Hyundai ups the stakes with new Kona 1.6 Turbo and 1.6 N Line variants

The Kona 1.6 Turbo and (below) the Kona 1.6 N Line.

PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) today unveiled its top range B-SUV Kona which comprises the all-new 1.6 N Line variant and the 1.6 Turbo.

The 1.6 N Line is priced at RM156,888 while the 1.6 Turbo is priced at RM146,888 (applicable to Peninsula Malaysia, OTR price is inclusive of the Penjana Sales Tax waiver but excludes insurance).

The 1.6 Turbo is upgraded with various enhancements that makes it even more appealing to customers who lead active lifestyles. The Kona N Line, on the other hand, is distinguished by signature fascia, body colour claddings and N Line specific design accents.

Both the 1.6 T-GDi variants are equipped with the powerful Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi, a turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine that is paired with a Smartsteam 7DCT – 2nd generation of 7-speed dual clutch transmission that produces 195hp at 6,000rpm and 265Nm of torque at 1,600-4,500rpm.

The Smartstream engine offers dynamic performance with a smoother, comfortable driving experience, reduced emissions and better fuel efficiency.

“The top range Kona is the most powerful B-SUV in the market. The SUV’s ‘fun to drive’ characteristics and powerful performance will definitely put a smile on the face of anyone who drives it. The Kona’s distinctive design and fun colours is inspired by the Kona’s positive spirit,” said HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung.

These new variants are also fully equipped with the Hyundai Smartsense active safety and driving assistance technologies.

Included in the Hyundai Smartsense suite are Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go that keeps the SCC running even when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Other features are Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW) and High Beam Assist (HBA) that allows for hands-free operation of the high and low beam headlights when oncoming traffic is detected.

The Kona 1.6 Turbo shares the same exterior and interior design as the new Kona 2.0 Active variant, except for a roof rack and two-tone body colour which are exclusive to the 1.6 Turbo variants.

 The 1.6 Turbo interior and (below) the one in the N Line.

Among the exterior design highlights are a striking new front-end design with eye-catching, protective cladding panels, wide thin LED DRLs and a centre grille with a wide distinctive shape.

The main bumper fascia also connects smoothly to the wheel arch claddings, forming a unique and robust armour in a contrasting material to the main body. At the rear, the new taillights feature horizontally stretched graphics.

The Kona N Line features a sporty and progressive design.

Its front bumper is harmoniously connected and unified with the body colour treatment of the wheel arch claddings.

Instead of the Kona 1.6 Turbo and 2.0’s rugged skid plate, the N Line version features a characteristic N-style aerodynamic lip with low-lying corner fins for a road-hugging appearance. Larger, more technical air intake features are further distinguished by a unique mesh design and surface treatment.

On the sides, the body colour claddings and new rocker panels are complemented by the dedicated 18-inch alloy wheel design.

The rear bumper incorporates a large central aerodynamic diffusor in a contrast colour to the body as well as a one-side double muffler. The bumper fascia is formed with sharply creased corners and N-style fins for better air flow.

The Kona 1.6 Turbo N Line and 1.6 Turbo come with five exterior colours, including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Pulse Red, and Misty Jungle. Each colour comes with the Phantom Black two-tone roof.

The two-tone roof is complemented by matching mirror housings. This contributes to its sporty and sleek appearance and gives customers more options for personalisation and self-expression. In addition, these latest variants are fitted with 18-inch wheels in new designs.

The interior of the Kona N Line comes with a dedicated N Line colour package in one-tone black leather combined with suede as well as a ventilated and heated seat function for the driver and the front passenger. In addition, the distinctive red stitching, metal pedals and N logo on the gear shift, steering wheel and seats all contribute to a sportier look and feel.

Both the Kona variants also feature the new layout design similar to the Kona 2.0, which among them include a new console area, 10.25-inch digital cluster in addition to the 8-inch AVN screen with multiple Bluetooth connections and also wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an electric parking brake, new ambient light technology that illuminates the centre cup holders as well as in the passenger and driver side footwells, and new aluminium finish rings around the speakers and air vents.

As an alternative to the dark interior, the Kona 1.6 Turbo is also available with a light beige interior trim.

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

Interested parties can book online via Hyundai’s new online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (www.hyundai.com.my/clicktobuy/) or contact any of the Hyundai authorised showrooms. Customers can also call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000 for more information.


Improved aerodynamics for next McLaren Super Series

                LONDON: The second-generation McLaren Super Series, which will be unveiled on March 7 at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, is twice as aerodynamically efficient as the McLaren 650S, with increased downforce and improved cooling.

“The second-generation McLaren Super Series will be as aerodynamically impressive as it is visually beautiful,” commented Mark Vinnels, Executive Director - Product Development, McLaren Automotive.

“A range of advanced aerodynamic technologies contributes to maximum generated downforce over 50% greater than that of the McLaren 650S and ensures truly outstanding levels of grip and stability. We have also markedly improved cooling efficiency, with a 15% gain overall and a particular focus on airflow to the engine’s high temperature radiators through a unique new design of dihedral door.”

An active wing that extends over the full rear width of the new McLaren supercar moves upwards and increases in angle to optimise aerodynamic efficiency and also deploys to its most extreme angle as an airbrake in less than half a second, optimising balance when braking from speed.

