Audi balances dealers and digital solutions during disruption

                PETALING JAYA: The disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing automakers to turn to the online platform more than ever before.

German luxury carmaker Audi has initiated and developed online tools to purchase or reserve vehicles in France and Germany.

But Audi is not stopping there as they are also looking beyond sales, such as consultation and service offers, as part of the online experience for its customers.

 Sales team members wearing protective face masks talk inside the re-opened Audi AG showroom in Hanau, Germany.

As a traditional automaker with an existing network of brick-and-mortar dealers for sales and service, it is important that a balance is struck between online purchases and maintaining the relations with the dealership.

And it looks like Audi has come up with a solution.

Also read: Optimistic about car sales in Malaysia

Recently, an online reservation tool for in-stock vehicles from Audi partners went live in the French market. For  just a 100 euros, customers can immediately reserve available new and used cars from dealers via the Audi website and thus secure their dream car.

The respective dealer will then contact the customer directly and handle the contractual details and delivery of the vehicle, even to the customer’s home, if desired.

This e-commerce solution will gradually be rolled out to other European markets, with the rollout in Spain starting in June.

“We’ve been engaged with the mega trend of digitalization for a long time now. Given the distancing required to contain the global coronavirus crisis, this has now picked up even more momentum worldwide,” said Sven Schuwirth, Head of Digital Experience and Business at AUDI AG.

“As a result, we have been able to very quickly offer a variety of agile solutions that enable a seamless digital customer journey. New e-commerce offerings in conjunction with our dealerships play a key role here. We are increasingly converting our worldwide websites from purely informational tools to true transaction tools.”

Also read: Learn design the Audi way

Audi has also launched an e-commerce project in Germany which will allow customers to buy new cars around the clock directly from an Audi dealer stock. An initial pilot project with one Audi partner is now underway, with additional dealerships to follow successively over the course of the year.

As things are taking off digitally, the Audi pilot project is first starting with cash purchases initially.

However, for the medium term, it is focusing on an end-to-end digital solution for financing and leasing through Audi Bank.

Also, the premium mobility service Audi on demand has been available completely digital since last year.

Malaysians in the meantime can visit the Audi in Malaysia website here which lists Audi dealers and services across the country. PHOTOS by Bloomberg.

Here is the original press release from Audi Singapore.

SINGAPORE, MAY 28, 2020 – Against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis, Audi is intensifying its focus on digital solutions for its customers. The company and its dealerships are integrating e-commerce solutions for purchasing new and used cars in more and more markets.

France is the pilot market for a new online reservation tool, and online sales of new cars from dealer stock have been launched in Germany. But virtual consulting and service offers are also continuing to gain importance.

“We’ve been engaged with the mega trend of digitalization for a long time now. Given the distancing required to contain the global coronavirus crisis, this has now picked up even more momentum worldwide,” said Sven Schuwirth, Head of Digital Experience and Business at AUDI AG.

“As a result, we have been able to very quickly offer a variety of agile solutions that enable a seamless digital customer journey. New e-commerce offerings in conjunction with our dealerships play a key role here. We are increasingly converting our worldwide websites from purely informational tools to true transaction tools.”

An online reservation tool for in-stock vehicles from Audi partners went live in the French market this week. For a lump sum of EUR 100, customers can immediately reserve available new and used cars from dealers via the Audi website and thus secure their dream car.

The respective dealer will then contact the customer directly and handle the contractual details and delivery of the vehicle, even to the customer’s home, if desired.

This e-commerce solution will gradually be rolled out to other European markets, with the rollout in Spain starting in June.

Another e-commerce project has meanwhile been launched in Germany: On a new, Group-wide platform, customers will be able to buy new cars around the clock directly from Audi dealer stock. An initial pilot project with one Audi partner is now underway, with additional dealerships to follow successively over the course of the year.

“The aim is to offer a complete digital solution that is contactless and available 24/7, and that conveniently covers every step of the car purchasing process from any location: from the purchase using various payment options to registration and personal delivery to the desired location by our Audi partners,” said Martin Wallenborn, Head of Business Development Market Germany at AUDI AG.

With respect to financing, the Audi pilot project is first starting with cash purchases. For the medium term, the company is focusing on an end-to-end digital solution for financing and leasing through Audi Bank.

The online shop can now be accessed at https://kaufen.audi.de. This solution will also be rolled out successively in other markets worldwide.

Audi already started online sales of used cars in Germany in autumn 2017. Around 130 Audi partners offer an average of 4,000 used Audi models online here. This sales channel will be moved to the new online platform by the end of the year.

The premium mobility service Audi on demand has also been available completely digitally since last year: Customers in Germany can book their dream Audi online for a period of between one and 28 days at www.audiondemand.de.

The digital reservation and purchasing solutions also feature various tools for online service and consultation. With Audi Live Consultation, for example, Audi is further expanding its digital sales business, offering dealers and customers a contactless alternative to visits to a dealership.

The application connects sales and service staff with customers and potential Audi buyers with the use of data glasses, which enables individual meetings to take place directly at and inside the car, regardless of location.

Audi also recently started answering questions about its vehicles’ equipment details by using video tutorials, such as those at www.audi.de/erklaervideos. Most of the 60 videos currently available here apply across model lines and focus on various aspects such as operation of the navigation system.

Audi dealers, especially those in China, have found creative digital solutions in recent months to keep in touch with customers and to win over new fans. Audi opted for a purely digital format when launching the new Audi A4 L, which is one of the brand’s most popular models in the Chinese market.

An interactive cloud workshop virtually connected Product, Design and Marketing experts from Changchun, Beijing and Ingolstadt with around 800 media representatives. Millions of interested customers experienced a digital “Super Cloud Launch” that included augmented and virtual reality formats in cooperation with a television station.

In addition, Chinese Audi partners have made use of live streams, virtual reality showrooms and 24-hour online consulting to stay in touch with customers. The Chinese market has shown significantly increased interest in e-
commerce.

In the first three months of the year, the company almost tripled the total number of its online transactions from 2019. This means that about one in six Chinese customers initiated their Audi purchase online.


Chevrolet to withdraw from Thailand

                BANGKOK: General Motors (GM) will withdraw Chevrolet from Thailand by end-2020 and sell its Rayong vehicle plant to Great Wall Motors.

This move was part of GM's announcement that it would wind down sales, design and engineering operations in Australia and New Zealand and retire the Holden brand by 2021.

“I’ve often said that we will do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and this is one of those times,” said GM chairman and CEO Mary Barra in a statement.

“We are restructuring our international operations, focusing on markets where we have the right strategies to drive robust returns, and prioritizing global investments that will drive growth in the future of mobility, especially in the areas of EVs and AVs (electric and autonomous vehicles)."

GM had analysed the business case for the Rayong plant, and concluded that continued production was unsustainable due to low plant utilisation and forecast volumes.

Without domestic manufacturing, Chevrolet is unable compete in Thailand’s new-vehicle market.

GM said it would honour all warranties and continue to provide servicing and spare parts in Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand while local dealers will also continue to handle all recall and any safety-related issues.


Nissan Almera Turbo Fuel Efficiency Charity Drive campaign raises RM12,841

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM)'s recently concluded Nissan Almera Turbo Fuel Efficiency Charity Drive campaign has raised RM12,841.

The fun challenge encouraged Almera 1.0L Turbo owners to drive efficiently, submit their outstanding fuel economy result and ETCM will donate to selected charity organisations.

As the charity drive concept was 1km = RM1, RM12,841 was accumulated from a total of 12,841km was recorded and the amount would be given to charities helping people who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The top 20 winners will receive an exclusive Nissan GT-R by LEGO, while the next top 30 will receive a special edition Nissan Duffle Bag.

To continue the excitement, the Almera Test Drive & Win contest is back!

This round, 50 lucky customers will be rewarded with Watsons vouchers worth RM25,000 (RM500 each) when they test drive the Almera at any Nissan showroom or pre-arranged doorstep test drive.

Additionally, customers can enjoy an attractive 1.88% Hire Purchase Interest Rate when they purchase the fuel-efficient Almera, the mother trucker Nissan Navara 2.5L pick-up truck, the rugged Nissan X-Trail SUV or the family-approved MPV Nissan Serena.

The Almera comes with free Urban accessories package worth up to RM5,500 at a sales tax-exempted selling price from RM79,906, while the radically redesigned Navara 4x4 2.5L Turbo is available from RM116,900 with free Premium accessories package worth RM10,150.

The X-Trail with selling price from RM139,643 comes with Aero Edition accessories package worth RM5,000 and the Serena S-Hybrid is available from RM140,226 with free three years maintenance service with parts and labour included.

For details, visit any Nissan showroom, log on to www.nissan.com.my or call Nissan Customer Care Centre Hotline at 1800-88-3838.


2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA: More space, more safety

                STUTTGART: The new Mercedes-Benz GLA compact SUV is taller (10cm higher), has more front headroom and rear legroom, and offers more safety features.

Models with the permanent all-wheel drive system 4MATIC feature the Off-Road Engineering Package as standard.

This comprises an additional driving programme, a downhill driving assist function and in combination with Multibeam LED headlamps, a special light function for off-road driving.

Also, the enhanced functions of the Driving Assistance Package include the turning manoeuvre function, the emergency corridor function, the exit warning function alerting the driver to approaching cyclists or vehicles, and a warning when pedestrians are detected near zebra crossings.

The GLA is able to react when the driver doesn't. Active Brake Assist can apply autonomous braking to avoid a collision or to reduce its severity.

At typical city speeds, the system is also able to brake for stationary vehicles and crossing pedestrians, and avoid collisions.

In the cabin, all-round visibility has also been improved – partly thanks to optimised roof pillar cross-sections, which obscure less of the surroundings.

Included as standard is the intuitively operated MBUX infotainment system (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). It can be activated by voice control, using the keyword "Hey Mercedes".

