‘Like’ them or not, car influencers shape the way the industry sells

Hirschi is an Australian social media personality who currently lives in Dubai. Her millions of fans know her as Supercarblondie. — Bloomberg
Alan Enileev won the Need For Speed championship at the World Cyber Games in 2006.

He was one of eight Russians selected to carry his nation’s flag for the opening of the 2014 Summer Olympic games in Sochi, Russia.

Now, at 31, he has transferred his love of all things virtual onto the world of cars, waxing rhapsodic – mostly in Russian – about the inner workings of Bugattis and G-Wagens to his 2.1 million Instagram fans. He’s so popular that he got his stately, silver-haired father into it, too: Papa Enileev commands 104,000 Instagram followers of his own.

 Enileev is at the top of his game when talking about cars to a Russian audience.

Enileev is a leader in an increasingly crowded field of high end automotive 'influencers'. Tim Burton, a round-faced Brit who goes by the name of Shmee150, has 1.8 million followers on YouTube; Alex Hirschi, known online as Supercarblondie, has 2.3 million.

The big stories

In August, Hirschi helped unveil the Bugatti Centodieci, a US$9mil (RM37mil), 1600-horsepower supercar at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California. In October, a single Instagram post from her about an unknown car brand called DS Automobiles earned 2.6 million views and a predictable wave of inquiries about its cars.

She claims that many of her adoring fans admit they were never interested in cars before they started watching her videos.

"I feel like I’ve widened the interest in the automotive world,” says Hirschi, who prefers the term "content creator", rather than influencer. Whatever you call it, the high profile is exactly what makes her irresistible to automakers.

Hirschi, Burton, and Enileev each make enough money from their social media content to support comfortable lifestyles in Dubai, England, and Russia, respectively – and to cover extensive travels to the most glamorous cities and Instagram photo-worthy hotels in the world.

 Shmee150 makes more than enough from his social media work to indulge in a life of fast cars and travel. — Instagram/Schmee150

Car companies such as McLaren, Porsche, and Lamborghini vie to host them – all expenses paid, plus project rates and appearance fees – to win glowing posts featuring videos of their cars.

"We recognise that to have that contribution, we can really influence the opinion of thousands or millions of people,” says Katia Bassi, Lamborghini’s chief marketing officer.

It’s a high-stakes game set in two volatile landscapes: Both autos and media have undergone massive revolutions in recent years. The losers are those unseen by millions. The prize in last place is irrelevance.

How do they do it?

A car influencer defined in modern terms; is someone who receives gifts, travel, accommodations, or cash in exchange for exposure on their social media channels for the entity that provided the gifts.

That individual deliberately and systematically courts automakers as a business model while not being directly involved in the car business-unlike, say, five-time Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton, who has 13 million followers on Instagram.

For many, it is their lifeblood.

In general, car influencers can charge around US$10,000 (RM41,861) per post for every million followers-more if they have exceptional engagement rates. (A good engagement rate on Instagram is around 5%.)

 Delanney, 21, has over 170,000 followers on YouTube. — Instagram/sebdelanney

Seb Delanney has 226,000 Instagram followers and 142,000 YouTube subscribers. He got his first influencing gig when he was 14: He received a free hat in exchange for wearing it in a video. "That was what sparked me to think that, eventually, this may become a source of income,” he says. These days, though he declined to discuss his annual take, Delanney says he commands enough money to support a comfortable lifestyle in London.

Sometimes Delanney will approach a company with a specific idea about something they can do together, including a road trip, surprising fans, or a track day. He does a lot of work for certain clients on a long-term basis, such as Tag Heuer and McLaren. He also makes sure to keep regularly in touch with contacts he has made over the years "to pitch my ideas to their social media or communications teams and hope they take the time to read and respond”, he says. More often, the work he gets comes in response to direct requests from press officers at automotive brands and marketing agencies.

"I genuinely think the most hidden fact about this business is the work behind it,” Delanney says.

"It’s very competitive, with very long hours and constant thought process required. Social media is 24/7, so you need to work constantly and love what you do accordingly.”

The day-to-day grind

In the never-ending cycle of the social media world, the all-day, every day qualifier is all too real. Comments come in from all over the globe, like a water-torture drip, and engagement with fans requires round-the-clock vigilance. In this line of work, weekends and holidays aren’t exactly built-in scenarios.

"I work all the time and find it hard to switch off,” Hirschi says. "You are also at the mercy of the platforms you post on. They tend to favour content creators who post very regularly, meaning: If you take a break, the algorithms will work against you.”

What’s more, she says, it’s surprising how many people expect her to advertise their businesses for free: "They don’t realise how hard it is to grow an engaged audience of millions of people.”

For Delanney, generating new ideas is often the hardest part: "I have made over 700 videos – that’s 700 ideas, 700 edits, 700 video shoots,” he says. "It requires a lot of work.”

Then again, each influencer has a distinct style. Some bow to the algorithm chain-gang death grip more than others.

"Tim is absolutely flat-out busy with the creation of content for his YouTube channel,” Burton’s assistant wrote in reply to an interview request, noting it would take six months before Shmee had an opening in his schedule for a phone call. "It is part of the life of an influencer: never time and always lived by the algorithms of YouTube.”

What’s the allure?

The human perspective that influencers provide forms their strongest allure, first for their audiences and consequently, for the automakers.

"They humanise what we do,” Bentley chairman and chief executive officer Adrian Hallmark told me recently in Monaco. We had sat down for an interview about the company’s new US$215,000 (RM900,011) Flying Spur; nearby, a lithe, platinum-haired young man recorded social media videos about Bentley’s latest trademark fragrance.

"If you’re 23 and you’ve not got a career yet, the thought of a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce must be so alien and irrelevant – at least, it was for me when I was that age,” Hallmark says. "But if you can get across human stories – human content – then, when you’re with Bentley, it doesn’t feel like a pompous, old-fashioned, arrogant organisation.”

Most influencers are under 30 years old; many are under 25. They are natural allies for automotive brands that have, since the beginning of time, striven to reach younger buyers. Rolls-Royce, for instance, reports that its average buyer is 45 years old, a commendable figure, considering the average age of luxury car buyers is above 50.

 Volvo's partnership with Song has been a hit. — Instagram/Aimee Song

"Automakers are smart to be using [influencers] to get the word out about their product to anyone under the age of 60,” says Spike Feresten, a screenwriter with a successful automotive podcast. "They need to – because while the over-60s are at home reading the newspaper, the rest of us are on social media.”

The numbers are undeniable: Some 88% of consumers trust online recommendations as much as face-to-face recommendations, while 70% of teens think that YouTubers are more reliable than celebrities, according to Social Media Today.

Auto companies experience varying degrees of social media engagement for car buyers, ranging from 25% to 75% and higher, depending on the numbers you read. Luxury brands, in general, outpace others when it comes to interactions per post.

According to a recent report, Volvo generated US$5mil (RM20mil) worth of media exposure after two weeks of working with Aimee Song, a benign young woman based in Los Angeles hired to promote the new XC90 SUV. Song shared three Instagram posts and an Instagram story with her 5.4 million followers; Volvo declined to comment.

‘Influencer’ as a ‘disgusting word’

Influencers have drawn vociferous critics. Beyond the ambivalence some automakers have about merely speaking about them on the record (Ferrari and BMW, among others, declined to comment for this story), there are significant ethical ramifications to the relationship.

When car companies transfer undisclosed amounts of money, products, and travel packages to private individuals, those who receive said gifts are expected to play nice. That means influencers are unlikely to say anything disparaging – ever – about products that may not, in fact, be very good.

"Influencers are easily confused with actual car critics – but they’re essentially doing advertisements,” says Jonny Lieberman, a longtime columnist and video presenter at Motor Trend. Lieberman has built a devoted following for his contrarian takes on supercars and his blunt linguistic style. "Because they’re all independent contractors, they don’t ever say anything negative, no matter what. And they would never say anything negative, because they are making income from the manufacturers.”

 Krispy based in New York has over 200,000 followers on Instagram. — Instagram/krispy

The scenario creates an unnatural feedback loop of automotive leaders surrounded by people professionally incapable of critiquing the products they’re shilling, Lieberman says. "I hope that in 30 years we all look back on the term ‘influencer’ as a disgusting word.”

Dan Neil, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who now works for the Wall Street Journal, shares the concerns about the "moral hazard” that influencers have introduced into the automotive industry, notwithstanding their popularity.

"I think there are a lot of fantastic young people who are doing really good stuff [on social media] – and more power to them – but it’s a confusing landscape, especially for newbies as they seek authority,” Neil says. "You don’t have to be much of an expert to have a million followers.”

In short order, the thinking goes, automakers could do away altogether with public relations departments and interacting with professional journalists. They could funnel the money they spend working with traditional media back into marketing, with no risk of even constructive criticism.

Ultimately, consumers would suffer if product performance, reliability, and safety were to decline for lack of professional feedback and critique. Since consumers vote with their wallets, the end result would be felt at under-performing car companies.

What’s the future?

Hirschi/Supercarblondie, for her part, notes that she is "not an automotive expert” – and that’s the point: "I speak in relatable terms, without too much car lingo, so more and more people can engage with the car world,” she says.

"And I’m not afraid to ask questions on behalf of a whole community of people who want to learn but are afraid they’ll be shut down.”

Many brands feel comfortable playing in this field, with caveats. Lamborghini’s Bassi says the 56-year-old Italian marque approaches influencers as an "evolution” of media to be appreciated, not feared.

"Our customers are very, very young right now; they are the same people following influencers on social media,” Bassi says. "At the same time, Lamborghini is always careful about the trends. We don’t want to swim in a big ocean of 5,000 people pretending to be influencers. We have to carefully select the right ones.”

 Hirschi says nowadays brands reach out to her instead of the other way around. — Instagram/supercarblondie

At Mercedes-Benz, Willem Spelten says the right influencers can make the industry more "interesting and lively”. The global senior manager for brand and product communications at Mercedes-Benz sees plenty of potential for healthy growth.

