Dunlop 4x4 RT5 and AT5 tyres launched and tried

                PETALING JAYA: Continental Tyre Malaysia has introduced two new Dunlop 4x4 tyres - the road-going RoadTrekker RT5 and the all-terrain MaxGrip AT5 for the Malaysian market, which are priced somewhere in the RM400 to RM500 region.

According to Continental, the second generation of locally made tyres from Alor Setar come with high performance, durability and have all-terrain capabilities for users with sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pick-up trucks and cross-over SUVs.

 Dunlop MaxGrip AT5 (left) and RoadTrekker RT5

The two tyres now take over from its predecessors - the RT2 and AT2, introduced seven years ago.

The RT5, meant for the highway terrain segment, is touted as having longer mileage performance with an improved contour concept over the RT2 and provides for better road contact area.

Furthermore, its part-silica compound helps to improve wet grip by shortening braking distances, while helping to prolong its mileage performance.

In terms of features, its rubber blocks have gotten larger and stiffer, with the centre treads taking care of directional stability, flanked by water-flow channels at either side before reaching the large outer treads for improved cornering stability.

Eight sizes are available for the RT5, which are 31 x10.5R15 LT LRC, 215 R15, 255/70R15, 265/70R15, 245/70R16, 255/70R16, 265/70R16 and 225/65R17.

As for the all-terrain MaxGrip AT5, it is a dual-role tyre that's been engineered for both road and off-road use and comes with an optimised tread depth for an improved life-span to aid in heat loss.

It also gets a varied angle "zig-zag" tread pattern that helps to capture and releases mud as well stones when at speed and its blocks is said to be of less rolling-resistance, while providing good grip over different surfaces.

Additionally, the tyre also comes equipped with a sidewall protection ring and acts as a means to resist puncture from sharp objects and the occurrence bulging on the tyre.

The MaxGrip AT5 comes in six sizes such as 255/70R15, 265/70R15, 31x10.50R15, 245/70R16, 265/70R16 and 275/70R16.

"These new Dunlop 4x4 tyres were designed in Malaysia for Malaysian road conditions and customer expectations," said Continental Tyre Malaysia managing director Cameron Wilson.

He also added that the new Dunlop tyres cover 90% of the 4x4 and pick-up vehicle tyre needs of the Malaysian market.

After launching both tyres, members of the media were invited to experience the MaxGrip AT5 on road and off-road conditions with a quick trip to Cherengin Hills Convention and Spa Resort where we proceeded to a nearby location for the off-road experience.

We travelled in a Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure wearing a set of brand new 265/70R16 Dunlop MaxGrip AT5 tyres and found them to quiet along highway speeds till 80kph where there would be a slight drone from the tyre that goes away as the speed increased by an additional 10kph, only to return at the effects repeated around the 100kph mark.

The tyres felt stiff on the road with plenty of road-feel coming back to the occupants as we felt almost everything the tyres went over and with an already stiff and robust suspension set-up in the Triton, the AT5 tyres seemed to amplify that effect.

After a quick stop at a nearby R&R facility along the way allowed us to hop into a Nissan NP300 Navara with its front independent double-wishbone and rear multi-link shock absorbers suspension system.

We found the pairing to fit nicely with the NP300's supple-natured suspension dialling in some comfort for the tough AT5 tyres.

While there might be a little too much information coming from the tyres while on the road, going off-roading with it was where it was able to shine better, but by this time, we were already back in the Triton after our pleas and possibilities of parley to remain in the NP300 falling on deaf ears.

However, off-roading with the AT5 tyres allowed us to better feel the undulating terrain as we bounced our way through the paths while the tyres simply and effortlessly gripped through the loose dirt.

Although the AT5 is being touted as a half-and-half tyre - half road and half off-road,  we still consider them to be more off-road skewed with road-going abilities, which is still pretty impressive with its cornering stability and lack of tyre noise.

Dunlop RoadTrekker RT5

Dunlop MaxGrip AT5


2015 Detroit auto show in pictures

                DETROIT: The North American International Auto Show 2015, which is more popularly known as the Detroit auto show, has kicked off with more than 500 vehicles on display.

Held from January 12 to 25 at the COBO Center, the auto show has an extravaganza of world debuts of new cars and vehicle concepts.

In addition to some of the automotive world's most eagerly anticipated new vehicle premieres, visitors can experience the next generation of transportation and check out the most innovative vehicle designs at North America's largest and most prestigious automotive showcase.

Stars of the auto show include the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt electric car with extended range, showcasing a sleeker, sportier design that offers 80km of EV (electric vehicle) range.

There was also the world premiere of the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, which adds to the Italian brand’s legendary racing history and the exciting experience of open-air motoring.

Meanwhile, the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS and Cayenne Turbo S celebrated their world premieres.

Mercedes-AMG is in highly dynamic mood as it enters the 2015 automotive year with the new GLE 63 coupe, while Hyundai revealed its innovative Santa Cruz Crossover Truck concept.

Acura also took the wraps off its highly anticipated next-generation NSX supercar, designed to deliver a groundbreaking "New Sports experience".

Acura NSXAlfa Romeo 4C SpiderAudi Q3Audi TTBMW M6 CoupeBMW_650i ConvertibleBMW_650i Gran CoupeChevrolet Bolt conceptChevrolet Colorado ZR2 conceptChevrolet VoltFord GTHyundai Santa Cruz Crossover Truck conceptInfiniti Q60 conceptMaserati Alfieri conceptMercedes-Benz AMG GLE 450Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in MotionMercedes-Benz GLE 63 coupeMINI John Cooper WorksMINI Superleggera Vision conceptNissan TITAN XDPorsche 911 Targa 4 GTSTesla Model S P85DToyota FT-1Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTEVolvo S60 Cross CountryVolvo XC90 R DesignToyota TacomaZF displayLincoln MKXAudi Q7


Tesla fired worker who posted YouTube video of FSD accident

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc. terminated an employee six days after he posted a YouTube video of his car running into a traffic pylon while using Full Self-Driving, or FSD, the carmaker’s controversial driver-assistance system.

John Bernal, who worked on the data-annotation team for Tesla’s Autopilot system, received a separation agreement from the company on Feb 11, just under a week after he posted a video that now has more than 180,000 views. About 3 1/2 minutes in, Bernal’s Model 3 makes a right turn too sharply and runs into a green pylon separating a road and bike lane in downtown San Jose, California.

Bernal, 26, said in a phone interview that while his manager refused to put the reason for his firing in writing, he was told it was in part due to improper use of FSD. Tesla said in January the beta software was running on almost 60,000 vehicles in the US.

The carmaker, which disbanded its public relations department in 2020, didn’t respond to a request for comment. CNBC reported Bernal’s termination earlier on Tuesday.

Tesla’s effort to limit information-sharing by FSD beta users drew scrutiny from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration four months before the company fired Bernal.

The regulator expressed concern in October about reports that participants in an FSD early-access program had been subject to non-disclosure agreements that discouraged portraying the feature negatively.

Chief executive officer Elon Musk joked about dropping the NDAs just before NHTSA sent its letter to Tesla, tweeting that the agreements would be “available in perforated rolls.” The agency has opened two investigations into possible defects involving Autopilot since August.

Bernal, whose YouTube account AI Addict has more than 8,300 subscribers, said another reason his manager gave for the termination was that his video channel was a conflict of interest. In addition to sharing an unsigned copy of his separation agreement, he shared a photo of the screen of his Model 3 showing that FSD beta had been suspended based on his recent driving data.

Tesla initially made FSD beta available to members of an early access program comprised employees and vocal fans of Musk and the company. Vice’s Motherboard reported in September that members of the program should share their experience with the software on social media “responsibly and selectively.”

“Do remember that there are a lot of people that want Tesla to fail,” the company’s agreement read, according to Motherboard. “Don’t let them mischaracterise your feedback and media posts.”

Bernal’s AI Addict channel stood out in part because he narrated his videos with a mix of both positive and negative feedback on how Tesla’s FSD software handled city streets.

About 2 minutes into the just over 9-minute-long video in which his Model 3 ran into the traffic pylon, he praises the system for slowing down to let another car go by and moving from a far-right lane to a left-turn lane in time to make a traffic light. As the Model 3 is completing the turn, however, it has trouble

About 2 minutes and 40 seconds in, the car runs a red light and turns right without stopping. A passenger brings up that Tesla had just disabled a setting in which FSD beta users were able to slowly roll through intersections without coming to a complete stop when no other cars or pedestrians were present. The carmaker determined a recall was necessary after meeting with NHTSA about the functionality in January.

Bernal’s Model 3 runs into the traffic pylon less than a minute later.

“We hit that,” he said just after the collision, which scuffed up the Tesla’s front bumper. “It’s the first, for me, to have actually hit an object on FSD.”

Later in the video, Bernal takes manual control of the Model 3 twice after it attempts to steer down sets of railroad tracks. Just after he praises the car for patiently waiting for pedestrians to cross a street around the 7 minute and 40 second mark, the vehicle veers towards two more sets of pylons.


Baidu-Geely EV venture names Mobike co-founder as chief

Xia Yiping is said to have extensive management experience in smart cars and mobility services. — Reuters

BEIJING/SHANGHAI: China’s Baidu Inc and automaker Geely hired Mobike co-founder and former chief technology officer Xia Yiping as chief executive of their new electric vehicle venture, the search engine giant said today.

Baidu last month had announced it would set up a company with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group to leverage its intelligent driving capabilities and Geely’s car manufacturing expertise.

“Xia has extensive management experience in the field of smart cars and mobility services,” Baidu said in a statement. “We welcome Xia Yiping to join Baidu’s auto company and look forward to his contribution to Baidu and the automobile industry.”

Reuters reported Xia’s appointment last week, citing people familiar with the matter.

Xia served as Mobike’s chief technology officer until the company was acquired by food delivery giant Meituan in 2018. Prior to Mobike, he worked at Ford Motor and Fiat Chrysler.


