Expressways facing slow-moving traffic on Christmas morning

                KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic flow on major expressways in the country as at 10am today was reported to be slow-moving with the increase in the number of vehicles leaving the city on Christmas Day.

A spokesman for the PLUS Expressways Sdn Bhd Highway Traffic Control Centre said traffic flow began to slow down on expressways from the city heading to the north in the morning.

"So far, the traffic situation from Slim River heading to Sungkai and at KM444.9 Rawang Selatan to Rawang is slow due to accidents.

"Traffic is also slow at Sungai Buloh heading to Rawang, Bukit Beruntung to Bukit Tagar and from Tapah to Gopeng," he said.

On expressways from the south heading north, traffic is reported to be slow from Senai heading to Kulai, Senawang to the Senawang R&R and for vehicles from the north to the south, they were reported to be slow from Putra Mahkota heading to Nilai.

On vehicles leaving the city to the east coast states, a spokesman for the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) said they were moving slowly to enter the Genting Sempah Tunnel.

The latest traffic information can be obtained by contacting the toll-free Plusline at 1800-88-0000 and at the Twitter site, www.twitter.com/plustrafik or the MHA line at 1-800-88-7752 as well as on the Twitter site, www.twitter.com/llminfotrafik.


Right lane turn into Kesas at Kewajipan near Summit mall to be sealed off

                PETALING JAYA: The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) will completely close the right turn lane onto the Shah Alam Highway (Kesas) interchange on Persiaran Kewajipan near Summit USJ mall from Aug 18.

This means that motorists coming from SS13 will no longer be able to turn right into Kesas to head to Shah Alam and Klang.

They must now turn left to Kesas (Kuala Lumpur bound) and take the U-turn just before the toll.

This follows the previous closure where motorists from USJ were no longer allowed to turn right directly into Kesas to head towards Kuala Lumpur.

Noraini said the closure was necessary to ease traffic congestion at the traffic light junction in front of Da Men Mall in USJ 1, which was congested even after rush hour.

“We want to reduce the waiting time for motorists,” she said.

She added that the closure could potentially affect traffic in front of the Kesas toll considering the number of motorists who have to cross lanes to make the U-turn would increase.

“However, this is not a permanent solution,” she said, adding that a long-term plan would be to build an elevated direct access but the council currently lacked the funds to start the project.


Honda Civic now serves the army

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has delivered 40 units of the Civic to the Royal Military Police Corps for law enforcement and policing duties.

This delivery marks the inaugural presentation by Honda Malaysia to the army.

"The Civic will be used by the military police for their daily enforcement duties. Honda Malaysia is proud that the Civic has been selected as their vehicle of choice.

 Military police taking delivery of the Civic. — All images by Bernama

"Previously, the police force had also chosen the Civic as their new mobile patrol vehicles and we are currently delivering more than 1,000 units of the Civic 1.8S to them," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

The Civic is a popular choice among Malaysians as well. The locally assembled Civic has sold more than 5,600 units as of August.


New BMW batteries ups range and efficiency

                SHANGHAI: The BMW X1 xDrive25Le extended wheelbase plug-in hybrid compact Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) that was developed exclusively for the Chinese market can provide up to 110km on a single full charge.

The German carmaker managed to increase the efficiency of the new X1 xDrive25Le by some 72%  per cent than before and has equipped it with an extensive range of standard equipment to enhance comfort and safety.

Produced at BMW Brilliance Automotive’s Tiexi plant in Shenyang, China, the German compact SAV was China's top-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in the premium SUV segment last year and was conceived especially to meet the needs and preferences of Chinese customers.

The X1 was on display at the April 16-25 Auto Shanghai 2019.

With a market share of more than 8%, the company leads the worldwide ranking of established premium providers of vehicles that are purely electrically powered or run on plug-in hybrid systems.

In 2018 the BMW Group was the market leader in the premium segment of electrified vehicles in both Germany and in China.

The company sold more than 140,000 plug-in hybrid and electrically powered vehicles worldwide – an increase of 38.4% compared to the prior year.

As one of the four future-oriented ACES areas of action (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified and Services/Shared), electromobility is one of the key elements of the BMW Group’s strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT.

During the remainder of the year, the range of BMW models with electrified drive will be expanded with new models that will include the 7 Series, 330e Sedan, X3 xDrive30e and X5 xDrive45e.

Additionally, the company will employ its latest battery cell technology to boost range and efficiency for its 530e and 225xe Active Tourer.

The new high-voltage lithium-ion battery cells use the ratio of nickel, cobalt and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1.

The expanded nickel share increases energy density, while the reduction in the cobalt component means that less rare earth material is required.

Despite the fact that the design is still compact, the weight of the battery – which is positioned at a very low point in the vehicle floor – is only increased by 2.5kg.

Like the vehicle as a whole, the high-voltage battery is made at the Shenyang site.

The plug-in hybrid system of the new BMW X1 xDrive25Le comprises of a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine for the front wheels, with an electric motor for the rear wheels.

Together they generate a system output of 231hp and 382Nm with a six-speed Steptronic transmission managing power delivery and allowing the X1 xDrive25Le to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 7.4 seconds.


Samsung scouting talents for autonomous driving

Samsung is believed to be planning to kick-start an autonomous driving business officially as early as 2019. — Image from Samsung
SEOUL: Samsung Electronics is aggressively hiring software engineers who specialise in autonomous driving technologies, raising expectations that it will launch a new business unit in the field, according to industry sources on Monday.

The South Korean tech giant has been seeking experts in autonomous driving, an industry source said, with Samsung thought to be planning to kick-start the new business officially as early as 2019.

"Samsung is looking for working-level engineers with over five years of experience at global automotive companies to hire as part of a new team," the source said.

The existing workforce dedicated to fields that can be connected with autonomous driving are being gathered under the company's semiconductor division, with plans to hire more from the outside, according to sources.
Samsung has so far been denying rumors of creating a new business unit either for autonomous driving or vehicle components.

Samsung's archrival LG Electronics, meanwhile, has created a new task force on autonomous driving solutions in the latest organisational restructuring.

Samsung is expected to unveil changes to its organizational structure, possibly on Tuesday, following its announcement of executive promotions on Thursday last week.

A unit for autonomous driving solutions could be part of the System LSI Business of the Device Solutions division, according to industry watchers.

Samsung's System LSI Business makes application processors and image sensors for automobiles.

In addition to hardware development, the business has recently supplemented it software development workforce with around 200 engineers transferred from the Semiconductor R&D Center.

The large-scale workforce transition could indicate Samsung's commitment to the new automotive business, according to industry officials.

The repositioned workforce and newly hired talents are expected to work on the commercialization of new chips for advanced driver-assistance systems for global automakers.

Samsung is reportedly on track to start mass production of system-on-chips for Tesla's Model 3 slated to be launched in March.

Tesla had been looking for a new chip supplier after accidents that led to several deaths of Tesla owners who were using its Autopilot tool. The chip for Autopilot was supplied by Intel's Mobileye.

"Samsung's strict principle for a new business is to secure a market leader customer in order to preoccupy the leadership," an industry official said. "With the Tesla deal, Samsung is officially in in the autonomous driving market." — ANN/The Korea Herald


Hype grows on ‘flying cars’ ahead of CES 2019

                SAN FRANCISCO: Will flying cars take off at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show? Well, sort of.

The prototypes won’t be soaring over the Las Vegas Strip during the technology extravaganza which runs from Jan 8-11.

But a number of flying car designs will be on display, portending what many see as an inevitable airborne future for short-range transport with vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL.

NFT Inc co-founders Maki and Guy Kaplinsky, a couple developing a flying vehicle in Israel and California, will have their vision on display at show, with a media session on Sunday.

“We believe we have a winning design that will enable us to make the Model T of flying cars – a low-cost production model,” Guy Kaplinsky told AFP in a Silicon Valley office park where a prototype model was being assembled.

A doorway to the rear of the NFT office in Mountain View opened onto large blue tarps hung from the ceiling to hide the workshop.

A team of veteran aviation engineers is focused on research at the startup’s facility in Israel, and the founders plan to expand the staff of 15 people.

The startup is designing hardware and software, while enlisting original equipment manufacturers to crank out products at scale.

“We learned from Tesla that Elon Musk spent too much time on the production side,” Guy Kaplinsky said.

“We are spending our time on the technology side and will partner with companies on assembly.”

The NFT vehicle with a projected price tag of US$50,000 will function as a car, but be able to take off or land vertically and fly on auto-pilot.

Regular Joes?

Several companies, including Uber and startups backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, are working on people-carrying drones or similar flying vehicles.

In Japan, volunteers in a “Cartivator” group are out to build a “Skydrive” flying car and have set their sights on using one to light the flame at the opening of the Olympic games in Tokyo in 2020.

The crowdfunded effort has gotten backing from Japanese auto giant Toyota, where some Cartivator members work.

A scaled-down replica of “Toyota’s flying car” is to be shown at CES.

“Our team consists of people with diverse professional backgrounds and is working hard every weekend towards developing the flying car,” the group said at a cartivator.com website.

“We aim to build a prototype, establish theory of flight control, as well as form alliances with major corporations to make mass production of the flying car a reality.”

Door-to-door solution

NFT is working to marry a plane with a car, meaning no airports or heliports would be needed.

“We believe door-to-door is the solution,” Kaplinsky said.

“Our approach is more for the mom and three kids; you load everyone in the car one time and get where you need to go.”

A smartphone mapping application could be paired to a navigation center hosted in the internet cloud, routing drivers to takeoff points and providing instructions to auto-pilots in cars.

The electric powered NFT vehicle is targeting ranges of 310 miles flying (500 km) and 60 miles driving (100 km).

Kaplinsky said the startup seeing US Federal Aviation Administration approval as early as 2024.

He expected to have a drive-fly vehicle ready to demonstrate late next year.

Kaplinsky felt it likely that, in the long run, flying cars would be part of ride-sharing fleets to make better use than those owned by individuals.