"If an influencer stays true to himself or herself, and if they continue to produce their own stories, then there is certainly a potential for them to continue to grow,” Spelten says.

Indeed, London’s Delanney says his income has been "steadily increasing each year”. Hirschi says she rarely, if ever, has to approach brands for paid collaborations the way she used to. Now they reach out to her.

"There are some brands who completely ignore this movement, but I think it’s only going to hurt them in the end,” she says. "It’s unfortunate when I see brands spending a lot of time and money on creating online content that hardly anyone watches.”


TC Euro Cars pumps up the appeal of Renault Fluence

                PETALING JAYA: Renault distributor TC Euro Cars today announced a new sales promotion on the Fluence.

The "We’ve Got You Covered" campaign is designed to offer customers a worry-free experience amidst rising costs of living.

TC Euro Cars is offering free instalments for one year – which translates to RM15,000 in savings – in addition to covering the new Fluence buyer for the next five years with the "5inFluence" service and maintenance package.

The service and maintenance package includes a five-year manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage; free maintenance for five years or up to 100,000km, whichever comes first; one-year genuine parts warranty; complimentary pick-up service for every scheduled servicing; and a 48-hour Mobility Solution which provides a courtesy car when a customer’s Fluence stays in the service centre for more than 48 hours.

The Fluence is powered by a 2.0L petrol engine that is mated to a CVT X-Tronic automatic gearbox. It produces 141hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 195Nm at 3,750 rpm.

The Fluence is available in two variants, Expression and Dynamique, priced at RM108,888 and RM119,888 respectively.  Five colour options are available – Crimson Red (Dynamique variant only), Ultra Silver, Black Metallic, Mars Grey and White Pearl.

The promotion is valid until May 31 and applicable to selected Fluence variants registered during the promotional period.


2018 Geneva Motor Show sees slight drop in visitors to 660,000

                GENEVA: Organisers of the Geneva Motor Show have announced that the 2018 edition, held March 8-18, was attended by just over 660,000 visitors, down 4.5% on 2017.

The organisers report that 80% of visitors were aged between 19 and 64 years old. Around half came from outside of Switzerland and more than a third (38%) said they were looking to buy a car by 2020.

The 2018 event set the stage for around a hundred premieres, including new-generation models of the Audi A6, KIA Ceed, Mercedes A-Class and Peugeot 508.

There were also some spectacular new supercars, such as the Bugatti Chiron Sport, Ferrari 488 Pista, Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder, Corbellati Missile and Rimac Concept Two.


Comeback kids: The motorcycle class of 2019

Suzuki Katana.
BERLIN: While the retro trend in the motorcycle world looks to be showing no sign of slowing in 2019, there are enough "electrifying" surprises to keep the year's releases interesting.

Take the 59kW/80hp Moto Guzzi V85 TT for starters, with looks that hark back to the late 1970s, or the return of the Kawaski W800, which has been on hiatus for three years: Both are looking to the past for inspiration.

Despite that, there are still modifications, with "90 per cent of the installed parts being new" for the W800, says Michael Lenzen, Chairman of the German Association of Motorcyclists.

The W800 is offered as a street version and a cafe version, with a small cockpit panel and hump seat.

The Moto Guzzi, however, for all its retro looks, is far from a bargain at €12,000 (RM56,000), says Lenzen.

 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC.

For only €1,550 extra, the significantly more powerful and lighter Triumph Scrambler 1200 XC - with 66kW/90hp - is available.

The smaller Street Scrambler has also been improved by Triumph, with the British company adding 10hp (now at 48kW/65hp) to the bike.

Both Scrambler models owe their off-road looks to models from the 1960s, but they offer more versatility for the rider, with two driving modes for changing terrain.

Continuing with the off-road capable rides are the BMW R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure with 100kW/136hp.

"It costs at least €16,150, and if you choose the Adventure variant with a larger tank and more travel, it adds up to €17,700," says Lenzen.

 Honda CB 650 R.

The Royal Enfield company, which has been in Indian hands since 1984, has so far only built single-cylinder classic-style models.

That is until now, with the classic two-cylinder tradition from the 1960s and 1970s - when they were British-owned - coming into their latest range.

With the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 come two classic models that offer four-valve technology and overhead camshaft.

Prices for both start at around €6,500.

In contrast, the Husqvarna Svartpilen 701 sports an avant-garde interpretation of the classic flat-racer bikes of the past.

 Harley-Davidson LiveWire.

The single-cylinder engine - which is based loosely on the 690 Duke of parent company KTM - produces 55kW/75hp and costs €10,195.

With twice as much horsepower comes the 110kW/150hp Suzuki Katana.

The original Katana, released in the early 1980s, was a design icon.

"The Katana seemed almost like a science-fiction movie," says Lenzen.

Using the solid technical base of the GSX-S1000, the Japanese manufacturers have renewed the Katana.

 Husqvarna Svartpilen 701

A price is still not known, but Lenzen assumes that Suzuki will price it a little higher than the GSX-S 1000, which costs €12,395.

For this money, you could almost afford both the new Honda CB 650 R and the CB 300 R.

With the 650, the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer is closing the gap created in the Neo Sports Cafe series between the CB 1000 R and CB 300 R.

The four-cylinder bike with 70kW/95hp should cost around €8,000.

Likely to be much more expensive is Harley-Davidson's first e-bike, the LiveWire. Expected for release in late summer, the LiveWire's electric gliders should be to reach a riding range of 177km.

Due to the electric drive, neither a clutch or gearbox are required, with the US manufacturers' latest model capable of going from 0 to almost 97kph in less than 3.5 seconds.

 Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Kawasaki W800.BMW R 1250 GS


Care for a Monkey Wash?

                PETALING JAYA: An online platform called Monkey Wash that aims to provide a car wash service is launched today.

At the same time, it has a twin goal to provide employment opportunities in Malaysia.

It bills itself as the largest on-call car wash service that is offering more than 1,000 jobs and 100 slots for people to become car wash kiosk operators.

Founder and CEO Terry Swee said the platform is a breakthrough locally as it not only serves the public but also provides the opportunity for individuals to generate permanent and/or side income by becoming a car wash kiosk owner.

Under Monkey Wash’s Car Wash Kiosk Programme, entrepreneurs can take part as kiosk operators with a small outlay in capital.

Future services that will be included on the app-based platform are launderette and house cleaning, he added.

Monkey Wash is now available in the Klang Valley, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Bintulu and Johor Baru.

Its founder also plans to expand the service to Brunei next month.

"The last few years have been very challenging, the locals have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. I am thankful to have been given a special opportunity to be with my friends in our country and provide online car wash services while generating a lucrative income."

Monkey Wash was launched here today by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Sri Ti Lian Ker.

Go to https://www.monkeywash.asia/ for more information.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches a slew of S-Class cars

                PETALING JAYA: The latest iteration of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine, the S 450 L, has been launched in Malaysia with a price tag of RM699,888.

Besides the S-Class limo, three exotic variants of the S-Class were also introduced - S 560 Cabriolet (priced RM1,310,662.21), Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupe (priced RM1,461,605.60), and Mercedes-Maybach S 560 (priced from RM1.4mil with further individualisation and personalisation available upon request).

All prices are on-the-road without insurance.

 From left, Raine and Weidner at the launch of the S-Class family.

Standard across the S-Class range are such features as Distronic Plus semi-autonomous driving, Air Body Control suspension, a Burmester Surround Sound system, Widescreen Cockpit with COMAND Online infotainment.

The S 450 L is the only variant which features a 3.0L V6 engine and is locally assembled while the rest have 4.0L V8 biturbo mills and are imported.

Nevertheless, the S 450 L has impressive figures with a maximum output of 367hp with 500Nm of torque and a 0-100kph time of just 5.4 seconds.

 S 450 L.

“The S-Class family is the definitive statement of luxury in it purest form. From the modern luxury of the S-Class limousine to the pair that is S-Class Cabriolet and the Mercedes-AMG S-Class Coupe offering bespoke luxury and performance luxury for the discerning connoisseur or driver, and of course the embodiment of ultimate luxury that is the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class; the S-Class family has something to fulfill every desire.

“With this launch of this exclusive collection, the Pinnacle of Luxury, we proudly underline our position as a leading luxury lifestyle brand in the automotive segment,” said vice president sales & marketing passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Mark Raine.

Also present at the launch was president & chief executive officer, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Dr Claus Weidner.

READ MORE:
Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 450 L
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupe
Mercedes-Benz S 560 Cabriolet S 560 Cabriolet. S 63 Coupe. Maybach S 560.


Proton sales up 162% YoY in January 2023

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd’s sales surged 162.3 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) with 11,681 vehicles sold in January 2023, recording the best January sales since 2013.

In a statement today, the national carmaker said its market share for the month was 22.9 per cent, better than its market share of 19.6 per cent for the whole of last year.

It said Saga was the brand’s best seller with 4,788 units sold in January 2023, followed by X50 (2,992 units sold), Persona (2,039 units) and X70 (993 units).

The sales of Iriz jumped 111 per cent y-o-y to 597 units, while Exora saw 332 units sold last month, it added.

According to Proton, the estimated total industry volume (TIV) for the month stood at 51,000 units, translating to a 22.8 per cent increase in vehicle sales.

Commenting on the performance, deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the company expects the positive trend to continue for the first quarter of the year, as it must fulfil the outstanding orders exempted from the sales and service tax by March 31.

On the 2023 outlook, Roslan said that although TIV is projected to recede from the record numbers last year, Proton remains optimistic to achieve a fifth consecutive year of growth.

"With new facilities due to come online at our plant in Tanjung Malim, continued expansion of our dealer network, investments in the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, as well as the addition of new conventional and EV models to our range, we are confident of being able to end the year positively,” he added.


