Racer Natasha Chang sets new Guinness World Record with Caltex

From left: Chevron Malaysia Limited country chairman Shahid Ahmed, Chang, Isaac and Engeler.
PETALING JAYA: Jamaican-Chinese race car driver Natasha Chang has set a new Guinness World Record title for the "Fastest Ascent of Doi Chang Mountain Road".

The feat was achieved as part of a partnership between Caltex and Chang.

The exclusive partnership was to see if Chang (Instagram: @chiney_dolly) would be able to get to the top of Doi Chaang mountain in Chiang Rai, Thailand, in under 10 minutes.

The vehicle in question was a 28 -year-old naturally-aspirated Honda Civic EG6 that had it's interior stripped before replacing the wheels, tyres, windows and suspension, among others, with lightweight and performance parts.

"With Caltex with Techron, the performance of the car we built from scratch for the attempt on a seemingly impossible timeline only got better which resulted in us breaking new ground in fuel innovation," said Chang.

 Race-prepared Honda Civic EG6

In doing so, the car's power-to-weight ratio was drastically improved in preparing for the 1,000m ascent where Chang drove to the top of the mountain in an official time of 6 minutes and 52.692 seconds and a new Guinness World Records title for the 'Fastest Ascent of Doi Chang Mountain Road'.

"The Guinness World Records title achievement helps demonstrate how a clean engine powered by Techron can function at its most optimum, which includes delivering maximum power to your wheels. This is the same fuel that our customers can experience at their neighbourhood Caltex stations to power their everyday drive," said Caltex product engineering manager Greg Engeler.

 Turbocharged Toyota Corolla KE70

The new record, aired by National Geographic through a two-part series - Record Rides, was part of Caltex's Fuel Power Challenge where Chang was able to best television host KC Montero's ascent time of over seven minutes in a turbocharged Toyota Corolla KE. He was unable to perform a second run up the mountain due to a gearbox failure.

Also present at the event was Caltex Malaysia's celebrity partner Datuk Hans Isaac who took the opportunity to announce that he will attempt to drive up to Cameron Highlands in a 1995 Proton Saga.

 From left: Chevron Malaysia Limited country chairman Shahid Ahmed, with Chang


VW owners can now control their vehicle with Apple's Siri

                WASHINGTON, D.C.: Volkswagen America has announced that Siri has been integrated into Car-Net, a VW service mobile application.

On Monday, Siri was officially integrated into Volkswagen's Car-Net mobile app allowing drivers to lock or unlock the car with just their voice. Not only that, but the voice assistant also enables a handful of other Car-Net shortcuts from controlling the cabin climate and defrosting the windshield to locating your vehicle when you forget where you parked it.

While VW models are getting the Apple treatment, Amazon has been working on integrating Alexa into cars; the company recently partnered with Ford to install the voice assistant directly into the infotainment system, whereas Echo Auto can bring Alexa into any vehicle whether or not it was designed to support the tech, though the latter has not hit the market yet.

The VW Car-Net application with Siri support is available on Apple devices supporting iOS 12, but there is a fee for using the service depending on your subscription plan.


myLESEN starts to tackle 6.7 million unlicensed drivers and m-cyclists

                HULU LANGAT: Some 6.7 million drivers and motorcyclists are on the road without valid licences.

To address this, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has initiated the myLESEN programme to ensure that some 300,000 motorcyclists nationwide obtain their licence within a month.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the one-month programme from today would target those aged 16 and above.

“We appeal to them to get their licence as soon as possible as 32% of motorcyclists in the country are without one.

“We cannot allow this to continue,” he said when launching the myLESEN programme at Surfine Hitech Sdn Bhd here yesterday.

Besides giving them a chance to get their licence, he said the motorcyclists would also undergo road safety training.

As an incentive, Liow said the programme would train and test motorcyclists at a flat rate of RM299 instead of the minimum RM350 fee set by driving schools.

“Depending on the response, we may consider holding similar programmes in the future to get more unlicensed motorcyclists to get their licence,” he added.

He said the ministry hoped that at least half or 3.35 million unlicensed motorcyclists would eventually come forward.

The programme, he said, was crucial as the ministry aimed to reduce road accidents by 50% by 2020.

Based on the Road Safety Plan 2014-2020, he said an estimated 43% of motorcyclists below 25 years old in rural areas were without licences.

“Police statistics between 2010 and 2012 show that 32% of deaths and 26.8% of injuries involved unlicensed motorcyclists,” he said.

Under the programme, motorcyclists will be able to obtain their B2 licence for motorcycles below 250cc.

A total of 190 driving institutes nationwide are taking part in the programme.


Final Land Rover Defender rolls out

                SOLIHULL, UK: Land Rover celebrated 68 years of history recently as the last of the current Defenders was produced at its famous Solihull production facility.

To mark the occasion Land Rover invited more than 700 current and former Solihull employees involved in the production of Series Land Rover and Defender vehicles to see and drive some of the most important vehicles from its history, including the first pre-production ‘Huey’ Series I as well as the last vehicle off the production line, a Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top.

At the same time, Land Rover announced a new Heritage Restoration Programme, which will be based on the site of the existing Solihull production line.

A team of experts, including some long serving Defender employees, will oversee the restoration of a number of Series Land Rovers sourced from across the globe.

The first vehicles will go on sale in July 2016.

Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director at Jaguar Land Rover, added: “This is a special day of fond celebration for Jaguar Land Rover. We all have personal memories of Defender. It’s a true motoring icon and is much loved around the world. The world has changed dramatically in the last 68 years, but this vehicle has remained a constant – something no other vehicle can claim.”

The Defender Celebration in Solihull saw more than 25 unique vehicles from Land Rover’s history come together in a procession around the Solihull plant, featuring the final current Defender vehicle off the line.

The last of the current Defender vehicles includes an original part that has been used on Soft Top specifications since 1948 – the hood cleat.

The vehicle will be housed in the Jaguar Land Rover Collection.

Land Rover fans are invited to upload their most memorable journeys ever undertaken in Series Land Rover or Defender vehicles via an upcoming online ‘Defender Journeys’platform.

Effectively a digital scrapbook, Land Rover aims to collate as many exciting adventures as possible into this online map, which users can view and share.


Electric cars to shine at Frankfurt show as diesel takes backseat

                FRANKFURT: Hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts are set to flock to Frankfurt's IAA motor show this week where auto giants hope to show off their electric prowess as scandal-plagued diesels take a backseat.

Two years after "dieselgate" crashed the last IAA party, when Volkswagen's public admission that it had cheated on diesel emissions tests embarrassingly coincided with the fair, organisers are hoping to turn the page by focusing on the cleaner cars of the future.

But as more automakers have come under suspicion and concern about diesel pollution has grown, industry expert Stefan Bratzel expects the mood at this year's 10-day extravaganza to be "mixed".

"On the one hand, the auto industry is enjoying its best years ever in terms of sales and profits, but on the other it's wondering what's going to happen in future," said Bratzel of Germany's Center for Automotive Management.

"Diesel and its harmful emissions are a topic of hot debate right now, especially in Germany, creating an image problem for the entire industry."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, eyeing a fourth term in a Sept 24 general election, will on Thursday formally open the 67th International Motor Show, in what promises to be a more politically charged event than in past years.

Dieselgate has wormed its way into the German election campaign as voters fret over the resale value of their cars and over diesel bans mooted by some cities.

While Merkel has said she had been "angered" by the cheating scam, she has also been careful not to demonise a sector that is the backbone of the German economy and employs more than 800,000 people.

"Diesel, and the internal combustion engine, will exist for many, many years to come," she said in a recent interview.

But other countries aren't so sure. Both France and Britain have announced plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040 to clamp down on harmful emissions.

"All this uncertainty surrounding diesel and gasoline engines will hang over the trade show," predicted Flavien Neuvy, auto expert at France's Observatoire Cetelem.

Automakers around the world are responding to the challenges by dramatically shifting focus to electric and automated vehicles, belatedly joining a race started by Silicon Valley giant Tesla to take zero-emission cars into the mainstream.

In the run-up to the IAA, which alternates each year with the Paris Motor Show, German luxury carmaker BMW and Britain's Jaguar Land Rover became the latest manufacturers to promise electric or hybrid models across all their brands in coming years.

In Frankfurt, fairgoers will get a chance to get up close and personal with BMW's first electric MINI, while Volkswagen plans to show off an updated concept of its self-driving ID Crozz, an SUV crossover, and Daimler hopes to wow with its Mercedes-AMG hybrid "supercar".

But lovers of gas-guzzlers need not despair, as the IAA is promising plenty of traditional fare as well with a string of urban SUVs lining up to steal the limelight, including Renault's budget Dacia Duster.

Despite all the buzz, the year's most-talked about car will be conspicuously absent from the Frankfurt convention centre: Tesla's Model 3.

The much-hyped model aims to be the first electric car for the masses with a starting price around US$35,000 and a battery range of 354km.

"We're not a traditional carmaker," Tesla said about skipping the IAA.

But it joins a string of other noticeable no-shows, continuing a trend seen at other car shows in recent years.

Fiat Chrysler, Nissan, Peugeot and Volvo are all staying away from Frankfurt, as companies search for more innovative and less costly ways to engage with customers.

"Car shows, like cars, need to keep reinventing themselves," said Matthias Wissmann, chief of Germany's VDA auto industry federation.


