ultimately reduce emissions: signal changes at traffic lights can be controlled in such a way as to optimize traffic flow and reduce stationary time at intersections.

Tailored electric drives for every need

Continental has developed a new technology for hybrid vehicles, namely a 48-volt high-power drive system with 30 kilowatts - meaning cars can be driven long distances purely with electric power.

Previously, this was only possible using high-voltage drive systems – but not with 48-volt technology.

Vehicle manufacturers can therefore now offer new, attractively priced hybrid vehicles with Continental's 48-volt technology.

 The 48-volt technology from Continental means cars can be driven long distances purely with electric power.

This new hybrid drive from Continental combines an electric motor with integrated power electronics and a battery and develops up to 30 kW.

This is double the output of the previous electric unit, using the same amount of installation space.

Greater safety, convenience and connectivity

In line with “Vision Zero” – the goal of zero-accident mobility, Continental is combining new radar and camera sensors with intelligent data processing in the cloud, which supports improved functions for assistance systems.

For example, Continental is introducing a predictive stability control system that warns the driver before a curve in the road if the vehicle is traveling too fast and automatically brakes, if necessary.

 Using data from the cloud, PreviewESC can automatically apply the brakes for better safety.

Continental calls this smart solution eHorizon in combination with the PreviewESC braking function.

Road data is supplied by eHorizon, and PreviewESC compares this with the current vehicle speed.

If the vehicle is traveling too quickly to safely negotiate an upcoming bend, PreviewESC automatically applies the brakes to adjust the speed accordingly.

 Windows in the car can be specifically darkened.


Nissan helps Saudi Arabian women learn to drive with 'surprise instructors'

                JEDDAH: With Saudi Arabia finally allowing women to have a driver's license, Nissan then offered a group of young women the chance to get behind the wheel for the first time – with a surprise group of driving instructors.

The Japanese carmaker released an inspirational video about its initiative. and is a part of Nissan's #SheDrives campaign, which encourages women to embrace the exciting prospect of becoming a fully-licensed driver in 2018.

The women in the video say that while they're delighted by the prospect but they face reluctance from some of their family members.

To help them overcome this, Nissan invited aspiring female motorists to hone their driving skills and build confidence on a closed driving course, with a plot twist.

Instead of professional instructors, the women were met by their respective husbands, fathers and brothers who were their teachers for the day.

"2018 is earmarked to be a pivotal moment in history for women in the kingdom. We wanted to launch a campaign that's just as emotional as it's innovative, which ultimately is at the heart of what we at Nissan strive to achieve. The #SheDrives campaign aims to motivate women all over Saudi Arabia with a clear message: When the time comes, the decision to drive will be entirely yours," said Nissan Saudi Arabia chief operating officer Bader Al Houssami.


PSA to ditch its two small gasoline city cars, say sources

                PARIS: PSA is ending the production of Peugeot and Citroën small city cars, say three sources, withdrawing from an increasingly unprofitable market as its starts a strategic review ahead of its planned merger with Fiat Chrysler.

While PSA had already agreed to sell its stake in its Czech joint venture with Toyota where the Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 models are made, the decision to stop selling the gasoline cars altogether has just been taken, the sources said.

Carmakers are reviewing the production of vehicles with combustion engines as they need to fit costly exhaust filtering systems to meet tighter emissions laws.

That’s pushing up the cost of some so-called entry-level A-segment cars to the point where they are hard to justify economically.

“PSA is getting out of both the factory and the A-segment business, as it is offered today, and on which manufacturers have arguably lost the most money in Europe,” one of the sources familiar with the matter said.

PSA declined to comment on the future of the two small cars. It said it was reviewing which products would best meet customer expectations in the A segment and cope with European carbon emissions targets.

“This means a reflection with fresh and disruptive ideas,” a spokesman for the French carmaker said.

The European Commission is planning to tighten its emissions limits for cars under new proposals designed to cut the bloc’s greenhouse gas output further by 2030.

PSA’s merger project with FCA has also increased the options available, two of the sources said, as the Italian-US company has no intention of abandoning its small best-selling Panda and 500 models. Both already have hybrid versions and the 500 is also available in full electric mode.

“Current projects could be replaced by new ones made possible by the merger with FCA”, another source said. “The merger is turning all the cards around, especially when you consider that the A segment, from the very first 500 to the Panda, is inseparable from Fiat history”.

FCA declined to comment.

PSA and FCA aim to finalise their merger in the first quarter next year to create a new company called Stellantis, which will be the fourth-biggest automaker in the world.

Market contraction

The European market for frugal city cars has been shrinking for several years. Its share fell to 7.4% last year from 10.9% in 2010 while slightly larger and more profitable vehicles in the B segment maintained their share at 30%, IHS Markit data show.

As part of a profitability drive, PSA has already discontinued production of two smaller Opel models - the Adam city car and the entry-level Karl - as part of an overhaul of the German brand.

Despite their miniature engines and light weight, which theoretically made them suitable for cities, automakers have struggled to make their smallest cars profitable.

Some carmakers, such as Daimler, which makes the Smart car, or Renault with its Twingo, have been forced to invest heavily in all-electric powertrains to improve their emissions profile in Europe.

PSA also considered electrification as an option for its A-segment cars but eventually abandoned the plan, fearing it would remain unprofitable, one of the sources said.

Several alternatives are being studied, including offering more low-cost electric cars in the style of the new Citroën AMI, which is assembled in Morocco, or vehicles in the B-segment with a more accessible price, the source said.

While talks about which architecture A-segment Stellantis cars will use remain open, PSA is keen to retain a technological lead in the B-segment, which includes models such as its popular Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa.

Earlier this year, FCA sent a letter to its suppliers telling them the company’s next three B-segment cars would be based on PSA’s modular CMP platform and produced internally under licence.

PSA chief executive Carlos Tavares, who will head Stellantis, has said repeatedly that he saw no need to scrap any brands following the merger.


GoCar Subs adds four popular models to line-up

                PETALING JAYA: On-demand car-sharing platform GoCar had added four brand-new in-demand models to its GoCar Subs subscription programme.

The expansion of GoCar Subs’ offering is in line with the company’s commitment to offer a practical and more affordable alternative to conventional hire-purchase loans.

The four popular new models in the Malaysian market are the Honda City, Nissan Almera Turbo, Proton X50 and Mitsubishi Xpander.

Under GoCar’s streamlined ‘One Price’ structure, all four models are offered in the EXEC category with the options of one-year, two-year and three-year subscription plans.

The customers need to pay a refundable upfront fee and choose their plan - the monthly fee for the one-year plan is RM2,199, two-year is RM1,999 and three-year is RM1,799.

Aside from the monthly, other inclusive items are road tax, insurance, regular service plus wear and tear, free upgrade to 2,500km mileage per month (instead of 1,650km) with top-up option for unlimited mileage, 24/7 roadside assistance, door-to-door service within Klang Valley, swap to any car within the GoCar Subs garage twice per year to enjoy three different models.

Given the all-inclusive fees under GoCar Subs, customers will enjoy more total savings when they opt for the subscription model as compared to a hire-purchase loan, which does not cover the cost of ownership.

Furthermore, customers not only benefit from the most affordable multi-brand car subscription programme in the market, they also need not worry about being locked-in to long-term loan tenures and vehicle depreciation costs.

All they have to do is make a one-time swapping fee of RM250 and they will have access to three different models to suit their needs.

The monthly fee and security deposit is adjusted accordingly based on the category of models they select.

To sign up for a GoCar Subs account or view the full garage listing, visit www.gocarsubs.com.


Volkswagen offers special edition Polo at Lazada 11.11 shopping fest

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today unveiled aspecial edition Volkswagen Polo Black & White, in conjunction with Lazada’s annual 11.11 Shopping Festival celebration.

The special edition Polo Black & White is limited to only 11 units, and will be sold exclusively on Lazada’s online platform on Nov 11.

Customers only need to pay the retail price of RM68,488 (retail price excluding insurance and registration) for the Polo Black & White to receive added accessories worth RM7,500. As part of the deal, official bank partner Hong Leong Bank will also be offering a special low interest rate of 1.11% per annum for a 5-year loan.

The Polo Black & White is only available in Candy White and comes fitted with a black rear spoiler, black body side moldings, leather seats, 15” black alloy wheels, black side mirror and authorised VW Tint.