Aiways granted patents for autonomous EV charging solution

                SHANGHAI: Always, the Shanghai-based personal mobility provider, has been granted seven patents across Europe and China to develop its autonomous charging robot, including the intelligent robot design and charging method.

The device – named ‘CARL’ – helps to solve challenges around charging an electric vehicle (EV).

Developed with 30kwh and 60kwh capacities, CARL can provide a fast charge to any EV with a recognised charging standard.

Re-charging an EV battery to 80% in under 50 minutes, CARL offers a flexible and economical charging solution to private and corporate customers, as well as infrastructure developers and operators.

Having parked their vehicle in public, home or workplace car parks, EV owners can summon a CARL located nearby via a smartphone app and leave. The robot will then use GPS data to locate the vehicle within the area in which it operates, plug in and start charging it automatically. Once the charging process is complete, CARL will continue to the next user, or return to its base station.

“Instead of drivers trying to find a charger, the charger will find them,” said Alex Klose, Vice President for Overseas Operations at Aiways.

“We want to make EV ownership as simple, easy and enjoyable as possible, and CARL provides a blueprint for how EVs can be charged in the future.”


US auto safety agency fails to meet internal timelines in defect probes, says report

WASHINGTON: The US auto safety regulator routinely fails to meet its internal timelines for completing auto safety defect investigations, a government report released on Thursday found, hindering its ability to quickly respond to severe safety risks.

The Transportation Department's Office of Inspector General said that 26 of 27 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigations in its 2018 to 2019 sample did not meet the agency's timeliness targets, and faulted other aspects of its review of safety defects.

The report found NHTSA's efforts, including its leadership holding regular investigation reviews and trying to tighten timelines, had not resulted in timely defect investigations.

The lack of timeliness in completing investigations limits NHTSA's ability to respond to rapidly evolving or severe risks to vehicle safety as well as the agency's public accountability, the report added.

NHTSA defect investigations are required before the agency can seek to compel an automaker to conduct a recall of vehicles that pose serious safety risks.

NHTSA has a 120-day target for completing preliminary evaluations and a one-year target to complete engineering analyses.

The report, in its sample of some 2018 and 2019 NHTSA investigations, found preliminary evaluations spent 617 days open on average while engineering analyses were on average open for 1,001 days.

Deputy NHTSA Administrator Sophie Shulman said in response to the report that simply because the agency exceeded internal timelines that did not demonstrate that its safety interventions were insufficient.

"We do not wait until an investigation is closed to hold a manufacturer accountable for fixing a safety defect," she said.

The report said NHTSA Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) staff complained about limited resources, being overwhelmed by an unprecedented increase in correspondence, management's decision making, approval processes, documentation reviews and the agency's interaction with manufacturers.

NHTSA wants 26 additional ODI employees to identify and investigate potential safety defects and manage recalls, the report said.

The report also faulted NHTSA's reliance upon aging, decentralized databases and said a lack of consistent compliance with its issue escalation processes increased the potential for delays in investigating and mitigating important safety issues.

NHTSA said in response it had already taken actions that fully implement half of the report's recommendations.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of the acting head of NHTSA to take the top job on a permanent basis.

For much of the last six years, NHTSA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator.


You can book Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid now

                KUALA LUMPUR: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has begun accepting orders for the new Ioniq Hybrid, which will be launched in Malaysia by the end of the year.

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors managing director Lau Yit Mun said potential customers can visit any authorised Hyundai sales dealers to place their bookings and be among the first for early delivery of the vehicles.

The Ioniq is an eco-friendly car using Hyundai's Blue Drive Technology. It promises fuel-efficiency, advanced technologies, performance, low maintenance and a stylish design.

The Ioniq Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre GDI four-cylinder Kappa engine coupled with a 43hp electric motor, which is fed by a lithium-ion polymer battery to give a combined output of 139hp and 265Nm of torque. It uses a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The lithium-ion battery pack is said to be 23-25% more efficient than a conventional nickel-metal- hydride battery. Hyundai claims this provides lower memory sensitivity, excellent charge and discharge efficiency and an outstanding maximum output.

The car's shape is also expected to cut drag. The active aero grille, wheel air curtains, rear spoiler and smooth underbody cover help deliver a 0.24 coefficient of drag, making the hybrid model one of the most aerodynamic vehicles on sale.

The cabin features the use of eco-friendly materials and a clutter-free design and a host of safety features. Among these include a touchscreen audio visual navigator, a reverse camera, vehicle stability and seven air bags that include a knee airbag for the driver.

The Ioniq is built with 53.5% advanced-high- strength steel and lightweight aluminium. With a wheelbase of 2,700mm, the Ioniq is about the size of the Elantra.

The car will be displayed at the Malaysia Autoshow 2016, which is scheduled to be held at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, from Nov 10-13. Hyundai will have a booth there to accept bookings.

The Ioniq price and equipment listing will be announced at launch.


Are electric cars more prone to rust?

                STUTTGART: Rusty cars on the road are a rarity these days but according to a recent automotive industry report, some modern electric vehicles are surprisingly prone to corrosion.

The car magazine Auto Motor und Sport has cited Tesla's Model 3 as a prime rust candidate, while problems have also been reported with rusty bolts on other Tesla models and the disc brakes of electrics from other brands.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen said it has spent a small fortune on preventing potential corrosion on its ID.3 model, which has a 12-year guarantee against rusting through.

Rust expert Ralf Roessler examined a Tesla model with just 300km on the clock for the automotive journal and he found that the frame had been given only a thin coat of paint. The A-pillars were also filled with a construction foam which absorbs water.

"After six months it will turn brown, after six years it will be completely rusted,” said Roessler. Rust was visible too on the connecting rods of the suspension, said the expert who predicted that the corrosion would spread if left untreated.

Rust on cars has been less of problem in recent decades thanks to widespread body galvanization and underbody protection sealants along with the use of cavity sealing and plastic wheel arch liners.

It appears manufacturers are now saving on overall rust protection and moving to spot galvanizing, said the car mag. The need to save weight because of heavy on-board batteries can also lead to the use of thinner gauge mild steels and materials like aluminium and magnesium which might react and cause galvanistic corrosion.

Corrosion like this can remained undetected for a long time, Marco Oehler, technical manager with the GTue testing agency, told Auto Motor und Sport.

"This happens if unfavourable material pairings are used in hidden locations, which are harder to protect if moisture seeps in during everyday use," said Oehler. "This acts as an electrolyte and corrosion spots can appear inside before they can be detected from the outside."

Volksagen said the sills under the doors of its ID.3 are sealed with wide strips of plastic to avoid them reacting unfavourably with the steel that surrounds them.

The battery box is also made of steel and it also has to be isolated from the aluminium frame to prevent corrosion, said VW's chief bodywork developer, Johannes Neft.

"We do our utmost to ensure that these two metals do not make contact with each other, which is why we have filled the inside of the steel with wax and the cavities in the aluminium sills have been specially coated," said the engineer.

General rust has not been banished from the car world entirely and Germany's huge ADAC motoring club warns that it can pose risks to both older electric and conventional cars.

The rusty rear brakes on the Toyota Prius hybrid and some electrics were caused by the fact that the stoppers are only used in emergencies causing the discs to develop rust owing to lack of use.

This is because electrics rely largely on recuperative braking which slows down the motor and converts kinetic energy into power.

"Rust affects the crash safety of a car. Especially when the load-bearing structure is damaged," said Maximilian Bauer, ADAC Vehicle Technology Specialist. "This applies particularly to the sills which are usually the most prone to rust and play a very important role in the rigidity of the passenger compartment.”

Tesla has had problems with rust issues in the past and a recall for rusty steering assist bolts has hit owners of the Model S. Tesla said it has now taken precautions.

Figures show that rust problems still affect a considerable number of modern cars whether they are powered by an electric motor or combustion engine.

Data collected by the GTÜ technical inspection agency for Auto Moto und Sport showed that of the the 6.66 million vehicles submitted to GTÜ test centres for the main roadworthiness inspection, since January 2020, 441,000 vehicles had rust problems.

These were mostly vehicles older than a decade. Of the 3.46 million used vehicles, 435,000 had rust problems (almost 13 per cent) and 357,000 had serious defects.


2017 Detroit auto show: Bosch showcases an electric car kit

                DETROIT: According to technology supplier Bosch, there is no debate about whether or not the electric car is the future of individual mobility; the only question left unanswered is when that future will arrive. Therefore at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) it is showcasing an off-the-shelf system that any manufacturer could use as a way of building an affordable electric car.

"It's just amazing to walk around the 2017 NAIAS and see how far the electric vehicle has come," said Rich Kohler, director of marketing, Gasoline systems, Robert Bosch LLC. "The electric car is similar to where the smartphone was 10 years ago. Today, smartphones are just a part of our lives. And that's exactly where the electric vehicle is headed."

It's a fitting analogy. The iPhone - the blueprint for the modern smartphone handset - celebrates its 10th birthday this month and the auto industry is in a similar position now, waiting for the combination of battery pack, motor and charging time that will move the electric car beyond early adopters. Because consumers are waiting.

Bosch research into the topic shows that 62% of US consumers believe they'll own at least one fully electric car within the next decade.

"Whether those numbers are realistic or not, it's clear the consumer is very interested in electrified vehicles," said Kohler. "They could buy them in large numbers if the industry continues to advance in the key areas of lowering cost, increasing range and quick recharge times.

So the company has come here with a new electric axle drive system, the eAxle, which integrates a host of components that until now needed to be sourced and bought separately by a company wanting to build a car with electric drive.

It's not only 5-10% cheaper than buying individual components, the system is scalable (i.e., can be used on bigger vehicles) and can extend driving range between charges by as much as 25% during the winter while offering climate control without completely draining power reserves in the summer.

"[It makes] electrification accessible to the masses so OEMs can deliver on the promise of this technology to mainstream consumers," said Mike Mansuetti, president of Robert Bosch LLC.