The 1.33-litre GLA 200 is the entry level turbocharged petrol variant, fitted a 7G-DCT dual clutch transmission, producing 163hp at 5,500rpm and 250Nm of torque at 1,620 - 4,000rpm.

The 2.0-litre GLA 250 and its 4MATIC variant have a 8G-DCT dual clutch transmission, and outputs 225hp at at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque at 1,800 - 4,000rpm.

An EQ Power model with third-generation hybrid drive will be out by June, while the fully electric EQA will follow by year-end.


Could the Toyota Land Cruiser be on its way out?

                LOS ANGELES: The Toyota Land Cruiser may be taking its leave sometime next year.

The rumour mills have been working hard on the interwebs saying that the "invincible" Land Cruiser together with its might 5.7-litre V8 engine might be exiting the US market.

In its place, however, will be the Lexus NX with a downsized 3.5-litre V6 engine that'll be a lot easier on the environment.

But, the Land Cruiser won't be going without a last "hurrah".

Apparently, a Heritage Edition will be introduced with third-row seating and that means silver and grey colour choices will be back on the options list.

With production starting in 1951 and exports in Nov 1955, Toyota finally declared 68 years later in 2019 that it had sold more than 10 million Land Cruisers worldwide.


Govt to complete subsidised diesel control system draft by 2H23, says deputy minister

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government is drafting the subsidised diesel control system (SKDS) which is expected to be completed in the second half of this year, said Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

He said the government is also studying the implications of the potential increase in the cost of goods with the implementation of SKDS.

"The government will offer a different approach to small and medium enterprises to ensure that this sector is not affected by its implementation.

"However, everything is still under study and this system will only be completed in the second half of this year while its implementation date has not yet been set,” he said in a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) who wanted to know the rationale for implementing the initiative and the mitigation steps to assist affected sectors.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Maslan said the government is exploring measures to improve the provision of subsidies in a more targeted manner to reduce leakages and optimise spending on programmes and projects that provide added value to the people and the country’s economy.

The objective is to balance the burden of subsidies with the need to preserve the welfare and well-being of the people, he said.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (PN-Putrajaya) regarding the implementation date for the targeted subsidies as announced by the Prime Minister on Nov 27, 2022, as well as the government's assurance that the price of goods would not increase when it is implemented.

Ahmad Maslan said that a special team has been established under the Finance Ministry to collaborate with the relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to study the need and feasibility of targeted subsidies and identify effective methods that can save time and have the least financial impact on the government.

This includes collecting data from the Road Transport Department, the National Registration Department, and the Inland Revenue Board, he said.

"The eligibility criteria have not yet been decided, but efforts are being made to develop a comprehensive data centre to help the government set appropriate criteria based on the available data.

"The implementation of the provision of targeted subsidies will be carried out in stages, depending on its readiness as well as to maintain the government's focus on ensuring the cost of living of the people, especially the B40 group, is not affected," he added.


Chinese EV maker Nio launches battery leasing service, eyes global market

                BEIJING/SHANGHAI: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio Inc has launched a battery leasing service that will allow drivers to buy an EV without owning the battery pack - one of the most expensive EV components - thereby lowering the starting price of its cars.

The service, called “battery as a service” (BaaS), entails drivers paying a monthly rental fee for use of the batteries.

The cheapest Nio car after subsidies is now an ES6 sport-utility vehicle (SUV) priced 273,600 yuan (US$39,553) without ownership of the battery pack, versus 343,600 yuan including the pack.

“We believe with BaaS, more customers of gasoline cars will consider electric vehicles,” Nio’s chief executive William Li told reporters.

Nio operates 143 battery-swapping stations around China, where drivers can swap spent battery packs for fully charged replacements. Li said Nio was building a new battery-swapping station in China every week and planned to build 300 new stations next year.

Li also said the firm hoped to enter some international markets from the second half of next year starting with some European countries. He added the firm aimed to enter more markets from 2022.

The industry ministry has said it would promote the adoption of vehicles with batteries that can be swapped between different makes and models.

To that end, Nio’s battery packs are the same shape and size across its lineup, which is comprised of three SUVs. EV models from peer BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co Ltd also have standardised batteries.

The batteries for Nio’s leasing service will be supplied by a company established by Chinese battery makers including leader Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd. The company has registered capital of 800 million yuan, a government filing showed.


Low-miler McLaren F1 for sale

LONDON: McLaren is offering one of last F1 for sale. The car with the central driving seat has chassis #069 and is in factory condition, having covered less than 4,506km.

McLaren didn’t say how much it’s asking to offload the car but used F1s have been known to change hands from US$10mil (RM39mil) and up.

The McLaren F1 is regarded by many as the car which rewrote the supercar rule book. With only 64 roadcar examples built between 1993 and 1998, the original McLaren F1 is one of the rarest and highly-regarded models among collectors, enthusiasts and petrolheads.

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) continues to maintain and manage F1s globally.

During 1998, only six examples of the original F1 were completed, and chassis #069 was the 60th model overall to be built in Woking, England. It is presented in Carbon Black complimented by subtle detailing throughout, including a stealth finish to the 17-inch centre-locking magnesium wheels. The central driving seat is finished in black and contrasting red leather, with the dual passenger seats upholstered in Alcantara.

McLaren F1 chassis #069 is registered in Britain with all taxes paid and offered for sale exclusively through McLaren Special Operations Heritage division with fitted luggage, complete Facom titanium lightweight tool kit and Facom tool box, all books and literature, including the correct numbered LM Edition of the ’Driving Ambition’ McLaren F1 book and limited edition McLaren F1 owner’s watch.

Designed by Gordon Murray and Peter Stevens, the McLaren F1 was developed and designed with a no compromise approach, world-beating Formula 1 expertise and technology, and the most driver-focused driving experience at its core.

A true pioneering tour de force, the McLaren F1 was the first road car to feature a full carbon fibre chassis, and with a central driving position, engine bay lined with gold and famed McLaren obsession for technical excellence, is considered a true modern-day automotive icon.

Powered by a custom naturally-aspirated mid-mounted 6.1-litre V12 engine producing 627bhp, it broke the record for fastest production roadcar with a top speed of 390.7kph and, more than 20 years on, still holds the title of fastest naturally-aspirated production road car ever built.


Ferrari hosts Seoul car show as luxury brands flock to S. Korea

                SEOUL: Ferrari NV has opened its first public event in Asia here, joining a growing list of luxury brands flocking to South Korea.

The event, dubbed Universo Ferrari, showcases 22 models, including the recently released Ferrari Roma Spider.

Several iconic models, including a Formula 1 racing car, are also on display at the event, which opened on Thursday.

South Korea has become a magnet for global luxury brands seeking to capitalise on the nation’s growing cultural cache.

LVMH’s largest label Louis Vuitton held its pre-autumn fashion show in Seoul in April, followed by Kering’s Gucci, which hosted a show in May.

Mercedes-Benz Group posted record sales in Korea in 2022, led by “super luxury brands” like Mercedes-Maybach.

“Korea is a very important market for Ferrari, and holding this special exhibition in Seoul is our way of thanking all our owners and fans for their passion and support,” Enrico Galliera, chief marketing and commercial officer at the automaker, said in a statement.

Galliera attended the event with chief executive Benedetto Vigna.

Ferrari sold around 300 cars in Korea in 2022, accounting for about 2.5 per cent of the 12,000 vehicles it sold globally, according to the company.

The four-day event was open to invited guests and clients for the first three days. Tickets for the public for the final day sold out within a minute online, the company said.


China's Xi has mixed feelings about CATL's battery market dominance

                SHANGHAI: Chinese President Xi Jinping told CATL on Monday he had mixed feelings about its status as the world's largest battery maker - remarks that come at a time when the company is rapidly expanding abroad and moving to undercut domestic rivals.

After a presentation by CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun, who described how the company commands 37% of the global battery market, Xi was quoted as saying that he was "both happy and worried", glad about its leading position but concerned about the risks.

Xi was speaking in a closed-door meeting with industry and commerce representatives on the sidelines of the annual session of parliament, according to a statement published by the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

CATL has been building factories overseas and last month agreed to license its technology to a new plant that Ford Motor Co is building in Michigan.

It has also offered to cut costs for Chinese automakers, sources have said, seeking to knock back challenges from smaller domestic rivals such as CALB and EVE Energy, which have factories ramping up this year.

"Emerging industries must do a good job in planning, figuring out how big the market is and where the risks are," Xi was quoted as saying.

"They should avoid marching ahead alone in an invincible fashion, only to be caught out by others and fail in the end."

Xi added that companies need to balance development and security.

CATL did not respond to a request for comment.

Xinhua did not say whether Zeng had responded to Xi, but state broadcaster CCTV reported that Zeng said Xi was very happy with the development of the new energy industry and had asked private companies to lead development and innovation.

Ford deal in focus

Beijing has tightened its grip over the country's biggest companies in recent years, regulating how they do business in and outside China on areas from fundraising to data security.

At the same time, it has come under growing pressure from Washington, which has restricted Chinese companies' access to advanced AI chips and other semiconductors, citing national security.

In an expansion of these tensions, Republican senator Marco Rubio last month asked the Biden administration to review CATL's deal with Ford, saying that it would deepen US reliance on the Chinese Communist Party for battery technology.

China also plans to scrutinise the deal to ensure the Chinese company's core technology is not shared with the US automaker, Bloomberg reported last month.

Dong Yang, an official from China EV100, the country's leading auto industry think tank, this week published a lengthy defence of the deal, saying the benefits of the collaboration far outweighed the risks of technology being leaked.

The Ford-CATL partnership will be win-win for both parties without threatening China's leadership in the EV industry, Dong wrote.


Nissan Juke sets blind J-turn record

SUNDERLAND: The compact crossover Nissan Juke has made the record books for the world's first 'blind' J-turn with the driver using only the car's Intelligent Around View Monitor (AVM) on-board camera technology for guidance.

