Auto industry shows off car cockpit of future

                FRANKFURT: Imagine climbing into your car seat exhausted but knowing you have to keep awake for the long drive home.

That may not be a problem if the car is fitted with a seat which can detect and react to the physical and mental state of the driver.

If a driver is stressed, the seat can give them a soothing massage. If they are tired, it can stimulate them to wake them up.

The futuristic seat designed by French parts supplier Faurecia is among car cockpit innovations that are being unveiled at the IAA car show, with the promise to transform vehicles into a cross between a mobile sitting room, connected office and a space for relaxing in.

With their futuristic designs, state-of-the-art materials and intelligent dashboards, a number of new concept cars are the stars of this year’s IAA, which opened to the world press on Tuesday and is scheduled to welcome the general public from Saturday.

Completely driverless cars may still be some way off, but “autonomous driving is arriving at full speed,” said Han Hendriks, vice-president of sales and product development at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

The China-based parts supplier, present for the first time this year at the IAA, showed off its avant-garde car interior crammed with innovations, such as retractable steering wheel, a revolving driver seat, on-board refrigerator and an Internet screen for passengers.

“In future, people are going to be less involved in the driving of their cars. So they’ll need to be occupied with other things. People’s behaviour and well-being in their cars will change. That has never been much of a priority for the industry so far. But it will become a predominant issue,” said Christophe Aufrere, technical director at French parts supplier Faurecia.

“The interior furnishings will become increasingly important, as well as the functions for interacting with the vehicle,” said Hendriks at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

In the future, “a car’s interior will increasingly integrate elements for entertainment, such as larger screens for games, videos, social media,” but also access to emails and even holding video conferences with colleagues, he said.

In particular, huge advances made in windscreen technology would open up new opportunities, whether in augmented reality while driving, or communication and entertainment solutions, industry experts say.

Within a few years, drivers may no longer need to turn their heads to consult GPS navigation screens. Instead, a holographic image could appear on the windscreen showing the correct route.

While such technology is still not widely available, its use could quickly become more widespread as younger generations who have never known a world without smartphones learn to drive.

“The digital generations that are used to seeing the world via different screens will expect the same intuitive interconnectivity as with their smartphones,” the specialist automobile magazine Carglass wrote in a recent edition.

In the future, the car will be able to “completely change its ambiance, its temperature, humidity, lighting, and music. It will be able to positively influence the occupants’ mood. We’re seeing a lot of potential in this direction,” said Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche.

French carmaker Peugeot is scheduled to lift the veil on its concept car, Fractal, an electric car that uses cutting-edge audio technology to eliminate road and wind noise from the outside and transform the acoustics of the sound system on the inside into those of a concert hall.

“There is undoubtedly a lot of fantasising and dreaming going on, but it’s clear that the car’s interior is being redefined,” said an auto sector consultant, Laurent Meillaud.

“It’s still difficult to predict with any certainty which innovations will catch on, but you can certainly say that there are no longer any taboos,” he said.


Volvo Cars to build US plant to spearhead sales recovery

                PARIS: Volvo Cars will invest US$500 million in its first US assembly plant under plans announced on Monday, plugging a longstanding gap in the Swedish carmaker's manufacturing base as it pursues a global comeback under Chinese ownership.

Volvo is in advanced talks with several US states and will announce a location within weeks, chief executive Hakan Samuelsson said in embargoed comments made before the announcement. Production will begin in 2018.

Following its sale to Zhejiang Geely by Ford in 2010, Volvo has stepped up investment in new models and production, adding a pair of Chinese factories to its two older European plants.

 Samuelsson

North American manufacturing is "the last piece in establishing our global footprint", said Samuelsson.

The plant will serve export markets as well as the United States, where Volvo is aiming for a return to annual sales of 100,000 vehicles. Reuters reported in January that a factory investment was being considered.

While the carmaker's global deliveries rose 9 percent last year to almost 466,000, largely thanks to China, US sales fell another 8 percent to 56,000 vehicles.

The choice of the United States over Mexico - where rivals such as BMW have announced a series of plant investments - underlines Volvo's determination to "rebuild the brand" among American consumers, the CEO said. "We want to give a clear signal that the US is a home market for us."

He declined to identify the shortlisted sites but said the decision would reflect the availability and cost of skilled workers and logistics including the export of finished cars.

Samuelsson said he was neutral on whether US staff are represented by the United Auto Workers union - a politically divisive issue that has dogged plant decisions by Volkswagen and others.

"It's up to the people who work for us to choose how they want to be organized," he said. "We have no opinion on that."

Volvo said production capacity would be close to the 120,000 vehicles at its larger Chinese plant, with model plans still under wraps. The arrival of the new XC90 flagship SUV as an import is counted on to halt the US sales slide this year.

Volvo may find the going tougher than in its US heyday, which saw 2004 deliveries approach 140,000. Since then, BMW and its German rivals, VW's Audi and Daimler's  Mercedes-Benz, have grabbed a bigger share of the luxury market.

Toyota's Lexus brand is also gaining ground, and a product offensive by Ford's Lincoln and General Motors'  Cadillac offers more non-German options to US premium buyers.

Volvo's plant investment nonetheless demonstrates confidence that it can claw its way back under newly appointed Americas chief Lex Kerssemakers.

"We're going after a market share of 1 percent with a clear identity that we know is very attractive to some customer groups," Samuelsson said. "It is a tough market - but I wouldn't say it's tougher than Europe or China."


EU raids Daimler and VW in widening cartel inquiry

                HAMBURG/BERLIN: European Union and German antitrust officials searched the offices of Daimler and Volkswagen on Monday, widening an inquiry into alleged collusion.

The EU competition watchdog said in July that it was investigating several German carmakers on suspicion they had conspired to fix prices in diesel and other technologies over several decades.

Daimler unexpectedly revealed on Friday that it had claimed whistleblower status to avoid any fines, while Munich-based rival BMW said EU officials searched its offices.

By Monday, investigators were searching offices at Daimler and examining documents at Volkswagen’s (VW) headquarters in Wolfsburg and at its Audi luxury brand in the southern German city of Ingolstadt, spokesmen at Daimler and VW said.

German magazine Der Spiegel reported in July that Volkswagen, its units Porsche and Audi, Daimler’s Mercedes and BMW may have used industry committee meetings to fix the size of tanks for AdBlue, a liquid used to treat nitrogen oxide in diesel emissions.

The EU Commission has declined to provide details on its investigation, saying only it had “concerns that several German car manufacturers may have violated EU antitrust rules prohibiting cartels and restrictive business practices.”

It said the searches were an early step in its investigation and did not mean that any of the companies it had inspected had been found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour.

Media reports had said that Volkswagen had also raised the issue of collusion with cartel authorities, although this has not been confirmed by the carmaker.

Strategic cooperation among German carmakers is not unusual, but companies found guilty of breaching EU cartel rules face fines of as much as 10 percent of their global turnover.

Recent examples of cooperation include BMW, Mercedes and Audi buying digital mapping company HERE, a former subsidiary of Nokia, and last year entering a joint venture to invest in thousands of charging sites across Europe to boost public acceptance of electric cars.

The industry has been hit with billion-euro fines on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years for cartels related to parts including lighting systems, engine coolers and bearings.


Singapore aims to cut VEP processing time to three weeks

                SINGAPORE: The Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) today said it has further ramped up resources to handle the surge in Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) applications since the re-opening of the land borders on April 1.

"With the additional resourcing, VEP processing time is expected to be progressively reduced from seven weeks to three weeks,” it said on its website.

"To date, we have received around 120,000 VEP applications,” it said.

According to LTA, applicants will be notified of the expected processing time at the point of application.

Since applications opened on March 31, 2022, about 50,000 applicants or about 40 per cent of total applications have received the outcomes of their applications ahead of the stated processing time at the point of application.

LTA assured the remaining applicants that they can expect to have their applications processed within three weeks.

LTA advised the travellers to plan ahead while "strongly encouraging” leisure travellers to defer their plans to allow those with essential travel needs to make their trips first.

On April 8, LTA said it had received 76,000 VEP applications.

"This is more than six times the weekly average before the land borders were closed,” it said.

Application of the VEP must be done online beforehand via VEP Digital Services on LTA's OneMotoring website and not at Singapore’s land checkpoints.

When applying for the VEP, applicants should also ensure they have clear copies of all required documents such as identity card or passport; immigration pass card; vehicle registration certificate; vehicle certificate of insurance; and vehicle road tax disc.

Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles must have LTA’s VEP approval email and valid autopass card before they travel to Singapore.

Those without autopass cards must refer to LTA’s VEP approval email for instructions to collect their autopass cards at LTA’s Johor Baru Service Centre located at 34, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Susur 1, 80000, Johor Baru, Johor, before entering Singapore.