Two separate air ducts are integrated within the new dihedral door design; one forces air from the top of the door down into the High Temperature Radiators that cool the engine, while the other draws air out of the front wheel arch to create increased downforce.

This further enhances the diffuser technology first seen in the McLaren P1.

Full details of the second-generation Super Series will be confirmed in March, when further images and pricing will also be available.


VW Beetle 60th Merdeka Edition debuts, priced  from RM137K

                SHAH ALAM: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) today launched the limited edition 60th Merdeka Edition Beetle during its inaugural Volkswagen Fest 2017 at the Setia City Convention Centre.

With only 16 units available, the iconic model sports the number '60' on its hood and sides - much like the Herbie Beetle, while being priced from RM136,888 with Pure White and White Silver for colour options.

Among the list of goodies are a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, 5.8-inch touchscreen Composition Colour with USB, Bluetooth and eight-speakers and ‘Pepita’ fabric upholstery for the seats.

Each new 60th Merdeka Edition also comes with a free limited edition Beetle suitcase and 60-months road tax to accompany the the standard five-year warranty.

Under its hood is the zippy 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI engine that's mated to a seven-speed DSG which manages the 105PS and 175Nm output.

The Volkswagen Fest is where the general public is able to view the Jetta ALLSTAR and the 60th Merdeka Edition Beetle for the first time,” said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.


Toyota and US varsity students unveil uBox concept for Gen-Z

DETROIT: The Toyota uBox concept is intended to appeal to the Gen-Z generation of car buyers, with the student-created project achieving an industry first by using a new method to make a frame to support a curved glass roof.

Designed, engineered and hand-built by graduate students at Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), the vehicle is the result of a two-year collaboration with Toyota Motor North America designers and engineers.

The CU-ICAR / Toyota collaboration, called Deep Orange, immerses students into every aspect of automotive development – from market research and design studies to engineering design and manufacturing.

Toyota executive program manager Craig Payne singled out a unique pultrusion technique developed by the students that allows composite carbon fiber rails bonded with aluminum to hold up a curved glass roof.

“The roof pultrusion was something unexpected and very interesting when they first started talking about the concept,” said Payne. “The fact that they were able to achieve an industry-first manufacturing technique as students speaks volumes for this program.”

The typical customer for uBox is potrayed as a young entrepreneur who wants a vehicle that can provide utility and recreation on the weekend but that can also offer office space or other career-centric or lifestyle uses during the week.

The uBox has a bold, youthful and distinctive exterior design. A versatile interior can be rearranged for various activities, from working or operating a business, to hauling bulky cargo. A low floor allows for reconfigurable, removable seats on sliding tracks that can be nested.

Vents, dashboard display bezels and door trim can be personalised and made with 3-D printing technology, and an online community for owners where they can share design ideas. A compact, dual-purpose, all-electric powertrain provides a fun driving experience and emission-free stationary energy to power consumer electronics, power tools or other devices through various 110-volt sockets located throughout the interior and exterior.

Toyota and the Clemson Deep Orange Team unveiled the uBox on Tuesday at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress and Exposition at the Cobo Center here. It will then remain on display in the Cobo atrium through Thursday.


VW's new smart air conditioning system reacts to someone saying 'I'm cold'

                WOLFSBURG: This week Volkswagen revealed that its new Air Care Climatronic air conditioning system and its Smart Climate menu, which can together respond to vocal statements like "I'm cold" or "warm hands," are being integrated into the latest Golf hatch.

Volkswagen has developed two answers to those brief scenarios during which some vehicle passengers are cold, and others are warm: The Air Care Climatronic and the Smart Climate tool.

The redesigned air conditioning system, which comes with the Smart Climate menu natively integrated, can activate preconfigured temperature settings in response to statements like "warm feet," "clear view," or "I'm cold." These settings can also be set to the touchslider found on the central console.

Five specific scenarios have been identified by the company as happening most frequently and have therefore been automatically included in the Smart Climate menu; "Clear view" de-mists the windows, "Warm feet" sends warm air to the footwell, "Warm hands" send warm air through the air vents in the dash, "Cool feet" send cool air to the footwell, and "Fresh air" sends a cool breeze through the interior of the vehicle."

Each of these settings only activates temporarily when prompted before the system resets itself to the previously active climate settings.

Complementing this menu is the ability of the Air Care Climatronic to respond to individuals' temperature requests and alter them only in said person's area; if the passenger says, "I'm cold," and the temperature on their half of the vehicle will be adjusted accordingly. Additionally, the system will react to statements including "There's a draught" or "It's stuffy."

The Air Care Climatronic and its complementary Smart Climate menu are currently available only in the latest Golf.


Tesla's plan to build factory in Indonesia falls through

                SINGAPORE: Clean energy giant Tesla will not build a factory in Indonesia as negotiations with the government failed over, among other things, the terms related to the supply of raw material to make power generators.

This is according to two Indonesian government officials who spoke separately with The Straits Times, on condition of anonymity.

An e-mail sent to Tesla went unanswered.

Senior Indonesian officials, including Nicke Widyawati, who heads an Indonesian state oil company, had earlier said that Tesla was keen on setting up a plant to manufacture Energy Storage Systems, portable equipment that can store tens of megawatts of electricity to be deployed in remote areas.