Refreshed Hyundai Kona arrives, two 2.0-litre variants from RM120K

The Kona Active (left) and Kona Standard shown at a media preview two days before launch.UPDATE: The refreshed Kona 1.6 Turbo is launching in Malaysia in July 2021. See post.

PETALING JAYA: The facelifted Hyundai Kona is launched today.

Two variants are offered namely the Kona Standard and Kona Active priced at RM119,888 and RM136,888 respectively (on-the-road without insurance). They are also RM4,000 more and RM6,000 more than the introductory prices the previous Kona were selling at when it first arrived last year.

It was only less than six months ago that Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) had brought in the pre-facelift model. Like before, the latest model remains a fully imported SUV.

While previously the 1.6-litre Turbo was available, the distributors decided not to bring in this variant at launch.

Still in its first generation, the Kona made its debut in 2017.

The latest Kona shows off a sleeker and more stylish look with a variety of design upgrades and advanced features. It is exclusively equipped with the new Smartstream G2.0 Atkinson powertrain which comes in two variants, Standard and Active.

The front-wheel drive KONA Smartstream G2.0 Atkinson four-cylinder petrol engine that is paired with a Smartstream IVT transmission (8 virtual speed) produces 149 PS of power at 6,200 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. The Smartstream engine offers dynamic performance with a smoother, comfortable driving experience, reduced emissions and better fuel efficiency.

The latest Kona is the first model to use this new engine

 Exterior and interior changes in the facelift are highlighted as shown.

The striking new front-end design of the new Kona stands out with eye-catching, protective cladding panels which are accentuated by the thin LED daylight running lights (DRLs).

Its newly designed bold grille complements the curved bonnet design, while the main bumper fascia connects smoothly to the wheel arch claddings, forming a unique and robust armour in a contrast to the main body.

The skid plate on the lower bumper embraces the lower air intake and visually complements the shape of the main upper grille. Integrated into the bumper corners are vertically oriented aerodynamic inlets that improve air flow.

At the rear, the new taillights feature horizontally stretched graphics. These reflect the unique identity of the front-end light design. The new rear bumper, which also follows the protective armour concept of the front and sides, also uses a contrasting material. In addition, the latest model comes with updated 17- or 18-inch wheel designs.

The Kona is also now 40mm longer than the previous model, giving it a sleeker and more dynamic look that complements its wide, strong visual stance.

Entering the cabin, one will notice a redesigned interior that expresses a more upscale and progressive look than its predecessor.

The new console area is separated from the instrument panel to emphasize the horizontal layout.

The dashboard appears wide and airy to create a generously spacious atmosphere. An electric parking brake with auto hold function is added as a new convenience feature in response to customer demand. Additionally, the new Kona now also gets a remote engine start function by using the smart key.

The new interior is completed by new colours and materials. New seat cover options include a black woven houndstooth design, cloth seats with black and grey embossing and perforated leather seats in black or beige. As a testament to its more grown-up status, the seatbelts do not have funky colours that are colour-coordinated with the exterior colour.

New to this model is a 10.25-inch digital cluster that is only available to the KONA Active variant, in addition to the 8-inch AVN screen with multiple Bluetooth connections. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard for both variants which also include Waze and Google Map for navigation convenience.

The Kona Active has been upgraded with many safety features that used to be found in the pre-facelift 1.6 Turbo.

It is equipped with a number of safety and driver assistance features, offering a comprehensive safety suite such as the Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Rear Cross Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA); and Safe Exit Warning (SEW), which detects oncoming vehicle from the rear and then displays a visual and audio warning to alert the passenger from exiting the vehicle.

Other safety enhancements include Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) and High Beam Assist (HBA). The Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) has also been upgraded with pedestrian and vehicle detection.

"We are more confident than before of the Hyundai Kona's success in Malaysia despite the fierce competition in this segment,” said HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung.

“Its distinctive look makes it stand out from any other model in its class. The Kona is also targeted for those who want to stand out in the crowd and be different. It’s an agile and stylish car that can take you anywhere, be it for an adventurous outing or just for a city drive,” he said.

Four new colours options are available with the Kona Standard, namely Chalk White, Galactic Grey, Surfy Blue and Pulse Red while the Active variant comes with five new exterior colours, including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Dark Knight, and Misty Jungle.

The Kona comes with a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty and also 3-year or 50,000km (Whichever comes first) free maintenance service.

It is available for viewing at all Hyundai showrooms nationwide. Interested parties may contact Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000.

Facelifted Hyundai Kona Specifications (pdf)

 The Kona key fob has a new 'Hold' button that switches on remote engine start once the car is locked.


Motorists can use SUKE by middle of next year

                PETALING JAYA: The Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) is expected to be opened to motorists in July next year.

Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas) chief executive Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah said the project was currently 63% complete.

He expected the expressway to accommodate between 100,000 and 120,000 vehicles a day.

The 24.4km expressway with three lanes will comprise three toll plazas and 14 interchanges. “This project presents some technical challenges due to its height and location.

“Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded at the construction site, ” Mohammad Azlan said at the “Mega Toolbox” workshop in Taman Bukit Segar, in Cheras, Selangor.

Themed “Safety Starts Here”, the event began at 8am and comprised safety talks by construction safety experts to over 250 personnel at the site.

There was also a rescue demonstration using a life-sized mannequin by the Malaysia Civil Defence Force.

“This workshop was held to help all on-site personnel including Prolintas employees, contractors and site workers to adhere to the set safety guidelines when at work.

“The SUKE project involved many parties, be it contractors, suppliers or consultants.

“It is important that everyone involved observes standard safety protocol, ” he said.

Also present at the workshop was Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Aziz Abdullah.


Tesla’s new car-making process stokes debate among industry experts

According to Tesla's unboxed assembly process, a car is divided into subassemblies, each with their own team. After all the subassemblies are completed and ready, they come together to form the car.
AUSTIN/DETROIT/BERLIN: Tesla Inc's new vehicle-assembly system, which created instant buzz when it was unveiled in March, ignited a debate among auto manufacturing experts on whether CEO Elon Musk's so-called unboxed process is radical, revisionist or derivative - or all of the above.

Musk believes the company needs to radically rethink conventional manufacturing methods in order to build more affordable - and profitable - electric vehicles in higher volumes.

Investors have been waiting for Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, to announce what is perceived as the company's holy grail: An electric vehicle priced under US$30,000 (RM135,000). Right now, the least expensive Tesla starts at more than US$40,000 (RM180,000).

The unboxed assembly process is intended to enable Tesla to hit that ambitious price target.

One expert described the process as "revolutionary," with the potential to upend the auto industry's traditional moving assembly line. Others questioned whether a process that relies on previously tested techniques such as modular assembly can contribute to dramatically lower production costs.

When the new process was revealed at Tesla's March 1 Investor Day, executives said it would make the company's next-generation vehicles "significantly simpler and more affordable."

Officials said the unboxed process could cut production costs in half and reduce the factory footprint by 40%. The aim, said the company, is to "build more vehicles at lower cost."

The assemblage of new techniques will not be fully tested until the system is installed in late 2024 at Tesla's new US$5 billion plant in Monterrey, Mexico, where the company plans to build a new generation of sub-US$30,000 EVs.

Several big questions loom: What sort of impact will Tesla's process have on the auto industry overall? Will it render useless the widely copied Toyota Production System? And can Musk actually make his company's process work as promised given Tesla's history of missed production deadlines and failed attempts to deploy unproven technology?

Tesla did not immediately reply to requests for comment for this story.

Martin French, managing director at consulting firm Berylls which focuses on the industry's rapid shift to electric and smart mobility, wondered if Tesla's move might supplant decades-old lean manufacturing methods pioneered by industry kingpin Toyota Motor Corp.

"I got the feeling when I watched the Tesla (presentation) that the Toyota Production System handbook has just been thrown up in the air and machine-gunned down," French said.

German researcher Jan-Philipp Büchler of the Free University of Dortmund, believes Tesla's new process is "revolutionary," adding: “This is much more than modular production ... It's eliminating steps that were standard, creating new patterns of working, increasing speed, reducing complexity.”

Tesla is still testing various elements of the system, including the use of large front and rear subassemblies built on single-piece underbody castings, which are then joined to a central structural battery pack. Body panels are painted separately, then joined together toward the end of the assembly process.

Out with the old?

Some manufacturing experts believe the unboxed process has the potential to reduce or eliminate familiar elements inside auto factories, including stamping, welding and painting unfinished car bodies and sending them down a long assembly line where seats, engines and other components are attached.

If everything works as planned, the unboxed process could rewrite the industry's standard playbook and practices. But Tesla has often fallen short of its ambitious targets, from the oft-delayed Cybertruck to its still-unfinished "Full Self Driving" software.

Lean gurus like James Womack and Hide Oba see key differences between the Toyota production way and Tesla's proposed overhaul.

At its core, the Tesla method "is an assembly process" while Toyota has developed a far broader and more comprehensive "production management system" that helps automakers run assembly processes and related operations more efficiently, said Womack, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of "The Machine That Changed the World," the 1990 book on Toyota's lean production philosophy and methods.

A big risk cited by Oba, an independent lean-manufacturing consultant, is what he describes as the “rigidity” of the unboxed system. Oba worked previously for the Toyota Production System Support Center, a division that helps the automaker's suppliers and others implement TPS.

The Tesla process "won’t work unless production of these big, high-content unboxed vehicle modules are completely synchronized, and finished blocks arrive for a final put-together just-in-time,” he said.

Another question is whether Tesla can produce multiple vehicle models of different sizes and body styles on the same production line with the unboxed system.