Stuntman Paul Swift spun the car 180 degrees with all the windows blacked out, using only the Juke's four exterior cameras to position himself.

Amazingly, he equaled the existing "sighted" record – turning the crossover from driving backwards to driving forwards in a space just 18cm longer than its bumper-to-bumper distance.

Nissan's Intelligent AVM system provides the driver with a 360-degree birds' eye view of the car and its surroundings. The four camera images are digitally stitched together and displayed on the NissanConnect dashboard screen, making parking simpler and safer.

"I don't recommend drivers try to park using AVM and a J-turn like I did, but I can really see how using the AVM technology in everyday driving situations would be a real benefit to Nissan customers," said Swift.

Nissan Intelligent AVM also includes Moving Object Detection, which alerts the driver if something – for example, an animal or pedestrian – is close to the vehicle. This gives the driver enhanced awareness of their surroundings and improved peace of mind.

Intelligent AVM is part of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision for a safer and more sustainable driving future. It's also one of the key building blocks of Nissan's move towards ProPilot, the brand's autonomous driving technology. The first Nissan car in Europe to feature ProPilot will be revealed in the next financial year (2017).

"Looking at the 360-degree view on the dashboard screen – rather than over my shoulder through the rear window – was strange at first, but I quickly adjusted," said Swift. "The AVM cameras gave me a clear view of the track so I was confident of staying within the lines."

The highly experienced stunt driver took on the challenge at the home of the Juke – Nissan Manufacturing UK in Sunderland – where more than 100,000 Jukes are produced every year.

The Nissan Juke is no stranger to stunts and record attempts. The compact crossover already holds the record for completing the fastest mile on two wheels.

"This stunt is the perfect demonstration of the Nissan brand promise – Innovation that Excites," said Stewart Callegari, general manager for Advanced Planning, Nissan Europe. "That promise is all about developing technology to make drivers' lives simpler and safer, and Around View Monitor does just that."

The Nissan Juke is Europe's favorite compact crossover, having sold more than any other model – almost 760,000 units since its launch in 2010.


Creta is Hyundai challenger in sub-compact SUV segment

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor has today announced the name of its first sub-compact SUV as Creta. The global roll-out of this all-new model will start in the second half of 2015 in India.

The announcement came with little details but we do know that it is based on the ix25 SUV platform, and will compete with the Mahindra Scorpio, Ford EcoSport, Nissan Terrano, and Renault Duster. Size and interior space will be competitive with its rivals.

As can be seen, the segment is hotly contested and the Creta's success will hinge on its design and pricing. Pricing will be one of its main appeal as Hyundai aims for 90% local content with Creta. A choice of petrol and diesel engines in the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre displacement categories are believed to be in the pipeline for the new model.

ETAuto said the Creta is being developed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore (RM580mil).

Hyundai said Creta would become an influential global model in one of the fastest-growing vehicle segments, helping the company to reach out to many more consumers in new and established international markets.

The name "Creta" derives from the name for Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Crete was the focal point for Greece’s global prowess in trade and culture, in its heyday connecting Europe, Asia and Africa.


Pecca in MoU with MARii on product expansion, EVs parts tech

                KUALA LUMPUR: Pecca Group Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) for market expansion of products as well as collaboration in electric vehicles (EVs) parts and components technology.

In a statement today, Pecca said the MoU would see MARii developing new opportunities for Pecca in its pursuit to expand its capabilities to offer more competitive products to global brands.

This includes the enhancement of operational efficiency of Pecca’s business process by integrating Industry 4.0 systems, which will better prepare and fully equip the group to meet all the requirements of new customers.

In addition, both parties agree to explore the development of automotive manufacturing capabilities for an expanded variety of vehicle parts - including EVs, its localization and after sales support ecosystem.

Pecca group managing director Datuk Teoh Hwa Cheng said: “The full duty exemptions for EVs as proposed in the recently tabled Budget 2022 will certainly broaden the market for EVs and EV-specific components in the country.

“Thus, the collaboration with MARii starting today will mark an exciting journey ahead for the group to start manufacturing new products related to the EV segment to capture fresh opportunities in the automotive and mobility industry,” he said.

He added that in the longer term, the group will also eventually look at venturing into manufacturing EVs and partnering with overseas EV brands for localisation.

“Through this MoU, Pecca will be able to transform itself into a Tier 1 supplier which markets and sells its current and new products to OEMs with access to a larger client base. This is expected to contribute positively to the overall future earnings as well as the earnings per share of the group,” Teoh said.


2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible debuts

                NEW YORK: Chevrolet has revealed the 2017 Camaro ZL1 convertible at the New York Auto Show.

It offers comparable performance to the coupe model, thanks to the Camaro’s modular and rigid body architecture.

As a result, only a few minor structural differences separate the coupe and convertible models, enabling the coupe’s track-honed chassis and driver control systems to carry over unchanged.

Acceleration for the ZL1 is delivered with a new supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine estimated at 640hp and 868Nm of torque, and either a six-speed manual transmission with active rev matching or an all-new 10-speed automatic.

This is the first Chevrolet application of the new quick-shift 10-speed.

By the end 2018, General Motors will introduce the new 10-speed automatic in eight vehicle models.

Handling capability starts with the lightweight, stiffer structure of the all-new sixth-Gen Camaro, married with Magnetic Ride suspension and an electronic limited-slip differential.

The exterior was shaped during more than 100 hours of wind-tunnel testing and on-track validation to improve aerodynamics and cooling for track use.

Other features include 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with 285/30ZR20 front and 305/30ZR20 rear tyres, Brembo brakes with six-piston monobloc front calipers – featuring the ZL1 logo – and massive, 15.35-inch two-piece front rotors.


Beam e-scooters now available at 9 varsities

                KUALA LUMPUR: Beam Mobility has partnered with several Malaysian universities to make Beam’s e-scooters available for use on various campuses across the country.

The company said the move was aimed at encouraging car-free journeys among young Malaysians.

Beam is now available in nine universities:

> Universiti Sains Malaysia Penang (USM)
> Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Perak
> Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Terengganu
> Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah
> International University of Malaya-Wales (IUMW)
> EduCity Iskandar
> Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur
> Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
> Universiti Malaysia Pahang

More universities are expected to adopt Beam e-scooters this year, as currently, more than 1,000 rides are being completed across Malaysian Universities daily.

With Beam’s presence at these campuses, residents, students, and even teachers are now able to easily hop on and off Beam e-
scooters to travel between faculty buildings, lecture halls, sports and leisure facilities, and residential buildings.

At EduCity Iskandar, Asia’s first multi-campus education city, Beam said its e-scooters are used by students from nine universities across its 305-acre campus, connecting people to each of their integrated shared facilities such as the sports complex (EduCity Sports
Complex), a social and coworking space (EduCity Hub), start-up incubation space (FastSpace), and student accommodation buildings (EduCity Village).

While this greatly improves student mobility, the e-scooter usage also reduces on-campus car dependencies and carbon emissions, said Beam.


Hyundai previews all-new Elantra N Line

                SEOUL: Hyundai has revealed the first images and a sneak preview video of the all-new 2021 Elantra/Avante N Line sedan.

The upcoming Elantra N Line adds N brand specific design elements, chassis upgrades and a turbocharged engine to the recently revealed 2021 Elantra.

Watch the Elantra N Line charging along an open road in an arid and nearly desert-like environment.

Hyundai’s high-performance N brand develops fun-to-drive cars that make the driver’s heart beat faster whenever they’re behind the wheel.

Inspired by N brand, N Line trims add sporty design elements and refined powertrain/chassis upgrades to the all-new Elantra recently introduced.


Feb 8-14: All fuel prices down


Ford Mustang 'rips up' streets of Paris in Re-Rendezvous

                BERLIN: Back in 1976, a short clip - “C’était un Rendez-Vous” ("It was a date"), showed a Ford Mustang flying through the streets of Paris, France, in the wee-hours of the morning.

Marking the clip's 40th anniversary, Ford pays homage to it, with a new nine-minute clip that uses the current 5.0-litre V8 Mustang fastback.

The modern clip will provide 360-degree views and can be viewed in virtual reality as it too flies through the streets of Paris in an attempt to recreate the 1976 clip by Claude LeLouch.

The new clip - “Re-Rendez-Vous”, with the Mustang as the star (obviously), was conceived by GTB (Ford’s WPP global agency) in partnership with Lelouch.

“Re-Rendez-Vous” follows a similar route past landmarks that include the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Cœur Basilica, and Montmarte, the twist in this case though, is that the driver is now a woman.

Lelouch achieved Oscar success for the 1966 movie “A Man and a Woman”, in which the main character drove a white Mustang in the Monte Carlo rally.

“I had goose bumps watching ‘C’etait un Rendez-Vous’ forty years later in virtual reality. At the time, my movie was about the feeling of freedom and the pleasure driving generates,” said Lelouch.

“I knew that Ford would do more than just a tribute to the original in this new version. I am delighted to see the Mustang again and to close the loop fifty years after ‘A Man and a Woman’”, he added.

To perfectly recreate the main aspects of the route was a challenge because some roads have long since disappeared.

“Re-Rendez-Vous” is due for an online release later this month and can be seen on mobile devices or, better yet, using a virtual reality headset.

There are plans for the film to be shown online via an expandable banner – a virtual reality first.

“Mustang is a symbol of the freedom and thrill of driving. Recreating Lelouch’s cult short film ‘C’etait un Rendez-Vous’ was the perfect way to capture this spirit for a new audience,” said Ford of Europe director of marketing communications Anthony Ireson.


KLIMS'18: Leoncino250 among three Benellis coming

Leoncino250.
KUALA LUMPUR: MForce Bike Holdings unveiled the Benelli Leoncino250, TRK251 and 502C cruiser at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS 18).

All three bikes use a 250cc in-line four-stroke twin-cylinder liquid cooled engine with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshaft and is fed by a 21-litre fuel tank.

