US safety agency criticises Tesla crash data release

Rescuers at the scene where the Tesla electric SUV crashed into a barrier on US Highway 101 in Mountain View, California, on March 25. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: The US National Transportation Safety Board said it was ”unhappy” that electric car maker Tesla Inc made public information about the crash of its Model X vehicle on Autopilot that killed the driver last month.

The agency ”needs the cooperation of Tesla to decode the data the vehicle recorded,” NTSB spokesman Chris O’Neil said in a statement. ”In each of our investigations involving a Tesla vehicle, Tesla has been extremely cooperative on assisting with the vehicle data.”

“However, the NTSB is unhappy with the release of investigative information by Tesla,” he added. A Tesla spokesman declined to comment. The board’s reaction to Tesla was first reported by the Washington Post Sunday evening.

O’Neil was responding to Tesla’s announcement on Friday that the Tesla Model X involved in the crash had activated its Autopilot system moments before the March 23 mishap.

The driver, 38, died at a nearby hospital shortly after the vehicle hit a concrete highway divider near Mountain View, California. The mishap involved two other vehicles.

“The NTSB is looking into all aspects of this crash including the driver’s previous concerns about the autopilot,” said O’Neil. ”We will work to determine the probable cause of the crash and our next update of information about our investigation will likely be when we publish a preliminary report, which generally occurs within a few weeks of completion of field work.”

Last week, the company said that a search of its service records did not ”find anything suggesting that the customer ever complained to Tesla about the performance of Autopilot. There was a concern raised once about navigation not working correctly, but Autopilot’s performance is unrelated to navigation.”

In its announcement on Friday, the company said that shortly before the crash, the vehicle’s ”Autopilot was engaged with the adaptive cruise control follow-distance set to minimum.” Autopilot allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel for extended periods under certain conditions. Tesla requires users to agree to keep their hands on the wheel at all times before they can use Autopilot. Users, however, routinely brag they can use the system to drive hands-free.

In its Friday statement, Tesla also said vehicle logs from the accident showed no action had been taken by the driver right before the crash and that he had received earlier warnings to put his hands on the wheel.
The statement did not say why the Autopilot system apparently did not detect the concrete divider.

 Model X.

In a separate development, AFP reported that Tesla had issued a voluntary recall of 123,000 Model S cars last Thursday to replace a power steering bolt that could corrode due to salt used on winter roads.

No accidents or injuries have been caused by a flaw that prompted the decision to replace the part in all Model S vehicles built before April of 2016, according to the Silicon Valley-based company.

"If the bolts fail, the driver is still able to steer the car, but increased force is required due to loss or reduction of power assist," Tesla said in an email to Model S owners whose cars are affected by the recall.

"This primarily makes the car harder to drive at low speeds and for parallel parking, but does not materially affect control at high speed, where only small steering wheel force is needed."

No other Tesla models were involved in the recall.


Volvo XC40 tested

                The smallest Volvo SUV has gotten off to a flying start. Local demand is strong going by the six-month waiting period for the vehicle.

This is the same car that won the 2018 European Car of the Year and Japan Car of the Year, so it has been adjudged as having that X-factor that makes it deserving of such accolade.

For the Malaysian market, the XC40 is only available in the AWD R-Design trim as Volvo Car Malaysia is confident people here would cotton to this equipment grade for its sporty ensemble. So no XC40 in Inscription trim or a plug-in hybrid will be seen on our roads – at least for now.

Like the XC60 and XC90, the XC40 is locally assembled with price nailed down to a competitive level at RM255,888.

Volvo has big plans for the small premium SUV. In the larger scheme of things, the XC40 is expected to lead the charge with a fully electric version to be produced in 2020, followed by the XC90 the following year.

The Geely-owned Swedish car maker aims to have fully electric cars make up 50% of its global sales by 2025.

Exterior

Volvo knows how to craft an attractive SUV no matter the size and it shows in the XC40, which is good-looking in its chunkiness, echoing a proud and confident Scandinavian design language.

The striking two-tone paint, interleaved by slim windows, sets it apart from its bigger siblings.

Rear window sills rise up to meet the roof spoiler, resulting in a thick C-pillar. Well-proportioned LED headlights with that signature Thor’s hammer DRLs bookmark an upright grille, with LED front fogs adding more shine. Holding up the rear are boomerang-like tail lamps and integrated dual tailpipes.

While the XC40 is an urbane SUV, it also displays an adventurous side, ready to take on the great outdoors when tyres meet dirt trails.

To inject a light off-roading capability, Volvo has equipped the XC40 with an off-road drive mode, all-wheel-drive and a decent wading depth of 450mm.

Its rugged intent is evident with the base of the body wrapped in black plastic cladding and wheel arch protectors. Its sporty edge is stepped up with 19-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zeros.

With key fob in pocket, powered tailgate opens with a kick of the leg on the underside of the car. The sensor doesn’t always pick up the kicking motion so you may have to try a few times.

The R-Design influence outside and inside is typified by lots of blackness – in the grille, roof and wing mirrors. front and rear skid plates, roof rails and window frames, dark-tinted rear windows, dual tailpipes, and alloy wheels with a striking diamond-cut and matt-black finish.

The sporty theme carries on inside with R-Design tread plates, black headlining, sports pedals and a perforated leather wrapping for the steering wheel and gear lever.

Interior

The XC40 interior is most revealing and exemplify a vehicle that is small on the outside but big on the inside.

Like its bigger siblings, the XC40 has a minimalist dashboard, which features a fully digital instrumentation, a tablet-size centre touchscreen display where most controls are clustered and vertical slits for air-cond vents.

There’s more hard plastics in the model but they, thankfully, don’t come across as cheap. The inlays on dash and doors remind us of fishnets, which looks pleasant enough.

Interior fit and finish is good.

Note that the bonnet opener is on the front passenger side.

Seats are wrapped in leather-Nubuck combo, which complements an entry-level premium SUV. Front seats are sporty with evident side bolsters to steady torsos in fast corners.

What we liked about them are that they can be extended out to increase comfort. Driver’s seat, in addition, has a hidden underseat tray plus memory settings.

Space and comfort in rear row is passable. They don’t offer as much thigh support as we would like, and the seatback is rather upright. Elbow space would be severely limited if three persons are squeezed into second row as the seats have been shortened to allow for cubbyholes at both ends.

On the flip side, headroom is good and legs can slip easily under the front seats.

While the 9-inch Sensus infotainment screen is intuitive to use, it’s advisable for the driver to fiddle with the settings only at standstill as they can be distracting on the move.

Practicality

Volvo has carved out smart internal storage spaces in order to help owners “declutter their lives and instead enjoy the ride.”

Front speakers in the front doors are gone to make room for spaces where a laptop computer and a tablet can be securely stored. Volvo instead used a dashboard-integrated amplification system for the 250W 8-speaker stereo setup.

Thoughtful little spaces have been created such as slots for credit cards in the dash. There are also spaces to park loose change and mobile device charging cables, plus a phone holder that can keep your handset still and wirelessly charge it at the same time.

The centre console includes a small removable bin for waste and a space to hold a box of tissues. Even the glove box has an extending hook to secure a takeaway meal or small grocery bag.

At 460 litres, the XC40 boot is bigger than Audi Q3’s but smaller than Mercedes GLA’s and BMW X1’s. It is expandable to 1,336 litres with rear seats folded flat to the floor.

In addition, the boot has dividing panels with hooks and a hidden locked storage compartment under the boot floor for storing valuables.

Safety

With a full 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the XC40 can’t get any safer than this.

Volvo has stuffed it with a long list of advanced safety features as encapsulated in the Intellisafe concept. Intellisafe basically offers features that support the driver while driving, to features that help prevent accidents and protect occupants in the event that one occurs.

Break it down and it includes the usual suspects like airbags, Emergency Brake Assist and Isofix points.

It also covers Lane Keeping Assist, blind spot detection, Cross Traffic Alert with Auto Brake, Pedestrian, Cyclist & Large Animal Detection, Collision Avoidance & Mitigation, Run-Off Road Protection, Post-Collision Auto Braking & Unlocking, Whiplash Protection System for Front Seats and Energy Absorbing Seat Cushions.

Ride & handling

With 252hp and 350Nm from a lowly 1,800rpm, the 2.0-litre turbocharged XC40 doesn’t lack power. The SUV is eager to move and feels lively.

As a city car, it has a good turning circle and makes parking easy in tight surroundings. Five adjustable-drive mode settings allows the car’s steering and throttle response to be changed. Steering feel is light by default but gets heavier in sportier settings.

The suspension smooths out bumps well and the cabin is quiet at cruising speed. Corners are tackled with minimal wallow.

The auto-start stop mechanism could have been more subtle; it’s a jolting reminder when it kicks the engine back to life. Thick C-pillars are blind spots but a rear view camera and cross traffic alert ease safety concerns.

We tried the Offroad mode on an open tract that had been cleared for construction and caked with soft earth after a night of rainfall. The XC40 was bogged down at one point. It took a good 10s as the XC40’s rear wheels dug deeper into the ground. The SUV slipped and swayed slightly as it frantically tried to find traction.

For a fleeting moment, we thought it was truly stuck but it finally freed itself. We reckoned offroad tyres would have made the extraction easier.

 Pilot Assist active as shown by green steering wheel icon.

Worthy of mention is Pilot Assist, a convenience feature that allows for semi-autonomous driving with auto steering.

Pilot Assist, for now, is still a novelty, and we enjoyed using it on the PLUS highway. The tech is such it can read the lane markers on either side of the car and stay within. Coupled with adaptive cruise control, it makes for a more relaxing journey especially on a long trip.

However, rainy nights seem to stymie it as it struggled to read the road lines.

Another hiccup was with the navigation during a drive in Petaling Jaya. The sat-nav was working fine all along but suddenly displayed a map of Singapore as we waited at a traffic junction; we put that down to a glitch that a software update should cure.