Indeed the new system could be the breakthrough low volume car makers need to move into the market, but as quickly as advances are coming in terms of range or charging times, what people expect from a plug-in car is also in a constant state of flux.

"We continue to push the technology to meet consumers' needs. And while the technology is rapidly evolving, so are the perceptions of consumers," said Kohler.


VW entices with RM1,000 savings

                PETALING JAYA: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) announced today a 5-day limited offer of RM1,000 additional savings on top of ongoing promotions for all models booked from now until Dec 7.

New launches this year included the Passat R-Line, the Arteon R-Line and both the Tiguan Allspace Highline and R-Line.

This offer is valid for bookings made online and at Volkswagen dealerships nationwide.


Jaguar Land Rover heightens safety with Bike Sense

                LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover has announced it is developing new technologies that would use colours, sounds and touch inside the car to alert drivers to potential hazards and prevent accidents involving bicycles and motorcycles.

Sensors on the car will detect when another road user is approaching and identify it as bicycle or motorbike. Bike Sense will then make the driver aware of the potential hazard before the driver sees it.

But rather than using a generic warning icon or sound, which takes time for the driver’s brain to process, Bike Sense uses lights and sounds that the driver would instinctively associate with the potential danger.

To help the driver understand where the bike is in relation to their car, the audio system will make it sound as if a bicycle bell or motorbike horn is coming through the speaker nearest the bike, so the driver immediately understands the direction the cyclist is coming from.

If a bicycle or motorbike is coming up the road behind the car, Bike Sense will detect if it is overtaking or coming past the vehicle on the inside, and the top of the car seat will extend to "tap" the driver on the left or right shoulder. The idea is that the driver will then instinctively look over that shoulder to identify the potential hazard.

As the cyclist gets closer to the car, a matrix of LED lights on the window sills, dashboard and windscreen pillars will glow amber and then red as the bike approaches. The movement of these red and amber lights across these surfaces will also highlight the direction the bike is taking.

“Human beings have developed an instinctive awareness of danger over thousands of years," said Jaguar Land Rover  Research and Technology director Dr Wolfgang Epple.

"Certain colours like red and yellow will trigger an immediate response, while everyone recognises the sound of a bicycle bell.

“Bike Sense takes us beyond the current technologies of hazard indicators and icons in wing mirrors, to optimising the location of light, sound and touch to enhance this intuition. This creates warnings that allow a faster cognitive reaction as they engage the brain’s instinctive responses. If you see the dashboard glowing red in your peripheral vision, you will be drawn to it and understand straight away that another road user is approaching that part of your vehicle.”

If a group of cyclists, motorbikes or pedestrians were moving around the car on a busy urban street, the system would intelligently prioritise the nearest hazards so the driver would not be overwhelmed or distracted with light or sound.

Bike Sense would also be able to identify hazards that the driver cannot see. If a pedestrian or cyclist is crossing the road, and they are obscured by a stationary vehicle for example, the car’s sensors would detect this and draw the driver’s attention to the hazard using directional light and sound.

If the driver ignores the warnings and presses the accelerator, Bike Sense will make the accelerator pedal vibrate or feel stiff, so the driver instinctively knows not to move the car forwards until the hazard has been avoided.

Bike Sense would also help prevent vehicle doors being opened into the path of bikes when the vehicle is parked. Bike Sense would warn all passengers of an approaching cyclist, motorbike or car through sound and light inside the vehicle. If any passenger continues to open the door, the door handle will light up, vibrate and buzz to alert them to the danger.

“By engaging the instincts, Bike Sense has the potential to bridge the gap between the safety and hazard detection systems in the car and the driver and their passengers,” added Dr Epple. “This could reduce the risk of accidents with all road users by increasing the speed of response and ensuring the correct action is taken to prevent an accident happening.”


Mercedes-Benz to debut end-to-end MBUX Hyperscreen on Jan 7

                STUTTGART: For Mercedes-Benz, the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) Widescreen display is not enough. Come 2021, it wants to wow people with the MBUX Hyperscreen.

The large, curved screen unit lends the interior a unique aesthetic and extends along the entire width of the vehicle in front of the driver and front passenger.

Mercedes-Benz said it marks the start of the next chapter in interaction between vehicle and user: the MBUX Hyperscreen takes the operation and display of infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions to a new level thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).

The MBUX Hyperscreen, which is for the first time optionally available in the fully electric luxury sedan EQS, is capable of learning from its interaction with the owner and/or driver.

Mercedes-Benz is going to town with the new intelligent display, starting with its world premiere on Jan 7.

The top guns from Daimler and Mercedes-Benz will present the various facets of the MBUX Hyperscreen from control over functionality to material and design to technical details. Among them are Ola Källenius, Vera Schmidt and Sajjad Khan.

The MBUX Hyperscreen will also be plugged at the first-ever digital 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place from Jan 11-14.


Volkswagen teams up with Umicore on battery materials

                BERLIN: Volkswagen announced today a US$2.9 billion (RM13.3bil) battery parts joint venture with Belgian materials firm Umicore, becoming the latest European automaker to bring battery supplies closer to home in the shift towards electric vehicles.

While raw materials - among them lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese - will still be largely sourced from across the world, cathode production for batteries will take place in Europe under the joint venture, most likely at Umicore's Poland plant.

The venture - between Umicore and Volkswagen's battery unit PowerCo - also plan to collaborate on recycling metals from battery materials, the firms said, without giving a timeframe.

Europe's automakers are scrambling to secure stakes in the growing number of plants on the continent turning raw materials into batteries as political pressure grows to bring the supply chain, currently dominated by Asian players, closer to home.

Volkswagen is aiming for 70% of its sales in Europe to be fully electric vehicles by 2030, and is increasingly trying to fence in its supply chains by region to protect them from geopolitical tensions and reduce transport costs.

But Europe's battery industry is still in its infancy, with attempts to mine raw material in countries from Germany to Portugal held up by red tape and recycling facilities unable to develop at scale without the raw material on hand.

Under the 3 billion euro joint venture, which the companies flagged in December, Umicore will produce enough battery precursor and cathode material for 160 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery capacity - enough for 2.2 million vehicles.

It will start with material for 40GWh of capacity by 2026 at Volkswagen's first battery plant in Salzgitter, Germany. The carmaker plans to build six battery factories in Europe totalling 240 GWh of capacity by 2030.

There is a "strong industrial logic" to locating production at Umicore's newly inaugurated battery materials plant in Nysa, Poland, Umicore CEO Mathias Miedreich said, adding a decision would be taken "rather quickly".

Umicore said last week it saw potential to increase the capacity of the plant, which began production in July, to over 200GWh in the second half of the decade, enough to power around three million electric vehicles. read more

The companies also agreed that Umicore would refine cathode material for the first 60GWh of capacity.

Shares in the Belgian company plummeted in June after it announced a 5 billion euro plan to bulk up its battery material business, with analysts concerned about the higher debt and external funding required amid rising costs.


Researchers show limits of driverless car technology

                NEW YORK: People without an in-depth knowledge of driverless vehicle technology could be forgiven for thinking the hard part of developing fully autonomous vehicles is getting them to navigate lanes and junctions and avoid crashing into other road-users.

However, researchers at the University of Washington, Stony Brook University, and UC Berkeley have just shown how much work still needs to be done on driverless technology, by blowing a big hole in one key part of autonomous-drive systems - road-sign recognition.

While we already have vehicles with systems capable of reading road signs, the researchers showed how easy it is to hack the systems into interpreting the information shown on road-signs incorrectly, using nothing more complex than a few well-placed stickers.

The team analysed the algorithm used by the vision system classifying the images, and then employed different methods of attack to manipulate signs and trick machine-learning models into reading them incorrectly.

For example, in one case stickers were used to trick the sign recognition system of an autonomous car into reading a stop sign as a 70kph sign instead.

It's not difficult to imagine the real-world implications of such an action.

The team came up with four different ways they could con the recognition systems into misreading things using just a colour printer and a camera, which they published in a paper entitled "Robust Physical-World Attacks on Machine Learning Models."

Perhaps most worrying is the fact all the "hacks" appear very subtle to anyone looking at them through human eyes as they are camouflaged as graffiti or art that is part of the sign's imagery.

One method involved printing a full-size poster to cover the sign. Though the sign looked almost normal to a human, other than being a little faded in places, the consequences for the computer's vision were catastrophic. From different angles and distances, the system classified a stop sign as a speed limit sign a worrying 100 percent of the time.

The good news is that these hacks can be overcome. Systems can be programmed to consider context, so a car can identify a misidentified sign based on criteria such as its location. It would then be able to tell, for instance, that if a highway speed sign appears in an urban area, something is wrong.

Regardless, it's a fascinating insight into just how much has to be considered when bringing truly driverless cars to our roads.


Velocity Motor Show 2018 set for September opening

                KUALA LUMPUR: In its third consecutive year, the Velocity Motor Show 2018 has been earmarked for a kick-off in September.

Entrance fee to the automotive lifestyle show costs RM10 and will be held at the the Outdoor Carpark of Plaza Arkadia in Desa Park City from Sept 15 to 17.

Those who book a car during the event period will receive free gifts worth over RM5,000.The show is said to have a wide variety of activities for patrons.

Last year's show was said to have attracted almost 10,000 visitors and is organised by Fitzgerald Events.

For more information log on to facebook.com/VelocityMotorShow.


Catch Toyota Gazoo Racing season 5 finale at Sepang International Circuit on Sept 24 and 25

                SHAH ALAM: Season 5’s finale of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Vios Challenge racing series will see the overall champions crowned in a night race weekend from Sept 24-25 at the Sepang International Circuit with 2,000 hardcore race fans being treated to an exclusive rooftop festival.

While opened to the public, the festival will only be limited to the first 2,000 race fans and celebrity superfans who register their attendance online.

