Welcome to Florida, the US state where walking can be the death of you

Designed for driving, Florida is the most dangerous place in the US to take a walk by foot. — dpa
MIAMI: You take your life in your hands when you're on foot in Florida, the deadliest state in the US for pedestrians.

Walking can be hazardous to your health in the Sunshine State, which retained its notorious No. 1 ranking as the place where a pedestrian is most likely to be struck and killed by a driver in the United States, according to the 2021 "Dangerous By Design" report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition.

Nine of the 15 most hazardous US cities for pedestrians are in Florida, with Orlando ranked as least safe and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metropolis ranked No. 13 in the biennial study released Tuesday.

Drivers hit and killed 53,435 pedestrians, more than 17 people per day on average, throughout the country between 2010 and 2019. The number of people killed while walking has been on a steady rise each year, growing by 45 per cent over the most recent decade for which data was available for analysis.

"We continue to design and operate streets that prioritise the speedy movement of vehicles at the expense of safety for all people who use them," the report says.

"Many states and localities have spent the last 10 years focusing on enforcement, running ineffectual education campaigns, or blaming the victims of these crashes, while often ignoring the role of roadway design in these deaths. Meanwhile the death count has continued to climb year after year. This 10-year increase in deaths is a failure of our government at nearly all levels."

The report emphasised that fatality rates are disproportionately high for the elderly, Blacks, American Indian or Alaska Native people, and people walking in low-income communities.

Black people were killed by drivers at a rate 82 per cent higher than white people while people walking in poor neighbourhoods were twice as likely to die as people in affluent neighbourhoods.

"While transportation agencies have done much to avoid doing so, we urgently need to change the way we design and build roads to prioritize safety, not speed," said Beth Osborne, transportation director for Smart Growth America.

"In fact, the obsession with keeping traffic moving and avoiding delay at all costs in hopes of saving drivers mere seconds creates the very dangers highlighted in this report.

This is why crosswalks are missing or too far apart, why lanes are too wide, why intersections are difficult to cross on foot, and why money can always be found to widen a road, even when adding sidewalks is deemed too expensive."

University of Florida junior Kailey Kiss urged the Florida Department of Transportation and local transportation agencies throughout her home state to heed the safety recommendations in the report.

She was at a busy corner in Gainesville on Jan 16 when she witnessed a car plow into a group of five students standing on a sidewalk, killing Sophia Lambert, an 18-year-old freshman from Miami. In December, Kiss' Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister Maggie Paxton was killed in a hit-and-run near the same intersection, when she was crossing University Avenue.

"In one instant, I saw Sophia hugging a friend and in the blink of an eye she was thrown into the air," Kiss said. "I felt so helpless. But I've realised these crashes can be prevented. Cars drive way too fast on University Avenue because it's designed for them to go 50mph (80kph).

"I'm not surprised Florida is the worst state because we spend money building and expanding roads rather than investing in redesign of the dangerous ones."

Compared to the skyrocketing fatality rate for pedestrians, traffic fatality rates for motor vehicle occupants have only increased 3.7 per cent following a decline between 2008 and 2017.

One reason it has become more dangerous to be a pedestrian is the growing popularity and size of SUVs and pickup trucks, which are two to three times more likely to kill a pedestrian in a crash than a sedan, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.

In Florida, which was built for speed, there were 5,893 pedestrian deaths in the 10-year span, which is an annual average of 2.8 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, or a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) calculated in the report as 201.4.

Compare that to the national figures of 1.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 and a 63.3 PDI. Compare Florida's PDI to that of Texas (125.3), California (77.3), Ohio (44.1), New York (25.1) and the safest state, Vermont (15.2).

"Undoing the damage caused by decades spent building dangerous roads and car-scale development takes continuous and ongoing commitment," the report says.

"FDOT may have taken some important initial steps and clearly continues to have champions working to make streets safer, but the state has lost the momentum and political will needed to truly implement that change, and people walking continue to pay the price with their lives."

Florida is not atypical in that its policies, blueprints and funding are stuck in the age of the automobile, when sprawling growth patterns — especially in Sun Belt states — led to wider roads and lanes, longer blocks, and street engineering that prioritised high speeds for cars over safety for people on foot, on bikes or using mass transit, said Steve Davis, director of communications for Smart Growth America.

"There is so much entrenched inertia in the practices and design manuals for traffic engineers that it is like trying to turn the Titanic," Davis said.

"Speed is the holy grail. Move as many cars through here as possible. Avoiding congestion is the goal, not making high-risk corridors safe for all users on the road. Unless FDOT makes significant changes in a calcified culture, cities can only do so much because so many roads are controlled by the state."

While the report covers 2010-2019 data, preliminary data on 2020 and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic indicate that speeding increased dramatically in conjunction with a decrease in cars on the road and congestion.

Although the US Department of Transportation will not release 2020 fatality data until the end of 2021 at the earliest, the National Safety Council is already estimating a 24 per cent spike in all traffic fatality rates in 2020 — the biggest increase in 96 years.

"We expect the number of deaths per mile traveled in 2020 will be crazy high," Davis said. "Roads are even more dangerous when congestion decreases."

Smart Growth America, which advocates for more livable development, and the Complete Streets Coalition, which aims to transform the way roads are planned and built to accommodate all users, say the key to saving lives is designing safer streets with slower traffic, sensible intersections and more sidewalks and bike lanes.

Current street design results in artificially high speed limits, and the likelihood of surviving a collision decreases rapidly as speeds increase past 30mph (48kph).

The report urges Congress to pass the Complete Streets Act, which would require state and metro departments of transportation to plan for all people who use the street, including the most vulnerable.

It suggests that agencies set targets to reduce injuries and fatalities and face penalties if they don't meet them as well as provide updated training to planners.

Stop referring to pedestrian fatalities as accidents, the report says, "by replacing the word 'accident' with 'crash' when referring to these preventable deaths."


Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider unveiled

                MONTEREY (California, USA): Aston Martin has unveiled the Valkyrie Spider at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance here.

Capable of achieving 330kph+ with the roof removed (350kph+ with roof on), it's the fastest and most extreme open-top, road-legal Aston Martin ever built.

The 85 examples of the Valkyrie Spider have already been spoken for. It is available in both left and right-hand drives, and first deliveries will start in the second half of 2022.

While the Aston Martin Valkyrie's unique 1,139hp hybrid V12 powertrain remains unchanged, the Valkyrie Spider has received revisions to its carbon fibre structure, plus changes in the active aerodynamic and active chassis systems in order to maintain peak performance in open-top driving.

Key to Valkyrie Spider's performance is the lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics package. The upper body surfaces of the teardrop-shaped cockpit and lower tub contours follow the envelope of space available between the huge full-length Venturi tunnels that run either side of the cockpit floor.

Drawing huge quantities of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser, these tunnels are the key to generating Valkyrie Spider's high levels of downforce — >1,400kg at 240kph in track mode - while keeping the upper body surfaces free from additional aerodynamic devices that would spoil the purity of the open-top styling.

Delivering LMP1 levels of performance, Valkyrie Spider is simulated to set impressive lap times, not normally achievable in a road-going car.

The same driver focused cabin sits at the heart of Valkyrie Spider. F1® inspired low hip-to-heel height and near-central seat positioning, along with a 6-point safety harness to keep the occupants safely in the car. A centre rear-view camera system along with front and rear parking sensors will aid the driver at both high and low speeds, with displays sitting just above the Instrument Panel.

Valkyrie Spider features a bespoke, removable lightweight roof comprising a carbon fibre central panel, latching onto the tub at the rear and to the windscreen surround at the front, along with a pair of polycarbonate roof windows, hinged on either side. On opening the doors, the roof can simply be lifted off and stowed away.

Modifications to the carbon fibre tub have been made to support the removable roof panels and the luxury open-top layout, as well as new doors. The now front-hinged dihedral doors, which are unique to Valkyrie Spider, have been redesigned to tilt forwards.

The task of implementing these changes will be completed by Aston Martin's engineering team, who are also responsible for managing the test and verification process.

Extensive use of simulation tools means development of the Valkyrie Spider is already well under way, ahead of the build and physical testing of the first development prototypes.

Aston Martin chief executive officer Tobias Moers said: "The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the product of incredible innovation and technology, but above all it has always been about emotion. With the Valkyrie Spider we are taking that passion and emotion to the next level. The driving experience promises to be truly sensational. The sound of that 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to over 11,000rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear."

Red Bull Racing's chief technical officer Adrian Newey said: "Right from the very beginning of the Aston Martin Valkyrie project we were driven by exacting targets that went way beyond any previous road car and the Valkyrie Spider brings that same ethos to the open cockpit hypercar category.

"What you see is a simple removable roof panel, but the challenge of remaining true to the Valkyrie concept was anything but. Maintaining aerodynamic performance with the roof removed was of paramount importance, likewise keeping any unavoidable weight gains to an absolute minimum whilst maximising enjoyment for the driver."

The Valkyrie Spider is on display at Pebble Beach from Aug 12-15, and viewing is by invitation only.


Ning Baizura to sing national anthem at last F1 race

                SEPANG: Local songstress Ning Baizura will sing the Negaraku at the final Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix today.

"It's a great honour for me to be singing the national anthem.

"I am thankful to the Formula 1 management team for choosing me to be a part of history," she told The Star on Saturday.

Ning said she was ecstatic when she learnt she had been selected.

"I just returned from overseas and am making my way to rehearsal. I will sing the Negaraku with pride and joy," she said.

The multi award-winning singer is famous for her dazzling live performances.

Ning will perform before the race begins on Sunday.

A special fly-by from four Royal Malaysia Air Force F-18 fighter jets will take place after the national anthem.

READ MORE: Ning Baizura performs at Mercedes E-Class launch - June 2016


Northport and Proton ink port services deal

                KUALA LUMPUR: Northport (Malaysia) Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton) have signed a strategic collaboration and services agreement for port services.