Fuel consumption

Official combined fuel consumption is 7.7 litres per 100 km. Over a weekend of highway cruising, trunk road runs, and urban crawls, we averaged 11.6km/100km.

With a smallish 54l fuel tank, this means more frequent refuelling stops.

Reliability

The XC40 comes with a 5-year warranty or 120,000km (whichever comes first). As this is an all-new model, it has yet to run up a reliability history.

Summary

Volvo has crafted a premium small SUV that has an appealing design, competent performance and high utility. Being Volvo, it gets tops marks for safety.

Although there are inconsistencies in a few features, they are not a dealbreaker.

Overall, the XC40 looks set to be a high-flyer on the local scene.
SPECIFICATIONSVolvo XC40 T5 AWD R-DesignEngine: 1,969cc, turbocharged, direct injection, in-line 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 252hp at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm from 1,800-4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed Auto with Geartronic
Features: 7 airbags, gear shift paddles, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Stability Control, Voice Control, navigation, keyless entry & drive, Clean Zone system, rain sensor with tunnel detection, front and rear Park Assist, LED headlights with active high beam & cornering lights, front LED fog lights with cornering function, Apple Carplay & Android Auto, 2 USB port & 1 USB Type-C port, 19-inch wheels
Acceleration (0-100kph): 6.4s
Top speed: 230kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 7.7l/100km
Price: (OTR without insurance): RM255,888


Ferrari 488 GTB for Geneva debut

                MARANELLO (Italy): The new Ferrari 488 GTB is touted as providing track-level performance that can be enjoyed to the full even by non-professional drivers in everyday use.

The new berlinetta has a 3,902cc V8 turbo that is at the top of its class for power output, torque and response times, making it the new benchmark for this kind of architecture.

The new engine unleashes 660hp at 8,000rpm along with 760Nm of maximum torque in seventh gear, and a response time to the accelerator of just 0.8 seconds at 2,000rpm.

These figures are sufficient to allow the Ferrari 488 GTB to accelerate from 0-200kph in an astonishing 8.3 seconds.

The gearbox features Variable Torque Management which unleashes the engine’s massive torque smoothly and powerfully right across the rev range.

The car’s aerodynamics also made a pivotal contribution to performance: its 1.67 efficiency figure is a new record for a production Ferrari, and is the fruit of 50% more downforce than the previous model and reduced drag.

The greatest challenge was achieving these two goals simultaneously.

Innovative elements include a double front spoiler, base bleed side intakes and, at the rear, active aerodynamics coupled with a blown spoiler.

The aerodynamic underbody, which incorporates vortex generators, is highly sophisticated, too.

The evolved version of Ferrari’s side slip angle control system (Side Slip Control 2 - SSC2) is more precise and less invasive, providing greater longitudinal acceleration out of corners.

In the cabin, the seamless integration of the new satellite control clusters, angled air vents and instrument panel heightens the sense that the cockpit is completely tailored around the driver.

There are plenty of classic Ferrari styling elements too, such as the clear separation between the dashboard and tunnel, the multifunctional steering wheel, the control switch bridge and wraparound seats.

The design of the car’s new key takes its inspiration from the car’s cylinder banks and allows keyless starts.

The Ferrari 488 GTB will make its world debut at the 2015 International Geneva Motor Show in March.


Quill Automobiles opens its doors to a new BMW experience in PJ

                PETALING JAYA: BMW dealer, Quill Automobiles, opened its doors to a new experience and expression for zee German brand and is set to give away a BMW Z4 sDrive30i M Sport in its X Marks the Future campaign.

“For over a decade, Quill Automobiles have been delivering our commitment to the BMW premium ownership experience to our loyal customers in Petaling Jaya. This commitment is now further strengthened with the opening of our new showroom which reflects the newest experience and expression from the BMW brand,” said Quill Automobiles dealer principal Alex Tang

The new showroom manned by 90 personnel, is located at Ground Floor, Quill 9, 112, Jalan Semangat, has a total built-up area of over 33,000 square feet in the heart of Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

 Tang and Quill Group of Companies group executive director Datuk Michael Ong Leng Chun

The area allows up to 14 BMW vehicles to be displayed and features the brand's new Grande Klasse (GKL) luxury boutique in addition to the customer lounge, Isetta Bar and lifestyle area.

At the back of the house is the 58,500 square feet service centre which houses a complete service workshop as well as a body and paint facility.

During the formal opening of the 4S (sales, service, spare parts and systems) facility, the company also launched its X Marks the Future campaign.

The campaign, from now until Dec 31, will provide up to 10 entry forms for customers who purchase a brand-new BMW vehicle to win a Z4 sDrive30i M Sport convertible roadster.

“Celebrating our opening and in appreciation of our customers who have been loyal and instrumental to our success, we are giving away an all-New BMW Z4," said Tang.

The company also took the opportunity to unveil the new BMW 7 Series and the X7 full-sized sports activity vehicle.

“While it is our priority to deliver award-winning vehicles and industry-leading services to our customers, it is also equally important that we create the right environment and ambience for this experience and they have executed this excellently once again,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.


This enormous lunar spacecraft can hold two astronauts and be remote-controlled

                PARIS: Monaco-based group Venturi, known for its automobiles, recently unveiled its FLEX (Flexible Logistics and Exploration) lunar rover.

The rover is designed to play a role in future scientific and commercial missions to the Moon. Compared with other similar projects, it stands out for its large size and its ability to be piloted remotely. FLEX is scheduled to reach the Moon in 2026, using SpaceX's Starship launcher.

The program for Venturi's electric lunar rover project debuted in 2019. To develop this project, two new structures were created: one in Switzerland (Venturi Lab) to develop materials that could resist extreme conditions, high-performance solar panels and "deformable wheels," and the other in the USA for the vehicle's structural design, mechanisms and software development.

The hostile lunar environment poses a multitude of challenges, as the rover must be able to cope with extreme temperatures — as low as -230 degrees Celsius — as well as withstand radiation and operate in darkness.

In 2026, FLEX is scheduled to land on the Moon and complete its missions, piloted on site by an astronaut or remotely from a lunar base or space station.

The craft will be able to accommodate two astronauts and carry various lunar samples. Solar panels will be used to charge it, whether it's on the move or stationary.

The Venturi Group specialises in the design of high-performance electric vehicles and boasts a series of speed records on two or four wheels.

With FLEX, Venturi now wants to take its technology to the moon. The Monegasque group is not the only automaker to be working on lunar vehicles, as Nissan, Hyundai and General Motors have also ventured into the domain.


Police and PLUS start 'smartlane' zones on two congestion-prone NSE stretches

                KUALA LUMPUR: The police and PLUS Bhd have activated two smartlane stretches on the North-South Expressway (NSE) to address congestion as vehicles make their way back to the Klang Valley after the Hari Raya holidays.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Seri Mat Kasim Karim, said that the two northbound routes are from the Port Dickson intersection at KM259 to the Seremban intersection (KM263) as well as from the Senai intersection (KM19) to the Kulai intersection (KM27).

"The high volume of vehicles heading to the capital city causes congestion in some places, such as hilly areas, and when three lanes converge to two.

"Police officers are at hotspot locations on highways, federal and state roads as well as city roads where there is congestion to the capital.

Police personnel and drone units are systematically deployed to ensure smooth and controlled traffic flow," he said in a statement today.

The smartlane aims to optimise the use of all lanes, including opening the leftmost (emergency) space as a temporary lane to increase lane capacity and help smooth traffic flow.

Mat Kasim said that the public can channel information related to accidents or unusual congestion to the Bukit Aman traffic control room at 03-2266 3356, which operates 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile in Facebook post, the police announced that there were a total of 1,381 accidents, involving 2,072 vehicles nationwide on Sunday, the fourth day of Ops Selamat 20.

Op Selamat 20 is being carried out for seven days from April 20.

It said that cars recorded the highest number of accidents with 1,528 or 73.7% of total cases recorded.

"This was followed by motorcycles (256), four-wheel drive vehicles (122), multi-purpose vehicles (102 cases), vans (43), lorries (13), buses (five), and three cases of accidents involving taxis," read the statement.

They also advised road users to be vigilant to avoid any accidents.


2017 Kia Grand Carnival: Blending practicality with style

                THE recently launched 2017 Kia Grand Carnival is the latest large MPV to arrive in Malaysia and is stylish and fun-to-drive to boot.

From the outside, the Grand Carnival makes its presence felt by its sheer size alone.

And then you notice its bold good looks, like the signature ‘Schreyer Grille’ and the sleek LED daytime running lights.

This MPV adds a touch of modernity with power-sliding doors operated at the touch of a button.

The Grand Carnival seats eight people comfortably and access to the third row is done by simply pulling a lever.

You have a choice of opting for fabric seats or the plush, smooth dual-tone leather seats – the latter gives the Grand Carnival a true upmarket ambiance.

Comfort is the name of the game and the Grand Carnival is one of the best players.

All passengers are kept cool and comfortable with the dedicated air-conditioning vents.

Then of course there is the entertainment factor with a six-speaker system that is connected to a touch-screen entertainment unit featuring a 4.3-inch TFT colour screen with USB and AUX connectivity.

The centre storage space between the driver and passenger alone is able to fit your handbag or your 13-inch Macbook.

There are also other cubby holes around the cabin.

With the seats folded up, the interior of the Grand Carnival transforms into the perfect companion for trips to Ikea as it will easily fit a two-seat sofa.

And there is also enough space inside to stack four golf bags vertically without compromising sitting space for your golfing buddies.

Driving the Grand Carnival is a breath of fresh air as it is the perfect balance of power and fuel economy.

The driver’s seat is adjustable in 12 different ways, making it super easy to find your perfect sitting position without any blind spots hindering your line of sight.

And then there is the fact that the 2.2-litre diesel engine gives you 190hp and 440Nm of torque.

It basically means that the Grand Carnival offers performance without guzzling too much fuel as diesel engines are frugal and efficient.

On the road, the power-steering is easy to turn and precise.