In February 2021, the Indonesian government confirmed that it had received a proposal letter from Tesla, adding that it was excited to work with a company with lithium battery technology that is among the world's best.

On Sept 15, a consortium led by South Korea's LG Energy Solution, a subsidiary of LG Chem, broke ground for the construction of a US$1.1 billion (S$1.5 billion) electric vehicle battery plant in Karawang, West Java, that will have an initial capacity of 10 gigawatt-hours and will gradually scale up to 30GWh.

Meanwhile, China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has committed to spending about US$5 billion by 2023, and US$15 billion more through 2028 in Indonesia.

A memorandum of understanding between CATL and an Indonesian state company was signed in November 2020.

"CATL's plan is still on, but there is some delay," a government official told The Straits Times on March 24, without elaborating.

CATL is the world's largest producer of lithium-ion batteries, while LG Chem is the third-largest.

Indonesia, which has the world's largest nickel reserves, is eager to develop a full supply chain for the resource, from extracting battery chemicals and making batteries to building electric vehicles.

At the launch of Indonesia's first locally assembled electric vehicle, Hyundai's Ioniq 5, on March 16, President Joko Widodo noted that the country was rich in natural resources.

He said: "We have nickel, cobalt, the key materials to make lithium batteries, and bauxite that could be processed into aluminium and, in turn, be used to make electric vehicle frames, as well as copper that is also needed by batteries and wiring systems in electric vehicles." - The Straits Times


No summons for parking without paying in PJ if ...

                PETALING JAYA: If you are parking your car in certain parts of the city where there are a high incidence of faulty parking meters, you will not be summoned.

Even if an overzealous enforcement officer issues you a summons for parking without paying, the summons will be waived if you go to the PJ City Council headquarters to have it cancelled.

That is the assurance given by Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain.

Areas with faulty machines included SS2, Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya Old Town and the Sunwaymas Commercial Centre.

The city council had been mulling the idea to take back the management of parking when it discovered that over 50% of its 700 parking machines in the city that catered to about 21,000 parking bays were faulty.

It will be revoking the parking concession of Godell Parking Sdn Bhd following complaints of faulty parking meters and its failure to pay the council its dues. Godell Parking had signed a a 20-year contract with the local council in August 1999.

As an interim measure, the city council plans to implement a coupon system before introducing parking payment via mobile apps in future.


Audi takes lead in automated driving, but others wary to follow

                FRANKFURT: Audi is taking a lead in bringing more automated driving to roads, but rivals seem in no rush to follow while legal and regulatory uncertainties still cloud the technology.

At the Frankfurt car show, Audi paraded the A8 which can drive itself under certain conditions, help the driver to change lanes and does not require drivers to monitor the road - though they must be ready to intervene at the sound of an alarm.

On a scale where zero is a fully manual car and five a fully autonomous one, the A8 is a level three, putting it ahead of level two features offered by Tesla and General Motors (GM).

Struggling to emerge from the shadow of parent Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal, Audi is badly in need of a new prestige model and a marketing coup.

“It’s gratifying that we are able to set a positive sign for real ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’,” said research and development chief Peter Mertens, referring to Audi’s advertising slogan meaning “advancement through technology”.

But with special approval still required almost everywhere to drive such a car, and question marks over how quickly the driver has to take back control - and who is responsible during handover - some rivals are skeptical the market is ready.

“Who will accept to pay for something that they can use only in extremely limited conditions?” asked Didier Leroy, European chairman of Japanese carmaker Toyota.

“The fact that Audi is introducing this one now doesn’t mean that we will rush in the coming months to say that we are able to do it too. That is not our logic,” he said at the car show.

Among the A8’s new features is the “traffic jam pilot”, which can completely control driving at up to 60kph on a divided highway.

The German company expects customers will be able to use all the model’s self-driving functions next year or in 2019. It is applying for approval country by country, starting with Germany, a spokesman said during the show.

Audi thus hopes to leapfrog Tesla, whose Autopilot technology suffered a major blow when a driver using it was killed in a crash, and GM, whose Super Cruise feature to be offered this autumn will allow limited hands-off driving at highway speeds on limited access roads like dual carriageways.

In the wake of the crash, Tesla said the driver was using Autopilot in conditions for which it was not intended, and U.S. regulators said automakers should take steps to make sure semi-autonomous systems are not misused.

Regulatory regimes vary widely across the world and, in the United States, even from state to state, creating a headache for manufacturers. Some authorities would rather they held back.

“We’re very concerned about the idea that drivers will be encouraged to pay even less attention than they already are and that manufacturers are rolling out these systems without existing federal standards,” Linda Bailey, executive director of the US National Association of City Transportation Officials, told Reuters.

Florida, seen as the least restrictive state, has essentially legalized all forms of autonomous driving without the need for a permit or insurance requirements. New York, at the other end of the spectrum, has a law that demands drivers always have at least one hand on the wheel.

Michael Jellen, president of Velodyne, which develops Lidar sensing technology that is used in autonomous cars, said the industry still had a long way to go.