Selected Subaru service centres in Malaysia re-opens

                KUALA LUMPUR: TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, has partially resumed operations at some of its service centres during the extended Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

The selected TC Subaru service centres are:

Motor Image Petaling Jaya
10, Jalan 51A / 223, 46100
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 016-566 6270
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday
(9am - 3pm)

Motor Image Cheras
Lot 19-3, Jalan CJ 1/1, Bersatu Industrial
Park, Cheras Jaya Balakong, 43200 Cheras,
Selangor.
Tel: 011-2689 5133
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday
(9am - 3pm)

Motor Image Bukit Mertajam
7, 9, 11, Medan Limau Emas, Pusat
Perniagaan Limau Emas, 14000 Bukit
Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 010-383 0086
Operating Hours: Monday and Thursday
(8.30am – 1.30pm)

Motor Image Georgetown
191-A, Jalan Sungai Pinang, 10150
Georgetown, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 010-383 0086
Operating Hours: Monday and Thursday
(8.30am – 1.30pm)

Several authorised Subaru dealers have also received approvals to partially resume service centre operations. They are:

Subaru Setapak (Karrus Automotive)
Lot 5, Jalan Perusahaan Kiri, Kawasan
Perusahaan Ringan, 53200 Setapak Kuala
Lumpur
Tel: 010-662 2098
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday
(10am - 3pm)

Subaru Putrajaya (SS Auto Venture)
17 Jalan Perindustrian Suntrack, Off Jalan
P1/A, Seksyen 13, 43650 Bangi, Selangor.
Tel: 018-266 3511 / 016-298 2576
Operating Hours: Mon, Wed and Fri
(9am - 4pm)

Subaru Old Klang Road (AAW Nexus)
Lot 393, Batu Tiga, Jalan Klang Lama 58200
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-7972 3377
WhatsApp: 012-223 6738
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday
(9am - 6pm)

Subaru Sungai Besi (AAW Nexus)
Lot 161, Jalan 6, off Jalan Chan Sow Lin,
55200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel/WhatsApp: 012-5511 780
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday
(8.30am - 5pm)

Customers can also view the full list of service centres that will be operating during the extended MCO period here https://www.subaru.asia/my/en/news/191/subaru-resumes-operations-atselected-service-centres-around-malaysia.

Services authorised by MITI during the MCO period include service maintenance, minor repairs, and vehicle breakdown services. Customers are to contact their nearest service centre to make an appointment before visiting.

The company will continue assisting customers for emergencies during the MCO period through the Subaru Careline at 1-800-22-9898 or 012-536-0080.

TC Subaru is also extending the vehicle warranties of customers, which expire during the MCO period, by 60 days or 1,000km, whichever comes first.

Safety measures, such as thorough sanitising of work areas, temperature-taking and use of surgical masks, hand sanitisers and disinfectant sprays, are implemented at all Subaru service centres to curb the spread of COVID-19.

With TC Subaru’s recently introduced Online Booking campaign, Subaru customers and new car buyers in Malaysia looking to purchase a new XV or Forester can do so from the comfort of their home.

All they need to do is to fill out the Online Booking form at https://onlinebooking.subaru.asia/xv and https://onlinebooking.subaru.asia/forester to secure a booking fee payment of just RM188.

Upon successful submission, a unique booking code will be sent via email.

A Subaru Sales Advisor will then be in touch within five working days to finalise the booking and registration for the selected Subaru model.

The Online Booking campaign runs from now until the MCO is lifted.


Audi hires driver 'dream team' for Dakar Rally hybrids

                INGOLSTADT: Audi announced that it has hired two of the Dakar Rally's most successful drivers Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz for when it makes its debut on the race with a hybrid car.

"It is no exaggeration to speak of a 'dream team'," said Julius Seebach, managing director of Audi Sport, in a statement on Monday.

Audi will enter three hybrid cars on which the power will be provided by electric powertrains although the battery will be augmented by a combustion engine.

Swede Mattias Ekstrom will complete the trio.

The 55-year-old Frenchman Peterhansel has won the race 14 times on bikes or in cars, including this year, while 59-year-old Spaniard Sainz has won three times, most recently in 2020, and also won two World Rally titles.

"Stephane is the most successful Dakar driver of all time in the history of the Dakar. Carlos is a multiple Dakar winner and World Rally champion," said Seebach.

Both Peterhansel and Sainz drove for MINI last season.

"We want to be the first team to win the Dakar Rally with an electric powertrain," said Peterhansel.

The 2022 edition of the Dakar will take place in Saudi Arabia from Jan 2 to 14.


Over 50 summonses issued for offences involving vehicle licence plates

                SHAH ALAM: More than fifty police summonses were issued during a special operation that targeted vehicle number plates that do not meet specifications.

Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Baharudin Mat Taib, in a statement today, said the operation was conducted on Nov 13 around the Seksyen 14 area.

"The operation commenced at 10pm and concluded at around 2am. Around 113 vehicles and 132 people were inspected, leading to 144 summonses issued,” he said.

"Of that, 54 summonses were issued for offences regarding vehicle number plates. The police also seized 22 motorcycles for illegal modifications and for driving without licences," added ACP Baharudin.

From Nov 1 until 13, district police have issued 328 summonses for offences relating to non-compliance with vehicle licence plate regulations, he added.


PLUS to sort out difficulties related to Touch 'n Go transactions

                KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) has been carrying out various efforts to address difficulties experienced by highway users following the move to end the reload facilities at the toll plaza exit lanes effective Nov 5, that drew mixed reactions from netizens.

Its managing director, Datuk Azman Ismail, said PLUS would enhance cooperation with Touch ‘n Go service providers, to sort out any concerns but it would take time.

It would include improvement to the Touch ‘n Go reload management to make it easier for highway users to top up their electronic payment card.

Currently, motorists can either to reload using an electronic wallet (e-wallet) or go through Touch ‘n Go card reload centres across the country including automated teller machines (ATMs), selected rest and service (R&R) areas along the highway, petrol stations, supermarkets, and self-service kiosks, he said.

"We have 11,000 reload points, 22 Touch ‘n Go Spot counters, 68 reload machines, 27 customer service centres and 65 reload lanes at entry lanes at selected toll plazas,” he said during an interview on the ‘Selamat Pagi Malaysia’ programme produced by RTM1 today.

He also advised motorists, for safety reasons, not to alight from their vehicles if they could not drive through the boom barrier at toll plazas due to insufficient balance in their Touch ‘n Go cards.

"If there is a problem, press the intercom button then a PLUS customer service officer will assist you,” he said.

Meanwhile, PLUS corporate communications, community relations and public engagement head Syed Mohammed Idid said PLUS highway users have to understand that the move to end the reload facilities for Touch 'n Go users at toll plaza was aimed at reducing traffic jams.

"We found that the reload lanes are slowing down the traffic at our toll plazas. Therefore, we are seeking support from all road users not to use the reload facilities at the exit lanes, and by doing so, all drivers would experience a smoother traffic flow at the toll plazas,” he said.


As carmakers unveil new EVs, France ups subsidies for poorer buyers

                PARIS: Renault and Stellantis unveiled new French-made electric vehicles (EVs) at the Paris Motor Show on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron announced bigger subsidies for poorer families to buy EVs and pushed for more local production.

In an interview with business daily Les Echos before visiting the show, Macron said EV subsidies for lower-income households would rise to €7,000 (RM32,530) next year from €6,000 (RM27,883), while falling to €5,000 (RM23,225) for other French buyers.

He added a "social leasing" scheme helping low-income families access an EV for €100 (RM465) per month would start in early 2024.

Most EVs are currently more expensive than fossil-fuel equivalents and are unaffordable for many.

"We have an industrial strategy in place for people to buy more and more French (cars)," Macron told Les Echos.

A lack of French-made EVs is a particularly sensitive subject at an auto show on home turf where Chinese car brands have a strong presence.

Apart from the aging Renault Zoé, the new Mégane, the Kangoo van and two small SUVs made by Stellantis's Opel and DS brands, all the 100% electric models sold by French carmakers are assembled abroad.

The electric versions of Stellantis' Peugeot 308 sedan and larger Peugeot 408 unveiled on Monday will be assembled in Mulhouse in eastern France.

"We said that Stellantis was going to protect the European and particularly French automotive industry," chief executive Carlos Tavares said.

"It is a reality."

Tavares said the number of models the world No. 4 carmaker produces in France would soon double to 12 from 6.

Renault's new Renault 4 EV, a small SUV with stylistic nods to the iconic 4L of the 1960s, will be produced at the carmaker's Maubeuge plant in northern France and will go on sale in 2025.

The Renault 4 will join the new electric Kangoo, produced in Maubeuge, and new Mégane manufactured in Douai, also in northern France. The electric Scenic and Renault 5 will also go into production in Douai by 2024.

The Renault group aims to go fully electric by 2030 and at an investor day on Nov. 8 is due to outline its strategy to create a unit focused on electrification and software, the auto industry's main focus.

A separate unit will specialise in its legacy business making internal combustion engine cars.

Asked about boosting subsidies for European-made EVs, as the United States has done with its recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act, Macron told Les Echoes he had favoured this approach for years.

"I strongly defend a European preference," he said.


Camper van concepts based on Mercedes-Benz X-Class

                STUTTGART: From 13 to 21 January 2018, Mercedes-Benz Vans is exhibiting camper van concepts based on its new pickup, the X-Class, for the first time at the Caravan, Motor, Touristik (CMT) show: a demountable cabin from bodybuilder Tischer as well as a conversion concept with integrated kitchen system by VanEssa mobilcamping.

According to Mercedes-Benz Vans, the new X-Class fits perfectly into the pickup camper vans segment.

With the X-Class, there are two choices of four-cylinder engines (120 kW or 140 kW).

They can be ordered with either rear-wheel drive or with the engageable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

 Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo Familie: v.l.n.r. Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo – Exterieur, dolomitbraun metallic; Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo HORIZON – Exterieur, bergkristallweiß metallic; Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo ACTIVITY – Exterieur, brillantsilber metallicMercedes-Benz Marco Polo range: LTR Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo – Exterior, dolomite brown metallic; Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo HORIZON – Exterior, mountain crystal white metallic; Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo ACTIVITY – Exterior, brilliant silver metallic

From mid-2018, a high-torque V6 diesel engine with all-wheel drive as standard will provide even more agility.

A fording depth of up to 600 mm, a ground clearance of as much as 222 mm (optional suspension with raised ground clearance), a maximum gradeability of 100 percent and DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) mean that the X-Class can cope on even the most challenging of trails.

With a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonne, it is also capable of towing a wide variety of trailers, including caravans.

Standard safety kit includes seven airbags and the i-Size attachment system for two child seats.

For active safety, three driver assistance systems are at the ready: Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Traffic Sign Assist.

Additionally, there are Trailer Stability Assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, emergency call system, cruise control and LED headlamps.