Despite its size, the Grand Carnival is quite agile and easy to manoeuvre in tight car park bays and narrow streets.

Parking is a breeze too as it comes equipped with front and rear sensors as well as a reverse camera.

The Grand Carnival comes standard with electronic safety nets like vehicle stability control, anti-braking system, hill start assist and six airbags.

With seemingly everything you could want in a top end MPV, the Grand Carnival starts from just RM153,888 for the basic model.

Then there is the mid-range 2.2 CRDI KX priced at RM169,888 and the top of the range 2.2 CRDI EX priced at RM185,888.

The relationship with local Kia vehicle distributor, Naza Kia Malaysia, does not just begin and end with buying the Grand Carnival.

The company takes care of your MPV and its needs through its five-year, unlimited mileage warranty programme as well as a special financing programme designed to help you own this vehicle.

If there ever has been a real good deal on a large MPV, it is happening right now with the Grand Carnival.


VW debuts C Coupé GTE

WOLFSBURG/SHANGHAI: Volkswagen is displaying the C Coupé GTE Concept at Auto Shanghai.

Positioned between the Passat and Phaeton, the nearly 5m-long plug-in hybrid is smacked in the C-segment if it were to go into production.

Technically, the C Coupé GTE consists of a four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injection TSI gasoline engine, an 8-speed automatic gearbox, an electric motor integrated in the transmission housing and a 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery.

The TSI engine produces 207hp, the electric motor makes 122hp, and the combined system gives 242hp  and 500Nm. The concept car can travel up to 50km in zero emissions E-mode, at up to 98kph. It has NEDC combined fuel consumption of 2.3 l/100 km, corresponding to just 55 g/km of CO2 emissions. The vehicle has a total range of more than 1,100km. Despite being so efficient, the C Coupé GTE is a sporty premium car, with 0 to 100kph acceleration in just 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 232kph.

The driver can choose between a number of operating modes: Hybrid, E-Mode, GTE and Battery Charge/Battery Hold.

Explaining the design concept, Volkswagen Group design chief Walter de Silva said: “Sedans have changed hugely in recent years. The new rear-end design that is oriented to the classic two-door ‘coupé’ has given them more personality. The Volkswagen designers have integrated this stylistic element into the very dynamic design of the C Coupé GTE saloon; they have developed a striking front end and given the vehicle its own authentic character. They have created a model that appeals to Chinese customers, who always follow the trends of European car design with great interest.”

The concept car is designated a "Coupé" on account of its long flowing C-pillars and tapering trunk section. The C Coupé GTE is painted in “Golden Atmosphere”, a colour that was chosen in homage to the Chinese market. In China aspects such as wisdom and tolerance, patience and power are associated with the colour gold.

The C Coupé GTE is the first Volkswagen to be based on the new modular longitudinal matrix (MLB), the designers were able to further perfect these upscale proportions.

The interior, which features wrap-around ambient lighting, has an elegant look. The C Coupé GTE has been designed as a sporty four-seat car to appeal to keen owner-drivers on the one hand while also being an ideal chauffeur-driven car. The dash panel and the interior architecture have therefore been designed with a driver-centric focus, while the rear has a lounge-like ambience.


Mazda to make all models hybrid, electric by early 2030s, says Kyodo

                TOKYO: Mazda Motor Corp plans to make all of its vehicles electric-based, including petrol hybrids, by the early 2030s, Japanese media reported today, as more automakers shift strategies to meet tightening global emission regulations.

The Japanese automaker plans to use electric motors in all of its models by that time, Kyodo News reported, without citing sources. A Mazda spokesman declined to comment on the report.

At the moment, Mazda’s line-up does not include any all-battery electric vehicles, though it sells one hybrid model, a version of its Mazda3.

The company has said it will introduce electric powertrain technologies including electronic vehicles (EVs) from 2019.

To catch up with other larger automakers including Nissan Motor Co, which already market electric cars, Mazda has partnered with Toyota Motor Corp to develop technology.

Meanwhile, it has also developed an ultra-efficient petrol engine, which can be used in hybrids, and plans to incorporate that into its cars from 2019.

Unveiling the new technology last month, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai said its gasoline, diesel and electric vehicle technologies would “co-exist” in the future.

The automaker, which also specialises in highly-efficient diesel engines, on Thursday launched a new CX-8 model in Japan, which is only available as a diesel model at the moment.

Other global automakers are planning to shift away from internal combustion engines towards electrification in the coming years.

Volvo Car Group in July said that all of its new models from 2019 would use electric motors, while Volkswagen earlier this week said it would launch 80 new electric cars across its brands by 2025.


Daimler recalls over 1 million vehicles worldwide for air bag fix

                BERLIN/WASHINGTON: Daimler AG is recalling more than 1 million Mercedes-Benz cars and sport utility vehicles worldwide to address potential unintended air bag deployments, the German automaker said on Monday.

The safety recall covers 495,000 vehicles in the United States, 400,000 in Britain, 76,000 in Canada and a few hundred thousand in Germany, company officials said. The German automaker did not immediately have a complete worldwide total.

An electrostatic discharge, coupled with a broken clock spring and insufficient grounding of steering components, can lead to inadvertent deployment of the driver side front air bag in vehicles subject to the recall, the company said.

As part of the fix, it said dealers would add new grounding to the steering components.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesman in the United States said there had been “a handful of instances where drivers suffered minor abrasions or bruises” due to the air bag problem.

No deaths have been reported and the issue is not related to the massive recall of Takata air bag inflators worldwide.

The recalls covers some 2012-2018 model year A, B, C, and E-Class models and CLA, GLA and GLC vehicles.


Plug-in hybrids emit 2.5 times more CO2 than expected, says Euro group

                PARIS: An analysis by the European Federation for Transport and Environment of data on real-world emissions from plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has shown that they generate up to 2.5 times more CO2 than their manufacturers claim.

On the basis of laboratory tests, automakers claim that PHEVs emit less than 50g of CO2 per kilometre.

However, this figure is in fact far higher in real-world conditions, said the federation. A compilation of several European studies has shown that on average, PHEVs emit around 117g of CO2 per kilometre, which, at the end of the day, is just a little less than the 135g per kilometre generated by a conventional hybrid like the Toyota Prius.

Over its lifetime, a PHEV will therefore generate 28 tonnes of CO2, which is not that far removed from the figure of 33 tonnes for a conventional hybrid.

By way of comparison, gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles respectively emit 39 and 41 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetimes. It goes without saying that emissions on this scale bear no relation to those for fully electric automobiles, which will use the equivalent of 3.8 tonnes of CO2 in electricity in the course of their usage.

The federation is an umbrella for European non-governmental groups working in the field of transport and the environment, promoting sustainable transport in Europe.


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

Barra speaking on Wednesday at an event detailing GM?s electric vehicle technologies and upcoming products in the Design Dome on the GM Tech Center campus in Warren, Michigan.
DETROIT: General Motors Co chief executive Mary Barra said Wednesday the Detroit automaker will invest US$20 billion (RM83bil) by 2025 in electric and automated vehicles as it races to catch up with Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc as vehicles go electric.

The previously undisclosed investment figure was part of detailed presentations Barra and other GM executives gave to reporters and investors, to show that GM can make the transition from an internal combustion world to a battery electric one.

“We’ll grow” as the company offers more electric vehicles (EVs), Barra said at GM’s design centre in Warren, Michigan.

And by slashing the number of powertrain combinations and moving to modular electric vehicle components, including battery packs and motors, GM can be profitable and maintain its profit margins, she said.

Simplifying batteries and vehicle architectures would be critical to achieving profitability.

With its new Ultium battery technology, GM is on track to cut the battery cell costs — the single greatest expense in electric vehicles — to less than US$100 (RM417) per kilowatt-hour, Barra said. That would be down from about US$140 (RM583) now.

That, in turn, could make battery packs — for electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EV — up to 45% cheaper, experts say.

In a similar light, Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, told investors last month that the Silicon Valley automaker was working on battery cost and range breakthroughs that it would describe at a “Battery Day” in April.

Instead of 555 internal combustion powertrain combinations, GM will be able to move to just 19 different electric vehicle propulsion systems, slashing costs, GM officials said.

Barra reiterated a goal of selling 1 million electric vehicles annually in the United States and China by 2025.

The US$20 billion investment would go towards planned engineering and capital spending, she said, adding it was not a figure “with crazy things added to make it look big.”

At the design centre, analysts questioned GM’s EV competitiveness, whether EVs can be sold at a premium and how the company will manage the transition away from petrol-powered vehicles. Executives maintained GM is well positioned in the EV market, where they see profitable growth, especially on the US coasts.

The scepticism of investors and analysts over GM’s electric vehicle plans has become clear in recent months, with Tesla’s market value soaring to around US$137 billion (RM571bil) as of Wednesday, more than triple GM’s US$44 billion (RM183bil).

GM is by far the larger manufacturer by volume, and generates more cash and profits. But in the electric vehicle market, Tesla is the leader.

Last year, Tesla sold 367,500 electric vehicles globally, including 223,000 in the United States. GM sold just 16,400 Chevrolet Bolt EVs to US buyers, and 60,000 Baojun E-Series models in China with joint venture partner SAIC Motor.

The first of the new generation electric vehicles, the GMC Hummer pickup, will be launched in late 2021, followed by the Cadillac Lyriq crossover utility vehicle in 2022. GM has promised 20 new electric vehicle models globally by 2023.

A central part of GM’s pitch to investors focuses on the company’s new Ultium electric vehicle batteries, which will offer a GM-estimated electric driving range of 400 miles or more on a single charge.

These batteries use 70% less cobalt and less nickel than current designs, and they are packaged in long, thin “large format pouch” type cells that hold 20 times more energy than conventional cylindrical cells, GM engineers said.

The Ultium batteries use chemistry called NMCA, for nickel- manganese-cobalt-aluminum, GM officials said.

Cobalt and nickel are two of the most expensive raw materials used in electric vehicle batteries.