Gartner automotive analyst Mike Ramsey says autonomous flying vehicles are coming, but won’t disrupt the way people travel.

Ramsey said cost, regulation, and battery life are just a few of the hurdles for flying vehicles.

“There still has to be a limit to the number of these things that can be in the air at once,” he said.

While one person with a flying car may be amazing, 500 people in a city darting about in flying cars could bode airborne mayhem.

“It’s really cool, and it will have applications, but they are unlikely to be regular Joes like you and me jumping over all the traffic,” Ramsey said.

The analyst said flying vehicles could catch on as lower cost options to medical helicopters, military transport, or accessing rugged rural areas.

“I do think the technology will happen,” Ramsey said.


An autonomous vehicle took on Chicago's traffic. Here's what happened

                CHICAGO: Autonomous vehicles conjure visions of futuristic machines that lack steering wheels, but the first driverless cars probably won't actually be driverless.

Instead, manufacturers will likely start out with low levels of automation and gradually increase the technology.

Most of the self-driving car technologies under development now involve lower levels of automation, in which the car does not have complete control, said Mary Moore, strategic marketing director at automotive engineer association SAE International.

"There's still a driver, there's still a steering wheel in the car and at any point that driver can take over control of that car," she said.

Chicago-based Here Technologies, which creates high-definition maps for vehicles, recently displayed the autonomous functions its tech enables in a Ford Fusion.

The company's mapping technology creates a 3D construction of the world that tells a car what it needs to know about the road around it: reading directional information from the signs, examining the curves of lanes, scanning for upcoming exits and more.

Imagine it's snowing and the lines on the road are covered, said Sanjay Sood, head of highly automated driving at Here. As a driver, you read the signs and recognize the surroundings enough to know the rules of the road. Similarly, this mapping technology helps a driverless car understand enough about its surroundings to react.

"It's kind of like memory," Sood said. "It helps the vehicle position itself; understand where it is on the roadway."

This is a step in the direction of automation from the lane change assistance technology in most vehicles today. Those features typically use sensors or cameras to monitor the perimeter of the car - which self-driving vehicles likely will incorporate as well - but Here's mapping technology provides the maps for the vehicle to make those decisions.

Behind the wheel during a recent test drive was Matt Linder, an autonomous vehicle software developer at Minneapolis-based VSI Labs, which partnered with Here to enable the autonomous test drive. Linder drove the car onto the Kennedy Expressway at Fullerton Avenue and merged into traffic.

When Here's mapping technology switched on, Linder took his hands off the wheel, letting the technology do the work. As he rested his hands in his lap, the steering wheel moved just slightly in either direction, keeping the car in the lane. When it came to changing lanes, all Linder had to do was flip the turn signal and wait for the car to ease into the next lane.

All the time, Linder was accelerating and breaking as needed in the still-heavy 10 am traffic.

Here works with automakers around the world, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, to incorporate its technology into vehicles. Sood said he expects the mapping technology to roll out in higher-end vehicles first and become more common over time. He compared it to the spread of lower levels of automation, like cruise control.

"Cruise control, that took a while to become ubiquitous, but nowadays it's like a standard function," Sood said. "Anything that can help with safety or comfort, there's demand for that."

Features in today's vehicles, like parallel parking assistance or backup cameras, can be helpful in getting people accustomed to deeper levels of automation, said Brian Uzzi, a professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

"Eventually, the whole idea of driving a car that's driverless will become normalized," he said.

The technology still faces major roadblocks, such as infrastructure that can't support it or regulations that haven't caught up. But the allure of freeing up time in the car to do something other than stare at the road is strong, Uzzi said, and that could speed up adaptation.

"The aim is to have people feel like they're a passenger in a car that is being driven by another human being except it's not," Uzzi said. "Once we get there, our embrace of that technology will be complete." — Chicago Tribune/dpa


VW teases new Polo ahead of April 22 world debut

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen teased the coming of the new Polo with a sketch that showed the headlight design.

The sketch showed the new light strips and LED headlights in the front grille giving an initial impression of its optimised design. Expect the new Polo to offer more digital elements and increased connectivity.

The Polo has been an integral part of the small car segment since 1975, and is one of the most successful models in its class – not just in Germany, but in many markets worldwide.

Around 18 million units have been sold to date. Volkswagen is continuing its product history of over 45 years with the new Polo, and will celebrate the virtual world première on April 22.

Just as it did with the Golf, Volkswagen managed to create a small car that is chic and features timeless design, and placed it in a price-sensitive segment across all generations of the Polo. The new version of the Polo also continues this evolution.


VW's sixth-generation Polo is lively, spacious and more high-tech

                WOLFSBURG: VW is preparing to launch the next generation of its popular Polo, with the sixth edition of the beloved supermini on the way for the second half of 2017.

During test drives in South Africa, the Polo’s series production manager Klaus-Gerhard Wolpert stated that the direct competitor to the Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa will be switching to a body constructed using the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, and will thus offer more space, less weight and, above all, plenty of new technology.

With the exception of digital instruments, almost all of the infotainment and assistance systems available in the compact segment will also be available for the Polo, explains Wolpert.

In the Polo, however, they will be presented in a more lively and colourful environment - at least if you order the optional colour consoles, which the Polo's designers have borrowed from VW’s Up.

Despite being only slightly larger on the outside than its predecessor, the next generation Polo’s larger wheelbase will give it a more spacious interior, and will be available with either a three or four-cylinder engine.

The Polo is also set to feature an SCR catalytic converter for the diesel models, and particle filters for petrol engines, both of which are firsts for a vehicle in its class.

The Polo’s petrol engines will be a choice of either a 1.0-litre three-cylinder with 65 horsepower or a brawnier 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 150hp. The diesel engine will be available with 1.6-litre displacement and either 80 or 105hp. There will also be a Polo GTI model once again, which, according to Wolpert, will reach up to 200hp.

To begin with, the car will come in either three or five-door configurations. VW is already planning a CrossPolo with slightly more ground clearance and, for 2018, a proper SUV for the first time in the Polo series.


Electric car sales in Norway reach new record high

The Norwegian car importer association said it expects e-cars to take a market share for new cars of 55 to 60 percent in 2020. — AFP
OSLO: Sales of new electric cars in Norway hit a record high last year, sector experts said, reaching 42.4 percent of all nearly-registered cars in 2019, mostly thanks to strong demand for Tesla's Model 3.

Norway, a major oil producer that has pioneered electric mobility, offers a very advantageous tax regime for clean vehicles, making them highly competitive in cost terms against petrol and diesel vehicles.

New electric car models arriving on the market should help push their share higher still this year, said OFV, a body which monitors Norway's car market.

In 2019, 60,316 all-electric new cars were sold in Norway out of a total of 142,381, a rise of 30.8 percent from the previous year when the market share of e-cars was 31.2 percent.

The Norwegian car importer association said it expects e-cars to take a market share for new cars of 55 to 60 percent in 2020.

New models including the Volkswagen ID.3, the Ford Mustang Mach-e, the Polestar 2 and the Peugeot e-208 are expected to boost e-car sales.

"Today, in 2020 and in the years to come, a much larger range of cars is coming, with increased autonomy, greater size and in affordable price segments," said OFV boss Oyvind Solberg Thorsen last week.

US firm Tesla was the biggest single seller of e-cars in Norway last year, with its latest Model 3 alone selling 15,700 units.

Norway's Electric Vehicle Association called the numbers "very positive" but said it had hoped for e-cars to account for 50 percent of new car sales last year.

The association's secretary-general, Christina Bu, called on the government to maintain tax breaks for electric cars, which have become the topic of much debate in the Scandinavian country.

Norway, where electricity is almost exclusively generated by hydropower, has a 2025 target for all new cars to be zero-emission models.

Hybrid cars, which run on both thermal and electric energy, accounted for 25.9 percent of the new car market in Norway last year, while petrol and diesel cars accounted for around 16 percent each.


Opel's 'special status' will make it relevant in Stellantis, says CEO

                BERLIN: Opel's status as the only German brand within the Stellantis group affords it "special prioritisation," said the carmaker's chief executive today, following concerns from unions over the company’s future in the country.

"We are the only German brand. We are building off this and with it I believe we will find success with the Opel brand," Uwe Hochgeschurtz said at an online summit organised by German newspaper Handelsblatt.

Opel has closed its Eisenach plants in Germany until at least the end of the year due to chip shortages. Workers there accuse Stellantis of exploiting Germany's furlough scheme to move production out of the country. read more

Hochgeschurtz will meet with the finance ministers of the three German states where Opel has plants - Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and Thuringia - on Nov 19, ahead of a planned meeting later this month between Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and the premiers of those states.

Hochgeschurtz also said that Opel was prioritising the use of the chips it already had on hand to put towards electric vehicles, and he did not want to speculate too much on when the chip shortage would be over.


VW pressured to bring back push-button steering wheel

                WOLFSBURG: Under popular pressure, Volkswagen plans to soon abandon the touch controls on its cars steering wheels, replacing them with good old-fashioned push buttons.

In a recent message posted on LinkedIn, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said he wants to simplify how the brand's future vehicles operate.

He gave as an example the fact that the company is "bringing back the push-button steering wheel! That's what customers want from VW."

The decision was made in response to the large amount of critical, if not negative feedback on the touch controls, delivered both in dealerships and on specialised online forums.

Among the production models equipped with these controversial touch buttons are the Golf GTI and the ID.4.

This decision to take a step back on this matter is not as anecdotal as it may seem; rather it highlights the fact that progress is not always synonymous with efficiency.

A recent experiment conducted by Swedish journalists showed that cars currently equipped with touch screens were slower to perform a range of tasks than older models equipped only with buttons and switches.


Free trips and fuel for a year with Caltex Fuelling Giler campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: Chevron Malaysia Ltd (Chevron), which markets the Caltex retail brand in Malaysia, launched its latest pump and win promotion, Caltex Fuelling Giler, where Malaysians can walk away with a domestic holiday package or fuel for a year.