 Erste Reisemobilkonzepte auf Mercedes-Benz X-Klasse Basis: Absetzkabine von TischerFirst camper van concepts on Mercedes-Benz X-Class base: demountable cabine by Tischer

In visual terms, the X-Class takes its cues from the Mercedes SUV models, with centrally positioned star, twin-louvre radiator grille, high and powerfully honed bonnet and the headlamps extending far into the wings.

Camper van concepts based on the X-Class from Tischer and VanEssa mobilcamping at the CMT

The Mercedes-Benz booth at the CMT 2018 sees the debut of some first camper van concepts based on the X-Class.

Despite its compact size, the demountable cabin from bodybuilder Tischer offers a comfortable sleeping system in an alcove 150 cm wide, headroom of almost two metres, a kitchen with a 3-burner gas stove and three cosy seats.

The latter can be converted into a second bed in just a few simple steps.

With its large, fold-away wash basin and swivelling toilet unit, the integrated bathroom manages to offer enough space to take a shower.

The sandwich design of the cabin sections ensures reliable stability and excellent insulation properties.

 Mercedes-Benz X-Klasse - Diamantsilber metallic, Ausstattungslinie POWERMercedes-Benz X-Class - diamond silver metallic, design and equipment line POWER

A different concept on the basis of the X-Class has been developed by VanEssa mobilcamping: a heavy-duty pull-out module weighing around 250kg with a fully equipped kitchen – including such features as a coolbox, cooking and washing-up facilities as well as space for crockery and supplies.

A second pull-out module offers even more space for further items.

VanEssa protects the load compartment with a cover made out of yacht-deck-look teak wood, a water-resistant material particularly characterised by its strength and durability.

Special pneumatic struts allow the cover to be propped up at an angle of 45 degrees.

For trips over several days, VanEssa advises the fitting of a roof tent with rear-facing entrance.


Mazda MX-5 to come with stronger engines — at no extra cost

                HIROSHIMA: Three years after the launch of its current generation, Mazda has redesigned the MX-5. The two-seat roadster will be getting upgraded engines with lower emissions and more power, Mazda has announced.

The revamped models are scheduled to hit markets in mid-September, with no change in prices. They start at US$26,655 (RM110,471) for the soft-top roadster variant and $38,702 (RM161,000) for the MX-5 RF with a retractable hardtop.

While little has changed in terms of design, Mazda has made some notable changes to the engine options. The two four-cylinder engines will now not only abide by the Euro 6d emissions standards, but have also been given some added muscle.

The 1.5-litre variant will have 132hp, with acceleration from 0 to 100kph in 8.3 seconds and a top speed of 204kph. Meanwhile, the 2.0-litre option will sprint from 0 to 100kph in just 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 220kph. Fuel consumption for the two engines will range from 6.3 to 6.9 litres per 100 km.

Besides the engine upgrades, Mazda has also expanded the array of standard features, including LED headlights. The MX-5 will also have optional assistance systems such as traffic sign recognition, a fatigue warning system and smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple Carplay.


Kia Sorento finally gets global launch

                SEOUL: The flag-ship fourth-generation Kia Sorento received its global unveiling and has been touted to have been engineered to take on everything life throws at it.

This sport utility vehicle from South Korea can be had in either five or seven-seater configuration and will be made available in Europe with 10 colour choices while UK specifications will be announced at a later date.

The new Sorento will roll out of the company's Hwasung, South Korean production plant for the European market as well as in West Point which is located in the US.

European sales are due to commence in the third quarter of 2020 and the car will be available to order in most of Kia’s global markets by the end of the year.

The Sorento will be accompanied by a unique seven-year, 162,000km warranty (whichever comes first) as standard. The UK on-sale date, pricing and specification will be announced in due course.

The exterior has received sharper lines, high-tech details and elongated proportions to give it a more confident and mature presence.

It sits on a 2,815mm wheelbase while measuring in at 4,810mm-long (+10mm), 1,900mm-wide (+10mm) and 1,695mm-tall (+10mm).

Power comes from either a 2.2-litre (2,151cc) turbodiesel engine producing 202PS at 3,800rpm and 440Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,750rpm.

In the petrol spectrum is a 1.6-litre (1,598cc) turbocharged hybrid powertrain.

The direct-injection engine alone produces 180PS at 5,500rpm and 265Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,500rpm.

Supplementing the engine is a 44.2kW electric motor with 264Nm of instant torque.

Combined, both engine and motor provide a total system output of 230PS and 350Nm of torque which is managed by either a six-speed automatic gearbox or an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Power is then sent to the front wheels, but if preferred, budding owners can opt for an all-wheel driven system instead.

The body is suspended by front MacPherson struts and rear double-wishbone while rolling on standard 17-inch wheels with 235/65 series tyres all round and can be upsized as an optional extra.

The 1.6 petrol-hybrid variant rolls on 19-inch wheels with 235/55 series while the turbodiesel gets the most choices with 18 (235/60), 19 (235/55) and 20-inch (255/45) wheel options available.

At the front, the signature "tiger nose" grille is flanked by what the company has dubbed "Tiger Eyeline" LED daytime runners integrated into the headlights.

It is further complemented by a sharp bumper lip with skid plate while front and rear overhangs have been minimised over its predecessor.

The rear sports new vertical tail lamps, faux dual-exhaust pipes, rear skid plate, subtly integrated rear spoiler

Inside, its cabin introduces its new design and together with a larger body, there's now more luggage space and three rows of seats for greater versatility.

Also, the Korean carmaker has added an electrified Smartstream powertrain - a first for the new Sorento lineup, for improved fuel economy and emissions over its predecessors.

The Sorento is being touted as Kia's most high-tech vehicle ever thanks to the inclusion of a twin digital display in the dashboard that's made up of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8.0-inch touch screen comes as standard.

Included in the list of goodies are new haptic buttons for the screen and climate controls located further down the console while its Mood Lighting system provides some soft ambient downlighting from beneath the dashboard and door trim to help create a lounge-like feel

A wireless smartphone charger also sits at the base of the centre console, while a Bose surround-sound system immerses occupants in its renown in-car audio experience.

For the upholstery, Europe has the option of picking a leather-fabric combination of black with leather (grey or black single-tone, or black-and-grey two-tone), or black quilted Nappa leather while having the cabin accented in a metal-leather combination.

For luggage space, the Sorento is capable of taking on a minimum of 902 litres in the five-seater hybrid variant and is expandable to 2,085 litres with second-row folded down.

Opting for the seven-seater variant drops the boot space down to 813 litres and once both second and third rows have been folded down to create a flatbed, there's now 1,996 litres of space.

The diesel variant will provide more at 910 litres (2,100 litres) for the five-seater and 821 litres (2,011 litres) in the seven-seater.

Having the third-row seats up, luggage space may be reduced down to 187 litres for the diesel and 179 litres for the hybrid, but controls in the sidewall of the boot also let users fold down the second-row seatbacks remotely at the touch of a button.

Thanks to the longer wheelbase, the second-row seats can slide forward and aft by up to 45mm creating a wider point of entry to the third row with more space for feet and legs.

In terms of abilities, the new Sorento has been equipped with an enhanced all-terrain capability with a new Terrain Mode which seeks out traction in mud, snow and sand.

Depending on the variant, the Sorento's active and passive safety equipment includes forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle and oncoming traffic detection when making a turn.

There's also blind-spot view monitor, surround view monitor and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, intelligent speed limit assist, smart cruise control (SCC) with stop-go functionality and navigation-based SCC, lane following assist, driver attention warning and highway driving assist.

Adding to the list is a rearview monitor with reverse parking collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist and safe exit assist which prevents rear doors from opening if the vehicle detects a cyclist or another vehicle approaching from behind.

For added convenience, there's the new remote smart parking assist which enables drivers to move the vehicle autonomously out of a tight front-and-back parking space remotely with the key fob.

Other safety equipment includes the usual inclusion of up to seven airbags, vehicle stability management and electronic stability control, a unique multi-collision brake system,

“The Sorento’s represents the first use of electrified power in our flagship SUV,” said Kia Motors Europe chief operating officer Emilio Herrera.


Govt will bear vocational licence fees for 4,000 suitable candidates, says Loke

                BATANG KALI: Some 4,000 eligible candidates will have their public service vehicle vocational licence fees borne by the government, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said of that number, 3,500 slots are for those seeking to get public service vehicle (PSV) ehailing or taxi licences, with the remaining 500 are for PSV bus licences.

Loke said this initiative under the MyPSV programme is to provide better job opportunities to those from lower-income groups and to support and improve the public transport sector in the country.

“Two million ringgit was allocated for the MyPSV programme in Budget 2023. The fee for each candidate taking the ehailing or taxi PSV licence is RM190, while those taking the vocational bus licence have to pay RM2,590, comprising their theory and practical exams.

“Successful applicants for the MyPSV programme need not pay anything as the fees will be borne by the government,” he said in his speech at the launch of the national MyPSV programme here today.

Loke said he hoped applicants who obtained their PSV bus licences would take up positions offered by Prasarana.

“There are various public transport lines in the Klang Valley, all of which need buses to complete the last-mile connectivity. Prasarana has also decided to increase allowances for bus drivers to attract more candidates,” he added.

At a press conference later, Loke said interested applicants can make their applications through the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) portal.

“The application results will be known in about two weeks,” he added.

Among the eligibility criteria to apply under the MyPSV programme are that applicants have to be Malaysian citizens and above 21 years of age.

They will also have to pass a medical examination, and not be on any blacklist by the courts, JPJ or Royal Malaysia Police.

Those applying for the ehailing or taxi PSV licence must have a D-Class competent driving licence (CDL) while applicants for the bus PSV licence must have a D-Class or E-Class CDL


New VW Jetta officially revealed

                WASHINGTON: The new Volkswagen Jetta GLI has been officially revealed and now comes with a few sporty equipments for the American market.