Perodua seeks bigger revenue from after-sales business

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) expects after-sales business to contribute 25% to its revenue by year-end from the current 15%-20% amid the setting up of more facilities and the presence of more Perodua vehicles on the road.

Its president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the company aimed to increase the intakes (vehicles patronising its service centres) by 2.4% to 1.97 million from 1.92 million in 2014.

“Based on the expected rise, we expect revenue from the intakes to increase this year to RM306mil from RM303mil in 2014.

“We also aim to grow parts and accessories sales by 6.2% to RM258.9mil this year from RM243.7mil in 2014,” he told Bernama.

Aminar said Perodua sold 16,600 cars last month on the back of continued demand for the current models – Axia, Myvi and Alza.

He said the challenging sales target set earlier would be maintained and if ever there was a revision, it would be done in the middle of the year.

“So far, we have been blessed; bookings for Axia and the new Myvi are still coming in strong.

“We sold 16,600 units in January (2015) despite the challenging environment, and this could mark a 31% control in local market share,” said Aminar.

Perodua has earlier set a sales target of 208,000 units for 2015, a 6% improvement than the 195,600 units achieved in 2014, in its bid to retain its pole position as the most preferred compact car brand in Malaysia.

Beside enlarging capacity to handle more intake, Aminar said Perodua was considering selling pre-owned vehicles on its own, a move to further expand its downstream activities.

“We are looking for a place in the Klang Valley to set up our first pre-owned car centre, in which we intend to start selling the Perodua’s pre-owned units on our own, by the third quarter this year,” he said.

He also hinted at the launch of a new model soon.

“Three models in the line-up are simply not sufficient,” he said.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the new model and the launch.


Modenas Pulsar RS200 and Dominar D400 prices reduced

                SHAH ALAM: Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas) announced a more than 10% reduction in prices for its Pulsar RS200 and Dominar D400.

The new prices, effective March 8, sees the price of the RS200 reduced by 12% to RM9,990, (-RM1,360) while the D400 will now be priced at RM13,788 (-RM1,700).

According to Modenas' chief executive officer, Roslan Roskan, the reduction in manufacturing costs of both models is the reason for the price drop.

“Through improvements in our production process, we have managed to significantly bring down the manufacturing costs for the Modenas Pulsar RS200 and Modenas Dominar D400 models," said Roslan.

He added that the company is passing these cost savings to all two-wheel enthusiasts to make these popular models much more affordable in Malaysia.

The Pulsar RS200 is a fully-faired motorcycle, while the Dominar D400 is a sport-tourer.

Both models are fitted with a single-cylinder liquid-cooled fuel-injected DTS-i four-stroke engine with a single-overhead-cam.

The bikes are also equipped with ByBre front single-channel anti-lock braking system mated to a six-speed gearbox.

Both bikes also feature a strong lightweight steel frame as well as a uniquely placed underbelly exhaust for greater stability and better weight distribution to improve handling characteristics during cornering.

Apart from the price reduction, the company is planning to boost its sales by expanding its product portfolio and its reach through the opening of new dealerships.

There are plans to introduce five to eight new models (bikes and variants) to the Malaysian market for this year alone.


Two guys to run Audi Sport

 Grams (left) and Seebach.
INGOLSTADT: Audi Sport GmbH will have two bosses starting March 1.

Dr Sebastian Grams will jointly manage Audi's high performance division the subsidiary together with Julius Seebach as co-managing directors.

Grams will focus on the series-production range and their customisation. Seebach will increasingly be advancing the strategic re-alignment of international motorsport activities.

Grams succeeds Oliver Hoffmann, who has headed technical development at Audi as chief operating officer since July 2020 and also chairs the advisory board of Audi Sport GmbH.

Grams brings valuable experience in the areas of powertrain development and digitalisation.

Seebach has been with Audi Sport GmbH since 2017, serving as managing director since May 2019.

During this time, the Audi AG subsidiary successfully implemented the largest international model initiative in its history and pressed ahead with a consistent electrification strategy.

As part of the company’s transformation, Seebach successfully merged the Audi brand’s factory and customer racing programs into Audi Sport GmbH and developed the new Audi motorsport strategy.

“For us, the focus is on shaping tomorrow’s mobility in the high-performance segment as well. With Sebastian Grams and Julius Seebach, we have a young, energetic team that stands for an open, flexible and dynamic management culture,” Hoffmann said.

Audi Sport GmbH, which developed out of quattro GmbH in 2017, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Audi AG with its headquarters in Neckarsulm.

It currently employs more than 1,300 people in the regions around Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm. While the Audi motorsport center is located in Neuburg an der Donau near Ingolstadt, the production flagship for series vehicles can be found in Böllinger Höfe near Neckarsulm.

Audi Sport GmbH recently completed the biggest model initiative in its history. With twelve R and RS models, it is offering its youngest and largest portfolio ever.

The Audi RS e-tron GT is already at the starting blocks. It is the first all-electric RS model, heralding more electrified models to come in the high-performance segment.


Bosch appoints new MD for Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: German multinational engineering and technology company Bosch has appointed Klaus Landhaeusser as the new managing director of its businesses in Malaysia, Robert Bosch Sdn Bhd.

In a statement today, Bosch said Landhaeusser is an automotive engineer by profession and has amassed over 20 years of automotive sales, marketing, government relations, and leadership experience at Bosch.

"Malaysia is not new to me as I was stationed here for about three-and-a-half years, heading the local sales of original equipment.

"It feels great to be back with a greater responsibility wherein I can continue to build on the strong network and foundation that Bosch has long established in this country and hopefully take the business to new heights,” Landhaeusser said.

He said he is also confident that Bosch would remain committed in the Malaysian market, and continue making a difference to the local community through its technology and solutions.

Malaysia houses the largest manufacturing facilities for the company in the region with three plants, and an upcoming fourth plant, each integrated with connected solutions, and has individual research and development teams, engineering and developing vehicle electronics, power tools, automotive steering products, and semiconductors for local and worldwide market in the pipeline.

Besides the Malaysian business, Landhaeusser will continue to helm the automotive sales of original equipment in Southeast Asia as regional director.


Audi sets 2026 end date for combustion engine cars, says German daily

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen's Audi unit will stop introducing cars based on petrol and diesel engines from 2026, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported today, citing comments made by Audi CEO Markus Duesmann to labour representatives and top managers.

The daily newspaper report said there would also no longer be any hybrid models from that date onwards.

Spokespeople for Audi were not immediately available for comment.


Ford plans to take medical transport venture nationwide

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co plans to expand its GoRide medical transportation service to 40 cities nationwide over the next four years, moving into Ohio and Florida this year and other large states by 2020, the company said on Tuesday.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has been testing various ways to grow beyond its traditional business of building and selling cars and trucks, aiming to compete with technology industry startups such as Uber Technologies Inc for a share of money spent on transportation as a service.

GoRide uses Ford Transit and Transit Connect vans to give rides to people who need medical care but do not need an ambulance. GoRide last year agreed to provide medical transport for the Beaumont Hospital system of Southeast Michigan. The service has since expanded to Toledo, Ohio.

GoRide now plans to expand to several more Ohio cities by the end of 2019, including Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. In Dayton, GoRide is expanding services in collaboration with the city’s transit system.

The unit plans to launch in Miami and other Florida cities later this year. Next year, GoRide plans to move into North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and California, said GoRide chief executive Minyang Jiang.

“By the end of the year, we expect to have over 130” vans in service, Jiang said. “By the end of next year over 200.”

So far, GoRide is focusing on urban markets, but Jiang said the unit is looking at how to provide medical transport in rural areas that lack public transit.

GoRide competes with medical ride services offered by ride hailing industry leaders Uber and Lyft Inc, as well as smaller regional services.

So far, GoRide is getting capital from Ford as one of the automaker’s mobility ventures. Ford said its mobility services lost US$288 million in the first quarter. The medical transport service plans to generate revenue from hospital systems and insurance companies that agree to use its service to get patients to appointments.

Jiang did not give a target for when GoRide could turn a profit, but she said with scale the service should get into the black.

“We’re not going to grow at all costs,” she said.


Police in patrol cars now wear bullet-proof, stab-proof vests

                JOHOR BARU: Police multi-purpose vehicle patrolmen nationwide are now provided with a new safety vest to minimise any threat and risk of injury while on duty.

Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Zainal Abidin Kasim said 800 units of the "Reflective Bullet Proof Vest Level II With Anti Stab" were distributed under the first phase.

He said the distribution was also based on the frequent risks and incidents of criminal cases that required patrolmen to wear safety vests.

According to him, the vest can last 10 years and provide ballistic protection against shots from 9mm calibre bullets.

"It also provides protection from stabs caused by sharp implements, such as knives and others, besides being able to reflect light as a protection to members on duty at night or in dark conditions.

"We give the whole of Malaysia based on priorities. Large contingents, such as in Johor we give 100 units because of the high risks involved similar to those posed by Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after handing over the vests to Johor police here today.

Previously, Zainal said patrolmen were only supplied with light reflective jackets that did not have safety features.

He said there were 3,000 multi-purpose vehicles in service nationwide and about 6,000 units of safety vests were needed. The first batch of 800 units were issued by the government under Budget 2018 after having undergone endurance tests at the end of last year.

"If there are more (vests), we also want them to be worn by personnel in other departments while on duty."


Support Proton, Dr M urges govt

                SUBANG JAYA: The government needs to give priority to national carmakers by giving them more support and encouragement to ensure their  survival.

Proton chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said the company, like any foreign car companies, has the capability to compete and even produce better cars, but found it difficult as the foreign carmakers received government support.

"I think it is enough for the government not to encourage foreign cars even if they dont encourage Proton.

"This is wrong, you (government) are encouraging the foreign cars not local cars. We met all the conditions imposed by the government and there is no government support for us," he told reporters after prize-presentation ceremony for Proton Design Competition 2015.

