Honda BR-V exceeds sales expectations

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia announced that the popular BR-V has recorded impressive sales of close to 11,000 units within six months of its launch, exceeding its annual sales target of 10,000 units.

The Full 7-Seater Crossover with the body of a ‘SUV’ and the space of a ‘MPV’ has enabled Honda Malaysia to penetrate into a new market as the BR-V offers a stylish yet practical alternative priced below RM100,000.

Honda Malaysia has set a new sales target of 15,000 units, a 50% increase from the initial target for the BR-V for the remaining months of 2017.

Based on this record, the V variant leads the number of sales at 80% while the remaining 20% sales come from the E Variant.

In terms of colour preference, Taffeta White and Modern Steel Metallic appears to be the favourite among the customers, recording 27% and 25% sales respectively whereas the Dark Ruby Red Pearl, Golden Brown Metallic and Lunar Silver Metallic shared similar sales percentage at 16% to 17%.

The class-topping features of the BR-V such as biggest trunk space, highest engine output and highest ground clearance has been overwhelmingly received by both urban and sub-urban customers from all over Malaysia.

In terms of BR-V sales recorded by region, Klang Valley contributed the highest sales figures at 44% where majority of customers were attracted to the BR-V’s practicality as both a family and city driving vehicle.

Southern region recorded 20% sales while the Northern region contributed 18%.

The introduction of BR-V has also enabled Honda Malaysia to further penetrate the East Malaysia market. Sales records show that it has been very well accepted in East Malaysia, achieving 10% of total sales in Malaysia and exceeding Honda Malaysia’s initial target of 6%.

The BR-V contributes 34% to the overall sales garnered in East Malaysia. The high adaptability of the vehicle on various road terrains in East Malaysia directly meets the increasing demand for utility and high ground vehicles there, especially among families who are also looking for a practical and suitable 7-Seater.

Based on internal sales information, the average BR-V customers are mostly National upgraders and Non-National additional car buyers who are looking for a bigger vehicle within their budget to accommodate the needs of their growing families.

The BR-V also seemed to be the choice for about 14% of first time car buyers due to its affordable price, good fuel economy and sporty exterior features. Customers of the BR-V were also attracted to the appealing legroom and headroom at the third row which is very convenient and provides the riding comfort for adults during long distance journeys.

Apart from that, the National upgraders were also pleasantly surprised to learn that Honda Malaysia has 91 authorised dealers nationwide which means they can have easy access to affordable after sales maintenance.

Honda Malaysia reassured that the expected delivery period for the BR-V remains at 1 to 2 months.


Beast of the Green Hell available in Rotwild R.S2 racing bike form

                AFFALTERBACH: The Mercedes-AMG GTR "Beast of the Green Hell" is now available as a racing bike – the new Rotwild R.S2 Limited-Edition "Beast of the Green Hell" that's limited to only 50 examples.

The hand-built racing bike is the third bicycle model to be jointly presented by Mercedes-AMG and Rotwild.

Being on the occasion of this year's AMG company anniversary, the bike pays homage to the Mercedes-AMG GT R and is available for order exclusively from the Rotwild sales department for 7,109 euros (RM34,900).

The price is reminiscent of the 7.10.9-minute lap time set by the street-legal GT R on the legendary 22.8km Nordschleife (Green Hell) circuit of the Nürburgring.

The frame uses Carbon Module Monocoque Technology (MMT2) as well as High Modulus and High Tenacity fibresto for increased rigidity and some significant weight loss.

It also features a specially-shaped seat to help improve damping for comfort on long rides.

The 29.0-inch Crankbrothers Cobalt 11 carbon wheels help in acceleration and deceleration.

The design of the wheels keeps the rotating masses as low as possible and shifts the weight closer to the wheel centre.

The twin-pair spoke design ensures the lateral rigidity of the wheels.

All other components of the racing bike use top of the line products such as the Shimano disk brakes, drivetrain and shifting technology.

The bike offers its rider direct steering with a sporty seating position, good propulsion and high directional stability even during fast descents.

In 2013, the full-suspension R.X45 AMG carbon-fibre mountain bike was introduced and was followed by the ROTWILD GT S inspired by AMG mountain bike in 2015.


Range Rover completes world-first drive across one-off paper bridge

                GUANGZHOU: Simply amazing. Land Rover has driven its flagship Range Rover luxury SUV across a bridge made of paper. The freestanding structure in Suzhou, China, spanned five metres without glue or bolts to hold it in place.

Land Rover commissioned the unique bridge to mark the 45th anniversary of its Range Rover family and to highlight 45 years of Range Rover innovation ahead of the Guangzhou Motor Show in China.

The hand-built paper bridge took three days to construct in the ancient water city of Suzhou, which is famous for its bridges and nicknamed ‘Venice of the East’. The unique crossing was made of high quality paper supplied by specialist British manufacturer James Cropper PLC.

The jaw dropping drive is the latest in a long line of industry firsts for Land Rover’s flagship SUV. Range Rover was the world’s first ever luxury SUV when it debuted in 1970 and was the first vehicle to drive across the Darien Gap in Central America two years later. In 1989 it was first 4x4 to be fitted with ABS anti-lock brakes and introduced both Electronic Traction Control and electronic air suspension to the sector in 1992.

The latest fourth-generation model was the first all-aluminium SUV when it debuted in 2012. Its innovative lightweight aluminium body provides a total vehicle saving of up to 420kg compared to using traditional steel.

Land Rover Experience chief instructor Chris Zhou was entrusted with negotiating the paper bridge, using a variety of all-terrain technologies to preserve the delicate fabric of the unique structure. Range Rover is available with a series of innovative features that combine to provide all-terrain capability including Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control.

Artist and paper bridge designer, Steve Messam, said: “Paper structures capable of supporting people have been built before but nothing on this scale has ever been attempted. It’s pushing engineering boundaries, just like the Range Rover, and the ease and composure with which the vehicle negotiated the arch was genuinely breathtaking.”


Volkswagen unveils advanced manual gearbox

                WOLFSBURG: At a time when many drivers are opting for refined automatic gearboxes, Volkswagen has come up with a surprise new take on the trusty stick shift, which is claimed to save up to 5 grams of C02 per kilometre.

The new VW Passat will be the first vehicle to be equipped with the MQ281 manual gearbox, followed by almost all vehicle classes of the Volkswagen Group, the company has announced.

Manual gearshifts have been the norm in many countries for decades and still account for a huge number of sales worldwide.

Sales of automatics have meanwhile mushroomed in recent years, especially with city drivers tired of having to operate the clutch and keep changing gears in heavy traffic.

Automatics are the norm in North America and also the choice for many hybrids and pure-electric cars in other countries. Some experts claim the manual could be extinct within a decade.

VW said the manual gearbox has been very much in the shade until now, even though only slight changes are needed in order to improve efficiency and fuel consumption. These can have a huge effect on emissions and the environment.

"With the MQ281, we have developed a highly efficient manual gearbox," said Helmut Goebbels, head of manual gearbox and four-wheel drive development at Volkswagen.

For the technically minded, the MQ281 can handle torque loads between 200Nm and 340Nm, which makes it better than the current Volkswagen gearbox designs.

A high gear spread guarantees good acceleration from the kerb, even for heavy vehicles with large wheels like SUVs. It also enables "down-speeding," which is driving along in high gears with low engine speed, thereby saving fuel.

VW said reducing friction and boosting lubrication inside the gearbox were key elements in making the unit more efficient, and this reduces the amount of lifetime oil required to just 1.5 litres.

The MQ281 is produced by Volkswagen in-house and will also be turned out by VW factories in in Barcelona and Cordoba in Argentina.


Auto startups chasing Tesla race past red flags to go public

                DETROIT: Missed out on the Tesla rally but still want to surf the electric vehicle wave?

A stream of EV-related startups backed by blank-check firms are lining up to go public so there’s plenty of choice. But like Tesla in the early days, few have products ready to sell or any likelihood of generating significant revenue anytime soon.

Instead, investors will be relying on rosy production, sales and revenue forecasts for new cars, trucks and batteries, all set to be jostling for a slice of markets that will be far more crowded than when Tesla's cars first hit the road.

Take Fisker Inc, for example. It was launched in 2016, just three years after the bankruptcy of its predecessor and early Tesla rival Fisker Automobile.

In July, Fisker Inc announced a US$2.9 billion reverse merger deal with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp SPAQ.N, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), and is planning to go public later this year.

It has no revenue and its Fisker Ocean electric sports-utility vehicle (SUV) is at least two years away from production in a project heavily dependent on nailing down deals with partners who will build the car and provide key components.

That’s not particularly unique for young companies in the sector looking to use SPACs to go public and bypass the scrutiny of a traditional IPO process, according to company presentations and interviews with executives and investors.

That also didn't seem to be an issue earlier this year when US electric truck maker Nikola Motors used a SPAC to go public. Shares in the company that hopes to generate revenue next year almost trebled after listing on the Nasdaq exchange.

But they slumped when a short-seller questioned whether founder Trevor Milton had made false claims about Nikola’s technology, forcing the 38-year-old entrepreneur to step down as executive chairman - and making some investors more cautious.

Nikola and Milton have publicly rejected the accusations and have threatened to take legal action against the short-seller, Hindenberg Research.

“Good storytelling is an important component of being a good founder and entrepreneur - but it better not be the only component,” says Evangelos Simoudis, managing partner and founder of startup investor Synapse Partners.

‘It’s a forecast’

Fisker Inc’s founder Henrik Fisker is well known in the industry, for designing sports cars such as Aston Martin’s Vantage, and for his failed EV firm Fisker Automobile that went bust in 2013 after burning through more than US$1 billion.

Fisker Automotive missed targets on revenue, pricing, production and sales before the collapse of its battery supplier forced it to suspend production of its Fisker Karma, which first reached customers about two years later than planned and sold for a much higher price than originally announced.