Those who fuel a minimum of RM40 in a single receipt at Caltex stations nationwide and submit their receipts between now and February will be eligible to win.

Chevron Malaysia retail manager Richard Tang said the company rolled out the promotion as a sign of appreciation to its customers.

“This three-month promotion will see a total of 1,590 winners walk away with prizes and with a promotion titled ‘Fuelling Giler’ it’s only right we have some crazy rewards such as fuel for an entire year, among others,” he said.

Information of prizes and number of winners are as below:

Winners will be drawn for each of the three months following the below transaction period:

> Round 1 - Nov 28, 2022 to Dec 28, 2022
> Round 2 - Dec 29, 2022 to Jan 28, 2023
> Round 3 - Jan 29, 2023 to Feb 28, 2023.

The promotion is only open to Malaysians aged 18 and above and ends on Feb 28.

To enter, just:

1. Pump a minimum of RM40 of RON97, RON95 or diesel in a single receipt at any Caltex station nationwide.

2. Submit your receipt either through the QR code that will be displayed at the station or via WhatsApp by texting ‘Caltex’ to +60182999980.

In conjunction with the promotion, Caltex Malaysia has been bringing their ‘Karnival Fuelling Giler’ to different stations across the country which includes their trademark Fun Truck offering fun-filled activities and prizes to consumers on-ground.

The final stops of the promotion take place this weekend in Penang and Kedah respectively.

For details, visit www.caltex.com/my/.


Honda City and Jazz now EEVs

                KUALA LUMPUR: Both the Honda City sedan and Jazz hatchback are now classified as EEVs (energy efficient vehicles), according to Honda Malaysia.

On its website, Honda Malaysia said the cars can reach 100km on only 5.8 litres of petrol.

Under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014, EEVs are defined by vehicle kerb weight and fuel efficiency.

For example, a car with a kerb weight of less than 800kg with a fuel consumption rating of 4.5 litres per 100km, or another car with a kerb weight of 1,251kg to 1,400kg with a fuel consumption rating of 6.5 litres per 100km can be categorised as EEVs.

The NAP 2014 envisions for Malaysia to be an EEV (energy efficient vehicle) hub in Asean, including the production of hybrids and electric vehicles.

Under NAP 2014, new vehicle manufacturing licences can be given for the production of EEVs with engine capacities of 1.8-litre and below.

In line with the Government's policy of liberalising the car market, there are no conditions attached for equity stakes or car price controls for qualified new EEV manufacturers.

This is a departure from the past, where new issuance of such licences were frozen for the local car production in this segment (1.8-litre and below).


MARii in joint venture to centralise programming expertise for industries

                CYBERJAYA: The Malaysia automotive, Robotics and loT Institute (MARii) and Developers Hub Sdn Bhd are working together to form an online hub for the local technology community, where they can develop solutions and applications for future industries such as autonomous driving.

MARii chief executive officer Datuk Madani Sahari said the DEVhub Prime portal will benefit more than 3,600 local technology developers, as well as opening doors for individual coders.

"There are a lot of talented coders who do not have proper certification but have amazing skills.

"We want them to enhance their skills through this platform, and our role is to channel them towards projects," he told a press conference after signing the memorandum of understanding on the collaboration here today.

Madani added that the online portal operates on a matchmaking algorithm, using Big Data analytics and artificial intelligence to match the developer talent pool to specific projects within the technology industry.

It will also feature a rating system based on skill sets, work experience and performance of potential partners.

"The backbone of digital technology is the software, which is developed by programmers.

"Through the use of Industry 4.0 technology to provide an on-demand hub, DEVhub Prime will provide the best path for the local tech developers to grow, enhance and gain experience with the right company," he said.

Madani added that the second phase of the collaboration would involve setting up an academy for coders to sharpen their skills.

"Future technologies such as autonomous driving, mobility-as-a-service and smart manufacturing will see an increase in demand for skills that includes coding, AI, machine learning, cyber security, BDA and many more.

"A centralised portal to source specific talent is of strategic importance to facilitate the development of technology projects and optimise human resource utilisation," he said.

Developers Hub co-founder Hasrimy M. Hasan said the company would help coders to get jobs best suited for them in various industries through the partnership with MARii.


Singapore reviewing Tesla carbon surcharge case

                SINGAPORE: While confirming that a brand new Tesla Model S would have qualified for a "green" rebate, the island nation's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it was re-examining the case of a used electric car that was issued a S$15,000 (RM44,700) carbon surcharge.

The car - the first and only Tesla Model S in Singapore - was imported by Joe Nguyen, a 44-year-old senior vice-president with an Internet research firm.

He sourced the used Tesla Model S from Hong Kong for close to S$400,000 (RM1.19mil).

READ MORE: Malaysia grants tax exemption on 100 Tesla Model S

The LTA on Thursday said that while all imported used cars must be tested individually, it was working with Tesla engineers to see if the Model S - which qualifies for tax breaks in most countries - was tested correctly in the first place.

The Model S is granted tax breaks in several countries - for example, in Britain, buyers get a £4,500 (RM26,400) grant.

The latest turn of events came just days after Tesla boss Elon Musk called Singaporean prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after news of the Model S' seemingly anomalous surcharge reached him.

The Prime Minister's Office told The Straits Times that various agencies were looking into the case.

The car was first registered in Hong Kong in 2014, and had clocked about 1,000km before it was shipped here.

The LTA said tests conducted by the Vicom Emission Test Laboratory showed the car had a power consumption of 444 watt-hour/km.

After factoring in carbon dioxide emissions of 0.5g/watt-hour at the power plants, the car's emission was deemed to be 222g/km. This puts it in the S$15,000 surcharge band under the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS).

Tesla Motors has informed the LTA that the Model S' energy consumption was rated at 181 watt-hour/km when it left the Tesla factory on June 28, 2014.

A brand-new Model S would have qualified for a S$30,000 (RM89,500) CEVS rebate, the LTA noted.

But Nguyen's car was not new. All imported used cars have to be tested individually since their efficiency can vary, depending on "how they were maintained".

The LTA said it "would not know how much the car's condition might have deteriorated" otherwise.

"We cannot make exceptions as it would not be fair to other car owners," it added.

Tesla spokesman Atsuko Doi said the emission of a new Model S is less than half that of a Mercedes-Benz S500L, which produces around 200g/km of carbon dioxide.

If oil extraction, distribution and refining were included, the S500L's carbon emission would be almost three times the Tesla's.

Doi said the company is in discussions with the LTA "to ensure a proper understanding of these issues, and to make sure that they are correctly testing our customer's Model S".

She added: "We are confident that this situation will be resolved soon."


2018 CarSifu Auto Show: Ottoman luxury car floor carpets

                KUALA LUMPUR: There's more than one way of sprucing up your vehicle's interior and one of them is to add a dash of luxury with the help of Ottoman - the makers and purveyors of high-quality poly urethane (PU) leather car floor carpets.

The local company is currently offering an exclusive 40% discount to customers for the duration of the CarSifu Auto Show that runs until Aug 26 (10am to 9pm) at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) at Mid Valley Megamall.

 A sales representative demonstrating the carpet's resilience against liquids and blades.

These made-in-Malaysia carpets will sit directly atop the existing vehicle's carpets and if an existing mould is will require the owner to bring the vehicle in to have its measurements taken and scanned using an Autocad before getting it cut to perfection with a CNC machine and stitched skilfully together.

There are currently a combination of six base colours and 14 linings to choose from, with offer prices ranging from RM385 to as high as RM2,350 (depending on vehicle segment), and are accompanied by a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

 Non-slip properties.

In terms of durability, the carpets have been demonstrated to be scratch proof and waterproof to make them easy to maintain, while having non-slip properties as well as an excellent fitting. The company boasts that their products are capable of lasting the duration of the car's lifespan.

The local company is currently seeking to expand its operations from its existing Klang, Miri and Penang outlets.

For more information, log on to www.ottoman.net.my, call +6012-663 3041 or email them at inquiryottoman@gmail.com.


Could Gogoro's solid state batteries replace traditional Li-ion models?

                TAIPEI: Taiwanese manufacturer Gogoro has unveiled the world's first interchangeable solid-state battery prototype for electric vehicles, which is already compatible with existing cars.

This type of battery has many advantages.

These solid-state lithium ceramic batteries are set to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries in a few years and become the main source of energy for most electric vehicles, whether they are two-wheelers, cars or heavy goods vehicles.

Note that this type of battery does not require the use of materials such as nickel or cobalt.

This first prototype could therefore pave the way for a new era in electric mobility, with batteries offering higher energy density for optimised performance, improved safety and, above all, much better range and shorter charging times.

Gogoro estimates that its first solid-state batteries should offer at least 40% more capacity than current lithium batteries.

Scientists everywhere are working on new types of batteries to power the electric vehicles of tomorrow.

In the United States, at the University of Michigan, a new type of membrane has been created from recycled Kevlar, which could facilitate the development of lithium-sulphur batteries.

These batteries could in turn be up to five times more efficient than the models currently used by the automotive industry!


VW upgrades skills of 58 sales people

                KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-eight Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s sales consultants have graduated with the International Basic Training (IBT) certification.

Held for the third year, the IBT included 15 days of classroom training designed to develop sales competence and to provide knowledge of brand and history, and Volkswagen’s technology.

Having completed the training, these candidates were then examined in all these area which not only consist of written exam but also video analysis and role plays.

The scoring was done by a panel of judges comprising region managers and dealer sales managers. “At Volkswagen, we are focused in training and development to provide better career opportunity to our employees.

“We first introduced the IBT certification in 2013 to further enhance the knowledge of our team of sales consultants.

“Today, we are very proud of our 58 graduates this year and are confident that their learnings will enable them to better serve our customers,” says Volkswagen Group Malaysia managing director Armin Keller.


How the BMW M5 went from executive sedan to muscle car

                BERLIN: These days, drivers have become accustomed to business saloons that pack the same kind punch as a sporty two-seater. Particularly among German luxury manufacturers, it’s par for the course to produce an extra sporty version of the flagship company car.