Tun Mahathir said Proton was supposed to receive financial assistance from the government to carry out design, research and development activities but had yet to receive it.

He said Proton, however, took the initiatives by using its own internal money to produce Protons hybrid and electric cars.

"We need the money to produce electric cars because this is our promise to the government, but we are not getting the money," he said.

Tun Mahathir said Protons electric cars did 313 km per charge, and the record has not been achieved by other electric carmakers.

"Of course, the foreign cars are cheaper and lighter. Proton has to import certain inputs which are costly. Each car needs 4,000 parts which we had to be imported, process the design and put them together which is not easy," he said.

He said he was happy Malaysians had acquired the skills to build the car.

"Many people are coming to Proton, not the big companies, to learn how to build cars," he said.


New Mitsubishi dealership opens in Kota Damansara

                KUALA LUMPUR: A new 3S Mitsubishi dealership has opened in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

The new outlet, operated by Millennium Autohaus Sdn Bhd, is the 15th Mitsubishi dealership in the Klang Valley.

This facility is accessible via the NKVE Highway and is in a prime location to serve Mitsubishi customers within the vicinity.

With a built-up area of 12,370 square feet, the 3S centre presents Mitsubishi Motors brand identity and global brand message "Drive Your Ambition".

In addition to housing a comfortable customer lounge with WiFi, the outlet can accommodate three display cars and a fully-equipped service centre with five service bays.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia CEO Shinya Ikeda said his priority was to build up the dealership network, upgrade facilities and develop the digital platforms further to enhance the customer experience.

He said Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia had achieved the highest recorded sales in October with 2,041 units of vehicles sold.

The new 3S Centre is located at No. 2A-E, Jalan Teknologi 3/1, Pusat Teknologi Sunsuria, Kota
Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.


Ferrari, parent Exor clinch alliance with former Apple designer Jony Ive

Ive (left) with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the September 2018 launch of iPhone XR.
MILAN: Italian luxury car maker Ferrari and its parent company Exor, the holding vehicle of the Agnelli family, are joining forces with Jony Ive, the creative mind behind many of Apple's iconic products, and fellow designer Marc Newson.

The duo - who together developed Apple Watch - belong to the LoveFrom creative collective of designers, architects writers, engineers and artists based in London and California.

LoveFrom will explore "a range of creative projects with Exor in the business of luxury" in addition to the collaboration with Ferrari, the companies said in a joint statement today. The partnership is a multi-year deal.

A Ferrari spokesman said the pair will have a broad remit - potentially involving both car designs and other businesses including fashion.

 Newson and Ive.

Ive had been mentioned in the Italian press among possible candidates to replace Louis Camilleri when he suddenly stepped down as chief executive of Ferrari last year.

In the end Ferrari turned to technology industry veteran Benedetto Vigna to drive the luxury sports car maker known for its roaring, high-octane engines into a new era of silent, electric powertrains. read more

In a sign of its ambition to widen the appeal of its brand, Ferrari in June unveiled its first in-house fashion collection and inaugurated a new restaurant in its hometown of Maranello. It hopes its brand extension strategy will account for 10% of its profits in a decade. read more

Meanwhile Exor has recently moved its first steps into luxury. Last year it became the largest shareholder in Chinese luxury group Shang Xia, co-founded by France's Hermes, and in March it took a 24% holding in high-end shoemaker Louboutin for 540 million euros.

More recently, it entered a partnership to invest in Italian high-end consumer goods with The World-Wide Investment Company Ltd, one of Hong Kong's oldest family offices.

With a financial war chest of 2.5 billion euros available for acquisitions to 2023, Exor is often mentioned as a potential partner for bigger fashion brands such as Giorgio Armani.

London-born Ive, 54, left Apple in 2019 after 27 years, having played a big role in the designs of the iMac and MacBook computers as well as the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Newson, an Australian, has designed everything from Qantas business class seats to Nike sneakers.


Tesla suspends factory ops for Model 3 production

                DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc has announced it will shut down production at its California assembly plant for a week this month to prepare for production of its high-volume Model 3 sedan, moving the company closer to meeting its target to start production in July.

Tesla said the "brief, planned" pause would allow the company to add capacity to the existing paint shop to prepare it for the Model 3, and other general maintenance.

"This will allow Tesla to begin Model 3 production later this year as planned and enable us to start the ramp towards 500,000 vehicles annually in 2018," said a Tesla spokesman.

He added that the pause was not expected to have a material impact on first-quarter production or delivery figures, as the company had added production days to compensate.

Separately, sources told Reuters that the luxury electric carmaker planned to begin test-building the Model 3 on Feb 20.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk last year told investors and more than 370,000 customers who put deposits down for a Model 3 that he intended to start building the cars in July 2017. At the time, many analysts and suppliers said the timeline was too ambitious and would be difficult to achieve, pointing to Tesla's history of missing aggressive production targets.

The sources did not know how many of the highly anticipated vehicles Tesla aimed to build in February, but it would likely be a small number to test the assembly system and the quality of vehicle parts.

"What better way to stoke the fan base and Wall Street than to wheel out pre-production models" ahead of the earnings announcement, said one person familiar with Tesla's plans who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Tesla spokesman declined to comment on the company's production schedule.

Musk had told investors last year that the company could miss the July 2017 startup target if suppliers do not meet deadlines.

Tesla has a lot riding on the Model 3, which is priced at roughly US$35,000 (RM156,000) before government incentives. If successful, the sedan could raise Tesla beyond a niche luxury player in the automotive sector.

Tesla has not had a profitable year since going public in 2010, though the company's US$41.4 billion market capitalisation now equals that of Nissan Motor Co Ltd, which reported a profit of US$4.7 billion last year.

Musk's bold approach to cars, space exploration and clean energy has fuelled investor enthusiasm for Tesla, but sceptics are waiting to see if Musk can fulfill his promise of producing 500,000 cars per year by 2018.

That would expand Tesla's annual production by four to five times compared to 2016 levels. In its fourth quarter, Tesla produced 24,882 vehicles.

Tesla disclosed in May that it had taken 373,000 refundable US$1,000 deposits for the Model 3, underscoring its appeal ahead of production. The company has not since updated that number. Total sales of fully electric vehicles last year in the United States amounted to just 84,275 vehicles, according to data compiled by the Electric Drive Transportation Association.

Sources with knowledge of the Model 3 timeline had called it extremely aggressive, with challenges compounded by Tesla making last-minute changes to the car's design. Such design tweaks can delay production, and add cost as suppliers rework tools and molds to meet new specifications.

One source said last week that design changes were still underway for the Model 3, which could potentially hinder the ramp-up to full production. Tesla declined to comment on whether the design was still being tinkered with.

Tesla's previous launches for the Model S sedan and Model X sports utility vehicle were marked by production delays and initial quality issues.


Lexus RX300: Travel plush

                As the mid-size crossover offering from Lexus, the RX has been around for more than two decades. It has done well for itself.

J.D. Power announced in May that it was the top-selling luxury crossover in the US with over 111,000 units sold in 2018. It is also the best-selling model in the Lexus line-up.

For the Malaysian market today, Lexus simplified the RX line-up with an RX300 in three grades. All get the same 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as part of a mid-cycle facelift in September.

We recently had the facelifted RX300 for a weekend.

It was actually the RX200t in reality, so engine performance is unchanged.

We took the Luxury variant that is sandwiched between the base Premium and the top F Sport. This grade is the most popular choice for Malaysian customers, according to a Lexus executive.

The latest RX sees small styling changes, improved driving manners, added safety and an upgraded infotainment system.

Priced at RM424,888, the Luxury variant, like the other two, is characterised by an enormous spindle grille that drops all the way to the bumper region.

It’s the biggest ever since the RX came to existence and reminds us of the Audi Singleframe that first set the trend for giant grilles.

The chiseled design is striking and certainly makes the crossover stand out.

It’s complemented by 20-inch alloys and creases around the bodyshell that sharpen up the exterior. The test vehicle’s olive green shade, or Terrane Khaki as Lexus calls it, will not be to everyone’s taste.

Nevertheless, it’s a new colour introduced for the facelift.

Outside

LED headlights are now slimmer and are underlined by L-shaped LED daytime running lights. Foglamps are also LED-based and relocated to the lower edge of the bumper as a lateral strip.

The headlights now come with BladeScan adaptive high-beam light distribution.

Lexus engineers say this advancement in LED lighting enables an expanded and more natural spread of light without blinding drivers of oncoming cars.

The driver should also be able to identify pedestrians near the shoulder of the road at night from up to 56 metres, compared to 32 metres with previous lighting systems.

Rather than shining light forward, the LEDs within each BladeScan module cast their light diagonally across two blade-shaped mirrors rotating at high speed.

The precise synchronisation of the mirror rotation together with the switching on and off of each LED controls the shading effect.

The adapted, non-blinding light is then reflected into a lens, which projects the beam onto the road ahead.

New L-shaped graphics in the LED tail lamps and sequential signalling enhance the posh effect of the SUV. In addition, the exhaust outlets have thinner chrome surrounds.

Inside

The driver is always conscious he’s riding high, which affords great visibility, enhanced further by front quarter window panels that are made of glass.

The cabin is little changed except for a bigger infotainment screen and a touchpad that replaces the joystick control to navigate the screen.

If you still find the touchpad as unwieldy to use as the joystick, the 12.3-inch screen is, thankfully, a touchscreen and proves more natural to use.

The dashboard still looks conservative, complemented by a steering wheel that’s part wood and part leather-wrapped.

All variants get the infotainment system as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Though it’s not a Mark Levinson, the 12-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system should please the ears of all but the most picky music lovers with its respectable sound staging.

Lexus is famed for its excellent comfort and hushness in its sedans. In the RX, it carries forward the same dedication to detail and luxury it is known for.

Leather seats all round provide great comfort and support for long rides enhanced further by a quiet cabin at highway speeds.

Front seats have the option of being ventilated or heated while rear are heated only.