This time around, he is confident he has learned from his mistakes and won’t be one of the startups planning to go public that fails to meet investors’ expectations.

“A lot of them will not succeed in launching a successful product on time ... that’s just a fact,” he told Reuters. “The question then is how much are investors willing to forgive?”

He also said Nikola’s woes should make potential investors look closer at what they were buying into.

“It probably was a bit of a wake-up call for investors to really dig a little deeper into these deals and maybe think about what are the real costs and effort to take to get a vehicle to market and maybe understand a little more about how difficult and complicated this industry is,” Fisker said.

Investors say Fisker Inc shares some characteristics with other young automotive startups, such as a difficulty in raising funds from private investors and optimistic projections for revenue and profits, as well as production.

Its Ocean prototype is a stylish mid-size SUV with a base price target of US$37,500 and production set to start in late 2022. It will enter a market that is soon to be crowded by Tesla's Model Y, Ford Motor's Mustang Mach E, VW's ID.4 and at least half a dozen other brands.

The Ocean’s price target is US$2,500 below the ID.4, which goes on sale later this year at just under US$40,000.

In its presentation to investors in July, Fisker Inc said it expected to produce 175,000 cars in 2024, earning revenue of USA$10.6 billion and pretax profit of US$2 billion that year.

“This is not only based on the Fisker Ocean. We are planning other vehicles as well,” said Fisker. “It’s a reasonable, good forecast and at the end of the day it’s a forecast. It’s not something anybody can guarantee.”

“When you’re a new car company and specifically when you make electric vehicles, it’s almost impossible to really forecast what your sales will be,” he said.

On schedule

Bill Rinna, director of Americas vehicle forecasts at LMC Automotive, projects total US EV sales in 2024 will just top 1 million. Tesla could account for half that volume, with GM, Ford and VW taking significant shares as well, analysts say.

Trade publication Automotive News predicts nearly 100 new pure electric and hybrid electric vehicles will go on sale in the United States by 2024.

Fisker Inc boasts an “asset light” business model that is heavily dependent on using partners both for a vehicle platform and a manufacturing plant - neither of which were locked in before it announced its SPAC deal in July.

Fisker also said then it was negotiating with VW to use its MEB electric car platform and related components for the Ocean.

On Oct 15, Fisker announced a preliminary deal with Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International MG.TO, which has agreed to assemble the Ocean at one of its European plants and to provide the mechanical platform for the vehicle.

In an SEC filing the same day, Spartan Energy warned investors that Fisker and Magna “have not entered into a binding definitive agreement” to build the Ocean. The filing also noted that Fisker does not have a deal with VW to use its platform and is still negotiating a parts supply deal.

Asked whether the Ocean’s production timetable was still on track, Fisker said: “All I can tell you is we are on the time schedule.”

In the wake of Nikola’s setbacks, investor concerns about potential red flags for other auto startups backed by SPACs have started to hit the shares of the blank-check companies.

“When you have no product and zero revenue, it comes down to the story that you’re telling,” said Marc Weiser, co-founder of investor RPM Ventures. “In the case of companies with unproven potential, it’s pure speculation - and huge risk.”

Two-year-old Lordstown Motors hopes to pit its US$52,500 Endurance electric pickup late next year against rivals from Tesla, Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Nikola and others.

Lordstown and DiamondPeak told investors in September the truckmaker projects revenue of US$3.5 billion and pretax profit of US$300 million in 2023.

Ten-year-old battery startup QuantumScape has a promising new solid-state battery cell and financial backing from Volkswagen, but has said it is years away from commercial production and meaningful revenue.

Whether fund managers dangling blank-check deals will pursue a more cautious approach in the post-Nikola environment, despite the potential red flags, remains an open question.

But with Nikola as a cautionary tale, and Fisker sparking additional concerns, some investors have become more choosy.

“We will spend much more of our time and our focus on companies that are already in revenue or ... are soon to be in revenue,” Barry Engle, former president of General Motors North America and head of Qell Acquisition Corp, which is evaluating EV-related startups.


VinFast President is a high-powered V8 SUV from Vietnam

                HANOI: VinFast, Vietnam's pioneer car company, has announced the arrival of a high-powered mid-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) with a 6.2-litre V8 engine.

The SUV, dubbed President, was first seen as the Lux V8 during the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

Although there's no mention where the engine is from, reports speculate that it could have come from General Motors (GM) considering their close ties.

Having said that, the engine could actually be GM's aluminium small-block 6.2-litre (6,162cc) Gen V LT1 V8 producing 460hp at 6,000rpm and 630Nm of torque at 4,600rpm.

All that is usually managed by a six-speed automatic which allows it to reach a top speed of around 300kph.

The engine first made its debut in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and is a major step-up from the Lux SA SUV's initial offering of a 230hp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

However, regardless of which powerplant gets to reside under the hood, the platform will be able to cope considering it's from the "The Boss" and yes, by that we mean the BMW X5.

There's also speculation that the same 6.2-litre V8 could also find its way into the Lux A sedan which uses the BMW 5 Series' platform but that's all hearsay for the time being.

From its looks, the President rather sporty accoutrements that include a centre hood vent, mesh grille, 22-inch wheels and dual twin-exhaust tips while the interior has been promised to have a combination of suede and carbon-fibre trims.


All-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV launched, 3 variants from RM199,888

The Ioniq 5 Max is flanked by the Plus (left) and the Lite. Lite gets fabric seats while the other two variants have leather upholstery.
PETALING JAYA: The much anticipated all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV is launched today in Malaysia.

The EV will be available with two battery pack options of either 58kWh or 72.6kWh, and electric motor layouts of a rear motor only or both front and rear motors for an all-wheel drive car.

Three variants are offered: Lite, Plus and Max.

Lite and Plus come with 58kWh battery, while Max gets the 72.kWh battery. They are priced respectively at RM199,888, RM229,888 and RM259,888. Prices are on-the-road without insurance and includes full exemption from import and excise duties, sales tax as well as road tax as announced under Budget 2022.

Only the Max variant comes with a solar roof. The electricity produced by the solar panels are stored in both the 12V starter battery and the Li-ion battery in the floor to extend range and power ancillary devices. Because of the second electric motor in front, the Max variant has a smaller frunk (front boot) than the other two.

The Ioniq 5 is the second electric vehicle (EV) to be rolled out in Malaysia after the debut of the RM150,000 Kona Electric last November.

The Ioniq 5 is based on the new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which promises faster charging times, increased driving range and enhanced handling.

Since its world premiere in early 2021, the Ioniq 5 has won many admirers, thanks to its attractive design, range of up to 430km (real world range will differ slightly depending on road conditions, driving style, temperature and type of tyres used).

 The 176cm tall model can sit in the backseat with headroom to spare. Legroom should be sufficient as well,  as the front passenger seatback had been pushed backwards.

At today's product presentation, distributor Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors declared the 58kWh battery and 72.6kWh battery as being able to deliver 380km and 400km of usable range respectively. The brochure states the range according to the WLTP cycle as 384km and 430km but again these numbers are subject to the four qualifiers mentioned earlier.

Acceleration in Sport mode from 0-100kph for Lite and Plus is attained in 8.5s while Max does it in 5.2s. Top speed for all three variants is 185kph.

The Ioniq 5 supports both 400-V and 800-V charging infrastructures. The platform offers 800-V charging capability as standard, along with 400-V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters.

With a 50-kW DC charger, the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 47 minutes. A standard 11 kW home AC charger can charge from 0% to 100% in 6.1 hours.

The Ioniq 5 offers an innovative "Living Space" themed interior design with eco-friendly materials in many
touchpoints, strong performance mated with ultra-fast charging.

A Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function can power any device and charge electric bicycles, scooters or camping equipment – on the move or at your favourite outdoor location.

There’s an on-board 230V plug located by the second-row seats (only Max). And using a converter that plugs into the bi-directiona exterior charging port (Plus and Max), you can power devices up to 3.6 kW even when the vehicle is turned off.

It also comes with advanced connectivity and driver assistance features that will offer the ultimate in-car experience while ensuring optimum safety.

The Ioniq 5’s attractive exterior design is a redefinition of the Hyundai Pony’s timeless design, that has a profile of over a 3,000-mm wheelbase.

The auto flush door handles provide clean surface styling and enhanced aerodynamic efficiency. The front and rear forms of the vehicle merge together at its doors, offering another example of Hyundai’s "Parametric Dynamics" design.

All variants come with a standard vehicle warranty of 2 years or 50,000km (whichever comes first) and an EV battery warranty of 8 years or 160,000km (whichever comes first).

“Hyundai is paving the way for affordable EV ownership. There will be more EVs in the line-up by various brands under Sime Darby Motors as we aim to lead in Malaysia’s push towards low carbon mobility with a suite of products, services and capabilities across the automotive value chain to support the country’s electric vehicle (EV) plans,” said Sime Darby Motors Malaysia managing director of retail and distribution Jeffrey Gan.

According to Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors managing director Low Yuan Lung, “The Ioniq 5 is selling very well in most countries and we are confident that this futuristic-designed all-electric vehicle will appeal to Malaysians too.

"It is definitely the ultimate electric crossover to own with its best-in-class performance, range, complete safety features including the Smartsense suite and an ultra-fast charging speed.”

The Ioniq 5 is fully imported from Hyundai's plant in South Korea. Hyundai is starting production of the Ioniq 5 in Indonesia this month, initially for the market there but the long term plan is for it to also export the Ioniq 5 regionally. It remains to be seen whether Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors would eventually source the model from Indonesia.

Optional add-on packages

Customers can mix and match, for example, package A + C.

A. Extended warranty and service packages: RM10,000. This package will upgrade the standard
warranty to 5 years/100,000km and service maintenance for 3 years/50,000km. The EV battery warranty will remain unchanged.

B. Get a 7kW AC charging station with standard installation at RM6,000. However, the customer shall bear the extra cost of any additional cabling and extended installation requirements.