Power is rated 47.6hp at 8,500rpm and 45Nm at 5,000rpm. The engine is mated to a wet multi-plate clutch and a six-speed gearbox, electronic injection with double 37mm throttle bodies - all of which is found mounted within the trellis tube frame with steel plates.

The suspensions on the front consists of an upside-down fork with 41mm legs and 125mm of travel, while the back swinging arm with a centrally-mounted monoshock features an adjustable spring preload and a travel of 50mm.

 TRK251.

Stopping power comes from the front double semi-floating 260mm discs and 240mm rear disc, with a four-piston caliper on the front and a single piston on the back.

Common on all three bikes are the 17-inch wheels, but depending on whether riders want the cruiser-type of the 502C (120/70 and 160/60), an enduro TRK251 (110/70 and 150/60) or the sporty naked appeal of the Leoncino250 (110/70 and 150/60), tyre sizes will differ.

The three bikes will be available in the second half of 2019.

 502C.


CarSifu Auto Show 2022: Perodua

                PERODUA’s latest all-new Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is a roomier and more highly-specified ride compared with the previous model that was introduced in 2009.

The new generation of Malaysia’s all-time favourite seven-seater MPV is now available in three variants of X, H and AV, with on-the-road without insurance prices starting from RM62,500, RM68,000 and RM75,500 respectively.

The new Alza is the second new-generation model after Ativa developed under the Perodua Smart Build blueprint.

The latest MPV also gets the Perodua Smart Drive Assist safety suite which has 4 main pillars under it; Advanced Safety Assist (ASA), Driving Assist, Parking Assist and Headlamp Assist but updated with the all-new Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and 360 Panoramic View Monitor, 1st time for Perodua.

Interior is also roomier with a restyled steering wheel and updated dashboard.

For the X variant, the audio system is a standard type with four speakers while the AV variant audio is equipped with Apple Carplay and Android Auto ready.

While the X comes with 15-inch wheels and a LCD multi-info display, the H and AV move up with 16-inch wheels and a seven-inch TFT multi-info display.

The Alza also appeals with a low ride feeling, a stable ride and easy access, especially for young children and the elderly.

The seats come with a flexible arrangement capability to accommodate various seating or cargo carrying layouts.

The exterior, meanwhile, features a classy grille, LED headlights with follow-me home and LED tail lights.

Powering the new Alza is the 1.5 Dual VVT-i EEV engine with DCVT which gives better performance and fuel consumption of 22km per litre.

Sending power to the wheels is a dual mode Continuously Variable Transmission and three drive modes of Normal, Eco and Power.

While the entry-level X and mid-range H variants are already well-specified to meet the motoring needs of most Malaysians, the AV top model elevates the driving experience to the next level.

Among the extra features of the AV are a two-tone dashboard, two-tone semi-leather upholstery, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), auto brake hold, hill start assist and side skirting among others.

Enhanced safety features of the AV also include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Control, Blind Spot Monitor, 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, reverse camera, integrated digital video recorder, and solar and security window film.

Reserved colours for AV and H variants are the newly introduced Vintage Brown and Garnet Red, while the new Elegant Black and existing Glittering Silver and solid Ivory White are available for all.

The new Alza will be among the latest Perodua vehicles displayed at the CarSifu Auto Show 2022 at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur from Oct 5-9.


Bugatti shows how a Divo is delivered

                PARIS: Happen to be taking delivery of your new Bugatti Divo? Well, if it isn't you turn just yet, here's what to look forward to.

Prior to any of the latest French luxury Divo supercar being delivered, it gets put through an extensive final approval test drive.

Firstly, a special film covers the carbon body with protective covers placed throughout the interior.

Also, a special test cover replaces the underbody to avoid damage to the customer's vehicle.

As the company founder Ettore Bugatti once said that a technical product was perfect only if it was also perfect from an aesthetic point of view.

Outstanding quality and craftsmanship are two important cornerstones in the over 110-year history of this car Atelier.

Four employees and two from the quality assurance department will test every hand-built Divo.

Before the Divo rolls onto the road for the first time after assembly, two employees cover the body with eight square metres of a special protective film.

Instead of the original underbody, they fit an underbody especially for test purposes and replace the original wheels with a set of test wheels.

The technicians check all electronic functions of the vehicle and adjust the chassis including the wheel toe before they undertake a five-hour test drive.

The car is first checked if it complies with the homologation that is required for the region to which it will be delivered as well as the customer's chosen configuration.

Then, the quality inspector tests all electrically operated functions such as the displays, power windows, navigation, sound system and air conditioning system.

After all that, the 8.0-litre W16 engine is fired-up and is driven slowly out for the five-hour drive that around a 300km route through Alsace, France.

The car will weave through the Vosges mountain pass, including public roads and highways,

The test driver checks the response of the Divo's steering, cornering behaviour, shift points and hill starts.

For acceleration and high-speed tests, every Divo drives on the closed runway at the Colmar airport where it can be subjected to various functional tests that require speeds of over 250kph.

Here's is where tests such as Launch Control, driving in the different driving modes, airbrake function, fast lane changes at 170kph, braking behaviour as well as full braking from 160kph to 0, ESP check and whether the full power of 1,500PS and 1,600Nm of torque is also available at 340kph.

After leaving Colmar airport, the car is then driven at a more sedate speed on the motorway in order to cool down the W16 engine

All reactions and noises or impressions that might appear strange or not ideal are recorded on a voice recorder while driving.

After the drive, comments are entered on the vehicle's routing card and is further analysed with colleagues the next day.

The Divo is prepared for the next step only when the trained test drivers cannot hear even the slightest sound that is out of place or feel any disturbing vibration.

After the vehicle returns, the technicians change the gearbox oil as well as the wheels that belong to the car and fit the original underbody.

This is followed by a last one-hour test drive of over 50km in order to issue the final dynamic approval.

Once the technicians remove the body protection, paint artists produce the finish during the course of two whole days.

Four further employees wearing fine, white cotton gloves then check the surfaces for perfect finishing during a more than six-hour audit inspection.

Only when the Divo is standing perfectly in the daylight-bright light beam of the company's own light tunnel can it undergo the last one-hour inspection before it is allowed for delivery.


Go further in your EV with a bit of Ludwig Van B

                LONDON: The type of music playing through the audio system of an electric vehicle (EV) can impact real-world driving range, according to a test study carried out by Kia UK and a leading authority in acoustics, noise, psychoacoustics and sounds science.

The study indicates that playlists featuring ambient classical pieces and famous symphonic-form compositions from the likes of Beethoven can help drivers sustain battery power far better over other types of music genres and artists, including The Weeknd, Kanye West and Adele.

Up-tempo pop, hip-hop, and even soul ballad pop were found to impact EV range due to the effect these genres have in influencing driver behaviour and driving style.

At the centre of the research study was the award-winning Kia EV6.

The all-electric crossover offers a real-world battery range of up to 527km and is one of the few EVs currently on the market that features ultra-fast charging tech that allows the car to replenish its battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

The test was carried out in the top-specification GT-Line S model, which features a powerful 14-speaker premium sound system from Meridian Audio.

The study was overseen by Dr Duncan Williams, a lecturer at the University of Salford’s School of Science, Engineering and Environment. Dr Williams also co-founded WaveTrace, a psychoacoustic consultancy specialising in biometric tracking of human responses to sound and music stimuli.

The trial saw participants – all of whom had never driven an all-electric vehicle prior to the study – get behind the wheel of an EV6 to complete a predefined test route. Over the 28km route, a fixed playlist was played through the car’s Meridian Audio sound system, featuring different music genres and songs.

Before taking the EV6 on the 18-mile test run, each participant was fitted with an Empatica E4, a medical grade wearable device that records biometric measurements.

Dr Williams oversaw the analysis and data measurements from the Empatica E4, with the device focusing on infrared thermopile (shifts in skin temperature), electrodermal activity (fluctuating resistance of the skin that is altered by sweat), and blood volume pulse using a PPG optical sensor. Heartbeat and heat rate variability were also calculated.

“What we found from only two days of testing was that music really can have a dramatic influence on the real-world driving range of an electric vehicle,” said Dr Williams.

“Different songs resulted in varying electrodermal activity and blood volume increase for each of the participants,” added Dr Williams. “This had a knock-on effect on driving style, and ultimately influenced the real-world driving range of the EV6.

“In short: if you want to go further, listen to the likes of Beethoven and other relaxing classical music; if you’re not worried about range dropping a little more quickly, by all means put on some more high tempo tracks.”


Woman’s RM909,999 bid for ‘FF9’ plate raises eyebrows

Wong with her McLaren sports car, with a number 9 plate. — Pic from her Instagram@lovedevon99
PETALING JAYA: The frenzied bidding for the special “FF” number plate series has cast a spotlight on entrepreneur Ivon Wong.

Her eye-watering bid of RM909,999 for the coveted FF9 plate caught the attention of curious netizens.

“So this beautiful lady bought number plate FF9 for RM909,999??” someone posted.

Wong, 35, however, explained that she did not end up getting the number plate as she was outbid by RM2,000 after someone else pitched in RM911,999.

“People have been asking me why I made the bid for the number plate,” she said.

The FF9 number plate, she said, was significant to her as a way to remember her beloved pet Fei Fei, which died three years ago.

“It represents cherished memories and the bond that I shared with my dog Fei Fei,” she said yesterday.

Furthermore, she said she had two cars – a McLaren 720S and a Mercedes – with “9” on the number plate as well.

Wong, who is in the retail and beauty line, said Fei Fei had been a faithful companion to her.

“When I came home from work or when I was going through difficult times, Fei Fei was always there to greet me,” she said.

Though she did not manage to get the FF9 number plate, Wong said she was not sad about it.

She said she would continue to use her platform to raise awareness on mental health, something she felt strongly about.

“I came from a single parent home, a close-knit family that faced financial struggles. This early experience instilled in me the value of perseverance, hard work and resourcefulness.”

Her company recently embarked on a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme called “Peace of Mind” aimed at supporting mental health awareness and relaxation techniques.