The RX is considerate of rear passengers who benefit from big leg room and seats that can be pushed back and reclined.

To keep up the premium effect, seatbacks are electrically folded 40:20:40 if more cargo space is needed. Standard boot space is ample.

There’s also paddle shifters, wireless smartphone charging but no panoramic roof on this luxury crossover.

Like the other two versions, the Luxury variant gets improved safety specs in the form of the Lexus Safety System+.

It’s a set of active safety packages to reduce accidents guided by the concept of supporting drivers under the assumption that they will drive safely, and at the same time, minimise damage should an accident occur.

It comprises a suite of good-to-have features like Pre-Collision System with Front Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System and the Adaptive High-Beam System mentioned earlier.

This is backed by the basic safety set that includes ten airbags, a rear view camera, stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake distribution, hill start assist, blind spot monitor and rear-cross traffic alert.
Drive

The RX300 runs off a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol mill, which puts out 235hp from 4,800 to 5,600rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,650 to 4,000rpm.

Such figures let the RX sprint from 0 to 100kph in 9.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 200kph.

Power goes to all wheels via a six-speed automatic box.

The intelligent 4WD system varies distribution of drive power, switching from two wheels to AWD to suit driving conditions.

There is a slight turbo lag but that quickly gives way to a zippy engine response that briskly propels the vehicle along.

Three drive modes — Normal, Eco and Sport — are on call and they change throttle response, suspension stiffness and level of steering assist. In addition, the Eco mode cuts down climate control to extend mileage.

Lexus says it has made the body more rigid in the facelift with more body glue, laser screw welding and anti-roll bars that are stiffer yet lighter.

These changes to the core translate to a driving experience that’s improved appreciably. The response to steering inputs is better, and the RX is more composed in corners.

The smoother ride is also attributed to a revised suspension.

Summary

Backed by a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage, the crossover’s looks isn’t the only thing going for it.

Overall, the linear steering feel that Lexus sought to achieve in the refreshed RX is noticeable, making it a change for the better.

SPECIFICATIONSLexus RX300 LuxuryEngine: 1,998cc, in-line 4 cylinder, 16-valve, twin-scroll turbocharged
Maximum power: 235hp at 4,800-5,600rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm at 1,650-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 9.5s
Top speed: 200kph
Features: Bladescan Adaptive High-Beam System, Lexus Safety System+, Dynamic Torque Control, 12.3" Touchscreen, 10 airbags, Auto Start /Stop System, LED cornering lights, Drive Mode Select, paddle shifters, dual zone climate control, 12-speaker Lexus Premium Audi, 6 USB ports, electric parking brake, hands-free tailgate opening, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 10-way powered-adjusted front seats, 20-inch aluminium wheels
Price (OTR without insurance): RM424,888


Govt to act on alarming accident statistics

                PETALING JAYA: The Government will implement four urgent measures to stem the rising number of road accidents and fatalities.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the decision was unanimously made at the Cabinet Task Force on Road Safety meeting yesterday.

“Several key areas were covered with a view towards execution in the near term.

“They are the implementation of the Automated Awareness Safety System and Kejara Demerit Points System, the standardisation of the maximum permitted weight of commercial vehicles, evaluation of road safety and accident investigation of the East Coast Expressway 2 and recommendations on improvement, and the execution of the International Road Safety Assessment Programme (IRAP) in Malaysia and implementation of its framework,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

According to the statement, the road safety education module was also presented there.

Liow said the task force was briefed on current road safety initiatives including road safety statistics during festive periods.

“An advocacy plan by the Road Safety Department was reviewed, accompanied by a review of the implementation of Malaysia’s Road Safety Plan 2014 – 2020,” he said.

Liow also observed that Malaysia recorded 489,606 road accidents and 6,706 deaths on the road in 2015.

“This was clearly an increase from 2014 and the economic loss incurred was in excess of RM8bil.

“These alarming statistics continue to be addressed by the Government and with the new measures that will be implemented, we are hopeful that accidents and fatalities will drop,” he added.

Liow also urged road users to be responsible and courteous for the sake of their safety and that of others on the road.

“A dedicated Cabinet Taskforce on Road Safety cannot achieve its goals if the rakyat and non-government organisations do not play their role in this matter,” Liow added.


Volkswagen Golf Mk8 to arrive in markets from December onwards

                WOLFSBURG (Germany) – Hailed as one of the most successful European cars for over four decades, Volkswagen's Golf will begin its next chapter in life with the advent of the new eighth-generation Golf Mk8 in Wolfsburg - where it first emerged and subsequently refined for the last 45 years.

According to the German carmaker, the Golf will be made available from December onwards and will have a digital interior that enables for a new dimension of intuitive operation while having the ability to cruise up to 210kph with assisted driving.

The Mk8 will be the first Volkswagen to be able to use swarm intelligence from traffic via Car2X - meaning it can warn against hazards on an anticipatory basis by picking up signals from the traffic infrastructure and information from other vehicles up to 800m away and will notify its driver via a display.

The Mk8 will also share such warnings with other Car2X models via its Swarm intelligence which is becoming a reality and represents the beginning of a new phase of traffic safety.

The system will not only link to each other but thanks to an online connectivity unit (OCU), they have also been connected to the world outside the Golf with an integrated eSIM that links to “We Connect” and “We Connect Plus” online functions and services.

The new Golf is also the first Volkswagen to connect with its environment as standard, via Car2X: signals from the traffic infrastructure and information from other vehicles up to 800 metres away are notified to the driver via a display.

“Over the course of seven generations, the Golf has impressed more than 35 million customers. The entire automobile industry expects a new Golf to set the standard”, explained Volkswagen AG chairman of the board of management Dr Herbert Diess.

In terms of its technology, the Golf is making the greatest leap forward since its debut.

“This car is completely new. But of course, a Golf always remains a Golf. Because the underlying concept is timeless. This car has defined our brand over decades. The Golf has consistently made new technologies available for everyone,” said Volkswagen Passenger Cars chief operating officer Ralf Brandstätter.

“In a world where complexity is ever-increasing, the new Golf allows the driver to operate the vehicle intuitively,” said Volkswagen head designer Klaus Bischoff.

Practically all displays and controls are digital - new instruments and online infotainment systems have been melded together into a display landscape featuring touch buttons and touch sliders while a heads-up display is also available as an optional extra.

There will be five hybrid drives for the new Golf which will have a 48V technology consisting of a belt starter generator, 48V lithium-ion battery and the latest generation of efficient TSI engines form a new mild-hybrid drive in the eTSI.

This has allowed fuel-consumption to be cut by up to 10% while remaining extremely agile and comfortable when moving off.

The Golf will also be available in three eTSI outputs of 110PS, 130PS and 150 PS.

Two plug-in hybrid drive variants will also make the cut with total output at 204PS while the very sporty GTE will deliver 245PS.

Both Golf versions with plug-in hybrid drives will launch with a new 13kWh lithium-ion battery that can allow the Golf to travel up to 60km emission-free.

There will still be the petrol engine retaining the familiar TSI moniker as well as the TFI turbodiesel engine variants and TGI natural gas drive.

Two four-cylinder petrol engine variants are available with one outputting 90PS and the other at 110PS.

There will also be two four-cylinder turbodiesel engine variants producing 115PS and 150PS while the TGI engine dishes out 130PS.

The new TSI variants have particularly low consumption values and emissions thanks to elements including the innovative TSI Miller combustion process.

As an innovation in the TDI powertrains, the German carmaker uses twin-dosing technology (two SCR catalytic converters) to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) by up to 80%; in addition, TDI consumption is lowered by up to 17% compared with its predecessor.


Lexus RX 350 L joins the family from RM475K

                PETALING JAYA: Lexus Malaysia has expanded its RX range of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with the introduction of the RX 350 L - now with three-rows of seats to accommodate up to seven persons.

At RM475,000 (excluding insurance for Peninsular Malaysia private registration), the RX 350 L slots itself between the range-topping RX 450h and the RX 350 F Sport, while being offered in seven colours of Platinum Silver Metallic, Red MC. CS., Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black GF, Deep Blue MC, Amber CS and Sonic Quartz.

It fundamentally maintains the same dimensions as the five-seater variant, only it's added rear overhang has extended the overall length to provide some space for a third-row 50:50 split power folding rear seats.

Like the F Sport variant, a 3.5-litre (3,456cc) V6 engine sends 289hp at 6,300rpm and 358Nm of torque from 4,600 to 4,700rpm to the all-wheel drive system with dynamic torque control via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It rolls on 20-inch aluminium wheels with 235/55 series tyres, with the the fronts controlled by an electric power steering system.

The RX 350 L also comes fitted with automatic Triple-L shaped LED headlights with auto-levelling, Led front fogs with cornering function, moonroof, hands-free powered tailgate and keyless entry with push-start button.

Inside, the cabin gets the Leather and Luxury trim accents, power-adjustable leather-wood steering wheel, tri-zone climate controls, electric parking brake, navigation system, wireless charger, semi-aniline leather upholstery, 40:20:40 split folding second row seats with walk-in function, rear-side manual sunshades and a 12-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system with 12.3-inch Electro Multi-Vision (EMV) display with remote touch controller and reverse camera with panoramic view monitor.

Safety comes from the inclusion of 10 airbags, anti-lock braking system, vehicle stability control, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, hill-start assist, brake hold function, tyre-pressure warning system with auto location, blind spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert.


S. Korea seeks cooperation with EU over US Inflation Reduction Act

                SEOUL: South Korea will seek cooperation with the European Union over the US Inflation Reduction Act that excludes electric vehicles (EVs) assembled outside of North America from tax credits in the United States, the country's industry ministry said on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden signed into law on Aug 16 a US$430 billion bill which, among other measures, ends tax credits for about 70% of the 72 EV models that were previously eligible.

As a result, EVs sold by Hyundai Motor Co, Kia Corp, Germany's Porsche Automobil Holding SEand others are no longer eligible for the tax credits.