Equipped with a 1.6l 104hp petrol injection 16-Valve Multi Point Injection (MPI) engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic with sport mode, the Polo 1.6l comes with a maximum torque of 153Nm available at a low 3800rpm. The Polo 1.6l is fitted with a new RCD 340G head unit which offers a wide range of connectivity options such as USB and iPod interface, AUX-IN support, SD card slot, Bluetooth andApp-Connect (CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink).

To book the car, a booking fee of RM799 is required and can be made via Lazada Wallet, credit card or online banking, after which the customer will receive a call from a Volkswagen representative for arrangements on their preferred dealership and to complete the registration and delivery of the vehicle.

Those who wish to buy the special edition Polo Black & White may visit the Volkswagen store on Lazada at to find out more.

All Volkswagen models come with 3-years free maintenance, 5-years manufacturer’s warranty and 5-years roadside assistance.For more information, visitwww.volkswagen.com.my

“A consumer’s purchasing journey have evolved so much in the past recent years, and we are pleased to have played a part in changing perceptions to the point where purchasing a car is now the new norm," said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

"This is evident with the success with our collaborations with Lazada for the 12.12. Beetle and the recent JOIN range. Convenience aside, this also tells us that consumers are online – reading, researching and looking for the best deals. And that is where Volkswagen will be.”

Lazada Malaysia CEO Christophe Lejeune said Lazada has become a lifestyle destination as evident from its continued partnership with Volkswagen.


Mazda sports car concept

HIROSHIMA: Mazda will unveil a new sports car concept at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, which opens its doors to the media on Oct 28 and the public from Oct 30 to Nov 8.

Despite its modern look, Mazda’s latest creation clearly embodies the carmaker’s lineage. Designers strove to condense the company’s sports car history to as great a degree as possible into this concept.

True to the theme of the carmaker’s stand – “Accelerate toward our dreams” – Mazda is also highlighting the brand’s unique approach to the joy of driving. A special motor-sport exhibition will feature two racing-spec Mazda MX-5s, while the fabled 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S – the company’s first rotary powered mass-production model – compliments a display of Mazda’s convention-defying engineering legacy.

The Mazda KOERU, a crossover SUV concept that debuted in Frankfurt in September, will be among the 14 models on hand at the Mazda stand alongside its award-winning model line-up featuring SKYACTIV Technology and KODO – Soul of Motion designs.

At SMART MOBILITY CITY, a regular feature of the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda will showcase safety technologies such as its innovative human machine interface, omnidirectional sensing concept, and systems developed according to the Mazda Proactive Safety philosophy. The latter aims to enhance peace of mind and driving fun by helping drivers recognise potential hazards and exercise good judgment when operating the vehicle.


How Hitachi is aiding driving comfort in latest Toyota Land Cruiser

                TOKYO: Hitachi Astemo Co., Ltd. today announced that its damping force adjustment absorber co-developed with Aisin Corporation is superior to conventional types and has been adopted by Toyota for the new Land Cruiser launched in June.

It said the absorber improves control for the Land Cruiser.

While shock absorbers typically have a single mechanism to adjust damping force during extension and compression, the Hitachi suspension is able to adjust the damping force using separate mechanisms enabling more precise control, resulting in a higher level of maneuverability and a more comfortable driving experience, the company said.

By incorporating the damping force control valve in the shock absorber, instead of on the outside where it is conventionally installed, the structure can be simplified, it added.

Volume has been reduced by about 20% and weight by 30% compared to Hitachi's conventional shocks, making it easier to mount on the vehicle.


Missed a scheduled service?

                PETALING JAYA: With the movement control order (MCO) in place until April 28, there are still many people who need to commute to work by car because they work in vocations that are deemed essential by the Government.

You could be one of them. And there comes a time when your car needs to go in for an oil change and other maintenance work to ensure it's roadworthy.

Rest assured that a vehicle's engine is far more resilient than what you might think.

At present, your vehicle manufacturer should have already announced that all warranties during the MCO are maintained, which comes with or without any limitations to mileage travelled.

If in doubt, contact your service adviser as soon as possible for further clarification.

As it's widely known, engine oil is like the "life-blood" of a vehicle, so what does it mean when it's time for a recommended service?

The goal of your vehicle's manufacturer is to help keep your car running properly throughout its ownership cycle, which is why they have a service interval of every 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000km).

Delaying a scheduled service isn't as bad as one might think - up to a point.

Owners should first perform a visual inspection of the oil and its colour to determine how severe the vehicle is in need of a service.

The engine's dip-stick will be where you can inspect the engine oil level and colour.

First, have a paper towel (preferably white) on hand and with the engine switched off, pop the hood open, locate the dip-stick and pull it out.

Wipe off any existing engine oil at its tip, re-insert it back into the engine and pull it out again to note the oil level and colour.

Also, take this opportunity to top-up with additional oil if it's low with the manufacturer's recommended lubricant and nothing else.

When new, engine oils look gold in colour and through usage over time, it becomes darker - much like dark chocolate.

After all that's been said, it doesn't mean that drivers can hit the road running at full throttle with caution thrown into the wind.

Spent oil will not be able to deliver its full lubricity very well to inhibit excess heat from building up as metal components rub against each other - thereby putting added stress on the cooling system.

Left unchecked, metal particles due to friction can form, clogging up the oil filter and slowly begin to starve the engine's components of oil, creating more friction and more metal particles - a sort of snowball effect.

What needs to be done right now is to be mechanically sympathetic to your engine's current predicament and that means not revving past 3,000rpm and making sure to be gentle with the throttle when moving off from a standstill.

Not to mention, avoid excessively speeding around regardless of whether there's an inherent lack of traffic due to the MCO.

One major indicator that the engine needs an oil change is that fuel economy seems to have taken a hit.

When engine oils pass their usage, they slowly become thicker than they were originally created and that means engine components need to exert effort to work "through" them rather than "with" them.

A good way to monitor this is to take note of how many kilometres your vehicle is able to cover, so resetting the trip counter should always be done after refuelling.

In extreme cases, severely overused engine oils are generally as black as a fresh cup of Americano and won't offer the engine much, if not any lubricity from when it was new and shouldn't really be driven anywhere but only to the service centre.

Another form of inspection is turning on the car and letting it idle for the next 20 minutes, after which rev the engine up to 3,000rpm.

If there's some screeching that's accompanied by white smoke and burnt smell, chances are, it is very likely that metal components are coming into direct contact with each other.

So once the opportunity presents itself, immediately reschedule your service.

Till then, stay safe and more importantly stay home!

READ MORE: Inspecting and starting your vehicle during MCO


Foreign carmakers interested in Ford plant in India, says state minister

                CHENNAI: Foreign automakers have indicated an interest to the government of India's Tamil Nadu state in acquiring Ford Motor Co's plant there, the state industries minister said today, after inconclusive talks with the Tata Group.

Ford announced plans to stop production in India in September, as it did not see a path to profitability there. The carmaker expected to wind down operations at its vehicle and engine manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu by 2022.

"Early stage talks are going on," Thangam Thennarasu, industries minister of Tamil Nadu told Reuters, adding that he could not give details of which firms were interested.

"It is eventually up to Ford as it will be a commercial arrangement. We are merely facilitating talks between the companies," he said.

Thennarasu said the Tata Group had also shown an interest in buying the Ford plant, having met the state's chief minister and visited the plant for a preliminary study but the state government had yet to hear from them about any deal.

"It is now up to them to make an official announcement," Thennarasu said today.

Ford India will wind down operations at a second factory, in Gujarat state, by the fourth quarter of 2021 and vehicle and engine manufacturing in the Tamil Nadu plant by 2022, the company said in September.

Ford has the capacity to produce about 440,000 cars in India a year across both plants but is only using about 25% of that, according to data intelligence company Global Data.

Ford, asked about which firms might be interested in buying the Tamil Nadu plant, said in a statement: "We continue to explore possible alternatives for our manufacturing facilities but have nothing further to share."


Proton X70 Special Edition introduced at RM123,800

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton has introduced the X70 Special Edition variant limited to 2,000 units.

The X70 Special Edition comes with an on-the-road (OTR) price without insurance of RM123,800.