The new Jetta now gets specially tuned sports suspension and a 207bhp 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged and direct-injection EA888 four-cylinder engine.

For 2016, the GLI gets an aggressive front fascia that incorporates a honeycomb grille and foglights, along with a new rear bumper design that has a diffuser and a pair of chrome-tipped exhausts.

From now on, the car will roll 18-inch Mallory aluminum-alloy wheels and the cabin will benefit from the new MIB 2 infotainment system that incorporates the full suite of USB and Car-Net connectivity.

The SE model sports LED tail-lights, keyless-entry with push-button start, automatic dual-zone climate controls, a sunroof, 6-way power driver seat, reverse camera, front and rear Park Distance Control.

In terms of entertainment and convenience, the Jetta will receive the award-winning Fender Premium Audio System as well as automatic wipers, automatic headlights and heated seats.

As for the GLI SEL, it gets a further additions that include Blind Spot Detection with rear traffic alert, navigation system, Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and Homelink®.

The AFS system swivels the main headlight beams by up to 15 degrees as the steering wheel is turned to help illuminate bends in the road more effectively at speeds of more than 10kph.

A new standard feature on the new Jetta GLI is Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking system.

This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact – the most significant of which can cause additional collisions.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking system addresses this by applying the brakes when a primary collision has been detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.


Indian car market comes of age with the Maruti Suzuki Dzire

                NEW DELHI: The latest generation of India's best-selling sedan brings up-to-the-minute styling, safety, infotainment and fuel efficiency to one of the world's fastest growing car markets, and in doing so will raise the bar for competitors.

India is starting to fall for the automobile. Car sales jumped within the country by 8% over the course of 2016 hitting an all-time high of 3.32 million new vehicles.

The belated boom is being driven party by improved road infrastructure, partly by better access to credit and also by greater average posterity, particularly among younger consumers.

Designed to appeal to the next generation, the Dzire comes with Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility as standard, but away from the gimmicks, it also offers LED projector headlamps, dual front airbags, seatbelts with pre-tensioners, ABS braking and ISOFIX mountings for child seats as standard.

"The New Dzire is bound to create plenty of excitement in the Indian automobile market," said Maruti Suzuki managing director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa. "[It] was specially created for India, and has been one of the most popular brands ever in the Indian automobile industry. Now we have designed a whole New Dzire for sedan customers, to fulfil the growing aspirations of a young and prosperous India."

And this is key. A host of other carmakers competing for Indian buyers all too often take an existing car design and reverse engineer it to reduce manufacturing costs. All too often this can mean using less rigid construction materials and omitting items such as airbags from the standard equipment list.

For example, Global NCAP the independent car safety organisation that crash-tests new vehicles and awards them a star-based safety rating, this month revealed that an entry-level Indian specification Renault Duster SUV failed to score a single star for driver protection in a collision. However, when the same car, equipped with airbags, was tested, it managed a three-star rating.

Renault is not alone. The Chevrolet Enjoy, built by GM India also scores zero stars when it comes to driver and front passenger protection. And again, this poor safety rating is due to a lack of airbag fitted as standard.

Fortunately, this is about to change. After years of debate and consultation, the Indian government has passed new car safety regulations that will become law from October. From that date, new cars will have to feature airbags, reverse gear parking sensors, a seatbelt unfastened reminder system and a speed-warning system as standard equipment.

And, to ensure that these features make a difference, it has also established its own branch of NCAP that will start testing new cars built for Indian roads.


2018 Detroit Auto Show: 2019 Jeep Cherokee

                DETROIT: The new 2019 Jeep Cherokee mid-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV), makes its debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show boasting a new, authentic and premium design, along with the addition of an all-new, advanced 2.0-litre direct-injection inline four-cylinder engine that enhances performance and fuel efficiency.

The new Jeep Cherokee offers more interior comfort, independent front- and rear-suspension systems with world-class body torsional stiffness, a choice of three different engine offerings fitted to an enhanced nine-speed transmission and more than 80 safety and security features.

The new Jeep Cherokee will be introduced in Europe in the second half of 2018.

New premium design stays true to iconic Jeep styling

The new Jeep Cherokee features an extensive new exterior design that highlights a completely fresh appearance and includes a major restyling of a number of signature components such as the front fascia, bonnet, LED headlamps, daylight running lamps and fog lamps.

The updated interior receives a fresh and elegant touch with new Satin Chrome and Piano Black high-gloss accents while remaining a practical and comfortable environment.

Advanced technology with fourth-generation Uconnect systems

The new Jeep Cherokee receives the latest Uconnect systems, delivering communication, entertainment and navigation features and including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the choice of 7.0- or 8.4-inch touchscreens with pinch-and-zoom capability.

Advanced powertrains

The all-new 2.0-litre direct injection turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with Start&Stop joins the 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 and 2.4-litre PZEV Multiair2 Tigershark I-4 available in the Cherokee lineup.

All engine options can be fitted to the nine-speed automatic transmission.

Best-in-class Jeep Trail Rated capability

The new Jeep Cherokee highlights a choice of three innovative 4x4 systems: Jeep Active Drive I, Jeep Active Drive II and Jeep Active Drive Lock, which have been enhanced for unmatched 4x4 capability for all weather conditions.

Jeep Cherokee maintains its place as the benchmark mid-size SUV with rear-axle disconnect technology that results in reduced energy loss when 4x4 capability isn’t needed, while improving fuel efficiency.

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Enhanced Mitsubishi Outlander SUV introduced

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Mitsubishi Outlander sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been enhanced with an electronic parking brake for more convenience, interior floor illumination lamps which welcomes passengers when doors are opened, and a shark fin antenna for a sportier look.

The Outlander SUV is priced at RM171,000 on-the-road without insurance (GST inclusive).

Warranty is five years or 100,000km, whichever comes first.

The Outlander SUV won the Best SUV/Crossover Mid-Size 4x4 7-Seater award at the inaugural CarSifu Editor’s Choice Awards 2016.

It has 7-seater leather seats, automatic lights and rain sensing wipers, a sunroof, electric tailgate with anti-pinch feature, LED Headlamps with daytime running lights (DRLs) and 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels.

Available only in 4-wheel-drive and imported from Japan, it is powered by a 2.4-litre Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) engine producing 167ps at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 222Nm at 4,100rpm.

Power is delivered via a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with 6-step manual mode.

The Outlander SUV is offered in three colours - Red Metallic, White Pearl and Grey Metallic.

Safety features include seven airbags, active stability and traction control, hill-start assist, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution, and ISOFIX points for child seats.

The Outlander can deliver fuel efficiency of 12.8km per litre (among the best-in-class, based on Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia in-house driving data).

Best-in-class features include rear cargo room which can fit up to four golf bags or a single-bed mattress (1,608-litre) and a turning radius of 5.3 metres.


FCC to vote to split key spectrum block between autos, Wi-Fi

                WASHINGTON: The US Federal Communications Commision (FCC) will vote on Nov 18 to split a key spectrum block set aside for auto safety to accommodate the growing number of wireless devices, even as the Transportation Secretary warned of “thousands more deaths” in traffic accidents.

The FCC will vote to finalise a plan announced last year to divide a block of the 5.9 GHz spectrum band that was reserved in 1999 for automakers to develop technology to allow vehicles to talk to each other, but has so far gone largely unused.

Automakers have opposed the split on safety grounds, while many internet providers say the spectrum is essential to support growing wireless use.

FCC chairman Ajit Pai said on Tuesday that “making more spectrum available for Wi-Fi is critical to meeting America’s growing connectivity needs.”

The FCC gave initial approval to the plan in December in a 5-0 vote. US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao previously warned the FCC decision could result in “thousands more deaths annually on road and millions more injuries than would be the case otherwise.”

Major cable, telecom and content companies back the FCC proposal to open most of the spectrum band to Wi-Fi use.

Nearly all automakers oppose the proposal. Instead, they favour using the spectrum for developing technology to allow vehicles to exchange data about location, speed and direction.

A group representing major automakers said it was “concerned about the potential for harmful interference from Wi-Fi devices allowed to use the lower portion of the 5.9 GHz band under the proposal.”

Such technology has been offered on just one General Motors Co vehicle. Government studies have suggested the technology, if widely adopted among US vehicles, could prevent at least 600,000 crashes annually.

In December 2016, the Transportation Department proposed requiring future vehicles to use dedicated short range communications (DSRC) to communicate with each other, but the Trump administration has not acted on the proposal.

The FCC plans to transition the upper 30 megahertz away from DSRC to enable a different automotive communications technology called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, and use the other 45 megahertz for wireless use.

The Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of America said reallocating most of the 5.9 GHz band is reckless and shortsighted.

“The definition of tragedy and irony is the FCC giving away the safety spectrum to ‘entrenched corporate interests’ to profit from and ignoring transportation safety experts,” said ITS America chief executive Shailen Bhatt.


Aston Martin seeking glory at Bathurst 12 Hours

                LONDON: Aston Martin has confirmed its manufacturer entry for the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli (IGTC), meaning that for the first time in the series’ history the British sportscar manufacturer competes for overall honours in the highest level of GT3 competition on some of the world’s most iconic circuits.

The IGTC is comprised of five stand-alone high-profile endurance events through the year, beginning with the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hours this weekend in Australia, and then the Total 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium (July 23 to 26), Suzuka 10 Hours in Japan (Aug 21 to 23), Indianapolis 8 Hours in the US (Oct 2 to 4) and Kyalami 9 Hours in South Africa (Nov 19 to 21).

The British luxury sports car brand will be represented in the first round by four Vantage GT3s, with two each entered by the brand’s valued partner teams R-Motorsport and Garage 59.

This weekend’s event has extra significance for Aston Martin Racing because it also marks the debut of the new Vantage on the fearsome Mount Panorama circuit in New South Wales, Australia.

Spearheading this weekend’s challenge for overall victory at Bathurst is R-Motorsport, which has entered two Aston Martin Vantage GT3 cars in the top Pro category with an all-star driver line-up.