"South Korea and Germany, which export EVs to the United States, share similar concerns about the US Inflation Reduction Act, and we plan to seek cooperative plans such as having discussions with Germany and the European Union in the near future," the industry ministry said in a statement.

The new rules that go into effect next year also require at least 40% of the monetary value of critical minerals for batteries be from the United States or an American free-trade partner. The proportion will gradually rise to 80% in 2027.

The industry ministry added that the country's auto industry group, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (Kama), is also pursuing a plan to issue a joint statement in September over the matter with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Kama said today that the US Inflation Reduction Act could impact export of 100,000 EVs annually, as EVs assembled in South Korea will not be eligible for US$7,500 EV tax subsidies in the United States.

KAMA added that discrimination against South Korea-made EVs over EV tax benefits violates the spirit of an economic and security alliance between South Korea and the United States, after Hyundai Motor and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd announced US investment plans totalling over US$27 billion.

In response to the new law, Hyundai Motor could bring forward the start-date for construction of its EV and battery plant in the US state of Georgia to as early as this year.

South Korea will review whether to file a complaint at the World Trade Organization over the US Inflation Reduction Act, citing concern that the law could violate WTO rules and a bilateral free trade deal between South Korea and the United States, Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang told a parliamentary session on Monday.


CES ASIA 2018: Honda to show off gesture controls without lifting the hands from steering wheel

                SHANGHAI: Honda is developing technology that will enable the driver to operate various devices through gestures without lifting their hands from the steering wheel.

The technology leverages on multiple sensors that detect human body poses in real time, allowing the onboard computer to crunch the real-time 3D data and produce the desired effects.

Though still in experimental stage, such advanced technology is among various exhibits and services Honda will be showcasing at CES ASIA 2018 here from June 13-15.

At the tech-focused show, Honda will also be promoting new technologies it is working with startups around the world.

Among them are ScentRealm, a technology to atomise scents that match driving scenes inside the cabin; and WayRay which uses augmented reality display navigation information in the sight of the driver without using special devices such as AR glasses/goggles.

Honda will also conduct demonstrations at its booth of the Honda Walking Assist Device, an assistive device for use in the training and rehabilitation of walking.

The device, on sale since 2015, has also been certified for use in EU countries.

 Honda Walking Assist Device,.


Leona Chin takes victory from pole during Round 1 of Malaysia Championship Series 2019

                SEPANG: Malaysian female driver Leona Chin of Tedco Racing scored a double victory after a pole-position start during the Malaysia Championship Series 2019 (M Production category) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

It was a historical weekend for Chin after becoming the first female to qualify and win both race 1 and 2 over the weekend in a race-prepared Suzuki Swift.

She completed 21 laps of the 5.543km circuit in a total time of 1 hour 3 minutes and 47.438 seconds with the fastest lap of 2 minutes and 41.968 seconds.

After winning Race 1, an extra 30kg of ballast was added into Chin's race car, but it proved that it wasn’t an issue for her.

“With a well-prepared race car and a strong race strategy by Tedco Racing, everything worked as planned.” said the 32-year-old driver after the prize-giving ceremony.

Chin has been selected to be in the Talent Development Programme by Tedco Racing.

She is now looking forward to the second round of the race series, which will be held at SIC on April 19.

“Leona is a very talented race driver, I offered her a chance to race for my team this year and she grabbed it well by performing a very strong drive by winning both races over the weekend,” said Team Tedco Racing principal Reuben Wong.


Hyundai unveils first Indonesia-made Ioniq 5 EV

                JAKARTA: Hyundai has unveiled the first fully electric, mass-produced car assembled in Indonesia, bringing the Indonesian government closer to its goal of turning the country into a global electric vehicle (EV) player.

The Ioniq 5 is a battery electric vehicle (BEV), meaning it is fully electric, whereas earlier models from other manufacturers are hybrid models partly or largely still powered by combustion engines.

PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia (HMID) said in a statement on March 31 that the car was produced at the Hyundai Motor plant in Cikarang, West Java, which had an output of 250,000 vehicles annually.

President Joko Widodo launched the assembly plant on March 16.

“Through Ioniq 5, Hyundai proves its commitment to building future mobility; therefore, Indonesia can become one of the world's most important (EV) players,” said Hyundai Motors Indonesia president director Sung Jong Ha.

READ MORE: First 13 buyers take delivery of Hyundai Kona Electric in Malaysia

The government seeks to turn Indonesia into a global EV player by increasing domestic demand and by developing factories for EVs and EV batteries.

Indonesia targets to have 400,000 electric four-wheelers and 1.76 million two-wheelers on the road by 2025. The government also aims to produce 2 million EVs by the same period.

The Ioniq 5 is the latest to Hyundai's all-electric lineup that includes the Ioniq Electric and Kona Electric.

Hyundai has not yet disclosed the price of the new model, but HMID chief operating officer Makmur told tempo.co that the price would be higher than its predecessors. The models are slated for distribution in April.

The Ioniq 5 is already available in Malaysia and priced from RM199,888. At present, the Ioniq 5 for Malaysia is imported from South Korea but it is likely to come from Indonesia when the plant there is ready to ramp up production for export.

According to the Hyundai website, several earlier models were sold in Jakarta at between Rp 715.7 million (RM210,000) and Rp 734.9 million (RM216,000)for the Ioniq Electric and Kona Electric, respectively.

The higher prices of EVs compared to their fossil fuel-powered counterparts are often seen as a deterrent to more EV purchases.

Indonesia has introduced several fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to boost consumer appetite for such vehicles. - The Jakarta Post


Hyundai teases smallest CUV yet: the Venue

                LOS ANGELES:  Hyundai has announced the name of its latest, smallest, and trendiest crossover utility vehicle to date: the 2020 Hyundai Venue.

Hyundai revealed last week that the name of its 2020 CUV will be the Hyundai Venue, a name that "references a ‘place' where people want to be seen, or in this case, inside the vehicle."

The model will be the brand's smallest crossover utility vehicle yet and supposedly dons a "place to be" ambience.

This is a different approach to the naming scheme that has been defining the Hyundai CUV and SUV lineup as of late. Though a venue is - rather ambiguously - a place, it doesn't follow quite the same pattern as the Santa Fe, Palisade, and Tucson.

From the looks of it, this trendy little vehicle is going to be the life of the party, though we don't know exactly how Hyundai will be accomplishing that.

We'll see when the Venue premieres at the New York International Auto Show on April 17.


Hyundai bet big on China. Now coronavirus is twisting its supply chain

                SEOUL: South Korean car giant Hyundai Motor has increasingly relied on China to supply auto parts to its manufacturing hub at home in recent years. As the coronavirus spreads, its strategy could be backfiring.

One of its main suppliers, Kyungshin, which has rapidly boosted capacity in China over the past two decades to capitalise on the country’s lower labour costs and proximity to South Korea, has seen its operations hit hard by the epidemic.

Hundreds of workers failed to turn up for work last week at two of its four plants, in Jiangsu and Qingdao, following a Chinese New Year holiday that was extended due to the outbreak, according to a source familiar with the matter. In Jiangsu, only about 300 of the 600 employees who were due to return showed up, the source said.

Now Kyungshin, which supplies almost half of the wiring harnesses for Hyundai’s auto electrical systems in the carmaker’s South Korean manufacturing hub, is scrambling to make up for production shortfalls.

It has increased output at its factories in the United States, India, Cambodia and South Korea, according to three people with knowledge of the measures, who said the company was running its Korean plants around the clock.

As it falls behind schedule, the company plans to use planes as well as ships to speed up the transport of its parts to South Korea, added the sources who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Kyungshin said it was doing all it could to normalise parts supply.

Hyundai told Reuters it was reviewing various measures to minimise the disruption to its operations and “ensure a stable and optimal production system.”

The carmaker’s South Korean hub accounts for about 40% of its global production, with vehicles exported to the United States, Europe and Middle East as well as other countries.

The return to work by millions of people in China, where the coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 and infected over 44,000, has been marked by public fears over safety and mistrust of authorities.

Kyungshin’s travails in part reflect those of several global automakers, including Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Daimler, and their suppliers who have seen operations disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, highlighting their China exposure.

However, Hyundai and South Korean automakers have been hardest hit in their home market. Kyungshin, founded by a friend of Hyundai’s former chairman 45 years ago, and a host of the carmaker’s other South Korean suppliers have rapidly increased their capacity in China over the past two decades.

They have been able to swiftly supply not only Hyundai’s Chinese factories, but increasingly its assembly lines back home.

“South Korean automakers are heavy on just-in-time delivery due to close geographic proximity to China. Other automakers have to carry more safety stock,” said Paul Stepanek, president at Complete Manufacturing and Distribution, which advises companies on sourcing supplies in Asia.

“Therefore, when there is a crunch on supply chains, the South Korean automakers feel it faster.”

‘No choice but China’

In an illustration of South Korea’s increase in outsourcing, the country’s exports of auto parts to China have slumped by two-thirds over the past five years to US$2.18 billion last year, while imports of parts made in China have risen by almost a fifth to US$1.56 billion, according to South Korean trade data.

About 170 South Korean first and second-tier parts suppliers run a total of around 300 factories in China, according to South Korean auto industry association data.

South Korea sources more than 80% of wiring harnesses from China, according to the government, as the parts require labor-intensive assembly and lower labor costs are crucial.

“Suppliers have no choice but to go to China because of cost pressure,” said one of the sources of the supply disruption.

Another of the sources, a senior industry figure, told Reuters the latest disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak had underscored how exposed Hyundai’s South Korean operations were to problems in China.

“This is an opportunity to address that,” the source told Reuters.

Analysts said that, while the disruption would put pressure on Hyundai to rethink its China strategy, diversifying supplies would take time, money and diplomacy.

“Hyundai had close relationships with local suppliers. It was not easy to go beyond the relationships,” said Jo Hyung-je, an adviser to Hyundai and its union, referring to how many suppliers like Kyungshin have grown up with the automaker.