But things were a bit different 33 years ago. In those days, brands like Ferrari, Maserati or Porsche dominated the fast lane – that is, until BMW suddenly unveiled a seriously souped up version of its executive car: the first M5.

A 3.5-litre engine and 286hp at a weight just over 1.4 tons offered performance that took testers’ breath away: 6.1 seconds for a sprint from 0 to 100kph was unthinkable for a saloon at the time.

With a top speed of 245kph, the M5 could hold its own against many speedsters, and where sports car drivers had to squeeze into tight coupes that rumbled over bumps on the highway, BMW’s muscular saloon offered plenty of space and luxury.

The sports seats for driver and front passenger were comfortably shaped and upholstered, while the doors, floor and boot were covered fine velour.

But the prestige came at a price: at 80,750 Deutschmarks, the M5 cost more than twice as much as a 528i, putting it firmly at the top of the German manufacturer’s price list. Even a Porsche 911 would cost less.

Even so, this didn’t seem to affect the M5’s success, says Bernhard Santer, spokesman for the BMW’s M branch. Just two years after M began production, it produced its 1,000th vehicle. And by 1987, with the last M5 of the first-generation basis of the E28, over 2,200 had been produced.

To this day, the original M5 is a highly sought-after model, not least because of its understated appearance. Whereas the current model’s design conjures images of a bodybuilder flexing his muscles, the classic edition did without spoilers on the outside or bucket seats and carbon accents on the inside.

Despite the great apprecation for its restrained design, many fans and collectors still consider the model to be a bargain that often trades below value, and which is significantly cheaper than the more common M3.

On the usual online platforms, an M5 in good shape from the first few years of production can hardly be found under US$60,000 (RM240,000) – meaning it has long since exceeded its original factory price.

READ MORE:
CarSifu drives the new BMW M5
BMW M5 drifts to twin records
Details on 600hp BMW M5
CarSifu drove the previous BMW M5 in Seville
Local launch of previous RM890K  BMW M5 and Z4
Don't worry, the new M5 still drives like an M car, says BMW M boss
BMW M5 Competition Edition debuts with 600hp and 700Nm
BMW M5 won't leave you in a spin


2020 Geneva Motor Show cancelled in Swiss bid to contain Covid-19

The 2019 Geneva show.
LONDON: One of the auto industry’s marquee events fell victim to the coronavirus epidemic, with organizers of the Geneva International Motor Show pulling the plug as the outbreak spreads in Europe.

The trade fair, which was due to start Monday, will return next year, Palexpo SA, which runs the Geneva convention centre, said today in a video briefing to exhibitors. Swiss authorities earlier in the day banned big events on health concerns. The virus reached Switzerland this week and neighbouring Italy reported hundreds of cases.

The expo is among the automotive sector’s glitziest, with a high proportion of luxury and sports models on display, and Palexpo had been pushing ahead with plans. Earlier this week,  it pledged to step up hygiene and health warnings and urged participants to screen staff for symptoms.

 The show's website announcing the cancellation.

The viral outbreak that began in China has spread to 52 countries and territories, with Italian cases centred on northern provinces that border Switzerland.  Geneva, home to the World Health Organisation, which is fighting the epidemic, is a three-hour drive from Turin, where Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has an operational base.

The luxury-watch industry’s Watches & Wonders Geneva, planned for April, was cancelled Thursday, while the rival Baselworld expo was considering whether to go ahead. Together the events are the sector’s biggest trade fairs.

The motor show joins high-profile casualties of the virus including the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the biggest annual showcase for the telecoms sector, scrapped after a succession of tech giants from Ericsson AB to Sony Corp. to LG Electronics Inc. pulled out citing concerns around the virus.

A car show in Beijing scheduled for April has also been postponed, while the Singapore Airshow went ahead earlier this month in front of sparse crowds and with scores of companies steering clear as the virus spread beyond China.

Executives from carmakers spanning Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and BMW AG to Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. were due to attend the Geneva show, which spans 10 days and was first staged in 1905. The expo was last cancelled during World War II and its aftermath.


Bentley Bentayga Hybrid's sat-nav plans most efficient use of stored energy

                LONDON: In-car satellite navigation has just got smarter with the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid's system showing that it can help optimise energy efficiency in the vehicle.

When a destination is programmed into the navigation system, the Bentayga Hybrid calculates the best combination of electric drive and V6 petrol engine to maximise efficiency over the journey.

The car automatically engages the correct drive mode for each part of the journey, constantly calculating the best use of battery charge while storing electrical energy for sections of the journey where it is most useful – such as when arriving in the city, where an electric-only range of 50km in the NEDC cycle can be used.

The system will reduce on-board charge to zero just as the vehicle reaches its destination, maximising overall efficiency. A full charge of the battery from a domestic household socket will take 7.5 hours, and customers with an industrial connection installed at home can reduce the charge time to 2.5 hours.


Allianz Road Rangers contest now open for registration

                KUALA LUMPUR: Calling all motor hunt enthusiasts, the Allianz Road Rangers Amazing Hunt is now open for registration.

Set to take place on Oct 13, the hunt will feature close to 50 teams competing in the Open Category (open to public) and Closed Category. Teams should comprise three to four participants, with at least two participants holding valid driving licences.

The Open Category is set to feature up to 30 teams, and prizes include RM3,000 (first place); RM2, 000 (second place); RM1, 500 (third place) as well as consolation prizes and lucky draws.

To enter the hunt, visit www.csiamazingadventure.com/arrah-2019, download and complete the entry form. Pay the registration fee of RM400 and submit your entry and proof of payment by 6 October 2019. An official ticket will be sent via email to confirm the participant’s registration and payment.

“The Allianz Road Rangers was launched over two years ago," said Allianz Malaysia Bhd chief operations officer Sean Wang.

"We are quite sure folks in and around the Klang Valley have seen the Allianz-branded tow trucks out on the roads but never quite knew what the service was all about. So this was just a fun way for the public to be re-acquainted with our complimentary accident assistance and the six service touchpoints we offer to our customers,”

On top of that, two lucky Fly FM and Hot FM listeners will also earn the chance to participate in the hunt with deejays Ivan (Fly FM) and Zetty (Hot FM) in a head-to-head for bragging rights and a cash prize.

Log in to Fly FM (flyfm.com.my) and Hot FM (hotfm.com.my) as each radio station will hold a contest to select one lucky winner to team up with Ivan or Zetty. Besides that, the winners will also receive RM200 and the chance to invite two of their friends or family members to join their team.

The Allianz Road Rangers Amazing Hunt will flag-off at Allianz Arena near KL Sentral at 6.30am. At each checkpoint, teams must complete a challenge to earn a clue which will lead them to the next checkpoint. Teams will be ranked based on their finish time.

The motor hunt is open to all Malaysians aged 18 years and above.


Manufacturers getting to grips with airless tyres

Rachita showing Goodyear's airless tyre. — All pix by AFP

COLMAR-BERG (Luxembourg): Airless tyres that never go flat or need to be inflated: It's a decades-long dream that manufacturers hope to turn into a reality soon, but for truck drivers first.

The challenges that the technology faces were put on display at a Goodyear test track in Luxembourg, where a group of journalists put a Tesla equipped with airless tyres through its paces.

Instead of being filled with air, the tyres have a web of spokes that keep the wheels firm and give them a see-through look.

The thin layer of rubber gripping the asphalt has a gargantuan physical challenge to meet: supporting the weight of the car and absorbing shocks as well as standard pneumatic tyres for thousands and thousands of kilometres.

That challenge is being overcome: the tyre's rubber and plastic structure resisted the huge stress as the car banked into the track's tight turns.

The ride is smooth but the grip is not as good as on conventional tyres — and they are noisier.

The tyres were tested for 120,000km at speeds of up to 160kph in both scorching temperatures as well as snow, said Michael Rachita, who heads up Goodyear's efforts to develop airless tyres.

"The most obvious advantage is that it's puncture proof," said Rachita.

"It will never run flat, you could drive over any nail and expect not to lose performance," he added.

Rachita said airless tyres will also be maintenance free for drivers as they will never need to check and adjust air pressure.

He said a second generation of airless tyres that are lighter, quieter and roll better are in the works.

Gradual transition seen

Michelin has released the Tweel, but it is for construction vehicles rather than cars where the demands in terms of driving performance are much greater.

The French firm has also unveiled the Uptis which it is developing with US car manufacturer General Motors, and which it hopes can make the jump from auto shows to showrooms next year.

Its researchers are working on a cocktail of fibreglass and resin to hold the rubber onto the honeycomb structure of the new tyre.

But Michelin's CEO Florent Menegaux doesn't expect airless tyres to squeeze out regular tyres anytime soon.

"We're going continue to have air tyres for several decades," he said.

Goodyear, which submitted its first patent on airless tyre technology in 1982, has recently put its food down on the accelerator in terms of research and development.

The US firm aims to have a maintenance-free and long-lasting airless tyre for cars by the end of the decade.

It already has an early version for shuttle buses and automated delivery vehicles on university campuses.

Bridgestone also hopes to have an airless tyre ready within a decade, having already tested early versions on utility vehicles.

Other manufacturers are more sceptical that airless tyres will ever offer comparable shock absorption as traditional tyres and the noise can be reduced sufficiently.

"They aren't a viable solution and I don't expect they will become one," a Continental researcher, Gerrit Bolz, said at a tyre convention in 2017.

Environmental benefits, economic concerns

But independent researcher Ulf Sandberg at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, which is working on an airless tyre for trucks, believes they will eventually become a viable alternative.

"I believe that sooner or later airless tyres could take over," he told AFP.

"If rolling resistance is reduced by 50 percent, it would increase the range of vehicles by 25 percent, and could be extremely valuable" for car manufacturers, particularly for electric vehicles where range is a key concern.

Airless tyres could prove to be environmentally beneficial as they could last the entire lifetime of most vehicles and could then be recycled or retreaded for a second life.