Until Dec 31, subject to availability, it will be sold with the PEMERKASA+ Sales Tax incentive worth RM7,000.

Positioned at the top of Proton’s range, the X70 Special Edition has been given new luxury features and a special colour.

The X70 Special Edition is based on the X70 Premium 2WD variant which uses the 1.8L TGDi engine with 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

The difference comes in the form of an exterior styling package and interior trim to boost its appeal.

Available in exclusive Ocean Blue, a new addition to the colour palette, and Ruby Red, the X70 Special Edition has its roof, rear spoiler and door mirrors presented in black as well as a new design of 19-inch sport rims.

An exclusive SE emblem is mounted on the tailgate as a finishing touch.

To match the black that adds depth to the exterior, the interior is also predominantly black with luxurious detailing that elevates the ambiance of the cabin.

This includes soft and supple black Nappa leather seats, an exclusive interior trim finishing and new SE specific carpet mats.

Like the rest of the X70 range, the X70 Special Edition is equipped with the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System (P-IAPS) that combines the benefits of an N95 cabin filter and air purifier system, offering protection against airborne pollutants and contaminants to improve cabin air quality.

The X70 Special Edition comes with a comprehensive list of safety features including six SRS airbags and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that adds an additional layer of active safety to reduce the risk of accidents, along with Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and 360 Camera.

Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the X70 Special Edition has enabled the company to expand the upper tier of its target market.

“While it is a limited production model, we feel strongly that it will appeal to buyers accustomed to vehicles
with luxury features who are looking for a new SUV at a great price,” he said.

The X70 Special Edition can be booked online from as low as RM99. For more information, visit www.proton.com.


Porsche 911 as SUV: Marc Philipp Gemballa's out-of-this-world Marsien

                STUTTGART: Marc Philipp Gemballa is following in his father's footsteps and is now also becoming a Porsche tuner. His first project? An out-of-this-world version of the 911 that's been dubbed the Marsien.

The son of renowned German Porsche tuner Uwe Gemballa has founded his own eponymous company to roll out the Marsien, which flips the script on the trend towards SUVs becoming increasingly sporty by turning a sports car into an SUV.

The Marsien draws on a stronger turbo and has been visibly bulked up.

The conversion, which costs around 500,000 euros (RM2.5mil), is intended to carry the idea behind the Safari Porsche, which was very successful in rallies, into modern times in a small series of a maximum of 40 vehicles, according to the 27-year-old tuner.

The two-seater, which has also been heavily modified on the inside, is powered by the 3.7-litre six-cylinder engine of the 911 Turbo, which was refined by Porsche tuner Alois Ruf. Instead of the standard 650hp, the car is now said to produce up to 830 horses.

This enables the sports car, which like the conventional 911 Turbo is equipped with all-wheel drive as standard, to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 2.6 seconds. With road tyres, up to 330kph should be possible. But the Marsien is not really made for the road.

The highlight of the sports car is a rally chassis with hydraulic dampers that can be extended by 10cm at the push of a button - thus raising the car's ground clearance to SUV level.


VW seeks to curb competition from Skoda, say sources

                BERLIN: Volkswagen managers and unions are seeking to curb competition from lower-cost stablemate Skoda, move some of its production to Germany and make the Czech brand pay more for shared technology, say company sources.

As VW struggles to cut jobs and spending at German factories and turn the page on Dieselgate, Skoda’s superior car reviews and profitability have intensified the brands’ rivalry within the Volkswagen empire.

VW now wants to reduce what it sees as Skoda’s unfair advantages — combining German technology with cheaper labour — and reaffirm the top-selling brand’s primacy ahead of a wave of new electric car launches, the sources said.

The tussle between VW and Skoda is reviving tensions at the heart of the Volkswagen group between profits and jobs, and between central control and autonomy for its 12 vehicle brands.

 The Skoda Karoq.

“Instead of devoting our efforts to beating Tesla, we may just be setting up a futile internal conflict,” said one manager.

Once the butt of jokes, Skoda has blossomed under 26 years of VW group ownership into a successful mid-market carmaker, steadily winning business from rivals — including VW — and surpassing even Audi’s operating profit margin last year.

At the same time, VW is facing thousands of job cuts as management moves to trim excess capacity at German factories. Its powerful domestic unions see Skoda’s success as both a threat and a potential lifeline.

VW workers’ representatives are now demanding the transfer of some Skoda production to their underused German plants, said a source close to the supervisory board. The proposal aims to offset declining output of the VW Passat and ageing Golf that could otherwise threaten more jobs.

They are also making the case that Skoda should pay higher royalties to use VW’s main common vehicle platform. The so-called MQB architecture also underpins mid-sized models from the group’s Audi and SEAT brands.

Responding to the news, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he would meet Skoda management and unions to ask for clarification.

The government will seek to ensure that VW investment plans are followed through and that “production is not moved outside the country”, a statement released by Sobotka’s office said.

Skoda’s main union warned that a production shift could cost as many as 2,000 jobs. VW’s works council declined to comment.

VW brand chief executive Herbert Diess is leading a parallel management effort to shield future VW models from direct competition with cheaper Skodas.

At a recent group executive committee meeting, Diess called for greater differentiation between VW and Skoda target markets and clientele, particularly for future electric models, three managers with knowledge of the matter said.

“The future positioning of brands is being looked at, but discussions are still ongoing,” a VW group spokesman said, declining further comment.

Tension is expected to rise ahead of a Nov 17 supervisory board session due to approve annual investment budgets across the world’s biggest carmaker.

Competition for resources among VW brands is nothing new. Unions lobbied for VW to lead development of emerging-market cars, but Skoda was allowed to take charge.

Now the group’s 20 billion euro (RM99bil) push to launch 50 electric cars by 2025 has brought tensions to a head as VW managers fear their battery-powered models may also be undercut, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

“The electric vehicle market is a new ball game where you cannot simply maintain the brands’ positioning,” said one. “Customers need to see that you are making changes.”

VW and Skoda both plan to introduce coupe-styled electric SUVs in 2020 boasting the same 500km range.

Any renegotiation of platform cost-sharing could also affect each brand’s contribution to the new MEB platform being developed for electric cars.

In public, however, VW has played down the rivalry. With a combined lineup approaching 100 vehicles, brand CEO Diess said, there is always some risk of stepping on toes.

“There will always be some substitution,” he said. “But some internal competition is also helpful.”


First details of new Polestar Space retail lab unveiled

                GOTHENBURG: The location of the first Polestar Space retail environment will be confirmed soon and when it opens, the Polestar Space will bring a new approach to automotive retail.

Instead of traditional car dealerships, Polestar Spaces will be environments where customers will be able to physically interact with the modern digital brand. Polestar Spaces will be opened in major metropolitan centres, typically in the company of other innovative brands.

Polestar is now creating the interior concept for Polestar Spaces, developing ideas in a new retail lab.

The interior concept will reflect the same minimalist design as Polestar’s cars, and will show elements of the company’s design language, philosophy and brand experience in a manner similar to art installations.

Components such as wheels and carbon-fibre sections will stand alone to exhibit their own design attributes. Material finishes including paint colours and interior leather samples will also be presented in a unique way.

“Polestar will be a fully digital brand, but a Polestar Space is where customers will be able to come into direct contact with us,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath.

“In a Polestar Space, they’ll meet and interact with a Polestar brand and product expert, see the engineering under the skin as well as be able to take a test drive.

“A visit to a Polestar Space will be a very different experience to today’s typical car dealership. We aim to surprise and delight our customers, removing the hassle that comes with traditional car ownership," said Ingenlath.

"As the customer will order the car online, they won’t experience hard-sell, commission-based salespeople in a Polestar Space. Our customers will never feel pressure to sign a contract. Polestar is a multi-channel brand which is why it must be supported by a unique retail experience – one which embodies the Polestar philosophy in every way.

“By the middle of 2020, we aim to have opened up to 60 Spaces around the world to support the key launch markets for the brand. As we progress, we will open Spaces in more locations to support our retail development, making the brand more accessible with the opening of each new Space.”


GM to help Honda develop two new electric cars

                LOS ANGELES: General Motors and Honda have agreed to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s highly flexible global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries.

The exterior and interior of the new EVs will be exclusively designed by Honda, and the platform will be engineered to support Honda’s driving character.