“My guess is that’s next to impossible,” Oba said. That is because the way Tesla has sliced or "unboxed" the vehicle into several big blocks is so radical, and the dimensions of those blocks do not appear to offer much room for manufacturing variables.

“That could become a drag on the company’s overall efficiency since Tesla’s model lineup is sure to become more varied and complex” in the future, he said.


US urges 50,000 Chevy Bolt owners to park outside because of fire risks

                WASHINGTON: US auto safety regulators on Wednesday urged about 50,000 owners of General Motors electric Chevrolet Bolt vehicles that were recalled last year to park outside and away from homes and other structures after charging because of fire risks.

Earlier on Wednesday, GM made the same recommendation and added owners should not leave Avehicles charging overnight. The recommendation was prompted after the largest US automaker said it was investigating reports of two recent fires in vehicles that were recalled in November for fire risks.

The 50,000 US Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) are from the 2017-2019 model years and were recalled for the potential of an unattended fire in the high-voltage battery pack underneath the backseat’s bottom cushion.

NHTSA opened an investigation in October into the Bolt fires, the agency noted Wednesday and "continues to evaluate the information received, and is looking into these latest fires."

The November recall of nearly 69,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs — including about 50,000 in the United States — with high voltage batteries produced at LG Chem Ltd's Ochang, South Korea facility, was made after five reported fires and two minor injuries.

In April, GM also announced a software update and said dealers would use "diagnostic tools to identify potential battery anomalies and replace battery module assemblies as necessary."

NHTSA said owners should park outside indefinitely regardless of whether they have had the software update completed.

GM said in April it would make the diagnostic software standard in the 2022 Bolt EV and electric utility vehicles, as well as future GM electric vehicles, and would offer the update for all other Bolt EVs on the road at a future date.


VW's Cariad to establish software JV with China's ThunderSoft

                BERLIN: Volkswagen's software unit Cariad will establish a joint venture with Chinese technologies provider ThunderSoft for connectivity and infotainment systems in China, with ThunderSoft holding a 51% stake, Cariad said in a statement today.

"The needs and requirements of the Chinese customers are in the centre of our strategic efforts," said Ralf Brandstaetter, chairman and chief executive of Volkswagen Group China.

Cariad will be the minority shareholder in the joint venture with a 49% stake, in contrast to its majority position in its other joint venture in China with Horizon Robotics to develop a single chip for autonomous driving technology, in which it holds 60%.

The partnership with ThunderSoft will develop software products for the cockpit of the car, infotainment systems, and cloud development - consumer-facing areas where carmakers are competing to set themselves apart and retain control over valuable data on consumer behaviour.

Headquartered in Beijing and founded in 2008, the Chinese company has joint ventures with Qualcomm, Arm and Intel, according to its website.


Tesla begins sales of cheaper Model 3 car in China

Guests looking at a Model 3 during a ground-breaking ceremony for a Tesla factory in Shanghai on Jan 7, 2019. — AFP
BEIJING/SHANGHAI: US electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc said it will start taking orders in China today for a lower-priced version of its Model 3 car, as it seeks to accelerate China sales hit by trade friction between Washington and Beijing.

The California-based firm said in a statement that Chinese customers will be allowed to place orders for a long range, rear-wheel-drive Model 3 variant whose price will start at 433,000 yuan (RM263,000).

Previously, the starting price for a Model 3 in China was 499,000 yuan (RM303,000), for an all-wheel-drive long range version. Tesla said earlier this year that it plans to start delivering Model 3 cars to customers in China in March.

Tesla, which is building a factory to produce Model 3 vehicles in Shanghai, is looking to minimise the impact of a trade war which has so far forced it adjust prices of its US-made cars in China.

Keeping prices in check will also help Tesla fend off competition from a swathe of domestic electric vehicle startups such as Nio Inc, Byton and XPeng Motors.


Fuel prices keep rising

                PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices are going up from tomorrow.

The price of RON95 and RON97 petrol will rise 4 sen each to RM2.20 per litre and RM2.48 respectively.

Diesel will go up by 1 sen to RM2.05 per litre from RM2.01 per litre previously.
The prices, which were announced on RTM1 on Wednesday evening, will be in effect from 12.01 am on Sept 7-13.

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism came into effect in April this year, and the prices of petrol and diesel had been placed on a managed monthly float system since Dec 1, 2014 following the removal of fuel subsidies.


Tesla adds new dog-minding function to the Model 3

                SAN FRANCISCO: No dog will ever die in a hot Tesla, thanks to a new function that monitors the temperature and lets worried passers-by know that the owner is returning soon.

Tesla announced a new mode for dog-owners driving its Model 3 cars, as well as a new smart function that protects the car from theft.

Five minutes in a hot car are enough for a dog to suffer a heatstroke, and dogs can sustain brain damage or even die from the heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

Even if the outdoor temperature is relatively low, cars can quickly heat up when parked in the sun. In such instances, panting doesn't help a dog to reduce its body temperature.

Rolling down a window a bit will do little to help the dog — but this isn't really practical if you're gone for longer than a few minutes.

Here is where Tesla's Dog Mode can make all the difference.

By pressing the option DOG on the car's controls, the Tesla will make sure that the temperature in the car is regulated so that your canine friend is comfortable. Presumably, this feature will serve owners of other pets as well. The company demonstrated the new function in a video released Wednesday.

The second new option, Sentry Mode, is basically a slightly better car alarm. When you switch on the feature, the Tesla will use the outside cameras and sensors to detect movement or people touching the car while you're away.

If someone leans against the car, for instance, it will start recording everything happening — and if something worse happens, such as a window being broken, the alarm will be triggered and will start making a lot of noise — including blaring music out at full volume.

This software update will first only be available for Model 3 Teslas, but should be rolled out to older models later in the year.


BMW selling M2's sex appeal — with help from Gigi Hadid

                PETALING JAYA:  Put a supermodel and a hot car together and it's bound to get plenty of attention.

Question is which of them do you have eyes on — the girl or the car?

That's the idea behind a BMW digital ad campaign where sultry US supermodel Gigi Hadid gets into the BMW M2, one of five that are all being driven fast in a  vehicle choreography on a wide open road in an attempt to make the audience lose track of which car she's in. They are then asked to guess which of the numbered car Gigi is.

If the player picks the right M2 Coupé, the campaign’s digital architecture leads into the digital M2 Coupé showroom of the BMW sales company in the player’s country.

The ad also suggests in a provocative way that as sexy and beautiful as Gigi is, the M2 has enough of its own allure to pull your eyes away.

BMW has set up a microsite for the M2 ad eyesongigi.com, which is heavy on visuals and the copy on it reads: "Only have eyes for Gigi? Or did the M2 just steal your heart? Packed with pure power and performance, when you see the M2 in action, it’s hard to focus on anything else."

Alternatively, hop over to its USA Instagram page which lures you to read between the lines when it writes about the "striking curves" and "dominating presence", which could refer to either the girl or the car. Or both. It lets the individual draw his or her own conclusions.

Since the video clip above was posted on BMW's channel on YouTube yesterday, it has rapidly attracted over 470,000 views in less than 24 hours (Update: The M2-Gigi video is so hot it has powered past 3 million views as of April 19). The star power of both are simply undeniable.

“BMW is such an iconic brand. The fact that I get to be the face of this campaign is definitely a career highlight for me. The M2 is such a cool, fun car,” said Gigi.

Gigi liked the unusual campaign idea: “When they came to me with this concept, I loved it, and was honoured to be a part of it. I had a blast working on this project.”

To guarantee the new “fan of the brand” continued driving fun over, BMW will provide the top model with her own M2 Coupé for six months.

Gigi, of Dutch and Palestinian ancestry, is the girlfriend of British singer and songwriter Zayn Malik.

She was born in Los Angeles and began her modelling career when she was only two years old. “Eyes on Gigi” is the first time the top model has worked with an automobile brand. The 21-year-old has also done some acting but is best known as a Sports illustrated model.

The digital spot kicked off an integrated campaign for global rollout through TV, digital, social media and CRM channels, starting last Thursday. The “digital-first” approach preferred for the first time for “Eyes on Gigi” also benefits from Gigi’s strong social media presence. With 16.1 million subscribers on Instagram, nearly 1.9 million followers on Twitter and 2.6 million fans on Facebook, Gigi is a woman of influence.

The M2 was introduced to Malaysia in March. With only a handful of units available in the country, it only comes in Long Beach Blue Metallic colour and is priced at RM498,800.

The M2 uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine which produces 370hp at 6,500rpm and 465Nm (500Nm overboost) of torque from 1,400 to 5,560rpm. All that torque is relayed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed M-double clutch transmission (DCT) with Drivelogic and integrated Launch Control function.

HyperFocal: 0  HyperFocal: 0


Peugeot finds new partner in Thailand, to import 3008 and 5008 from Malaysia

                BANGKOK: Peugeot has appointed Belfort Automobiles (Thailand), a subsidiary of the Master Group Corporation (Asia) Co., Ltd., as the new exclusive importer and distributor of Peugeot brand cars in Thailand.

Peugeot will roll out at least five new models in Thailand over the next few years.

Two SUVs, the Peugeot 3008 and the 5008, will be the first models to be introduced in Thailand.

Master Group Corporation (Asia) or MGC-Asia is one of the leading automotive retailers and mobility companies in Thailand.