But manufacturers may not be burning rubber to bring airless tyres to market because they also pose threats to their business model, said Sandberg.

A switch to airless tyres would strand the manufacturing equipment used for pneumatic tyres, a heavy cost for the companies to bear.

Given the longevity of the airless tyres, companies would be making less of them.

Goodyear's vice president for product development in Europe, Xavier Fraipont, acknowledged that airless tyres requires a "rethinking our business model, of rethinking our manufacturing".

Yet the possibility of gaining a lead on competitors or being left behind by an affordable and high-performing airless tyre for the consumer market keeps their research rolling forward.


Amazing 2015 sales for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: In a record-breaking 2015 for the three-pointed star, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sold 10,845 vehicles which represented a 56% year-on-year sales jump.

Leading the sales chart were the locally produced C-, E- and S-Class.

As Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s first locally produced diesel hybrid, the E-Class took the top spot with 3,383 units sold, compared to 2,212 in 2014.

The C-Class followed closely with positive sales figures of 2,697 units, a 56% increase from 2014.

Rounding up sales figures with continued growth was the Mercedes-Benz flagship S400L Hybrid, recording sales of 1,909 units in 2015, up 201% year-on-year.

Overall, a total of 7,989 units locally produced cars were sold.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s compact vehicles maintained a steady sales growth with a combined double-digit increase of 21%.

The CLA, posted the highest sales with 959 units (up 74% year-on-year).

The A-Class and GLA maintained a strong momentum registering 832 units and 816 units respectively.

Overall, Mercedes-Benz compact vehicles sold a total of 2,811 units.

“2015 produced many milestones for the Mercedes-Benz brand in Malaysia, both on the product and customer service fronts. Some of these included the launch of the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars collection and the launch of the Hap Seng Star Kota Kinabalu showroom. As we mark our 13th year in Malaysia and the brand’s 130th year as the inventor of the automobile, we are more aligned than ever in pairing a ‘Best or nothing’ model line-up complete with the best ownership experience in the business,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Dr Claus Weidner.

At the ‘heart’ of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s success has been the Pekan production plant and its strong service and dealer network.

The Pekan production plant in Pahang recently celebrated a new milestone of producing over 7,710 Mercedes-Benz cars in a single year.

It was also crowned the first and only CKD country to successfully implement a two-shift production which began in April 2015.

This was implemented to cater to the significantly increasing production volume of the S- and C-Class vehicles.

On the after-sales front, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia hosted the South East Asia Service Excellence award in February 2015, recognising dealers for their commitment to customer service.

In addition, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s authorised dealerships, Cycle and Carriage Bintang Batu Caves and Hap Seng Star Kinrara, were both recertified as Centres of Competence.

On a macro level, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has also worked to further develop the skilled workforce of the country, training selected students from Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sport for the automotive industry.

Under this collaboration, signed in August 2015, the first batch of trainees are expected to graduate this year and will be channeled through various after sales service centres nationwide.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has also continued to engage the community through its MobileKids programme focusing on road safety at JayaOne and a car-seat sponsorship initiative where a total of 110 child car safety seats were rented out for free during the festive season.

In 2015, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also participated in various events as the official transport provider, such as the International Sports Medicine and Sports Science Conference in August 2015 and Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015 (LIMA’15) in January.

“With 28 official appointed dealers, we have the largest network for a premium automotive manufacturer and we do not intend to stop here. We are continuously upgrading our existing dealerships and with our two latest additions in East Malaysia, we are focused on expanding our presence in this country,” said Dr Weidner.


2015 Tokyo Motor Show: CarSifu goes to Japan

                TOKYO: The opening of the 44th Tokyo Motor Show is imminent.

And CarSifu has despatched two of its guys over to Tokyo to cover Toyota, Honda and the show in general. Editor Hong Boon How is with the Toyota group while Thomas Huong is focusing on Honda.

Along the way, there will be side trips organised separately by the two car makers.

Huong has just reported in from Twin Ring Motegi, with two off-the-cuff videos on the Honda BR-V, the S660 convertible and Jade RS MPV, which began selling in Japan earlier this year.

Motegi is 145km northeast of Tokyo and is about 2 hours 30mins drive from the capital. Twin Ring Motegi, surrounded by forests, is so called because it comprises two racing courses: Super Speedway, an American-style oval course, and Road Course, with a European layout.

Below is Huong's report on location at Motegi ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show (Oct 30-Nov 8) coverage.

Honda pre-Tokyo Motor Show reportCarSifu had a brief drive experience of the Honda Jade RS MPV or multi-purpose vehicle, S660 two door/two seater compact convertible and a prototype of the BR-V. Each car was driven on two short laps at open air test pads near the Twin Ring Motegi, Japan.

The Jade RS has a 1.5L VTEC turbo, direct injection, dual VTC engine with 150 PS @ 5,500rpm and 203Nm @ 1,600 to 5,000rpm. This is mated to a six speed CVT.

Our Jade RS test drive unit came with automatic engine start-stop and touchscreen display, and  feels quite premium. We liked its quick and responsive acceleration, and good handling in the bends as it rides on 215/50 R17 tyres.

 Jade RS.

As for the S660, it is powered by a rear mounted 660cc turbo engine that has 64 PS @ 6,000rpm and 104Nm of torque @ 2,600rpm. With a CVT gearbox, it has a fuel economy rated at 24.2km per litre based on Japan's JC08 mode.

The S660 has a fun-to-drive character, with its compact dimensions, as we discovered. It's very perky in acceleration, too.

With 165/55 R15 tyres in front and bigger 195/45 R16 rear tyres, the S660 has a planted feel when we tackled corners aggressively.

 The S660.

Meanwhile, the BR-V has a 1.5L i-VTEC engine with 120 PS @ 6,600rpm and 145Nm @ 4,600rpm. This is mated to a CVT gearbox.

The BR-V had a concept shown at the recent Jakarta Motor Show, and we briefly test drove the prototype in Motegi, which is likely very close to the production model.

 The BR-V, first unveiled in Indonesia, and now available for a drive in Motegi, Japan.

The seven-seater BR-V is another Honda car that has a very spacious cabin, with practical second and third row seats that can be flipped up to create more storage space.

Honda executives say the BR-V will be launched in Asean in the near future and with this model, Honda has a SUV product for large families who want a vehicle with higher ground clearance and not priced at premium level.


Covid-19 ushers in new era of air conditioning in cars

                FRANKFURT: Disturbing odours, annoying pollen and now virus-laden aerosols: drivers value clean air inside their car more than ever, especially since the start of the pandemic.

The car industry has long since picked up on this trend and is coming up with more and more elaborate air-conditioning systems.

Mercedes’ new electric model EQS, for example, has an innovative air conditioner in the front, in a space occupied by the engine in conventional cars.

Here, the manufacturer has installed a so-called Hepa filter which provides clinical air quality like in an operating room, according to Mercedes.

The EQS boot has a volume of 610 to 1,770 litres, more than any other Mercedes S-Class model and more than enough to make up for the lost storage space in the front. However, the placement also shows the importance now attributed to air conditioning.

Filter capacity: 150 football fields

"While this was initially a very big issue in Asia in particular, it has also become a top priority in the rest of the world since the coronavirus at the latest," says Mercedes' Christoph Starzynski, justifying the installation of a filter that is larger than a crate of beer and separates 99.65 per cent of particles of all sizes on a surface the size of 150 football fields.

But Mercedes isn’t the only manufacturer that has ramped up the fight against dirty air.

For years, developers were concerned with the perfect distribution of air flows in the car and the most individualised comfort zones possible for each occupant.

But now it's increasingly about purity: modern air-conditioning systems detect air quality and automatically activate recirculation mode, they ionise the air flow to eliminate odours, and they are now filtering out ever smaller particles as well.

Regulating clean air via your smartphone

British manufacturer Rolls-Royce, for example, claims it has installed the first automatic climate control system with a nanoparticle filter in its new Ghost model last year, a system that since this spring has also been available for some luxury models at BMW.

"This technology makes it possible to keep certain microbial particles and allergens out of the vehicle interior in addition to ultra-fine dust," says press spokesperson Bernhard Ederer.

In recirculation mode, the interior is thus cleaned of almost all particles beyond the usual level. And the driver doesn't even have to be in the car to switch it on. Thanks to remote access via an app, the air conditioning system can be programmed accordingly even before you start driving.

But clean air is also increasingly available in lower-price ranges. Japanese manufacturer Honda, for example, has launched an interior filter which can be bought additionally and installed by an authorised dealer.

The device “effectively filters, captures and suppresses toxic environmental gases as well as inorganic and biological particles and aerosols,” according to Honda.

Maintenance and additional consumption - but it's worth it

While manufacturers have been doing the most to increase air quality inside the car, drivers still have to do their part, says Hans-Georg Marmit from the KUeS car expert association.

"Because an air conditioning system is only as good as its maintenance," warns the expert, referring emphatically to the manufacturers' service intervals, during which coolant is checked and filters are replaced.

A little extra cost during operation must also be factored in since the air conditioner increases consumption by up to 2 litres, depending on load and performance.

But this is money well spent and not only because air conditioners protect against viruses, pollen and bad odours and prevent fungal growth in the car's windpipes, says Marmit: "Especially in summer, activating the air conditioning is absolutely necessary to ensure the driver's ability to concentrate."


VW unveils all-new Jetta in Detroit but drops it from Euro markets

DETROIT: Even though the American and European vehicle markets are now more closely aligned than they've ever been, some fairly seismic differences remain.

One example is the all-new Volkswagen Jetta that's just been unveiled at the North American International Auto Show here. Although it's a huge deal for the American market as the Jetta is the brand's biggest-selling car over there, it's also been announced the Jetta is being dropped completely from European markets.

The headline news about the 2019 Jetta is the fact it's now being built on the MQB platform that already underpins models as diverse as the Atlas and the Golf.

That means it's now able to raid the MQB parts bin for all sorts of technological goodies, including the sensational Digital Cockpit that's now going to be available on SEL and SEL Premium trims of the Jetta.