“They share a common destiny.”


Griffith puts TVR back into the sportscar market

                LONDON: The first new TVR sportscar in over a decade made its global debut as the Goodwood Revival got under way in Britain.

The all-new vehicle, named Griffith, was designed by Gordon Murray, the man behind the seminal McLaren F1, and is propelled forwards by a special Cosworth-built, turbo-free V8 engine, based on the unit that currently powers the Ford Mustang.

The Cosworth tuned 5-litre V8 and it outputs 500hp - not bad at all for a motor without a turbo helping to boost power per cylinder. What's more, it's a full 20hp more than the company initially promised.

It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and send 500hp exclusively to the rear wheels. And because the new car has been built from exotic weight-saving materials, and with latest-generation aerodynamic trickery baked into its exterior design (even the underfloor serves to redirect air and keep the car planted), expect it to offer much, much more in terms of acceleration, top speed and handling than Ford's latest Pony Car.

And that's because the car will tip the scales at just 1200kg. "We have been ambitious and rigorous in establishing performance benchmarks for our new car," said John Chasey at TVR Manufacturing. "Our intentions for power-to-weight, size, practicality and quality standards were set high from the very start. We know that the new TVR must be able to compete at the very highest levels."

Indeed, its power-to-weight ratio of 400bhp per tonne betters that of the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupé and any current-generation Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

What's more, the company is adamant that the car will be able to hit 100kph in under 4 seconds and will easily gain membership to the 320kph club when it goes on sale.

"I know it's our ‘baby' and of course I am incredibly biased, but I've been lucky enough to own many beautiful cars and I can honestly say that for me, this car is everything I wanted it to be - beauty in a beast - achingly gorgeous from every angle but at the same time, unmistakably something you don't mess with, menacing, purposeful," said company chairman Les Edgar.

Although TVR was founded in the same year as Ferrari - 1947 - and despite considerable success on the track and on the road with customers that wanted a serious, if often idiosyncratic, hand-built British alternative to the relatively boring Porsche 911 or outlandishly expensive V8 Ferrari, its history is littered with bad as well as good business decisions.

Two years after the company was sold to a Russian businessman in 2004, it closed its factory doors and laid off all staff.

And, until Edgar formed a new business and secured all of the necessary rights to relaunch the marque in 2015, it looked as if TVR was set to be consigned to automotive history books, as with many once great British sportscar companies.

But now that the company is re-established, its owners are not taking chances. An initial run of 500 launch edition models is scheduled to go into production in early 2019. And, once each of those examples is completed, the company will slowly gear up into full production, aiming for around 1000 cars a year to begin with and growing to 2000 by 2024 when the company will be offering a range of models in a range of outputs, rather than a single car.


JPJ officers go undercover to nab errant motorists

                KUALA LUMPUR: Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement officers have gone undercover to nab errant motorists during the Chinese New Year balik kampung period.

In just four days since the start of the operation on Feb 12, some 282 motorists were caught on camera by these officers for various offences around the city.

Kuala Lumpur JPJ director Ahmad Ziki Abdul Rahman said the plainclothes officers were focusing on motorists who commit the “seven big sins” while on the road.

The offences are beating the red light, driving in the emergency lanes, overtaking along the double lines, jumping queue, using the handphone while driving, motorcyclists not wearing helmets and failure of backseat passengers to belt up.

“From Feb 12 to Feb 15, our undercover officers took photographs of 176 motorists beating the red light.

“They will be receiving their summonses in the mail,” he said after the launch of the department’s Chinese New Year road safety campaign at the PLUS Sungai Besi toll plaza yesterday.

He said the undercover officers, working in teams of two, also caught on camera 45 motorists jumping queue and 45 others using the emergency lane.

He added that 16 were summoned for failing to get their backseat passengers to belt up. He said similar undercover JPJ teams were being deployed nationwide.

Ahmad Ziki also said that 402 buses were inspected and summonses issued to five of them for having faulty odometers and two for cracked front windscreens.

He added that officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency also screened bus drivers during the same period with no driver tested positive for drug use so far.

Earlier, at a separate press conference, Kuala Lumpur Road Safety Council president Datuk Salleh Yusup said there was a slight drop in the number of accidents in the city, from 63,020 cases in 2013 to 62,986 last year.

He also said that road fatalities decreased from 323 cases in 2013 to 221 cases last year.


All-new Subaru XV launched in Taiwan

                TAIPEI: Regional Subaru distributor Motor Image has launched the new generation XV here.

The company indicated that Malaysia is due to receive the new XV — in entry-level 2.0i and range-topping 2.0i-S variants — by year-end with deliveries beginning after the start of 2018.

The all-new Subaru XV is a unique crossover vehicle that combines practicality with aesthetics and performance. It is a bold car suited for drivers to Unpark their lives and go on activities that they love,” said Tan Chong International Ltd executive director Glenn Tan.

The XV has been enhanced with a chassis that's 70% more rigid over its predecessor, while sporting wheelbase of 2,665mm (+30mm) and measuring 4,465mm-long (+15mm), 1,800mm-wide (+20mm) and 1,615mm-tall (+45mm).

Both variants use a 63-litre (+13-litre) fuel tank to feed the revamped 2.0-litre (1,995cc) naturally aspirated direct fuel-injected four-cylinder boxer engine that's now 12kg lighter.

Power has been rated at 156PS (+6PS) at 6,000rpm (-200rpm) and 196Nm of torque at 4,000rpm (-200rpm), while being managed by a 7.8kg-lightened Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle-shifters.

The gearbox also features auto-step shift and a seven-speed manual mode for the symmetrical all-wheel drive system with X-Mode.

As standard, the XV has 220mm of ground clearance, 17-inch wheels with 225/60 series tyres, disc brakes all-round, front MacPherson struts, rear double wishbones, front and rear fog lamps, roof rails and a roof spoiler.

Cabin convenience comes in the form of keyless-entry with push-start button, electronic parking brake, idle-stop system, one-touch turn signal, PIN code access and a retractable cover for the boot.

A 6.5-inch audio touchscreen display takes care of entertainment and comes equipped with a USB port, AUX-jack, voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity and a reverse camera.

For safety, there are seven airbags, four-channel anti-lock braking system, brake assist, brake override, safety pedal system, vehicle dynamics control system, hill holder, hill-start assist and ISOFIX anchor points at the 60:40 split rear folding seats.

As for the 2.0i-S, it gets up-sized 18-inch wheels with 225/55 series tyres along with with headlamp washers, automatic LED steering responsive headlamps, power-folding external mirrors with integrated turn-signals and a glass sunroof.

Motor Image is the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles across nine countries in Asia.

Additional kit includes aluminium pedals, auto-dimming rear view mirror, multi-function steering wheel, multi-function cruise control, power-adjustable driver's seat, automatic wipers and an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay.

Lastly, safety gets bolstered by the addition of blind-spot detection, highbeam assist, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert.

"We are thrilled to launch this new vehicle built on the new Subaru Global Platform, with improved interior and exterior styling. With this, we are confident that the All-New Subaru XV will exceed expectations and deliver a driving experience that is second to none,” said Tan

Subaru XV 2.0i

Subaru XV 2.0i-S


Strong auto, equipment sales drive UMW earnings in Q1

                KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Holdings Bhd’s net profit surged to RM97.27 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2021, from RM44.32 million in the same period a year earlier.

This was thanks to a higher revenue of RM2.95 billion achieved for the quarter compared with RM2.12 billion in the previous year’s corresponding period, which was mainly due to the higher sales in the automotive and equipment segments following the relaxation of the Movement Control Order (MCO), the group said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

Its auto arm, UMW Toyota Motor, is the distributor for Toyota and Lexus.

The automotive segment’s revenue jumped by 51 per cent to RM2.40 billion from RM1.56 billion in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to the higher number of vehicles sold following the extension of the sales tax exemption to June 30, 2021.

Meanwhile, the equipment segment increased its revenue to RM332.5 million against RM289.2 million in the corresponding quarter, mainly driven by improved demand for the segment’s products and services in its local and overseas markets following the relaxation of the MCO in the quarter.

However, UMW’s manufacturing and equipment segment saw a drop in revenue to RM230.3 million from RM248.5 million a year earlier, mainly due to lower contribution from the aerospace sub-segment following lower fan cases delivered in the quarter.

Moving forward, the group said it expected the business recovery to be gradual, as the business environment would continue to remain challenging amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nonetheless, the group will continue to assess its strategies and initiatives to mitigate the challenges as well as to intensify efforts to improve its cost effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience,” it added.


Car sales to hit new high in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Vehicle sales in Malaysia are expected to hit another annual record high at 661,900 units in 2014, according to Kenanga Research.

In a report, the research unit's analyst Desmond Chong noted that as of end-November, TIV (total industry volume) growth increased slightly by 1% at 601,805 units.

He also pointed out that in November, looking at the national marques, while Perodua sales volume remained resilient in November (+24% year-on-year), which was helped by the overwhelming demand for the Perodua Axia, Proton’s sales performance still remained weak (an 11% drop year-on-year).

Chong believes that the recent strong debut of the Proton Iriz has yet to translate into comparable sales, due to the zero booking fee which gave consumers options for alternative choices.

He also noted that in November, sales for non-national marques such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan continued to see growth, helped by heavy year-end promotional activities.

He forecasts December TIV to be 60,095 units, driven by high demand for the Perodua Axia and aggressive sales campaigns by automakers.

For 2015, Chong expects vehicle sales to stay flat at 662,000 units, mainly underpinned by the resilient Malaysian economy and normal vehicle replacement for old cars (with the current five million cars on the road aged between 10 and 15 years).

Kenanga Research's in-house real GDP (gross domestic product) growth forecast for the Malaysian economy in 2015 is 5.1%.

However, Chong also noted, while cheaper car prices (with potential savings of 1% to 3%) could be seen post-GST (goods and services tax) implementation, this catalyst for vehicle sales growth could easily be offset by the tighter credit for hire-purchase as well as the rising cost of living.