Northport said the collaboration would include vehicle storage and the handling of Proton vehicles at the port.

In a statement today, the port operator said Proton would continue to use the Northport as their home for the export, import and transshipment of its vehicles.

“At present, we offer 8,100 slots for vehicle storage and 4,500 slots are allocated for Proton,” it said.

Northport chief executive officer Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof said the port was poised to facilitate Proton’s demand for comprehensive port services and was capable of providing end-to-end automotive logistics services.

“Proton has been using the port to support its shipment related activities since 1989 with the carmaker’s first sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Proton X70, currently making use of Northport as its discharging port.

“To date, Norhtport has handled close to 9,000 of the SUV and is expected to continue to handle the remainder of the vehicles before local production begins at end-2019,” he said.

Meanwhile, Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed said Northport was a vital strategic partner for the company’s plans to grow its export markets.

“Proton is pleased to extend its business collaboration with Northport in our efforts to rebuild the brand both locally and abroad,” Radzaif added.


Motorists entering Johor via causeway must use runners to top-up Touch N Go cards

                ISKANDAR PUTERI: Motorists entering Malaysia from Singapore via the Johor Causeway are no longer allowed to get down from their vehicles to top-up their Touch N Go cards.

Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex task force chairman Andrew Chen Kan Eng said the move was implemented on Aug 14.

He said the new ruling, which applies only to inbound motorists with insufficient credit in their Touch N Go cards, was introduced to ease congestion at the Johor Causeway.

Chen said the top-up booths at the Johor Causeway have also been closed, adding motorists could use the services of four runners to top up their cards.

“The runners have portable machines with them to receive payments from motorists,’’ he told reporters outside the Johor State Assembly Hall Bangunan Sultan Ismail on Thursday (Aug 16).

Chen said the runner service was only for Touch N Go cardholders with insufficient credit in their cards and those with enough balance could top-up their cards elsewhere.

Chen, who is also Stulang assemblyman, was appointed by the state government last month to head the task force on congestion at the BSI.

Perling assemblyman Cheo Yew How was appointed as task force chairman for the Sultan Abu Bakar complex near the Second Link Crossing in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah.


Ford GT production extended!

                DEARBORN: The Ford Motor Company has announced that it is increasing production of the Ford GT to 1,350 vehicles after more than 6,500 applicants raced to sign up for the original 1,000 cars allotted in 2016 – even before the car recaptured its LeMans glory later that year.

“The response to our Ford GT has been unprecedented, with initial demand outstripping supply by more than six-to-one. By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we’re able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers,” said Ford Performance director Hermann Salenbauch.

Ford is re-opening the application window to customers hoping to join the exclusive group of Ford GT owners starting Nov 8 for select global markets.

Prospective owners will be able to submit their applications for 30 days at FordGT.com.

Successful applicants will work with the Ford GT Concierge Service for a personalized purchase experience of cars produced in the 2020 to 2022 calendar years.

Production of the Ford GT – powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine and featuring a carbon fibre architecture, active aerodynamics and 350kph top speed – began in December 2016.


Go electric and eco-friendly with GoCar

                PETALING JAYA: GoCar, Malaysia’s leading on-demand mobility-as-a-service platform, has launched its GoEV programme to put more electric vehicles (EVs) in the hands of everyday Malaysians.

For its pilot phase, the GoEV programme is currently available within the Klang Valley with a fleet of 25 units of the latest generation fully-electric Nissan Leaf for sharing and subscription.

There are already three EV car sharing zones up and running at strategic locations for easy public access, namely, the GoCar Malaysia Petaling Jaya hub, MyTown Cheras and Avenue K in KL City Centre.

GoCar is targeting to set up a total of 10 GoEV zones by the end of this year.

GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun said global warming was at the tipping point and the negative effects of climate change would continue for decades.

“As a top contributor to greenhouse gases emissions, the transport sector must transition to full electrification, which studies have shown significantly reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

“Malaysia still has a long way to go to catch up on EV adoption and infrastructure. However, we believe that through car sharing and subscription, we can help encourage mass adoption.

“We are so excited to be bringing affordable EV access to the general public. This way, everyone and not just the privileged few can experience the EV lifestyle,” he said.

The GoEV programme is open to all drivers aged 18 years old and above.

Users only need to sign up as a GoCar member to select their preferred GoEV Share or GoEV Subs plans.

The sharing option is currently available only for round-trips (pick-up and return at the same zone) and short-term use – by the hour or by the day. Rates start from RM24.90 per hour or RM249 per day.

In conjunction with the launch of GoEV, GoCar is offering 25% off on all GoEV Share round-trips for bookings before Jan 31, 2022 with the promo code “TRYGOEV”.

Those who want a longer duration to experience what it is like to live with an EV can opt for a 36-month subscription at RM2,299 per month.

Rates are inclusive of road tax, insurance, regular servicing and a wall box home charger.

To ease any potential range anxiety for car sharing customers, GoCar is also providing complimentary ChargEV cards in each vehicle, which will give users access to almost 300 charging stations nationwide.

Charging stations at the GoEV zones are free to use for all GoEV customers.

Through the seamless GoCar mobile app, users can sign-up for an account, upload the necessary documents, check for vehicle availability, place their bookings for sharing or subscription, make the necessary payments, as well as lock and unlock the car.

No pre-booking is needed although there will be a refundable security deposit for the subscription plan.

Good sharing etiquette is strongly encouraged and GoEV car sharing customers should ensure that the charging cable is plugged in and the car is clean upon returning it.

To book a GoEV, download the GoCar mobile app.

For more information about GoEV and GoCar Malaysia, visit https://hi.gocar.my.


Toyota to move to merit-based pay for factory workers, says daily

                TOKYO: Toyota will change the way it pays factory workers, focusing on their performance rather than their seniority, the Nikkei reported on Monday.

Toyota's new arrangement, designed to attract young talent, will apply to about 40,000 employees, or about 60 percent of its workers, aged between 18 and 65, according to the Nikkei.

The automaker has unveiled the proposal to its labour union and is hopeful of rolling it out next January, the Nikkei said.

Employees will be evaluated twice a year, with wages adjusted every six months, the Nikkei reported.

Besides revamping its seniority-based system, the new arrangement will also reshuffle allowances for dependents to provide greater benefits to workers who are raising children, the financial daily reported.


Volvo Cars recalls around 106,900 cars worldwide

UPDATE:  Volvo Car Malaysia has announced that 545 units of cars sold in Malaysia are being recalled over the same issue. They cover the 2023 models of the XC40, C40, XC40, S60, V60, XC90 and S90.While over-the-air (OTA) updates would fix the issue, Volvo Car Malaysia has decided to deal with the problem by urging owners of the affected cars to send them to its authorised service centres to patch it up. It said it would inform affected owners accordingly.

STOCKHOLM: Volvo Cars is recalling around 106,900 cars worldwide over a suspected fault related to the brakes, a Volvo Cars spokesman said today.

The vehicles being recalled are of the 2023 year model of the C40, XC40, S60, V60, XC60, V90 and XC90 models, Reuters reported.

A US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report said a driver may experience a hard/stiff brake pedal and potential loss of brake support functions that could lead to a crash. So far, there have been no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities arising from the flaw.

The brake support functions include brake-by-wire; ABS, ESC, and traction control; Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist and one-pedal drive; as well as all active safety and city safety functions described in the user manual that involve braking.

Even with the faults, a driver will still be able to bring the car to a stop by applying the foot on the brake pedal.

Volvo said an over-the-air software update would resolve the issue. — Agencies


Pos Malaysia now allows car insurance renewal via its app

                KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia Bhd has introduced a new online insurance platform which allows customers to renew their motor vehicle insurance anytime and anywhere through the Pos Malaysia mobile app.

Customers only need to provide their identity card number, car registration number and other required information to receive their insurance premium quote and they will receive the insurance policy via email after completing their payment online, it said in a statement today.

Group head of channel management and customer experience, Azmil Merican, said Pos Malaysia is modernising its retail services, making transactions available both online and over the counters.

"This empowers customers to decide on their preferred options. With Pos Malaysia e-insurance, insurance renewal is made easy, convenient and available at any time.

"Customers can look forward to more services from the Pos Malaysia mobile app that include financing, will-making and remittance."

The Pos Malaysia mobile app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store (Android), Apple App Store (iOS) and Huawei AppGallery while for existing users, they need to update to the latest version of the Pos Mobile App to begin using the e-insurance service.

To date, Pos Malaysia has close to 400,000 active users on both Android and iOS platforms who carry out transactions via the mobile app.


Audi to kill off TT for all-electric model

                INGOLSTADT: Audi's chief financial officer (CFO) has indicated that the company is "shedding old baggage," meaning it will be discontinuing the TT coupe to replace it with a BEV, according to a Bloomberg report.

As reported by Bloomberg Thursday, Audi will be discontinuing the TT coupe and possibly the R8 as well in order to make space in the portfolio for new fully-electric models.

The battery powertrain push comes as a result of the company's initiative to launch 20 fully-electric vehicles by 2025, a point when sales of electric cars both hybrid and 100% electric are expected to make up to 40% of automobile deliveries.

According to Audi CFO Alexander Seitz, "Because of tighter emissions regulations, combustion cars are getting more expensive in the medium-term, and electric cars are getting cheaper."

The TT coupe goes back to 1998 when it gave the company its characteristic sporty aesthetic.

As of late, sales not only of the TT but also of the entire brand have been sloping like the model's iconic roof, but the brand is hoping that they take a turn upwards thanks to the introduction of five hybrid models over the next two years.

Also as part of the company's transition toward electrification, Bloomberg states that the next version of the A8 sedan is likely to go fully-electric.

The next-gen model is expected to debut in 2025.