British driver Jake Dennis returns to the scene of an event he starred in 12 months ago when he finished a close runner-up.

This year he shares the #76 entry with six-time IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon (NZ) and 2006 Australian Supercars champion and two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Rick Kelly (AUS).

The sister #62 car’s line-up consists of 17-year-old Olli Caldwell (GB), FIA Formula 2 winner Luca Ghiotto (I) and Marvin Kirchhöfer (D).

Returning to the IGTC for its first full season is Garage 59, which impressed in its debut year as an Aston Martin Racing partner team, finishing runner-up in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Am class and winning the Paul Ricard (F) round.

This year the team competes in the IGTC Pro-Am class with Alexander West (SWE), Chris Goodwin (GB) and Côme Ledogar (F).

Joining them for the Bathurst 12 Hours is works driver Maxime Martin (BEL), who currently lies third in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as the 2016 Spa 24 Hours winner makes his debut at the legendary Australian circuit.

"It’s really good news. It’s a really late, late call but I’m super excited to be going. I know it’s an amazing event. I’ve never been to Australia, let alone Bathurst, so there is much to learn. We are fighting for the Pro-Am class victory and looking at who I am racing alongside I think we have a great chance," said Martin.

Garage 59 is also fielding a second #159 car in the Silver class driven by AMR Junior driver Andrew Watson (GB), fresh from his stint in last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, Olivier Hart (NL) and IMSA GTD driver Roman de Angelis (CDN).

“This is Aston Martin Racing’s boldest attack on the Bathurst 12 Hours, a race that showcases the very best of what international GT3 racing has to offer. We have full confidence that the combination of our two partner teams R-Motorsport and Garage 59, and the growing competitiveness of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, will provide a fierce challenge for honours in Australia.

"This line-up, and the quality of our partners, represents the perfect time to commit to the overall Manufacturers’ Championship for the first time,” said Aston Martin Racing president David King.

The Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hours takes place on Feb 1 and 2 and can be followed live throughout on www.intercontinentalgtchallenge.com


2019 BMW 3 Series to be bigger

                MUNICH: The next-generation 2019 BMW 3 Series looks bigger, based on spy shots posted by the likes of www.bmwblog.com and Carscoops.

According to bmwblog, the 3 Series will get bigger and have new kidney grilles and headlights. New taillights are also much slimmer and wider than the current 3 Series.

Expect the new 3 Series to handle better than the current model, and feature a lot more tech.

Meanwhile, after 35 years, at the BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in Pretoria, South Africa, the last BMW 3 Series Sedan rolled off the production line. In the next few months, Plant Rosslyn will launch the production of the BMW X3.

 The last 3 Series to roll off the South African plant in Pretoria.

Plant Rosslyn has produced a total of 1,191,604 units and five generations of the BMW 3 Series. One in four BMW 3 Series Sedans of the current generation come from BMW Group Plant Rosslyn.

“We look back with great pride over an extraordinary career path of the production at Plant Rosslyn," says Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa.

The enthusiasm for the BMW 3 Series was also shared by the production staff who expressed their passion for these cars by giving them legendary nicknames. Each generation of the BMW 3 Series produced at Plant Rosslyn had its own nickname: the third generation, for instance, was called “Dolphin” for its elegant contours.

Limited edition models of the BMW 3 Series, such as the BMW 333i and 325iS, also emerged from the plant.

In the future, the BMW 3 Series Sedan will also be manufactured at the new BMW Group plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.


No factory for old men: Hyundai Motor seeks to end seniority-based pay

                SEOUL: In a bid to curb rising domestic labour costs, Hyundai Motor Co is seeking to base wages on merit not seniority in an overhaul of a decades-old salary system that puts the South Korean firm on a collision course with its activist union.

South Korea is the world's fastest ageing major economy, and high labor costs are eroding its manufacturers' competitive edge as economic growth slows.

If Hyundai Motor, one of South Korea's biggest employers, succeeds in revamping its pay structure, other companies are likely to follow suit. That will accelerate a move away from a wage system still prevalent in South Korea and which is a legacy of years of heady economic growth and a culture that reveres seniority.

"Our wages have reached a critical limit as a manufacturing company," Hyundai Chief Executive Yoon Gap-han said in a letter to workers proposing the change, which was seen by Reuters. "I am concerned that Hyundai may face a situation where it is impossible to produce vehicles at domestic factories anymore."

Hyundai Motor is the flagship company of South Korea's second largest conglomerate, and one of its most influential. Its long-serving workers in Korea earn nearly twice as much as junior workers doing similar work, a company spokesman said, and overall, they are paid more than their colleagues elsewhere, including in the United States.

The restructuring proposal would not reduce current wages or result in immediate cost savings, the company said, declining to say how much savings it was targeting. Experts, however, said it would control future wage costs as workers age and the company's growth slows. The average age of Hyundai's unionised workers in South Korea is 45.5 years.

"But it will take an enormous time to reach an agreement," a Hyundai Motor executive said, declining to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Hyundai Motor employs 65,000 people in South Korea, most of them union members.

While more Korean companies are basing pay on merit, the majority still use a seniority based wage structure or a combination of both.

Among Hyundai's main Asian rivals, Japan's Nissan Motor Co introduced a performance-based pay system under CEO Carlos Ghosn, who has been at the helm since 1999.

Hyundai's union, which has gone on strike over wage talks during all but four of the last 27 years, has already rejected the wage proposal, setting the stage for what is likely to be an acrimonious round of annual pay negotiations this summer.

A union spokesman said it would only consider the proposal if the company agrees to include regular bonuses in base wages, a change management said would lead to even higher costs.


Nissan reveals blooper in Japan production

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor said it would temporarily halt new vehicle registrations in Japan after learning that thousands of models had been shipped out from factories after receiving final inspections by unauthorised employees.

The firm estimates that at least 60,000 vehicles may have been affected, but the number could rise following a full investigation, a Nissan spokesman said.

"The affected vehicles will be re-inspected and registrations will resume as checks are completed," Nissan said.

"Regarding affected vehicles already sold, owners will be contacted in due course with instructions on how they can have their vehicles re-inspected," it said.


CES 2021: Bridgestone World showcased

                WASHINGTON: Tyre maker Bridgestone is taking part in the 2021 CES with its vision of an interactive virtual city.

Called Bridgestone World, it's an interactive city showcasing how Bridgestone innovations will power a more sustainable mobility future. Live online showcases and on-demand feature videos will also foster opportunities for collaboration with partners across the technology spectrum.

Bridgestone World, specifically developed in response to this year’s virtual CES format from Jan 11-14, allows users to peer into urban, suburban, industrial and transport settings in a city of the future, and explore how the company’s connected products and data-driven services will address pain points, improve consumers’ mobility experience and create greater social and customer value.

The tool’s central urban environment allows users to explore Bridgestone’s evolution into a high-tech company that enhances its core tyre and rubber offering through smart tyre and advanced mobility technologies.

Bridgestone is also engaging directly with CES attendees through live and on-demand presentations that explore how the company is using smart tyre technology, advanced data analytics and new business models to put tyres at the centre of a sustainable mobility system.


Old-school British carmaker Morgan starts making pushbikes

                LONDON: British sports car maker Morgan has teamed up with bicycle maker Pashley to make exclusive pushbikes which carry the names of both brands.

The range kicks off with two bicycles, the Pashley-Morgan 3 and the Pashley-Morgan 8. The bikes will be hand built at Pashley's factory in Stratford-upon-Avon and feature an extensive list of high quality parts.

The range has been jointly developed by the Pashley and Morgan design teams.

Morgan was founded in 1909 and its retro-styled roadsters hark back to the halcyon days of driving.

Pashley started making cycles in 1926. Morgan said the two "like-minded" companies were a fit for each other.

The bicycles have stylish hand-crafted frames with a curved top tube design.

The Pashley-Morgan 8 is finished in light pearl grey and features an eight-speed Shimano Nexus gear hub.

The Pashley-Morgan 3 comes in British racing green and is fitted with a Sturmey-Archer three-speed gear hub. Prices start at 1,495 pounds (around RM7,800) in Britain.

The new bikes will be sold at Morgan dealerships and at selected Pashley Cycles outlets worldwide.

"These bicycles will appeal to Morgan car owners and discerning cyclists alike," said Pashley Cycles managing director Adrian Williams.


Range Rover Evoque tested

                To many of its fans, Land Rover’s four-door Range Rover Evoque is often seen as stylishly capable. They may go so far as to use it as a representation and/or personification of their own individuality. Talk about “Evoque-ing” the sophistication from within - excuse the pun.

The Evoque is a powerful sport utility vehicle with a capable mill that will have most impressed by its 2.0-litre turbocharged performance and surprisingly sporty handling.

Painted metallic Firenze Red, it should have been fitted with 19-inch wheels, but instead it had the optional 20-inch five-split spoke ‘Style 504’ alloy wheels with shadow chrome finish set on and wearing some grippy low-profile 245/45 Pirelli Scorpion rubbers.

The sheet metal provides it with sensual curves that are accented by long straight and slightly angled-down creases to give that impression of continuous forward motion.

It’s also a fast SUV from the British marque even though it comes weighing in slightly above its 1,655kg of kerb heft (due to the larger optional wheels).

With 1,999cc of displacement, the turbocharged four-cylinder Si4 engine will readily dish out 237hp at 5,800rpm and 340Nm of torque from 1,750rpm onwards while feeding from a 70-litre fuel tank.

That means it’ll get up to 100kph from standstill in around 7.6 seconds before topping out at 217kph thanks to the smooth operating 9-speed automatic gearbox that can be paddle-shifted. And for even greater engagement, Sport mode is just a twist of the wrist away.