Production of these Honda electric vehicles will combine the development expertise of both companies, and they will be manufactured at GM plants in North America.

Sales are expected to begin in the 2024 model year in Honda’s United States and Canadian markets.

READ MORE: GM takes aim at Tesla with 'Ultium' batteries and fleet of electric vehicles

GM and Honda have an ongoing relationship around electrification. This includes work on fuel cells and the Cruise Origin, an electric, self-driving and shared vehicle, which was revealed in San Francisco earlier this year.

Honda also joined GM’s battery module development efforts in 2018.

"This collaboration will put together the strength of both companies, while combined scale and manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers," said Rick Schostek, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.


Life after Jaguar: Callum turns new chapter with CALLUM

                LONDON: What is Ian Callum up to these days? Well, since his retirement from Jaguar as its lead designer last month, he has gone on to set up a design and engineering shop creating bespoke and limited-edition products.

Launched lately in 2019, CALLUM is focused on design, lifestyle and travel, taking on projects "that intrigue, excite and tell a story". Its team is made up of talents with experience in art, audio, automotive, fashion and motorsport brands. The company is based in Warwick, 150km north-west of London.

Details of the first CALLUM project will be released in the coming weeks.

“I wanted to get back to the essence of creativity; the challenge of producing something wonderful and personal,” said Callum, who is the design director in the new set-up.

"In today’s modern world, collaboration is the catalyst for new ideas, and this is our ethos and inspiration, both within our team and as we look to work with partners in the future."

Callum is noted for his award-winning automotive designs, including the Aston Martin Vanquish, Vantage and DB9, Jaguar F-Type, F-PACE, XJ and, most recently, the World Car of the Year Award-winning I-PACE, amongst others

CALLUM is also run by partners David Fairbairn, Adam Donfrancesco and Tom Bird, who are former work colleagues with Callum at Jaguar.


Singapore's quirky car market offers rare profit for some as prices soar

                SINGAPORE: Almost everywhere in the world a new car begins to lose value as soon as it leaves the showroom, except sometimes in the rich little island state of Singapore and this is one of those times.

For Shi Zheng, a 27-year-old student, the chance was too good to pass up. In August, he sold the Porsche Panamera sportscar he had bought brand new less than a year earlier and made a 10% profit.

"I thought this was a good opportunity to sell my car for some extra cash," said Shi, who also plays the financial markets.

The market phenomenon is a result of Singapore's unique quota system for controlling the number of cars on an island that is home to 5.6 million people and can be driven across in under an hour.

Cars are sold with a 10-year "certificate of entitlement" (COE), the cost of which is built into the price. The limited number of COEs are sold through a bidding process. As a result, Singapore is the most expensive place on the planet to buy a car.

A new standard Toyota Corolla Altis, for example, currently costs around S$141,000 (RM465,000) in Singapore, inclusive of registration fees and taxes, compared with just US$22,000 (RM105,000) in the United States.

The price of COEs, introduced in 1990, have skyrocketed in recent months due to unlocked demand following the Covid-19 reopening and an influx of rich foreigners relocating most notably from Hong Kong.

In the latest bidding on Wednesday - it happens twice a month - COEs cost 40% to 50% more than the same time last year across the main private car categories, and a whopping 120% to 170% more than in 2020.

People in Singapore currently have to pay some S$81,000 for a COE on a small car. For bigger-engine cars, like a Porsche, they are paying S$110,000.

The steep rise has pushed buyers towards the second hand market, where the older cars come with a certificate bought in cheaper times.

SgCarMart, one of the main platforms for second-hand cars in Singapore, saw a 20-25% increase in listings in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

Used car dealers were "trying to seize the increased COE environment," said Vinod Cherumadathil, managing director and CEO of SGCarMart.

Taking taxis for now, Shi does not plan to replace his car until COE prices fall.

Meanwhile, the government also wants more people to switch to electric vehicles. It offers rebates of up to S$45,000 for those going the electric route, though consultancy KPMG said just 2,942 of the 645,150 cars on the road last year were electric.


Future FWD-based BMWs could get up-rated sound system

                MUNICH: Rumours are currently floating about in the interweb that BMW will be providing a new sound system option for its future front-wheel-driven (FWD) vehicles.

Sonos, a US-based audio speaker company, could have its sound system listed in the Bavarian carmaker's options list for FWD vehicles that utilise its U06 platform.

However, it has to be reiterated that nothing has been confirmed and all is currently purely hear-say.

But let's assume this to be true for an instance.

It would mean that the future iterations of the 1 and 2 Series Gran Coupe as well as the seven-seater 2 Series Active Tourer, would stand to benefit from a more experiential sound system for its occupants.

By providing an upgrade option for the sound system, it would also mean that BMW would be able to garner more fans for its FWD vehicles.

Thus, more fans would flock, leading to higher sales figures and an increase in production numbers.

This would have the brand's critics scoffing and criticising even more about the brand producing FWD vehicles to a point that they'd run out of saliva and experience dry throats.

Ultimately, it would incapacitate them, leading to a more quiet and peaceful environment where BMW is able to build products based on market demand that still holds true to their "Ultimate Driving Machine" tag line - ingeniously diabolical indeed.

Again, it's all hear-say and conjecture at this point in time.


VinFast - Vietnam's first carmaker set for Paris debut

                HANOI: VinFast, Vietnam’s first volume car manufacturer and a member of Vingroup – the largest private enterprise in Vietnam, is set to launch the brand at the this year's Paris Motor Show in October.

The new Vietnamese automaker is set to unveil a sedan and a sport utility vehicle during the show.

Construction of the company's factory in Hai Phong, Vietnam began on Sept 2, with the ambition of building a world-class Vietnamese car brand.

The company announced that it is working with world-leading automotive design and engineering specialists to help share a number of characteristics and values: Vietnam, Style, Safety, Innovation, and Pioneering.

Also, the company promises that its cars will meet international standards and customer expectations in terms of premium design, quality, dynamics, in-car features and ownership experience.


Updated Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 unveiled with smarter infotainment system

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia has updated the Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 with a fresher look, more safety features and new infotainment integration with Google Services.

Dubbed the "Smarter XC60", the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) gets a new Digital Services Package consisting of an integrated voice-controlled Google Assistant which enables control of many in-car applications including Google Maps to be done hands-free.

The upgrade is a culmination of partnership between Volvo Cars and Google to provide a first-of-its-kind built-in infotainment system, complete with a host of Google Services.

Aside from Google Services, the XC60 also gets Volvo Car App and Connected Services that connects to owners and enabling convenient remote control of several car functions.

By simply using the mobile device or voice control, owners can remotely pre-climatise the parked XC60, check car status, lock or unlock the doors and much more.

The XC60 is also equipped with Volvo’s latest active safety system, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), that comes with collision avoidance, lane keeping aid, run-off road mitigation, cross traffic alert with auto braking, Blind Spot Information System and a surround view camera.

From the outside, new XC60 features rich Scandinavian design which includes a new grille, new front bumpers, a new exterior colour and new 19-inch six-multispoke black diamond-cut alloy wheel design.

Inside, it has a Bowers and Wilkins sound system.

Its range of driver’s preferences allows the car to be driven from Pure Electric mode with zero tailpipe emissions for the environmentally-conscious to Power mode for the driving excitement.

It also has an all-electric driving range of 45km.

Powering the XC60 is a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged engine with an electric motor that delivers a total output of 407hp and 640Nm of torque, coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Geatronic.

It can do the 0-100kph sprint in 5.3 seconds, as well as a fuel efficiency of 2.2 litres per 100km.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Charles Frump said the XC60 equipped with Google Services delivers the most intuitive infotainment experience in the automotive industry.

“It fully delivers on our brand promise to provide the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way,” said

Priced from RM325,449, the "Smarter XC60" is available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers across the nation.

Online bookings can also be made through Volvo Car Malaysia’s website.

For more information, visit www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG for more updates.


Tesla cuts prices on all US models, third cut this year

                DETROIT: Tesla cut prices on its entire US electric vehicle model lineup for the third time this year in an apparent effort to lure more buyers amid rising interest rates.

The largest of the cuts that appeared Friday on Tesla's website were US$5,000 per vehicle for the company's slower-selling more expensive models, the S large sedan and the X big SUV.