Audi stated that the TT will be replaced with an upcoming EV "in a few years."


Proton to make 60,000 face shields for frontliners

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton is stepping up to the plate again to do its part to support the country’s frontliners by making face shields for them.

Production is set to begin on April 13 at Proton’s headquarters in Shah Alam with assembly to be undertaken by staff members who volunteered their services.

The target is to produce 60,000 face shields within 20 days. Face shields are an important component of a health worker’s Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Proton's latest move follows on from the loan of 50 units of the X70 to the Ministry of Health.

"We have the know-how to produce cars so we are using that knowledge to produce PPE to support the brave men and women at the frontline of the battle against the spread of Covid-19," said Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed.

"The face shields will be delivered in batches and we will work closely with the ministry to distribute them according to need in each district.”


1926: The new male fragrance by Ducati

                BOLOGNA (Italy): Ducati Motor Holding and leading cosmetics firm Diamond International have signed a licensing agreement to produce the “1926” male fragrance.

The legendary motorcycle manufacturer - which has just celebrated its 90th anniversary - was founded in 1926.

Choosing the name “1926” for this new male fragrance was, then, a choice as easy as it was logical.

The “1926” tag refers to a men's product line consisting of Eau de Toilet 50 ml and 100 ml bottles, a shower gel and a deodorant spray.

Fittingly, the “1926” bottle recalls the sleek lines and seductive styling of Ducati motorcycles. An elegant, deep black fuses with silver to express innovation while a forceful red evokes an appetite for high performance.

“The new “1926” male fragrance embodies the passionate Ducati world”, comments Alessandro Cicognani, Ducati licensing director.

“1926 is not just a male fragrance. It is, above all, Italian Style, where quality meets the flair that has made us world famous.”


Audi adds two numbers to show power output in each model series

                INGOLSTADT: Audi is adopting a standardised nomenclature for the power output designations of its cars.

The names of the model series – from Audi A1 to Audi Q7 – will remain unchanged. Within the model families, combinations of two numbers will replace the various type designations previously used.

The new designations stand for the specific power output and apply both to cars with combustion engines and to e-tron models with hybrid and electric drives.

The reference value for the new model designations is the power output of the individual model in kilowatts (kW). Audi is thus subclassifying its model range into different performance levels – each identified by a two-numeral combination.

For example, the numeral combination “30” will appear on the rear of all models with power output between 81 and 96 kW. And “45” stands for power output between 169 and 185 kW.

The top of the Audi model range is the performance class above 400 kW, which is identifiable by the number combination “70”. In each case the numerals appear along with the engine technology – TFSI, TDI, g-tron or e-tron.

The number combinations identifying the performance levels in the Audi product range increase in increments of five, and they represent the hierarchy within both the respective model series and the brand’s overall model range.

According to the new nomenclature, in the future the spectrum will range from the Audi Q2 30 TFSI with 85 kW to the Audi Q7 50 TDI with 200 kW. A special place in the line-up is occupied by the high-end, high-performance S and RS models and the Audi R8. They will retain their classic names in reference to their top position in the model range.

“As alternative drive technologies become increasingly relevant, engine displacement as a performance attribute is becoming less important to our customers. The clarity and logic of structuring the designations according to power output makes it possible to distinguish between the various performance levels,” said Dr Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG.

The changes will kick off with the new Audi A8 generation in the fall of 2017. First among the two six-cylinder engines to be redesignated will be the 3.0 TDI with 210 kW – as the Audi A8 50 TDI and the 3.0 TFSI with 250 kW – as the Audi A8 55 TFSI.

In the coming months, all Audi model series launched on the market will be assigned the new performance designations beginning when they are offered for sale. Audi will change the designations of the remaining model series in the current product range in time for the new model year changeover in summer of 2018.


3M Malaysia: 10 car care pro-tips during MCO

                KUALA LUMPUR: Following the Movement Control Order (MCO), most Malaysians have been told to stay put at home and restrict setting foot out of their homes.

This means less usage of cars – which also means that you could potentially face the risk of flat tyres, dead batteries and dust piling up if your car is left idle for an extended period of time.

Why not take matters into your own hands and follow these 10 steps to clean your car and accomplish a detail-finish as if it’s done by a professional?

1.) Wash Your Car

It’s important to wash your car regularly because if you leave water stains or bird droppings unwashed for a prolonged period, these contaminants can strip off and damage your car’s paint.
When washing your car, be sure to use a cleaner that is made specifically for exterior automotive application.
Do not use household detergents just to save money because it will peel off your car’s paint.
Look for a cleaner that can deliver professional-quality results, like the 3M Auto Care Car Wash Soap.
It can safely remove dirt and grime without harming the protective layer of wax that shield polishes, keeping your car sparkling and shiny.

2.) Dry Your Car

Next up is drying your car. You shouldn’t let your car air dry because once the water evaporates after washing, minerals will remain, and cause corrosion.
To make things worse, it also causes unsightly watermarks and streaking.
Instead, use microfibre cloths to dry your car because it effectively absorbs water and doesn’t scratch your paint coating.
Wipe your car’s body from the top down thoroughly and make sure no area is still wet to prevent rusting.

3.) Clean Your Tires

Grime and brake dust build up on the rims over time and corrode the coating, causing unwanted discolouration.
Hence, look for a powerful solution that can remove even the toughest buildup from the road, such as the 3M Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
The cleaner is formulated to meet the special challenges of cleaning wheels and tires, in one easy step. Not only can it effectively clean tough scuffs and soil from tire sidewalls, it also polishes the wheels, leaving a brilliant shine.

 Restore the deep black colour and natural shine to your tires with 3M Tire Restorer.

4.) Restore Your Tires

Although your tires are now clean from grime, they may still look dull and faded.
To wipe away the dull, lifeless look that diminishes the appearance of your tires and molding, use the3M Tire Restorer.
It can restore faded tires with deep black colour and natural shine to renew the vibrancy of their original color.
The tire restorer is also made with a non-sling formula that will not blemish your automotive paint jobs.

 Fix scratches and scuffs that diminish your car’s look with 3M Scratch Remover.

5.) Eliminate Scratches

After washing your car, search for scratches and scuffs along the body.
These blemishes can quickly dull your vehicle’s appearance and lessen its value, so they should be fixed immediately.
Don’t forget to check the area near the door handle.
You can treat surface scratches that cut the protective coating yourself using scratch removers, but deeper scratches that penetrate the paint should be left to professionals.
Doing this yourself won’t hurt your wallet as much as sending it to a car detailer, but make sure to look for a product that can help you achieve the same professional effect, like the 3M Scratch Remover.
It helps eliminate minor scratches, scuffs and other small defects by sanding, compounding and polishing automotive clear coats from the paint, producing a high polish finish.

 Protect your car’s paint and give it a glossy shine with 3M Quick Wax.

6.) Wax Your Car

Waxing your car does not only refresh its appearance with a glossy shine, it also functions as a protective layer for your paint against UV ray and other corrosive elements.
Take note to wax your car once every six months to ensure that the coat is intact.
In between, you can try applying 3M Quick Wax for touch-ups between washes or in the event your car goes through a rain storm or is hit by bird droppings to help recapture the “just waxed” look and renew the shine and gloss of your vehicle.
The product contains carnauba wax, which is the favourite among automotive professionals, for its rich, deep shine.
You can use it daily, weekly or monthly depending on your needs to keep that clean, newly waxed look you want your car to have every day.

Use the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration Kit

7.) Restore the Headlights

Vehicles today use more plastic components because they are durable and can reduce the vehicle’s overall weight.
However, they are prone to yellowing and become hazy due to exposure to the elements.
Hazy headlights can be dangerous as it will limitvisibility while driving at nightandcould put you, your passengers and other cars at risk.
Hazy, dull headlights also diminishes the appearance and value of the vehicle.
Rather than using ineffective solvents to restore your headlights, try using 3M Headlight Lens Restoration Kit.
It can remove yellowing, scratches, dirt, oxidization and other material buildup on the plastic lens.

8.) Clean the Interior

The first step to cleaning your car’s interior is throwing out all of the trash such as cups, tissues and papers.
Don’t forget to wipe down your steering wheel and other surfaces that potentially have germs.
It may even help to keep a pack of disinfecting wipes in your car. Next, remove the floor mats before vacuuming the interior.
Then, vacuum from the top down, starting from the headliner, seats, dashboard, console and down to the floor.
Don’t forget to also vacuum the floor mats you removed before putting them back into place.
To make sure your car is thoroughly clean, adjust the seats to reach hard-to-reach areas and clean them.
You should vacuum your car each week or even twice a week if you can, to minimize accumulation of dirt, or worse, bacteria.

9.) Restore the Seats

Over time, dirt and grime also build up on the seats, arm rests and other interior surfaces.
When cleaning the seats, choose a cleaner that is suitable for the material. Leather and vinyl seats need a specialized cleaner towipe away the residue and deposits that tarnish their appearance.
Leather seats, especially, need to be given extra care.
They should be conditioned at least once every three months, as they are prone to drying, cracking and aging.
The 3M Leather and Vinyl Restorer is a great cleaner which you can use to deep clean dirt and grime from all vinyl, leather, rubber and plastic surfaces.
It is formulated with conditioning oils that help keep the material soft, supple and hydratedandalso speciallyenriched to give vinyl and leather a lustrous appearance and feel.
If you have fabric seats, vacuum them, then spray them with a disinfectant spray.

10.) Clean the Windows

The last step is cleaning your car windows. When detailing otherparts of your car, you might have oversprayed various products onto your windows and tainted them.
Cleaning them will give a finished, cleaned look to your vehicle.
Use a glass cleaner for better results, and spray it onto a microfibre cloth instead of the window when wiping.
Wipe with a straight up and down motion on both sides of the window for best effects.