The Digital Cockpit display, which is already offered with some other VW and Audi products, really is an impressive sight in the cluster, and is sure to influence many purchasing decisions when compared to products with smaller, less-versatile, partially digital displays.

But despite being VW's best-selling model in the US, in Europe buyers tend to prefer hatchbacks over sedan, and that's resulted in the Jetta now being one of the brand's lowest-selling models in Europe.

Volkswagen sold an impressive 115,807 Jetta models in the US last year, but even that is down by 4.4 percent from the previous year, so the new car carries high expectations of arresting that decline. In Europe, however, sales of the Jetta plummeted by 25 percent to a paltry 5,368 units in the first 10 months of 2017, according to data from market researchers JATO Dynamics.

The new 2019 Jetta will be launched in Mexico in the first quarter of this year, and in the US market launch will follow in the second quarter of 2018. The car will continue to be built in Mexico, and the US version will come with a new starting price that will be $100 less than the current model it's replacing.


Jaguar’s newest car is actually 70 years old

                LONDON: Jaguar’s classics department has announced it will make eight more of the curvaceous C-Type that was originally produced from 1951 to 1953.

The continuation cars, set to converge on a special track day in 2022 to celebrate 70 years since the original release, will be the fourth of its kind for the Coventry, England-based company.

Jaguar started developing Jaguar Lightweight E-Type and Jaguar XKSS continuation cars as far back as 2014; in 2018, it began building D-Type continuations.

Jaguar is far from the only company to cash in on the continuation business model, which grants uber-expensive, hyperlimited new cars to well-heeled fans of the brand.

In 2018, Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc announced it would make 19 fresh continuations of its classic DB4 Zagato GT from the 1960s and 25 continuations of its DB5s famed from Goldfinger. In 2019, Porsche brought back a single 993—some would say “continued” it—to help launch a new series of Porsche 911 Turbos. The original 993 line was discontinued in 1998.

The (re)birth of the legend

Simply put, a continuation car is a vehicle discontinued from production and then produced anew by the original automaker, usually in extremely stingy amounts.

Continuation cars are neither restorations nor replicas; they are built new following the original standards and engineering plan.

(Some contain modern components, however.) As for numbering—the real key when it comes to valuing such rarefied machines—each C-type continuation will receive an entirely new chassis number and unique characters to show that it was built in 2021, rather than follow the vintage sequence.

The success of the continuation as a business model remains uncontested, though Jaguar and Aston Martin both consistently decline to specify revenue or profit margins. At the time of the D-Type launch, Tim Hannig, the director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said the continuations are not wildly lucrative but “do make the company money.”

Virtually each continuation series offered from Aston Martin and Jaguar has sold out before its official announcement—even when pricing can range from the high six figures to more than US$2 million.

The consensus among collectors of the originals seems to be that continuation pieces don’t nudge their value one way or the other.

Jaguar has earned a reputation for making careful, exact continuations in extremely low batches, which helps preserve the value of the originals. (Of the 53 Jaguar C-type sports cars built in the 1950s, 43 were sold to private owners.)

“There was a lot of concern when we did the first lightweight E-Type [in 2014]—that it might deteriorate values—but the other way around happened,” Hannig said. “Suddenly, people were talking about these cars. It promoted the car in its own right. It allows us in a different way to communicate about the past and show what we have as heritage.”

A strong track record

Originally produced from 1951 to 1953, the C-Type earned renown for its cartoon-like body, designed by artist Malcolm Sayer. The car won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race at its debut in 1951, scoring the first of seven outright wins for Jaguar at that series.

The vehicle carried pioneering innovative disc brake technology in a revolutionary system developed by Jaguar and Dunlop. In 1952, famous racer Stirling Moss won the Reims Grand Prix in France using the same system. The C-type won the 24 Hours of Le Mans again in 1953.

Each example of an upcoming C-Type will reflect the specifications of the 1953 Le Mans-winning car, including a 220 hp 3.4-litre inline-six engine with triple Weber 40DCO3 carburetors and disc brakes.

Additional options include an FIA-approved harness-style seatbelt, since the C-type continuations will be eligible for—and expected at—historic racing and track days.

The best news yet: Some C-Type continuations are available for sale, according to a Jaguar spokesman. (Usually they sell out even before their public announcement.) An online configuration tool allows prospective buyers to compare colour and trim options from 12 exterior colours and eight interior colours available, as well as apply optional racing roundels and steering wheel badge and hood badging. Pricing is expected to start around US$1.3 million.


DS building X E-Tense concept car

The DS X E-Tense is currently a virtual concept.
PARIS: Back in April, DS Automobiles shared a video revealing the X E-Tense, its virtual vision of the car of 2035.

DS CEO Yves Bonnefont has now announced that the project will give rise to a concept car, which will probably be unveiled in a global premiere at the Oct 4-14 Paris Motor Show.

The intriguing, autonomous and powerful DS X E-Tense is set to be built and will soon be unveiled to the public. With its asymmetrical shape, this futuristic car represents the DS take on the luxury car of 2035.

According to DS Automobiles, the car combines advanced technology with stylish French design, with its cocoon-like cockpit and seat which adapts to the driver's physical build.

This asymmetric vehicle can carry up to three people and promises a refined onboard experience, with features including an interior fragrance diffuser.

The cockpit features a striking number of displays, not to mention a holographic personal assistant called IRIS, capable of controlling the main functions of the vehicle while also being connected to the outside world. Offering peak power of 540hp on the road, this all-electric car can up the power to 1,360hp on the track. Yves Bonnefont promises "it will be breathtaking."

The premium car-maker recently announced plans to go electric by 2025, with only hybrid or all-electric vehicles. A first key step to achieving that goal will be the unveiling of the first fully electric DS at this year's Paris Motor Show, possibly alongside the firm's DS X E-Tense concept.


Aston Martin DB10 to be auctioned off

LONDON: The Aston Martin DB10 – the first car created exclusively for James Bond by British luxury brand Aston Martin – is to go under the auctioneer’s gavel at the London auction house of Christie’s on 18th February with proceeds donated to Médecins Sans Frontières.

"Spectre – The Auction" celebrates the release of the 24th Bond film on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD with 24 special auction lots going under the hammer for charity, led by the Aston Martin DB10.

Celebrating the great British brand’s half century with Bond, which started with the iconic DB5, the DB10 gives a glimpse of the future design direction for the next generation of Aston Martins. Production of the DB10 was limited to 10 examples of the bespoke sports car which was developed and hand-built by the designers, engineers and artisan craftspeople at Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters in Britain for the latest Bond film, Spectre.

The DB10 to be auctioned, is the only car to date in the rarest DB lineage to be made available for private ownership. It is also the first ever Aston Martin to receive a platinum award from the Aston Martin Works Assured Provenance scheme. The Assured Provenance process is the first official authentication programme to be provided in-house by Aston Martin. Drawing on the expertise of a committee of Aston Martin experts, the Assured Provenance certification programme is administered and run by the brand’s in-house heritage car facility – Aston Martin Works.

As part of the painstaking procedure of examination and authentication, the DB10 has undergone a digital scan which has been verified and held in a secure archive for future reference.

The DB10 features a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine and six-speed manual gearbox. It has an estimated top speed of around 305kph.  The car features an all carbon fibre exterior, while the interior has been painstakingly handmade using fine luxury leathers, carbon fibre and aluminium.

Most of the DB10s were modified for use in the filming of Spectre, but the DB10 offered at Christie’s is one of only two “show” cars, which were left unmodified and used for display purposes. This DB10 took pride of place at the world premiere of Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall in London and has been signed by James Bond himself, Daniel Craig. The auction will take place on Feb 18 at Christie’s King Street auction house here.


Win a Kia Cerato 2.0 in TDKOT 2015

                KUALA LUMPUR: Test Drive Kia on Tour (TDKOT) is back this year with a Cerato 2.0 for a lucky winner.

Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, official distributor of Kia Motors vehicles in Malaysia, announced that customers who booked a Kia car or test drive any cars at the TDKOT venues will stand a chance to win the grand prize – a Kia Cerato 2.0.

The TDKOT roadshows, will kick start its first destination at the East Coast Mall Kuantan, Pahang from March 12 to 15.

Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, chief operating officer of Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd said, “This year, with the TDKOT, we hope that we can bring the Kia driving experience for Malaysians, which we hope Kia enthusiasts all around Malaysia will take the chance to get to know more about Kia products currently in the market such as KIA Cerato, Picanto, Rio, Optima K5, Sorento and Sportage”.

During the test drive tour, there will be sales promotions to customers who place their booking & register for a Kia vehicle.

According to Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz, this annual TDKOT roadshow, organized since year 2011, had chosen Kuantan to kick start the roadshow as to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of Kia Red Cube in Kuantan.

Apart from that, Kia Red Cube in Kuantan also has its own Anniversary Sales and Service Promotions including a discount for 10% service parts, free Multi-Point Inspection (MPI) and on top of that a surprise gift will be given out every Saturday of this month.

For more information on the offers in KIA Red Cube Kuantan, call 09-5660088 and service centre at 09-5667788.


Down retro road with CMC XY400

The CMC XY400 design is retro-inspired, with a single cylinder four-stroke engine, a big round headlamp, chromed fenders and a square rear light with a single saddle.

The design is further enhanced by the rubber pads on the fuel tank and peashooter exhaust. Aesthetically, the bike looks rugged and cool, while being powered by a 397cc engine.

The bike is assembled right here in Malaysia and distributed exclusively by Chear Global Sdn Bhd.

When I was introduced to the XY400, I did not have any high expectation, but the company’s general manager gave an assurance that this bike would surprise me.

The sitting position is up right, thus the handle bar has been designed well to meet that purpose, which also offers good control over the bike.

Foot controls of the XY400 are wide enough to give me a good feel of the rear brakes and during gear shifts.
During my ride to Temerloh, my bottom was extremely comfy on the wide and firm saddle.