Reuss said GM was moving to directly buy battery materials as it works on new technology that will cut or eliminate cobalt use.

GM has previously revealed its electric vehicle strategy in incremental steps — announcing the Hummer brand will be reborn as an electric pickup, and a partnership with Korean battery maker LG Chem to build a US$2.3 billion (RM9.6bil) battery plant near a shuttered GM car plant in Lordstown, Ohio.


Tips for the perfect balik kampung trip from Cycle & Carriage

                KUALA LUMPUR: Local Mercedes-Benz dealer Cycle & Carriage has given a checklist on balik kampung trips and celebrate Raya with loved ones in comfort and style.

It's been a long time since Malaysians have had the chance to enjoy Raya without travel restrictions, so make the most of this opportunity by ensuring everything is well planned for a smoother ride.

Dress to impress

If there are dents or scratches on your Mercedes-Benz, be sure to protect it with the Cycle & Carriage Paint and Dent Protector Programme.

Available only at Cycle & Carriage, this programme covers unexpected dents and scratches on new Mercedes-Benz cars for up to four years and is priced from RM888.

With a new coat of paint, your car will definitely look as good as new!

Prepare to brave the traffic and weather

Book a quick health check inspection with Cycle & Carriage that includes thorough tyre and brake inspection so that your car is in tip-top condition in traffic.

Plus, don’t forget to gear up for rain as weather forecasts are already signaling that it will be a cloudy season.

Also make sure the wipers are working well for clear views ahead.

Drive in comfort

To ensure maximum comfort for long distance drives during sunny days, check if the service for air-conditioner is due.

Check out Cycle & Carriage’s “Vehicle Interior and Air Conditioning Cleaning without Filter” or the “Vehicle Interior and Air Conditioning Cleaning with Filter” which includes a combination of fine-particle filters.

Stay safe on the road

In the unfortunate event where your vehicle requires immediate attention, Mercedes-Benz owners can contact Cycle & Carriage’s 24-hour roadside assistance and be attended to as soon as possible.

While traveling outstation, visit nearby Cycle & Carriage Autohauses should your car require any fixing.

With 11 locations across Peninsular Malaysia, rest assured that Cycle & Carriage is ever ready to assist in any unforeseen situations during the balik kampung trip.

For the busy bees

Owners can use “Drop & Go” or “Door-to-Door” service to get their Mercedes-Benz sorted while saving time.

Especially if owners are unable to keep track of their car’s condition, they can leave it to the Cycle & Carriage Service Consultants to handle it with the best interest at heart.

For details on the different Autohauses across West Malaysia, visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/en/desktop/about-us/locations.html.

Make an appointment with your preferred Cycle & Carriage Autohaus by calling 1800-22-8000 or visiting https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my to learn more about Cycle & Carriage offerings.


Malaysia set to maintain pace of motor parts, components exports

                CYBERJAYA: Malaysia is expected to be able to maintain the pace of the export of motor parts and components as well as accessories which reached RM3.4 billion last year.

Second International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, said Malaysia's trade performance was still strong and that included the car parts segment. "The world motor vehicle market is vibrant like the handphone segment. For the car accessories, there are always a new market because the population of the younger generation is growing and they too want to own vehicles.

"We still can maintain the pace (of export), but we have to work harder to find new markets, he said. Ong said with the government helping boost market access by signing free trade agreements with friendly countries, local firms needed to innovate and improve the quality of products to enter the new market.

He said this at a press conference after witnessing the signing of the joint venture agreement between Azman Hamzah Plastik Sdn Bhd (AHP) and Sakamoto Research and Development Holdings Ltd, and the memorandum of understanding between Malaysia Automotive Institute and Sakamoto Mfg Malaysia Sdn Bhd here today.

"One of the ways the local sector can enhance itself is by having local vendors develop a strategic partnership with a foreign company, like the one between AHP and Sakamoto Group. And for the Sakamoto Group, it would also benefit by the many FTAs that Malaysia signed," he said.

Ong said when the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement came into force, exporters from Malaysia would gain preferential access to new markets in the US, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

"Under TPPA, our accessories can go into America. In the past it was very difficult because they were highly taxed. After signing FTA, the trade barrier will be eliminated," he said.


Ford reshuffles executives after abrupt departure of US chief

Kumar replaces Raj as head of Ford's North American operations.
DETROIT: Ford on Thursday named company insider Kumar Galhotra as head of its North American operations, filling the gap left by the abrupt departure of Raj Nair after an internal investigation uncovered ”inappropriate behaviour” by the executive.

The appointment was part of a broader executive reshuffle by the No. 2 US automaker, the second such move in less than a year since Jim Hackett took the chief executive job in May.

Kumar, who has worked for Ford for 29 years and previously led its luxury Lincoln Motor Co arm, will report to Jim Farley, Ford’s president of global markets. The appointment is effective March 1.

Ford said on Wednesday that Raj was leaving the company immediately after an investigation found his behaviour was “inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct.” It did not give any details on what that behaviour entailed.

A company spokesman said the review was launched in the past few weeks after Ford received a report of inappropriate behaviour. Ford said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that under the terms of his separation agreement, Raj is entitled to retirement and healthcare benefits but will not receive a bonus for 2017 or 2018 and some equity-based awards will be cancelled. The filing also showed that Raj would lose at least US$5mil (RM19.6mil) in bonuses.

Raj has agreed to waive claims against Ford and to cooperate with any future investigations or litigation.

Kumar, who has also served as Ford’s chief marketing officer since last year, takes charge of a business that generates about 90 percent of Ford’s global profits.

The company also made a handful of other changes to its senior management team on Thursday, appointing Joy Falotico to replace Galhotra as group vice president for Lincoln and chief marketing officer.

David McClelland was made vice president of Ford and CEO of Ford Motor Credit Co, Stuart Rowley was named vice president and chief operating officer for Ford North America and John Lawler was appointed vice president, strategy of Ford.

Cathy O'Callaghan was named vice president and corporate controller, and chief financial officer, global markets.

 Although fired, Raj is still entitled to retirement and healthcare benefits but will not receive a bonus for 2017 or 2018.


GoCar offers 20% savings on pre-Chinese New Year festive car maintenance

                PETALING JAYA: GoCar, Malaysia’s leading on-demand mobility-as-a-service platform, has unveiled its vehicle service promotion in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year period.

Available at the GoCar Garage Petaling Jaya (PJ) Service Centre starting now until Feb 11, the campaign offers 20% savings on regular 45-minute “Pit Stop” service packages that is applicable to all passenger vehicle makes and models from local, Japanese, continental and premium brands.

To enjoy the 20% savings, customers only need to key the relevant promo codes in the GoCar mobile app.

> "PRECNY1" for Mineral Oil package at RM78.40 (normal price RM98)
> "PRECNY2" for Semi-Synthetic Oil package at RM102.40 (normal price RM128)
> "PRECNY3" for Fully-Synthetic Oil package at RM158.40 (normal price RM198)

GoCar Garage uses only premium Total or Shell branded oils.

Customers can also take advantage of the free comprehensive vehicle inspection to ensure their car is in tip-top condition, in addition to the free car wash with basic sanitisation for more peace-of-mind.

GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun said many motorists are planning to return to their hometowns for Chinese New Year or take a short holiday during the festive break with the lifting of the lockdown.

"We hope that more people will take advantage of our service promotion to stay safe on the roads while enjoying more savings,” he said.

Customers can easily and seamlessly book their appointments, obtain up-front quotations for pre-approval before work begins, make payments and arrange for door-to-door delivery through the GoCar app.

They are also able to enjoy two hours free usage of a GoCar while their car is being serviced.

In addition, GoCar's Flood relief programme still ongoing with 25% discount on parts and labour, and two-week free GoCar usage.

GoCar will also provide assistance with arrangements for towing services where needed.

The flood relief programme will end on Jan 31 and is also available at the GoCar Garage PJ Service Centre.

Download the GoCar mobile app to book a service appointment.

For details on the GoCar Garage service promotion or the GoCar Flood Relief Programme, contact 1-300-30-2633.

For details about GoCar Garage and GoCar Malaysia, visit https://hi.gocar.my or


Foodpanda pledges to send riders for health screening

                PETALING JAYA: Delivery service Foodpanda has agreed to conduct health screening for its fleet of riders, including checking their body temperature daily according to the government's standard operating procedure, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister made the announcement following a meeting with Foodpanda Malaysia managing director Sayantan Das on Monday.

He said the company agreed to conduct health screening for its delivery riders as part of its daily routine in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It's good to note that Foodpanda also offers insurance coverage for its 25,000 riders," Dr Wee said on his Facebook page today.

Dr Wee said he and Sayantan also taked about how and why the online gig economy could rebound after the movement control order is lifted.

"Mostly due to a 'new norm' where people's spending habits have changed after a significant event like Covid-19," he said.

The ministry, he said, would hold further discussions with e-hailing operators like Foodpanda and Grab before drafting a policy to strengthen the gig economy and help its workers.

On April 17, Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that e-hailing companies must send their riders and drivers for health screening to ensure their health and safety as they are in constant contact with clients whenever dropping off deliveries or passengers.

He said companies must ensure those providing the service undergo health screening, which can be done at either government or private clinics.

He also said the same rule applies to companies providing their own delivery services, such as the fast-food restaurants.


Motorcycle thefts hit B40 hard

                PETALING JAYA: While fewer motorcycles were stolen last year, its theft in the country remains a significant problem and tends to hit the lower income group B40 more.

Based on insurance claims, statistics by the Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia Bhd (VTREC) showed that in 2018, more than 7,500 motorbikes were stolen, with the majority of these being the rather popular underbone motorcycles – also called kapchai – with engines below 150cc.

The majority of these thefts, said police, were planned rather than random strikes and were relatively easy job for seasoned thieves.

Motorcycles that are parked at the same place each day appear to be favoured targets, such as those found in Johor Baru.

Thousands of motorcycles are parked there daily by Malaysians who then use public transport to go to work in Singapore.