Bonus tip - one of the best ways to keep your car up to par, is to drive it.
Your car is a piece of machinery and machinery needs utilization and exercise.
You don’t have to drive it every day, especially during the MCO. You can drive it once a week, perhaps for a quick trip to the grocery store.
This is to ensure your car battery is charged sufficiently and your tyres stay in good shape. If a vehicle is left stationary for too long, the tyre could develop flat spots as the weight of the vehicle presses down on the tyres’ footprints and can lead to a flat tyre.
Your car will look constantly shiny and brand new if you follow the above steps and detail your car on the regular.

3M Auto Care products are available for purchase at Lazada 3M Auto Care Flagship Store.


Hyundai reveals one-off Santa Fe Cabriolet

                LOS ANGELES: There's an obvious shortage of SUV convertibles in the world at the moment -- and Hyundai Australia looks to be trying to do something to remedy the situation. Although the Santa Fe Cabriolet the company has come up with is a one-off project that's not even legal to drive on public roads, don't rule out the possibility of this soon becoming another new sub-genre of the burgeoning SUV market.

To be honest, there doesn't actually seem to be a huge appetite in the market for a raft of new convertible SUVs, but a lot of people laughed at the idea of SUV coupes when BMW came up with the X6. Now manufacturers are rivaling one another to introduce more and more crossover coupes of all shapes, sizes and prices to meet a growing demand.

Hyundai completely redesigned the Santa Fe earlier this year, and it's starting to appear on the streets with its aggressive and stylized new look. Although there are a number of ways the new Santa Fe can be configured, there isn't an option for a cabriolet version of the three-row SUV.

On the face of things, a three-row crossover cabriolet sounds improbable but looking at the images of this one-off design from Hyundai, one may start to be convinced of its value.

The vehicle began life as a pre-production version of the new Santa Fe that had been used for promotional purposes.

The truth behind the cabriolet configuration is that the roof was actually removed for better access for photographers to get images of the interior, and the vehicle was meant to be crushed afterwards. The CarAdvice publication then found out about it and talked Hyundai into letting them have a test drive in it on a private road.

As there will have been none of the usual reinforcement that cabriolets inevitably need to prevent them wobbling uncontrollably as it wasn't designed as a convertible, and it was never even set up to be driven, we can only imagine how bad it must have been to drive. However, it actually looks pretty cool, and it's sure to have raised some thoughts about the potential for more genuine SUV cabriolets.

For the moment then, the Range Rover Evoque remains the only drop-top crossover on the market. But as the thirst for SUVs shows no sign of slowing anytime soon, don't rule out the possibility of more before too long.


Driver cuffed over stunt with clamp

The enraged man jacking up his car to replace the clamped wheel with a spare tyre as the council enforcers look on coolly and snap photos.
GEORGE TOWN: A motorist thought he could lodge a police report against city council enforcers for being rude, but found himself arrested instead because he allegedly freed his car after it was clamped for illegal parking.

It all started on Monday when he parked his car illegally in Beach Street near a bank and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcers duly clamped his wheel at 12.45pm.

When he returned to his car and realised his predicament, he lost his temper.

“He spoke rudely to our team and even shouted vulgarities," said an MBPP spokesman.

“We explained that he had to pay the RM50 fine but he absolutely refused. Then he took out his car jack.”

In front of the enforcers, the 27-year-old man jacked up his car and unscrewed the bolts of the clamped wheel.

He then took out his spare tyre, bolted it on, stowed the clamped wheel in his car boot and drove off.

“We didn’t try to stop him. We kept our cool. We just took pictures of what he did and lodged a police report,” the MBPP spokesman said.

On Wednesday, the man went to the Jelutong police station at about 11pm, wanting to lodge a report against the enforcers.

But he got handcuffed instead.

Yesterday, magistrate’s court deputy registrar Muhammad Azam Md Eusoff issued the remand order for police to hold him until Sunday.

Police are investigating him for obstructing public servants from discharging their duties under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.


McLaren gets creative with the 570S

                LONDON: British supercar company McLaren has announced a new "Design Edition" take on its most compact model that should give the everyday supercar an added touch of exclusivity.

The standard McLaren 570S ticks nearly every box on the dream car checklist. It's constructed from carbon fibre. Its engine's in the middle, and it boasts eight cylinders in a V-formation. And crucially it can go from 0-100kph in under three seconds and on to over 322kph.

However, by McLaren's own standards, at least, it's mass-produced - several hundred a year - so it falls down in terms of rarity.

To combat this shortcoming and to publicise its growing customisation capabilities, McLaren on Tuesday revealed a new range of five "Design Editions" - so called because their exterior and interior features have been put together by the very team that designed the 570S itself.

Design Edition 1, the first car for which complete specifications have been announced, will come with a special Vermillion red exterior paint finish and will sit on diamond-cut-finished five-spoke alloy wheels that envelop red brake calipers.

Inside the seats are dressed in carbon black Alcantara and Apex Red Nappa leather while the dashboard is wrapped in a combination of Jet Black and Apex Red Nappa leather with grey contrast stitching.

But, as the company is quick to point out, even a special edition can simply serve as the foundation for greater personalisation, and clients will be free to add extra equipment or further external carbon fibre elements to any Design Edition model.

And for those that think red is a bit too strong a colour, the other Design Editions models will offer Onyx Black, Storm Grey, Ventura Orange, or Silica White as their exterior finish.

And when it comes to optional extras such as contrast stitching, body colour calipers or special paint finishes for a supercar, while, for example, a coat of McLaren Mantis Green exterior paint usually adds an extra £3,420 (around RM19,000) to the standard 570S asking price of £143,250 (RM793,000), even with the comparatively large list of extras that come on the Design Edition, the new models will only cost an extra £8,500 (RM47,000).

So now the 570S is more exclusive yet even more affordable.


Auto unit to drive UMW performance in 2H

                KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Holdings Bhd is confident of an improved financial performance in the second half (H2) of 2020, spearheaded by its automotive segment following encouraging sales achieved by UMW Toyota Motor and its 38 per cent-associate company Perodua in July.

UMW acting president and group chief executive officer Azmin Che Yusoff said both UMW Toyota Motor and Perodua staged a strong recovery following disruptions to sales earlier this year due to Covid-19.

"We are thankful to the government for introducing economic stimulus packages and implementing sales tax exemption to boost the automotive industry in Malaysia.

"With these measures in place, we are confident of achieving our sales targets for the year,” he said in a statement today.

 The RAV4.

UMW Toyota Motor sold 7,509 units in July, its highest for the year, and 70.0 per cent more than the 4,417 units registered in June.

Toyota Vios continued to be its best-selling model in July, contributing about 34 per cent of total sales.

Earlier in June, UMW Toyota Motor introduced the all-new fifth-generation RAV4, a fully-imported sports utility vehicle from Japan.

Meanwhile, July marked Perodua’s highest monthly sales for the year, with registered sales of 23,203 vehicles, a 9.2 per cent increase from the 21,250 units sold in June.

Perodua is also increasing production at both its assembly plants to meet the strong demand.

UMW said consistent with the increase in vehicle sales, the group’s manufacturing and engineering segment is also seeing rising demand for auto components and lubricants from both the original equipment manufacturer and replacement equipment manufacturer markets.

The lubricants business in China had returned to pre-Covid-19 level, it added.


UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia to continue supporting local motorsports development

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia have announced their continued support for Malaysian motorsports for on-track and virtual racing activities with the conclusion of the GR Vios Sprint Cup and the announcement of the GR GT Cup Malaysia, e-racing tournament.

UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran K said they were extremely pleased to have concluded a second year of the GR Vios Sprint Cup.

“I would like to congratulate and underline my appreciation to all the drivers, teams and dealers for the tremendous hard work they have put in throughout the two rounds. With the launch of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup Malaysia online racing series, we will continue to push forward in support of the development of motorsports in Malaysia”.

Held independently of the GR Vios Challenge (Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival), the GR Vios Sprint Cup retains the format of a one-make series and was held as part of the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS).

It consisted of two driver teams taking on two 1-hour races on Saturday and Sunday, which included a compulsory pit stop and driver change. This was the second year of it being included in the national series.

The 21-car grid GR Vios Sprint Cup included foreign drivers, three lady drivers, a sea of young drivers and seasoned professionals competing side by side for total prize monies amounting to RM60,000 per race weekend.

Laser Motor Racing raced to its third successive win and a fourth consecutive podium finish in the four races to conclude a dominant campaign.

The second and final round 2 of the series saw the team claiming double victories with Race 1’s win going to the pair of Putera Adam and Jwan Hii, while Race 2 was dominated by teammates Eddie Lew and Amer Harris.

In Race 2 of the GR Vios Sprint Cup, Laser Motor Racing continued to exert their dominance with the pair of Lew and Amer winning the 1-hour race ahead of Prima Pearl TD Racing’s Mitchell Cheah and Mika Hakimi. Distinctive Model's Aaron Haikal and Ady Rahimy came in third.

Ravindran also announced the launch and rebranding of the GR Velocity Esports Championship, now known as the Toyota Gazoo Racing (GR) GT Cup Malaysia, online racing series.

The series, now in its sixth consecutive year, is one of the most lucrative online racing events in the country offering up to RM90,500 in cash prizes this year, the highest ever in GR GT Cup Malaysia history.

Toyota remains the only car manufacturer and brand to be involved in e-racing.

First held in 2018, the GR GT Cup Malaysia e-racing tournament has attracted more than 900 participants annually.

Ravindran said the momentum and the level of interest for virtual racing had grown tremendously and are a boost for both e-sports and motorsports here in Malaysia.

“We are proud to be able to support this platform of motor racing,” he said.

For the first time, this year UMW Toyota Motor introduced the simulator racing experience at universities across Malaysia.

These include stopovers at UNITAR, UiTM Pasir Gudang; UiTM Shah Alam; INTI Subang; Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Sunway University; and INTI Penang.