Meanwhile, the indicator buttons, which were placed on each bar were easy to operate even with the gloves on.
I must say that a lot of thinking has gone through to the ergonomics of this 166kg (wet)  bike that was made it is easy to handle in town and around traffic jams.

During rush hour in the city, the bike was able to manoeuvre through traffic with no hesitation and careful “zig-zagging” between cars was a piece of cake.

This is due to the slim design of the bike and the natural seating position making it an ideal bike to commute in the city.

The three days with the bike, allowed me to complete all my chores that were piling up for the last two weeks.
In order to find out how the bike fares on the highway and back roads, I decided to ride the XY400 to Temerloh from Kuala Lumpur.

I was surprised with the bike’s performance, agility and toughness.

Every time I thumbed the electric starter early in the morning, the engine comes alive without hesitation.

Being a single cylinder type, I was prepared to start the engine a few times, but it fired off easily just fine and dandy.

Staying true to the old school design, the bike also has a kick starter too.

I tried starting up the XY400 a few times using this old method, but obviously my leg was not strong enough.

During the ride on the Karak Highway, the bike was smooth, although the perennial problem of any four-stroke single-cylinder engine is vibration.

At about 120kph, the vibration came in slowly.  By 130kph, the vibration became obvious, but it was bearable.

I felt the vibration at the handles, but it was not hard enough to give me a head shake.

On the highway, torque starts to pick up strongly at about 3,000rpm, while travelling at 80kph in second gear.

After an hour of riding, I concluded that the engine’s sweet spot is from 3,600 to 4,400rpm with the XY400 running at 115kph. It was then that the ride felt pleasant.

This 400cc engine produces 26.5hp with more than enough torque.

I had initially underestimated the power of the single-cylinder engine of the XY400.

Actually, power is in abundance on this retro-looking bike, thus giving me generous amount of oomph to ride from first to fifth gear.

The transmission’s gearing was close to perfect when  downshifting from 100kph to 40kph. I must admit the five-speed transmission was smooth, assisted by the soft cable clutch.

Squeezing the clutch only needed two fingers instead of five, and with a light foot for shifting gears along with a responsive throttle, I was the king of the road.

The XY400 did very well in sharp corners and twisties on the back roads of Temerloh. I was particularly impressed when I entered and exited two tight corners in style.

My riding buddies could not believe that I took these corners at 90kph.

The XY400’s torque band was good enough for me to enter and exit with confidence.

There is a lot of power available in the lower rev range and the bike rolls comfortably at high speeds without any strain on the engine.

On perfect roads, there are no complaints about the rear shocks, but the minute the bike gets onto some rough patches of pot holes or uneven roads, the rear damping becomes less than satisfactory.

It’s not bad till it starts hurting your back, but it’ll definitely need some improvement. Meanwhile, the front suspension is firm, but it does plunge occasionally at speed.

The front brake is a 275mm single disc, while the rear sports a 160mm drum, but overall the bite seems enough and performed well for stopping  after having tried a few sudden stops in the rain.

My verdict on the RM16,800 (price without GST) XY400 is that it is a simple, low maintenance and reliable bike that’s suitable for daily commutes in classic fashion.

And you can also do the outstation rides when you want to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city.


EU lawmakers approve effective 2035 ban on new fossil fuel cars

                BRUSSELS: The European Parliament today formally approved a law to effectively ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the European Union from 2035, aiming to speed up the switch to electric vehicles and combat climate change.

The landmark rules will require that by 2035 carmakers must achieve a 100% cut in CO2 emissions from new cars sold, which would make it impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the 27-country bloc.

The law will also set a 55% cut in CO2 emissions for new cars sold from 2030 versus 2021 levels, much higher than the existing target of a 37.5%.

"The operating costs of an electric vehicle are already lower than the operating costs of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine," Jan Huitema, the parliament's lead negotiator on the rules, said, adding that it was crucial to bring more affordable electric vehicles to consumers.

EU countries agreed the deal with lawmakers last October, but still need to formally rubber stamp the rules before they can take effect. Final approval is expected in March.

New vans must comply with a 100% CO2 cut by 2035, and a 50% cut by 2030, compared with 2021 levels.

Many carmakers in Europe have announced investments in electrification.

Volkswagen chief executive Thomas Schaefer said last year that from 2033 the brand will only produce electric cars in Europe.

Still, the EU law met resistance from some industry and countries when it was proposed in July 2021.

As a result, the final deal includes some flexibilities including that small carmakers producing less than 10,000 vehicles per year can negotiate weaker targets until 2036.

The car CO2 law is part a broader package of tougher EU climate policies, designed to deliver the bloc's targets to slash greenhouse gas emissions this decade.


Uber to provide free insurance for its drivers in India

File pic of an employee walking inside the office of Uber on the outskirts of New Delhi. — Reuters
 NEW DELHI: Global ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies will give free insurance to its 450,000 driver partners in India that will cover death, disability or hospitalisation due to accidents, the company said.

The San Francisco-based company, which competes with Softbank-backed local rival Ola in India, is grappling with an overhaul of its workplace culture, a range of legal troubles and most recently a bitter board dispute.

Earlier this year Uber faced backlash from drivers in India, one of its biggest and most competitive markets, who went on strike after the company, in a bid to make money, cut back on lucrative incentives.

The insurance by ICICI Lombard General Insurance will be applicable from Sept 1, and will provide cover ranging from 500,000 rupees (RM33,402) in case of death to 50,000 rupees (RM3,340) for outpatient treatment, the company said.

Uber this week picked Expedia Inc chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi to become its new CEO, according to a memo, putting him in charge of turning around the loss-making, scandal-ridden company.


Karamjit Singh to start rally school next year

                KUALA LUMPUR: National rally legend Karamjit Singh is planning to open a rally school in an effort to find new talents for the motorsport.

Karamjit, who is known as the "Flying Sikh", said the purpose of creating the rally school was to ensure the national rally racing sport did not run out of young talent.

"I have discussed with Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and we will open a rally school next year to scout for new talent in the future. The school will probably start in the second quarter of 2021.

"Anyone can join this rally school and we plan to hold training at the estate near SIC," he told the media.

Through the rally school, Karamjit said they would be able to select potential rally drivers to be featured in the Asia Pacific and then world races.

The 58-year-old rally driver acknowledged that Malaysia has many young talents in rally motorsport but most of them need continuous support and training to be promoted to a higher level.

Meanwhile, the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) secretary-general, Muizz Azli, announced that the association would be organising a rally clinic in the second quarter of next year.

"For now, we have only receive one application for the rally race in Terengganu in February. But MAM thinks there will be more (rally racing championships). If there is no rally race, there will be a rally clinic organised by MAM," he said.


Lamborghini makes an exhibition of itself

                BOLOGNA: To underline that in the supercar world, the Lamborghini Miura is considered an artistic masterpiece, Automobili Lamborghini is hosting a special exhibition by artist Alfonso Borghi made up entirely of works inspired by the car.

"Velocità e Colore" (or "Speed and Colour") will open to the public at the Lamborghini museum in Sant' Agata Bolognese, Italy on April 28. The 10 works on 200x150cm and 180x180cm canvases explore some of the more subtle details of Lamborghini design language past and present in a style described as an unconscious revision of dynamic shapes and one that incorporates strong interplays of colour and three-dimensional effects.

"The encounter of art and automotive legend is a winning combination," said Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali. "With this exhibit, we wish to pay tribute to the richness of our heritage and to the 50th Anniversary of the Miura. We also intended to try out new means of expressing our culture and new approaches to its enhancement."

 The Miura.

The exhibition, which runs until June 30 is just one of a number of special high-profile events the company has organized to celebrate the Miura's 50th anniversary.

In March at the annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, the company unveiled the original, completely restored SV specification Miura that made its debut at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. The same car along with cutaway models and restored V12 Miura engines will also take pride of place at this week's Techno-Classica vehicle show in Essen, Germany.

Celebrations will culminate in June with a huge traveling party for all current Miura owners which will see the cars being driven from Bologna to Florence via Parma.

Unveiled to an unsuspecting public in 1966, the Miura was the supercar movement's Genesis moment. The first car with a transversely mounted V12 engine positioned between the front seats and rear axle, it was as technologically advanced as it was aesthetically desirable. Styled by design legend Marcello Gandini when he was still at Bertone, and standing just 105cm tall, the Miura had a top speed of 280km/h, making it the fastest car in the world when it went on sale.

Just 763 examples were built between 1966 and 1972 when it was replaced by the Countach, and famous owners include Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Johnny Hallyday, the Prince of Monaco and original supermodel, Twiggy.


Aston Martin DBX The One Edition arrives from RM1.1mil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur introduces the customised hand-built unit Aston Martin DBX The One Edition priced from RM1.1mil excluding duties and taxes.

DBX The One Edition is named after the distinctiveness of the choice of specifications as the one-of-a kind DBX in Malaysia.

This customised specification is created to appreciate the synergy between sport and refinement which run deeply in Aston Martin’s veins.

Concours Blue, the same paint colour when Aston Martin One-77 at its world debut, is an elegant, beautifully metallic silver blue which creates a wonderfully elegant visual.

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur said: "After the announcement of removing the paint colour from DBX’s colour palette globally, we decided to spec the DBX with Concours Blue which makes it the one and only in Malaysia."

Aside from the unique shade, DBX The One Edition also features the 23-inch forged - Satin Black Halo Diamond Turned which is also the largest and most imposing wheel ever fitted to an Aston Martin.

Aisde from being one of the lightest wheels available, the 23-inch wheel delivers the ultimate high performance capability for DBX.

DBX The One Edition comes with a duotone environment, mixing of subtly detailed Oxford Tan and Onyx Black leather to hint at the equestrian and fine saddlery.

The selection of the exterior specification and personalisation options improves the sporting DNA in this customisation unit which includes the exterior gloss black package, sport exhaust upgrade, and the forged wheels.