“When they truly launch a hands-free, driver disengagement system, that’s when we think (the industry) will have evolved,” he said in an interview. “Today, when someone has their hands on the wheel and their foot ready to brake, I call that driving.”

In Europe, Germany is the pioneer, having passed a law in May that legalizes autonomous driving in principle as long as a licensed driver is behind the wheel - although approval still has to be sought for individual models.

German politicians hope to persuade the European Union to adopt common regulations to speed adoption of autonomous driving and prevent self-driving systems from having to switch themselves off or change parameters when they encounter national borders - so-called geofencing.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt hosted ministers from France and Luxembourg at the Frankfurt show on Thursday to establish a cross-border testing ground.

In an attempt to address one area of uncertainty, Audi says it will assume liability for any accidents that happen when its automated driving technology is in use.

But it will come at a price.

While Audi has not yet fixed premiums for level three technology, the base price for the A8 without optional extra technology is already 90,600 euros (RM455,000).

Though level three, unlike level two, means theoretically the driver need no longer monitor the road while the car is in charge, the need to potentially jump in to take control limits the activities the driver can do when not in charge.

A risk is that drivers relax their guard too much.

“It sets an expectation to the driver that the computer is in control - that’s what level three means. It means I can sit back and read a book,” said Gartner analyst Mike Ramsey.

Autopilot features have long been used in aeroplanes, but the situation is very different there, where a pilot typically has plenty of time to react.

“It’s very, very rare to face another plane coming just in front of you and just to react in two seconds to avoid a crash. In the car, it’s possible,” Toyota’s Leroy said.

Even then, the hand-off from computer to pilot can be bungled, resulting in crashes such as an Asiana flight into San Francisco in 2013 that killed three people and injured scores.

Some question the worth of introducing level three at all at this stage.

German automotive supplier Continental, with 1.2 billion euros in assisted driving component sales last year, said industry experts were questioning whether the grey zone in which neither the driver nor the car was clearly in control could be overcome.

“There is a discussion going on at the moment as to whether one shouldn’t skip level three after implementing level two,” Chief Executive Elmar Degenhart told Reuters at the show.

Bosch, the world’s biggest automotive supplier, said it was seeing great demand for level three technology.

Yet at its presentation at the show, it did not talk about autonomous driving in general, but rather only particular applications to solve particular problems, such as an automated valet parking garage it has built with Mercedes maker Daimler in Stuttgart, which should go into service next year.

“Everything we do in driver assistance has a mass-market use,” Bosch mobility chief Rolf Bulander said. “We’re not interested in inventing things that will become reality only in a decade.”

France’s PSA Group, which is developing autonomous driving technology with partners for its future Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and DS vehicles, said there was still value in technology that needed human oversight and regular intervention - with the right framework of rules.

“It still allows you to send and receive emails or read, even while staying on the alert,” programs and strategy chief Patrice Lucas told Reuters. “The biggest hurdles are regulatory.”


The race is on for car-makers to develop electric models priced under €25,000 in Europe

                PARIS: With the automotive industry's energy transition, carmakers are now faced with two major challenges.

First is the 2035 cutoff for selling combustion-engine vehicles in Europe.

Second is the impending influx of new, inexpensive Chinese vehicles.

This is why several projects for compact electric cars priced under the symbolic €25,000 (RM120,000) mark are soon likely to see the light of day.

In Europe, apart from the Dacia Spring and the Renault Twingo E-Tech, which can be considered as "low-cost" vehicles, electric cars like the Renault ZOE, the Peugeot e-208 or the Fiat 500 can require a budget of nearly €30,000, once environmental subsidies are taken into account.

Obviously, if you're looking to buy a sedan or an SUV, the cost can rise much higher.

A Volkswagen concept car

Faced with the impending influx of Chinese electric vehicles, Europe's big car brands need to bring out models that offer performance and reliability, while also being more affordable. Several projects for lower-cost compact cars, starting at €25,000 or under, are now well underway. For car manufacturers, it all usually starts with a concept car.

This is the case at Volkswagen, which recently presented its new ID. 2all concept, a forerunner of its future compact electric car, expected to be available in 2025.

The brand's aim is to offer a car that's as spacious as a Golf and as affordable as a Polo. The ID.2 will be equipped with a number of high-tech features, such as the Travel Assist system for partially automated driving, and LED lights that adapt their intensity and range to each situation (IQ.Light technology).

It will also be the very first model to be based on the new "MEB Entry" modular electric drive platform. Volkswagen has announced the presence of a 166 kW (226 hp) electric motor. In terms of range, the future ID.2 should be able to cover nearly 450 kilometers on a single charge.

An electric Renault 5 still in the pipeline

Note that Skoda and Seat, which will benefit from the same platform, will also offer competitively priced models in the near future. But the Volkswagen group is obviously not the only one working on a 100% electric car that promises performance at a (relatively) low cost. Renault, a pioneer in all-electric vehicles, is on the same page, with a project that is steeped in nostalgia.

Indeed, Renault is seeking to revive the legendary R5. In 2021, the French carmaker unveiled a prototype electric car directly inspired by the R5, featuring a modern yet retro look embodied by a contemporary design refresh, a surprising headlight design and a recharging hatch placed under the hood's air intake.

The future Renault 5 electric is expected by 2025, at the latest, at a highly competitive price, probably under €25,000 in its basic version.