The special “FF” number plate series was launched to mark the 77th anniversary of the Road Transport Department (JPJ). The online bidding ended on May 19.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Monday that the special “FF” number plate series had raked in a record revenue of RM34,296,327.


Volvo Cars inaugurates new battery assembly plant

                STOCKHOLM: Volvo Cars has formally inaugurated its new battery assembly line at its Belgian manufacturing plant in Ghent, where it will start building its first fully electric car - the XC40 Recharge P8, later this year.

The inauguration is the latest proof point for Volvo Cars’ ambitious electrification strategy and its climate action plan with the aim of reducing its lifecycle carbon footprint per car by 40% between by 2025 - as the first step towards its goal of becoming a climate-neutral company by 2040.

Over the next five years, Volvo Cars will launch a fully electric car every year, as it seeks to make all-electric cars 50% of global sales by 2025, with the rest being hybrids.

Recharge will be the overarching name for all chargeable Volvos with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain.

“I am pleased to celebrate this momentous occasion with our employees here in Ghent,” said Geert Bruyneel, head of global production operations. “As the first of our plants to get a battery assembly line, Ghent plays a pioneering role as we continue to prepare our manufacturing network for electrification.”

Over the coming years, battery assembly will become an important part of Volvo Cars’ global manufacturing operations as it continues to electrify its entire line-up. The Ghent plant will provide important learnings to other manufacturing sites in terms of process optimisation and efficiency.

Earlier this year the company announced the planned construction of a battery assembly line at its US plant outside Charleston, South Carolina. Construction of that assembly line is expected to start this fall.

The company will also build battery electric vehicles at a Volvo-operated manufacturing plant in Luqiao, China, where Volvo cars based on the CMA platform are built alongside models with similar underpinnings from sister brands Polestar and LYNK & CO.

Last year, Volvo Cars signed long-term supply agreements with two leading global battery suppliers, CATL of China and LG Chem of South Korea. The agreements cover the supply of batteries over the coming decade for next-generation Volvo and Polestar models, including the XC40 Recharge P8.

Ghent is one of two car manufacturing plants operated by Volvo Cars in Europe and has produced Volvos since 1965. At the moment it employs around 6,500 people.

The XC40 Recharge P8 is the first of a family of fully electric Volvos. It is the company’s first fully electric car and the first Volvo with a brand new infotainment system powered by Google’s Android operating system.

As a fully electric version of the best-selling XC40 SUV, the first Volvo to win the prestigious European Car of the Year award, the XC40 Recharge P8 is based on CMA, an advanced modular vehicle architecture co-developed within the Geely Group.


VW may sideline Audi, link with rivals in new 10-year plan

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess will outline a 10-year plan on Nov 16 to slash research costs by working with rivals, a step which would sideline Audi as the group’s leading development centre.

The chief executive will present his plan at a meeting of the German carmaker’s supervisory board, two sources told Reuters.

It will explore potential alliances with Ford and others to develop autonomous and electric vehicles (EVs). If approved by the board, it would signal a major departure from VW’s standalone efforts to build them and diminish Audi’s importance as an engineering hub.

Automakers globally are considering teaming up to save money on development, which cost VW US$13.1 billion in 2017, in the race to get EVs and self-driving cars on the road.

Savings are particularly important for VW as it tries to get its business back on track after an emissions scandal. It faces a big bill to make its combustion engines comply with new anti-pollution rules.

“The strategy plan doesn’t only cover the next five years, but looks a decade ahead,” one of the sources said.

A VW spokesman declined to comment on the agenda of the company’s next supervisory board meeting.

Audi spokesman Peter Oberndorfer said no formal decisions have been taken about reassigning Audi’s responsibilities on autonomous driving within the group.

Diess also aims to cut duplicate efforts on technology development among VW’s different brands, and to seek greater economies of scale by partnering with software companies, carmakers and battery cell manufacturers.

The strategy could also deepen existing cooperation with Ford.

This could include the US carmaker supplying a pickup truck platform and some engines to VW, one of the sources said. VW could also buy a stake in Ford’s autonomous cars program and give Ford access to its MEB electric cars platform, they said.

Ford has said it has an agreement with VW to discuss potential collaborations across a number of areas but it was premature to provide details.

VW and Ford are under pressure to roll out more EVs in Europe, after the emissions scandal, which originated at Audi.

Emissions rules in Europe are still being finalised but VW would need to raise its share of fully electric vehicles to 30 percent of new car sales to cut average fleet emissions of carbon dioxide by 30 percent by 2030.

Tighter grip

Audi, whose slogan is Vorsprung durch Technik or Advantage Through Technology, has been VW’s research and development hub for decades. But its engineers developed the engine management cheating software that masked excessive pollution levels.

The departure of senior Audi executives after the scandal has left a leadership vacuum just as carmakers are trying to keep up with innovations by software and technology companies.

Audi’s stumble also comes as Diess is tightening his grip on the sprawling multi-brand car and trucks group, which includes Skoda, Seat, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ducati, Scania and MAN.

To cut the costs of developing an electric car platform for premium vehicles, VW has already bundled development between Porsche and Audi.

“The pendulum is swinging back in the direction of centralisation,” said a senior Volkswagen executive.

Audi has been developing autonomous technology for VW, Audi and Porsche. It built the A8, a car with advanced self-driving features, but its efforts for a fully autonomous car have fallen behind rival companies like Alphabet Inc’s Waymo.

“We want to have access to a self-driving system and we are speaking with relevant players. It is very expensive to develop and others are already well advanced,” Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter said in a phone call with reporters on Tuesday.

Diess fears German carmakers will lose their edge unless they make radical changes. He said last month there was a 50-50 chance they would still be among the global elite in 10 years’ time.

Electric cars are still too expensive to produce for mainstream consumers to afford them and so carmakers must find savings or greater economies of scale to make them cheaper.


iPhone or Apple Watch as car key: Genesis signs on

                PARIS: Unlocking your car door with your iPhone or Apple Watch is so far only possible for the owners of a few BMW models.

Unveiled nearly two years ago, the CarKey system is still struggling to sign up carmakers.

Nevertheless, Hyundai, through its premium brand Genesis, should soon offer this system to its customers, according to a Bloomberg report.

The principle of CarKey allows you to add your key, in digital form, in the Wallet app of your iPhone.

Once the pairing of the iPhone and the car is completed, you can then open your door, simply by placing the phone near the handle.

To start the engine, simply place your smartphone in the dedicated compartment. This technology is made possible thanks to Ultra Wideband wireless protocol and contactless communication technology, integrated into the smartphone through the presence of an NFC chip.

After BMW pioneered this service, it's Genesis that should offer this feature to its customers later this year.

The brand is already well established in the United States and has recently entered the European market.

Meanwhile, Apple could announce new features associated with CarKey this spring, during its conference for developers, the WWDC.

Announcements that could help convince new carmakers to integrate the system into their models.


Proton and Yes 4G offers free smartphones and data plan

                SHAH ALAM: Proton and YTL Communications have enhanced their collaboration with a free "Proton YES Altitude Plan" package where customers get a smartphone and 4G LTE data usage of up to 16GB monthly for a year.

The free package is for all Proton cars of Executive variants and above.

“The offer is valid while stocks last. We are confident that this special offer of great connection through the YES network which is a global frontrunner of 4G Internet, with two robust mobile networks (4G LTE with VoLTE and 4G Broadband) and has a coverage of 85 per cent of the population nationwide, will benefit customers,” said Proton CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali at the DRB-Hicom Auto Fest held over the weekend at the EON headquarters in Glenmarie.

“Customers can now also download the MyProton application with the YES Altitude 4G LTE smartphone to test drive cars, book service appointments and get details on Proton cars and its offerings. The application is available for both iOS and Android systems,” added Ahmad Fuaad.

Meanwhile, YTL Communications CEO Wing K Lee noted that more vehicle drivers are using data for navigation, communications, entertainment and ride-sharing.

“Mobile Internet is steering the future of driving, and connectivity in cars is becoming a highly desired feature. As the first nationwide all-4G service provider, we aim to bring a high performance connected lifestyle to Malaysians, and we are pleased to do so through the newly enhanced Proton YES Altitude Plan exclusively for new Proton customers," he said.

Also present were Proton Edar CEO Rohime Shafie, Proton deputy CEO Datuk Radzaif Mohamed as well as YTL Communications executive director Datuk Yeoh Soo Keng and deputy CEO Jacob Yeoh.


Virus may spur people to buy more cars, says Ford chief

                DETROIT: As Ford moves to reopen next week with rigorous social distancing measures, the head of the company downplayed concerns about a decline in sales, saying consumers may want greater control over their personal space because of the coronavirus.

"Vehicles will be important in the future as you want to control your own environment," Jim Hackett, the chief executive of Ford, said in an interview on CNN. Public transit and other crowded spaces may raise fears of contagion.

The carmaker wrote up a 70-page handbook on reopening. It plans to use social distancing and strict hygiene procedures to allow its workers to safely get back to work, including a high-tech wristwatch that will sound an alarm if people get too close to each other.

Temperature checks will be done consistently and eventually testing will be part of the regular routine.

Ford is among a number of automakers in the US starting to get back to work, after reopening some plants abroad, but it remains unclear how many employees at the companies may end up losing their jobs in the recession.

Hackett warned that while shutting down parts of the economy was necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus, a prolonged shuttering of workplaces will have detrimental effects on its own.

Michigan, were Ford is based, has experienced one of the worst outbreaks in the US. The governor is looking for a further decline in infection rates before moving to the next stage of reopening. The state's current state-at-home order expires May 28.


Mexico City bans 40% of cars again over air pollution

                MEXICO CITY: City officials issued a new air pollution alert that forced 40% of vehicles off the road today, while industries were required to cut emissions.

Smog in the megacity of more than 20 million people worsened in March, prompting authorities to issue the first alerts in a decade and impose new traffic restrictions through June.