At a press conference in October, Johor police had said that vehicle theft syndicates were eyeing both parked cars and motorcycles, first by monitoring the daily movements of potential victims.

The stolen vehicles are immediately cannibalised for parts.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said it only took two minutes for a gang to steal a motorcycle.

“Two minutes is all it takes for this gang to break a lock, hot-wire and ride off with a stolen motorcycle, ” he said at a recent press conference on a bust against a motorcycle theft gang.

The typical modus operandi of a motorcycle theft gang goes like this: the group would target a motorcycle and remove it after a few minutes.

“They would then change the engine cover and tamper with the chassis and engine numbers.

“They have the expertise to make these changes and used details of motorcycles involved in accidents and were beyond repair for the chassis and engine number tampering, ” said Comm Mazlan.

Once completed, the machines would be sent to Kelantan where another member would find buyers from across the border, Comm Mazlan said, adding that these would sell for between RM2,000 to RM4,000 depending on the condition.

He said the tools seized by police for the tampering of chassis and engine numbers showed the extent of work put in to give stolen motorcycles a new identity.

Motorcycle theft also covers the theft of specific parts, such as brake calipers and master cylinders, with such crimes not necessarily the work of syndicates.

On Nov 1, thieves made off with several dozen racing motorcycle parts from the Sepang International Circuit during the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.

KLIA OCPD Asst Comm Zulkifli Adamsah said six men were arrested while 42 motorcycle components and accessories worth more than RM75,000 were recovered during raids between Nov 3 and Dec 12.

Between January and September this year, city police have arrested 80 suspects in connection with motorcycle theft cases.

Kuala Lumpur’s success in checking the bike theft menace mirrors that of the success of the police and authorities nationwide.

From a high of 18,247 in 2014, the number, according to VTREC, had come down to 7,539 last year.

And up to the third quarter of this year, the number stood at 4,070, which was a 32% reduction compared to the same period last year at 5,967.

VTREC is made up of representatives from the Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia, the Malaysia Takaful Association, the police, Bank Negara, the Transport Ministry, the Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Customs Department, the Malaysian Automotive Association and the Association of Malaysian Loss Adjusters.

Despite the downtrend in motorcycle theft, observers say this category of theft still needs attention as it tends to hit the poorer segment harder.

According to Deloitte Consulting, it is usual for the motorcycle to be the sole means of transportation for the B40 group.

“A stolen bike could cost an entire month of an average B40’s household income, ” said Deloitte in a recent statement on the use of analytics to combat crime.

Justin Ong, Deloitte Malaysia Innovation Leader, said the project started with an analysis of petty crimes.

“Throughout the analysis process, we noticed that motorcycle theft ranks the highest among all petty crimes.

“As we dived further into the analysis, we decided to focus on motorcycle theft as we considered this to have a high impact on the B40 group – a loss of their only means of transport would disrupt their daily activities as they have limited alternatives that are available and affordable.

“We also performed an analysis on the impact on an average B40 household if such thefts were to occur, ” he said.

Analytics by Deloitte showed that the estimated loss associated with motorcycle theft was RM50mil, with the estimated cost of a new motorcycle at RM3,000 and an old one at RM1,500.

“This is equivalent to one month’s salary of an average B40 households, ” it said.

Deloitte extracted crime data hosted on iSelamat.my, a community crime watch portal, with date for theft by each state adjusted by population density, and conducted site visits to two B40 communities.


July 25-July 31: Petrol prices down four sen, diesel down five sen


Feb 9-15: Petrol prices up four sen, diesel unchanged


Kia Carnival CKD: Going local and upmarket

The Kia Carnival is certainly going ‘places’ since it was introduced early this year by being ‘localised’ and venturing further upmarket with fewer seats to pander the more discerning prospective customers.By doing so, it has transformed from a 11-seat people mover to seven- and eight-seat variants that are more in tune with those looking for premium family MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles) as an alternative to a popular grey import market rival.As a local assembled line-up with five-year warranties and free scheduled maintenance, the Carnival CKD is believed to be the only one in its premium class that could lay claim to such benefits.While these new fewer seat variants might cost more, what with the lifting of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) since end June, the Carnival CKD models remain competitively priced from about RM232,500 for the eight-seater standard spec model to RM261,200 for the seven-seater high-spec variant (on-the-road without insurance).And as premium variants, they come with a better level of specification and fittings to justify the higher prices and status over the 11-seater offering.Some of this is focused on the driver and the 12.3-inch digital ‘Supervision cluster’ instrumental panel is a pleasant visual complement to the 12.3-inch ‘Capacitive Touch Screen’ on the centre dash.Other premium items are the 12-speaker Bose system that should find favour with those who like good music on the move and dual sunroof (front and mid-section) for the high-spec models.The fewer seat configuration also means there is a luggage area to accommodate holiday travel needs with more than 1,000 litres of space.If you fold away the 60:40 split third row seatrests and remove the second row seats, you would have up to 4,110 litres to accommodate sizeable purchases from Ikea!For the seven-seater Carnival that has two captain seats in the second row, you could go business-class with adjustable leg support and seatrests.The eight-seater Carnival has a more flexible interior; the second row seats could be removed quite easily and refitted to face passengers in the third row or the middle seatrest could be folded away to serve as a shared ‘table’.The higher-spec variants come with a full suite of ‘advanced safety technology’ that includes High Beam Assist, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control, among the many.The Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist actually pulls you back to your lane should the system detect a vehicle alongside you out of your vision so that you won’t collide with it.Likewise, the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist is another practical feature, especially when making turns at junctions; the system uses sensors and cameras to scan the road ahead and would apply the brakes if it detects an oncoming vehicle.As a locally assembled vehicle, some 40% of the vehicle content value is sourced from Malaysian vendors, and this includes the seats; this also complies with the requirement to ‘export’ the vehicle to Asean markets.It’s leather for the seven-seater and leatherette for the other models, including the 11-seater Carnival that is currently imported to meet the transport needs of the hospitality industry.The CKD models have ventilated and heated seats that are said to provide for a comfortable seating environment.Powerwise, the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is common across the variants and delivers a strong output of 199hp and 440Nm that comes on early in the rev range.Similarly, the variants also share a common transmission in the eight-speed automatic that conveys engine output to the front wheels.We continue to revel in the Carnival’s good standing sprint as well as moving acceleration despite the vehicle’s kerb weight of under 2,130kg for these premium models.We could carry a quick turn of speed on the highway with the engine turning at an easy pace without burning too much fuel; we still had more than half tank when we got to Penang and this included detours to secondary roads for a lunch stop in Tanjung Tualang.Wind and road noise was sufficiently lowered for us to appreciate the drive and ride while enjoying the music from the 12-speaker Bose system.We made use of the good interior space to lounge in comfort as we had three on board and the retractable screens on the rear sliding doors were useful in keeping the harsh sunlight out.The Carnival might be a sizeable MPV but it took readily to winding roads, especially the Teluk Bahang stretch in Penang, with minimal body lean and good speed.Being locally assembled, the premium Carnival variants run on 235/60 R18 Goodyear EfficientGrip tyres that provide the ride qualities for Malaysian road conditions.And there is enough camera guidance, which includes the Surround View Monitor, to manoeuvre in tight spots or park in narrow spaces.The winning factor is undeniably its standard five-year warranty and maintenance schedule; it definitely makes the premium Carnival range a good buy against the grey imports that do not come with such benefits.


Volvo is first in the UK to offer Prime Now Test Drives with Amazon

                LONDON: Motorists in the UK can now book test drives through Amazon for the first time, thanks to a collaboration between Prime Now, Amazon’s ultra-fast delivery service and Volvo Car UK.

The ‘Prime Now test drive’ initiative – which runs for a limited time – allows customers to book a time that works for them, with the car delivered to their home or workplace.

The offer applies to the Volvo V40 hatchback, and is available to customers living in four UK cities – London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh – on select weekends in June and July.

The whole sign-up process takes just a few minutes. Using their mobile device or desktop, Amazon customers simply enter their postcode on the dedicated ‘Amazon Prime Now Test Drive’ webpage at www.amazon.co.uk/volvo, select their location and choose an available time slot.

A fully trained operative will then bring the car straight to their door. Accompanied by the expert, who can explain all of the car’s functions, the customer can then put the V40 through its paces on roads familiar to them.

Should the customer be interested in a purchase following the test drive, they will be directed to their local Volvo retailer.


Nissan updates GT-R and introduces two special editions in Japan

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan today unveiled the new Japan-market GT-R, including two special editions, the GT-R Premium edition T-spec, and GT-R Nismo Special edition.

The 2024 models are planned to hit the market in the coming spring and will be joined by the Nismo versions, planned to go on sale in summer.

With “evolving toward ultimate driving pleasure” as its product concept, the Nissan GT-R continues to enhance its status as a premium sports car.

The new models represent the next level of balance between speed and ride quality.

"Fronted with a new grille design, cutting-edge technologies and craftsmanship, the new models are the pinnacle of the GT-R R35," said Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta.

 The two special editions.

The models feature improved aerodynamics and a refined ride quality. While maintaining horsepower, noise and vibration have been reduced and the sound carefully tuned to enhance onboard comfort.

Under the hood is the same old twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 engine making 562hp across the range except for the Nismo, which uprates the output to 591hp.

T-spec represents the GT-R’s philosophy of leading and shaping the times and is inspired by the words trend and traction.

The GT-R Premium edition T-spec is equipped with specially set suspension and carbon disc brakes to enhance a smooth ride and responsive handling.

The GT-R Nismo maximises the use of racing technologies.

By refining aerodynamic performance, suspension tuning, and adding a mechanical limited-slip differential to the front final drive, this is the highest-performance GT-R ever.

The exclusive Recaro carbon back bucket seats have been refreshed for enhanced drive quality, providing a unified feel with the car and increased comfort.

The GT-R Nismo Special edition uses high-precision weight-balanced engine parts, such as piston rings, connecting rods, crankshaft, and a clear-coated Nismo-exclusive carbon engine hood (with NACA ducts).