C. Alternatively, choose a 22kw AC charging station with standard installation at RM7,000.

With plans to roll out more electric vehicles in the near future and in conjunction with the launch of the
Ioniq 5, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors is working with Mecomb, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Industrial in providing home charging product and installation solutions, as well as with Yinson Green Technologies, in collaboration with GreenTech Malaysia, to offer access to the ChargEV network with over 300 charging stations nationwide.

The Ioniq 5, launched at Bangsar Shopping Centre in Kuala  Lumpur,  is available for public viewing there until Sunday.

Booking of the Ioniq 5 can be done online via Hyundai’s online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (www.hyundai.com.my/clicktobuy/) or visit any of Hyundai’s authorised showrooms. Customers can also
call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1300-13-2000 or log on to www.hyundai.com.my  for more information and enquiries.

 SPECIFICATIONS (pdf)

 Only the Max variant gets a solar roof.


GM files patent for external airbags to protect pedestrians

                DETROIT: As autonomous vehicle development continues at a rapid pace, lots of the component technology needed to make driverless cars a reality is already finding its way into the models we're driving right now.

A large amount of it so far is concentrated on safety, and understandably, we're talking largely about the safety of the vehicle's occupants. But it now appears GM is working on a new safety feature aimed at protecting pedestrians.

Like any businesses, automakers like to keep their latest new developments close to their chest until they want to make them public, but they can't stop people looking at filings to the US Patent Office, which is where news of these pedestrian airbags has emerged from.

These external airbags for protecting pedestrians from collisions appear to be located at the front side of a vehicle and are hidden behind a "discrete door," which is located at the top of the wing just underneath the hood and just in front of the A-pillar.

Dated Dec 5, and originally filed for patent protection in 2014, the US Patent and Trademark Office issued the patent to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, and in the documents it's being described as a "fender-located pedestrian protection airbag."

Tom Wilkinson, a spokesman for General Motors, recently told the Autoblog website the company had nothing to announce about the patent at the moment, but confirmed "the pedestrian protection airbag could become an important engineering solution in the future."

This isn't the first time a pedestrian airbag has been thought of by a motor manufacturer though. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Volvo was actually the first manufacturer to flirt with a pedestrian airbag at the base of the windshield of the 2013 V40, which worked in conjunction with a pedestrian detection system.

Now though, like other manufacturers, Volvo appears to have decided to stick with advanced pedestrian detection systems instead of external airbags, at least for now.


Bentley's new Bentayga now available in Asia-Pacific region

                KUALA LUMPUR: Bentley Motors has officially introduced its latest Bentayga sports utility vehicle (SUV) in the Asia-Pacific region, and a first-ever interactive virtual experience is accompanying it.

"The new Bentayga has been reimagined to offer the ultimate in power, luxury and usability. We are inspiring our customers and Bentley enthusiasts to embark on a virtual adventure," said Bentley Motors head of marketing (Asia Pacific) Calista Tambajong.

The interactive virtual experience for this British ultra-luxury SUV is available until Jan 4, 2021.

This hand-crafted SUV from Crewe, England, is touted to have combined the abilities of a performance grand tourer, luxury limousine, spacious family car and an off-roader.

The new look of the Bentayga draws its inspiration from the third-generation Continental GT and new Flying Spur in order to unify all of them under a new design language.

Under the hood lies a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that develops 542bhp and 770Nm of torque.

Power is managed by an eight-speed automatic gearbox for all four wheels - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 290kph.

Although considered powerful, the Bentyga is able to achieve up to 639km of range from a single full tank of petrol thanks to the inclusion of cylinder de-activation technology.

Inside, discerning fans of the brand will notice the new centre fascia, steering wheel, door trims and seats - now with ventilation for the rear of the five-seater cabin option.

There's also more rear legroom with up to a 100mm increase depending on configuration.

The new handcrafted 'wing' dashboard design is where the edge-to-edge 10.9-inch display screen lives and plays host to the next-generation infotainment system that boasts of super high-resolution and dynamic graphics.

"Each individual may be drawn to different aspects of the new Bentayga (and) through the interactive virtual experience, we are imparting freedom to our audience to choose the way they explore the Bentayga," added Tambajong.


Next-gen Ford Ranger to be unveiled on Nov 24

                LONDON: Ford will reveal the much-anticipated next-generation Ranger pick-up on Nov 24.

Ford said it has reimagined, redesigned and reengineered the Ranger to be the smartest, most versatile and most capable Ranger ever for customers in more than 180 markets around the world.

Ford conducted more than 5,000 interviews and worked with hundreds of pick-up owners, in dozens of workshops across the globe to find out how owners used their trucks, what they liked, what they wished it had and what experiences mattered the most to them.

This customer-centric approach helped Ford design and engineer solutions with the next-generation Ranger that customers wanted and would appreciate.

https://www.youtube.com/c/FordEurope

“As designers, we engaged with customers much earlier in the process, spent more time with them and got more insights than ever before”, said Ranger chief designer Max Tran.

“Interestingly, we found that no matter what market, our customers are doers. They like solving their own problems, and they like to feel confident in their truck … not just the way the vehicle functions but the way they feel when they’re driving it.”

With a rugged new look, and a host of new features that boost productivity, capability and versatility, the next-generation Ranger is designed to go more places, work harder and offer more comfort and refinement than ever before.

The next-gen Ranger would stream live at 0700 GMT on Nov 24.


Seremban cops looking for five motorcyclists who obstructed traffic by playing 'marshal' for convoy

                SEREMBAN: Police are looking for five motorcyclists who were captured in a viral video obstructing traffic along a junction in Senawang to allow a convoy of eight cars believed to be supporters of a political party to pass through when the light was red.

The five "traffic marshals" were also seen carrying the flag of a political party with them when they committed the offence at the Taman Desa Dahlia junction.

State police chief Dep Comm Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said the incident happened at 6.47pm on Nov 7 and the 33-second clip has since gone viral.

"By obstructing traffic, they had endangered the safety of other road users.

"We are now looking for all the offenders, including the car drivers," he said.

DCP Dzaffir said the so-called "traffic marshalls" who obstructed and controlled traffic can be fined under Section 21 (1) of the Police Act.

The offenders can be punished under Section 94 of the same legislation which carries a fine of not more than RM500 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both upon conviction.

DCP Dzaffir said the offenders can also be charged under Section 79(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for not observing the traffic directions and signs.

For this, they can be fined between RM300 and RM2,000.

"We would like to advise all political parties not to violate traffic rules while campaigning and to always strictly adhere to all other existing laws," he added.


Behold! Darkness has no power over the Ford driverless car

DETROIT: The darkness cannot keep driverless cars at bay as Ford has shown in a recent experiment.

It deployed a Fusion Hybrid autonomous research vehicle with no headlights and let it navigate lonely desert roads, performing a task that would be perilous even for a human driver.

To navigate in the dark at the Ford Arizona Proving Ground, the Ford self-driving car uses high-resolution 3D maps – complete with information about the road, road markings, geography, topography and landmarks like signs, buildings and trees. The vehicle uses LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) pulses to pinpoint itself on the map in real time. Additional data from radar gets fused with that of LiDAR to complete the full sensing capability of the autonomous vehicle.

For the desert test, Ford engineers, sporting night-vision goggles, monitored the Fusion from inside and outside the vehicle. Night vision allowed them to see the LiDAR doing its job in the form of a grid of infrared laser beams projected around the vehicle as it drove past. LiDAR sensors shoot out 2.8 million laser pulses a second to precisely scan the surrounding environment.

“Inside the car, I could feel it moving, but when I looked out the window, I only saw darkness,” describes Wayne Williams, a Ford research scientist and engineer. “As I rode in the back seat, I was following the car’s progression in real time using computer monitoring. Sure enough, it stayed precisely on track along those winding roads.”

Driving in pitch black at Ford Arizona Proving Ground marks the next step on the company’s journey to delivering fully autonomous vehicles to the public.

It’s an important development, in that it shows that even without cameras, which rely on light, Ford’s LiDAR – working with the car’s virtual driver software – is robust enough to steer around winding roads. While it’s ideal to have all three modes of sensors – radar, cameras and LiDAR – the latter can function independently on roads without stoplights.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data has found the passenger vehicle occupant fatality rate during dark hours to be about three times higher than the daytime rate.

“Thanks to LiDAR, the test cars aren’t reliant on the sun shining, nor cameras detecting painted white lines on the asphalt,” says Jim McBride, Ford technical leader for autonomous vehicles. “In fact, LiDAR allows autonomous cars to drive just as well in the dark as they do in the light of day.”

Ford has been involved in autonomous vehicle research for more than a decade. This year, Ford will triple its autonomous vehicle test fleet – bringing the number to about 30 self-driving Fusion Hybrid sedans for testing on roads in California, Arizona and Michigan.

These developments are key elements of Ford Smart Mobility, the plan to take Ford to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.


18 highways offer Chinese New Year toll discounts

                KUALA LUMPUR: Motorists will get to enjoy discounts and rebates of between five and 37.5% on 18 highways, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in a statement on Saturday, said highway operators had agreed to offer incentives as corporate social responsibility and in appreciation of highway users.

The North-South Expressway (PLUS) and the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) are offering rebates of as much as 30% for journeys exceeding 100km to motorists using the electronic toll collection (ETC) on Feb 16 and 23.

The Damansara-Puchong highway (LDP) is offering a 60 sen discount for all classes of vehicles using cash and ETC payment on Feb 19 and the Western KL Traffic Dispersal System (SPRINT) is offering a 20 sen discount for all classes of vehicles using cash and ETC on the same day.

The Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), the Guthrie Corridor Highway (GUTHRIE) and the Kemuning Shah Alam Highway (LKSA) are offering a 20% discount for ETC class 1 traffic from 6am on Feb 19 to 6am on Feb 20.