The signing ceremony took place at the French embassy here and was witnessed by French ambassador to Thailand Jacques Lapouge. Also present were Peugeot Thailand CEO Dr Joerg Breuer, Groupe PSA senior vice president (Asean) Laurence Noel, Groupe PSA sales and marketing head (Asean) Jean-Christophe Calandot, MGC-Asia group CEO Dr Sunhavut Thamchuanviriya, its executive director Sukolkarn Thamchuanviriya, its president Ratana Thamchuanviriya and its group chief financial officer Jerdnapang Thamchuanviriya.

 From left: Breuer, Jerdnapang, Noel, Lapouge, Ratana, Dr Sunhavut, Sukolkarn and Calandot.

The Peugeot franchise in Thailand was previously held by European Motor Cars Co, which had been importing and distributing Peugeot and Citroen cars for the past 47 years. European Motor Cars Co is controlled by the Leenutaphong family.

The 3008 and 5008 would be imported from the Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant in Gurun, Kedah, which was set up in 2004 following a joint venture agreement  between Groupe PSA and  Naza Corporation Holdings. In February last year, both companies agreed to upgrade the plant into an Asean manufacturing hub.

It now exports cars to the Philippines; Thailand will be its next export market in the coming weeks. Peugeot now operates in 11 countries in the region.

The Gurun plant also assembles the Kia and Citroen for the local market.


Action can be taken against people who shoot photos, videos of police roadblocks, says IGP

                KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals who shoot photos, videos of policemen manning roadblocks across the country with the intention of creating a negative perception about the police on social media will face stern action, says Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador (pic).

The Inspector-General of Police said this was an irresponsible action and contravened the movement control order (MCO).

"I want to stress that the police roadblocks were not being mounted nationwide just for the fun of curbing movement or causing inconvenience to the public.

"The police are carrying out a noble mission with the objective of breaking the Covid-19 infection chain to save the people," he said at Bukit Aman here recently.

Abdul Hamid said the police personnel at the roadblocks were exposed to the risk of Covid-19 infection.

"Individuals who do that (record and take photographs with the intention of casting a bad image on the police) are strongly reminded that there are many parties who are keeping their eye on you and waiting to arrest you.

"If they have gone out to purchase goods, it is not a problem, but if they purposely go out to record the roadblocks, then it is an offence because the police who are performing their duties are not there to be filmed or are on show," he said.

He said the police force was always working to ensure the safety of its personnel on duty at the roadblocks and they too have to observe social distancing.

Abdul Hamid said he had gone out to see that all police personnel at these roadblocks wear masks and gloves, and use hand sanitisers.

"Whenever they stop a car, they cannot stand close to it or touch any part of it, there is a standard operating procedure for it. They can only ask the driver where he is going to and after that, my men have to clean their hands," he said.


GM rolls back 'radical' plan to offer only three-cylinder engines in some China cars, say sources

                BEIJING: General Motors is backtracking on an aggressive promotion of three-cylinder engines in China that saw some Buick and Chevrolet models offered only in that option — a move which proved highly unpopular and helped sales slide, people familiar with matter said.

Three-cylinder gasoline engines are cleaner and more fuel efficient than their conventional four-cylinder counterparts, and automakers are keen to promote them, particularly in China which has some of the world’s most stringent fuel economy and emission rules.

GM went further than competitors, discontinuing four-cylinder versions for many models in the world’s largest auto market. By comparison, Honda Motor Co and BMW also offer three-cylinder cars in China but the models are an option in addition to four-cylinder versions.

Many Chinese consumers, however, perceive cars with three-cylinder engines as noisier and prone to vibrating, and sales began to tumble in third quarter of 2018. Last year, GM’s China sales fell 15% to 3.09 million vehicles, its second straight year of steep declines and the lowest level since 2012.

The move was “too quick, too radical and lacked sophisticated planning,” said a senior Shanghai-based sales manager at a Buick dealership.

The sales manager, who was not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified, said his company was among hundreds of dealers which lobbied GM to change the plan at dealer conferences.

By resurrecting four-cylinder options for key models, the hope is that GM, which reports fourth-quarter earnings later today, can regain some of the ground it has lost at a time when the new coronavirus is threatening to sink sales in the first quarter.

The outbreak is only adding to pain caused by to a slowing economy, US-China trade tensions, new emission rules as well as fierce competition from Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG.

SAIC-GM, the Detroit automaker’s main venture with SAIC Motor, is seeking approval for four cylinder versions of two mass-market sedans, Buick’s Excelle GT and Chevrolet’s Cruze, government documents show.

Those two versions are slated to hit the market sometime in the second quarter, two people with knowledge of the matter said, adding that four-cylinder versions of the Buick Verano sedan and Encore GX sport utility vehicle were also under consideration.

A Shanghai-based GM spokesman said the automaker will continue to offer three- and four-cylinder engines in the future but declined to comment on product plans.


WATCH: Keanu Reeves and friend take Porsche Taycan to the limit

LOS ANGELES: Two cars, two friends, one charge of electricity and one epic drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles.

Friends and Porsche enthusiasts Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter recently went on an epic road trip in southern California that featured a test of nerve, skill – and the Porsche Taycan Turbo.

"Going the Distance", an eight-minute film about the road trip, premiered on Thursday on the Porsche YouTube channel. In it, the two American Hollywood actors are given challenges by an all-star cast which test both friends to their limits, on closed roads.

Racer and stunt driver Tanner Foust makes a guest appearance for the first stop in the film, giving Reeves and Winter the chance to experience the thrill of Launch Control in a Taycan Turbo.

Next, the two accept the subsequent challenge set by Porsche factory driver, Patrick Long: a 3.2-kilometre hill climb up the Pacific Coast Highway following a 918 Spyder.

The two complete their day of trials on the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles track, where they attempt to beat the Taycan’s drift record. The challenges were performed under the supervision of professional drivers on closed courses.

The Taycan Turbo is at the core of the Taycan line up – capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100kph in 3.2 seconds with Launch Control (Taycan Turbo: CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km, Electricity consumption combined 28.0 kwh/100 km), it’s equipped with four-wheel drive and, through its twin electric motors, it has a combined 670hp.

The Taycan is available to be tested on track and to its limits at the worldwide Porsche Experience Centers.


April vehicle sales down 6.7% to 42,177 units

                KUALA LUMPUR: Stricter hire purchase loan approvals and cautious consumer sentiment continued to weigh down April vehicle sales, which saw only 42,177 units.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said on Monday the total industry vehicles sold in April were down 6.7% from the 45,187 units a year ago and it expects the sales volume to remain the same in May.

“Sales volume in April 2016 was 13.6% or 6,611 units lower than March 2016,” it said.

Of the 42,177 units sold, the MAA said 37,893 were passenger vehilces and 4,284 were commercial vehicles.

For the January-April period, total industry vehicle sales fell 19% to 173,432 from 213,566 units in the previous corresponding period.

The Goods and Service Tax came into effect on April 1, 2015 which saw customers buying ahead of the tax coming into effect last year.

Of the 173,432 units sold during the period, the MAA said 155,254 were passenger vehicles and the remaining 18,178 units were commercial vehicles.

The MAA data also showed manufacturers scaled back their output in April, with production falling 27.3% to 44,794 units from 61,634 units a year ago. Of the total production in April, passenger vehicles totalled 41,075 units and the remaining 3,719 were commercial vehicles.

From January to April, production fell 22.6% to 174,385 units from 225,331 a year ago.


Volvo S90 T8 Inscription Plus: Swede luxury

                Time to drop off a friend at the train station. It was with a sense of achievement to discover that the entire 33km road trip from home to KL Sentral that Sunday morning did not use a single drop of petrol.

It was electric drive all the way — with 30% charge left at journey’s end. Nice!

The car that made it possible? The Volvo S90 T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Volvo also sells an entry-level S90 T5 Momentum in Malaysia with a regular petrol engine bereft of an electric motor. Both variants are locally assembled to ensure competitive pricing.

The car in hand was the RM388,888 Inscription Plus, the S90 with the "mostest" if you won't settle for just the Inscription luxury trim.

The RM20,000 upgrades in the Inscription Plus are the active chassis with rear-levelling air suspension (instead of Dynamic Chassis) and a top-flight 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins to replace the 10-speaker audio system found in the Inscription version. The S90 Inscription Plus is, you might say, Volvo’s interpretation of sheer Scandinavian luxury.

Exterior

This big executive sedan from Gothenburg looks every bit as modern and elegant as it’s meant to be though it’s still fundamentally conservative by design.

There’s generous chrome trim all round to project luxury. The low chassis and swoopy roofline that ends in a fastback cut a sporty image, bolstered by 19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.

The vertical-slatted grille framed in chrome is concave as if pressed inwards by the force of speed. The LED headlights with the familiar Thor’s hammer running lights complement the face and adds to the car’s road presence. The smart headlights integrate Active High Beam and cornering lights to improve comfort and visibilty at night without dazzling oncoming motorists.

The rear is a mixed bag. While the LED taillights certainly have a distinctive signature, the sheetmetal around them is somewhat uninspiring.

Still, the overall S90 design looks like it would aged well several years down the road.

Interior

If you like Ikea stuff like many people do, you will like the S90 interior, which is a picture of Nordic cool.

Step in as a driver or passenger and you immediately revel in luxurious comfort with a dashboard that is clutter-free and techy. A 9-inch Sensus infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster bolsters that impression.

While much of the controls have been shoehorned into the centre screen, it means a need to take time to learn all the essential settings and adjustments on the display prior to heading out. You wouldn’t want to be fiddling with the on-screen controls as you drive; Volvo wouldn’t approve of it.