With the entire rooftop length of the Sepang International Circuit’s main paddock building transformed into a festival ground, the exclusive entry will open the doors to a myriad of activities that includes the opportunity to mingle with their favourite celebrities during awalkabout; and a meet-and-greet and autograph session; the display and sale of Gazoo Racing and Toyota merchandises; family activities; a lucky draw with attractive prizes; and two very special concerts.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said it was hard to imagine that the company had come five swasons in the Vios Challenge.

“What an incredible journey it has been for Toyota,the racers, our dealers and ourfans. We continuously look at new elements to make both the festival and the race even more exciting.

“Race fans have been a big part of the festival’s continued success and for the finale this season, we’d like to do something a little special by showing our appreciation to the lucky 2,000 spectators,” he said.

“From street racing to circuit racing and night racing, the Vios Challenge has evolved to not only attract the best in Malaysian saloon car racers but has grown to become a breeding groundfor new talent and young drivers.This is a momentum we hope to keep going into Season 6 and beyond,” he said.

To be among the lucky invited spectators, look out for a special contest posting on the TGR Malaysia Facebook and Instagram pages, like and follow the pages, and in the comment section of eitherpage, tag four friends that you’d like to bring along and indicate whether you’d like to attend the race on Saturday or on Sunday.

Attendance is limited to 1,000 fans on Saturday and 1,000 fans on Sunday.

For more information, log on to https://toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/tgr-festival-vios-challenge/season-5/round-3-contest/.

Prizes up for grabsin the lucky draw include four units of IPhone 13 Mini; two IPads; and two Watch Series7.

The festival weekend will be filled with back-to-back concerts with Saturday’s stage performances led by TGR racing celebrities Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali, and will conclude with a special 40-minute Rappers & Racers concert anchored by K-Clique.

Singer and fellow TGR racing celebrity Khai Bahar will spearhead Sunday night’s entertainment ahead of an exciting Rockers & Racers concert which will feature Malaysian rock queen Ella and girl group Dolla.

Activities on the track will also include a track day for invited owners belonging to various Toyota car clubs.

Held under the bright lights of the Sepang International Circuit, the Vios Challenge race guarantees nothing short of a dogfight on the track as the championship in all four categories of racing likely to be decided in the last two races of the season.


UK okays self-driving cars on highways

                LONDON: Self-driving cars enabling drivers to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel could be permitted on UK highways later this year.

The Department for Transport (DfT) announced it will allow hands-free driving in vehicles with lane-keeping technology on highways with slow traffic, at speeds of up to 60kph.

It has set out how a vehicle with an automated lane keeping system (ALKS) could legally be used by a driver not paying attention, as long as there is no evidence to "challenge the ability" of it to be used autonomously.

ALKS enables a motorist to hand over control to their vehicle, although they must be available to resume the driving task. It is designed to constantly monitor speed and keep a safe distance from other road users, normally through the use of cameras and sensors. The DfT describes ALKS as "traffic jam chauffeur technology".

In the event the system detects an "imminent collision risk", it will carry out an "emergency manoeuvre" which could involve braking or a change of direction.

The DfT claimed the technology could boost road safety as human error "contributes to over 85 per cent of accidents". A consultation has been launched on updates to the Highway Code to ensure autonomous systems are used safely and responsibly.

Transport minister Rachel Maclean said: "This is a major step for the safe use of self-driving vehicles in the UK, making future journeys greener, easier and more reliable while also helping the nation to build back better.

"But we must ensure that this exciting new tech is deployed safely, which is why we are consulting on what the rules to enable this should look like.

"In doing so, we can improve transport for all, securing the UK's place as a global science superpower." Jim Holder, editorial director of magazine and website What Car?, said the new policy is a "sensible first step" towards autonomous driving.

"These are very, very controlled circumstances, low speed, relatively straight roads, clear road markings," he told the PA news agency.

"In theory this should be a very effective way of using the technology to good effect." He said the UK is in a "global competition" to develop the technology. The announcement "gets us back in the race" as the UK is "a bit behind" the US and China, Holder added.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said humans are "invariably the weak link" when it comes to driving safely, but he warned there are "challenges" when journeys involve a transfer of control between technology and the person behind the wheel.

"There is a risk of situations in which drivers over-rely on the automated system, expecting it to deal with events for which it is neither intended nor capable.

"And what happens when drivers are expected to take back control in an emergency? Research for us shows that it can take drivers several seconds to regain command of their vehicle."

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: "Technologies such as automated lane keeping systems will pave the way for higher levels of automation in future.

"These advances will unleash Britain's potential to be a world leader in the development and use of these technologies, creating essential jobs while ensuring our roads remain among the safest on the planet." But AA president Edmund King claimed "we shouldn't be in race to take drivers' hands off the wheel".

He went on: "There are still gaps in how this technology detects and stops if the vehicle is involved in a collision. "There are still question marks over how drivers will be fully informed how these systems work.

"More needs to be done to rigorously test these systems before they are used on UK roads." Concerns about autonomous vehicles were raised when two men were killed on April 17 when a Tesla Model S crashed into a tree in Texas.

Police believe no-one was in the driver's seat when the collision occurred. Tesla's Autopilot system enables a car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane, but currently requires active driver supervision.

Tesla boss Elon Musk wrote on Twitter that "data logs recovered so far show Autopilot was not enabled".


Toyota GR Corolla to be unveiled on April 1

                DALLAS: Toyota has picked the US for the world premiere of its next GR Sports model.

Ahead of this debut at 9.30am (Malaysian time) on April 1,  Toyota Gazoo Racing has released preview images of the new GR Corolla and a teaser video.

The two photos appear to show the GR Corolla's front fender and the side sill with the term GR-Four embossed on it, which means the car is going to have four-wheel drive, just like the GR Yaris.

The 1.6-litre turbo 3-pot engine in the GR Yaris has plenty of power to motivate bigger cars like the Corolla, so it's expected to share the same mill that makes up to 268hp.

The GR Corolla might come equipped with a manual gearbox or an 8-speed automatic as first seen in a prototype of the GR Yaris.

The Toyota video below promoting the GR86 has a embedded teaser that suggests the arrival of the GR Corolla. All info at present points to the GR Corolla debuting as a hot hatch rather than a sedan.


Add water to boost engine power and improve consumption. How’s that again?

                PETALING JAYA: Like the long cherished diet plan that is finally debunked by scientists, the idea that engine and water don’t mix has been found to be untrue.

Just look at the BMW M4 GTS, which is the first production car to rubbish the idea. In the vehicle’s turbocharged six-cylinder engine, a water injection system offers improved performance and consumption even at full load.

And the punch line is that Bosch supplies water injection parts for the car that made it all possible.

The oddly named but relevant WaterBoost technology from Bosch is able to make engines more powerful and reduce fuel consumption by up to 13 percent by injecting water into the engine’s intake ducts that lead to the combustion chambers.

The fuel economy offered by the technology is more pronounced in three- and four-cylinder downsized engines, which are largely the cars of the masses.

Water injection can also deliver an extra kick in turbocharged engines. Earlier ignition angles mean that the engine is operated even more efficiently. Engineers were able to coax additional power out of the engine, even in powerful sports cars.

The basis of this innovative engine technology is a simple fact: an engine must not be allowed to overheat. To stop this happening, additional fuel is injected into nearly every petrol engine on today’s roads. This fuel evaporates, cooling parts of the engine block. With water injection, Bosch engineers have exploited this physical principle. Before the fuel ignites, a fine mist of water is injected into the intake duct. Water’s high heat of vaporisation means that it provides effective cooling.

Only a small volume of water is needed: for every one hundred kilometres driven, only a few hundred millilitre are necessary. As a result, the compact water tank that supplies the injection system with distilled water only has to be refilled every few thousand kilometres at the most.

And if the tank should run empty, the engine will still run smoothly – albeit without the higher torque and lower consumption provided by water injection.

Bosch said the use of water would not cause rusting. It said the water evaporates before combustion happens in the engine. All the water is expelled into the environment, together with the exhaust.


Taiwan's Gogoro has 'healthy' chip supply for now, risks as it grows, says CEO

                TAIPEI: Taiwanese electric scooter maker Gogoro Inc has all the chips it needs for now, founder and chief executive Horace Luke said today, but could face a squeeze by year-end as it pushes big plans to grow in China, India and Southeast Asia.

While a global shortage of semiconductors has slammed auto makers, Luke said Gogoro, which listed in New York this month, uses far fewer chips than electric car makers and still has a relatively small market concentrated in Taiwan.

For the next several months it has a "healthy supply" of chips, he said.

"A combination of we don't use as many, a combination of being flexible on our design, a combination of having a market that is not yet gigantic at the moment," Luke said, explaining Gogoro's chips position.

Founded in 2011, Gogoro listed on the Nasdaq via a merger with blank-cheque firm Poema Global and has a market value of around US$2.4 billion.

It has ambitious plans for China, India and Southeast Asia, seeing potential to replace vast fleets of heavily-polluting, gasoline-powered scooters with electric two-wheelers as Asia's metropolises bid to improve air quality.

"As those cities like Jakarta, or Delhi, or other big markets grow, how fast they grow of course will then put stress on our supply chain management. But those are problems that are coming in the later part of the year, not the immediate future."

As well as making its own vehicles, Gogoro has electric battery and other partnerships with vehicle makers including India's Hero MotoCorp and China's Dachangjiang Group and Yadea Group Holdings.

Gogoro, known for its green-hued battery swap distribution network for riders, generates around 90% of its revenue from Taiwan.

Electric vehicle makers have been hit by price rises for raw materials like nickel, driven by supply chain disruptions from the war in Ukraine, and Luke said some "minor" price rises had been passed onto customers.

Gogoro's stock has dropped around 19% since listing, matching pressure on other tech plays globally. But Luke said Gogoro was confident in expansion plans in countries like China, India and Indonesia, which have a high consumer preference for scooters with millions sold each year.

"That's what our investors, our team, is focused on, and that's what our partnerships are focused on, to take our technology which we've created and go into those large markets that have high potential to convert to electric."