The company lopped US$2,000 off the price of the Y small SUV, its most popular model, and added a lower-cost dual-motor version priced at US$49,990. The 3 small sedan saw a US$1,000 price cut.

The moves come as Tesla's first-quarter sales grew 36% but fell short of analysts' expectations.

The company said Sunday that it delivered a quarterly record of 422,875 vehicles worldwide from January to March, up from just over 310,000 a year ago.

But the increase fell short of analyst estimates of 432,000 for the quarter, according to FactSet.

A message was left Friday seeking comment from the Austin, Texas-based Tesla on why the prices were cut.

Guidehouse Research e-Mobility analyst Sam Abuelsamid said the cuts are a sign of slowing demand for Tesla.

The company, he said, needs to sell more vehicles to keep its factories running at full capacity to protect high profit margins. "Overhead of underutilized plant eats up margin extremely quickly,” he said.

Tesla has added a huge plant near Austin to its U.S. factory footprint, in addition to its original plant in Fremont, California. The company also has built new plants in Shanghai and near Berlin.

Other analysts have speculated that Tesla was cutting prices to take advantage of its profit margin per vehicle, which is larger than most automakers.

The move could increase market share and put pressure on startups and legacy automakers now rolling out EVs.

On Twitter Friday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote that demand is limited by affordability. "There is plenty of demand for our products, but if the price is more money than people have, that demand is irrelevant,” he wrote.

The biggest of Friday's cuts came on Tesla's aging S and X, which saw sales drop 38% from January through March.

The Model S two-motor price dropped 5.6% to US$84,990, while the S tri-motor Plaid was trimmed 4% to US$104,990.

The company cut 5% from the X two-motor price, to US$94,990, while the X Plaid saw a 4.6% drop to US$104,990.

Tesla added a dual-motor Model Y for under US$50,000 and cut prices on the Y Long range by 3.7% to US$52,990 and by 3.4% on the Y Performance, to US$56,990.

The Model 3 rear-wheel-drive saw a 2.3% price cut to US$41,990, with the 3 Performance version falling 1.9% to US$52,990.

The most recent cuts came on Good Friday when the markets are closed.

Tesla cut prices in early March on the S and X, by US$5,000 to as much as US$10,000.

In January it slashed the sticker numbers on several versions of its EVs, making some eligible for a US$7,500 federal tax credit.

Some versions Model Y saw price trims of nearly 20%, and the base price of the Model 3 small car was dropped by 6%.

The price cuts appeared to have raised demand despite increasing interest rates designed to slow the economy and curb inflation.

Since the U.S. Federal Reserve began raising rates in March of last year, the average new vehicle loan has jumped from 4.5% to 7%, according to Edmunds data.

Analysts are watching to see if the price drops cut into the company’s profit and margins per vehicle.

Tesla says it will release first-quarter earnings after the markets close on April 19.


Petrol and diesel prices down

                PETALING JAYA: Motorists will be able to fuel up on cheaper petrol and diesel in the next seven days as fuel prices will drop across the board from midnight Wednesday.

The new prices for RON95 will be RM2.05 (from RM2.10) per litre, RON97 at RM2.31 (from RM2.38), and diesel at RM1.94 (from RM2.02) per litre.

The new prices will come into effect from June 8 until June 14.

The prices were posted on the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s website on Wednesday evening.

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism came into effect from April this year.

The prices of petrol and diesel had been placed on a managed monthly float system since Dec 1, 2014, following the removal of fuel subsidies.


Test drive a Mitsubishi Outlander to win an iPhone 8!

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) the official distributor of the brand, is looking to reward three lucky customers who test-drive the newly launched locally-assembled Outlander 2.0 sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a brand new iPhone 8.

The test drive will be held at all Mitsubishi authorized dealers in the country from Oct 14 to 15 (Peninsular Malaysia) and Oct 21 to 22 (East Malaysia).

Also, the first 200 customers will be entitled to RM300 worth of petrol vouchers who book and register the locally-assembled SUV costing RM139,988 (on-the-road with GST without insurance) till the end of the year and comes furnished with a five-year unlimited mileage factory warranty.

Available colours include Red Metallic, Solar White and a new and exclusive Ruby Black that's only available in Malaysia.

Power comes from a 2.0-litre 4B11 engine producing 145PS and 196Nm of torque, and gets mated to an INVECS-III continuously variable transmission that manages power delivery to the Multi-Select four-wheel drive (4WD) system with three modes of 4WD Eco, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock.

While riding on 18-inch wheels, it also comes fitted with LEDs for the front, rear and daytime running lights, as well as a reverse camera with guide lines, automatic wipers, keyless entry with push-start button, front and rear parking sensors, digital video recorder (dashcam) and security/solar film for all windows.

Entertainment comes from a 7.0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system infused with Apple CarPlay and Air Gesture Control.

For safety there's seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability programme, brake assist, active stability & traction control, hill-start assist, rest reminder and lSOFIX child seat mounts as standard within its Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body construction.

The Outlander is being contract-assembled at Tan Chong Motors Assemblies' (TCMA) Segambut plant in Kuala Lumpur - the same plant as the ASX rolls out from since 2014, and has Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (Japan) personnel stationed at the local production line to oversee processes and quality control.


Stellantis looks to India for affordable EVs for Europe amid competition from China

                NEW DELHI: Fiat parent Stellantis has concluded it can't currently make affordable electric vehicles in Europe and is looking at lower-cost manufacturing in markets such as India, its chief executive told reporters.

If India, with its low-cost supplier base, is able to meet the company's quality and cost targets by the end of 2023, it could open the door to exporting EVs to other markets, said Carlos Tavares, CEO of the group whose brands also include Peugeot and Chrysler.

"So far, Europe is unable to make affordable EVs. So the big opportunity for India would be to be able to sell EV compact cars at an affordable price, protecting profitability," Tavares told reporters at a media roundtable in India late on Wednesday.

Stellantis is investing heavily in EVs and plans to produce dozens of electric models in the coming decade, but Tavares warned last month that affordable battery electric vehicles were between five and six years away.

On his first visit to India since taking over as Stellantis CEO he said the company is still working out a plan regarding EV exports from the country and had not yet taken any decisions.

Tavares' possible bet on India comes after American carmakers Ford and General Motors have exited the world's fourth-largest car market, after failing to make money and break the dominance of Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp and South Korea's Hyundai Motor.

It also comes as Chinese EV makers are making inroads into Europe, aiming to win over buyers with more affordable cars having already stolen a march on most foreign rivals in China, the world's biggest market for EVs.

Stellantis is the latest to refocus its strategy in China where it now plans to be a niche player through its Jeep and Maserati brands, after it said its Jeep joint venture in the country will file for bankruptcy.

"There is a growing tension between China and the Western world. That is going to have a consequence in terms of business. The power that is best placed to leverage this opportunity is obviously India," Tavares said.

India, where Stellantis sells its Jeep and Citroen brands, accounts for a fraction of the carmaker's global sales, but Tavares said the company is not chasing volume and instead wants to ramp up slowly and profitably.

It plans to launch its first EV in the country - an electric model of its Citroen C3 compact car - early next year.

Stellantis already makes its own electric motors and battery packs, and also has plans to make battery cells. In India, too, Tavares wants to locally procure EV components, including batteries so it can be competitive on cost and price.

"EV today is mostly an affordability problem," he said. "It's not about technology."


Volkswagen's 'Polo P' project returns!

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is back with its “Polo P” project after having embarked on a mission in March to help educate and empower new drivers with the skills and knowledge to stay safe on the road.

The project is open to all students and members of the public with a valid driver's license.

There are currently 250 participants consisting of students from private tertiary institutions and young adults around the Klang Valley.

It will be held at selected college and university campuses over the course of a weekend,

There, participants will be taught the basics of car maintenance, visual checkpoints, proper sitting and steering positions as well as defensive driving , which includes emergency braking, and a slalom course.

All driving exercises will be conducted with a Volkswagen Polo 1.6-litre hatchback at the following locations:July 8 to 9 - Taylor’s Lakeside CampusAugust 19 to 20 - Sunway College, Johor BahruSept 30 to Oct 1 - University Malaya, KLOct 21 to 22 - UiTM, Shah AlamOct 28 to 29 - UTAR Campus, Kampar, Perak
Also, in line with the project, the company will be running a special “My First Polo” program for first time car buyers.