Walnut wood panelling and acres of black Nappa leather upholstery add to the premium space along with powered front seats with memory settings. Even the outer rear seats have power folding head restraints.

For a range-topper like the S90 T8, leather will not do for the gear lever; it has to be handmade Orrefors crystal for that extra touch of class.

At nearly 5m long, 1.9m wide and a sub-3m wheelbase, seating comfort in the S90 is high with especially in the rear, where the seats are angled back with good thigh support and enough headroom and legroom to enjoy a long haul trip.

Part of the reason you would spring for the S90 Inscription Plus is of course the best hi-fi system Volvo can muster. It comes from the revered Bowers & Wilkins, which had worked with the Swedish car maker early on to customise a set-up worthy of respect.

The 19-speaker audio system comes with features such as a subwoofer that draws air in from outside the car to create deep, resonant bass. A rearward-facing tweeter mounted on the dash cuts down on acoustic reflections from the windscreen. Three different room modes – Studio, Individual Stage and Gothenburg Concert Hall – allow the user to tailor the sound to his music or mood. Stainless steel speaker grilles and Bowers & Wilkins yellow speaker cones make this 1,400W system looks as good as it sounds.

Here’s to getting the most out of Spotify sessions!

Practicality

Two cupholders in each row are par for the course, plus shallow pockets in the four doors. The glovebox offer decent-size storage. There are net pockets on the back of front seats as well as a net pocket on tunnel next to front passenger. The S90 is also equipped with two 12V sockets - one in the tunnel console and the other in the boot.

Speaking of the boot, it's generous at 500 litres, mainly because the 10.4kWh lithium-ion battery is stashed away in the centre tunnel and not in the back as in the Mercedes E 350 e. The location of the S90 battery means it's well protected and the car has a low centre of gravity, aiding in its driving dynamics.

On the flip side, it eats into the space for the centre console storage compartment and makes for an uncomfortable ride for the middle person in the 3-passenger back seats as he has to straddle the battery pack which juts up a fair bit from the floor. Storage can be enlarged further with the rear seatback folded forward almost flat in a 40:20:40 split.

In addition, there’s no spare tyre to take up boot space as the S90 comes only with a tyre repair kit.

Safety

Do we even need to cover this point for a car maker that has the safety ethos baked in?

For the record, Volvo has lined up a dizzying array of passive and active features to keep car occupants out of harm’s way.

Volvo has kitted up the S90 with a long list of advanced safety features as defined in the Intellisafe suite. Intellisafe basically offers features that support the driver while driving, to features that help prevent accidents and protect occupants in the event that one occurs.

It includes the usual suspects like airbags, emergency brake assist and Isofix points.

It also covers lane keeping aid; driver alert control, blind spot detection; cross traffic alert; pedestrian, cyclist & large animal detection; collision avoidance & mitigation; run-off road protection; post-collision auto braking & unlocking; whiplash protection system for front seats; seatbelt detection for all seats; and energy absorbing seat cushions.

Volvo has invested much thought into the safety of the liitle 'uns as well. Its integrated booster cushion is a built-in rear child seat that has been around for nearly 30 years. There’s two in the S90, and they are made up of a two-stage system that allows the driver to adjust the height of the booster so that child occupants can take advantage of safety belts and headrests.

Ride & handling

The electrified powertrain combines a turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the front.

A electric motor, hooked up to the lithium-ion-battery, drives the rear wheels. Depending on the selected drive mode, the engine and electric motor may operate independently of each other or in concert with each other.

This also means at some point, the S90 can operate as a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive sedan.

Combined output from engine and electric motor is a whopping 407hp and 640Nm of torque. Despite its heft, acceleration is startlingly faster than the E-Class hybrid at 4.8s, and the car can reach a top speed of 250kph.

There are four drive modes that alter the powertrain behaviour namely Pure, Power, Hybrid and AWD (all-wheel drive).

The all-electric range in Pure mode is officially 50km and is ideal for city driving; actual range will depend on driving style, climate settings, road conditions, temperature and other factors.

To get the most of the PHEV as a daily driver, it's always a good habit to charge up the car before the next sunrise, and set the car to Hybrid and let the computer manage the powertrain. It takes 4 hours to fully charge a nearly depleted battery.

So how does the S90 T8 Inscription Plus drive?

It's more of a comfortable plush ride than a sporty drive. The cabin is hush and relaxed at highway speeds. It wouldn't be out of place to use it as a chauffeur car as it has the goods to accomplish that.

The switchover between engine and electric motor is barely noticeable.

The 8-speed Aisin automatic gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly. Note that the S90 doesn't have paddle shifters.

The active chassis is meant to enhance comfort with the rear air suspension able to automatically level the car irrespective of load and adapt to road and driving conditions.

Sitting in the back, one does feel the S90 T8 Inscription Plus ride to be noticeably more pliant than that in the T8 Inscription variant as it absorbs and smooths out rough road surfaces better.

Steering is light but tightens up when summoning the full cavalry in Power mode. But in fast corners, the S90 size and weight blunts performance as some body roll is felt.

For effective braking, you have to modulate the brakes: step on it and step harder towards the end to bring the car to a quick stop.

Taking away some of the stress of a long commute is the availability of Pilot assist with steering support up to 130kph, which works well as long as the lane markers are clearly visible. Adaptive cruising remains active up to 200kph and the driver has to be hands-on beyond 130kph as steering support is disabled.

Fuel consumption

It’s arguably a safe bet that no car testers could be as frugal as the claimed official rate of 2l/100km.

We use Hybrid mode most of the time while occasionally straying to Power or Pure modes for a different take of the S90. AWD is appropriate when the road gets sandy, muddy or wet.

With that said, we managed 4.6l/100km in combined fuel consumption, a commendable figure for a big car.

Warranty

The S90 comes with a 5-year warranty or 120,000km mileage, whichever comes first.

Summary

The S90 is inherently a well-made car with the right kit and refinements to justify the asking price.

It’s a car aimed squarely at German premium car shoppers seeking an alternative beyond the Mercedes and Bimmer camps.

This Swede provides an enticing package that will surely steal a number of prospects away.

SPECIFICATIONSVolvo S90 T8 Inscription Plus PHEVEngine: 1,969cc 4-cylinder turbo and supercharged
Maximum power (combined): 407hp
Maximum torque (combined): 640Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic with Geartronic
Features: Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD), 10.4 kWh Lithium-ion Battery, Active Chassis with 2-Corner Air Suspension, Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold Function, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, Park Assist Pilot, 360-degree Surround View Camera, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Engine Start/Stop System, Digital Instrument Cluster with 12.3" TFT Adaptive Digital Display, Head-up Display (HUD), Sensus Navigation, Orrefors Crystal Gear Lever with Illumination, Voice Control, Frameless Rear View Mirror, Inscription Textile Carpets, Comfort Seats with Nappa Leather Upholstery, Dual Integrated Tailpipes, Intellisafe safety suite,
Acceleration (0-100kph): 4.8 seconds
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption (combined cycle): 2.0 litres per 100km
Price: RM386,888 (on-the-road without insurance, wef April 2019); RM388,888 in 2018


Revised and more powerful Volvo S60 arrives

                KUALA LUMPUR: The facelifted Volvo S60 T6 sedan has a revised front facade, and a new Drive-E powertrain, paddle shifters and safety features.

It is priced at RM280,888 (on-the-road, without insurance, inclusive of GST).

Limited units are available at authorised Volvo showrooms, and it comes in Ice White, Seashell, Ember Black, Saville Grey and Bright Silver.

The locally assembled facelifted S60 T6 has a supercharged and turbocharged 2.0-litre Drive-E engine that delivers 306hp at 5,700rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,100 to 4,800rpm.

Mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the powerful 4-cylinder T6 Drive-E engine uses the supercharger to fill in the bottom end gives the engine a big, naturally aspirated feel.

The mechanically linked compressor starts to function immediately at low revs, while the turbocharger kicks in when the airflow builds up.

Fuel consumption with the new 8-speed automatic is 6.7 litres per 100km.

"The new Drive-E powertrain range uses supercharging and turbocharging, and advanced transmissions for high performance and efficient fuel consumption. It focuses on transverse 4-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, as well as 3-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol variants," said Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Lennart Stegland.

New features include Park Assist Pilot which allows semi-automated parking, as the car can steer itself while the driver handles the gearbox and controls the car’s speed.

Park Assist Pilot uses front, rear and side-facing ultrasonic sensors for parking manoeuvres.

Another new feature is Lane Keeping Aid which helps the driver to stay in the lane, by applying extra steering torque to the steering column when the car gets close to a lane marking and is about to leave the lane.

The system is active at speeds between 65 and 200kph.

As a first step, Lane Keeping Aid applies gentle steering wheel torque to help the driver steer back onto the intended course.

If the car leaves the lane, a distinctive warning is delivered via a haptic vibration in the steering wheel.

As for the revised front looks, the previously visible washer nozzles have been relocated out of sight under the bonnet.

The radar cover has been painted gloss black and now blends better with the grille.

The chrome frame around the grille has been removed and there is a new, bigger ironmark badge.

Other safety systems include Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with full auto brake, City Safety system with full auto brake that is active at speeds up to 50kph, Active High Beam Control, Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Alert.

Comfort features include leather upholstery, powered front seats, electronic climate control, Interior Air Quality System, and rear air-conditioning vents.