The Evoque is sleek, albeit a tad impractical with its tall ride height that can inconvenience shorter owners, but does redeem itself with other conveniences such as keyless entry and push-start button, powered gesture tailgate as well as parking assist.

Critics have, at times, said the Evoque is essentially a Land Rover Defender that has been sandwiched to create its styling cues.

Regardless of what has been said, it has undoubtedly got some desirable lean curves that will turn heads, especially with those eye-catching automatic Xenon headlights with LED signature lighting and automatic headlamp levelling that ups the appeal.

With a sleek exterior, the Evoque is spacious inside. It’s wide and accommodating for the shoulders although leg-room can be lacking at the rear.

Driver and passengers sit in plush leathery comfort that has been extended to the firm yet accommodating suspension to take care of uneven road surfaces and undulations.

The handling shows meditated calmness, allowing the driver to easily engage in spirited driving sessions with great confidence while having a commanding view.

But the height of the interior’s sophistication is the gear selector knob that raises itself onto the “stage” of the centre tunnel and then disappears at the end of the “performance”.

This is what gives the RM430,000+ Evoque a truly unique cabin experience that comes with technological refinement.

Although the Evoque looks polished for the urbanite with its daytime running lights, panoramic roof, park assist, reverse camera or even the powered gesture tailgate, it would do good to not doubt its off-roading capabilities - not even for a moment.

As with all Land Rovers that roll off the production line, it’s off-roading heritage is baked in. It has a default road-going mode or snow, rocky or sandy terrain modes. Alternatively, let the Terrain Response system handle the challenges thrown at the vehicle.

Overall, the Evoque has many abilities that makes it an attractive buy, not least its stylish stance.

SPECIFICATIONS - Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Engine 2.0-litre (1,999cc) Si4 turbocharged
Power: 240PS 5,800rpm
Torque: 340Nm at 1,750rpm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters

Top speed: 217kph
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.6sec

Kerb Weight: from 1,665kg

FEATURES: Seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, traction control, trailer stability assist, hill-start assist, hill descent control, enhanced understeer control, gradient release control, engine drag torque control, four-wheel driver with standard driveline, terrain response, torque vectoring by braking, automatic Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling, LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, puddle lamps with projected Evoque graphics, automatic highbeam assist, keyless-entry with push-start button, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic climate controls with rear vents, leather upholstery, 12-way powered front seats, panoramic roof, powered gesture tailgate automatic wipers, 8-speaker sound system with 8.0-inch InControl Touch touchscreen, radio, CD, MP3/WMA playback via USB, AUX-IN jack, Bluetooth connectivity, and 20-inch five split-spoke 'Style 504' wheels in Shadow Chrome Finish with 245/45 Pirelli Scorpion Verde all-season tyres.

Price (OTR with GST w/out Ins): from RM430,000


Lexus RC: First drive in NY

It’s always interesting to see where the next trip takes you.

On more than a few occasions, car companies pick foreign drive locations that are not on the radar of the usual tourist crowd.

Some venues are so remote it takes hours by road to reach the next town or city.

Unless well-travelled or well informed, most people are unlikely to have heard of Le Touquet, Whistler or Spartanburg.

For the organisers, such off-the-beaten sites suit them just fine – all the better to minimise distractions and ensure the journos focus on the job at hand – drive and write about the car of the hour.

 White Plains outside New York City.

In between, there’s always time rostered for interviews with engineers/designers and a little R & R to lighten the mood.

This is where White Plains comes in. It sounds like a dusty old town in the US Midwest but it’s not. It lays claim to fame as the birthplace of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Located in northern New York state and 50km north of New York City, it was the staging ground for the international media drive of the RC coupe, Lexus latest sports car heading to Malaysia in November.

It was the tail end of summer earlier this month when we were presented with the RC and its more testosterone-charged sibling, the RC F.

The RC gets a 3.5-litre V6 engine while the RC F has a 5.0-litre V8 howler. As tradition goes, both are two-door coupes, and the mills are naturally aspirated.

Old school they are; Lexus is not joining the turbocharging frenzy in this category. At least for now.

Local Toyota/Lexus distributor UMW Toyota Motor has announced earlier this month that the RC (in Luxury trim) and RC F would be introduced at a gobsmacking RM540K and RM800K respectively.

 Times Square in New York City.

For sportier effect, a Carbon package is a RM71,000 option for the RC F, which lightens the 1,780kg car by 10kg through the use of carbon fibre on the bonnet, roof and active rear spoiler.

Not on the import list are the hybrid and RC in F Sport guise.

So what else do you get for paying big bucks on a niche Lexus toy?

Lexus talks a lot about emotional appeal; with the RC and RC F, it all starts with an appearance that excites.

Both cars are certainly visually expressive. They have to be.

You see, Lexus expects the RC to attract the next generation of luxury buyers and those new to the brand, being engineered as a stand-alone model, rather than as a two-door derivative of a sedan.

An oversized spindle grille, wide stance, short wheelbase and large diameter tyres come together to surprise – in a good way.

The RC grille is the lowest and widest application yet of the design feature. Like the LED head lamps, the LED rear combination lamps adopt the Lexus L-shape motif.

Extended fender flares give the coupe a grounded look.

“Design is the very lifeblood of the RC so we set about implementing the production technology required to build the RC,” said its chief engineer, Eiichi Kusama.

The RC F adds greater depth to the RC line, being positioned as a car you could easily drive on the road and ready for track play at a moment’s notice.

It runs on wider tyres and its body enhancements such as an active rear wing, air scoops, cooling ducts and carbon fibre parts are all linked to functional performance.

Lexus RC’s chassis is unique as it is based on the GS (front),  ISC convertible (centre) and IS (rear).

Having driven a number of premium German cars in this class, we found the RC/RC F interior to be refreshingly different.

The dash is easy to like, and that analogue clock lends retro elegance to the cabin.

Sports seats in the 2+2 coupe provide excellent accommodation for driver and front passenger. But rear seat occupants will have cause to complain if they are more than average build.

As the RC and RC F are not hardcore sports cars, seats are not as low as some would like it. Boot space is fairly decent with storage for two golfbags.

The drive started from the hotel at White Plains and ended at the Monticello Motor Club, which has a private track for the cars to be put through their paces.

We drove pre-production models, which Lexus said were close to the real McCoy save for minor details yet to be ironed out.

“The RC F is intended as a car to enable drivers of all skill levels to enjoy fun-to-drive performance,” said RC F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi, adding that the car was designed to be a joy to drive on public roads as much as on the track.

“With the LFA no longer in production, the RC F will become the new F image leader,” Yaguchi said.

 Getting ready to race at the Monitcello Motor Club.

An electronically enhanced driveline based on Lexus’ Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) enable amateur drivers to get closer to limits previously achieved only by trained professionals.

The same systems is said to generate even greater levels of safety on the open road.

The route to Monticello, 90 mins from Manhattan, had its share of smooth roads and poorly surfaced roads, so there was about 140km of asphalt for both cars to introduce themselves.

The 6.6km of private track that followed was an occasion for them to let loose and give a better account of their abilities.

Both cars come across as easy to drive, displaying the luxurious refinements that Lexus is noted for while showing varying degrees of sporting character.

Straight-line stability was excellent, and the V6 RC was in its element as a cruiser on a winding open road, with a pliant suspension that filters out nasty vibes.

Power to the rear wheels was delivered smoothly and linearly with an agreeable growl to it, thanks to an intake sound generator that revs up sonic appeal under acceleration.

With a bellow and a bark to announce its big heart, the V8 RC F is just as civil at cruising speeds.

But underneath those contours and wind-cheating surfaces is a muscle-bound car that is waiting to be uncaged.

Throttle response is eager in Sport mode. Lower the right foot and the quiet car changes up and with a throaty roar pulls away from traffic faster than you can say, “Uh-oh, the cops are on my tail.” (one team incidentally got a US$450 or RM1,400 ticket from the state troopers for speeding in the RC F.)

The journey is fine until the tyres connect with patchy stretches; the RC F’s much harder suspension makes the ride not as comfortable as the RC’s.

There’s a measure of truth that the RC F - the car that has allusions to trackside fun – does deliver the thrills up to a point. But it’s undercut by its weight, which makes it feel less nimble than its German rivals.

 The RC F chief engineer Yaguchi with the RC F that comes with the Carbon package.

Still for those who have never tried the more agile, faster and lighter BMW M4, they could have a barrel of fun in the RC F.

Speeding through corners, the optional torque vectoring differential keeps oversteer in check, adding a safety cache if one is overexuberant and misjudge a cornering line.

In this nook, the Germans rule the roost and it would take a pretty strong upstart to rock the boat.

The RC/RC F will probably appeal to a broader audience as Lexus has envisaged. If that pans out for Lexus, it’s mission accomplished.


Daimler adopts Silicon Valley tactics to counter new rivals

                FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler is embracing Silicon Valley management techniques in a drive to speed up decision making, empower staff and fend off new rivals such as electric carmaker Tesla Motors.

Chief executive Dieter Zetsche (pic) is sweeping away layers of bureaucracy and encouraging a more experimental approach to new products. He has also asked 144 employees - many of them from the rank and file - to generate new leadership ideas, according to sources at the German luxury automaker.

These are big changes for a company known for strict hierarchies and meticulous planning, and follow a trip by around 100 top managers to Silicon Valley last summer when they met executives from companies including Apple, Google and Uber.

The changes will be closely watched by rivals such as BMW and Audi as traditional carmakers weigh up how to respond to new technologies including autonomous driving and electric vehicles that have turned firms like Google and Tesla into rivals.

Daimler, whose founder invented the modern automobile 130 years ago, is investing heavily in electric vehicles and Zetsche has decided that in order to succeed, the company, as well as its product range, needs an overhaul.

Outlining some of his plans in June, he likened Daimler to a rhino but said its size - with twice Tesla's market capitalisation and 20 times the number of staff - did not mean it couldn't also be nimble and decisive.