This is part of an important extension of Toyota’s mission to contribute to the growth of motorsports in Malaysia, particularly in the areas of developing a younger generation of talent.

It is not only designed to encourage greater participation of youths but to also bring motorsports to the masses.

The qualifying stage for the tournament starts on July 15 to shortlist the top 20 fastest drivers for the semi-final and subsequently the top 10 finalists for the finale which will be held at Sunway from Aug 19-20.

Ahead of the 2023 tournament, UMW Toyota Motor calls all aspiring e-racers bidding to be Malaysia’s fastest sim-racer to sign-up and have a go at the prize monies.

Registrations for the qualifiers are open now at www.toyota.com.my/gtcupmalaysia/

For more information on the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, GR Vios Challenge, GR Vios Sprint Cup and GR GT Cup Malaysia series visit www.toyota.com.my and UMW Toyota’s Facebook page.


Continental is TTI's tyre manufacturer of the year

                BERLIN: Continental has been awarded this year's title of tyre manufacturer of the year by UK-based Tire Technology International (TTI) trade journal.

The annual award honours the ideas and work put in by the tyre design and production industry with candidates nominated by TTI readers or the editorial staff and was presented to the world’s fourth largest tyre manufacturer with sales of more than 10 billion euros during the recent Tire Technology Expo in Hanover, Germany.

TTI's independent panel of 27 judges - ranging from Europe, Japan, India and the United States, put in their votes and chose the German tyre manufacturer for its efforts in tyre research and development, testing and production.

Among the tyre-maker's innovations that persuaded the judges were its High Performance Technology Center (HPTC) in Korbach, Germany; Taraxagum research center in Anklam, Germany, for the industrialization of natural rubber from dandelion roots; and the production of its first ever dandelion-rubber-based truck tyre.

The judges also mentioned the announcement of a research and development center for agricultural tyres in Lousado, Portugal, and the expansion of Continental’s truck tyre production operations in Otrokovice, Czech Republic.

Candidates are either nominated by the readers of TTI or put forward by the editorial staff with an independent panel of judges putting in the votes to choose the winners.

In the context of its Vision 2025, Continental has already invested more than 3 billion euros since 2011 in the construction of its new production plants in Hefei (China), Kaluga (Russia) and Sumter (South Carolina/ USA).

Meanwhile, 350 million euros has been invested every year in expanding the company's existing plants around the world.

Along with the construction of Continental’s unique Automated Indoor Braking Analyzer (AIBA) at the Contidrom proving grounds and the opening of the HPTC that helps generate new findings virtually in real-time, which is then communicated to the company's tyre production plants around the world.

In 2016, for the first time ever, the company also produced a worldwide total of more than 150 million passenger car and light truck tyres, while at the same time achieving a much better regional balance between EMEA, The Americas and APAC in terms of production and sales.

Additionally, the company was also honored with the innovation award for tyre production thanks to its ContiLifeCycle plant in Hannover-Stoecken thanks to its unique integration of combining hot and cold retreading system with a rubber recycling facility.

"We are very excited about this award because it appreciates several technology projects and innovations that we have already realized, working consistently within the scope of our Vision 2025 long-term growth strategy,” said Continental AG member of the executive board Nikolai Setzer

“At the same time, being awarded as the most innovative tire manufacturer highly motivates our global team – now more than 50,000 employees – to continue on this path, step by step.”


New Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder arrive

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) launched today the new range-topping performance model in the 718 family – the new 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder.

The online debut of the two cars with manual transmission mark the return of a flat-six to the mid-engine family.

The 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder are priced from RM999,000 and RM970,000 respectively.

Sharing a technical base for the first time, both are the only model line from Porsche that features a mid-engine layout.

Featuring a completely redesigned four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine based on the same turbo engine family in the 911 Carrera model series, these new members of the 718 family have a significant increase in power compared to its predecessors – 35hp and 45hp more for the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder respectively.

With a maximum torque of 420Nm at between 5,000 and 6,800 rpm, these high-revving naturally aspirated engine mid-engine sports cars accelerate to 100kph in 4.4 seconds from a standing start, with top speeds of over 300kph.

New additions include technical highlights such as adaptive cylinder control. In part-load operation, it temporarily interrupts the injection process in one of the two cylinder banks, thus reducing fuel consumption.

For the first time ever in a high-revving engine, piezo injectors are used for direct fuel injection. Each injection process is split into five individual injections to support a complete combustion process, making it as emissions-friendly as ever. A variable intake system with two resonance valves ensures optimum gas exchange in the cylinders.

Complementing the powerful engine is the dynamic rev-matching function of the six-speed manual transmission to guarantee an emotional driving experience and sporty gear changes when downshifting.

Combined with the linear power delivery and the immediate response of a GT engine, the 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder will appeal to the sports car enthusiast who appreciate a high level of agility and an almost intimate proximity to the centre of power.

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

The 718 Cayman GT4 features a striking exterior design with downforce-oriented aerodynamic concept that has been honed to produce up to 50% more downforce without adversely affecting drag for high efficiency.

Its improved aerodynamics benefits from the newly designed single-chamber arch rear silencer: it creates space in the rear section for a functional diffuser, which accounts for a good 30 percent of the downforce at the rear axle.

The fixed rear wing is also marked by greater efficiency: it produces around 20 percent more downforce compared with its predecessor. This corresponds to an additional downforce of 12kg at 200kph.

The front section, which is optimised in the GT style, maintains the aerodynamic balance with a large front spoiler lip and so-called air curtains. The latter calms the air flow along the front wheels.

Porsche 718 Spyder

The new 718 Spyder is a machine for driving pleasure, with its aerodynamic concept fine-tuned even further.

At the front, the new honeycomb air intake grilles have been designed to increase airflow by reducing obstructions. The distinctive front spoiler lip with recessed "Spyder" lettering and the central air intake in the front end directs the air upwards through the air outlet opening in front of the front lid to assist in reducing lift at the front axle.

This is further complemented by the golf-ball like profiled surface below the front end to guarantee a constantly low drag coefficient.

Unlike the GT4, the 718 Spyder has an active rear spoiler that automatically extends at speeds of over 120kph which helps to reduce lift for more driving stability.

Thanks to the functional diffuser, it is the first model in the Boxster family to generate aerodynamic downforce at the rear axle.

A new feature of the 718 Spyder is that it runs on ultra-high-performance tyres (UHP) specially adapted by Porsche. These road-approved sports tyres ensure optimum grip on dry roads thanks to their size.

The sporty look of the exterior is echoed in its interior – an instrument cluster with the analogue rev counter in the centre to provide all essential information to the driver, accompanied by decorative trims in brushed aluminium and decorative stitching create contrasts whilst its door pull loops emphasise the sporty look and gives both cars a motorsports feel.

High-performance GT chassis

For the first time, the new 718 Spyder makes its debut with the same high-performance GT chassis as the 718 Cayman GT4.

Its further refined lightweight spring-strut front and rear axles make use of racing technologies. The direct connection to the chassis is partially by means of ball joints ensuring a firm connection of the chassis to the body, resulting in precise and direct driving behaviour, and to sharpen the handling.

The height, camber, toe angle and the anti-roll bars of the chassis for the 718 Cayman GT4 can be adjusted to the demands of each individual race track.

The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damping system with sports setup and 30 mm suspension as standard, brings the centre of gravity of these models closer to the ground and improves lateral dynamics potential.

The Porsche Stability Management (PSM) operates with even greater sensitivity and precision here but can optionally also be deactivated in two steps for sporty handling. Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with mechanical rear differential lock further enhances the longitudinal and lateral dynamics, cornering performance and driving pleasure.

Optional packages

The 718 Cayman GT4 can be equipped with the optional Clubsport package. With its components derived from professional motorsport, the Clubsport package provides additional protection on the racetrack. This includes a rear steel roll bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and a six-point seatbelt on the driver’s side.

The optional Spyder Classic interior package lends a look reminiscent of historic racing cars. It comes with a two-tone leather interior in Bordeaux Red/Black for the 718 Spyder.

The Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) is also available as an option.

Otherwise, both comes feature a standard high-performance brake system which provides consistent braking that is suitable for track driving thanks to large aluminium monobloc fixed-calliper brakes. They are internally ventilated and perforated for optimum cooling.

Both cars also have a new sports exhaust system to deliver an even more powerful sports car sound at the press of a button. With two separated black tailpipes on the left and right of the rear diffuser, it produces a characteristic boxer sound.


Leona Chin back to racing in MINI Challenge Asia Series

                ZHUHAI(China): After a one year hiatus, Malaysia Motorsports Athlete Leona Chin has returned to racing in the newly-launched one-make MINI Challenge Asia Series race.

The new race series sees itself making it’s way to Asia, with the hopes that it will eventually grow in scale to match that of the UK-based series that was established since 2002.

For this round, Leona is racing under Team GreatDrive – a well-established Hong Kong based automobile importer.

“I would like to thank GreatDrive for giving me the opportunity to compete
in this round of MINI Challenge Asia Series. The car performed well during both races, really easy to drive and light on its feet,” said Leona Chin.

Over the weekend, Leona tangle with some of the best drivers from around the region including Japan Super GT driver Nobuhiro Murata and Thailand's own female driver Nattanid ‘Kat’ Leewatanavalagul.

The first leg of the series was held at Zhuhai International Circuit – a track that Leona is familiar with herself, given her past racing experience in China.

During free practice Leona managed to clock a time just 1.0 second off the top spot with the rest if the field separated by 16 seconds and the top five drivers within seven seconds of each other.

Murata did not manage to finish qualifying due to going off the track during his session.

During Race 1, Leona’s competitor pulls slightly ahead and she finishes the race in fourth, just half a second behind Takaya Tsubobayashi.

 From left: Nobuhiro Murata (2nd), Henry Lee Jr. (1st) and Leona Chin (3rd).