The new rules keep one-in-five cars off the road every day, but the alert issued on Monday doubled the ban today. Some 5.5 million vehicles circulate on normal days.

The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis, which includes authorities from the capital and surrounding states, also ordered cement, chemical, pharmaceutical, oil and power companies to reduce emissions by as much as 40%.

The alarm was raised after ozone levels reached 161 points, above the 150 level. The threshold was lowered from 190 to 150 last month.

Before the new air quality alert was issued, the environmental prosecutor's office warned that it may shut down and fine five companies that did not allow authorities to check their emissions during a pollution emergency in the greater Mexico City area in March.

Three of the companies are subsidiaries of US firms, while one is based on Canada.


BMW offers five years unlimited mileage warranty

                KUALA LUMPUR: The race to grab and retain customers is heating up with BMW touting what it says is the most  comprehensive ownership experience in the premium segment.

It is offering five years unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled services for all BMW vehicles including all M models and the i8 registered from June 1.

The warranty programme offers an extended coverage from the third ownership year, where a manufacturer-backed warranty will be offered up to the fifth year with unlimited mileage. By extension, the programme also includes free scheduled service and maintenance of up to 100,000km.

The scope of services made available with the new warranty programme is in accordance to the BMW Condition Based Service (CBS) status and includes a service vehicle check, engine oil service with oil filter and refill quantity. Components covered include air filters, fuel filters, micro filters, spark plugs, and brake fluid while components such as front and rear brakes which includes discs and pad as well as windscreen wipers are now excluded.

BMW owners will be entitled to the warranty programme based on the scheduled service recommended by the manufacturer at any authorised BMW dealers.

In the event that servicing has been carried out by a non-authorised workshop, BMW authorised dealers have the right to reject any claim where the cause of the defect is due to inadequate recommended servicing or the use of non-original parts.

Access to these services is based on the assumption that the car has been driven properly and have been serviced as recommended by the manufacterer. Any damage to the interior and exterior of the vehicle due to improper vehicle usage, or consumables, wear and tear parts including halogen bulbs and remote key batteries are not covered.

"With the new ownership programme, our customers will be able to further enjoy the best-in-class service for their BMWs on top of an uncompromising driving experience,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director and CEO Alan Harris.


New Alfa Romeo Giulietta revealed

TURIN: The facelifted Alfa Romeo Giulietta has been unveiled simultaneously in five locations across Europe, with the main event taking place in the Alfa Romeo Museum, Arese.

Further enhancing the range, following its extensive revision in 2014, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta features revised front-end styling that includes a striking new honeycomb grille, piano black bumper inserts (with red highlights on sporty models) and revised headlamp and fog lamp surrounds.

Making its debut is the new 120hp 1.6 JTDM-2 turbo diesel combined with the Alfa TCT twin dry-clutch transmission.

The new look emphasises the Giulietta’s close ties with the new Giulia sports saloon and is complemented by new badge designs (both the “Alfa Romeo” and “Giulietta” logos), new alloy wheel designs, revised tail pipes, new colours (Alfa White and Lipari Grey) and a new engine and transmission combination.

The Giulietta is equipped with a host of features developed by Magneti Marelli - from lighting devices to powertrain, suspensions and exhaust systems.

Inside the Giulietta are revised seat upholsteries, dashboard and door panel finishes, a Uconnect infotainment system now with smartphone-enabled LIVE services (music streaming with Deezer and TuneIn, news with Reuters, Facebook Check-In and Twitter, plus eco:Drive and my:Car services and traffic updates for navigation-equipped models).

Also debuting on the new Giulietta is Alfa Performance, a new service specifically created to enhance the driving experience. Using an array of digital gauges and instruments, drivers can control the main parameters of the car, measure their performance using special timers and see driving statistics on their smartphone, in addition to receiving real-time driving tips. The service is available on Uconnect 6.5” Radio Nav LIVE.

Under the bonnet there’s now the option of combining the 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel engine with the Alfa TCT twin dry-clutch transmission. Employing second-generation MultiJet technology with a variable geometry turbo charger, this engine produces 120hp at 3,750rpm and  320Nm of torque from just 1,750rpm and, when paired with Alfa Romeo’s quick-shifting and smooth Alfa TCT transmission, it can be used as a full automatic (with its responsiveness and shift patterns adjusted via the three-mode Alfa DNA drive selector, along with the power steering assistance, ESC and Q2 electronic differential settings and throttle and brake responsiveness) or as a full manual, either by slotting the gear selector into its sequential gate or by using the steering wheel paddle shifters.

This engine and transmission combination has a top speed of 195kph and can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 10.2 seconds, while its official combined cycle fuel-economy and emissions figures matches those of the manual version, returning 3.8 l/100 km and producing just 99 g/km of CO2.

The refreshed style elements are accompanied by a comprehensive standard equipment list which includes a leather steering wheel with audio remote controls, air conditioning, five-inch Uconnect LIVE with Bluetooth connectivity, the Alfa DNA selector, six airbags, 16-inch ‘Turbine’ alloy wheels, one-touch electric windows all round and steering-wheel paddle shifters on TCT-equipped models.

The engines available include the 120hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel and 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.

In Europe, the Giulietta line-up features three trim levels (Giulietta, Giulietta Super and Giulietta Veloce), two new packs (Veloce and Lusso) and nine engine versions, including the new 1.6 JTDm 120 HP TCT turbo diesel.  The palette to choose from includes 11 body colours, comprising the new Alfa White and Lipari Grey, 12 different alloy rims (each size with one new pattern) and two more packs (Comfort and Visibility) to meet varied customer needs.

The introduction of the new Giulietta was staged simultaneously on Wednesday at an international event called “Fuel your Instinct” in five cities. The central event was held in the Alfa Romeo Museum (La Macchina del Tempo / The Time Machine) in Arese, headlined by a special DJ set by British singer and songwriter Skin, with simultaneous musical events in Turin, Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt, all featuring high-profile local DJs, musicians and celebrities.

The car will make a public debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March before going on sale in Europe from April.


Toyota Vios Challenge - Final day race results

                MEDINI CITY: With clouds looming in the afternoon and temperatures dropping, the final race day of the Toyota Vios Challenge got off to a screeching start with plenty of action and one scandinavian-flick to end the day.

Leading the pack of the Sporting Class was Wong Chin Eeg of Hiewa Racing Team in Car 5, followed closely by Brendan Paul Anthony of Team Dream Chaser in Car 22.

By lap three of the 22-lap race, the duo had amassed a four second lead over the rest, but Brendan managed to pressure Wong into a mistake to take the lead with a 1.5-second gap.

Lap 11 saw drama, with Clement Yeo Ing Chai of Team Distinctive Model in Car 8 diving in on the inside of turn one (a 90-degree left hander) during an overtaking manoeuvre, only to find Shanmugganathan Arumugan's Car 69 already making his turn.

Both cars came together and the shunt caused them to careen hard into the water barrier for a big splash causing the turn to be permanently yellow-flagged for the remainder of the race.

After 30 minutes of racing, the chequered flag fell on lap 21, awarding the top spot to Brendan with Wong just 2.140 seconds behind in second and Kenneth Koh Keik Lun of Panglima Racing Team in Car 28 taking third, 5.877 seconds later.

As the nine cars of the Promotional Class lined up on the grid to begin their second race, the sun was hidden behind dark clouds while a light drizzle ensued.

Favourite, Shawn Lee of Car 6, made a good start and took a wide line into turn-one to carry as much speed as possible, while Shukri Yahya in car 24 mirrored his racing line to maintain a close second.

On the second lap, it was clear the two drivers would be battling it out for the top spot after developing a 10 second lead over the pack.

Unfortunately, the safety car was deployed on the third lap after Janna Nick in Car 18 slammed the left side of her car into the barrier .

Lap five saw the safety car return to the pits, but Shawn was caught off guard by Shukri going into turn one by diving in on the inside to take the lead, leaving third-place sitter Fattah Amin in Car 9 to witness the deed.

A lap later, Fattah tried to mimic the same move, but Shawn managed to close the door and began to set his sights on closing in on Shukri. On lap seven, Shawn managed to regain the lead, taking Shukri on the inside around the hairpin turn.

While in fourth place on lap 10, Danny Khoo in Car 23 carried too much speed into turn one on the now greasy circuit from the brief drizzle and under-steered heavily into the outside wall.

The severe damage to his car placed him out of contention, prompting both the safety car (again) and the tow truck to be deployed - wiping away Shawn's massive gap for a second time.

Four laps later, it was back to racing with Shawn catching Shukri off-guard by gunning his throttle sooner than expected before the start-straight to ensure he was well ahead for anything to happen.

Again, the two drivers gradually broke away from the main group as the drizzle died away.

By the time the chequered flag fell after 30 minutes of racing on the 20th of 22 laps, Shawn had managed to keep the lead with Shukri relegated to maintaining his second place finish 2.486 seconds behind and Fattah following 11.217 seconds later for third.

The last and final race of the day was the Super Sporting Class, which initially began cleanly while the rain clouds remained subdued.

While pole-sitter Keifli Othman of Team Laser Motor Racing in Car 63 and Tengku Djan Ley of Team Nanoplus in Car 12 moved out wide to take turn one, Wong Yew Choong of ST Wangan Racing Team in Car 21 attempted to cut in from the third row, forcing Djan wide but managed to escape damage.

Soon the entire pack formed a train of cars for the next few laps as race-leaders Keifli, Djan and Syafiq bin Ali of M7 Racing Team in Car 7 formed a four second breakaway group with less than a second separating the trio.

By that time, the sun was back out to dry off any remaining moisture to allow more heat into the tyres, allowing them to screech more, as Syafiq began poking the nose of his car at every little opportunity to pass Djan who had Keifli in his sights.

Lap nine saw Keifli and Djan pulling away with a two second gap from Syafiq as the race approached mid-way.