There is also a Sensus Connect audio system with eight speakers, amplifier, seven-inch colour screen, DVD player with MP3 decoder, navigation system with voice control, and Bluetooth.


Taiwan says chipmakers to prioritise auto chips amid global shortage

                TAIPEI: Major Taiwanese chipmakers are willing to prioritise supplies for auto makers amid a global shortage of chips for the industry, the island’s economics minister said after meeting with company executives.

Automakers around the world are shutting assembly lines due to the shortages, which in some cases have been exacerbated by the former US administration’s actions against Chinese chip factories.

“Chipmakers are willing to follow the government’s request and try to support auto chips as much as they can to support production in the US, Europe and Japan,” Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua told reporters.

The issue has become a diplomatic one, with German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier writing to Wang to ask her for help in addressing it. Wang also said the United States, European Union and Japan had also been in contact.

The chipmakers are prepared to negotiate with clients of other products to see which clients are willing to delay or cut orders and will try to boost production, Wang said.

“For example, if their capacity is at 100% now, they will try to raise it to 102% or 103%, with the extra capacity going to make auto chips,” she added.

She met executives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), United Microelectronics Corp (UMC), Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp and Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.

Vanguard declined comment ahead of quarterly earnings next week but noted the company’s chairman had said this month he expects a 15% increase in demand for auto chips this year.

UMC co-president Jason Wang told an investor’s call after the minister spoke that they would try their best to help ease the auto chip shortage by prioritising supply.

“Hopefully, we can relieve some of the pressure,” he said.

The other two companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The chip firms told Wang that they were at working at full capacity. Business is booming for Taiwan’s tech firms as the Covid-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work drive demand for laptops, tablets and smartphones.

She added chipmakers had said they had warned automakers early last year that they were taking a risky approach if they cut orders at time of strong growth in demand for chips for electronics.

The shortage has affected Volkswagen, Ford Motor Co, Subaru Corp, Toyota Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and other car makers.

“This appears to be long-term demand so it will take some time to solve the problem,” Wang added.


Indonesian grandpa buys Mitsubishi Pajero Sport with a sackful of cash

                PETALING JAYA: An elderly man caused a stir when he walked into a Mitsubishi dealership in Indonesia and proceeded to buy a Pajero Sport SUV in cash.

His unusual action was recorded in a video that was recently posted up on TikTok, Instagram and other social media channels. The man's deed also made it to some local news publications.

The video showed the bearded grandpa, dressed in nondescript attire, taking out bundles of cash from a gunny sack and handing it over the counter at the undisclosed dealership.

After paying for the Pajero Sport in full, he was seen driving his new "mobil" away.

The Pajero Sport he bought is priced at around 600 million rupiah (RM178,000) in Indonesia.

While some social media users praised the man for buying the Pajero Sport in cash and avoid getting into debt, others urged for the video to be taken down as it could mark the man as a target by robbers or scammers.


China’s unloved EV chargers point to challenges for public plugs

                BEIJING: To support its transition from gas guzzlers to electric vehicles, China has rolled out more public charging facilities than the rest of the world combined. The problem is many are barely being used.

New research from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies found that public charging posts in China are used on average about once a day.

Some connectors along highway routes are particularly unloved, with an average utilisation rate of 1%, according to the study.

The country is home to more than 1.8 million plugs

The low usage illustrates the tricky reality of public charging networks: Reliable infrastructure is needed to help ease consumers’ anxiety about running out of battery range, but more EVs are needed to make the stations economically viable.

China’s predicament suggests that investments other countries are making to support higher electric-car adoption may take time to pay off.

“Utilisation of chargers is fairly low, so you’re not going to necessarily make a lot of money by having a charging business,” said Anders Hove, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute.

“It’s going to be a very low-margin business, so you’re going to have to have some government regulation to make sure the quality is kept up.”

Since it’s home to by far the largest EV market, China is a test case for the transportation transition playing out globally.

The nation installed more than 1.8 million public chargers as of last year, according to data compiled by BloombergNEF. The rest of the world combined was at less than 1 million, with the vast majority of those in Europe.

All those chargers in China delivered about 21.3 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2022, about 0.25% of the country’s total electricity consumption, according to Hove, who analysed data from the China Electric Vehicle Charging Promotion Alliance.

While use of individual public chargers is low, they combined to deliver enough power in December alone to move each EV in China’s fleet about 1,000km, suggesting that many drivers are using public facilities regularly, Hove said.

In many ways, the state of China’s charging infrastructure is the envy of the rest of the world.

Two of the largest installers are massive state-owned utilities to whom public good can be as important as profit margins. The nation also has ubiquitous and easy-to-use mobile payment systems that make transactions hassle-free.

But the lack of utilisation can still frustrate drivers.

Hove, who frequently takes EV road trips across the country, has often encountered public chargers that are under maintenance or no longer working.

In one instance in Beijing, he found two chargers were installed on a pedestrian-only street, an indication of how little attention some companies have paid to how the equipment could be used.

Utilisation rates will likely improve as EV penetration rises. Plug-in models were 26% of vehicle sales in China in 2022 and that should rise to around a third this year, according to BNEF.

A future in which EVs are dominant also might not necessitate the same scale of public infrastructure available to refuel internal combustion engines. At least half of EV buyers in China can access a private charger, according to Oxford Institute’s report.

“China has built out this huge charging network, and it’s not clear that that’s even needed,” Hove said.


Volvo steers towards next level of automotive safety

                KUALA LUMPUR: As the leader in promoting automotive safety with emphasis going back as far as 95 years ago, Volvo Cars is starting a new chapter in its "For Life" platform.

The campaign which advocates for safety in mind is anchored upon the mindset that when you feel safe, you can be truly free.

Following Volvo Cars' vision to have zero fatal injuries in a Volvo car, the commitment to safety has compelled the Swedish brand to look inwards and look at safety differently.

The Mindset to Rediscover Safety

This mindset is truly to accord drivers peace of mind, and with that calls for everyone to relook at how we approach safety.

The norm of driving is one where we focus on the road while relying on the passive and active safety systems in our car.

What we tend to overlook is our psychological state of mind when we are driving.

Contributing factors such as fatigue, distractions or absence of mind may lead to unwanted incidents on the road, so Volvo Car’s For Life campaign aims to remind us that our lives aren’t put on hold when we get behind the wheel.

Volvo Cars believe that our thoughts, feelings and emotions are all variables that determine our right psychological state of mind to drive, and no matter how safe we make our cars, they’re only as safe as the mind that drives them – a blind spot discovered by Volvo Cars.

When You Feel Safe, You Can Truly Be Free

The For Life campaign is centred upon the concept of approaching safety from the angle of one’s psychological being.

To communicate this, Volvo Cars has introduced communication assets that spark us to look inwards, look at safety differently, and recognise that thoughts, feelings, and emotions come along for the ride.

The For Life campaign features a 60-second video centred on safety and highlights a collection of real-life stories.

The video showcases relatable everyday moments – from a hand-holding parent to warm embraces, to receiving support from a loved one, and to the safety measures we must put in place before enjoying what life has to offer.

These key moments not only remind us to be more mindful of our own peace of mind but also reinforce the fact that when you feel safe, you can truly be free.

The For Life campaign also features thought-provoking safety questions to help us understand how life affects your drive and encourage drivers to look inwards and view safety differently. You can participate in the survey via the link, here.

It began with the introduction of the three-point safety belt to the world, then capping its speed cap limit to 180kph in all its cars and now, the debut of its For Life campaign.

This is only the beginning of many more to come as Volvo Cars usher into a brand-new era of safety for life, caring about our world and the people around us.

Safety is a crucial part of the company culture and central to everything they do, and this is why Volvo Cars will always focus on safety so you can drive with peace of mind.

For further information on Volvo Car Malaysia’s ‘For Life’ campaign, visit www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY- FB and Instagram at http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG.


Cross words nearly upstage crossovers at NY auto show

                NEW YORK: This year's New York International Auto show, which runs through April 12, will stand out among others for two reasons - the sheer number of new SUVs and crossovers on display and, for a host of very public disagreements between car companies in attendance.

During a press roundtable on the show's first day attended by Detroit News, decided to be refreshingly open when asked about how he felt about Nissan - its closest direct rival - and its growing US sales volumes.

 Mendel

"I don't really give a damn about Nissan, really I don't," he said before accusing Nissan of manipulating its sales figures via its fleet business. "They have a whole systematic group of people who go into the dealers on the 20th of the month based on what Nissan needs to beat Honda and forces the dealer to put an additional 10 or 15 rental cars in service."

Nissan denied Mendel's allegations, stating that its US performance is down to consumers buying its cars in greater numbers. "The wide majority of our growth has been due to retail sales gains, not fleet," said Nissan spokesman David Reuter. However, unlike Honda, Nissan does combine fleet and retail numbers when reporting sales figures.

The bickering wasn't confined to Japanese marques, there were also transatlantic tensions thanks to the latest Lincoln concept car, the Continental, which was unveiled at the show and which got Luc Donckerwolke, Bentley's chief designer, very upset.

Feeling that the concept was very similar to the Bentley Flying Spur, Donckerwolke took to Facebook and posted "Do you want us to send you the product tooling" on Lincoln head designer David Woodhouse's page.

The comment quickly disappeared but then on his own Facebook page, Donckerwolke wrote "I would have called it a Flying Spur concept and kept the four round lights."

 Donckerwolke

All of which led Stephen Odell, Ford's global marketing head, to step in "There's no way that we've copied anybody's design," he told Bloomberg. "Our Continental has its own character, its own architecture and its own aspects as a car."