The SMART Tunnel is offering 10% discount for cash and ETC payment for Class 1 to 4 vehicles on Feb 19 and the Shah Alam Highway (KESAS) is offering 10% discount for cash and ETC payment for Class 1 vehicles only on the same day, said LLM.

According to LLM, the New North Klang Straits Bypass (NNKSB) is offering a 10% discount on cash and ETC payment for all classes of vehicles from 11pm Feb 18 to 8am on Feb 19, and the Cheras Kajang Highway (Grand Saga) and KL-Putrajaya Highway (MEX) are offering 10% discounts for cash and ETC payment on Feb 19 for all classes of vehicles.

The Senai Desaru Highway (SDE) and the Kajang Seremban Highway (LEKAS) are offering 10% discounts for cash and ETC payment for Class 1 vehicles only on the same day.

The South Klang Valley Highway (SKVE) is offering a 5% discount for ETC Class 1 vehicles from 6am on Feb 19 to 5.59am on Feb 20, the statement said.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad, in a separate statement, said discounts were given to Class 1-vehicle motorists who travelled more than 100km and used the ETC (through PLUSMiles card, Touch 'n Go or SmartTAG) for payment on non-peak days.

Its managing director Datuk Noorizah Abd Hamid said the rebate was given to encourage the public to travel on such days to reduce traffic congestion on peak days.

"It is also an initiative of PLUS, in appreciation of customers using the electronic payment system," she said.

She said PLUS would also provide 20% toll rebate for all Class 1 users at its three highways who adhere to its travel guide, use the ETC and travelled for more than 100km on peak days on Feb 17, 18, 21, and 22.

She said PLUS was expecting the North-South Expressway to experience a 15% increase in traffic to 1.5 million vehicles on the peak days.

PLUS also proposed that highway users returning home for the Chinese New Year on Feb 13 to start their journey from 6am to 8am for those travelling to Perlis, Kedah and South Johor.

Meanwhile, those heading to Penang and North Johor should start their journey from between 8am and noon, while those going to north and central Perak, as well as Malacca, start their journey at noon to 6pm.

Those going to south Perak and Negri Sembilan are advised to move after 6pm.

Similarly on Feb 22, those returning to Kuala Lumpur from the north and south are advised to travel according to the proposal travel schedule.


Mitsubishi to introduce small plug-in hybrid electric SUV concept

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi will roll out a small plug-in hybrid electric SUV concept car at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019, which opens its doors to the public from Oct 24.

The car pulls together the company’s electrification and all-wheel drive control expertise and technologies.

It will have a downsized, lighter Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) drivetrain, as well as an electric 4WD system.

Mitsubishi said the electric SUV would deliver a new kind of driving experience, one that offers reassurance and safety in everyday driving about town, while allowing drivers of all abilities to confidently push further over unpaved trails when engaging in outdoor activities.


Fuel-up with Shell and help kid’s charities

                KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with this year’s Hari Raya Aidil Fitri celebration, Shell will donate 1 sen (RM0.01) for every 1-litre of fuel pumped at any Shell fuel station nationwide on July 1, 2 and 3, 2016 (next Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

The funds collected will be channelled to help improve and transform the lives of disadvantaged children across the country.

This is the second year Shell Malaysia is doing this charitable deed.

When it started last year in 2015, Shell was able to provide funding for five organisations focused on improving children’s welfare.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Malaysian motorists, these organisations were able to provide additional educational programmes, renovate facilities, and upgrade office equipment.

“This year, Shell wishes to continue the journey of empowering children to build a better future by giving them a chance to discover their talents and seize opportunities to reach their full potential. Based on the number of lives we’ve impacted last year, we are continuing our efforts and look to Malaysians to fuel up as they make their journeys home.

“Together with our partners and customers, we hope to make it bigger and better this year,” said Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd managing director of Datuk Azman Ismail.

2016 is also a milestone year for Shell as it celebrates its 125th anniversary in Malaysia.

This charity drive will kick the anniversary celebrations into high gear. Sharing the inspiration behind this, Datuk Azman explained: “Shell has been in Malaysia for 125 years, impacting lives and growing with the nation.

"We’ve journeyed with Malaysia and Malaysians. We believe in inspiring continuous progress and providing opportunities for a better tomorrow. What better way to celebrate this landmark year than giving back to our community!”

This year, with the support of customers and partners, Shell will raise funds to be distributed to six selected charitable organisations:

*Persatuan Dyslexia Malaysia,
*Pusat Harian Kanak-Kanak Spastik Bandar Ipoh,
*Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal Johor Bahru,
*Yayasan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Kelantan (Rumah Putera Dan Puteri Harapan),
*Seri Mengasih Centre Sabah, and
*Lembaga Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Sarawak.

“Each contribution can make a difference and together we are able to amplify that. The simple act of filling up your tank could translate to blessings to underprivileged children in need and we hope this also inspires you to share this charity drive with your family and friends,” Datuk Azman also said.

Furthermore, with the goal of raising donations beyond the simple act of fueling up, this year’s charity drive gives BonusLink members an option to convert their points to donations.

For every 100 points, BonusLink members can contribute an amount of RM1 to further help in raising funds for the organisations.

For more details, please visit www.shell.com.my/125csr.


US to allow drivers to choose 'quiet car' alert sounds

                WASHINGTON: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday proposed allowing automakers to offer a variety of sound choices for electric vehicles and other “quiet cars” to choose from to alert pedestrians.

The agency in February 2018 finalised rules requiring EVs and hybrids to emit alert sounds to warn pedestrians of their approach, extending to 2020 the deadline for full compliance.

The long-delayed rules, which were first demanded by Congress in 2010, require automakers like Tesla Inc, Nissan Motor Co and General Motors Co to add sounds to vehicles when they are moving at speeds of up to 30kph to help prevent injuries among pedestrians, cyclists and the blind.

The agency on Monday said in response to a petition from automakers it was proposing to amend its rules “to remove the current limitation of one sound per vehicle model.” The agency wants public comment “on whether there should be a limit to the number of compliant sounds that a manufacturer can install in a vehicle and what that limit should be.”

NHTSA required the alerts be in all “quiet” vehicles by September 2020. Automakers were required to have the sounds in 50% of vehicles by Sept 1.

To meet emissions requirements from California, automakers need to sell more electrically powered vehicles, and those vehicles are often harder to hear at lower speeds than gasoline-powered engines.

At higher speeds, tyre noise, wind resistance, and other factors eliminate the need for a separate alert sound, regulators say.

The Trump administration froze the Obama-era rule as it conducted a review of petitions from automakers. Nissan had argued that the alert was only needed up to 20kph.

NHTSA said last year it expects the rules finalised on Monday to prevent 2,400 injuries annually by 2020 and to require the addition of alert sounds to about 530,000 model 2020 vehicles.

NHTSA has said the rules will cost the auto industry about US$40 million annually because automakers will need to add an external waterproof speaker to comply. But the benefits of the reduced injuries are estimated at US$250 million to US$320 million annually.

The agency estimates the odds of a hybrid vehicle being involved in a pedestrian crash are 19 percent higher than with a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle. About 125,000 pedestrians and cyclists are injured annually on roads in the United States.


End 2016 with 5-sen lower fuel prices

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will see a 5 sen reduction across the board in December.

RON95 petrol is set to retail at RM1.90 per litre (from RM1.95 previously) while RON97 is now priced at RM2.25 (from RM2.30).

Additionally, diesel is priced at RM1.85 per litre (from RM1.90).

Petron Petrol Dealers Association president Nor Manshor Abdul Ghafar confirmed the new prices when contacted by The Star Online.

Fuel prices saw a 15 sen increase across the board in November.

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry decided to set the prices of petrol and diesel on a managed float system from Dec 1, 2014 following the removal of fuel subsidies.


Over 300 motorists trying to enter Penang ordered to turn back

                NIBONG TEBAL: Police have ordered 308 drivers to turn back so far after they were found to be returning to Penang for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and other invalid reasons, says Penang police chief Comm Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan.

He said nine compound notices were also issued against those who violated the conditional movement control order (MCO).

"Do not waste effort, time and money trying to enter Penang without a valid reason.

"Not only might we order them to turn back, but they might also be slapped with compound notices.

"We have set up 18 roadblocks at various entry points along the state border to intensify security into Penang which is now declared a Covid-19 green zone," he told reporters at the Jawi toll plaza roadblock today.

Comm Sahabudin added that since May 4, Penang has approved 8,386 applications to travel into the state.

"Permissions are approved for puposes such as to visit their spouses once weekly or to travel interstate for work," he added.


EU offers e-fuel exemption to Germany in bid to save combustion car ban

                BRUSSELS: The European Union is offering Germany a declaration that would explain a possible role for so-called e-fuels after a combustion-engine ban takes effect after 2035, setting the stage to end a dispute that stalled the regulation earlier this month.

The commission, the EU’s executive arm, so far hasn’t specified a deadline for when it would put forward a proposal on e-fuels and it’s unclear if the offer will be enough to win over the pro-business lawmakers in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government, according to people familiar with the matter.

It’s unlikely new rules will be offered before EU elections next year due to the length of time needed to pass regulation in Brussels.

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing unexpectedly voiced a last-minute objection last week to the combustion regulation, which had already been approved by the EU’s 27 member states and the European Parliament in October.

A final vote — which had been planned for last week and was just a formality — was scrapped because it wouldn’t pass amid Berlin’s objection.

Decarbonising transport is seen as a key pillar of the EU’s goal to cut emissions by 55% this decade on the way to climate neutrality by 2050.

But cars hold outsize importance in Germany, where the auto industry employs about 800,000 people and has revenue of about €411 billion (RM1.9tril), making it the largest segment of the economy by far.

The new declaration would change the rules that determine what kinds of cars can take to the road in Europe so that certain vehicles that can only burn e-fuels are permitted after an effective ban on new combustion engine automobiles enters into force, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.