Honda, Volvo, Ford scoop awards at 2018 Detroit auto show

                DETROIT: The Detroit auto show handed out its self-proclaimed "Oscars of the auto industry" on Monday, rewarding Honda, Volvo and Ford amid a crowded slate of new truck, SUV and crossover unveilings.

The awards are adjudicated by a panel of 60 auto journalists. The winners are chosen from dozens of new vehicles, offering bragging rights and a chance to stand out in a highly-competitive North American market.

The 2018 Honda Accord was awarded best car of the year, helping the Japanese company best its top rival, the Toyota Camry -- also a finalist for the award in a shrinking segment of the US auto market.

Volvo's XC60 SUV was awarded best utility, a much-needed boost for the Chinese-owned Swedish car company as it aims to reassert itself into the American market.

Ford's massive Lincoln Navigator SUV won, incongruously, in the truck category -- helping the US automaker in its battle against rivals GM and Fiat Chrysler for truck and SUV sales.

Pickups, SUVs and crossovers have become the bread and butter of automakers in the US market, outselling sedans two to one and offering high profit margins.

Over the weekend, Ford unveiled its redesigned Ranger mid-size pickup being reintroduced in North America and a new sports version of its Edge SUV.

GM unveiled its redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, and Fiat Chrysler is scheduled to show off its latest Ram 1500 pickup later on Monday.

 Volvo XC60.

Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, drew on nostalgia, presenting a new generation of the G-Class, emphasizing that it had maintained the SUV's beloved boxy silhouette.

Luxury rival BMW will unveil its new X2 SUV on Monday.

The electric car maker Tesla did not submit its highly-anticipated mid-priced Model 3 sedan into the competition.


Ford partners with delivery company Gnewt in UK

                LONDON: The next time you order a sweater it could arrive at your doorstep with help from a new “warehouse on wheels” – currently being trialled in London – that has the potential to help cut traffic, reduce emissions, and improve delivery times.

From groceries to fashion, the growth in online shopping across Europe means the number of parcel deliveries is expected to double in the next ten years.

Most of these deliveries are fulfilled by vans, leading to escalating congestion in many cities with average journey times in London having risen by more than 40 per cent in just three years.

As a result, carriers are under increasing pressure to deliver more parcels, more quickly, with less cost, while continuing to ensure employee welfare and environmental responsibility.

Now, a new digital delivery service being trialled by Ford in partnership with Gnewt by Menzies Distribution will efficiently coordinate multiple modes of transport including pedestrian and – one day – bicycle couriers.

Gnewt operates the largest fully electric delivery fleet in the UK with more than 70 electric vans and has pioneered sustainable last mile delivery services, working with leading retailers, e-commerce companies and logistics firms to deliver three million parcels a year to consumers and businesses in London.

During the trial, Gnewt’s “last mile” delivery service will be driven by Ford’s intelligent cloud based, multi-modal routing and logistics software MoDe:Link, that manages all aspects of parcel delivery from depot to doorstep.

This could help couriers, fleet managers, logistics and food delivery companies optimise processes and increase van utilisation, saving time and money while boosting capacity.

The service could also improve customer experience by offering improved delivery windows and reducing costs, speeding time from order to delivery by enabling vans to make more frequent round trips back to the depot.

In addition, it could contribute to healthier streets and reduced traffic in major cities, cutting congestion around valuable kerb space where vans typically load and unload.

“Our goal is to keep larger vehicles like delivery vans operating in the high load, less congested environments in which they perform best,” said Tom Thompson, project lead, Ford Mobility. “However, for the last mile of a journey into an urban area, where congestion and lack of parking can be a challenge, it makes sense to offload deliveries to more nimble, efficient and cost effective modes of transport.”


First drive: Nissan Navara Pro-4X

                This new year seems to be like a season of new pick-up trucks, with various manufacturers vying to tempt the public with their offerings.

In this matter, I was happy to be given the opportunity to have a quick 24-hour drive of the Navara Pro-4X, Nissan’s completely built-up (CBU) pick-up truck that is made in Thailand which you can already book now, and find out about the price tomorrow when it is launched.

Not having driven pick-up trucks for the past few years, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the car-like feel, proof of the refinements made over the year by manufacturers as they recognise that a pick-up truck need not always be used by contractors or as an off-roader, given that there are enough drivers out there who are just content to use them as a lifestyle vehicle.

When the Navara was first introduced locally in 2008, it boasted the mightiest 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine in a pick-up truck, leading it to be dubbed “Mother Trucker.”

Being constantly updated over the period, the latest refreshed Navara Pro-4X variant is a handsome machine.

No matter the paint scheme it comes with, its matt black sidesteps match well.

In the cabin, the controls are rather intuitive, so I managed to operate most things without the need to refer to the owner’s manual.

I liked the simple control layout and design, as it made the transition from normal cars very easy, without the need to guess the functions of complicated controls found in some high-end vehicles.

The eight-inch LCD display seems adequate, providing easy viewing of the 360-degree driving camera interface and other useful information, yet not overloading the driver with too much information.

On the move, handling from the chassis is responsive, with the seven-speed gearbox working in perfect harmony with the 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine delivering 190PS and 450Nm of torque.
Steering is adequately weighted, which made urban driving a cinch.

Cabin comfort is also contributed by the rear multi-link suspension using coil springs, rather than leaf springs in other competitors.

The Navara Pro-4X easily picks up speed, and in no time, I found the speedometer going past 130kph at one point, without even trying.

In all, the Navara Pro-4X remains silky smooth at most speeds normally encountered in day-to-day driving.

The stock 17-inch Yokohama Geolander tyres are fit for the job, producing no detectable noise, which either way, is kept out by the decent cabin insulation coupled with sound insulating glass all round.

Other plus points include rear air-conditioner blowers with separate controls for the benefit for passengers seated in the rear, and there are four USB charging points to keep up with current expectations.

The built-in latching hooks in the cargo area are a much welcomed addition as they made the job of securing stuff much easier.

The only annoying thing I found is the lane departure warning feature, which comes one whenever the pick-up truck detects you driving across road markings without first activating your turn indicators.

There seems to be no way to deactivate this feature (other than diligently using your turn indicators, even when the occasion does not warrant it).

The Navara Pro-4X is a nice addition to the local pick-up truck scene, integrating state-of-the-art features into what used to be mere workhorses years ago.

With that, the only surprise left is the price.

READ MORE: Media preview of refreshed Nissan Navara


Malaysia to start B20 biodiesel mandate by year-end

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to implement its nationwide adoption of the B20 palm oil biofuel programme by the end of 2022, the country's palm oil board said today.

The mandate to make biofuel with a 20% palm oil component - known as B20 - for the transport sector was first rolled out in January 2020 but faced delays due to movement curbs imposed to contain coronavirus outbreaks.

"We will do it stage by stage based on the government's financial capabilities," Ravi Muthayah, the commodities ministry's secretary-general said during a seminar.


Final Porsche 911 of a generation to be sold for Covid-19 relief

                NEW YORK: Coronavirus is doing strange things in the car world.

Ford, General Motors, McLaren, and Tesla have turned their factories into outposts for medical equipment manufacturing; Bentley is holding cocktail hours for journalists, via Zoom; and Audi, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz have released printable sketches of iconic models so enthusiasts can coloUr them at home.

Now Porsche is auctioning off what could be one of the last non-turbocharged 911s ever made.

The automaker will sell its final seventh-generation 911, a Speedster, in an online auction with RM Sotheby’s on April 15.

It was the last 911 to roll off the production line as part of the wildly successful generation known internally as “991,” which Porsche started in 2011 and ended on Dec 20, 2019.

The car is offered at no reserve. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the United Way Worldwide fund for Covid-19 pandemic relief.

“This car is a significant part of our history,” said Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.

He was calling from his home in Atlanta, where he has worked since Porsche offices there closed two and a half weeks ago.

“With the last of anything like this, you want to make sure it’s in a customer’s hands who appreciates its uniqueness, so it’s a chance to sell part of our history for a good cause.”

A previous Porsche, the special 911 Turbo known as “Project Gold," took US$3.4 million in a charity auction sale in 2018.

But Zellmer was careful to temper pricing expectations for this auction set under wildly different circumstances.

“My hopes are high, but let’s stay realistic,” Zellmer said.

“When we sold that Project Gold car it was a completely different time, and that car was a completely different project. I certainly hope we get a really good price on the (Speedster). Let’s see what people do.”

The 911 Speedster for sale is a two-door car with a removable fabric roof. It is considered highly collectible because it is the last of the 991 range and the possible swan song of Porsche 911s that use naturally aspirated, rather than turbocharged, engines. (Porsche has not officially announced the end of its naturally aspirated range.) The Speedsters are a limited-edition model that debuted in the 1950s with such variants as the 356 Carrera GT Speedster.

They were produced sporadically through the following decades with examples such as the so-called 911 “G-Body” Speedster of 1988 and 2010’s 997 Speedster, which was limited to just 356 units worldwide.

The current version debuted as a concept study in 2018 at a crowded gala at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. Porsche brass and renowned driving champions attended the event, which culminated with the unveiling of a 70th-anniversary edition Speedster painted in white and silver racing livery. Porsche made just 1,948 of them, which had a starting price of US$274,500.

Porsche devotees drool over Speedsters for their naturally aspirated engines (no turbo lag here!) and associated stick-shift transmissions; such old-fashioned accoutrements are thought to offer the purest form of driving attainable in a modern car.

Indeed, whoever wins the GT Silver Metallic Speedster that’s up for auction will find it plucky and engaging to drive, as aggressive as a GT3 and unmistakable with its rounded humps on the rear of the car, minimalist interior, and very low roadster-body style.

With a zero to 100kph surge of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 308kph, the 502-horsepower Speedster feels like a cannonball from behind the wheel: It’s tightly constructed and nimble, with a quick-shifting, six-speed gearbox and a throaty engine roar.