But perhaps the biggest feud came courtesy of Aston Martin who arrived in New York fresh from starting legal proceedings against one-time chief designer Henrik Fisker. Aston felt that Fisker's latest "design study," a one-off car called the Thunderbolt and based on the current Aston Martin Vanquish, had crossed the line in terms of trademarks, design and intellectual property rights.

However, on Wednesday, Aston Martin and Henrik Fisker issued a joint statement reporting that they had swiftly and amicably resolved their differences. Although what the resolution is will remain confidential, it's believed that Fisker has agreed not to put the Thunderbolt into limited production.


Lucid in the cloud with ZeroLight

                SAN FRANCISCO: Lucid Motors has partnered with ZeroLight to launch a cloud-powered buying experience for customers interested in the new Lucid Air EV luxury sedan.

The Lucid Air “Design Yours” Configurator is available now on the newly launched Lucid Motors website.

Lucid’s configurator features ray-tracing technology, which is the same tech leveraged in advanced video games.

A truly mobile-first experience, the configurator is deployed and streamed from the cloud. This enables the customer to choose between a number of interchangeable California-inspired backgrounds – complete with life-like features, such as moving waves and chirping birds – as they build their Lucid Air on any device.

Lucid Motors worked with ZeroLight to seamlessly integrate each stage of the customer journey into a consistent, end-to-end experience.

By linking each stage in this manner, Lucid Motors customers can enjoy the luxury one-to-one Studio experience online via the “Lucid Live Studio,” a shared configuration solution powered by ZeroLight’s Concierge product, which will be the world’s first deployment of this technology in any automotive application.

This cloud-based solution digitally mirrors the in-person sales experience, with no reliance on screen-sharing. It enables a customer to interact with a car from the comfort of their home while a sales representative virtually guides them through its key features and configuration options.

“Lucid Air ushers in a new era of luxury mobility that delivers a distinctly elevated level of integrated design and technology,” said Derek Jenkins, VP of Design, Lucid Motors.

“We have built a customer experience that mirrors this progress in every sense, and in partnership with ZeroLight, we have created a uniquely rich journey where the customer has the freedom to explore, configure, and purchase the Lucid Air on their own terms, at any time, on any device.”


Bringing the original Land Rover to book

                LONDON: Described as the definitive story of how the Land Rover came to be and how it shaped the automotive world, "Icon" is a new book written by Land Rover itself and featuring never-before seen images as well as original illustrations and interviews with a host of famous Land Rover owners.

Though announced in time for Father's Day on June 18, the hardback collectors' book won't be making a satisfying thud on coffee tables, or taking up too much room in a carry-on case until July.

And when it does, it will do so with a forward from "The Grand Tour" co-host Richard Hammond, as well as revealing stories from the likes of Bear Grylls, Ralph Lauren and South African Rugby star John Smit, all of whom have fallen for the car's agricultural charm since it first went into production back in 1948.

However, what will set the book apart from the hundreds already written about the original Land Rover and its longevity, is that it has been written in-house, by Land Rover itself and therefore with access to information, documentation and experts that is potentially off-limits to other writers..

So, alongside showbiz names, there are also interviews with the production line employees that helped to bring the car to life, plus insights from a host of company executives including current chief designer Gerry McGovern.

"Icon," which runs to 200 pages and 10 chapters, also attempts to put into context what the Land Rover and then subsequently the Defender (the vehicle was renamed when Land Rover started building the Range Rover, to avoid confusion) achieved as a genuine go-anywhere vehicle.

That means its expeditions, humanitarian missions and military action.

The book is available to reserve now and will cost £50 (RM279) when it officially goes on sale.


You get to pay less toll on six PLUS highways from Feb 1

                PETALING JAYA: Six highways will start lowering their tolls as early as Feb 1 and there will be no more toll hikes for the next 38 years, says the Prime Minister's Office.

In a statement issued on Friday (Jan 17), it said this was in line with the Cabinet's decision not to sell PLUS and to keep the Pakatan Harapan 14th General Election manifesto promise that tolls would be lowered until they could be completely abolished.

It added that the government would save RM42bil from not paying compensation should PLUS be sold.

That money will now be used for other initiatives for the benefit of the people.

"The Cabinet decided on Jan 15 to lower tolls by 18% for all private vehicle users on all PLUS highways, as early as Feb 1.

"The implementation of the lowering of the tolls will be based on the approval of PLUS shareholders.

"The concession on all PLUS highways will be extended by 20 years from 2038 to 2058. This is to ensure that PLUS can afford to maintain the highway operation without depending on the government.

READ MORE: Lower toll charges expected to ease cost-of-living pressure, says economist Penang Bridge users to enjoy lower toll rates as well.

"Even though the earlier concession agreement provides for toll hikes, the latest Cabinet decision ensures there will be no more toll hikes until the concession ends after 38 years. No compensation will be made to PLUS for lowering of the tolls," said the statement.

The Prime Minister's Office further said that the government would no longer bear the burden of paying compensation to PLUS and this would save the government RM42bil.

"Khazanah Nasional Bhd (Khazanah) and the Employees Provident Fund will remain as the main shareholders of PLUS. This decision was made based on a one-year study and a wholesome consideration by the Ministries of Works, Finance and Economic Affairs," said the Prime Minister's Office.

The highways include North-South Highway (PLUS), New Klang Valley Express (NKVE), North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite), Malaysian Singapore Second Link (Linkedua), East Coast Highway Phase Two (LPT2), Port-Dickson-Seremban Highway (SPDH), Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) and Penang Bridge (JPP).

For example, the toll rate on PLUS will be lowered from 13.6 sen/km to 11.15 sen/km, which is lower than the rate in 1999 when it was 11.24 sen/km. Once implemented, a trip from Jalan Duta to Alor Setar would be RM45.50 as compared to RM55.50.

In response, Khazanah Nasional Bhd said it will work closely with the government and PLUS Malaysia Bhd on the toll restructuring initiative to ensure it is implemented effectively for the benefit highway users, as well as other key stakeholders including holders of PLUS’ debt.

“We recognise the complexity in meeting the demands of multiple key stakeholders, especially the people of Malaysia," managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said in a statement today.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Cabinet decided not to sell PLUS despite bids from private sectors and Khazanah itself.

"We have studied all the bids made by the private sector, and also the bid by Khazanah Nasional.

"We decided that the best way is not to sell PLUS to anybody, but to keep it with Khazanah Nasional and EPF," he said.

He added that people need not worry about the 20-year extension of the toll concession on PLUS, as the reduced flat rate, when compared against future ringgit rates, would be minimal.

"They (PLUS) have to reduce the toll rate by 18%, but remember, 18% is set at today's rate. That means, in 20 years' time, the 18% when compared with the ringgit rate then will not be very high," Dr Mahathir had said.


Pay more for petrol and diesel from tomorrow

                PETALING JAYA: Petrol prices are up for the third week of April, under the new weekly pricing mechanism.

RON95 petrol will retail at RM2.24 per litre up, eight sen from RM2.16 last week, while RON97 petrol is priced at RM2.52, up nine sen from RM 2.43. The price of diesel is RM2.16 compared with last week's price of RM2.08 per litre.

The new prices will come into effect on Thursday, and will remain until April 19. The Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry posted the new weekly fuel prices on Twitter.

Previously, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that a new weekly fuel pricing mechanism would be used from April. The prices of petrol and diesel had been placed on a managed monthly float system since Dec 1, 2014, following the removal of fuel subsidies.

With the new weekly mechanism, fuel prices will be announced every Wednesday and the new prices enforced after midnight.


New software solution to simulate autonomous car testing

                LONDON: UK-based driving simulation company, rFpro, has developed a means to slash the hardware costs associated with large-scale simulation of autonomous car testing.

The new software is being successfully employed by global Tier 1 supplier Denso and leading autonomous vehicle technology provider Ambarella.

rFpro calls the new approach Data Farming and compares it to Render Farming, which has revolutionised the economics of popular animation.

It enables customers to build complete datasets that cover the full vehicle system where every sensor is simulated at the same time.

The data is synchronised across all sensors, even with the most complex hardware designs.

This is essential where customers are employing sensor fusion to bring together data, for example from multiple 8K HDR stereo cameras, LiDAR and radar sensors at the same time.

“Through rFpro’s Data Farming we can create an extensive number of driving scenarios, allowing the generation of very large variations in scenes, all through the investment in a single platform,” said Francisco Eslava-Medina, project manager at Denso ADAS.

“This allows us to quickly and cost-effectively generate the vast quantity of quality training data that is essential for certain product development phases of computer vision technologies, especially for neural networks for our autonomous vehicle technologies.”

Alberto Broggi, general manager of Ambarella's division in Italy, said, "The software presents a radical shift in creating training data and is already accelerating the development of our autonomous vehicle systems. Deep learning and AI are critical to the successful adoption of autonomous vehicles. It may not be reasonably possible to get to the standard required only through the use of manually annotated data sets. Data Farming will transform the way the industry develops autonomous vehicles”.


Rolls-Royce plans for take-off in flying taxi market

PR agent Elsa Goette sits in a Rolls-Royce engine of an Airbus A350-900 of Ethiopian Airlines during a site-inspection at Fraport airport in Frankfurt in May 2017.— Reuters
LONDON: British jet engine maker Rolls-Royce has designed a propulsion system for a flying taxi and is starting a search for partners to help develop a project it hopes could take to the skies as soon as early next decade.