And given that e-fuels are molecularly identical to conventional fuels, extra technologies or fuel additives would have to be incorporated to ensure new cars can’t use banned fuels after 2035, the person said.

The key question is whether the plan will be acceptable to Wissing, whose FDP party was the driving force behind the 11th-hour intervention that blocked the regulation.

The Czech Republic is convening transport ministers from like-minded countries generally opposed to stricter emissions rules on Monday in Strasbourg, France, to discuss the matter. Germany and Italy, the two largest countries holding out on the CO2 rules in cars, are due to attend.

A spokesman from the German transport ministry confirmed that Wissing will take part in the talks on Monday and that Germany is engaged in discussions with the commission, but wouldn’t comment on a new offer from the EU executive.

Proponents of e-fuels say they’re essentially renewable electricity that’s been converted into a combustible, liquid fuel using CO2 captured from the atmosphere.

Critics say that e-fuels are a waste of renewable energy and should be saved for harder-to-decarbonise uses, while some parts of industry also worry that it could create regulatory uncertainty.


How F1 technology is set to help Alpine cars evolve

                PARIS: To optimise the design of future Alpine road cars, the brand has called directly on the teams of aerodynamics engineers working with the Alpine Formula 1 team, based in Enstone, UK.

The aim is to benefit from their knowledge and expertise in air flow management and wind tunnel testing to optimise the aerodynamics of forthcoming models.

Working with a wind tunnel notably helps eliminate lift, reduce drag to a minimum, and generate downforce in a precise ratio. Spoilers, deflectors, diffusers, side-pods and wings are just some of the features precision-designed to optimise performance of the single-seaters.

In a similar aim - of boosting performance while optimising the various parts of its future car bodies - Alpine has started working hand in hand with its F1 team.

An Alpine A110 has, in fact, crossed the English Channel to get kitted out with the various sensors usually used for F1, with pressure sensors similar to the pitot sensors seen on aircraft. These will be used to map the entire volume of air that passes beneath the car.

Note that Alpine also uses a special paint developed by its F1 colleagues, which, when applied to the hood and wings of the car, spreads out from a certain speed to give a precise view of air flow over the car's bodywork.

The results of these wind tunnel tests will help designers approve certain options and elements to the detriment of others, whether for future evolutions of the A110 or for other upcoming models.

Alpine is currently participating in the Formula 1 world championship with Spanish driver Fernando Alonso (world champion, with Renault, in 2005 and 2006) and French driver, Esteban Ocon.


A new Dawn for Rolls-Royce

PETALING JAYA: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has set a new course for the future in which the new generation of its luxury models will set itself apart from its recent past. A glimpse of its future which the company recently announced, is the all-new aluminium space-frame architecture for all its future models.

“We are testing the new aluminium space frame structure and it will be available in all Rolls-Royce cars by 2018. The new architecture is not just about reducing weight, it’s about being bespoke which is what Rolls-Royce is about.

“There is a glamour about Rolls-Royce and the new innovations and technology we are developing still has to reflect that,” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Global director of sales and marketing Fintan Knight in a telephone interview.

 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Global director of sales and marketing Fintan Knight.

Knight was in Singapore for the launch of the Dawn, the all new full four-seater, super-luxury drophead coupé. This is Rolls-Royce’s new offering for 2016 and Knight said that the new car will be launched in Malaysia sometime during the second quarter this year.

The last time Rolls-Royce introduced a drophead coupe was in 2007 with the Phantom Drophead Coupé. The Phantom is undergoing a change as production for the current seventh generation is coming to an end and the new eighth generation Phantom is expected to make its debut in 2018. Rolls-Royce will also stop production for the Phantom Drophead Coupé and Coupé.

“The Dawn represents the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce’s drophead coupé and it is a lifestyle car for cruising. It is very different from the Wraith coupé which has a performance streak to it,” said Knight.

 Rolls-Royce Dawn.

There is another vehicle in the works for Rolls-Royce which is venturing into new territory altogether - 4x4 or commonly known as SUV (sports utility vehicle).

“We are working on it now and it’s called Project Cullinan. The words ‘sports’ and ‘utility’ are not part of the vocabulary of Rolls-Royce. We are often lumped into that category - SUV - mistakenly and I don’t know why exactly.”

“What we are building is a high bodied, all-terrain vehicle which is capable of going off-road but most importantly, it is still a Rolls-Royce.”

 Rolls-Royce Dawn.

The name Cullinan is taken from the largest gem-quality diamond which was discovered in South Africa in 1905. The new all terrain vehicle is expected to have a different name when it goes into production slated for 2017.

As for worldwide sales performance of Rolls-Royce, Knight said that they enjoyed “a strong year in 2015” and have a “quietly confident” outlook for 2016.

“We sell around 4,000 units a year globally but we are not concerned about volume. What’s more important to us is sustainability.”

Sales in Malaysia through authorised dealer Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd increased by nearly 20% in 2015 over 2014.

The dealership recently received Regional Aftersales Dealer of the Year award from Rolls-Royce for the second year running, recognising its excellence in aftersales operations.

 Rolls-Royce Dawn.


Something borrowed, something new: When carmakers test the fence

                FRANKFURT: A Le Mans-style racing car with street legal equipment, radical roadsters and a high-riding 911 in safari trim - when Porsche designers recently opened their vault and brought to light to 15 little-known secret studies, enthusiasm in motoring circles was great.

The element of surprise was however short-lived. After all, you would expect a sports car manufacturer to tinker around with different concepts. That was when design head Michael Mauer suddenly unveiled an electric car that nobody had anticipated.

This once hidden concept is a weird electric van called “Renndienst” in German, which means racing service. It was made in 2018, but killed off by Porsche before it could ever go into production.

The company has only now released images of the bright red concept, a futuristic, six-seater space shuttle with a modular cabin. Sounds like a great idea but does it fit in with Porsche’s image as a high-performance maker? It would seem not.

The Swabians (Germanic people) are not alone in boldly entering new segments. Only a few days after the minibus – which harks back to the historic people-carrying design of mother company Volkswagen – MINI also unveiled a design which at first glance does not seem to fit the brand at all.

Dubbed the Vision Urbanaut, this is a driverless shared car, a tiny house on wheels complete with a pot plant on a table and a kind of balcony made by moving the windscreen upwards. It also features an LED-lit relaxed corner in the rear for a quiet chill-out zone.

The two studies show that the car industry is desperately looking for alternative sectors to augment the booming crossover and SUV market.

Design professor Lutz Fuegener from the University of Applied Sciences in Pforzheim says car companies need these outlandish concept cars if they are to break the mould of self-imposed image barriers.

Of course, this has all happened before. Nobody would have thought Volkswagen capable of producing a Ferrari-level super sports car until the Lower Saxony maker pulled the wraps on its W12 studies at motor shows in the late 1990s.

Equally unlikely was the Concept D from 1999 which morphed into the ill-fated Phaeton limousine built from 2002. A microcar study from luxury brand Mercedes-Benz anticipated the Smart in 1994.

 The Mercedes study Micro Compact Car later became the Smart.

Tricked-out designer cars which sometimes never see the light of day are not a waste of time and money, insists Fuegener. "None of these designs which seem not to fit can be called a mistake – quite the opposite," says the expert. "Is a cyber-truck not a real Tesla because it seems to fly in the face of marketing logic."

"Can we imagine an Audi without its trademark single frame front grille or a BMW without the kidney? Of course we can. New models are bold and they junk the stereotypes," says Fuegener. He thinks it is just fine when carmakers try out something new. "Otherwise, the Citroen DS and the iPhone would never have appeared."

And even if such cars don't go into series production, they have an important influence on current projects, said Porsche man Mauer: "On a large scale, because they help to explore spaces of possibility, to question habitual patterns of thought and conventions, and to reinvent the wheel again and again. And on a small scale, because they always provide inspiration for design details."

There are unmistakable similarities between the racing service concept headlights and those on the electric Taycan.

 The Audi Urban Concept of 2011.

MINI design chief Oliver Heimer agrees with his colleague: "The Urbanaut not only heralds a new segment, but will also put MINI customers in the mood for a new design language, both inside and out."

Even though some of the surprising visions such as the odd-looking Renault VelSatis, the VW D1 or the MicroCompactCar from Mercedes made it into series production with extremely varying degrees of success, nobody expects Porsche or Mini to introduce a van today or tomorrow or in the foreseeable future.

But as off-the-wall as these studies may be, they are not only important for the creativity of designers and the mental agility of management, but sometimes for business development too.

 The VW W12 Roadster concept.

Eyebrows were raised when an off-road vehicle was first discussed at Porsche more than 20 years ago. Since then there been three generations of the Cayenne, which spawned the smaller Macan. Porsche has now built more SUVs than sports cars.

So perhaps the concepts should not be forgotten or pushed back into the vault forever. Although Porsche has made no statement about the feasibility of its van idea, MINI-boss Koerber did say the Urbanaut more than just pie in the sky: "In a few years, this vision could well become a reality."

 Renault's foray into the premium class with the Vel Satis (2002 to 2009) didn't work out so well. The W12 from VW never went into series production.


BMW brings X6 up to speed

                MUNICH: BMW has unveiled the third-generation X6, which is set for market launch in November.

The new BMW X6, built in Spartanburg, USA, has grown by 26mm in exterior length over the outgoing model (to 4,935 mm) and by 15mm in width (to 2,004 mm). It now stands 6mm lower (at 1,696 mm) and combines stretched proportions with more muscularity. The car’s wheelbase has increased by 42mm to 2,975mm.

Like the X5 and X7, the large, single-frame BMW kidney grille is the most striking feature of the front end. The outer edges of the kidney grille now approach the headlights at a clearly defined angle.

The new BMW X6 is available for the first time as an option with an illuminated BMW kidney grille, which adds an exclusive flourish to the exterior design. The illumination is activated by opening or closing the car, but the driver can switch it on and off manually too. This lighting function for the kidney grille is also available while driving.