The winning bid will also secure a “911 Speedster Heritage Design Chronograph” wristwatch made by Porsche Design; a letter authenticating that the chassis number applied to this car is indeed the last of the 991 cars produced; and a private tour of the Porsche development centre and test track in Weissach, Germany.

“The engineers in Weissach are very shy when it comes to letting anybody into that cradle of the brand,” Zellmer said. “But in this special time, they were all for it. So it’s a package that usually money can’t buy, but in this time actually there is a price to it.”

Zellmer declined to comment on whether Porsche would someday make more analogue-style Speedsters. Current market indicators and the prevalence of turbo engines and paddle-shifting transmissions across the rest of Porsche’s lineup imply that chances are slim.

The auction will open for bidding at 11am East Coast time on Wednesday, April 15. Bidding will close a week later, at 1pm East Coast time on Wednesday, April 22.


Take 5: Proton tips on simple car maintenance

                SHAH ALAM: Many car owners have probably been neglecting their vehicles during the movement control order (MCO).

National automaker Proton has provided some simple car maintenance tips. All you need is the owner’s manual and a torchlight.

1. Fluids

There are five types of fluids that you need to pay attention to - engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid and windshield washer.

The most critical is the engine oil. To check if there is sufficient engine oil, most cars have a dipstick in the engine bay which is usually yellow in colour and the handle looks like a ring.

Ensure the engine is turned off, pull the dipstick out, wipe off any oil with a clean cloth, and repeat this one more time for an accurate reading.

The coolant prevents the engine from overheating by channelling heat from the engine to the radiator.

Coolant is usually stored in a white see-through plastic container towards the front of the engine bay to make it easier to visually check how much coolant is in there.

Another essential fluid is the brake fluid. Checking the level of brake fluid is simple. Look for a white canister towards the back of the engine bay, closer to the cabin.

Usually the cover is identified by a circle in a parenthesis. If the canister is see-through, it’s easier to visually inspect it, otherwise, you could just remove the cap to see how much fluid is inside.

Ensure that the engine is turned off and that the vehicle has had time to cool down before removing the cap.

Let’s not forget about the hydraulic-assisted steering system. To check the power steering fluid, look for the reservoir in the engine bay. The cap should be labelled with the words “Power Steering”.

Otherwise, look for steering wheel icon. Some cars have a semi-transparent reservoirs for you to easily check on the amount of steering fluid, whilst others have a dip stick installed inside the cap.

Last but not least, there’s the windshield washer fluid. Make sure it’s topped up so your windscreen remains clean to give you a clear view of the road ahead.

If you notice insufficient fluids, top them up but if you don’t know how to do so, send it to a service centre once the MCO has been lifted.

2. Battery

Other than starting our car regularly to ensure the alternator recharges the battery, we should always ensure that battery clamps are tight, clean and free from corrosion.

Physical examination of the car battery is essential to identify any cracks. Firstly, you can check if there is any bulge on the surface of the battery. Next, check the battery clamps for any signs of corrosion.

Keep track of when you changed the battery by writing it down in your owner’s manual.

Alternatively, if you have a voltmeter at home, it is advisable to check the battery voltage occasionally.

Anything below 14v when the engine has started means you have a weak battery.

It’s also a good idea to get your alternator checked at a later date if you’re getting a reading lower than that.

3. Lights

Ensure the headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signal lights are all working before you head out from home.

A trick to checking the rear lights is to park close to a wall and using the rear-view mirrors to see if they work properly.

If any of your lights are dim, it could be an indication of a bulb reaching its end, so it’s best to get that bulb replaced at the nearest service centre when the MCO is lifted.

4. Tyres

Look for cuts, tears or bulges on the tyres. Also, look for tyres that are flatter than the others.

If this happens, you should inflate the tyres. But do so only if you absolutely have to head out for essential goods.

The next thing to look out for is your tyre pressure. Ideally, you can check the tyre pressure with a pressure gauge.

The correct tyre pressure setting can be found in your car manual or at the driver’s door frame.

The recommended tyre pressure is different for each car – there’s no one-size-fits-all figure.

Using an underinflated or overinflated tyre is dangerous as it will cause uneven wear and result in you changing your tyres sooner.

Another important thing to be aware of are your tyre’s treads. Every tyre is equipped with treadwear indicators between the centre grooves.

Designed to help you monitor tread depth, these indicators are spaced evenly and positioned parallel to the grooves.

If the tread is flushed with the indicators, it’s time to replace the tyre.

5. Wiper blades

As we use them, the wiper blades will gradually become hard and brittle, causing streaks that reduces visibility on your windshield when in use.

To check if your wiper blades are functioning perfectly, you can switch on the wiper washer function, as soon as you notice the wipers are not providing a clear sweep, but leaving streaks or emitting squeaking noises, it means you need to have your wiper blades replaced after the MCO is over.

Other than lifting up the windshield wipers when parked under a hot sun, you can also gently wipe the blade with a damp paper towel to remove any loose dirt or oil to extend the life of the wiper blades.

For more useful tips, visit Proton at https://www.proton.com/en/corporate/staysafe-staystrong-malaysia


Man responsible for Mazda3 made design chief for Mazda North America

                LOS ANGELES:  Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has announced the appointment of Yasutake Tsuchida as its design chief.

The appointment of Tsuchida as senior director of design takes effect immediately.

In this role, Tsuchida will oversee design operations, including next-generation vehicle planning and brand strategy development.

Tsuchida joins the MNAO team with more than 22 years of experience at Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. He most recently served as the chief designer of the latest generation Mazda3, which launched in November 2018 and went on to win the 2020 World Car Design of the Year award.

Tsuchida was also the chief designer of the Kai Concept, and in the late 2000’s Tsuchida worked in the design studio at MNAO, where he led design on the Furai concept car. Tsuchida began his career at Mazda specializing on exterior design and in the late 1990’s and in the early 2000’s was lead designer for Mazda3, CX-7 and the Ryuga concept car.

Tsuchida aspires to evoke strong human emotion in his designs.

His favourite Mazda is the RX-7 and he is an avid surfer.

MNAO is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.


Hyundai expands sales and service network in Malaysia

                SHAH ALAM: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) is expanding its sales and service network in Peninsular Malaysia by adding another 5 sales and service outlets at various locations namely Seri Kembangan, Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Muar and Menglembu.

“We are opening up more sales and service centres particularly in the suburbs to make it more accessible for Hyundai owners living outside the city areas, and also for those who are passing by when travelling from one district to another. We have covered most of the city and town areas in all states, so naturally, our next move is to expand to the suburbs to offer convenience to Hyundai owners living in those areas,” said Dennis Ho, managing director of Sime Darby Motors (Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan).

In the central region of the Peninsular, a spanking new sales showroom has opened up at Taman Equine in Seri Kembangan.

The showroom is operated by Millennium Automart Sdn Bhd, which has vast experience in managing premium auto brands.

Up north in Kedah, GS Smart Auto Gallery has opened its sales outlet and a service centre at Kompleks Perniagaan Bawal in Alor Setar.

In Sungai Petani, Lee Cheng Motor Services Sdn Bhd has opened a service centre in Kawasan Miel Phase II, offering maintenance services for all Hyundai models, while in Muar, Ang Trading & Motor Credit Sdn Bhd has opened a service centre along Jalan Sulaiman.

Both the Muar and Alor Setar service centres are authorised IONIQ Hybrid service centre.

In Menglembu, Perak, Vong Auto Service Centre will be opening its service centre on the 1st of November at Kawasan Perusahaan Menglembu.

With these new sales and service centres, Hyundai has a total of 69 outlets (including all 3S centres, sales outlet and service centres) nationwide.

For more information, call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.


UMW Toyota Motor steps up aid to flood victims

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor is stepping up its flood relief initiatives through dispatching staff volunteers, enabling its Shah Alam facility into a flood ‘Command Centre’ and donating basic household necessities to victims.

On Christmas eve, the company staff had started visiting affected areas and volunteering to help with the cleaning process of homes that have been flooded.

This initiative was also supported by the Raja Muda of Selangor Foundation in providing guidance and support on the mechanics to ensure smooth process in handling this situation.

The company said it was heartwarming to see Malaysians united to overcome the effects of the flood.

One of the flood victim in Padang Jawa, Rosli bin Hassan, 62, echoed this sentiment by saying he was extremely grateful for this timely assistance in easing the victims' burden as well as helping them to regain a sense of normalcy.

The company said that its volunteers will continue this assistance for as long as it is needed, where and when possible.

To ramp up its aid relief efforts for the future, the company has also decided to enable its Toyota headquarters in Shah Alam to be converted into a flood ‘Command Centre’ which will function as a soup kitchen and relief distribution centre for victims in the event of a similar phenomenon in the future.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the company stands in solidarity with the community.

“Malaysians have been going through an extremely challenging period due to the flood and we want to do what we can to provide some relief.

“We express our sincerest sympathies to all the victims and families affected and we hope that our initiatives will be of some help,” said

“We were also inspired and moved by the compassion of the many Malaysians who have volunteered to help out their fellow countrymen, including our group of staff volunteers.

“We realised that response and relief efforts were slow to take place. Hence, we decided that even for future, we will immediately convert our Shah Alam facility into a flood ‘Command Centre’ to provide kind-hearted Malaysians a safe place to deliver and sort out the relief items before distributing to the surrounding temporary evacuation centres,” he said.

Giving an added peace of mind to flood victims, vehicle owners are welcomed to park their vehicles in the premise regardless of makes and models.

Parking is available for the first 100 vehicles and a signed indemnity is required.

Post-clean up, UMW Toyota Motor had also distributed basic household necessities including stoves, fans and kettles to affected households in hopes to alleviate some of their burden.

“We would like to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt gratitude towards our suppliers namely Toyota Suppliers Club Malaysia, Denso Malaysia, Toyota Tsusho and Sime Kansai for stepping up and also providing financial support to our efforts.

“This contribution were used to buy household appliances and other necessities to be given as aid to the flood victims,” Ravindran added.