For details on DBX The One Edition, call +60 3 2163 1196 or email to astonmartinkl.enquiries@wearnes.com


Brexit casts shadow over stands at 2019 Geneva car show

                LONDON: The usual mix of sports cars, offroaders and family saloons will be on display at the Geneva motor show this week, but with one big difference from previous years - they may be about to become harder and costlier to make, and more expensive to buy.

If Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 without a withdrawal deal, all bets are off on what will happen to the just-in-time production system on which the European auto industry relies, or to demand for vehicles across the continent.

And the situation has just got more complicated. Last week, British Prime Minister Theresa May raised the prospect of a short delay to Brexit, potentially disrupting the plans that carmakers have put in place to cope with a no-deal divorce.

“I’m sure I speak for most of the country when I say, we just want to get it done. We just want to know where we are and get on with it,” said Andy Palmer, the chief executive of British sports car maker Aston Martin.

His company has said it will spend up to £30 million (RM162mil) on preparing for a potentially disorderly Brexit, including stocking more components and potentially flying in parts if ports are clogged up.

The stakes are high. Britain is Europe’s second-biggest buyer of cars and fourth biggest manufacturer, meaning disruption to supplies - and possible tariffs of up to 10 percent on vehicles moving between Britain and the European Union - will have repercussions across the industry.

With less than a month to go, May is trying to renegotiate a withdrawal deal with the EU that British lawmakers have so far refused to approve.

The timing could hardly be worse for a car industry already struggling with a slowdown in China, the world’s biggest autos market, a plunge in demand for diesel vehicles and costly investments in electric as well as self-driving cars.

Britain’s once booming car industry is already recording drops in sales, investment and output, with Japan’s Honda delivering the biggest blow so far by announcing plans to close its British factory.

Brexit bill

But carmakers cannot suddenly stop plans which have been years in the making.

British supercar maker McLaren will display its Speedtail in Geneva, while fellow British luxury brand Bentley will show off the Bentayga Speed and Aston Martin its Lagonda all-terrain concept vehicle.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Toyota has just begun churning out its new Corolla car at its English factory.

But others are staying away from Europe’s top car show. These include Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which is belt-tightening, and US manufacturer Ford, which is making cuts to its European operations.

JLR has said it faces a more than £1.2 billion (RM6.5bil) hit to its profits if there is a “bad Brexit deal”, which would involve tariffs on cars of up to 10 percent and between roughly 2 and 4 percent on components and engines.

Ford, which does not make cars in Britain but builds nearly 1.3 million engines there, has said a no-deal Brexit could cost up to US$1 billion (RM4.1bil).

It fears delays and tariffs before the engines can be fitted into vehicles in Germany, Turkey, the United States and elsewhere.

Ford also has the most exposed overseas plant, with nearly one in three cars rolling off the production line in its Cologne plant in Germany destined for Britain, the company’s third-largest market, according to researchers LMC Automotive.

Seven of the top 10 factories that export the highest volumes to Britain are in Germany, which itself is teetering on the edge of recession.

Ford said last month it would take “whatever action is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of our European business.”

But moving production can takes years, meaning firms would have to manage a no-deal Brexit, at least in the short term. Honda’s plant closure announced last month will not take place until 2021.

A delay to Brexit could also ruin some contingency plans.

JLR, Honda and BMW’s MINI and Rolls-Royce brands - together accounting for around 55% of UK car output - all plan to shut down in April from between a week to up to a month in case of any disruption from a no-deal Brexit.

Shutdowns are generally organised months in advance so employee holidays can be scheduled and suppliers can adjust volumes, making them hard to move.

The uncertainty leaves automakers grappling to address a huge range of potential problems, from re-certifying models to investing in more pallets to transport German-made engines.

“We can listen to the rhetoric of British politicians saying ‘we’ll make the Dover port flow, we’ll let the stuff in’ but what they fail to realise is that for every time you bring in an engine, you’ve got to send a pallet back to Germany,” said Aston Martin’s Palmer.

“If the French aren’t opening up their border, very soon you run out of pallets.”


Two wins for Audi in “Best Cars 2017”

                STUTTGART: Audi has driven home two overall wins in the “Best Cars 2017” competition.

The Audi A1 triumphed in the “Small Car” category in the reader survey conducted by “auto motor und sport” magazine, and the Audi A3 won the “Compact Car” class.

The award ceremony was held today in Stuttgart.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “The double victory in the ‘Best Cars 2017’ gives us momentum for the new year. This success shows that the enthusiasm for our cars continues to hold true.”

Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, added: “The A1 and A3 offer all of the virtues of an Audi in a compact format.”

The “auto motor und sport” award ceremony was held for the 41st time this year.

Readers of the renowned trade journal selected their favorites from 378 models in eleven categories.

The publication selected an overall winner and a top import in each category.

In the “Small Car” category, 20.7 percent of the readers selected the Audi A1, and 17.1 percent chose the Audi A3 as the top of the “Compact Car” class.

In addition, the Audi Q7 took second place in the “Large SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category with 10.4 percent of the vote.

Third place finishes went to the Audi A4 in the “Midsize” category, to the Audi A6 in the “Upper Midsize” class, to the Audi R8 Spyder in the “Convertibles” class and to the Audi Q2 in the “Compact SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category.


Puritalia to debut 965hp hybrid supercar in Geneva

                NAPLES: After four years in the making, luxury supercar maker Puritalia Automobili will unveil the 965-hp "super-hybrid" at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.

After launching the 427 roadster back in 2014, Puritalia has spent the past four years developing the Berlinetta, a supercar equipped with a "super-hybrid" powertrain — V8 engine up front and electric motor in back — capable of generating 956hp and 1248Nm of torque.

This model, whose parts are handcrafted and exclusively built-to-order, has a "carbon fibre body that offers the ideal 50/50 weight distribution for the perfect driving experience." Just painting and finishing the carbon fiber takes 800 hours, so it's no wonder that such a vehicle is targeted only at car enthusiasts and collectors.

The central tub will also be made from carbon fibre (with aluminum sub-frames), as well as the body panels. Likewise, the interior will feature a carbon fiber exposed finish.

The vehicle is fully-connected and can be controlled via an interior touchscreen, voice controls, or remotely by smartphone.

The Berlinetta will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7, so even if you're not one of the "select elite" that the 150 vehicle units are reserved for, you can still feast your eyes on a supercar declared to be more powerful than the LaFerrari.


Rimac Group raises US$537mil to build EVs, Porsches, Bugattis

                ZAGREB: Rimac Group has raised another US$536.6 million (RM2.4bil) to help it build future Porsches, Bugattis, and Koenigseggs.

SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Goldman Sachs Asset Management led the latest round of funding, which also included Rimac shareholders Investindustrial and Porsche.

Mate Rimac, who founded his eponymous company in a garage in 2009, remains the largest shareholder.

"It’s great to have Porsche on board, but also, you know, we don’t want to be fully dependent on them,” Rimac said during a call with reporters on May 31. Porsche holds a 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac, the company formed in 2021 between Bugatti, Porsche, and Rimac.

Formed in January, Rimac Group is an umbrella company that holds a 55% stake in Bugatti Rimac and 100% of Rimac Technology, an independent subsidiary formed in January. (Bugatti Rimac owns 100% of Rimac Automobili, the group’s hypercar division.) Porsche owns the remaining 45% of Bugatti Rimac.

The Croatia-based group oversees the manufacture of such multimillion-dollar supercars as the Bugatti Chiron and Bugatti Bolide, plus upcoming vehicles that bear the Rimac brand name, like the US$2.4 million Rimac Nevera electric hypercar.

The Nevera will see its first customer deliveries in "the next few weeks,” Mate Rimac said.

It’s also working on unspecified projects for automakers such as Aston Martin, Koenigsegg, and Porsche. A spokesperson declined to comment on specific vehicles.

Mate Rimac said he plans to use the additional funding to hire 700 more workers and by next year complete construction on a campus and factory that can house 2,500 people-the largest such complex in Croatia, according to Rimac.

It was unclear how large the campus is, with some Rimac documents claiming 25 acres and others claiming 50 acres. The space will go towards building Rimac-branded supercars, Bugatti supercars, and other high-end vehicles the company declined to name.

"Most of the capital will actually be used for scaling up to meet the demand for batteries and powertrains and the other systems to help the car industry go electric,” Mate Rimac said.

Rimac Technology will produce tens of thousands of components annually, with products ranging from hybrid and fully electric battery systems to full rolling chassis, he said.

Such vehicles, technology, and components could go to existing clients that have said they will sell hybrid and electric vehicles such as the Koenigsegg Gemera, Aston Martin Valkyrie, and Porsche 718.

"We were already convinced of the company’s potential in 2018 and are pleased that we were able to contribute to its progress and current success with our commitment,” said Lutz Meschke, the deputy chairman of the executive board of Porsche AG, in a statement about the latest infusion of funds.

"With new investors on board, Rimac is further expanding its position in electromobility and thus becoming an even stronger partner for Porsche.”

The announcement comes after strong progress for the now not-so-fledgling brand and its uncommonly bold founder.

Last year, it received 150 orders for Bugatti cars, a record number, which sold out all of its vehicles until 2025. The range-topping US$4.7 million Bolide hypercar sold out all of its 40 unit allocations two months after it debuted.

Amid this growth, Rimac batted away rumours that one of its existing partnerships with Hyundai had soured.

In 2019, Hyundai and Kia invested US$90 million in the Croatian company to develop at least two vehicles with the partnership-a fully electric variant of Hyundai’s N sports car and a performance fuel-cell vehicle.

A spokesperson for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding when production would start for those two vehicles.

"The growth has been quite persistent over time,” Mate Rimac said of the company headcount. "We are doubling basically every one or half, two years.”

Contrary to where the big market is for luxury saloons like Mercedes-Maybach’s S-Class, Rimac’s growth doesn’t come from dealerships in China. Instead, it comes from Europe and North America.

"Affluent Chinese buyers usually don’t buy supercars in China, for different reasons,” he said, noting regulatory challenges that make selling supercars in mainland China complicated and expensive.

"They usually buy them in London or in Sydney or in Toronto-in the Western cities where they have their other residences.”