Rolls-Royce said on Sunday it had drawn up plans for an electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) vehicle, or flying taxi, which could carry four to five people at speeds of up to 402kph for around 800km.

The company, which makes engines for planes, helicopters and ships, joins a variety of companies racing to develop flying taxis, which could revolutionise the way people travel.

Long the stuff of science fiction and futuristic cartoons such as “The Jetsons”, aviation and technology leaders are working to make electric-powered flying taxis a reality, including Airbus, US ride- sharing firm Uber and a range of start-ups including one backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, called Kitty Hawk.

Rolls-Royce’s design will be showcased in digital form at the Farnborough Airshow, which starts on Monday. The company is looking for an airframer and a partner to provide aspects of the electrical system to help commercialize the project.

Rolls-Royce said in a statement it was well-placed to play a leading role in the “personal air mobility” market.

“The initial concept vehicle uses gas turbine technology to generate electricity to power six electric propulsors specially designed to have a low noise profile,” the company said, adding the design used its existing M250 gas turbine.

Rolls’s design would not require re-charging because the battery is charged by the gas turbine, it said, adding it could use existing infrastructure such as heliports and airports.


Volkswagen ID.4 EV named 'World Car of the Year 2021'

                WOLFSBURG/NEW YORK: The Volkswagen ID.4 has been named “World Car of the Year 2021,” prevailing over strong global competition.

This is the fifth World Car of the Year award for Volkswagen. Other Volkswagen winners that have been "World Car of the Year" were Golf (2013); up! (2012); Polo (2010); and Golf (2009).

The World Car Awards are presented by more than 90 international automotive journalists from 24 countries, who vote on the best innovations on the world market.

To be eligible for the World Car of the Year award, vehicles must be manufactured in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year, must be priced below the luxury-car level in their primary markets, and must be on sale in at least two major markets, on at least two continents, between May 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021.

The jury praised the environmental friendliness of no direct emissions and technological advances of the ID.4, with its 82kWh (gross) electric battery, full suite of driver assistance technology and innovative features like over-the-air software update and the ID.Light assistant.

“The World Car of the Year award marks a great success for our entire ID. team,” said Thomas Ulbrich, Board Member for Development at the Volkswagen brand.

“We have succeeded in developing a car that starts the system change to e-mobility in the world's most important segment—compact SUVs—and offers excellent everyday usability. We are making innovative electric mobility in the volume market something that can be experienced by everyone.”

“We are particularly pleased about our ID.4 being named World Car of the Year”, said Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen passenger cars.

“Not only because it is one of the most important car awards in the world, but also because the jury honoured a great idea and a great team. The first ID. model for the key markets of Europe, China and the US carries our electric offensive around the world.”

With this win in the 17th edition of the World Car of the Year award, the ID.4 continues the success story of Volkswagen in this contest. Volkswagen plans to deliver around 150,000 ID.4s worldwide this year. Accelerating the e-offensive is a core element of Volkswagen's ACCELERATE strategy. The company plans to bring at least one new all-electric model to market globally every year.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the award ceremony of the World Car Awards took place digitally this year.

Other 2021 awards are as follows:

World Luxury Car
Mercedes-Benz S-Class

World Performance Car
Porsche 911 Turbo

World Urban Car
Honda e

World Car Design of the Year
Land rover Defender

The Road to the 2022 World Car Awards would start on Aug 19 at the New York International Auto Show.


Ex-MARii CEO charged with accepting RM5mil bribe

Mohamad Madani (right) was alleged to have committed the offence at a bank in Section 15, Shah Alam, on July 8, 2021.

SHAH ALAM: A former chief executive officer of an automotive institute pleaded not guilty at a Sessions Court here to a charge of accepting a bribe of RM5mil, two years ago.

Datuk Mohamad Madani Sahari, 56, was charged with accepting the money from an individual as a reward for helping a company secured a letter of award for a contract worth RM12mil.

He was alleged to have committed the offence at a bank in Section 15, Shah Alam, on July 8, 2021.

Mohamad Madani was the CEO of Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and Internet of Things Institute (MARii).

The institute is an agency under the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry

He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same Act, with a maximum jail term of 20 years, a fine of RM10,000 or five times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher, if convicted.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Law Chin How prosecuted, while Mohamad Madani was represented by lawyer Rahmat Hazlan.

Judge Rozilah Salleh set June 8 for next mention.

In a related development, MARii said it is ready to cooperate with relevant authorities following the prosecution of its former CEO.

Bernama reported MARii as saying  its management under its newly appointed CEO Azrul Reza Aziz and the board of directors would uphold, as well as emphasise, integrity and good governance at every level of administration.

"All MARii’s departments and officers practise transparency, enforcement and empowerment of good governance and will not compromise or tolerate corruption or abuse of power,” it said in a statement today (April 14).

It said MARii's current objective is to strengthen Malaysian automotive industry competitiveness at the national and international levels in line with the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP2020).


Ducati Panigale V4 R made into a unique LEGO set

                BOLOGNA: Ducati and the LEGO Group have presented the Ducati Panigale V4 R as a LEGO Technic model.

It is the first-ever brick reproduction of a Ducati motorcycle. The Panigale V4 R is the meanest Ducati racing bikes homologated for road use.

The set, created with 646 pieces, is designed for fans aged 10+ and will be available in Ducati dealerships, in the Ducati Online Shop, in LEGO Stores, in the LEGO Online Store and in LEGO Brand Retail Stores from June 1, priced at €59.99 (RM286).

The most powerful and high-performance Ducati of all time, with 221 horsepower delivered at 15,250 rpm (234hp at 15,500rpm with the Ducati Performance by Akrapovič full-racing exhaust) thanks to the 998 cc Desmosedici Stradale R, an engine made to compete on track in the WSBK championship.

The LEGO Technic Ducati Panigale V4 R measures 32cm in length, 16cm in height and 8cm in width and is the first motorcycle model in LEGO® Technic history to include a gearbox to simulate different speeds and riding techniques.

Other striking features are the steering and suspension that give realistic movement, in addition to front and rear disc brakes. Kickstand, exhaust pipe, windscreen and dashboard are the details that make this bike faithful to the real version. The red paint job is also the same.


Police to use speed cameras to catch queue jumpers, too

                KUALA LUMPUR: Speed cameras are not only to nab speedsters. They will also be deployed by traffic police nationwide to catch queue jumpers, illegal emergency lane users and those who park haphazardly.

This will happen throughout Ops Selamat, which began on July 10 to coincide with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season.

Federal traffic police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said that his personnel would be deployed at accident hotspots along the highways during this period.

He added that besides static monitoring at hotspots, patrol teams would also be deployed along certain stretches of the highways to monitor the balik kampung exodus, predicted to be at its peak on Wednesday and Thursday.

“This year, we have identified 60 hotspots throughout Malaysia, other than another 53 along major highways such as the North South Expressway and the East Coast Highway,” SACP Mohd Fuad told reporters at Bukit Aman yesterday.

He said 34,554 summonses were issued on the first three days of Ops Selamat.

“On Sunday, we issued 14,438 summonses to errant motorists, which is about 2,000 higher compared to the daily average of about 12,000.

“This is a bad start,” SACP Mohd Fuad said, adding that 4,184 accidents were recorded between Friday and Sunday, of which 74 lives were lost.

He said 48 of the fatalities involved motorcyclists, with seven of them pillion riders.

He added that with Ops Selamat going on, Ops Warta would be toned down to allow personnel to focus on emergencies, observation and patrols.

“This does not mean that we have forgotten about the Ops Warta,” said SACP Mohd Fuad.

“As soon as Ops Selamat ends, we will continue to weed out hardcore traffic offenders with multiple arrest warrants,” he said, adding that 96,269 arrest warrants had been settled since Ops Warta was launched this year.


Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar with 2,000PS is headed for US

                LONDON: The new Lotus Evija (Type 130) hypercar will soon make its debut later in the US this month, but meanwhile it's taking in the lime-light at Monterey Car Week, as the company looks to start production on the limited numbers of 130 units for the world in 2020.

Monterey Car Week is an annual automotive extravaganza, staged from Aug 9 to 18 at various locations on the California peninsula. It’s a pilgrimage for prestige, luxury and performance car fans, attracting thousands of visitors from across the US, Canada and beyond.

The Evija, being the world’s first all-electric British hypercar that recently made its global debut in July, managed to receive its first confirmed order from the US on the day of its reveal.

Priced from £1.7mil (including duties and taxes), paying a £250,000 reservation deposit secures a production slot for one of the 130 units.

The British sportscar maker touts the Evija as the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car in its history and sets a new standard for its driving performance.

Aside from being the first new model since Geely took over in 2017, it is - after all, the first all-electric British hypercar and the first Lotus with an electrified powertrain with a targetted output of 2,000PS.

Not only has it been designed and engineered in the UK, but it will also be handbuilt at Hethel in the UK - the home of Lotus since 1966.

The all-wheel-driven Evija electric hypercar will possess a 70kWh / 2,000kW battery power

Along with its 2,000PS of power, it will also have 1,700Nm of torque to allow for century sprints (0-100kph) to be dispatched in under 3.0-seconds or 0-300kph in under 9.0-seconds and have a maximum speed of over 320kph.

With a 350kW charger, a full charge can be attained in about 18 minutes with an all-electric range of about 400km.

The car will weigh in at around 1,680kg and measure in at 4,459mm-long, 2,000mm-wide and 1,122mm-tall.