Tesla's secretive project

Europe's 'historic' car-makers aren't the only ones looking to push down prices, as so is the e-car company Tesla. In fact, a Tesla priced at just $25,000 -- or about the same amount in euros -- could soon see the light of day.

This Model 2 (or A, or C, depending on the source) is expected to be a more compact version of the current Model 3, built on a brand-new platform and equipped with a smaller battery. I

t could be produced in Tesla's Shanghai factory, in China, which is the only way the American carmaker can really drive down the price. However, this project has not yet been officially confirmed.

The aim of these manufacturers is to offer an increasingly wide range of vehicles to satisfy all budgets, even the most "modest."


MINI announces first plug-in hybrid model

                MUNICH: The Paris Motor Show may now be over, but MINI still has plenty of projects in the pipeline. The car maker is set to unveil its new-generation Countryman crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs Nov 18 to 27. MINI has even announced plans for a plug-in hybrid four-wheel-drive vehicle based on the revamped Countryman.

The new hybrid Countryman promises ultra-quiet running from the outset, as the vehicle will always start in electric mode. An onboard battery indicator shows remaining power in real time so the driver can switch to the fuel engine as and when needed. In the MAX eDRIVE electric mode, the vehicle promises a top speed of 125kph. The plug-in hybrid Countryman should be capable of covering several dozen kilometers in electric mode with no CO2 emissions whatsoever.

Given that this Countryman shares a technical base with the BMW 225xe, there's a good chance it will get a similar powertrain, with a 136hp 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine and an 88hp electric motor, for a total power of 224hp.

This hybrid version of the crossover will evidently come with all the same driving aids as other Countryman models, such as the electronic stability program (ESP). MINI's chiefs promise that the hybrid motorisation won't alter the Countryman II driving experience, maintaining the "unique go-kart driving feel."

MINI is in the final stages of testing before unveiling this new historic model for the brand. The plug-in hybrid version of the Countryman II is due out in 2017. MINI hopes to have a fully electric vehicle on sale by 2020.


Cycle & Carriage hits limit-up on privatisation offer

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shares in Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (C&C Bintang) hit limit up in early trade Thursday following the decision of its largest shareholder to privatise the group.

The Mercedes-Benz dealer jumped 29.76, or 50 sen to RM2.18, making it the top gainer on Bursa Malaysia.

C&C Bintang told Bursa Malaysia today that it has received an offer from Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd to undertake an unconditional voluntary takeover at RM2.40 a share.

Jardine owns a 59.1% stake in C&C Bintang.

On Nov 11, 2019, Jardine offered to buyout minority shareholders in the company for RM2.20 a share.
It said the unconditional voluntary takeover offer, which will be satisfied via cash, is at a premium of six sen or 2.56% to C&C Bintang's net traded asset of RM2.34 per share.


Selling a used car online? Here's how to take photos so it stands out

                BERLIN: Anyone looking for a used car on online marketplaces will pay attention to the photos before looking at anything else. Only if a prospective buyer is impressed by what they see will they start to look over the car’s technical specs.

Pictures are thus a key criterion for buyers’ decisions. "The photos should give the potential buyer a good overview," says Christian Maas from German online vehicle marketplace mobile.de.

Marit-Andrea Meineke from the second-hand marketplace autoscout24.de also considers good photos to be a deciding factor in sales. "Those who put photos of their vehicle online increase the number of vehicle views by a factor of five. In addition, illustrated ads receive 67 per cent more requests from potential buyers than ads without images,” she explains.

There are several reasons for this. "Photos make an offer transparent and add an element of emotion. Images offer security for potential buyers and thus increase the demand for the vehicle,” says Meineke. More interest often increases the vehicle’s selling price.

As Ansgar Klein from a German car dealerships’ association notes, "even professional car buyers who focus more on a car’s essentials cannot escape the impact of good pictures.” But how can amateurs take good photos of their own car before selling it? Here are seven tips:

1. PREPARATION: Before a car owner photographs their vehicle, they should thoroughly clean it, outside and inside. "Polished paint, clean rims and tyres and a well-kept interior increase sales opportunities significantly, and sometimes allow for a higher selling price," says Maas.

Having the in-car entertainment system switched on can make the interior look a bit more lively, while keeping the headrests and backrests level can make the interior look tidier.

2. PERSPECTIVE: Modern-day smartphones are more than good enough as cameras. "Wide angles can distort the picture, and a normal focal length usually offers the best results," says Andreas Lindlahr, a professional automotive photographer.

Don't take diagonal shots of the car from above, says Klein. Instead shoot from the perspective of a child, filling the frame with as little of the car’s surroundings as possible. Lindlahr also recommends a shooting angle that is slightly lower than eye level, at 45 degrees from the front and rear.

To properly show off the car, it's best to photograph it from all angles and perspectives. For privacy, Maas advises sellers to cover their licence plates with cardboard or blur them out afterwards on the computer.

When photographing at a diagonal, Lindlahr recommends turning the car’s rims slightly to face the camera. For front-, side- and rear-view photos, however, the tyres should be kept straight.

3. BLEMISHES: For especially dirty or slightly scratched cars, Maas says some professional help could be worthwhile. It could cost a few hundred dollars to have a professional remove small scratches, bumps or dents, but this amount that can quickly be recovered by a higher selling price.