In addition to giving aid to the local communities, UMW Toyota Motor is also providing assistance to its own workforce affected by the flood. These include repairs for personal vehicles registered under staff names, financial aid as well as distribution of basic household necessities.


Cops in Penang use videos to nab and charge mat rempit

                BUTTERWORTH: The police in Penang are taking a different approach to combat the menace of illegal street racing in the state. A police source said instead of carrying out standard patrols and putting up roadblocks, an “investigation diary” or ID would be adopted to deal with illegal street racers.

“With the ID, police will zoom in on illegal races and detain the suspects once the race is over,” the source briefly said.

He said there was a fair amount of danger to both the racers and policemen in the process of nabbing the racers while travelling at breakneck speeds.

Instead, special cameras will record them in the act and after they are caught, the photos and video footage will be used as evidence against them in court.

The source added that since the last illegal race in Penang on July 17 along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near Penang Bridge, police have not detected any more illegal races.

“Either the racers are scared or they have found far-off places in order to evade us,” the source added.

During the illegal race on July 17, four motorcyclists were killed – three on the spot – and three others were injured. The fourth man died at Penang Hospital.

Yesterday morning, some 75 motorcyclists were issued with summonses during an operation dubbed Ops Lejang on Penang Bridge’s motorcycle lane at the mainland toll plaza.

State Road Transport Department operations chief Romli Che Abdullah said the operation was conducted by state JPJ and other enforcement agencies.

“The summonses issued were for various offences, including riding without a valid licence, no insurance coverage and illegal modifications,” he said.

The two-and-a-half-hour joint operation began at 10am and involved the police, National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), Immigration Department, and PLUS Bhd personnel.

During the operation, some 150 motorcycles were screened and 12 were seized for not having valid road tax and insurance, said Romli.

“Two of the motorcycles seized belonged to two foreigners who do not have a valid licence,” he said.


UN wields influence to make automatic emergency braking systems standard in new cars

                GENEVA: Dozens of countries have come out in favour of fresh international regulation requiring all new cars and lighter motor vehicles to be equipped with automatic emergency braking systems, the UN said Tuesday.

The UN Economic Commission for Europe said around 40 countries had so far agreed to a draft UN regulation for Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) in cars.

"This will significantly improve road safety, especially in cities, where in the European Union alone, over 9,500 fatalities were recorded in 2016, accounting for 38 percent of all road deaths," UNECE said in a statement.

Using sensors, such systems monitor the proximity of a vehicle or pedestrian in front of the AEBS-equipped car.

In situations where the sensors indicate a collision is imminent, and the driver does not react to the system's warning alert, emergency braking is automatically applied to avoid a crash.

Such systems have been in use for a number of years in trucks and buses.

The new UN regulation would impose strict and internationally harmonised requirements for the use of AEBS at low speeds (up to 60 kilometres per hour), even in unpredictable traffic situations in urban areas.

The regulation would apply to all new cars, but also to vans and minibuses carrying fewer than nine passengers.

"With this regulation in force, most of existing systems will have to be updated to meet stricter requirements," UNECE said.

"AEBS are already available for some cars in some countries, but there were no standard technical requirements guaranteeing the effective performance of such systems so far," it added.

The draft regulation has been approved by a working group under UNECE's World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations, and will be submitted to the World Forum for formal adoption next June, it said.

Once adopted, the regulation should enter into force in early 2020.

The EU and Japan, who have led the development of the regulation, have said that once the rule is in place, AEBS systems would become mandatory for all new cars and light commercial vehicles.

This will impact new cars sold in the some 50 countries that have approved the draft regulation, including South Korea, Australia and Russia, although not China and the United States,

Based on 2017 sales figures, once the new regulation takes effect, it would mean that more than 15 million new cars in the EU and over four million in Japan would be equipped with AEBS technology each year.


Fresh attempt to revive Spyker sports car company

                AMSTERDAM: Fresh plans are under way to revive the former Dutch sports car company Spyker, which once revealed a brace of Ferrari-rivalling supercars and dabbled briefly in Formula One racing.

After bankruptcy and a failed comeback since the firm was first set up in 1999, new and old investors, including Russian oligarch and SMP Racing owner Boris Rotenberg, have come up with a fresh plan, Germany's auto motor und sport car magazine has reported.

Three models are in the pipeline, the C8 Preliator supercar, Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SUV and Spyker B6 Venator supercar.

The same trio were poised for the revival a year ago but those plans went awry.

Development work for the new cars will be carried out in Germany, said the report, with the cars based around a Russian-made carbon-fibre chassis.

Assembly will take place at the former Spyker factory in the Netherlands, the report said.

Spyker has had a bumpy ride since being set up in the wake of the historic car and aircraft brand brand which lasted until 1926.

Spyker bought Saab from General Motors in 2010 but rapidly ran out of money and was unable to fund the losses.

Saab was later sold to a Chinese-Swedish investment group.

The Spyker F1 team was set up in 2006 but it only managed to race for a single season before it was sold and renamed Force India.

The company's motto is "Nulla tenaci invia est via" which is Latin for "For the tenacious, no road is impassable."


Pronounce Porsche right

                STUTTGART: Porsche is annoyed enough at how people around the world mispronounced its name that it has created a short video clip to tell the clueless how to say it right.

It posted the clip up on its YouTube channel a few days ago, so there’s now no excuse to get it wrong.

So, unless you want to be labelled an ignoramus, it’s not Posh, Por-shay or Por-shee.

Hey, maybe Peugeot should come up with a clip as well to set the record straight on its brand name.


David Brown Automotive offers glimpse of Mini Remastered

                LONDON: David Brown Automotive has given an enticing glimpse of the upcoming, limited run version of Mini Remastered, produced in collaboration with another iconic British brand, Marshall Amplification.

The special variant of David Brown Automotive’s popular reimagined classic Mini has been conceived to mark a momentous moment in Marshall’s storied history – their 60th anniversary.

In addition to the complete restoration and enhancement applied to all Mini Remastered models, Mini Remastered Marshall Edition will sport a number of new Marshall audio features, developed in collaboration between the vehicle engineers and artisan technicians at David Brown Automotive, and the expert engineering team at Marshall Amplification.

With its upgraded speaker system and array of other Marshall Amplification audio enhancements, Mini Remastered Marshall Edition will pack a serious, decidedly modern, sonic punch.

For each Mini Remastered Marshall, Edition sold, David Brown Automotive and Marshall Amplification will make a charitable donation to the Music Trust Venue, which is working to help get the UK’s independent music scene back on its feet after the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic.


Car ends up house's backyard after driver loses control

                KOTA TINGGI: A car lost control and plunged into the compound of a house at a Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlement here.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Hussin Zamora said the incident took place along Jalan Aman in Felda Lok Heng Selatan at around 7.30pm Wednesday while the 22-year-old driver was on his way home.

"He lost control of his Nissan Sentra and hit the roof of another house before landing on its side in the compound.

"The driver sustained minor injuries to the forehead.

"The accident was due to the driver’s carelessness, which led to his failure to control the vehicle properly," he said in a statement today.

Supt Hussin added that the weather was fine and the road was not busy when the accident occurred.

The case is being investigated under Rule 10 the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (LN 166/59) for failure to exercise due control over the movements of the vehicle, he also said.

He reminded road users to be mindful when driving and always obey the road traffic rules.


Auto division drive Sime Darby’s RM44bil record revenue

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd’s automotive division’s performance in most markets underpinned its stellar performance as it posted a new high in revenue of RM44.48bil in the financial year ended June 30, 2021.

In a statement today, it reported a 73.8% jump in net profit to RM1.42bil from RM820mil a year ago due to higher profits achieved on the back of the 20% increase in revenue from RM36.93bil in FY20.

“These robust results were mainly due to the motors division’s exceptional performance in most markets, particularly in China,” it said.

Net profit for the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2021 (4Q FY21) rose by 19% to RM211mil from a year ago, on the back of an almost 29% increase in revenue to RM11.34bil. Earnings per share were 3.1 sen compared with 2.6 sen a year ago.

Sime Darby declared a second interim dividend of eight sen per share and special dividend of one sen per share for 4Q21. This brings the total dividend payout for FY2021 to 15 sen a share, representing a payout of RM1.02 billion or more than 70% of net profit.

The dividends are proposed to be payable on Sept 30, 2021.

Sime Darby group CEO Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson said: “We are very pleased with these results. Our profits have grown from RM618mil in FY2018, the first year after the de-merger, to just over RM1.4bil this year.

“We have essentially doubled our earnings over the past four years. This is the result of the successful execution of our five-year value creation plan developed just after the de-merger.

“It is also a testament to our very capable management team and our geographical footprint. Of course, the relatively strong demand for our products and services, despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic these two years have contributed to this performance.”

“I am proud to say that Sime Darby is a true Malaysian multinational, with a footprint across the Asia Pacific region. Today, our operations outside Malaysia account for more than 85% of our core profits,” he added.

Commenting on the automotive division, he said it did well as demand for BMWs and its super-luxury marques have been strong, especially in China.

“With the travel restrictions, many of our customers are unable to travel and are spending their excess cash on luxury items domestically,” Jeffri said.

Sime Darby said the group continues to execute its growth plan, which contributed RM2.7bil to FY2021 revenue.

During the year, more BMW and Volvo showrooms were set up in China, while Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care acquired Manipal Hospitals, Klang, increasing its regional network of hospitals to seven.

Sime Darby also continued to divest its non-core assets, which have generated RM700mil in proceeds to date. In FY21, the group benefited from a RM272mil gain from the sale of its stake in Tesco Malaysia.

Sime Darby also divested its interest in Eastern & Oriental Bhd and finalised a staggered exit for its three Jining River ports.

“We expect that FY2022 will be a challenging year. The impact of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and trade tensions is not really something we can estimate. However, our strong financial position and diversified operations should help us get through these challenges and place us in a good position for growth, once prospects and business sentiment improve,” Jeffri said.