"Rhinos are large, but they are not slow," Zetsche said.

Alexander Hilliger von Thile, a senior graphics and rendering manager at Mercedes-Benz research and development in North America, said Daimler was now encouraging ideas from all team members and not just the "Bereichsleiter" or department chiefs, as well as greater collaboration.

"We do not want to have experts who know everything, who sit somewhere and don't talk to anybody," he said.

Daimler, like many traditional carmakers, was initially sceptical about prospects for electric vehicles. According to a senior executive, Zetsche used to joke that Daimler, which owned a stake in Tesla from 2009-2014, was the only automaker to make money from electric cars when it sold out of that investment.

But advances in battery technology and the success of the Tesla Model S, which last year outsold Mercedes's flagship S-Class limousine in the United States, have changed that.

"We said before that if you are too early, you lose money. Now the view is if you are too late, you lose the market," the executive told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The risks associated with releasing new technologies, however, were laid bare earlier this year when Tesla shares tumbled after news that a driver of one of its cars had been killed while using "autopilot" mode, an advanced cruise control tool that other automakers have taken a more cautious approach to introducing.

Daimler sources say Zetsche's reforms have been influenced by the company's dealings with Tesla when it was a shareholder, as well as techniques studied at other Silicon Valley companies.

Working on various projects with Tesla, a clash of cultures was clear from the outset.

"One party (Daimler) wanted to plan and think things through. The other (Tesla) acted on a 'shoot and aim' principle correcting things as you go along," one Daimler source told Reuters, adding Tesla was often faster at implementing new technologies as a result.

Daimler has learnt from this and is now moving more quickly, with its new 144-strong brainstorming team including engineers who worked on projects with Tesla, the source said.

So far, Daimler staff have generated around 150 ideas of which 80 percent have been implemented. The results are confidential, although it is clear that in future, decisions should be reviewed by only two management levels instead of up to six, the source added.

Another major change is to allow departments to fund an idea even if it is not clear what products will result from the spending. Having a perfect "specification sheet" used to be a precondition for investment.

Daimler calls this "corporate crowdfunding" - a technique learned during last year's Silicon Valley trip, when managers also met start-ups such as San Francisco-based La Cocina, a non-profit organization helping low-income food entrepreneurs.

"They were mostly interested in the ways that our entrepreneurs brought their ideas to market, and how La Cocina, as an organization, supported that type of innovation," La Cocina director Caleb Zigas told Reuters.

As much as speeding up decisions, Zetsche's reforms are focused on engaging and retaining staff.

Tesla's success has given rise to a raft of rival electric carmakers, including Faraday Future, Borgward, and Future Mobility Corporation, and traditional carmakers have seen several high-profile defections.

Carsten Breitfeld, CEO of China-based Future Mobility Corp., switched in July from BMW, where he was head of the i8 electric vehicle programme but grew tired of the cumbersome approval processes at large corporations.

"At the end of the day I get the impression that the traditional car companies, not only BMW, will not really be able to follow the pace and do the big steps which will be needed," he told Reuters, explaining his decision to move.

Daimler itself lost engineer Tilo Schweers to become chief developer for alternative drive systems and powertrain electrification at Chinese-backed Borgward Group.

Marissa Peretz, founder of headhunting firm Silicon Beach Talent and a former recruiter at Tesla, said a corporate culture of freedom was key to success.

"Tesla offered employees ownership and entrepreneurial freedom. To make changes at an established company is a bureaucratic process. Tesla's success has given executives the confidence to consider joining other start-up carmakers," she said.

Daimler, however, believes it can be at least as successful as Tesla in forging an entrepreneurial community without becoming too reliant on centralised organisational structures and concentrating decision-making responsibilities with key senior staff.

Mercedes engineers have spread the knowledge for how to build its electric cars across a broad team which keeps some of its key know-how in books that are available in print only - to prevent anybody emailing them.


BMW M4 Convertible 'Edition 30 Jahre' launches in Germany

MUNICH: BMW M GmbH, the performance arm of BMW, has launched its M4 Convertible 'Edition 30 Jahre' (Edition 30 Years) special edition model and announced that only 300 numbered examples will be made.

The 450hp drop-top M4 comes two colour choices of Macao Blue metallic (paying homage to the open-top's debut three decades ago) and Mandarin II uni that's reminiscent of the colour Dakar Yellow for the second generation M3 Convertible.

Also, the four-seater special edition features the M Competition Package that consists of a M Sport exhaust system, adaptive M suspension, retuned Dynamic Stability Control for the Sport driving mode and an Active M differential.

Standard fitment includes the company's Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trims for the kidney grille surround, M side gills, model lettering and the 20-inch forged M light alloys in star-spoke design that are exclusively coloured in Orbit Grey matt.

Inside, the cabin is accented by carbon fibre strips as standard for all model variants, while applying Merino leather to match the desired paintwork and in conjunction with the exterior colour Macao Blue metallic, owners get a choice of either Black/Fjord Blue or Black/Silverstone combination.

The exclusive features also comprise of corresponding contrast stitching on the headrests as well as M floor mats with piping in the respective contrasting colour while black interior surfaces get yellow contrast stitching for those who opt for the Mandarin II uni exterior colour.

Occupants are further reminded with the “30 Jahre Edition” badges found on the doorsills and headrests as a signet on the interior trim strip on the passenger side dashboard indicates the number “1/300”.


Help JPJ nab traffic offenders with your phone camera

                PETALING JAYA: Spot someone abusing the highway emergency lane during the balik kampung exodus? Take a picture showing the vehicle registration number and email it with the details to PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

A notice and summons will then be issued to the vehicle owner by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said highway authorities were collaborating with JPJ to monitor traffic through the multiple closed-circuit cameras along the roads.

“The live feed will be monitored by both JPJ and highway authorities, who will feed us information on vehicle registration numbers so we can issue summonses.

“Photos and evidence sent in by the public will also be taken into account. So, send in the details of such incidents to aduantrafik@jpj.gov.my,” he told reporters after joining a PLUS air traffic monitoring trip on a helicopter yesterday.

PLUS Highway alone has about 1,500 cameras placed every 10km or so.

In the Ops Bersepadu that began on June 8, Loke said there were already 83 summonses issued for abusing the emergency lane.

“Please do not misuse the lane as you could be delaying services such as the ambulance and police.

“Don’t think it’s all right to use the lane if you don’t see a police or highway patrol car. The cameras are watching,” he warned.

On the balik kampung exodus, Loke said PLUS was offering a 50% discount on toll rates for two days of peak travel period (yesterday and today).

Travellers will notice that the discount is applicable immediately, unlike previous toll rebate systems that reimbursed the amount to the Touch ’n Go cards after the travel period.

Loke also observed that during Ops Bersepadu, accident rates had gone down compared to the same period last year.

“On PLUS Highway alone, we have had only two fatal accidents so far, compared to 14 last year.

“I also urge heavy vehicles to abide by the ruling issued by the highway authorities and not use the highways on the two days before Hari Raya, unless an exemption has been granted,” he added.

Bernama reported slow traffic flow on several major expressways as at 5pm yesterday because of the balik kampung exodus.

A spokesman at the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) said traffic on East Coast Expressway 1 and 2 was under control.

The public can obtain the latest traffic information by calling PLUSLine at 1800-88-0000 or MHA at 1800-88-7752 or through its Twitter at www.twitter.com/plustrafik and www.twitter.com/llminfotrafik.


Emptied by virus, Lithuanian airport turns into drive-in cinema

                VILNIUS: Organisers of the Vilnius International Film Festival (Vilnius IFF) teamed up with the city's airport to create the Aerocinema drive-in.

They want to offer people the opportunity to go out for a movie amid the month-long coronavirus lockdown that has shuttered cinemas.

"We're offering people a new type of travel through the cinema on the airport tarmac," organiser Algirdas Ramaska told AFP, standing in front of a screen as tall as a five-storey building.

"We were dreaming about it for a while, but it could only come true after aviation virtually came to a halt," he added, referring to the flight ban imposed in mid-March in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Social distancing measures were in place for Wednesday's screening of this year's Oscar-winning film, South Korea's "Parasite".

Around 150 cars on the airport tarmac were parked at least two metres apart, with a maximum of two people per vehicle.

"I felt both strange and excited, when I saw the sun setting, a big screen and planes all around," movie-goer Jolita Vaitkute, 24, said after the screening.

"We can't enjoy flights or cinema right now (under lockdown), but tonight we got both at the same time," she added.

Tickets go for €15 (RM71) per car with proceeds going to the Vilnius IFF, which operates on a non-profit basis.

Last year, Vilnius airport served five million passengers but it has been eerily empty since mid-March when the Baltic EU state imposed its lockdown.

Although some passenger flights will resume on May 10, Ramaska said he expected the drive-in cinema to continue operation through May as air traffic will remain low for some time.

Among the first EU members to ease lockdown restrictions, Lithuania has already reopened open-air restaurants and cafes, along with shops and libraries as infections slowed but cinemas remain closed.

Vilnius mayor Remigijus Simasius has offered cafes free use of public spaces saying he wants the capital to become "one giant outdoor cafe".

The health ministry confirmed 1,375 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 45 deaths as of Wednesday in Lithuania, a eurozone nation of 2.8 million people.


UK car industry calls for EV charger mandate, regulatory oversight

                LONDON: Britain's auto industry called on the country's government on Wednesday to mandate targets for rolling out electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and create a new regulatory body to oversee the market conditions and enforce minimum standards.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement that the industry has come up with a seven-point plan to improve lagging EV charging infrastructure in the country.

That plan includes calling for a national coordinated charging infrastructure plan and significant investments in chargers - especially public chargers.

The SMMT also called for formation of a new regulatory body, called "Ofcharge" or the Office of Charging. It would monitor price levels to ensure charging vehicles was affordable, and "enforce regulated minimum standards."