Participants will be able to purchase a Volkswagen Polo 1.6L from RM470 per month with the German brand's partner bank.

To sign up, log on to www.volkswagen.com.my or send a private message on Volkswagen’s Facebook page.

Aside from the Polo hatchback, VPCM also recently launched its Polo ALLSTAR, priced from RM72,888 and comes in four colour options of Carbon Steel Grey, Reflex Silver, Candy White and Flash Red.

The Polo ALLSTAR comes equipped with RM6,000 worth of exclusive sports accessories such as leather seats, aluminium pedals, rear spoiler, black door strips, ‘ALLSTAR’ scuff plates, emblems and carpet mats.


Citroën C3 Aircross shortlisted for Car of the Year 2018 award

                ONTARIO: The Citroën C3 Aircross compact SUV (pic above) has been picked by the Car of the Year award jury as one of seven finalists shortlisted for the prestigious prize. The winner will be announced March 5, 2018, and will follow 2017 Car of the Year the Peugeot 3008.

The seven cars shortlisted for the 2018 title are the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Audi A8, the BMW 5 Series, the Citroën C3 Aircross, the Kia Stinger, the SEAT Ibiza and the Volvo XC40. These finalists were chosen from a long list of 37 eligible cars.

Jury members will test the seven shortlisted vehicles in February before announcing the winner on the eve of the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Every year since 1964, the Car of the Year organising committee has crowned the year's best car based on criteria such as value for money, design, comfort, safety, onboard technology and environmental performances. This year's jury comprises 60 journalists from 23 European countries.

 SEAT Ibiza. Audi A8.


The plan to turn your car into a virtual ATM

To turn cars into rolling wallets, city infrastructure will have to be equipped to communicate with vehicles. — Image from Fetch.ai
LONDON: Chris Ballinger came away from a year of crunching numbers at Toyota Motor Corp.’s Silicon Valley skunkworks convinced that his dream of automotive automation was no more fanciful than his bosses’ ambition to make a vehicle that can drive itself.

So the former derivatives trader who spent 14 months as finance chief at Toyota’s innovation hub launched a non-profit that aims to turn cars into rolling wallets able to autonomously make and receive payments in a virtual currency.

Drivers would earn small sums for sharing data on everything from traffic congestion to weather and be debited for infrastructure use and contribution to pollution.

‘’Everyone focusing on autonomous vehicles thinks they’ll be able to drink cognac in the back, but machines will do many other things autonomously before they can surmount a problem of driving around somewhere like Bangalore or in particularly bad weather,” said Ballinger, a 62-year-old resident of Los Angeles, where he runs his Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative.

"It’s a very hard engineering problem, but setting up machine-to machine payments is comparatively very simple.”

Simple is a relative word.

The vision is as futuristic as it is ambitious. It depends on a myriad of technological advancements, not to mention regulatory change and co-operation among traditional rivals.

While cars already have ever more computing power, changing long-held views on infrastructure funding, vehicle ownership and even the nature of money could prove insurmountable. And then there’s the law of unintended consequences.

"When tech is applied to cities and transportation by smart people who understand tech but don’t understand cities, the outcome can actually be bad for cities and create new or bigger problems,’’ says Brent Toderian, former chief city planner in Vancouver.

"There’s a danger to boosterism with these kinds of ideas, and a need to be cautious and critical in a way that tech folks often aren’t.’’

As an example, he said new technology could lead to more driving, reducing any positive environmental impact such advances were supposed to deliver.

Whatever the challenges, the mobility sector is — in industry jargon — a burning platform, meaning urgent change is required to head off obsolescence. While artificial intelligence and blockchain could make Ballinger’s vision possible, the dominance of a small club of Silicon Valley heavyweights means automakers risk being left behind in the digital age, said Jamie Burke, an adviser to MOBI and founder of Outlier Ventures, which invests in companies developing such technologies.

Facebook Inc.’s Libra stablecoin, a global currency that social networking behemoth is developing, is like gasoline on the burning platform he said.

"We don’t have the luxury of tinkering around anymore, we need to get our acts together to accelerate action towards what is moving already,” said Ballinger. "Everybody is asking should every market have its own token and do we need to have one?”

Ballinger co-founded MOBI last year with the likes of BMW AG and Ford Motor Co among its founding members.

The consortium, which now has about 90 members from International Business Machines Corp. to Honda Motor Co., is exploring how blockchain and related technologies can contribute to a safer and more efficient transport system, while also reducing congestion and pollution.

The first blockchain — a public ledger — was created to track Bitcoin transactions, and the technology has since been adopted far beyond the realm of cryptocurrencies for everything from enabling international payments to verifying products in a supply chain.

The digital currency universe has also expanded rapidly in the past decade, with low-volatility digital tokens known as stablecoins among the fastest growing sub sectors.

For the vision to materialise, city infrastructure will have to be equipped to communicate with vehicles. Smart cities, urban metropolises pulsating with sensors and powered by artificial intelligence, are on the drawing board. Alphabet Inc.’s urban innovation unit Sidewalk Labs LLC is working on creating a "city of the future” on Toronto’s waterfront.

The building blocks exist, making the bigger challenge getting the various technologies and devices to communicate, according to Maria Minaricova, head of business development at Fetch.ai, a Cambridge, British-based company focused on AI, blockchain and Internet of things technologies that is also a member of the MOBI consortium.

"There are already so many sensors — cars have sensors, so do traffic lights and cameras, and so on —but they’re currently disconnected and what’s also missing is interoperability,” said Minaricova.

"Historically if you produced somethingm, you would keep it on your platform and it could only communicate with your devices, but the new generation will need to open this up so all devices can speak to each other.”

MOBI is now working with BMW, Ford, Honda, General Motors Co. and Renault SA to develop a trusted digital identity for vehicles as a first step towards enabling a mobility payments network. Last month, MOBI hosted a gathering of industry executives in Los Angeles to discuss how such a payments system might work.

MOBI could develop an industry stablecoin, as low volatility virtual currencies are known, or use an existing coin to make and receive micropayments on a blockchain network, says Ballinger. The project would not only change how vehicles and cities interact but could also provide a real world use case for digital currencies beyond speculation.

"Everyone is excited by the promise of technology and waiting for the first killer app, for what will be to digital currencies what email is to the internet,” he says.

"That is, where does it get used in a way that consumers find it adds value compared to existing payment systems, and we think mobility and machine-to-machine payments are likely to be one such area because we have big issues with funding public infrastructure and charging for congestion and carbon.”


Alfa Romeo slaps Giulia and Stelvio with Quadrifoglio high-performance badge

                ROME: Italian carmaker, Alfa Romeo, has added the Quadrifoglio ("four-leaf clover" in Italian) badge to the Giulia four-door sedan and Stelvio sports utility vehicle (SUV) to indicate added performance.

Three new colours are now available for the vehicles which include 6C Villa d’Este Red, GT Junior Ocra, and Montreal Green - the latter hue pays homage to one of the brand’s iconic Alfa Romeo Montreal that was launched 50 years ago.

Both vehicles have been equipped with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, producing 510hp and 600Nm of torque.

Managing power is an eight-speed automatic transmission for the all-wheel-drive system with active torque vectoring for both vehicles with gear changes achieved in 150 milliseconds when in Race mode.

Adding to the power is its active suspension system, Alfa DNA Pro driving mode selector and the Giulia's active aero splitter - all coordinated and adapted in real-time by the Alfa Chassis Domain Control.

Trumpeting the power is a dual-mode quad exhaust system that can be accompanied by an optional titanium Akrapovič exhaust system with carbon fibre finishers.

The duo has been equally equipped with new LED rear smoked light clusters, gloss-black finish surrounds the front tri-lobe and rear badges as well as 21-inch wheels.

The front sports a V-insert for the front grille in carbon fibre designed by Mopar including the mirror caps and rear spoiler.

Inside, the cabin is touted to be more practical with added storage space while being wrapped in leather on the steering wheel and gear knob as standard while the standard sports seat upholstery or optional carbon shell Sparco seats use perforated leather and Alcantara combination.

As an optional extra, red or green seat belts are available for choice over the standard black.

The infotainment system uses an 8.8-inch central touchscreen display featuring connected services and a new interface design meant exclusively for the Quadrifoglio models.