Djan seemed hell-bent on finding a way around the steadfast Keifli  as both cars began shaving the walls with their wing-mirrors and Syafiq left to observe the action in third place.

But, Keifli seemed to be able to carry more speed out of the corners compared to Djan later on and by lap 18, a 2.356 second gap had opened up. And as Djan struggled to keep up, he had over cooked his brakes and had problems slowing down allowing Syafiq to begin breathing heavily down his neck just 0.578 seconds behind.

With one more lap to go, Syafiq went for the inside line going into turn one, but wasn't able to carry enough speed out of it, forcing Djan to take a wide unique line by going deeper into the corner and flicking the rear out to cut Syafiq back on the inside while going wide to regain second place and onwards to finish 4.684 seconds behind race winner Keifli.

Unfortunately, as Syafiq tied chasing Djan back after the shuffle, he picked up a puncture after touching a wall and was robbed of this third place finish with Ho Wil Liam in Car 39 passing him by to take third place 14.653 seconds later.

The Toyota Vios Challenge race series now looks back to Kuala Lumpur for the season finale in March.


Rolls-Royce celebrates South Korea in automotive form

                SEOUL: To mark the country's growing affection for the luxury automotive brand, Rolls-Royce has created its first ever Bespoke Collection dedicated to South Korea.

Presented at the British embassy here, the two cars, a Ghost business sedan and a Wraith grand tourer, were produced to reflect the very different personalities of the country's two biggest cities -- Seoul and Busan. And they arrive in the country as demand for Rolls-Royce cars spikes. Registrations in April are up 33% year-on-year and the company has just opened a Studio in Incheon to aid clients seeking to personalize their new cars.

"With this pair of bespoke cars we have created individual, personal spaces that at once embody the vibrant cities that they inhabit," said Giles Taylor, Director of Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "Our team of Bespoke designers at the Home of Rolls-Royce relished the opportunity to explore Korean aesthetics and the result is a union of intricate detailing with clean, elegant color schemes."

Therefore, the Ghost Seoul Edition is finished in white with black, red and blue elements symbolic of the country's flag, while the hand-painted coachlines feature an illustration of the Namsan Seoul Tower.

Inside, the company has taken inspiration from a traditional black tie event, with black and white contrasting leather dressing the massage function seats. The Namsan Seoul Tower image reappears as a silver detail inlaid into the piano black dashboard veneer and the piano black finished rear seat picnic tables.

As it's an exciting coastal city, Rolls-Royce chose to represent Busan with its sportiest model, the Wraith. It is finished in Royal Blue and Jubilee Silver with a Blushing Pink coachline. The Spirt of Ecstasy emblem protruding from the radiator grille is backlit for added drama and there's a geometric pattern applied to the car's rear pillars inspired by the modern architecture of the region.

Inside, the seats are wrapped in contrasting blue and silver leather with pink stitching and, like in the Ghost, the dashboard fascia and door panels are finished in piano black veneer.

"Like a fine suit, some of the most pleasing bespoke touches in a Rolls-Royce are hidden to anyone but the owner, or may reveal themselves only by chance to the passer-by. Like the colourful lining of a jacket fleetingly exposed by a gust of breeze, as these cars momentarily come to a stop in the city the lucky bystander can look forward to a glimpse of the hidden depths of the unique design," said Taylor.


Porsche plant workers agree to less pay to produce electric car

BERLIN: Porsche workers have agreed to concessions worth several hundred million euros to secure production of an all-electric sports car at the manufacturer's biggest plant, a spokesman for the company said.

The Volkswagen-owned manufacturer said earlier this month it would spend about 1 billion euros at its base in Zuffenhausen and create more than 1,000 jobs there to build the battery-powered "Mission E" model.

But wage costs of the 13,000 workers employed at Zuffenhausen exceed those at Porsche's other German factory in Leipzig and at a VW plant in Osnabrueck where Porsche's Cayman and Cayenne models are assembled, a source at Porsche said.

"Employer and employees have jointly drawn up measures that have led to the decision of producing the Mission E model at Zuffenhausen," a spokesman for Porsche said on Tuesday, confirming a report by German magazine Automobilwoche.

Cost-cutting measures agreed between workers at Zuffenhausen and management include steps to raise the workweek to 35 hours from 34 and to drop parts of a pay increase between 2016 and 2025, the magazine said. Porsche declined comment on details of the measures.

Porsche's works council did not return calls seeking comment.


Toyota again leads US auto reliability survey

The Toyota RAV4.
DETROIT: Two Toyota brands again led the annual reliability survey from Consumer Reports magazine, and General Motors Co's Buick was the first American brand in at least 35 years to crack the top three, the consumer magazine said on Monday.

It was the fourth straight year that Lexus and Toyota finished in the two top spots, and they have had an outstanding performance since Consumer Reports began tracking brand reliability in the early 1980s.

Buick, a "near-luxury" brand, does well in the survey because it has few models and none of the pickup trucks or truck-based SUVs that hurt the ratings of GM stablemates Chevrolet and Cadillac, said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.

Asian carmakers still dominate for reliability, with seven of eight brands deemed "more reliable" based in Japan or South Korea. Volkswagen AG's luxury Audi brand was the only German manufacturer among the eight "more reliable" brands.

In the past decade, all brands in Consumer Reports and other third-party surveys have had improvements in reliability, especially the major US automakers GM, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler, now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Fiat Chrysler still lags far behind. Its brands took the bottom four spots in the 29-brand survey. Its most successful brand in terms of sales and reliability is its Jeep SUV lineup, which gained four slots to No. 23.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd's luxury brand Infiniti was most improved from last year, gaining 16 places in the survey.

Favourable results do not always mean better sales. Still, many US consumers use the ratings as a key factor in purchasing decisions. The top-selling models from each for the three major US brands are pickup trucks, which fare poorly in reliability studies.

Fisher said large pickup trucks' drive systems are more complex and raise consumer concerns, and "these trucks are now sold with much more power equipment and in-car electronics, so there are many more things to go wrong." Toyota's Tundra was rated the top full-size pickup truck by a large margin.

The fourth US automaker, Tesla Motors Inc, the electric car maker, finished at No. 25. Consumer Reports recommended the Tesla Model S but the "Model X SUV has been plagued with malfunctions, including its complex Falcon-wing doors."

Among the hot-selling SUV market, the consumer advocacy magazine named best in category, small to large, as the Chevrolet Trax, Toyota RAV4, Toyota 4Runner and Ford Expedition.


China's CATL unveils sodium-ion battery — a first for a major car battery maker

Huang says the sodium-ion batteries perform well in cold-weather and fast-charging scenarios.

BEIJING: China's CATL today became the first major automotive battery maker to unveil a sodium-ion battery, saying it planned to set up a supply chain for the new technology in 2023.

As electric vehicles become increasingly popular, demand for key battery ingredients, particularly cobalt, has spiked.

That has spurred car and battery makers to seek alternatives to the current three main technologies - nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA), nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The sodium-ion batteries do not contain lithium, cobalt or nickel. It did not disclose cost details of the new batteries.

CATL, China's top car battery maker with a market value of almost US$200 billion, also unveiled a battery pack that integrates sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries.

The energy density of its new sodium-ion batteries is still lower than that of LFP batteries, Huang Qisen, deputy head of CATL's research centre told an online briefing. But he added that they perform well in cold-weather and fast-charging scenarios.

CATL, which competes with Japan's Panasonic Corp and South Korea's LG Chem, has over 5,000 researchers, its chairman, Zeng Yuqun, told the briefing.

It is also developing other technologies that integrate battery cells directly onto an electric vehicle's frame to extend its driving range.

Automakers that CATL supplies include Tesla Inc, Volkswagen AG and Geely.


Ex-Tesla executive's auto retail startup Tekion turns unicorn

Vijayan's company offers end-to-end services in selling vehicles, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.
SAN FRANCISCO: Tekion Corp, a cloud-based automotive retail startup founded by a former Tesla Inc. executive, has raised US$150 million from backers led by private equity investor Advent International, lifting its valuation to over US$1 billion.

The four-year-old startup, whose cloud software connects manufacturers, dealers and car buyers on a retail platform, drew investments from Index Ventures, Airbus Ventures, FM Capital and Exor - the holding company of Fiat-Chrysler and Ferrari - in the Series C financing round, it said in a statement Wednesday.

The company already has backing from a number of global automakers, including General Motors Co, BMW AG and the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance.

The San Ramon, California-based technology company, was founded by Jay Vijayan, a former chief information officer of electric vehicle giant Tesla, to offer end-to-end services in selling vehicles, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.

The latest investment will allow Tekion to scale and expand to international markets like Japan and India as well as Europe next year, according to Vijayan.

“Car buying is a painful ordeal bogged down by price haggling with salesmen and inordinate waiting times at dealerships,” said Vijayan, speaking on the phone from San Ramon, 38km east of here.

Tekion wants to remove operational inefficiencies in auto retail and build a customised experience. “Our OEM clients are pleased with the speedy and remote rollout of the platform during the pandemic,” he said.

After going live late last year, Tekion currently has partnerships with 17 manufacturers and dozens of prominent dealers in over half of the states in the US. The platform helps automakers manage processes ranging from vehicle buying to maintenance and customer engagement.

“Today’s consumers receive outstanding personalised retail experiences from companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Disney,” Vijayan said in a statement announcing the funding. “Why shouldn’t they expect the same in their vehicle acquisition and service needs?”


Europe needs ambitious charging plans for 130 million EVs by 2035, says report

                LONDON: Governments and utilities need ambitious plans to cut red tape to install vehicle chargers if Europe is to be ready for 130 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035, a new report from EY and Eurelectric said today.

According to "Power sector accelerating e-mobility," by the professional services group and Europe's utilities trade body, Europe will need 65 million EV chargers - 9 million public and 56 million residential - to handle the huge growth anticipated in EVs from the 3.3 million on Europe's roads today.