Race 2 saw a shuffle of positions but Leona managed to overtake Tsubobayashi for a thrid place finish, 1.0 second behind Nobuhiro Murata before setting the fastest lap time of 1 minute 54.188 seconds - roughly 0.5 seconds quicker than Henry Lee Jr who took victory over the weekend.

“It’s a nice step up from the Clio cup car I raced two years ago. I’m looking forward to the next round on the 16th and 17th June, which will also be at Zhuhai International Circuit.”

Much like the UK-bsaed race series, the car uses the latest road-going MINI John Cooper Works (F56) and converts it into a race car with 255hp for the front wheels and a sequential gearbox.

Leona has been involved in cars and motorsports since her teenage years and has experience in various levels of motorsports, competing both locally and internationally, in Gymkhana, Autocross, Rallying and Drifting.


Bosch debuts integrated split screen for motorcycles

                YOKOHAMA: A freely programmable split screen that displays vehicle information and app content from a smartphone is available for motorcycles thanks to Bosch’s new integrated connectivity cluster in the form of a 10.25-inch TFT display.

Additionally, the smartphone integration solution mySPIN brings the connected phone’s content to the motorcycle’s display.

The new 10.25-inch TFT display debuts this year on BMW motorcycles. The display’s new dimensions show all relevant information at one glance without distracting the rider.

Users decide on the content they wish to see on the screen, all of which can be controlled by the handlebar. The contents of a smartphone app, for example, are automatically adapted with mySPIN to show relevant information fitting the size of the motorcycle display.

The split screen continues to show key indicators such as speed and warnings.

A representative Bosch survey among 2 600 motorcycle riders found that eight out of ten riders would welcome this function.

“Our clusters in combination with mySPIN offer a new riding experience with more safety and convenience for motorcycle riders. For us, this is the next step in terms of connectivity for motorcycles”, says Geoff Liersch, President of the Two-Wheeler & Powersports unit at Bosch.


Asean among key production hubs for Mitsubishi now after US retreat

                TOKYO: The president of Motors Corp (7211.T) said Japan, SouthEast Asia and Russia will become the automaker's principal production hubs after it calls time on making cars in the United States later this year because of dwindling output there.

"Japan, Asean (countries), and Russia will be the main points of production for our company," said Tetsuro Aikawa, President and Chief Operating Officer of Japan's sixth-biggest automaker.

Aikawa was speaking at a news conference today after his company confirmed plans to end output at its sole North American plant in Normal, Illinois, and serve the US market from factories in Japan and Thailand. Shares rose more than 5 percent as investors welcomed the switch.

The shift comes as Mitsubishi Motors increasingly focuses output in Southeast Asia, where its pickup trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are popular. The automaker currently makes cars in Thailand and the Philippines, and said in February it will build a new factory in Indonesia for vehicles such as its Pajero Sport SUV.

Aikawa said the move to pull the plug on the Normal factory, which opened in 1988 as a joint venture of Mitsubishi Motors and its then-partner Chrysler, was prompted by low-volume production rather than shifts in foreign exchange rates making exports from Japan cheaper.

At its peak in the early 2000s, the Normal plant built more than 200,000 cars a year, while in calendar 2014 it produced 69,178 Outlander Sport vehicles. In the fiscal year ended March 2015, the company's US sales totalled 82,000, compared with a global total of around 1 million.

Aikawa said he thought finding a buyer for the plant would be relatively easy because demand for cars in the buoyant US market was strong.

The automaker is still looking for potential buyers for the US plant to preserve jobs, the company said in a statement on Friday. It employs about 900 hourly workers at the plant.


Toyo Tire's latest Japanimation pits AC Milan against Gamba Osaka

                TOKYO: Toyo Tire & Rubber company recently unveiled its latest installment of the ongoing series 'AC Milan in Japanimation' featuring the Italian Serie A football team AC Milan together with Japanese local football team Gamba Osaka.

The short animated video is currently the fourth episode which roped in Yoichi Takahashi to collaborate in the making that was set in both Osaka, Japan and Milan, Italy.

"For the fourth installment of this series, we thought we would go in a different direction from previous videos by creating a unique mash of the real world and an animated world together with the great Yoichi Takahashi," said Toyo Tires brand communication team head Yoshiyuki Morikuni.

Takahashi is also the creator of a popular comic series, Captain Tsubasa, which started in Japan in 1981 and revolves around an 11-year old elementary student deeply in love with football and has dreams of one day winning the FIFA World Cup for Japan.

The comic was soon adapted into a TV animation series before the video game was subsequently created.

Under the returning theme of 'Surprising the World', the Japanese tyre-maker which sponsors the Gamba Osaka team and pits a few of its local footballers (Yasuhito Endo, Yasuyuki Konno, Shu Kurata and Hiroki Fujiharu) against some of AC Milan's best (Riccardo Montolivo, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, André Silva and Ricardo Rodríguez).

“We want to go beyond the expectations of our customers in continuing to surprise people around the world, and we are undergoing a variety of activities to that end," he added.

Within the clip, AC Milan footballer Riccardo Montolivo is seen casually reading a manga (comic), until the car suddenly jumps out of it and starts drifting.

The clip also features some of Osaka's popular locations including the city’s famous Takoyaki (octopus balls) snacks, while a Mercedes Benz G63 and a SL400 driven by Team Toyo Tire Drifters Masato Kawabata and Hideyuki Fujino respectively 'burn rubber' around the city.

Check out the other videos previously released:


Volkswagen outlines EV innovations at Tech Day 2023

The pulse inverter.
WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen announced it has managed to develop a complete electric drive system inhouse, resulting in up to 20% more efficiency through the optimal combination of individual parts.

It made the announcement at its Tech Day 2023 on Monday, which its Volkswagen Group Technology division provided an outlook of upcoming electric car innovations in the areas of batteries, charging and electronic components.

It was revealed that the company would be taking care of all the central components itself and, in addition to batteries and electric motors, is now developing pulse inverters and thermal management systems internally.

“Our goal is to achieve technological leadership, also in electric mobility. That’s why here, too, we rely on our internal competencies and, after battery cells and electric motors, we are taking over the development of pulse inverters and thermal management systems," said Thomas Schmall, member of the Volkswagen Group Board of Management with responsibility for Technology.

"In future, this will make the Volkswagen Group one of the only car manufacturers in the world that’s able to offer a holistically optimised complete system.”

 Future thermal management unit (left) compared to thermal management MEB today (right)

The pulse inverter is the brain of the electric drive train and is largely responsible for efficiency and performance.

For the first pulse inverter to be “designed by Volkswagen”, the developers of these core components redesigned the hardware and software from the ground up.

Thanks to the modular toolkit principle, this can be implemented in everything from entry-level engines to sports cars with an output of over 500kW (670hp) and more in future.

The technology is currently being developed for series production and can already be used with the next MEB generation.

When it comes to thermal management systems, Volkswagen is working on entirely new solutions.

While today a large number of individual modules and long hose connections are used, in future these will be replaced with an extremely compact, integrated thermal module.

This will control the entire air conditioning, including for the high-voltage battery, and thus will have a major impact on the vehicle’s range and fast-charging capability.

The new all-in-one module is also significantly lighter, more robust and more efficient than current systems.

In addition to efficiency, the main focus of the development of all central electric drive components is scalability – because high economies of scale reduce costs.

Volkswagen Group Technology bundles Group-wide activities in the areas of batteries, charging and electric components and supports the brands as a group-wide technology supplier. The subsidiaries PowerCo (batteries) and Elli (charging and energy) are also involved here. Among other things, the high-tech portfolio comprises the unified cell, which will be used in the entire Volkswagen Group vehicles as of 2025 and will set a new benchmark in terms of battery technology.

The division also includes the Platform Business, which covers cooperation with external partners like Ford and Mahindra. Volkswagen Group Technology employs around 70,000 people worldwide.


Musashi Seimitsu to co-develop new engine with Israel's Aquarius

The 10-kg linear engine can be used as a power generator in a vehicle or as a standalone electricity generator. — Screen grab from YouTube/New China TV
TEL AVIV: Israel’s Aquarius Engines said on Tuesday it signed a deal with Japanese auto parts maker Musashi Seimitsu to co-develop its linear engine.

In addition to sharing expertise and manufacturing capabilities Musashi, which is 25% held by Honda Motor Corp, has invested an undisclosed amount in Aquarius.

The 10-kg engine can be used as an onboard power generator in a vehicle or as a standalone electricity generator. It is a single linear piston that blasts to and fro inside a valveless 800cc cylinder, generating power from electromagnetic coils with each stroke and with very low emissions.

“Musashi sees clear synergy with Aquarius Engines and their new system, which provides electrical mobility and charging while braking,” Musashi CEO Hiroshi Otsuka said in a statement.

The two companies will initially co-develop the Aquarius electricity system to power 5G cellular base stations and supply electricity to remote areas and then progress to other markets, including the auto industry, he said.


Ferrari debuts 812 Competizione coupe and drop top variants

                MARANELLO: The 812 Competizione, the new limited-edition special series car derived from the 812 Superfast, made its virtual world premiere today.

In the course of the event, which was broadcast live on Ferrari’s social media channels, the wraps were also whipped off the 812 Competizione A, a Targa-top version, again a limited-series and a homage to the Prancing Horse’s open-top tradition.

A total of 1,598 units - 999 coupes and 599 Apertas - will be made. Ferrari said all have been sold out already.

Coupe deliveries are set to start in Q1 2022, with the Targa following in Q4. Prices in Italy are €500,000 (RM2.5mil) and €578,000 (RM2.9mil) respectively for the coupe and drop top.  Malaysian buyers can expect to pay much more for them.

The presentation took place at the recently-opened GT Sporting Activities Department located alongside the Fiorano track, alluding to the link between Maranello’s road-going sports cars and the racing DNA developed over seven decades on the world’s circuits.