The new Performance Pages show the temperatures of the main mechanical components, torque delivery, turbo pressure and power usage, as well as digital chronometers to measure acceleration and maximum speed in real-time.

The Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio now come with the carmaker's new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) developed in conjunction with Bosch to offer a level 2 autonomous driving system.

The system only intervenes to ensure total safety and to help maximise driver comfort in stop-go traffic or while cruising along highways.

The Level 2 autonomy, the highest level of autonomous driving currently permitted, allows the driver to give the car control of the accelerator, brakes and steering under certain conditions. The driver, however, must remain in control of the vehicle, by always keeping their hands on the steering wheel.

For added safety, the Giulia and Stelvio feature lane keep assist, active blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition system, intelligent speed control, traffic jam assist, highway assist and driver attention assist.


VW CEO shifts strategy from empire building to efficiency

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen has abandoned its decades-old obsession with empire building and no-expense-spared engineering to free up resources for the development and mass production of electric cars, said its CEO, Herbert Diess.

A global clampdown on toxic exhaust fumes has triggered a new wave of consolidation in the auto industry as carmakers look for ways to slash development costs for low-emission and self-driving technologies.

While rivals such as FiatChrysler and Renault explore a US$35 billion (RM146bil) deal to bulk up, Volkswagen is taking the opposite approach: slimming down.

“We don’t need more brands. With very few exceptions we can tap the world’s large profit segments with our existing brands,” chief executive Herbert Diess said at the Frankfurt auto show.

VW is spending €80 billion (RM372bil) to buy battery cells and develop electric cars and has struck a broad alliance with Ford to help share development and manufacturing costs.

Volkswagen grew into a multi-brand empire under the leadership of Ferdinand Piech, the company’s chief executive and chairman between 1993 and 2015, whose aggressive expansion resulted in the acquisition of Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini in a single year.

Today the German company has 660,000 employees and owns the Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati and Audi brands in addition Scania, MAN and VW.

Eye on cost

Piech, who passed away last month, took pride in emphasising engineering brilliance ahead of earnings, a culture which caused VW’s profitability to lag behind rivals such as Toyota and Peugeot.

Diess said creating the best product without regard to costs is a perilous strategy in today’s world, given the task of overhauling combustion engines at the same time as developing new technologies.

“The product experience needs to be right. But you need to keep an eye on cost. You cannot run the business by focusing only on product,” said Diess.

“There are several examples where this has failed. Look at Borgward, they had by far the best products, but they disappeared,” Diess said, referring to a company which made popular passenger cars in the 1950s. Borgward filed for bankruptcy in 1961 and was revived by Chinese investors in 2015.

This week European auto leaders warned that a new emissions clampdown threatens jobs and profits after the European Union forced carmakers to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 37.5% between 2021 and 2030. This comes in addition to a 40% cut in emissions between 2007 and 2021.

Frank Witter, the company’s chief financial officer said he wants to raise profitability to help shoulder the emissions clampdown by slimming down, rather than bulking up the car and truck maker.

“Reducing complexity has its value in terms of the overall group structure,” Witter said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.

“In the past, strategy was reduced to 10 million retail sales and overtaking Toyota,” Witter said. Last year, Volkswagen sold 6.2 million passenger cars.

VW has begun dismantling Piech’s empire, selling some assets, including transmissions and bearings manufacturer Renk, MAN Energy Solutions, and listing trucks maker Traton earlier this year.

Volkswagen is still reviewing its assets and products in its drive to increase profits, Witter told Reuters.

“There are other things we certainly could think about, but I continue to refrain from speculation because that makes things more complicated.”


India’s top carmaker blames high taxes for low car ownership

                NEW DELHI: India’s biggest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., said government levies put vehicles beyond the reach of much of the population, adding to criticism of the country’s tax regime from Tesla Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp.

"Government policies are such that they treat cars as luxury products that need to be heavily taxed,” Maruti Chairman R.C. Bhargava said at an event in New Delhi Monday.

"Car affordability is not at all related to income.”

Car-industry growth in India has slowed to 3% from 12% in the past 12 years, partly due to poor government policies, Bhargava said.

Maruti’s cheapest car costs 339,000 rupees (RM18,141). A goods and services tax of 28% applies to most new cars, according to the IndiaFilings website.

India’s per capita income is about US$2,300 (RM10,200) a year, compared with US$12,500 (RM55,438) in China and US$69,000 (RM306,000) in the US, according to the World Bank. Just 7.5% of Indian households own a car - lower than in China, where almost half of urban homes and one quarter of rural households own a car.

Billionaire Elon Musk in 2019 said India’s duties prevented Tesla importing electric cars to test demand before committing to build a local factory. Toyota halted expansion in India in 2015 due to high tariffs.

Maruti Chief Executive Officer Hisashi Takeuchi, speaking at the same event, said the company has some gaps in its product portfolio and is working on strengthening the lineup.

The carmaker, which sells cheaper entry-level cars, will introduce two new sports utility vehicles in January, he said.


Thailand panel outlines perks in EV push

                BANGKOK: Thailand's National EV Policy Committee will propose a draft to the Cabinet this week as it gears up to push for more electric vehicles on the road.

It aims to have the measures carried out by the first quarter of 2022.

According to the proposal, incentives offered to buyers of EVs will last for about four to five years, and the goal is to have about 300,000 EVs on the road within that period.

The committee is proposing a reduction in excise taxes, customs duties and government subsidies worth up to 40 billion baht (RM5bil).

Under the draft measure, two schemes will be offered, one for vehicles cheaper than 2 million baht (RM254,000), and one for those that cost more than 2 million baht.

EVs costing less than 2 million will enjoy a 40 per cent cut in customs duties, as well as a 2 per cent reduction in excise taxes and other subsidies.

The benefits will be capped at 150,000 baht (RM19,000) per vehicle.

Vehicles with 30kWh (kilowatt per hour), which fall under the 400,000 baht to 500,000 baht (RM64,000) category, will receive a subsidy of about 70,000 (RM8,862).

Vehicles with larger batteries, which will fall in the 900,000 baht (RM114,000) price range, will receive a subsidy of 150,000 baht.

Buyers of EVs that cost more than 2 million baht will not get direct benefits, but the tariff will be reduced by 40 per cent and the excise tax by 2 per cent.

The reduction of import duties and excise tax will bring the cost of EVs down by 700,000 to 800,000 baht (RM102,000), the committee said. - The Nation/ANN


Ford all out to woo China buyers with local assembly of Mustang Mach-E

                SHANGHAI: Ford has announced that Mustang Mach-E, its first global pioneering SUV built on an all-new, all-electric platform, will be manufactured in China by Changan Ford for local customers.

It will go on sale in China later this year.

Mustang Mach-E will offer Chinese customers a smart cockpit equipped with Ford's latest driver-assist technologies and infotainment system that gets even better over time with advanced firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates.

The newest generation of Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assist technologies and SYNC+ intelligent infotainment system will offer L2+ level automatic driving assistance functions, enabling Mach-E drivers to operate their vehicles hands-free on prequalified sections of divided highways.

Ford is the first car maker in China to offer cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology in mass production vehicles and will deploy C-V2X in Mach-E to help drivers in China anticipate potential driving hazards and improve traffic safety and efficiency.

The Mustang Mach-E manufactured in China will have a body size measuring 4739mm X 1881mm X 1623mm, a wheelbase of 2984mm, and an estimated range of over 600km.

Ford will also localise production of the Mustang Mach-E’s GT performance edition in China, an unprecedented move by a global automaker to locally make high-performance editions. The GT high performance edition will adopt a front and rear dual-motor layout, joining the 3-second club with its 0-100kph acceleration capabilities.

Ford is moving quickly in delivering its electrification commitment with investments of more than US$11.5 billion in electric vehicle development through 2022.

The localised production of Mach-E in China is a key step in the company’s “Best of Ford, Best of China” strategy to offer Chinese customers industry-leading smart vehicles and advanced technologies.


Ducati Diavel 1260 up close in Geneva

                GENEVA: As one of the few motorbikes to be exhibited, the new Ducati Diavel 1260 has caused a stir at the Geneva Motor Show, which runs until March 17.