4. AUTHENTICITY: Lindlahr sees a tough balance between presenting the car nicely and concealing any defects. "The result should be that the potential buyer is enthusiastic without the seller having to conceal any visible flaws," says Lindlahr. Authenticity is important for the business transaction.

5. LIGHT: Lindlahr recommends photographing the car in bright light, but without flash or backlighting, since artificial light is often reflected in the windscreen or headlights. Reflections on the car’s paint can also be distracting. It's best if the light comes from the front or from above, but don’t take your pictures in the midday sun.

6. BACKGROUND: Large and neutral public squares are ideal for the photo session, such as in front of a supermarket, hardware store or furniture store, according to Lindlahr. A uniform background won’t distract from the car.

7. SELECTION: Afterwards, it’s important to make the right choices from the photos. “A nice photo that appeals to you as the seller is better than ten bad ones,” says Lindlahr.


Just a week into COO role, Kia exec Bill Peffer quits

UPDATE: Bill Peffer has left Kia to head Maserati North America.

LOS ANGELES: Kia Motors America’s chief operating officer Bill Peffer resigned on Thursday after only one week in the position.

The company said he left to pursue a new opportunity in the automotive industry. Kia Motors America has yet to appoint a successor.

Peffer joined KMA in July 2017 as vice president of sales operations.

Kia said his three-plus years led to the company’s best-ever retail sales performance last year, helping make it the fastest-growing mass market brand in the US.


Overfinch takes Range Rover to another level

                LONDON: If the 2018 Range Rover still isn't special enough or stylish enough for your taste and you don't mind spending a decent amount of extra cash, Overfinch is a company that just might have the answer.

The British company, which has long been renowned for its enhancement of Land Rover's finest models, has come up with what it's referring to as its "most comprehensive Range Rover enhancement package to date."

Overfinch has just launched a new package of upgrades for the 2018 Range Rover, which among other things includes plenty of carbon fibre trim and some extremely exotic upholstery options.

But unlike some tuning companies who mess around with a car's engine control unit to produce more power and make the interiors a little more luxurious, Overfinch goes the extra mile and even tries to make the Range Rover look better than it did when it came out of the factory.

The images of the demonstrator model Overfinch has released reveal an exterior redesign that includes a new front air intake, revised LED running lights, and exposed carbon fiber for the intake grilles and spoiler.

Move around to the back of the vehicle and there's a redesigned bumper with a deep aerodynamic diffuser sitting above a set of Overfinch-branded exhaust tips. The exhaust itself is one of those increasingly common ones controlled by Bluetooth, which allows the driver to control the sound and volume of the exhaust.

Even though the Range Rover weighs in at curb weight of a whopping 2.5 tonnes, a keen focus on lightness has been adopted by Overfinch with this particular package.

After all, just because it's a heavy vehicle to start off with doesn't mean it's acceptable to make it even heavier than it needs to be. So, all of the exterior components of the package are carbon fiber, and even the bespoke alloy wheels have been designed to be as light as possible.

On the inside the upgrades are a little more extravagant. A new "Lumière" seat design can be found inside, which in its standard form is trimmed in Scottish Bridge of Weir leather. Overfinch aficionados will know that's still a little mundane by their standards, so the company suggests a wide variety of more exotic hides instead, such as one called "ostrich and shagreen." In case you don't already know, Shagreen is the name of an untanned skin that can be taken from creatures as diverse as a horse, shark or stingray.

There's no standard price quoted for the package as buyers are expected to individualise them further to suit their taste and requirements.


Tesla's big addition of chargers in China helps boost sales

                LONDON: When it comes to the growth in the public charging network in 2021, Tesla is a standout.

The company installed about 10,000 superchargers globally last year, over 2.5 times more than the number of 2020 installations.

And they’re still going. The company announced in October that it plans to triple the size of its network over the next two years. That will require roughly doubling annual installations each year.

The highest number of supercharger installations in 2021 was in China, with over 4,350, about 43% of all installations).

It’s an understatement to say Tesla had a breakout year for vehicle sales in China in 2021.

They sold over 340,000 vehicles, nearly 2.8 times the number of vehicles sold in 2020 and just 8,000 less than what they sold in the US. It’s unclear whether China will overtake the US as Tesla’s biggest market in 2022, but it will certainly be close.

This all underscores how Tesla sees the supercharger network as an important contribution to China sales and future ambitions.

Chinese companies are aggressively expanding the charging network.

Tesla’s 6,000 superchargers in China certainly is an impressive number, when looking only at those plugs compared to other countries. But they are a drop in the ocean of the 465,000 fast chargers in China; of those, 218,000 can deliver over 100 kilowatts.

Even so, Tesla won’t fully rely on any other networks.

One key reason is reliability.

At Volkswagen’s battery day event last year, the German automaker stated that drivers attempting to charge in China could have a success rate as low as 30%, due to failing infrastructure and bays being blocked by gas-powered cars.

Another likely reason is the power of charging.

The newest Tesla superchargers can deliver up to 250kW compared to the average 140kW power of DC chargers installed in China in 2020, according to survey from China’s EV charging association.