Total vehicle sales in August eases to 52,312 units, says MAA

                KUALA LUMPUR: Total vehicle sales in August 2016 declined to 52,312 units from 53,459 units in the same month last year, said the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

MAA said in a statement on Tuesday that sales volume in August, however, was 23.2 per cent higher than the previous month due to longer working month and new model launches.

"For passenger vehicles, sales in August eased to 46,223 units compared with 47,309 units in the same month last year. "Commercial vehicle sales decreased to 6,089 units compared with 6,150 units in August last year," it said.

MAA said total vehicle production was down to 43,452 units in August from 49,335 units in the same month last year.

"The August passenger vehicle production eased to 39,987 units from 44,812 units in the same month in 2015. The commercial vehicle production in August 2016 dropped to 3,465 units from 4,523 units a year ago," it said.

On outlook, MAA said sales volume for September is expected to maintain at the August month level due to the introduction of new models and continuation of aggressive promotional campaigns by car companies.


Mitsubishi Triton Adventure X gets new Sun flare Orange Pearl colour

                PETALING JAYA: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the official distributor of the brand in Malaysia, has revealed a new exterior colour for the Triton Adventure X pickup truck.

The new colour expands the palette of Jet Black Mica and White Diamond with the addition of Sun-flare Orange Pearl.

Aside from the new colour, the flagship variant also gets a new silver stripe on its side profile to up its sporty appeal.

The Triton Adventure X is currently priced with sales tax exemption, but without insurance, at RM137, 900 and is accompanied by a five-year or 200,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

Power comes from a by 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine producing 181PS and 430Nm of torque.

Power is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission and for improved traction and handling Super Select 4WD II, Off-road Mode and an electronically-controlled Hill Descent Control system helps to maintain traction regardless of the terrain.

For added comfort and convenience, the flagship pickup truck comes fitted with a 360-degree all-round monitor, digital video recorder, leather seats and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Safety is further bolstered by a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that includes ForwardCollision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist (BSW with LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), Auto High Beam (AHB) and seven airbags to name a few.


Scania Southeast Asia gets a woman boss

                SHAH ALAM: A woman has been appointed to head Scania Southeast Asia.

Marie Sjödin Enström replaces James Armstrong as the new managing director.

A Swede, Enström began her career with Scania in 1984. Her last position was as managing director of Scania Assistance at Scania CV AB, Sweden where she was the global head and was responsible for eight centres in Europe and Latin America.

“I am looking forward to lead Scania Southeast Asia into maintaining its leading position in the truck and bus market of this robust and developing region," said the mother of two.

Armstrong ended his five-year tenure and will be re-assigned to Prague to head Scania's central European operations.


Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid and EV to debut in New York

                NEW YORK: The all-new Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid and Honda Clarity electric car will make their worldwide debut at the 2017 New York International Auto Show.

The two all-new, electrified Honda vehicles will make Clarity the first vehicle series to offer an expanded array of electrified vehicle choices with fuel cell, battery electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains wrapped in a five-passenger mid-size sedan.

Honda has announced its intention to make two-thirds of its global auto sales from electrified vehicles by 2030.

The official teaser sketch of the Clarity series released today includes the never-before-seen Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and Clarity Electric flanking the currently available Clarity Fuel Cell.

Combined with elegant and advanced exterior styling, the Clarity series boasts spacious interiors outfitted with premium, environmentally-responsible materials.

Offering Honda "fun-to-drive" DNA, each Clarity variant provides a smooth, quiet and premium experience, with great dynamic handling plus seamless electric drive torque and acceleration.

The Clarity series also features advanced technologies, including Display Audio with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and standard Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies.

The Clarity Electric will be the first affordable, midsize, five-passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV).

The third vehicle in the Clarity series, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, will launch in all 50 states and will be the volume leader in the series, combining an all-electric driving range rating in excess of 64km with a hyper-efficient petrol-hybrid extended range mode.


Test-drive VW app at CES 2017

                LAS VEGAS: Volkswagen is going "app-py" at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here.

It is introducing an app which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the future and experience how human, car and environment will, in the future, be interconnected in the Volkswagen Ecosystem via the Volkswagen User-ID.

This makes it easy for them to configure their personal settings, integrate any services from third-party sources and port them wherever they wish. Regardless of which Volkswagen model they step into (personal or rental car), in the future, the car will always prepare their favourite music, configure the display screen and make the right seat adjustments.

At the 2017 CES, visitors can experience the Volkswagen Ecosystem, using it to create their own profile – i.e. a Volkswagen User-ID set up for the show – with new, functions that are assigned to the user. At the individual user stations, show visitors can quickly and easily input and configure these settings for their personal ID. Many different functions, such as selecting a favourite ambient light setting, can be performed directly within the app itself. All settings are stored online. In the Connected Car, visitors can try out their personal digital world live.

Along with individual connectivity, Volkswagen is also offering a look at future intuitive controls that go beyond touch and gesture control. The manufacturer is also presenting its visionary I.D. concept car to the American public for the first time.

The VW CES 2017-app provides an outlook on what happens when connectivity is transformed into a personal digital experience.

The app is available now at the App Store (iOS) and at Google Play (Android).


All-new Hyundai Tucson teased before launch

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company has released an image of the all-new Tucson ahead of its launch on Sept 15.

The all-new Tucson will feature the signature headlamp architecture called 'Parametric Hidden Lights' and a dual cockpit layout.

It incorporates Hyundai's "Sensuous Sportiness" design identity which was first introduced in the new Elantra.

The  Tucson's world premiere press conference would be streamed online at 9:30am KST (8.30am in Malaysia) on launch day.

"With the all-new Tucson, we are introducing its ultimate evolution and a definitive statement about Hyundai's unstoppable forward momentum.

"Tucson's advanced, experimental design is true to its pioneering spirit and raises the game in the industry's most competitive segment," said Hyundai Global Design Center chief SangYup Lee.


Tesla just delivered its first China-built cars in Shanghai

A Tesla employee proposing to his girlfriend with his newly delivered Model 3 during a ceremony at the company's Gigafactory in Shanghai today. — Bloomberg
SHANGHAI: Tesla delivered its first China-built cars, a milestone for Elon Musk’s company as it accelerates a push in the world’s largest electric-vehicle market.

The company handed over the first 15 Model 3 sedans assembled atTesla’s new multibillion-dollar Shanghai plant — its first outside the US — to company employees at the facility on Monday.

More workers will receive vehicles over the next couple of days, and deliveries to customers will start in January, company officials said at the ceremony.

Chief executive officer Musk is counting on the China plant to help build on recent momentum for the company in the world’s largest market both for EVs and autos in general. The Model 3 will compete with electric cars from local contenders such as NIO Inc. and Xpeng Motors, as well as global manufacturers including BMW AG and Daimler AG.

Demand for the locally built Model 3 is "very good,” and Tesla is confident it will sell all vehicles manufactured at the site, Allan Wang, general manager of Tesla China, said at the plant.

"Our aim is to kill all internal-combustion engine cars.”

 A Model 3 set to be delivered to a company employee moves off an assembly line during a ceremony at the company's Gigafactory in Shanghai. — BloombergVolume goal

The plant is now producing more than 1,000 cars a week, and aims to double the rate over the next year, said Song Gang, the factory’s manufacturing director. That means the facility has met a prediction Musk made back in April.

Tesla’s original factory in California spent months trying to hit a 1,000 weekly rate. Musk has said a weekly rate of 3,000 in Shanghai is a target at some point.

While deliveries to customers haven’t started, Monday’s milestone caps several months of wins for Musk. The latest came Friday, when the locally built car was included on a list of vehicles qualifying for an exemption from a 10% purchase tax in China.

A crowd of about 200 people, including media and Tesla workers, had gathered inside the plant today and clapped and cheered as Tom Zhu, the company’s head of greater China, handed over the first cars.

One of the employees receiving a car presented it to his girlfriend, along with flowers, and proposed to her. She accepted by nodding, and they kissed.

The Shanghai Gigafactory broke ground at the start of this year. Originally just a muddy plot about a 90-minute drive away from Shanghai’s city center, it is now a crucial test of Musk’s bid to keep his carmaker profitable as he bets big on Chinese appetite for electric cars.

With Tesla’s volatile stock price and strained finances, investors will be watching closely how the ramp-up unfolds. The multibillion-dollar investment will be a deciding factor to determine whether Tesla will be able to take on local competitors and fend off challenges by the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi.

As part of its China expansion, Tesla plans to add dozens of locations in the country over the next year for showcasing its vehicles and providing charging and other services, said Xue Juncheng, director of China after-sales, at the ceremony.

Tesla said in October the locally built Model 3 will be priced from about US$50,000 (RM206,000). On top of the tax exemption announced Friday, the China-built model this month qualified for a government subsidy of as much as about 25,000 yuan (nearly RM15,000) per vehicle.

The company may lower the price of the locally assembled sedans by 20% or more next year as it starts using more local components and reduces costs, people familiar with the matter have said.

The launch will also provide clues about Tesla’s ability to truly go global. The company is planning to follow up with a production facility in Germany to tap rising electric-car demand in Europe.


Volkswagen Tour happening at 1Utama, PJ, this weekend

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced a new event happening for 'folks' looking for a new vehicle with a VW roundel.

The company's first Volkswagen Tour of the year will be kicking off this week at the 1Utama Shopping Centre from Feb 19 to 23.

The event will be located at the Centre Court, Ground Floor (old wing) and will run from 10am until 10pm daily with plenty of attractive rebates for all.

On display will be the crowd favourite and iconic Beetle, as well as the Vento, Tiguan, Golf R-Line, GTI and the star of the show - the new Passat Elegance that was launched earlier this year.

The new Passat is considered to be a benchmark within its class and boasts of an updated 2.0-litre TSI engine.