Volvo V40 T5 gets Drive E powertrain

                PETALING JAYA: Volvo’s award-winning Drive-E powertrain, known for offering a good blend of performance, lower emissions and fuel consumption, is now available for the Volvo V40 T5.

Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the V40 T5 Drive-E produces a maximum output of 245hp and a maximum torque of 350Nm between 1,500 rpm to 4,800 rpm.

This translates to a 0-100kph performance of only 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 240kph.

 Drive-E 4 cylinder Petrol Engine.

“Our main goal during the development of the Drive-E powertrains was to deliver efficient driving pleasure – powerful engines that consumes less fuel and emits lower emissions,” said Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Lennart Stegland.

The V40 T5 Drive-E certainly improves on the figures set by its predecessor by recording better fuel consumption at 6.1 l/100 km (fuel efficiency at 16.4 km/l) and lower emissions at 143 g/km, this is despite producing 32hp and 50Nm more power.

Stegland added that the V40 T5 already offers the best, in-class active safety features, such as, City Safety, Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert and Park Assist Pilot; the addition of a new powertrain will only serve to strengthen Volvo’s market offer.

 Drive-E 8-speed automatic transmission.

The retail price (MSRP, on-the- road, without insurance, inclusive of GST) for the Volvo V40 T5 Drive-E is RM192,888, which includes a 5-year warranty and 5 years of Volvo-on- Call Roadside Assist.

The V40 T5 is available in five exterior colours: Ice White, Ember Black, Raw Copper, Bright Silver and Osmium Grey, and is available for orders or viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide.

For more information, please visit this website.


Dodge announces new security feature for Charger and Challenger muscle cars

                DETROIT: US car brand Dodge has announced an automotive software upgrade designed to further thwart theft of Charger and Challenger models equipped with 6.4-litre HEMI V-8 or supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V-8 engines.

Using the Dodge owner’s four-digit security code, the enhanced deterrence feature limits the vehicle’s engine speed to idle (675 rpm) and helps prevent auto theft.

The software upgrade can be installed free of charge by any Dodge dealer on 2015 through 2021 model-year Dodge muscle cars. The complimentary enhancement applies second-level vehicle security encryption via Dodge’s Uconnect 4C infotainment system.

“More than 150 cars are stolen every day in the United States,” added Kuniskis.

“For any car owner, it's terrible, it's a hassle and it's a personal violation. Though statistically rare, car thieves have targeted the high-horsepower Dodge muscle cars, and we want the Dodge ‘Brotherhood’ to know we’re taking quick action and covering their backs.”

At idle, these engines produce around 2.8hp and 29Nm of torque.

As a result, Dodge’s enhanced security measures have a secondary public safety benefit by preventing criminal police evasion and high-speed chases of stolen vehicles.

Double encryption has become common on consumer online accounts and adds a second layer of owner protection against vehicle theft.

The four-digit encryption code is designed to discourage key-code-spoofing thieves.

Dodge said it would continue to pursue other enhancements to vehicle-theft deterrence in order to protect owners’ investments.

Owners of 2015 through 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT or Charger SRT models equipped with 6.4-litre HEMI V-8 or supercharged 6.2-litre HEMI V-8 engines, as well as owners of 2019-2021 Scat Packs equipped with 6.4-litre HEMI V-8 engines, should contact their local Dodge dealer to schedule a free Security Mode installation appointment.

Dodge expects the new security feature to be available late in the second quarter of 2021.

Dodge is part of the Stellantis group.

In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS).

The Dodge brand also ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market). These results are historic because it marks the first time a US brand has earned top spots in both J.D. Power studies in the same year.


Mitsubishi's Magnificent Seven-seater Outlander

                The SUV is the most popular segment in the world right now and for good reason. Compared to a sedan, the SUV is more spacious and sits taller than a car offering a better elevation for the driver and its occupants.

It’s also just as easy to drive. Many new owners tend to be skeptical about driving a big car as it seems intimidating at first. But once they get behind the wheel and use it daily, they soon realise that it is not much different from handling a car and yet it offers so much more practicality.

SUVs are able to ferry people around in comfort and with a larger cargo area, you don’t have to worry about running out of space with luggage and anything else you need to haul.

And then you have SUVs which offer off-road capabilities. This feature is an added bonus if you find yourself going through unpaved or dirt roads.

It’s good to remember that as these SUVs have a higher clearance than cars, and is able to wade through a flooded section of a road or highway as long as the waters are not too deep. Having this ability is always useful during the rainy season which we are experiencing now in Malaysia.

Recently, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia organised a drive to experience the seven-seater 2.0 litre Outlander as the SUV is now locally-assembled and is currently priced at RM139,988 (on-the-road without insurance).

Besides being competitively priced, this SUV also has the benefit of 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) and features an intelligent 4WD system which lets you select between 4WD Eco, 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock.

It has a very capable 2.0 litre MIVEC engine mated to the Invecs-III CVT transmission which produces 145PS and 196Nm of torque.

On the way to our destination to the town of Bentong, Pahang from Shah Alam, Selangor, we made a pit stop for a little driving exercise.

This exercise was to determine the different handling abilities in 4WD Eco and 4WD Auto modes on a wet surface. This would be the two most used modes for urban driving scenarios while the 4WD Lock would only be selected in off-road situations.

Cones were arranged in a circular fashion followed by a minor slalom course after exiting the ‘roundabout’.

The first exercise was done in 4WD Eco mode where we had to accelerate hard towards the circle before lifting-off the accelerator pedal and turn the wheel to take the roundabout.

This SUV understeered in this instance while in 4WD Auto mode, the SUV was much more responsive whenever we turned the wheel.

The conclusion in this exercise was that Eco mode promoted fuel efficiency when selected but does not fully utilise the vehicle’s 4WD capabilities. And it was the opposite in Auto mode as all the wheels are responding to the steering angle and hugged the turns tighter.

We would continue to use the two 4WD modes as we made our way to Bentong using the old, windy roads from Genting Sempah. We stopped at Janda Baik for lunch and it had begun to rain. And it only got heavier after that.

Despite the wet, slippery and narrow roads, we felt secure with its confident handling in 4WD Auto.

We also enjoyed being in the cabin which we found to be quiet, comfortable and spacious. It also gave us the opportunity to try the Air Gesture Control by placing our hand in front of the 7in HD touchscreen unit and adjust the volume level by waving our hand up and down.

This worked intermittently but then again, there is the volume control on the steering wheel so it was not an issue.

The rain came pouring down on our way back, this time we drove on the Karak highway and the convoy kept a steady pace and again, it was simply planted even under such conditions.

Besides being such a capable car, there's an arm’s length of safety features such as seven airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, Active Stability and Traction Control and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

There’s also a host of other features such as keyless entry, push start button, LED daytime running lights, 18in wheels, automatic headlamps and wipers, dual zone climate control, cruise control, reverse camera with guide lines, driving video recorder, audio system with six speakers, CD, MP3, USB, Bluetooth and ISOFIX mounts.

It also offers a lot of utility with the seven seats and a best-in-class cargo volume of 1,608 litres with the second and third row seats folded.

In conclusion, the Outlander offers a lot of value for the price, practicality, 4WD system, cargo space and safety features.

It's no wonder people the world over prefer SUVs these days.


What 8 in 10 Malaysians want in a new car: It's not power

 The acclaimed 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine.
KUALA LUMPUR: When it comes to buying a new car, more than 83 percent of Malaysian consumers say that fuel efficiency is more important than power.

That is just one conclusion of a survey of more than 9,500 drivers in 11 markets across the Asia Pacific region conducted on behalf of Ford Motor Company in June 2016.

When asked the reasons for prioritising fuel efficiency, 87 percent of respondents from Malaysia cited the need to save money. Other top reasons included an interest in being more environmentally friendly (63 percent) and concerns about high fuel prices (60 percent).

In fact, fuel efficiency is such a major factor that more than one-third (38 percent) of drivers who currently own a powerful car say that they regret not buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

“We conducted this survey to learn more about what consumers’ attitudes are towards fuel efficiency when they are shopping for a new car,” said Kevin Tallio, chief engineer, Engine Engineering, Ford Asia Pacific. “Fuel efficiency remains one of the top concerns. Drivers continue to be sensitive to fuel costs, no matter what the price is at the pump.”

The survey revealed that the need to save money was also reflected in fuel-purchasing habits. Many Malaysians said they already apply tactics to save at the pump, such as only visiting fuel stations where they get points for filling up (55 percent). Thirty one percent say that they wait for lower fuel prices before topping up, and 20 percent always use a discount coupon.

Drivers are starting to change their driving behaviours too. More than 47 percent say that they will change their driving habits to use less fuel and 36 percent of consumers are planning on driving less over the next 12 months.

These thrifty behaviours extend to what Malaysians would do if they could save even more on fuel. More than three quarters of respondents (77 percent) said that if they saved 20 percent on fuel every month, they would put the extra money towards their savings. Another 54 percent say that they would put the money towards their family. The rising cost of living due to the unstable economy has had a profound impact on Malaysians’ willingness to spend.

This all coincides with a general wariness about Malaysia’s fuel prices. Sixty eight percent of respondents say they don’t trust fuel prices to stay stable over the next year.

But while Malaysians are eager to protect themselves from the sting of the pump, surprisingly many are unaware of longer-term strategies for saving money:

> One in three (37 percent) of those surveyed admit that they do not consider the total cost of ownership – fuel and vehicle maintenance – when shopping for a new car

> Only 37 percent say that they would invest more money at the time of purchase on a more efficient engine in order to save money on future fuel costs

However, there may be signs that behaviors are changing. Many consumers who are planning to buy a new car in the next year are considering more fuel-efficient vehicles:

> Fifty two percent plan to buy a vehicle with a more fuel efficient engine

> Thirty nine percent plan to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle

> Twenty one percent plan to downsize to a smaller vehicle

However, their choice is made difficult by the fact that Malaysians also value performance. More than half (68 percent) of all respondents say they consider performance as a factor when buying a new car. City residents disproportionately said that they were motivated by performance (70 percent vs. 59 percent of rural residents).