Tesla’s 250kW chargers make up just 27% of its network; the majority offer 120kW.

That 250kW charging rate is not unique globally. The Porsche Taycan offers around 270kW, and Hyundai and Kia have produced vehicles offering 180kW.

Most new battery-electric vehicles offer 100-150kW charging.

Still, Tesla’s charging power surpasses that of the top-selling EVs in China, which have between 60-130kW max charging rates (excluding the slower-charging mini BEVS like the Hongguang Mini).

This likely is a meaningful contributor to Tesla’s China sales.

To compare, Volkswagen, whose full range of EVs offer a max charging rate around 130kW, sold 44,000 vehicles in China in the final quarter of 2021 compared to Tesla’s sales of over 124,000. This is despite the Model 3 and Model Y being around US$18,000 more expensive than the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4.

Tesla’s success with reliability, power of charging and perception, if not reality, of technological superiority isn’t lost on other automakers, many of which are installing ultra-fast charging networks of their own and touting faster-charging vehicles.

The GAC Aion V Plus, Xpeng G9, and Geely Zeekr 001 have 350kW to 480kW charging, provided from 800-volt vehicle architectures. This is a step change in the charging rate from Tesla and the underlying vehicle technology — Tesla vehicles currently run on a 400-volt architecture.

The Geely and Xpeng models are already on or expected to be on the market soon at prices similar to Tesla's vehicles.

The two Chinese manufacturers also appear to be using advancements on current battery technology rather than solid-state batteries. The latter often are touted as the next generation of batteries, suited for faster charging. But so far, they appear to be far from mass production.

The technology battle to catch up to Tesla’s charging superiority will continue, but bringing other efforts to market at the scale Tesla has will remain the ultimate challenge.


Volkswagen's EV profit margins to match combustion engines sooner than planned, says CEO

                BERLIN: Volkswagen expects its electric vehicle business to be as profitable as its fossil fuel-burning cars sooner than planned, its chief executive Herbert Diess said today.

Volkswagen previously expected to match its profit margins from combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicle sales in two to three years, but the carmaker was in a robust financial position to do so sooner, Diess said, despite a challenging economic environment.

"We expect that the e-mobility business will be as profitable as the combustion engine business earlier than planned," Diess said, speaking alongside the rest of the board at the carmaker's annual shareholder meeting.

"Through good crisis management, we are financially robust and have strengthened our resilience."

Diess intends for Volkswagen to overtake Tesla and become the world's number-one electric carmaker by 2025, building on its bigger product offering covering luxury and premium cars and volume brands.

Volkswagen delivered some 452,000 battery-electric vehicles globally last year and aims for half of its global output to be all-electric by 2030.

It plans to build 800,000 fully electric cars worldwide this year and 1.3 million in 2023, it said today.

Prices may need to increase further this year amid rising raw material costs, procurement chief Murat Aksel said.

Diess also said he thought the timing was ideal for an initial public offering (IPO) of sports carmaker Porsche, which is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

A final decision on whether Porsche would enter Formula 1 was still outstanding, the sports carmaker's chief Oliver Blume said.

Volkswagen said in April that it and the Porsche and Audi brands were open to entering the international racing class, but Diess said last week there were some divisions among the board but that the brands had ultimately made the case for the move.


Mazda goes into overdrive to meet global CX-5 demand

                HIROSHIMA: Mazda has announced that it will produce the new CX-5 crossover at its Hofu plant in Yamaguchi prefecture in addition to the Hiroshima plant where it is currently produced. The move will help the automaker respond quickly and flexibly to growing demand for SUVs globally.

Mazda aims to create a production system that can respond flexibly to changes in demand for crossover vehicles as it works to meet its global sales goal of 1.65 million units, as laid out in its Structural Reform Stage 2 medium-term business plan (covering the period from fiscal year ending (FYE) March 2017 through FYE March 2019). In December last year the company began producing the CX-3 subcompact crossover at the Hofu plant in addition to the Hiroshima plant.

Launched domestically in February, the CX-5 is proving hugely popular. The one-month sales reached 16,639 units, about seven times the monthly target.

“As with the CX-3, starting production of the CX-5 at Hofu plant as well is part of our plan to build a production framework that gives us more flexibility between plants and between models,” said Masatoshi Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer in charge of Global Production. “We will do everything we can to get customers the crossover vehicles they want as quickly as possible.”

Mazda will continue its efforts to enrich people’s lives through a variety of touchpoints and become a brand with which customers feel a strong emotional connection.


Nio — China rival to Tesla — says US head to step down

Warrior will resign on Dec 17. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: The US head of Nio Inc, an electric carmaker seen as one of the main Chinese rivals to Tesla Inc, will leave the company, the firm said in a filing on Friday, the first major management departure since its September IPO.

Padmasree Warrior, chief executive officer of NIO USA and global chief development officer, will resign from her posts on Dec. 17 for “personal interests”, the company said.

Warrior joined Nio, previously called NextEV, in 2015, and led the company along with founder and CEO William Li to become one of China’s most legitimate challengers in the global race to develop electric vehicles.

Before joining Nio, Warrior was chief technology and strategy officer at Cisco Systems Inc and chief technology officer at Motorola.