If the optional BMW Laserlight with Adaptive LED headlights is specified, a BMW Laserlight spotlight with Selective Beam optimises the non-dazzling high beam function, whose range increases to around 500 metres.

The flanks of the new X6 are defined by familiar BMW proportions, a crisply drawn character line and the dynamic roofline. A set of 19-inch light-alloy wheels are fitted as standard, with other wheel variants ranging in size from 20 to 22 inches available as an option. The X6 M50i and X6 M50d come with 21-inch light-alloy wheels as standard.

The X6 is available from launch in xLine and M Sport model variants as an alternative to standard specification.

The cabin has a modern and sporty appearance and is upholstered with Vernasca leather by default.

The interior offers a high degree of variability, thanks to 40:20:40 split rear seat backrests that can be folded down to increase boot capacity from 580 to 1,530 litres. Highlight equipment features from the list of optional extras include multifunction seats with massage function for the driver and front passenger, four-zone automatic climate control, thermoelectric cup holders, glass applications for selected controls, the Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge, the Ambient Air interior fragrancing package and the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond+ 3D Surround Sound System.

The line-up of engines available from launch includes two petrol units and a pair of diesel variants from the latest generation. The model line-up is spearheaded by a an M model with a newly developed 390 kW/530 hp V8 petrol engine.

The X6 M50i is joined in the range by the X6 M50d with 294 kW/400 hp six-cylinder in-line diesel engine and a quartet of turbochargers.

A straight-six petrol unit with output of 250 kW/340 hp sees action in the X6 xDrive40i and the X6 xDrive30d employs a six-cylinder in-line diesel with 195 kW/265 hp. All variants meet the requirements of the EU6d-TEMP emissions standard.

The M Sport exhaust system fitted as standard on both M models is also available as an option for the other versions of the X6 or as part of the M Sport package.

All variants come as standard with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, while intelligent all-wheel drive maximises traction, agility and directional stability. The latest generation of the BMW xDrive system once again splits drive torque between the front and rear wheels variably and as the situation demands – only now with even greater precision and speed.

The car’s sporting attributes are aided by the electronically controlled M differential lock at the rear axle available as part of M Sport specification or in conjunction with the optional xOffroad package.

The X6 comes with a double-wishbone front axle and five-link rear axle. Dynamic Damper Control is standard. The Adaptive M suspension Professional with active roll stabilisation and Integral Active Steering promises to give the SUV more a more agile and sporty driving character.

Like the X5 which the X6 is derived from, it is also available with all-round air suspension that allows for automatic self-levelling. The car’s height can be altered at the touch of a button in the cockpit through a maximum 80mm.

An off-road package is available for all variants except for the X6 M50i and X6 M50d, allowing the driver to choose from four modes that optimise progress over snow, sand, gravel or rocks respectively. And at the press of a button, they can also activate the ideal settings for the vehicle’s ride height, the xDrive system, accelerator response, transmission control and the DSC system’s corrective inputs.

Standard specification includes Cruise Control with braking function and the Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function, which also alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected. The Active Cruise Control system with Stop & Go function is available as an option. The Driving Assistant Professional can also be found on the options list for the X6.

The Evasion Assistant is another component of the Driving Assistant Professional, as are the reversing assistant, rear collision warning, road priority warning and wrong-way driving warning systems, crossing traffic warning, Lane Change Warning and the Emergency Stop Assistant.

The BMW Live Cockpit Professional in the new X6 combines a full digital instrument cluster and a Control Display, both with a screen diagonal of 12.3 inches.

The settings and controls can be accessed by the driver in various ways: using the iDrive knob, steering wheel controls, the centre infortainment touchscreen, voice commands or gesture
control.


Grab tells users: Starting July 12, no selfie, no ride

                PETALING JAYA: E-hailing giant Grab will be making it mandatory for passengers to submit a selfie to use its services by July 12, in an effort to make its platform safer for both drivers and riders.

Selfie verification, part of its facial recognition technology, was instrumental in helping police investigate the murder of one of its riders in May.

In an announcement via its app, Grab informed users that all passengers would be required to submit a selfie by July 12.

It said the selfie is a mandatory one-time identity verification and will be used to verify a passenger’s identity for future rides.

“The selfie is for identity verification, safety and may be used to assist the authorities when required,” Grab said on its website.

To avoid fake identities, Grab may ask passengers to submit another selfie to verify their identity when needed.

Grab also assured passengers that their identity and personal information are secure and will not be shared with its drivers and merchants.

The selfie feature is part of Grab’s facial recognition technology that was first announced together with Transport Minister Anthony Loke in April.

According to Grab, this technology has already helped the authorities arrest two suspects in the recent robbery and murder of Grab driver Mohd Hanafiee Jaafar in Tuaran, Sabah.

Grab said during the investigation, it provided information to the police, including a photo of the suspect, and the necessary information from its passenger selfie verification feature built into its app.

However, the selfie verification cannot serve as an alternative to the Transport Ministry’s e-hailing regulations requiring passengers to submit a photo of their identity card or passport when registering for an account with any e-hailing platform.

The need to register not only drivers but also passengers is part of the Transport Ministry’s regulation that will be enforced in July.

According to the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) E-hailing Service Guidelines, Section 5.2 states that both drivers and passengers must provide their full name, a copy of their identify card or passport, and their phone number.

APAD director-general Azlan Shah Parames Albakri said the regulator also encourages companies to follow in Grab’s footsteps in using technology as additional control requirements since IC photos may be old or outdated.

“The collection of IC information is for the security and safety of passengers and drivers. We have cases where drivers were murdered, cases where passengers were raped.

“We also have cases where drivers were raped. So we need such data to protect both parties,” he said.

On privacy concerns, Azlan Shah said companies have to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act.

He estimates that there are around 275,000 e-hailing users in Malaysia.

Other e-hailing companies said they have already been using selfies and photos of ICs for verification before the regulation was announced.

Women-only e-hailing app Carriage for Her said it has been using ICs in its verification process since it launched in September 2018 to avoid the likelihood of male impersonators.

Its chief executive officer Nick Smith said the company does not collect selfies as these are not sufficient to verify a person’s gender.

“Riders and drivers can upload their selfies in the app for both sides to identify each other during pickup, but all account registrations are verified by their IC or passport,” he added.

E-hailing company Mula said it has been collecting selfies and IC copies to verify female passengers using its women-only Mula Pink feature, but will soon make this verification process mandatory for all passengers.


GM bets on electric Cadillacs and micro-vans to reverse China slide

                SHANGHAI: General Motors is overhauling its Chinese line-up with a greater emphasis on electric cars and smart-driving technology to stem a slide in sales after more than two decades of growth in a country that contributes nearly a fifth of its profit.

GM’s new China boss Julian Blissett said it would renew its focus on luxury Cadillacs, roll out bigger but greener sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) and target entry-level buyers with low-cost micro electric vehicles (EVs).

He said new technologies such as EVs and cars with near hands-free driving for highways would play a key role in GM’s China initiatives, which are part of a push to regain momentum lost in the face of intense competition and shifting tastes.

Blissett, who replaced China veteran Matt Tsien this year, spoke to Reuters ahead of GM’s Tech Day event here later today, where he and chief executive Mary Barra are expected to announce some of the new technology and product rollout plans.

“This market is rapidly electrifying. Cadillac is on a path to very heavy electrification. Buick is also going to heavily electrify,” said Blissett, adding that GM’s Chinese brands Baojun and Wuling would also go down the electric route.

“The market is changing dramatically. So the concept of standing still in China doesn’t work.”

GM sells its Chevrolets, Buicks and Cadillacs in China as well as its local brands Wuling and Baojun and has been one of the foreign success stories in the world’s biggest auto market along with Germany’s Volkswagen.

But GM sales have taken a hit, falling to 3.1 million vehicles in 2019 from a record 4 million in 2017.

A slowdown in China’s economy and the resulting weakness in its auto market have been a big factor behind GM’s sales slump, but analysts say competition has become fierce too.

Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda have been eating into GM’s business while Chinese automakers such as Geely and Great Wall are making better-quality cars that can compete more effectively with the global giants.

GM is also facing competition from Tesla while Lynk & Co and Polestar, brands affiliated with Volvo, have rolled out sleek eye-catching designs that Chinese consumers crave.

Back to 4 million

In 2017, GM China had a 14.3% share of overall sales of 28.2 million vehicles. By 2019, that had fallen to a share of 12.2% out of 25.4 million cars.

Blissett said the key objective of its strategy was to get back to sales of 4 million vehicles a year as soon as possible.

“Our business is a high engineering cost, high capital cost business, so, without scale, it’s quite difficult to make money. We do need to return to that,” he told Reuters.

He said he could not give a precise timeframe for when GM would hit its goal because of the uncertainty about how fast economies around the world recover from the coronavirus fallout.

Some GM officials have admitted privately that its brands, especially Chevrolet, have been slow to introduce more SUVs in China as they became increasingly popular.

However, both Buick and Chevrolet now have four SUVs each and Cadillac has three, Blissett said.

Analysts have also said the promotion of its top-end Cadillac brand came at the expense of Buick and Chevy sales, and that it failed to match rivals with their sleeker designs.

Blissett said GM would sell bigger SUVs, many of them electric, for its Chevy, Buick and Cadillac brands, though traditional gasoline-powered SUVs still offered GM “huge opportunities” to boost sales in China.

GM also wants to transform Wuling into a brand more focused on micro, electric “people-mover” vans, he said.

Electric revolution

“In the next five years, more than 50% of our capital and engineering deployment will go towards electrification and autonomous-drive technology. That should give you an indication where GM is betting on its future,” GM’s Blissett said.

“Chinese consumers are very embracing of technology, be that technology on the phone, be that e-commerce, be that intelligent driving technology, be that electrification.