The survey was used by Ford to promote its cars with Ecoboost engines that offer a blend of performance and fuel efficiency.  EcoBoost technology uses turbocharging, variable-valve timing and direct fuel injection along with reduced displacement to deliver significant vehicle fuel-efficiency gains and CO2
reductions, relative to larger displacement engines, without sacrificing vehicle performance. Ford's 1.0-litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine was the 2013 “International Engine of the Year."

In Malaysia, EcoBoost engines are available in seven nameplates, including: Fiesta, Fiesta ST, Focus, S-MAX, Mondeo, Kuga and Mustang.


5th-gen Honda City set for world premiere in Thailand

                BANGKOK: Thailand is in a fortunate position to be the place for debuts of cars before they reach Malaysia.

The various auto shows in Thailand such as the annual Bangkok Motor Show are often the harbinger of what's slated to arrive on Malaysian shores.

Honda, for example, will be using Thailand as the staging ground for the world debut of the new City.

The fifth-gen model is set to be unveiled on Nov 25.

Honda said in a brief statement last week that the new City would be "better in every dimension and delivers new value beyond everybody’s imagination by crossing the boundaries of the existing sub-segments of city cars."

Like the new Nissan Almera we wrote about recently, the new City is expected to get a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine. The engine is touted as being powerful and have 33% better fuel efficiency.

Honda promised that the new City would be sporty and have a premium exterior design and a bigger cabin.


Touch 'n Go ewallet down, users unable to reload or make payments via app

                PETALING JAYA: Touch 'n Go (TNG) ewallet is facing a service outage, with some users receiving a message saying, "Sorry, but heavy traffic is causing delays in processing your request. Don’t fret, we’re fixing this. Hold tight and try again later."

Reports on the outage surfaced this morning on Twitter, with some users posting that they have been logged out of their accounts and are unable to log back in.

In our tests, we were able to log in, but the app appeared to be running slower than usual.

Attempts at reloading the ewallet balance were met with a constant loading screen.

According to Touch 'n Go, the outage does not affect toll and PayDirect parking payments.

In a Facebook post, it said the RFID payment lanes at the Sprint Expressway have been temporarily closed due to technical issues at the Pantai and Bukit Kiara toll plazas.  It advised motorists to ensure they have sufficient balance on their cards before setting out on the highway during this service disruption.

Lingkaran Trans Kota Holdings (Litrak) said in a Facebook post today that traffic is moving slowly in both directions and advised motorists to use the Touch 'n Go lanes.


More Proton dealers upgrading to 3S and 4S centres

                SUBANG JAYA: Five more Proton dealers will be upgrading their outlets to 3S (sales, service and spare parts) and 4S (sales, service, spare parts, shop for body and paint) centres.

This was recently announced at Proton's second batch of a Dealers Network Upgrade agreement signing ceremony, at the Proton Centre of Excellence.

The agreements were signed between Dr Ho Tuck Sum, head of sales and network planning of Proton, with Datuk Shamshudin Nor, director of Pantai Bharu Corp Sdn Bhd, Liew Vee Lee, director of Harima Automobil (M) Sdn Bhd, Judith Yam Siew Chu, managing director of Atiara Johan (M) Sdn Bhd, Mohd Nazrin Mohamad Fozi, director of Rahman Brothers Automotive Sdn Bhd and Leong Chue Chye, managing director of Hoi Keen Services Sdn Bhd.

Also present were Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong and deputy CEO Datuk Radzaif Mohamed.

Dr Li said, "There must be a reason why Malaysians are fascinated with the tiger. The Proton logo itself has the image of a roaring tiger. Surely it represents boldness, courage and a spirit of survival. Just like us now at this point, taking it all in our stride, we will move ahead to ensure we continue to remain relevant and competitive in the automotive industry, by delivering to you top of the class products, quality and services. Hence, it is only natural that our dealers have agreed to upgrade their premises to 3S and 4S, as they believe that treating customers well with the best possible sales and service experience is not an option - it is a must”.

Proton is raising its game with an incentive programme for existing dealers who want to upgrade to 3S and 4S centres, as well as to those who wish to join as new Proton dealers.

Datuk Shamshudin said, “Proton has a very attractive dealer incentive programme, and believes that the company is working out solid plans to ensure the changing of the facade of the building will give stronger brand presence which modern day customers can relate to when they walk in and consider looking for a car”.

For Liew, he finds that the incentive programme is “Very encouraging to all dealers to upgrade their showroom and workshop in order to serve as a one stop centre for our customers. Moreover it is a new concept and this serves to entice the customers to go around our showroom and get details about a Proton car while waiting for their car to be serviced”.

Till end of January, Proton has a promotion with discounts of up to RM13,888 (depending on model).


Sime Darby Racing Team unveiled for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2023

                KUALA LUMPUR: Represented by Sime Darby Auto Performance, Porsche Malaysia has unveiled the Sime Darby Racing Team which will make its debut at the upcoming 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) at the Sepang International Circuit.

The team is in partnership with Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) and features young Malaysian race driver Nazim Azman at the wheel.

 (From left) Gibot, Nazim and Hunter with the 911 GT3 race car.

The team is built by double PCCA champion Earl Bamber, a renowned name in global motorsports who is also an accomplished Porsche Works driver and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner.

It will compete in the PCCA PRO category with the latest 992-generation 911 GT3 Cup car wearing a red batik-inspired livery.

The 2023 one-make race calendar starts in Malaysia at the end of the month and will continue through Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore before finishing up at Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific’s home base in Shanghai, China.

The 20th Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season spans the continent once again in 2023, after two seasons of being confined to China.

At the introduction of the team, Sime Darby Auto Performance chief executive officer Christopher Hunter said the company's participation in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this year underlined its long-standing commitment to Porsche’s motorsport DNA.

“Porsche Malaysia has been at the forefront in customer track driving programmes, and we have had a long history with Earl Bamber Motorsport on track. We are confident about our performance in the upcoming season together with our strong partners, Earl Bamber Motorsport and Nazim,” he said.

Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific managing director Alexandre Gibot said they are excited to bring passionate Porsche race drivers from different regions together for the new season of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

“It is truly exciting to see a Malaysia race team represented by Porsche Malaysia as part of this season’s race. We are pleased to have Nazim Azman as part of the PCCA Talent Pool development programme, and we look forward to his training with Porsche racing champions as he embarks on his racing journey,” he said.

Nazim, a former FIA Formula 3 race driver, said it was his first time racing a GT car for a full season and believed this opportunity would widen his horizons and experiences in GT racing.

Nazim also said he had previously raced in single-seaters and hoped to secure a few podium wins this time in a GT car.


Pirelli shareholder accord boosts M&A speculation with Brembo, say analysts

                MILAN: An accord for Brembo to align voting with Camfin at Pirelli shareholder meetings supports speculation of an eventual merger between the Italian tyre maker and Brembo, analysts said today.

Camfin is an investment vehicle of Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera and has a 14.1% stake in the company with options to buy a further 4.6%. Brembo - controlled by the Bombassei family - has a 6% shareholding.

The Brembo-Camfin shareholder agreement, announced on Tuesday, came two weeks after Pirelli's largest shareholder, Sinochem, denied a report it was considering selling its 37% stake.

The report rekindled speculation of a change in Pirelli's controlling structure, potentially resulting in a mandatory takeover.

Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Monica Bosio said in a note that investors could look at the new shareholders' pact as a preliminary step towards a potential combination between the manufacturer of tyres for high-end vehicles, such as Ferrari and Porsche, and premium brakes maker Brembo.

"A merger (...) would create a bigger and important player in the premium car market," Bosio said.

Akros analysts said a merger could be a medium-term scenario.

Pirelli, which is also the sole supplier tyres for Formula One, has a market cap of 4.8 billion euros (RM23bil), in line with Brembo's 5 billion euros (RM24bil).

However, analysts say synergies from a Pirelli-Brembo combination would be marginal, except for in limited areas.

"Other reasons may have driven the decision, including the medium/long-term need for the top management succession at both companies," Akros analyst Gian Marco Gandini said in a note.

Camfin has a separate shareholders' agreement with Sinochem.

Equita's Emanuele Gallazzi said the Brembo-Camfin agreement reduced the likelihood of an outside takeover as any new investors in Pirelli would have to reach an agreement with shareholders led by Camfin.

"The most like scenario remains the creation of a hard core of Italian investors led by Camfin, able to take a relevant role when the Chinese exit," he said.

Brembo and Camfin had no further comments today, while Pirelli was not available for comments.


It’s Weiron’s turn to shine for Malaysia at the races

                PETALING JAYA: After Hafizh Syahrin’s storming run in the Moto2 World Championship race in Austin, it was Weiron Tan’s turn to sizzle on American soil.

Weiron kept the Malaysian flag flying high with his first podium finish – a second placing – in the second round of the Pro Mazda Championship at the NOLA Motorsports Park in Louisiana.

Bad weather conditions forced the first race to be rescheduled and the second race called off.

However, the Andretti Autosport team driver was in great form, finishing at the top of the timesheets in both qualifying sessions.

A 16-car field took to the circuit for qualifying and the 20-year-old from Kuala Lumpur put in a fastest lap of 1:34.82 to clinch pole for the first race.

Weiron, however, was bogged down at the start line and dropped to second place. With track conditions getting worse, there was little chance to overtake on the road course and he crossed the line behind winner Santiago Urrutia of Uruguay.

Although the in-form Weiron did not get a chance to fight for victory with the second race cancelled, it is still a morale-boosting victory after a challenging outing in the season-opener at St Petersburg in Florida late last month. He failed to finish both races despite being third fastest in practice.

With his self-belief restored, Weiron is aiming to sustain his challenge in the championship.

“My goal is to win this year’s Pro Mazda Championship ... I have to be very consistent throughout the season and score as many points as possible,” said Weiron when contacted in Louisiana.