The launch began with the 812 Competizione completing several laps of the circuit to give viewers an appreciation of the car’s forms in this dynamic and high performance context in addition, of course, to hear the unmistakeable sound of Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated V12. After the hot laps Enrico Galliera, Ferrari’s Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer, officially presented the car and then unveiled the 812 Competizione A.

This duo of cars is dedicated to an exclusive group of collectors and enthusiasts who seek out maximum performance. The innovative technological concepts applied to the engine, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics have raised the bar.

Ferrari said both variants promise instantaneous responsiveness at all speeds, thanks in part to the new independent, four-wheel steering, which delivers a greater level of agility and precision in cornering.

The 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A also sport the most exhilarating V12 on the automotive scene and is derived from the multi-award-winning engine powering the 812 Superfast.

The result is a naturally-aspirated 830 cv engine that pairs impressive power with electrifying delivery and the inimitable soundtrack that Ferrari V12 purists know well.

The 812 Competizione can go from 0 to 100kph in just 2.85 seconds, to 200kph in 7.5 seconds, and onwards to a top speed of over 340kph. It could lap Fiorano in 1 minute 20 seconds.

To boost the output of the engine, which has the same 6.5-litre displacement as the 812 Superfast’s V12, several areas have been significantly re-engineered to achieve a new record red line while optimising the fluid-dynamics of the intake system and combustion, and reducing internal friction.

Maximum revs are now 9,500 rpm which, together with a rising crescendo of torque delivery, unleashes a feeling of progressive and boundless power and acceleration.

The most noticeable aspect of the 812 Competizione’s aesthetic is the replacement of the rear screen by an all-aluminium surface. The vortex generators on the upper surface that boost the car’s aerodynamic efficiency simultaneously create a backbone effect that underscores the car’s sculptural forms. Together with the carbon-fibre blade that traverses the bonnet, this motif changes the overall perception of the car’s volume: the car appears more compact than the 812 Superfast, accentuating its powerful, fastback look.

A rear digital camera optimised rearward visibility to compensate for the aluminium structure.

A series of lighweighting measures and aero upgrades contribute to the performance of both 812s including 80kg more downforce at 200kph compared to the 812 Superfast. Airflow has also been revised to improve the cooling of the brakes.

Powertrain

The con-rods, pistons, crankshaft and distribution have been redesigned. The titanium con-rods are 40% lighter than steel versions whilst delivering the same mechanical resistance.

The most significant improvements, however, are to the distribution and the cylinder heads, which have both been completely revised. The cams (which now feature DLC coating) now action the valve stems via DLC-coated steel sliding finger followers, which are derived from Ferrari’s F1 experience and were developed specifically for this engine to provide a higher lift profile.

To ensure that the engine breathes correctly across the entire rev range, the intake system was redesigned: both manifold and plenum are now more compact to reduce the overall length of the tracts, thus delivering more power at high revs, while the torque curve is optimised at all engine speeds by a system of variable geometry inlet tracts.

Another important point is the adoption of a less viscous oil (Shell Helix 5W40) than used on previous V12s and the improvement in the flow rate throughout the entire oil scavenge line.

To maintain the traditional standard of engine sound to which Ferrari V12 owners are accustomed to, whilst introducing a GPF (Gasoline Particulate Filter) to the exhaust system that ensures compliance with the latest emissions regulations, the engineers added a new exhaust tailpipe. This unusual and innovative design solution reinstates the medium-high frequency sound muffled by the use of the GPF.

Both the 812 Competizione and 812 Competizione A are equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, pushing the performance of the latter to new extremes and delivering a new gearshift feeling for the V12. Calibration of the control strategies has reduced shift times by a further 5 percent. Although it retains the same gear ratios as the 812 Superfast, the new car’s changes are even more sporty, thanks to the extra 500 rpm in maximum revs allowed by the new V12.

The cooling system has also been adapted to cope with the additional heat generated by the new engine’s extra 30 cv, resulting in the introduction for the first time on a Ferrari V12 of a single front air intake that maximises the amount air of cooling air channelled towards the radiators. The entire coolant circuit has also been improved, increasing cooling efficiency by 10 percent compared to the 812 Superfast.

The fact that the car is faster into corners demanded an improvement in braking power. Brake cooling is fundamental to avoiding compromising on either downforce generation at the front of the car or on the weight of the brakes themselves.

Compared to the 812 Superfast, the brake cooling concept was completely redesigned around the new front “Aero” calliper which debuted on the SF90 Stradale and which has an air intake integrated into its casting.
The rear diffuser changes produced an increase in downforce that equates to 25 percent of the total increase compared to the 812 Superfast. This jumps to 35 percent if the contribution of the exhausts blowing into the wake is also taken into account. The rear underbody, on the other hand, is responsible for a 10 percent increase in rear downforce.

Interior

The 812 Competizione interior is similar to that of the 812 Superfast, retaining the same general parameters and main dash and door panel interfaces, including the latter’s signature “diapason” motif.

The door panel itself has been lightened overall both formally and in terms of actual weight to underscore the sportiness of the cockpit.

In the central area of the cockpit is a link between Ferrari’s past and future, the iconic gear-gate theme here given a modern twist. This is the first time it has appeared on a V12 car and mirrors the spirit of the 812 Competizione and the marque’s tradition.

812 Competizione A

The 812 Competizione A (A for Aperta or Open in Italian) provided the Ferrari Styling Centre with the chance to use the modifications required for the rear of the car to create a striking architecture.\

The flying buttress concept, which has long been a much-loved part of Ferrari tradition, harmonises with the arrow theme of the front created by the blade and lends a sense of forward thrust to the car’s body, and sets it apart from the coupe.

The car’s centre of gravity appears lower, particularly when seen from the side, not only because of the roof and wraparound windscreen that flows into the side windows, but also because the flying buttresses at the rear are lower than in the 812 Competizione.

With the Targa top stowed, the roll bars partly jut out above the rest of the bodywork but because they are carbon-fibre, they become secondary visual elements and so do not compromise the broader, more squat stance created by the flying buttresses. This amplifies the visual lowering of the side view.

In the closed configuration, the roll bars connect with the roof structure forming a seamless unit. The targa top is made from carbon-fibre to create a sense of aesthetic continuity with the roll-bars. In the open-top configuration, it is stowed in a compartment with the same design shape as the targa itself. Being able to stow the top at any time means the car can be enjoyed, whatever the weather.

A 7-year maintenance programme

Ferrari is selling the the 812 Competizione and the 812 Competizione A with an extended seven-year maintenance programme.

Available across the entire range, it covers all regular maintenance for the first seven years of the car’s life. This scheduled maintenance programme is an exclusive service that allows clients the certainty that their car is being kept at peak performance and safety over the years. This service is also available to owners of pre-owned Ferraris.

Regular maintenance (at intervals of either 20,000km or once a year with no mileage restrictions), original spares and checks by staff trained at the Ferrari Training Centre in Maranello using modern diagnostic tools are just some of the advantages of the Genuine Maintenance Programme. The service is available in all markets worldwide and from all dealerships on the Official Dealership Network.

The Genuine Maintenance programme further extends the range of after-sales services offered by Ferrari to satisfy clients wishing to preserve the performance of their cars.


China’s top EV wastes no time getting traction in Indonesia

                BALI: In South-East Asia, Chinese automakers are trying to gain a foothold in markets dominated by Japanese brands. In Indonesia, the push is visible on the ground.

The vast majority of the vehicles on the road are still from the likes of Toyota, Daihatsu and Suzuki, but you’re now also starting to see a growing number of shiny, colourful new Wuling Air EV models zipping around through Bali, which is hosting the G20 summit  next week.

The Wuling Air is the locally assembled variant of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, one of the best-selling models in China, where it’s very popular in urban areas. Sales in Indonesia only started in August and already are having a big impact on the local EV market.

This dynamic highlights how EV adoption can look very different in emerging markets than in developed ones like the US, where electric models generally have proliferated at the high end of the market and are slowly working their way down.

China has already shown how EVs can start at both the top and bottom simultaneously, executing a pincer maneuver that eventually squeezes the middle.

Until recently, most emerging markets have been tracking closer to the US model, with a small number of high-end EVs targeting premium customers. But what’s happening in Indonesia, Thailand and other emerging markets indicates this may be about to change.

If it does, it’ll have big implications for the amount of oil consumption that EVs displace this decade.

How fast the change takes place probably depends on vehicle quality as much as anything else.

A local taxi driver said that he has seen several waves of Chinese vehicles enter the local market in the past, only to fade away after a year or two because of poor reliability.

Chinese vehicle manufacturing has made huge strides in the last five years, and EVs are much simpler to make, so this time may be different.

Looking further up the vehicle value chain, Indonesia is home to about a quarter of the world’s known reserves of nickel, a key component of many lithium-ion batteries.

Several local and global mining companies have announced plans to expand their nickel mining operations in the country.

PT Antam, a state-owned mining company, is forming several partnerships with companies from China and Korea through the Indonesia Battery Corporation to expand the country’s nickel mining capacity.

Private companies such as PT Huayou Nickel Cobalt and PT Vale Indonesia have also announced plans to expand nickel mining in the country.

There are currently no lithium-ion cell or battery component manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, but a forthcoming white paper from BloombergNEF looks at how this is set to change and what can be done to help make battery and component manufacturing in the region more competitive.

Companies including CATL, LG Energy Solution, Tsingshan, BASF, Zhejian Huayou Cobalt and Posco have announced plans to invest in plants that will process and refine nickel and cobalt and produce cathode active materials and precursors in the country.

CATL and LG Energy Solutions are also planning to set up at least 25 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cell manufacturing capacity in Indonesia by 2025, which could be expanded to as much as 80 GWh by 2030 if there’s enough demand.