This D-segmenter happens to be the first front-wheel driven VW model in Malaysia to come with a new seven-speed wet clutch dual-speed gearbox (DSG).

Other new highlights include new front and rear lights and an entirely new infotainment system.

Test drive sessions for the new Passat Elegance and Tiguan will be made available at the Tour's venue.

Visitors who place a booking at the event will receive an additional RM1,000 petrol cash voucher on top of existing rebates.

This offer is exclusive to the 1 Utama Volkswagen Tour and is only valid throughout the duration of the roadshow.


Only two persons in Malaysia will get to own F-TYPE Project 7

                KUALA LUMPUR: Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has announced that only two  motorists in Malaysia will have the privilege of owning the limited edition Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 supercar.

F-TYPE Project 7 is the first Jaguar performance vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations team. With production limited to 250 units globally, Jaguar Land Rover has allocated two units of the hand-built supercar for the Malaysian market.  Price is on application.  Interested customers can contact Sime Darby AutoConneXion and SISMA Auto branches, which now carry both Jaguar and Land Rover models, for further information.

F-TYPE Project 7 is not only the most focused derivative of the award-winning F-TYPE range, but also the fastest and most powerful production Jaguar ever built.

Its roadster body pays tribute to one of the most famous and iconic racing Jaguars: the three-time Le Mans winning D-type, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2014. F-TYPE Project 7’s name pays homage to Jaguar’s seven outright Le Mans wins. It is fully road-legal, with a removable roof and 196-litre stowage space.

The supercar’s power comes from Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, now in 567hp/680Nm form, enabling the all-aluminium-bodied car – which weighs 1,585kg – to achieve acceleration from 0-100kph in 3.9-seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 300kph.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through Jaguar’s eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second generation Electronic Active Differential (EAD).

Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes are fitted as standard on F-TYPE Project 7, offering powerful, consistent, fade-free braking. Another standard feature is Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB) which, working in conjunction with the EAD, enables extremely precise handling.

Bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids and a unique suspension set-up enable F-TYPE Project 7 to deliver a truly engaging driving experience.

While F-TYPE Project 7 features performance-focused engineering by Special Vehicle Operations – the engineering and vehicle division of Special Operations.

Key design elements include the D-type-inspired fairing behind the driver’s head, shorter windshield, new front bumper, and downforce-increasing aerodynamic modifications – including a carbon-fibre front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler. However, the single-seater concept has been transformed into a two-seater, with rollover hoops for both driver and passenger now integrated into the design.

"Special Operations exists to develop a suite of products and services that enable our most discerning and enthusiastic customers to indulge their passion for our cars," said Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations managing director John Edwards.

"F-TYPE Project 7 is a perfect example of one such product. It's the most powerful production Jaguar ever built, and pays homage to Jaguar's seven outright Le Mans victories with distinctive design cues inspired by the Jaguar D-type."


Tesla unveils Shanghai factory plans amid US-China trade row

China has emerged in recent years as the world's largest market for electric vehicles. — AFP
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla on Tuesday revealed plans to build a factory in Shanghai that would dramatically increase its notoriously constrained production capacity, with boss Elon Musk making his electric-car company's biggest overseas move yet just as a US-China trade battle heats up.

Musk said the plant, whose plans have been in the works for a year, would eventually have an annual production capacity of 500,000 cars, adding that he hoped it would be "completed very soon."

Tesla has been looking to expand into global markets, plans that faced a potential threat from intensifying trade frictions and US President Donald Trump's push to keep manufacturing jobs at home.

A joint announcement released by Shanghai's government said a preliminary agreement had been signed to build the plant in the commercial hub's Lingang district.

"Shanghai will be the location for the first Gigafactory outside the United States," Musk was quoted saying.

"It will be a state-of-the-art vehicle factory and a role model for sustainability. We hope it will be completed very soon."

A Tesla spokesman said "we expect construction to begin in the near future, after we get all the necessary approvals and permits."

It would take roughly two years before production begins and then up to three more years before it reaches full production.

"Tesla is deeply committed to the Chinese market, and we look forward to building even more cars for our customers here," the spokesperson said.

"Today's announcement will not impact our US manufacturing operations, which continue to grow."

Shanghai will provide full support to Tesla in a project combining manufacturing, research and development, and sales and which is aimed at super-charging electric-vehicle development in the city, the local government said.

Anticipation about a potential big Tesla investment had bubbled over the past year.

Tesla last month told shareholders that it was working with officials in Shanghai on establishing the plant, which would build electric cars and battery packs.

At the time, Musk told employees the electric carmaker was being reorganised to speed up production of Model 3 vehicles - a key to profitability at the fast-growing firm.

China has emerged in recent years as the world's largest market for electric vehicles.

Expectations of an impending announcement spiked after Bloomberg News earlier reported that Musk would travel to Shanghai on Tuesday, followed by a visit to Beijing.

The factory move could allow Tesla to avoid having Musk's expansion plans tripped up by the mushrooming trade frictions.

Following months of tension, start-stop negotiations and some Chinese concessions, the US on Friday pulled the trigger on 25 percent duties on about US$34 billion in Chinese machinery, electronics and high-tech equipment, including autos, computer hard drives and LEDs.

Trump has for years slammed what he describes as Beijing's underhand economic treatment of the United States, with the US trade deficit in goods with China ballooning to a record US$375.2 billion last year.

The move triggered immediate and similar retaliatory tariffs by China - perhaps heightening Tesla's urgency in reaching a deal with Shanghai.

The joint announcement said "Tesla plans to construct and operate a wholly-owned" factory in Shanghai.

China typically requires that foreign automakers set up joint ventures with Chinese firms when establishing auto manufacturing plants.

China is both the world's largest car market and its biggest electric-vehicle market.

Domestic Chinese and foreign automakers have been racing to grab a piece of the sector, which is expected to continue to grow rapidly as the government pushes cleaner technologies, partly to help combat chronic air pollution.


Honda to stop output at one Japan plant by 2022 as domestic sales stagnate

The ageing Sayama plant will be shut down.
TOKYO: Honda said today it plans to stop production at one of its domestic plants within the next five years, cutting capacity by around 24 percent in Japan amid stagnant sales at home, as the automaker focuses on making electric cars and other new-technology vehicles.

Honda said it would stop production at its aging Sayama plant north of Tokyo, consolidating production at its nearby Yorii plant by around March 2022. Most workers currently at the Sayama plant would be transferred to the Yorii plant, it added.

The move would cut overall domestic annual production capacity to around 810,000 units from 1.06 million currently at Japan’s third-biggest automaker, reflecting current production levels. Global annual production would remain largely unchanged around 5.06 million units, the automaker said.

“Domestic sales haven’t increased as much as we were expecting and it has become difficult to boost exports,” chief executive Takahiro Hachigo said at a press conference.

 The Yorii plant.

The Sayama plant was set up in 1964 and produces models including the Odyssey minivan, the Accord sedan and the CR-V SUV crossover model. It has an annual production capacity of 250,000 units.

The Yorii plant, which was built in 2013, is Honda’s newest domestic plant. It also has an annual production capacity of 250,000 units, and currently makes smaller models, including the Fit/Jazz compact hatchback, along with the Civic sedan.

Hachigo added that he was confident the automaker was following proper procedures for final vehicle inspection for the Japanese market.

He said that Honda was complying with a request from Japan’s transport ministry for inspection records after Nissan earlier this week said it would recall 1.2 million vehicles due to procedural irregularities with its final inspection processes.


Polestar plans to double showrooms and move into new markets, says CEO

                BEIJING: Polestar, the performance electric vehicle maker based in Sweden and owned by China’s Geely, plans to double the number of showrooms in existing markets this year and expand to new countries in Asia and the Middle East, its CEO said on Tuesday.

The automaker started producing its Polestar 2 sedans this year in China and sells them in China, Europe and the United States. It plans to expand its sales network and is looking at new markets in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East, said chief executive Thomas Ingenlath.

Ingenlath is one of the few international executives to attend the Beijing auto show, which starts on Saturday. He undertook a 14-day compulsory quarantine upon his arrival in China.

Showroom strength is becoming an important differentiator for electric vehicle (EV) makers as they line up new model launches and Polestar's sleek models are designed to take on rivals such as Tesla.

“We will double the amount of spaces we have today by the end of the year. This number will continue to grow rapidly as we look to double the number of markets in the next 18-24 months,” Ingenlath said, referring to “Polestar Space”, the name it gives to its showrooms.

Sources said in June that Polestar was planning to expand its showroom network in China as it ramps up sales of its Polestar 2.

Polestar operates 23 showrooms globally at the moment and plans to have 45 by the end of this year. It currently sells cars in nine countries.

“From next year, we will look into new markets around Asia Pacific and Middle East,” Ingenlath said, without saying which countries it was targeting.

The Polestar 2, which only has a dual motor variant, will offer a single electric motor option next year to make the model more affordable, Ingenlath said.

Polestar is also planning to roll out a sports-utility vehicle (SUV), which will be made in a plant in China and have a different underpinning architecture than the Polestar 2, he said.

The company, which is targeting annual sales of more than 50,000 within two to three years, will definitely “stay and remain a premium brand”, Ingenlath said.

He said it will have bigger and more sporty products in future but will not change its prices radically or frequently.


Customers to gain from any benefits in switch to SST, says UMW Toyota Motor

                PETALING JAYA: Toyota distributor UMW Toyota Motor hasn't announce price revisions for its cars yet but it sought to reassure customers that potential cost savings will be passed on to prospective car buyers.

Its president, K. Ravindran, said any relief and benefit from the new tax structure will be passed on to customers and "any price revision will be considered in the best interest of its customers."

The Pakatan Harapan government recently announced that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is to be set at zero percent with effect from June 1. It will be replaced by the Sales and Services Tax (SST) to be announced at a future date.

For more information on Toyota and Lexus vehicle pricing, call  Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682), Lexus Freephone at 1800-88-LEXUS (53987) or by visiting Toyota or Lexus showrooms.