“Getting my first championship podium finish at NOLA makes me, and the team, more confident heading into the coming races.”

Weiron, disappointed at not converting the pole position into a win, will turn his focus to the next round at the Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama end of this month.

“The weather proved really difficult but to get second place is still good and we showed good pace all weekend,” he said.

On Sunday, Hafizh finished sixth in the Grand Prix of the American in Austin, Texas. He crossed the finish line in 41:59.733 after starting from 15th spot on the grid.


Nissan may move British SUV production overseas on Brexit

                LONDON: Nissan will consider moving production of its SUVs outside Britain if the country leaves the European Union without a deal, said people familiar with the matter.

Manufacturing of the Qashqai SUV could be moved to Spain, while the compact Juke may move to another overseas plant, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are confidential. The departure would be a major blow to British manufacturing as the company’s flagship factory in Sunderland is Britain’s largest.

In February, Nissan backed out of a plan to build the X-Trail sport utility vehicle in Sunderland, citing the unresolved status of EU-UK trade after Brexit. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will present a new plan for a deal to the European Union within days, but there are already signs it may fail with just weeks left before the delayed Oct 31 deadline.

A showcase for automation and modern working practices, the Sunderland facility in northeast England helped propel Britain to record auto output and sales in 2016, before concerns about the Brexit vote and a government campaign against diesel models began to weigh on demand.

Nissan said in an e-mail that while it doesn’t comment on speculation, plans for Qashqai production haven’t changed.

"Today, we are among those companies with major investments in the UK who are still waiting for clarity on what the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU will look like,” the company said. "We urge UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.”

UK carmakers have been campaigning against a no-deal split since the 2016 referendum. Last week, Jaguar Land Rover said it would close its British factories for a week in November to guard against disruptions to supply chains from a possible no-deal Brexit.

The announcement followed a warning from more than 20 European trade groups that such a breakup would have an "immediate and devastating impact, undermining competitiveness and causing irreversible and severe damage.”

BMW AG plans to halt production at its MINI plant in Oxford for two days on Oct 31, and said earlier that it would reduce output by eliminating a work shift in the event of a no-deal split.

The Financial Times reported earlier Tuesday that Nissan will review production of the Qashqai at Sunderland if the UK exits the EU without a deal.


Porsche makes a play for electric animal spirits

                NEW YORK: A lot of people don’t love Volkswagen’s new Tesla-fighter, the ID.4 SUV.

The rash of so-so reviews is awkward given how hard the company has pumping its own tyres on this machine and how aggressively it's switching to electric vehicles.

A few days ago, VW CEO Herbert Diess detailed, yet again, the German giant's EV aspirations to analysts in its “Power Day” presentation.

The crowd seemed to come away with one conclusion: VW will be Samsung to Tesla’s Apple — namely slightly cheaper prices and far less brand swagger, but slick products that sell like plywood before a hurricane.

Accepting the status of alternate choice, the plan B, is a savvy strategy, but it takes some subtlety. Typically, the underdog product needs to one-up its rival on at least one feature. For Samsung smartphones, it was the display screen. Jet.com won its e-commerce beachhead in Amazonia with shipping discounts. Allbirds scurried around Nike with wool and normcore styling.

Volkswagen’s potential edge is still TBD. Perhaps, it will be choice; the global empire of factories plans to rolls out 70 different electric vehicles by 2028. Build quality could be a differentiator as well; VW bosses have long been neurotic about things like panel gaps.

The Samsung strategy may work out. However, Diess may just have an Apple in his pocket. Porsche, arguably the most precious of its 12 brands, is flipping the switch on electric vehicles as well. And it has the name recognition, luxury credentials, and performance chops to rival Tesla (and it remains far more profitable).

Not surprisingly, there has been grumbling about a Porsche IPO, which would raise cash to invest in battery plants, unlock the value of the brand, and sling-shot it out of the lumbering conglomerate to the head of the EV race. Fiat-Chrysler pulled off a similar stunt when it cut Ferrari loose in 2015.

Bloomberg Intelligence reckons an IPO would value Porsche at about US$130 billion (and based on Ferrari figures, that’s likely a conservative estimate). Keep in mind, Volkswagen currently – with Porsche in-house — has a market value around US$156 billion.

Frankly, those two numbers make little sense, but neither do auto investors these days. The trick here is a bit of a bait and switch. An independent Porsche would be a straight pipe to EV-crazed investors showering money on SPACs and startups with little more than concept vehicles to show for their efforts.

Diess, for one, has been irked by those electric animal spirits. In a world of bulls and bears, they are puppies. “Our valuation is still locked in ‘old auto,’” he told Bloomberg in January.

A Porsche cut free on public markets — the brand that built a gobsmacking hybrid supercar eight years ago — might win some of that puppy love. Meanwhile, it could still benefit from all the parts-sharing that goes on in an auto conglomerate. Its chassis, for example, would still underpin Audis. Its transmissions would still be bought in bulk along with Lamborghini and the rest of the family.

Bloomberg analysts expect Volkswagen to be selling more electric vehicles than Tesla by 2024.

At Porsche, an electric version of its best-seller, the Macan SUV, is due out next year and at the same time it will be moving thousands of its high-end Taycan sedans at a price around US$190,000. Bloomberg pegs the profit margin on those machines at 53%.

Even the iPhone isn’t that rich.


Hyundai unveils first image of '45' concept

                SEOUL: Hyundai has given us a first glimpse of its new all-electric 45 concept.

It will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show from Sept 12-22.

In a surprising twist, the upcoming model, which is decidedly futuristic under the hood, has an exterior design directly inspired by the manufacturer's 1970s models. One clear resemblance is with the 1975 Pony.

Hyundai will also be showing another 100% electric concept based on its "Style Set Free" concept design, which it presented at the last CES in Las Vegas. It's believed that buyers will be able to fully customise the car's interior.


MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition makes world premiere

                MUNICH: The MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition, limited to 999 units worldwide, made its world debut at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on May 20.

It will be available in Europe, the United States, Canada and Mexico from September.

The manual 6-speed transmission makes the MINI John Cooper Works a special high-performance model. It's this focus on driving pleasure with a 6-speed manual transmission that gives the 1to6 Edition its name.

Reports have indicated this limited edition could be the last MINI with a manual gearbox.

From the outside, the 1to6 Edition signals individual style and high performance. The front end is characterised by the radiator grille with the tried and tested large air inlets for optimal temperature control of the engine and brakes and a surrounding completely in Piano Black.

In combination with the Midnight Black body colour, the black design details give the vehicle an untamed appearance. The brand-typical side scuttles as well as the waistline finisher are also designed in Piano Black.

From the bonnet to the aerodynamic rear spoiler and the rear apron, the edition-specific, centre-running Bonnet Stripe with edition-specific graphics underlines MINI's motorsport history.

The edition logo in silver, white and red marks the limited-edition character on the exterior with corresponding badges on the C-pillar and the rear of the vehicle and is also embedded in the side scuttles. A set of 18-inch Circuit Spoke rims in Jet Black complete the look of the edition model.

The door sills with an edition-specific 1to6 logo-design highlight the exclusive character of the interior as soon as the vehicle doors are opened.

The 3D-embossed decorative surface on the passenger side echoes the edition logo in a subtle tone-on-tone design, while the black lettering “One of 999” on the left of the steering wheel refers to the strict limited edition of the MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition. The gear shift is located in the middle of the cockpit, featured in the colours of the edition logo with a red background graphic and red leather stitching.

The typical MINI central instrument picks up on the design with the glowing red bezel and, together with the red ambient lighting, creates an atmospheric contrast with the anthracite-colored headliner.

The lower spoke of the nappa leather sports steering wheel and the floor mats once again feature the MINI John Cooper Works 1to6 Edition emblem. The edition is rounded off by specific key caps in the 1to6 logo-design.

The model's sports suspension was tested on various racetracks, including, of course, the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine remains the same as the one in the JCW. That means it makes the same 231hp and 320Nm of torque, allowing the hot hatch to achieve the 0-100kph run in 6.3s. Top speed is capped at 246kph.

At its Saturday debut, a specially modified 1to6 Edition raced together with the MINI John Cooper Works of the Bulldog Racing Team, familiar from last year.


Haval H2 CKD gets new colour, rim design

                SHAH ALAM: The official distributor for Haval vehicles in Malaysia, Go Auto, has launched locally-assembled (CKD) H2 which comes with new Haval Blue colour and rim design.

Aside from the new colour, the vehicle is also available in the current Haval Red and is competitively priced at RM98,950 for the Comfort Auto variant and RM101,950 for the Premium Auto (prices include insurance and road tax).

Other than a new rim design and colour, the H2 CKD is identical to its fully-imported (CBU) version which has keyless entry system, button start system, multifunction meter panel, steering wheel control buttons, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, audio and video entertainment system, a 6-way electrically adjustable driver seat and adjustable sunroof.

The H2 CKD retains the turbocharged, 1.5-litre VVT petrol engine which produces 147hp at 5,600rpm and 210Nm of torque from 2,200rpm to 4,500rpm, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Externally, the H2 CKD comes with halogen headlamps, with LED daytime running lights. It also comes with a chrome grille which enhances its aesthetic values.

Safety features are six airbags (dual front, dual front side and side curtain), reverse sensors and camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic stability programme and front active headrest to minimise spinal injury in collision.

The H2 CKD scored a maximum five stars in China’s C-NCAP Crash Test.

Go Auto is offering Buy Back Guarantee scheme to ensure vehicle owners of 50% of its resale value if their vehicles are resold to the company within five years.

Go Auto executive director Datuk SM Azli Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin Kamil said the company is targeting sales of 2,100 H2 CKD units until 2018.

“The H2 CKD are ready at 14 Haval showrooms nationwide,” he said.

H2 is also on the list of Haval models to be exported to Batam, Indonesia and Cambodia.