One in 11 new cars sold in the European Union in 2021 was fully electric, a jump of 63% versus 2020. read more

Europe currently has 374,000 public chargers, two thirds of which are concentrated in just five countries - the Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom - while some European countries do not have a single charger per 100km of road, and this "polarisation between economies risks destabilising" electrification.

To keep up with demand, Europe needs half a million public chargers annually through to 2030 and one million a year after that, said EY global energy and resources leader Serge Colle.

But building out public charging infrastructure today "faces massive delays," because of planning and permit issues, said Eurelectric secretary general Kristian Ruby.

"We're sending a wake-up call to politicians at all levels that ambition requires permission," Ruby said. "If we want to pursue this (charging infrastructure) ambition then we need permission to run."

Rising EV sales will push up European electricity demand 11% annually, the report says.

To mitigate the risk to local grids, the report recommends supporting smart charging solutions - such as offering tariffs to EV owners to charge during off-peak overnight houses - which could lower spikes in peak power demand by 21%.


Driverless travel suite hailed as possible future of travel

                NEW YORK: Is it a mobile home? A souped-up driverless car? No, it's an "autonomous" travel suite that is being pitched as the future of hospitality.

Recently awarded the top honour at the Radical Innovation Award 2018 in New York, which highlights "big ideas" in hospitality, the Autonomous Travel Suite uses driverless technology as a basis for a mobile hotel suite.

Like a mobile home, the conceptual suite features amenities for sleeping, working, washing, storage and lounging.

The pitch? To allow travellers - be it business or leisure travelers - to use their travel time more productively and efficiently, says Aprilli.

But that's where the comparison to an RV ends. Because the compact mobile suite can then be parked or docked at a local "Autonomous Hotel" where it becomes part of a fixed hotel unit.

The concept is aimed particularly at domestic road travel in the US, where most of the major cities are located within a 10-hour driving distance at most.

And given that short-haul flights of one to two hours can easily be lengthened to five to six after factoring in airport travel times, check-in, and airport security waits, designers are banking on the Autonomous Travel Suite to make more sense, especially for business travellers.


New BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport yours for RM234K

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Malaysia has introduced the new locally-assembled BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport priced at RM233,800 (on the road, without insurance).

The new X1 now sees two halves of the larger kidney grille joined in the middle.

The redesigned front bumper with integrated LED fog lights and larger air intakes also lend the new SAV a more dynamic appearance, while the tubes in the LED headlights have a hexagonal shape.

The Lights Package also includes a Welcome Light Carpet. When the vehicle is unlocked, an LED light source in the driver’s-side exterior mirror projects the characters “X1” onto the ground in two tones.

READ MORE: New CKD BMW 320i Sport available now at RM244K

The LED rear lights features a new design, with a single LED bar drawing the familiar L signature from side to side.

The 10mm drop in ride height (now 1,588mm) thanks to the M Sport Suspension, the BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line trim and the M Aerodynamics Package add to the athleticism of the new SAV.

The new SAV has a combined fuel consumption of 6.5 litres per 100km.

Inside, there are interior trim finishers in Aluminium, finely brushed lengthwise with highlight trim finishers in Pearl Chrome.

There is a new 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system located in the middle of the dashboard.

It can be used to control entertainment and navigation functions, with voice control and the iDrive Controller on the centre console available as alternative input methods.

This is further illustrated by the right and left tailpipes, which have grown in diameter from 70 to 90mm.

The new SAV also features 18-inch M light alloy wheels in Double-Spoke Style 570 M Bicolour.

Power is from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a 7-Speed Steptronic Dual Clutch Sport transmission.

Maximum output equates to 192hp at 5,000 to 6,000rpm, while peak torque is 280Nm at 1,350 – 4,600rpm.

Top speed is 224kph while the century sprint is achieved in 7.6 seconds.

The BMW ConnectedDrive services are also available to the new SAV.

The BMW ConnectedDrive equips owners with Intelligent Emergency Call and Teleservices which reacts automatically if an accident occurs, quickly getting help for you and your passengers.

The luggage compartment remains the largest in the premium segment, with a maximum capacity of 1,550 litres.

The X1 is offered in Misano Blue, Black Sapphire, Alpine White and Mineral Grey paired with premium Black Leather Dakota upholstery with perforations.

Under BMW's balloon financing plan, the X1 sDrive20i M Sport can be bought with monthly instalment plans starting from RM2,668 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).

The new X1 sDrive20i M Sport will be on display at two venues in the Klang Valley alongside the new 320i Sport. The locations are The Square, Publika (Jan 10-12, 10am – 7pm) and Bangsar Shopping Centre (Jan 10-19, 10am – 10pm).

Test drives will also be available on-site, along with exclusive BMW red packet and fortune cookie giveaways as well as exciting family-friendly activities to entertain all ages.

The complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience includes:

> BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Programme
>BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Programme for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services
>BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
>The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card
>BMW Service Online


Mercedes G-Class carries on as it celebrates 40 years

                STUTTGART: When your daily routine sees you wading knee-deep into water crossings, travelling through muddy dirt roads, trekking through snow-covered trails and struggling through rocky countryside, it would be understandable if, after four decades of such labour, you took a break.

But coming into what is now its 40th year, the Mercedes G-Class looks exactly how it did upon its initial release, and shows no sign of slowing down.

The G-Class story began in 1972, according to Mercedes-Classic spokesman Ralph Wagenknecht, with a cooperation agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch, from which a roughly carved wood model emerged in 1973.

It’s the basic, trend-proof design from this wooden model that still lives on today in its classic, no frills look.

In 1975, the decision was then made to move from wood to metal, when mass-production and the construction of a new plant in the Austrian city of Graz began. In the spring of 1979, the first finished G-Classes made their way to dealers.

The original model, with its three shiftable differential locks and terrain reduction could tackle gradients of up to 80 per cent, inclines of 54 per cent or water passages of half-a-meter in depth.

With a design sculpted primarily for use by the military and foresters, the off-roader was an automotive all-rounder, that could stand up to any obstacle.

But with the public sector – far from being the most lucrative market – failing to ignite much in the way of sales, Mercedes then decided to expand the G-Class, and develop it for the passenger car division.

Here is where its enduring success became impossible to deny, with customers unable to resist the practical ruggedness of the off-roader. It’s now become the norm for the civilian G-classes to outsell the military ones, says production boss Gunnar Guethenke.

Even when fiercer competition began to damage the G-Class’s ubiquity, the US market suddenly discovered its love for the “G from Germany,” helping it through its mid-career slump.

Today, however, it is not only adventurers and blowhards who value the classic around the world. As an armoured model in the heaviest level of protection B7, the G-Guard version of the G-Class has become a safe haven on wheels for many celebrities.

Unfortunately, in terms of speed and agility the two tonne powerhouse is about as streamlined as a prefabricated concrete garage.

Not blessed with the best acceleration, the 156-horsepower, 2.8-litre inline six-cylinder engine is still capable of a not-too-shabby top speed of 158kph.

Over the years, Mercedes has constantly tried to modernise the classic and even went as far as redesigning it completely early in 2018.

But when the G-Class was introduced 40 years ago, even at Mercedes, nobody would have dreamed that it would have such a staying power, says Guethenke.

"After changing plans over and over again and extending the production, the G-Class is now the only series at Mercedes for which there is no defined time limit."


Proton reports May sales best in 46 months

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton continued to see strong sales growth in May with sales of 10,611 vehicles during the month led by car models with intelligent features.

In a statement, Proton said it sold 2,439 units of its first SUV, the X70, while the Persona and Iriz saw a total of 3,912 units sold, representing 36% of Proton's overall sales.

According to Proton, there have been over 10,000 bookings received for the Persona and Iriz so far.

The May sales figure represented Proton's highest in 46 months and a 51.3% jump over the previous month.

Total Proton sales in the January to May period rose over 70% compared to the same period in 2018.

"With a 70% increase in sales volume thus far in 2019, Proton is reaping some early rewards for its investment in products, people and sales outlets," said Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong.

"The company is hopeful of finishing second overall in total sales for a second consecutive month when overall industry sales figures are revealed by the Malaysian Automotive Association and we are confident of being able to maintain our strong sales performance for the rest of the year."

Proton also sold 3,610 units of its mainstay, the Saga, in May.


TomTom evolves for self-driving future

AMSTERDAM: Regardless of the picture that might emerge from all the headlines about self-driving vehicles, we're still a considerable way away from driverless cars being readily available and an everyday sight on our roads and highways.

But in the meantime, all sort of pieces of technology to facilitate autonomous vehicles is being developed and finding its way into our current cars. Now TomTom, the well-known Dutch maker of satellite navigation systems, is investing in the kind of high-definition maps needed for when autonomous driving finally does become the norm, according to a Bloomberg report.

At the moment, the products TomTom is working on are aimed primarily at reducing fuel consumption, but they are definitely also part of the ever-expanding technology required for driverless vehicles; if and when they become ubiquitous. And as soon as later on this year the first trucks will be hitting the road equipped with software and maps from TomTom that will be capable of automatically adjusting the vehicle's speed when a curve or gradient is coming up.

TomTom CEO, Harold Goddijn, doesn't appear too concerned about how long it will be before driverless vehicles will be part of our everyday lives. Bloomberg noted Goddijn saying in a recent interview: "For us, that's not a problem, because we're already moving to increasingly higher levels of automation. You could say that we're already there with semiautonomous driving, and the reality is that we'll transition through stages towards a fully autonomous future."

Personal navigation devices used to be the company's core business, but as those devices that relied on static maps are now in terminal decline TomTom has to look at developing the kind of tech that will be vital to the successful operation of driverless vehicles.

As the company is already such a big name in vehicle navigation it obviously has a head start, but that's no guarantee of success in such a rapidly changing and developing sector. In fact, TomTom already faces stiff competition from the likes of HERE and Alphabet Inc.'s Google in the race to dominate the "dynamic," or HD maps, market.