The Geneva Motor Show coincides with the arrival of the Diavel 1260 in Ducati showrooms. This Bologna-manufactured sport cruiser is part of the Audi stand in its own dedicated corner where it can be admired by the public. This latest generation of the Diavel 1260 has increased cylinder capacity and power thanks to its new 159 hp Testastretta DVT 1262 engine.

On the S version, special components have been added including an impressive full-LED headlight, a dedicated seat, machine-finished wheels, Brembo M50 brake callipers and fully adjustable Öhlins suspension.

The Ducati Diavel 1260's world premiere was at the 2018 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. It's now available to buy and prices start at €20,490 (RM95,000).


JB workshops see brisk business as border opens up

                JOHOR BARU: As thousands of cars and motorcycles continue to pour across the Causeway into Johor with the reopening of the border, workshops near the two checkpoints are seeing an increase in customers.

Motorcycle shop managing director David Ker, 54, said business has doubled since the border reopened on Friday.

“On Friday itself, we received about 50 customers. We have had people coming non-stop since morning and almost all of them are Malaysians working in Singapore,” he said at his shop in Taman Nusa Perintis here yesterday.

Ker said as the cost to repair and service motorcycles was higher in Singapore, many Malaysians working there had held off sending their vehicles to workshops.

“So when the border reopened, we saw a significant number of people sending their motorcycles to workshops around the Johor Baru area,” he added.

Motorcycle mechanic Teo Kwee Hue, 58, said some of his customers had even called him ahead of the border reopening to check if his shop was still open.

“We also have customers still in Singapore who have asked us to pick up their motorcycles from their homes in Johor Baru.

“Most of these motorcycles have been left idle for a long period of time and need to be serviced,” he said.

Teo also has customers working in Singapore who come to Johor just to send their motorcycles for repair.

“I have a few customers who came into Johor from Singapore in the morning just to repair their motorcycles before returning in the evening,” he said, adding that business has improved by almost 40% in the past few days.

However, he has yet to receive any Singaporean customers.

Chu Fong Wee, 56, the director of a motor workshop, said she had been getting many customers from the tourism industry recently.

“Tour operators have been sending their vans to be serviced in anticipation of more visitors.

“Business has increased by about 30% in the past few days. However, for cars, we expect this to take some time,” she said.

Car mechanic Jumadi Ismail, 61, said he expected to see more Singaporean cars at his workshop in the weeks ahead.

“For now, I have only received two customers from Singapore.

“However, I think in the next few weeks, I will be getting more customers from Singapore as some of my regulars have already started calling me.”


600 attend BMW Motorrad Nightfuel with four new bike launch

                PENANG: BMW Motorrad Malaysia celebrated Making Life a Ride with Nightfuel Penang 2017 and subsequently launched four new bikes - the newly enhanced S 1000 RR, the rugged R1200GS, the classic R nineT Urban GS and the K1600 Bagger.

Priced from RM106,900, the S 1000 RR has been updated with the addition of ABS Pro to improve braking when heading into corners.

Next up was the R 1200 GS Rallye with its newly designed radiator flanks that's priced from RM105,900.

The blast-from-the-past R nineT Urban GS utilising with its engine from the R 1200 is currently priced from RM87,900 and comes with a longer front suspension travel, revised handlebar, larger 19.0-inch front wheel and a new scrambler-looking headlight surround.

Finally, the large K 1600 Bagger (cruise class), made its appearance, priced from RM159,900, along with its touring gear, a sloping tail and has been touted for its well-renown agility despite its size.

The gathering of BMW motorcycle enthusiasts was considered to be the largest with more than 600 fans converging at the island state of Penang from across the nation for the third installation of the BMW Motorrad Nightfuel series.

BMW Motorrad enthusiasts, bikers and fans made up of several convoys from BMW Motorrad dealerships across the country namely Wearnes Autohaus in Tebrau, Johor; Chear Motorrad from Puchong and Kuantan, Tan Siang Premium Auto from Ipoh, El Chong from Butterworth and Auto Bavaria Glenmarie as well as numerous motorcycling community groups came together in Penang.

“Despite some rain, the Nightfuel event in Penang had a great turnout of over 600 people. Truly keeping to our spirit of Make Life A Ride,” said BMW Motorrad Malaysia head Owen Riley.


Ex-Yugoslav strongman Tito's luxury car given new lease of life

This photo taken on March 9, 2018 shows Tito's car collection on display at the Technical Museum of Slovenia in Bistra.
BELGRADE: Years of dust has been wiped off, the engine replaced, the chassis once again gleams a dark blue and the wheel rims sparkle — one of ex-Yugoslav strongman Josip Broz Tito's luxury cars has been given a new lease of life in Serbia.

The car in question — a 1948 Packard, a high-priced luxury American automobile owned by Tito before his death — has been lovingly restored by Serbian folk singer and car-enthusiast Milos Bojanic

"This car, I would say this beauty, is a 1948 Packard," said Bojanic.

The 67-year-old has spent the past three years scraping together spare parts to rebuild the classic vehicle at his workshop in Novi Sad, northern Serbia.

"It's very difficult to find spare parts for a car when there was such a small production line," he said.

The car was for years stationed in Macedonia — one of the six republics that made up the former federation of Yugoslavia — and later brought to Serbia by a businessman to be rented out as a wedding vehicle.

The Packard ended up in Bojanic's possession after a friend, whose identity he declined to reveal, bought the car for him to renovate.

"It came into my studio with a completely rotten flat bottom, with an engine that wasn't its own. There was just the chassis and the body, no windows, no other original elements, except the hubcaps and the wheels," Bojanic said.

Only around 30 of some 1,000 luxury cars made by the US car producer remain functional, according to Bojanic, and now this newly restored Packard will soon be able to drive along the roads of former Yugoslavia, 70 years after it was first built.

"I've brought it back to an almost perfect condition and it will be exactly as it was when it left the factory," he states.

Many Serbs are still nostalgic for Tito who ruled the former Yugoslav federation from the end of World War II until he died in 1980.

He made Yugoslavia one of the most prosperous communist multi-ethnic states, but political dissidents were jailed under his regime and opponents denounced his lavish lifestyle.

Tito, a car luxury fanatic, owned a host of vehicles including limousines, Mercedes and a Rolls Royce. The socialist leader's distinctly un-socialist lifestyle also saw him own dozens of homes and a yacht.

A decade after his death, Yugoslavia collapsed in a series of inter-ethnic wars which claimed some 130,000 lives.


Toll fare cut for six expressways in Klang Valley, says PM

                SHAH ALAM: The government has agreed to reduce the toll fare for six expressways in the Klang Valley, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"To show concern for the problems faced by the rakyat due to the rising cost of living, the government has also agreed to the proposal for the restructuring of the four concession companies under Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) and to reduce the toll.

"The expressways involved are the Ampang–Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), Kemuning –Shah Alam Highway (LKSA) and Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK) which will come into effect at 12.01am this Oct 20," the caretaker Prime Minister said when opening the Damansara-Shah Alam (DASH) expressway today.

The restructuring exercise will see the government saving as much as RM8.8bil in compensation which is supposed to be paid to the concession companies involved, he added.

He also said that toll for the Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas) and the Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya) under IJM Corporation Bhd will be reduced on Jan 1, 2023.

Earlier in his speech, Ismail Sabri said that the DASH expressway is an alternative route for road users from Shah Alam to Kuala Lumpur.

"It will ease traffic congestion, travel time and traffic flow more effectively in areas between the two cities.

"It is expected to help smooth traffic along Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, Jalan Sungai Buloh and Persiaran Surian by 40% which will save up to 30 minutes compared to an hour and a half during peak hours," he said.


Volvo bakes Skype for Business into its cars

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo has announced that it is installing Microsoft's Skype for Business into its new 90 Series cars.

While it may sound like a recipe for disaster, Volvo says that the option will actually improve safety on the road.

"We've all been there. Sitting in the car trying to join a conference call. You either fumble with or drop your phone while trying to connect or you forget the long pin code to join. [...] On top of all that your attention is not where it should be - on the road," said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz Vice President Consumer Connectivity Services at Volvo Car Group.

To ensure the least amount of time possible is spent looking away from the road, the large display screen has simplified touch-screen buttons.

This collaboration also sees the two companies looking into how to integrate Cortana, Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant, into Volvo's cars for "seamless voice recognition and contextual insights."