Although Europe and the US have fairly significant plans on a governmental and market point of view, the electrification of cars is going to happen much faster here in China,” he said.

“We intend to be right in the heart of that market. So, we will heavily play in the EV space. And that’s the reason why we are investing as we are.”

GM’s Wuling and Baojun brands have borne the brunt of falling sales over the past two years as lower-income consumers bought fewer cars in the face of slower growth and as competition from Chinese rivals at the entry level intensified.

There are signs of life at Wuling, however, with sales up 9.7% in the second quarter of 2020.

GM hopes its new Wuling MINI EV launched this year, a micro two-door car, and a series of similar cars in the pipeline, will help it win back share. Before EV subsidies, the MINI EV can cost as little as 28,800 yuan (RM17,393) for a basic model.

‘Winners and losers’

To be sure, GM has made blunders, such as equipping some compact cars with unpopular three-cylinder engines. That hit GM sales significantly and it had to resurrect a four-cylinder gasoline engine for some models.

Still, analysts said much of the body blow GM’s brands took in China has come from local brands that have significantly improved the quality of their cars and as Japanese and German rivals boosted sales despite a weaker overall market.

Beijing’s emphasis on greener vehicles has also significantly pushed up the costs associated with the designing and manufacturing cars, which have combined to trigger a shake-up of China’s auto industry.

Already, small Chinese brands such as Lifan have gone out of business while French carmaker PSA has scaled back its operations significantly and Renault (RENA.PA), which is in a global alliance with Nissan, packed up and left.

“There is a revolution going on in the industry,” said Blissett. “There are also winners and losers in the global brands. The trend is actually for the local brands to lose share if you look at the total trend. Luxury is a gain in share.”

Analysts expect the consolidation in the auto industry to continue unabated in the coming years, with more failures, and also more mergers and acquisitions.

China auto industry expert Michael Dunne said if GM failed to manage its numerous brands in China properly, one might end up becoming a casualty.

“The introduction of Cadillac has had the effect of knocking Buick down a notch in the eyes of Chinese consumers,” he said. “Buick is tilting more towards where Chevy plays, and as a result the two brands are crowding each other and are now throwing weaker punches.”


Indonesia gets first crack at second-gen Honda BR-V

                JAKARTA: The second-generation Honda BR-V made its world premiere at a virtual launch here last week.

The all-new BR-V comes with a completely redesigned look and series of advanced technologies that are not only the first to be implemented in the model but also previously not available among all models in its segment.

No price has been announced yet at the Sept 21 virtual event but it's estimated to be at around 260 million Rupiah (RM76,000).

In line with its initial development concept, the latest BR-V was designed to combine the tough character of an SUV, the spaciousness and high utility of an MPV, with the fun to drive and fuel efficiency performance that has become the signature of Honda cars.

Meanwhile, the series of new features and technology introduced for the first time for the new BR-V, such as Honda SENSING, Honda LaneWatch, Remote Engine Start, Walk-Away Auto Lock, and Smart Entry System helped to create a new definition of driving experience for a 7-seater in its class.

In particular, this is the first time Honda SENSING technology has filtered down to the BR-V after it was made available in higher segment models such as Odyssey, Accord and CR-V.

Honda SENSING is a series of advanced safety technologies that provide comprehensive protection for drivers and passengers by providing warnings and automatically take action to reduce the risk of accidents

The exterior presents a dynamic body shape, with strong body lines that run from the front to the back of the body.

The front features an aggressive and sporty look of an SUV. It also features a newly designed LED headlamp equipped with an LED Daytime Running Light that integrates with the front grille.

On the rear side, a newly designed rear combi lamp equipped with LED light bars, is designed to blend with the body lines. The SUV runs on new 17” alloy wheels with a new design.

The cockpit area offers a comfortable and spacious space for the driver and passengers, complete with first row console armrest and second row seat armrest to ensure passengers in each row experience a more enjoyable time inside the cabin.

More power outlets at the front, middle, and rear seats make it even more user-friendly.

For the driver, a 4.2” TFT display is located on the dashboard to display various important information while driving such as Honda SENSING functions, average fuel consumption, mileage, and remaining fuel.

A 7” touchscreen displays audio equipped with various functions including Smartphone Connection and a Hands-Free Telephone available for driver and passenger convenience.

More leather materials has been added for the cabin, including for the armrests, door panels, and dashboard.

The flexible storage spaces have been increased, including on the armrests, small items storage, cup holders in the console area, sun visor with makeup mirror and lamp, storage compartments with many pockets behind the seats, up to 8 water bottle holders and a 3rd-row seats that can be folded up with 50/50 configuration.

The new BR-V is powered by a new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine with a maximum power of 119hp at 6,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 145Nm at 4,300 rpm.

The improved engine is supported by a new CVT system relaying power to the front axle. The setup results in better fuel efficiency and the SUV complies with EURO4 emissions standard.

PT Honda Prospect Motor introduced the BR-V in 2015. Until now, Honda BR-V continues to be well received by customers in Indonesia with total retail sales of 76,846 units.

Globally, Honda BR-V has sold more than 255,000 units and Indonesia is the country with the highest sales contribution of 30%.

The new BR-V was initially showcased as the N7X concept in May to gauge Indonesian reaction and feedback.

Five colours are available for the BR-V in Indonesia namely Premium Opal White Pearl (new colour), Taffeta White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.


Ford, Mahindra to co-develop mid-size SUV for emerging markets

                NEW DELHI: Ford Motor Co. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. agreed to co-develop a mid-size sports utility vehicle for India and emerging markets in an effort to sustain profitability in the world’s third-biggest car market.

The new SUV will have a common Mahindra product platform and powertrain, helping to reduce product development costs and gain economies of scale, Mahindra and Ford said in a statement today.

The agreement signed by the two carmakers reinforces progress they have made since announcing a strategic alliance in September 2017 and powertrain-sharing and connected-car solutions a year later. Ford was among the first global automakers to enter India in 1995, partnering Mahindra when the country opened its car market for foreign investment.

The two companies set up a factory near Chennai and started making the Escort sedan. While models including the Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta and Figo followed, the Dearborn, Michigan-based carmaker lagged behind companies including Suzuki Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. in India. Ford and Mahindra ended their partnership in 2005.

The tie-up with Mahindra is critical for Ford as it has been trying to boost its market share unsuccessfully in the market led by Suzuki and Hyundai.


BMW Group applies AI solutions to increase paint shop quality

                MUNICH: Vehicle paintwork quality can be improved by using artificial intelligence (AI), as demonstrated by a pilot project in the paint shop of the BMW Group’s Munich plant.

Painted surfaces can be impaired by dust content in the ambient air.

BMW specialists are now applying AI algorithms to compare live data from dust particle sensors in the paint booths and dryers with data gathered from automatic surface inspections in the paint shop.

“Data-based solutions help us secure and further extend our stringent quality requirements to the benefit of our customers. Smart data analytics and AI serve as key decision-making aids for our team when it comes to developing process improvements. We have filed for several patents relating to this innovative dust particle analysis technology,” explains Albin Dirndorfer, senior vice president of Painted Body, Finish and Surface at the BMW Group.

Two specific examples show the benefits of this new AI solution: Where dust levels are set to rise owing to the season or during prolonged dry periods, the algorithm can detect this trend in good time and is able to determine, for example, an earlier time for filter replacement.

Additional patterns can be detected where this algorithm is used alongside other analytical tools. For example, analysis could further show that the facility that uses ostrich feathers to remove dust particles from car bodies needs to be fine-tuned.

The BMW Group’s AI specialists see enormous potential in dust particle analysis.

Based on information from numerous sensors and data from surface inspections, the algorithm monitors over 160 features relating to the car body and is able to predict the quality of paint application very accurately.

This AI solution will be suitable for application in series production when an even broader database for the algorithm has been developed. In particular, this requires additional measuring points and even more precise sensor data for the car body cleaning stations.

The AI experts are confident that once the pilot project at the parent plant in Munich has been completed, it will be possible to launch dust particle analysis also at other vehicle plants.


79 Proton outlets on track to get 3S and 4S status

                SUBANG JAYA: In less than five months, Proton has achieved 72% of its 2018 target for its outlets nationwide to have 3S (sales, service and spare parts) and 4S status.

A 4S centre houses sales, services, spare parts and a body and paint centre under one roof.

In a statement, the national automaker said it is on track with its plan to attain 109 outlets of 3S and 4S stature by end-October 2018.

"From January – 18 May this year, we managed to accomplish 79 outlets with 3S and 4S status, which is approximately 72% achievement against target set for the year. We are confident that we are on steady grounds to provide world class excellence by delivering best sales and service experience for our customers,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton after another dealers' signing ceremony with 12 existing and 3 new dealers.

Proton vice president of sales and marketing Abdul Rashid Musa said the national automaker is definitely gaining momentum to reap rewards in the future from current plans that have been put in place.

"I encourage dealers to upgrade their outlets to 3S and 4S so that we could all be in a thriving business together and progressively benefit from it," said Abdul Rashid.

Meanwhile, Teng Swee Eng, of DRS Golsta Sdn Bhd who is a new Proton dealer, said Proton's partnership with Geely Auto puts the national marque in a stronger position to gain market traction.

"We also get the sense that consumers are eager for the coming new product launches, especially the first Proton SUV (sport utility vehicle," said Teng, who is a first-time car dealer.

This confidence was echoed by Chai Siam Yeong, of Anggerik Semoyang Sdn Bhd, who has never been a car dealer as well but took a leap faith for this venture into a 3S outlet.

Chai said, “Although we have no experience as a car dealer, we see tremendous opportunity as a Proton dealer. With the first Proton SUV in the market, the interest from the public is high."

Goh Kian Chuan, of Didi Motors Sdn Bhd, who is a new dealer with a 3S facility, said, "Looking at current developments in Proton, we are more than confident it is moving in the right direction. The market wants quality cars coming from Proton at affordable prices."