The government wants to have at least 140 GWh of cell manufacturing capacity locally by the end of the decade and is negotiating new projects with several other companies for investments along the battery value chain.

These initial projects will establish a new industrial cluster and supply chain around lithium-ion batteries in the country, and if realised would give Indonesia the largest cell manufacturing capacity in South-East Asia in 2030.

It’s an exciting time for Indonesia, and it illustrates how electric vehicles are now a truly global story.


GM seeking banking charter for auto-lending business, says WSJ

                DETROIT: General Motors Co is planning to apply for a banking charter that would allow its lending unit to hold deposits and expand its auto-finance business, according to a Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.

The automaker's finance arm, General Motors Financial Company Inc, has been talking to federal and state banking regulators for months about forming an industrial loan company and could file its applications as early as December, the Friday report said.

“Industrial Loan Company” charters allow non-banks to originate loans and collect insured deposits.

GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Porsche interested in F1 return as engine supplier

                LONDON: Porsche is considering a return to Formula One as an engine supplier after the sport introduces new regulations in 2021, finance chief and executive board member Lutz Meschke was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Porsche is leaving the top category of Le Mans 24 Hours and world endurance racing at the end of the season to join German automotive rivals in the Formula E electric championship in 2019. The Volkswagen-owned carmaker was last in Formula One as an engine provider in 1991.

Company representatives have attended meetings about the 2021 regulations, which are expected to lead to cheaper and simpler power units than the sport’s current V6 1.6 litre turbo hybrid.

“F1 could be one of the right places,” Meschke told the motorsport.com website after meeting Formula One management at the Italian Grand Prix at the weekend.

“As you know Formula E is very important for us now, and F1 is always a good topic to think about. And I think we are in quite good discussions regarding the new engine.” He said there were no plans to enter a Porsche team and discussions were only ”around being a supplier”.

Formula One currently has four engine makers with Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault supplying three teams each while Honda partner McLaren in a relationship that may not last beyond the year.


Infiniti QX50 concept making Asian debut in Shanghai

                SHANGHAI: The Infiniti QX50 concept is making its Asian debut this week at Auto Shanghai.

The QX50 Concept shows how the design of its its conceptual forebear, the 2016 QX Sport Inspiration, could be adapted for a future production model.

The latest concept highlights Infiniti's "Powerful Elegance" design language. A cabin-forward silhouette combines with muscular lines and flowing surfaces to telegraph its purpose as a dynamic and practical crossover.

The organic forms of the driver-centric, passenger-minded cabin were designed to blend in with the exterior shape.

The latest Infiniti concept is the next step towards the company's future autonomous drive support technologies that would ensure the driver retains control over their vehicle in tune with Infiniti's focus on driver engagement.

"Infiniti is pleased to debut an SUV concept in the world's fastest growing segment, here in the world's largest market," said its president, Roland Krueger. "The QX50 production vehicles will feature advanced autonomous drive capability and will be the first vehicle in the world to be powered by an engine that can adjust variable compression ratio on the fly, using our groundbreaking VC-Turbo engine."


How to make your kids better drivers? Start them early

                BERLIN: Nobody wants their child to be the one who takes 17 attempts to pass their driving test. And the good news is, there are things you can do right from the start to stop that from happening.

Introducing children to walkers and bicycles at an early age, for example, helps promote motor skills and, in turn, boost the little ones' potential to become better drivers.

That's according to the German magazine "Baby and Family," which also says that most children develop an interest in vehicles as soon as they can walk.

To train their balance and co-ordination, you can start with a walker. Babies as young as 10 months can use a walker, even if it's just to shake their feet and start training their leg muscles.

You can also try a scooter walker, which enables the child to move their legs from a sitting position.

The first time a child rides a bike is always a moment for the family album. But starting off on two wheels can be a little hairy, so it's best to practise in carefully selected places to begin with, and to always stay close enough to the child that you can intervene at any time.

You don't need to be overprotective, though - even when it comes to hitting the actual road. Children as young as 10 are able to assess traffic situations correctly, according to Sabine Huck of the General German Bicycle Club.

Still, a bit of off-road practice on the bike can't hurt - such as building an obstacle course out of empty plastic bottles that the child can slalom through on their bike.

You can also try exercises to help children develop their sense of speed and braking distance.

For example, lay two ropes on the ground and encourage the child to brake at the first rope and come to a complete stop before the second rope.


Tesla reveals second picture of its upcoming Model Y

                SAN FRANCISCO: At the company's shareholder meeting this week, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, revealed an exclusive new picture of the firm's upcoming compact SUV, the Model Y, since picked up by the Electrek website.

This may be the second image revealed by the American car-maker of its upcoming SUV, but it still doesn't give much away.

The shot is, however, taken at a slightly different angle. The Tesla Model Y will offer a competitive, lower-cost alternative to the Model X, echoing the structure of the manufacturer's sedan line, with the Model 3 and the Model S. The addition of a Model Y also makes the car names in Tesla's range spell "S3XY."

 This is the actual second teaser image of Model Y. The first image is that one right at the top of this article.

The two Model Y photos currently in the wild are far too vague to give much away — other than the fact that the car doesn't look to have any exterior wing mirrors. Indeed, Tesla could use exterior cameras to send images to small screens inside the vehicle, exactly like Audi's e-tron, a future direct rival for the Model X.

Otherwise, the Model Y is known to be based on the Model 3 platform and is expected to have Falcon-wing doors, like the Model X. Innovation is also expected on the vehicle battery.

The Tesla Model Y is expected to be unveiled in March 2019, with production slated for 2020.


2016 Geneva Motor Show: Ford Kuga

GENEVA: Ford Motor Company today revealed the new Kuga – offering customers a more technologically advanced, refined and sportier redesign of one of Europe’s favourite sport utility vehicles – for the first time at a European motor show.

The new Kuga was first shown at the Barcelona Mobile World Congress  in February.

The sophisticated new Kuga will offer technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable.

These include Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system, innovative driver assistance technologies, an ergonomic and comfortable interior and a new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.

The new Kuga also will offer Ford’s Perpendicular Parking technology that helps drivers park hands-free in spaces alongside other cars; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; and Ford’s Adaptive Front Lighting System for optimised visibility in low light. Further sophisticated technologies include Hands-Free Liftgate and Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive.

“The new Kuga offers cutting-edge new features and technologies that will help drivers stay connected, comfortable, safe and stylish on the road,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The sophisticated redesign has given Kuga a fresh and modern feel, while SYNC 3 enables drivers to communicate with their vehicle and connected devices in seamless ways that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.”

Ford is launching the new Kuga and the larger Edge SUV this year, after introducing an updated EcoSport last year. Ford is bolstering its SUV line-up just as it has been predicted by industry sales analyst IHS that sales in the SUV segment are poised to increase to 27% of all vehicle sales in Europe by 2020.

New Kuga and the Edge are among five all-new or redesigned Ford vehicles that will compete in the SUV and crossover space in the next three years.

“Ford is delivering a European SUV line-up that offers the stylish design, car-like dynamics, and sophisticated technologies that consumers desire,” Bakaj said. “Demand for SUVs is stronger than ever, and Ford is expanding its range to offer everything from rugged models with true go-anywhere ability to sporty models designed to suit urban lifestyles.”

Also debuting in Geneva is a concept version of a forthcoming Ford Kuga Vignale, offering an insight into the future of Ford luxury SUVs in Europe and featuring unique, upscale design and specification. With the Ford Kuga Vignale, high-specification Kuga Titanium and a sporty Kuga model, Ford will offer its broadest ever Kuga line-up.


Cycle & Carriage offers Covid-19 vaccination to entire workforce

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz dealer will be helping in the Covid-19 vaccination effort by offering it to employees across all its branches nationwide.

Cycle & Carriage has over 800 employees working across 11 dealerships in the peninsula.

The company is one of the first in the local automotive industry in Malaysia to commit to the vaccination programme en masse. The goal is to vaccinate as many employees as possible, from management to service personnel and technicians, to better serve our customers and community in a safe environment.

All costs of vaccination will be borne by the company and employees who have opted for the vaccination will receive their first dose of the vaccine as early as the third week of July.

"The quicker we achieve high vaccination rates, the sooner our communities and economies can start to rebuild," said Cycle & Carriage CEO Wilfrid Foo.


Behold Ford GT number 1

                DETROIT: One supercar fanatic is set to have a very happy Christmas. The first road-going, customer-specified Ford GT has officially rolled off the production line in Ontario, Canada.

It's been over a decade since Ford last had a halo car in its range with the vital statistics to take on the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini, and in terms of performance figures and rarity alone, the new car should be worth the wait.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre V6, the 2017 Ford GT it can send almost 600hp to its rear wheels. And while that might not be as much as on offer from a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta or a McLaren 650S, its ultra-lightweight construction should ensure that what it lacks in outright horsepower, it makes up for in acceleration.

"When we kicked off 2016, we had two primary objectives for our Ford GT supercar - to excel at Le Mans, and to start deliveries before year-end," said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development, and chief technical officer. "We've achieved both."

Indeed the racing version of the new car won its class at this year's most important endurance race, exactly 60 years after the original Ford GT 40 wrote itself into the history books with its never before (or since) achieved 1-2-3 finish.

"The all-new Ford GT is a showcase of our strength in innovation and our commitment to delivering more for our customers - especially related to lightweight materials, aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine technologies," said Nair.

Despite a lack of confirmed performance figures, plus the fact that the car will demand a US$500,000+ premium, Ford has been inundated with orders for the car, and could quite easily have sold over 6,000 examples, rather than the initial 250 planned over the coming year.

Demand was so great for the car that Ford had to set up an online ordering system where potential customers essentially had to justify why they should own one. Over the next four years the company aims to build a total of 1,000 GTs and once the production mid-point is reached, the company will be relaunching the website in order to sell the second batch of 500.