Britain's government has proposed an effective ban on fossil-fuel vehicles by 2030, while the European Commission has proposed a similar ban from 2035.

But the car industry and other groups say that a lack of public chargers discourages many consumers from adopting a new, unfamiliar technology.

European and US cities planning to phase out combustion engines over the next 15 years also face a major challenge in providing access to enough public chargers for the millions of residents who park their cars on the street. read more

The SMMT said that while the number of plug-in cars on Britain's roads jumped 280% between 2019 and 2021, the number of standard EV chargepoints rose by just 70%.

"This is undermining consumer confidence to make the switch, with range anxiety now replaced by charging anxiety," the car industry group said.

The SMMT said there are also huge, growing regional disparities in charger availability in Britain, which need to be addressed in any infrastructure plan.


Lexus SUV Concept for Detroit debut

                DETROIT: Lexus will reveal a striking new concept that reflects the next genre in luxury crossover vehicles.

Created by the CALTY design studio in Southern California, the Lexus LF-1 Limitless is a flagship crossover that redefines the boundaries of luxury.

The Lexus LF-1 Limitless will be revealed at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which takes place from January 13 till 28.


India to give tax breaks to people who trade in their old cars

                MUMBAI: India will offer tax breaks to owners who hand in their old vehicles for recycling as part of a program that’s aimed at removing millions of gas-guzzling cars and pollution-belching trucks and buses from the roads.

Road-tax rebates of as much as 25% for new cars for personal use and 15% for commercial use will be offered to consumers, Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, said in parliament Thursday.

The nation’s so-called cash-for-clunkers plan was outlined in the Feb 1 budget but details weren’t given at that time.

Automakers are also being urged to offer 5% discounts off new cars if a person offers up their old one. Other incentives include waiving the registration fee for new vehicles and setting a scrap value for old cars that’s at least 4% of a fresh model’s price.

India’s carmakers are counting on the plan to boost sales, which have been badly affected by a widespread fall in demand amid the pandemic-induced recession.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India’s largest SUV maker, last year reported its first quarterly loss in nearly two decades, and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. posted its first-ever loss in the three months ended June 30.

It should also help the environment. The South Asian nation has some of the worst air quality in the world, and the toxic smog costs the country as much as 8.5% of its gross domestic product, according to World Bank calculations, as well as shortening the lives of citizens.

The push to get old cars off roads will also mean that autos more than 20 years old and commercial vehicles more than 15 years old will need to undergo fitness tests.

If the fitness certificate isn’t kept current, those vehicles will be deregistered. It will also cost more to get a fitness certificate for cars more than 15 years’ old, plus vehicles used by various government agencies will be automatically de-registered after 15 years.

India does have a problem with old cars.

Data show that 5.1 million light motor vehicles are older than 20 years and 3.4 million light motor vehicles are older than 15 years.

What’s more, around 1.7 million medium and heavy commercial vehicles are older than 15 years and don’t even have a valid fitness certificate.


New Nissan LEAF with e-Pedal is around the corner

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan is set to unveil its new-generation LEAF early in September, a few days before its public debut at the Sept 16-24 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Undisguised photos of the new LEAF, with a design echoing the Pulsar, are starting to leak out into the press a few weeks before the car's official unveiling.

While the LEAF's look promises to evolve — notably by adopting Nissan's new design codes, especially the radiator grill and lights — it is on comfort and convenience that the new LEAF will stand out from competitors, notably thanks to new e-Pedal technology.

The e-Pedal, which can be activated at any time, lets the driver accelerate, decelerate and stop using just one pedal. It's a world first that has the potential to revolutionise the way everyone drives, if adopted by other car makers (starting with Renault and Mitsubishi).

The LEAF has helped generalise electric car use. Since its launch, Nissan has sold more than 260,000 LEAF cars, which have together covered more than three billion kilometres. It was also named "Car of the Year" in 2011.

In the European market, the current range features three versions (Visia, Acenta and Tekna), all of which have a 30kWh battery promising a range of up to 250km.

The LEAF (or LEAF, for "Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car") was introduced in 2010 in Japan and the United States, and from 2011 in Europe. It is the world's top-selling electric car.


Dakar's women drivers helping their Saudi sisters

A Saudi woman dreams the dream while sitting in the car of Italian driver Camelia Liparoti. — AFP
JEDDAH: They may be few in number but the women who have come to Saudi Arabia to race their vehicles across the sands in this year's Dakar Rally are making their voices heard.

They believe their presence in the ultra-conservative kingdom, which is accused of violating human rights and repressing feminist activists, can help the cause of Saudi women.

Many of the 13 women, from Europe, South Africa and South America, who started the race in Jeddah on Sunday feel the need to speak out for their saudi sisters.

"I am sure it is positive to show everyone here that women can be competitive and strong and I am happy to represent women here," said 34-year-old Spanish biker Laia Sanz, who is taking part in the rally for the 10th time.

The organisers sparked controversy by switching the race from South America to Saudi, which is regularly accused of human rights abuses and the suppression of dissenting voices, including feminist activists.

"It was surprising but I think it's a good thing that we are here in the end," said Sanz.

Saudi Arabia has started a program of economic and social reform, at the instigation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

These include easing the restrictions against women, such as allowing them driving licenses and the possibility of obtaining a passport without the approval of a male guardian.

Saudi women, however, remain largely subject to male guardianship, and the government has stepped up repression of dissidents and feminist activists, some of whom are imprisoned and, in some cases, subjected to torture according to their families and NGOs.

Dakar organisers and drivers "should speak out against the Saudi government's mistreatment of women's rights activists for advocating for the right to drive," said Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch in a statement.

'Man's world'

Italian driver Camelia Liparoti, who is taking part in her 12th Dakar, agrees with Sanz.

"We are fortunate to be female athletes coming (to Saudi Arabia) to compete and able to demonstrate that there are women who do things in a man's world," the 51-year-old with the pink Side-by-Side Vehicle told AFP.

Just three years ago, the country's religious police placed strict controls on men and women, reprimanding anyone who mixed with the opposite sex.

In a change perceived as a new diplomatic strategy designed to change the image of the country on the international stage, Saudi authorities have indicated their desire to open up society by investing massively in staging sporting, cultural and entertainment events.

In recent months, concerts and sports competitions in front of mixed audiences have multiplied in Riyadh and Jeddah.

In October, Riyadh hosted Saudi Arabia's first female wrestling match when Natalya, a Canadian, took on Lacey Evans, an American. Both wore more discreet outfits than they would normally do in the WWE.

Changes

"There have been a lot of changes in recent years, most of them positive," Prince Khaled ben Sultan al-Faisal, president of the Saudi federation of motor sports told the media.

"I am very happy to see women competing on the Dakar."

For Jutta Kleinschmidt, who in 2001 became the only woman to win the Dakar, when it was still run in Africa, "a race like this can make a difference".

"I myself was rather critical because we know that the rights of women are not respected (but) I think it helps," said the 57-year-old German, who is no longer racing.

"It can help women gain confidence," she said.


Germany forms alliance against phase-out of internal combustion engines by 2035

                BERLIN: Germany has formed an alliance with Italy and some Eastern European countries opposing the planned phase-out of internal combustion engines from 2035, and they want to make their own proposal.

Transport ministers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia met on Monday to discuss changes to the European Union' plans.

"The proposal needs changes urgently," German transport minister Volker Wissing said on Monday.

Wissing said the scepticism about phasing out internal combustion vehicles was shared by Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, among others. He added that the group of countries wants a separate category of combustion-engine cars that could run on synthetic, carbon-neutral fuels, after 2035.

"A ban on the combustion engine, when it can run in a climate-neutral way, seems a wrong approach for us," he said.

The CO2 law, the EU's main tool to speed up Europe's shift to electric vehicles, was put on hold earlier this month after last-minute opposition from Germany.

That surprised policymakers in Brussels and other member states, since EU countries and the European Parliament had already agreed to a deal on the law last year.


China debut for Volkswagen's global Passat-style electric

                BEIJING: Volkswagen has picked China to receive the brand's first global fully-electric saloon, which bears a strong resemblance to the evergreen Passat combustion model.

The low-slung ID Aero concept shown in China on Tuesday provides a foretaste of the production-ready Aero, due to go on sale there in the second half of 2023.

Only slight changes are expected when the showroom version of the four-door saloon is unveiled at next year's Shanghai motor show. It will also be sold in North America.

Volkswagen is also planning to start building a European edition of the Aero at its German factory in Emden in 2023. The car will rival the Tesla 3, which is assembled at a huge new factory near Berlin.

The five-metre Aero is the sixth member of the ID family after the models ID3, ID4, ID5 and ID6 as well as the iconic ID Buzz camper van. It is not clear if it will be badged as an ID7.

"With the ID. Aero show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family," said Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter, calling the Aero "an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design."

The car has a range of 620km (WLTP cycle), which makes it suitable for longer journeys. The concept features a 77 kWh battery, with other battery options in the pipeline.

Styling is fairly conventional for the more conservative Asian market with the honeycombs typical for the ID family. The front is horizontally split into two in the bumper.

Further back the ID Aero features a high waistline, with a deep etched swage running from the headlights to the tail-lights which give it a distinctive shoulder line.

The door handles are flush and the wheelbase has been chosen to accept wheels up to 22 inches in diameter. The sporty two-tone wheels have a turbine design and are integrated flush into the wheel housings.

The boot is set high, with a fully-wraparound light bar and an illuminated Volkswagen badge.

With a drag coefficient of 0.23, the ID Aero is likely to be the most aerodynamically efficient of VW’s new wave of electric models.

Volkswagen said it was stepping up its electric offensive in China, with the ID Aero, poised to become the fourth fully-electric model series in China.

Volkswagen said it is aiming to become the leading supplier of sustainable vehicles in China. As early as 2030, it is planned that at least every second vehicle sold in China will be an electric vehicle.