Meanwhile, a Proton dealer for 15 years, Sobri Mustafa of Top Zone Auto Gallery Sdn Bhd who decided to upgrade to a 3S outlet said, “The secret to a successful business is the ability to make customers happy and satisfied for both sales and after sales service. Moreover, with the current partnership with Geely, we can now compete with brands from Japan and Korea due to capabilities in terms of technology advancement, attractive design, comfort, and especially in terms of quality where we can see there are improvements in our cars now.”

For Datin Fauziah Ahmad, of Pengangkutan Sedar Sdn Bhd, she said the company had started its own initiative to upgrade from a shop-lot to a stand-alone building two years ago.

"The upgrade to a 3S outlet will ultimately serve its purpose as we will be able to serve customers better,” said Fauziah.

As for Datuk Sri Ngu Ung Yong, of Ngu’s Motor Service Sdn Bhd, he said, “Proton is our national car and it is our duty to make it successful again. Moreover, with the partnership with Geely and new management, we trust Proton is in a good position for turnaround.

Ngu is upgrading his premise in Sibu, Sarawak to a 4S outlet.

Currently, Proton is offering a 0% hire purchase interest subsidy for selected Proton models (applicable for Exora, Ertiga, Iriz and Suprima S Premium).

It is also offering free 3 months instalment or body kit or RM1,000 discount for theSaga, free 3 months instalment or RM1,000 discount for the Persona, as well as discounts of up to RM 15,172.

These promotions are valid until 31 May 2018.

Also, Proton is offering its customers the option of either cash rebate or service vouchers equivalent to the same value, for the difference between the pre and post GST price for cars bought and registered from 16 May – 31 May 2018.


Naza auto brands resume operations today

                KUALA LUMPUR: Several automotive brands under the Naza Group are resuming operations starting today.

These include Naza Italia Sdn Bhd, NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Nasim Sdn Bhd, Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd and Naza Motor Trading Sdn Bhd.

Strict safety measures and operating procedures enforced by the local authorities will be adhered to at the premises of each brand.

This would include the necessary hygiene and social distancing practices to ensure customers’ peace of mind.

NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd (Mercedes-Benz) is operating strictly on bookings only, at its Klang Autohaus, KL North-East Service Centre and Johor Bahru Autohaus outlets.

Customers who wish to visit the service centers are required to contact the respective service branches to make a booking.

Contact information of each service branch is available on the NZ Wheels social media pages https://www.facebook.com/nzwheels/ or https://www.instagram.com/nz_wheels/.

Naza Kia Malaysia (Kia Malaysia) is resuming full operations at its authorised outlets in stages and has initiated the ‘Kia Promise’ programme which ends in June 2020.

This means that all existing warranties will remain valid even if preventive maintenance service could not be performed during the MCO (Movement Control Order).

The programme also covers vehicle warranties that end during the MCO as well as those unable to get warranty repairs performed on their vehicle during that period.

Customers are also given an additional grace period of two months or 2,000km (in moderation) beyond the standard six months or 10,000km service interval to service their vehicle following the end of MCO.

Customers of Nasim Sdn Bhd (Peugeot) and Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd (Citroën Malaysia and DS Malaysia) are required to call in to book an appointment prior to their visit.

All warranties for the three aforementioned brands will still be honoured if service appointments or due dates fall within the MCO period.

The Customer Service team is reachable at their toll-free number 1800-88-6262, via email clic@naza.com.my or via Facebook messenger @peugeotmalaysia.

Naza Motor Trading also resumes regular business hours today at Naza Automall PJ from 9am to 6pm.

Naza Automall is the largest automotive showroom in Malaysia with a wide variety of automotive brands under one roof. Customers can visit the showroom and check out irresistible new promotions on offer to enjoy extra savings.


French company makes Biophalt or asphalt it says is environment-friendly

                PARIS: French construction company Eiffage has developed a new type of pavement for more sustainable roads, called Biophalt.

The production of this material allows for significant energy savings compared to conventional asphalt mixes. Plus its structure can be recycled.

Biophalt is a type of pavement that is made with a new generation of plant-based binder derived from a French forestry co-product, which replaces the petroleum-based bitumen usually used by manufacturers.

It has the advantage of retaining all the performance of a conventional asphalt mix, but its design allows for energy savings, thanks to the lower manufacturing temperature. This results in a significant reduction of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, Biophalt is fully recyclable.

Before being put into use, the company evaluated its performance; it was found to withstand the weight of more than two million 13-ton axle vehicles without showing the slightest defect.

To date, several sites in France have already been equipped with this type of surfacing.

One example is a section of departmental road 924, in the Orne department, between Flers and Landigou, where nearly 3,000 metres of pavement were renovated.

Similarly, a section of the A40 highway near Caen, between the towns of Laize-la-Ville and Clinchamps-sur-Orne is the site of a new greenway.


Mahindra seeks to dump struggling unit SsangYong

                NEW DELHI: Mahindra & Mahindra plans to give up control of struggling South Korean unit SsangYong Motor, the Indian automaker’s managing director said on Friday, as it looks to exit loss-making ventures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“SsangYong needs a new investor. We are working with the company to see if we can secure investment,” Pawan Goenka told reporters.

Mahindra earlier reported a consolidated net loss of 19.55 billion rupees (RM1.1bil), compared with a net profit a year ago, as it booked a write-down on its investment in SsangYong and other international units.

Mahindra, which owns a 75% stake in SsangYong, rescued the sport-utility vehicle (SUV) maker from near-insolvency in 2010 but has struggled to revive its fortunes. The company said in April it would not invest further in SsangYong.

“If a new investor comes on board, that automatically takes our stake down, or they may even buy our stake,” Mahindra’s deputy managing director, Anish Shah said.

As part of a wider restructuring effort by the company to cut costs and prioritise capital expenditure as it rides out the coronavirus pandemic, Mahindra would review all its loss-making businesses over the next 12 months, Shah said.

Where there is no clear path to profitability it would look for a partnership or close down those businesses, but in those that can clearly generate equity returns of 18% or those that are of strategic importance, Mahindra would continue to invest, Shah said.

Mahindra, which entered into a joint venture with US automaker Ford Motor last year, said the pandemic had delayed the completion of formalities between the two companies but they continued to work together under the new alliance.


2016 Geneva Motor Show: Goodyear concept tyres

                GENEVA: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has revealed two innovative new concept tyres at the 86th Geneva International Motor Show that could literally reshape the future for autonomous cars.

The concepts: the spherical-shaped Eagle-360 - a future-oriented tyre - was designed with key features of maneuverability, connectivity and biomimicry for autonomous mobility, while the IntelliGrip, featuring advanced sensor and treadwear technology, is a solution for the earlier adoption of self-driving vehicles.

Both tyres are designed with safety in mind, which according to recent studies, is a key concern among consumers around autonomous vehicles. They reflect Goodyear’s focus on anticipating the rapidly evolving needs of its customers.

“By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tyres will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer.

“Goodyear’s concept tyres play a dual role in that future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and testbeds for next-generation technologies.”

 Goodyear Eagle-360.

The Goodyear Eagle-360 - Maneuverability: The multi-orientation of the spherical-shaped tyre allows the car to move in all directions, contributing to safety for passengers, as well as coping with space limitations such as tight parking lots or city streets.

Connectivity: Embedded sensors further increase safety by communicating road and weather conditions to the vehicle control system and other nearby cars, while tread and tyre pressure monitoring technology regulate even wear of the 360-degree tyre to extend mileage.

Connected via magnetic levitation: The tyres would rely on a magnetic levitation system to suspend the car resulting in a smooth, quiet ride for the passenger.

Biomimicry: Inspired by nature, the 3D printed tread mimics the pattern of brain coral and behaves like a natural sponge – designed to stiffen in dry conditions and soften when wet to deliver excellent driving performance and aquaplaning resistance.

 Goodyear IntelliGrip.

The Goodyear IntelliGrip - Senses road conditions: Thanks to its advanced sensor technology and specially designed tread, the concept tyre can sense many road conditions, including both surface and weather conditions.

Active-wear technology: The IntelliGrip also uses advanced active wear technology to assess the condition of the tyre and the vehicle.

Custom algorithms: Goodyear-developed algorithms account for variables such as inflation pressure and tyre temperature.

Adapting to road conditions: When the tyre senses a rainy or slippery road surface, the autonomous vehicle will adapt its speed. Additionally, the tyre can shorten the stopping distance, provide a better cornering response, optimize stability and even support collision prevention systems.

Technology adaption: Goodyear is working with a number of vehicle manufacturers to further adapt this technology to their needs, enhancing connectivity with features such as Electronic Stability Control Systems, Brake Control Systems and Suspension Control Systems.


E-hailing companies required to send riders, drivers for Covid-19 screening

                PUTRAJAYA: E-hailing companies must send their riders and drivers to be screened for Covid-19, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this is to ensure their health and safety as they are in constant contact with clients whenever they drop off deliveries.

"For the sake of their health, companies must ensure those providing the service go for Covid-19 test. This can be done at either government or private clinics," he said.

He said the same rule applies to companies which provide their own delivery service such as fast-food restaurants.

The Transport Ministry will issue the order to e-hailing companies while the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will do so for business outlets.

For independent e-hailing providers, they are required to register with the local authorities according to their locality, said Ismail Sabri.

"This is so that authorities can track them if there are any positive cases of Covid-19 and the rider might have sent food and other items to the person," he said.

Ismail Sabri said that while physical Ramadan bazaars and stalls will not be allowed, food operators can use e-hailing services to deliver food, as practised now.

The minister also reported on enforcement activities that were carried out on April 16, where 1,057 individuals were arrested for movement control order violations.

Of the arrests made, 906 were remanded and 151 were released in bail.

Authorities also conducted 813 roadblocks nationwide on Thursday (April 16) and checked 557,699 vehicles.