China is the world’s largest and fast-growing market for new-energy vehicles (NEVs), a category comprising electric battery cars and plug-in electric hybrids.

NEV sales in the first 10 months of 2018 came in at 860,000 vehicles, up 75.6 percent year-on-year.

Competition is, however, rising as Beijing looks to rein in subsidies that led to a huge array of EV contenders entering the market. Some of those are now being weeded out.

Tesla itself is building a car manufacturing plant in Shanghai to bolster its presence in the market and reduce its prices to become more competitive.


Meet BMW Factory's new 40-ton e-Truck

                MUNICH: BMW became the first automobile manufacturer in Germany to use an electric truck of this size for use on public roads.

BMW, together with logistics partner SCHERM Group, will deploy its 40-ton pure electric truck in the city sometime in the third quarter of this year for just-in-time material transport over short distances.

The electric truck (e-Truck) is essentially a Terberg Type YT202-EV, which will drive almost two kilometres per way from the logistics company SCHERM Group to the BMW Group Plant Munich, eight times a day.

With its all-electric drive train, the quiet truck is CO2-free in traffic and generates virtually no particle pollution for the environment via its 138kW electric motor which which puts power to the rear wheels via an Allison 3000 transmission.

Additionally, the e-truck is able to handle a maximum payload of 65 tons at a top speed of about 20kph.

But, according to BMW, the environmentally friendly truck will generate 11.8 tons less of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics driving almost three times around the world.

The BMW Group and SCHERM Group are not indicating exactly how much of an investment they are pouring into this pilot project, except that it’s in the six-figure amount over the next year.

If the e-truck proves itself in everyday driving conditions, both partners will seek to expand the project.


New Audi A5 Sportback lands in Singapore

                SINGAPORE: The facelifted Audi A5 has arrived in the island state, priced from S$199,900 (RM610,000), inclusive of COE and VES.

It features a new, tauter look and all variants – the Coupé, Sportback, and Cabriolet – get the advanced MMI touch operating system.

Audi says the car's mild hybrid technology offers greater comfort while also reducing fuel consumption.

Elements of the new design language from the full-size class characterise the sporty aesthetics of the updated Audi A5. Even the first generation from 2007 fascinated with its sporty and harmonious body line.

The second generation from 2016 added new, sharper accents. Now Audi has significantly revised the exterior, with the front end, in particular, exuding an even more powerful resolve.

The Singleframe with the honeycomb grille is flatter and somewhat wider. Ventilation slits above the grille are reminiscent of the classic Audi Sport quattro from 1984.

A bold blade forms the lower edge of the bumper, which features larger air inlets. A new sill provides for a slimmer appearance when viewed from the side; a diffuser insert with trapezoidal tailpipes makes the back of the car look wider.

All body and engine variants in the A5 product line roll off the assembly line with LED headlights and LED rear lights featuring dynamic turn indicators as standard equipment for Singapore. Matrix LED headlights are an option.

With its new MMI touch system, the highly connected A5 offers a user experience similar to a contemporary smartphone.

A 10.1-inch touch display with acoustic feedback replaces the rotary pushbutton used in previous models. The graphics are clean and reduced; the menu structure reflects the expectations of the user.

The MMI search is based on free text input and returns relevant hits very rapidly. Natural-language voice control understands many formulations from everyday speech. In Singapore, the range comes standard with the top of the line MMI navigation plus infotainment control centre.

New functions also make navigation intelligent and intuitive by suggesting routes previously driven. The myAudi app connects the car with the customer’s smartphone.

The standard personalisation allows the creation of as many as seven different user profiles for storing personal settings and preferences.

The updated Audi A5 uses a new main unit with increased computing power – the third-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3).

The driver controls the full-HD, 12.3-inch display (1,920 x 720 pixels) of the Audi virtual cockpit via the multifunction steering wheel and can choose between three views. With functions on demand, the customer will be able to access their car functions at any time using the myAudi app.

Horizontal lines dominate the interior of the A5 models.

The updated Audi A5 range is launched in Singapore with an updated 2.0 TFSI engine in two state of tune, a 150hp and a 190hp, exclusively paired with a direct shifting seven-speed S tronic transmission. Both powertrains feature the mild hybrid system (MHEV) integrated into the 12-volt electrical system. Central to the mild hybrid system is the belt alternator starter (BAS), which is connected to the crankshaft.

The A5 is able to coast with the engine switched off between 55 and 160kph.

During this time, the lithium-ion battery powers the electrical consumers. The start-stop range operates from as low as 22kph.

When the accelerator is depressed, the BAS restarts the engine quickly and smoothly. When stopped, this happens while the brake pedal is still depressed as soon as the vehicle in front begins to move. In real-world, everyday operation, the MHEV system can reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.3 litres per 100 km according to Audi.


Locally assembled BMW 530i M Sport launched at RM388,800

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia has introduced the new, locally assembled BMW 530i M Sport priced at RM388, 800 (on-the-road, without insurance).

The introduction of the Most Progressive Sports-Business Sedan on the Malaysian assembly line will mark the eleventh new model to join the portfolio of vehicles assembled in Malaysia by the BMW Group.

“The seventh generation all-new BMW 5 Series continues the remarkable success and ambition of the most successful Premium Business Sedan in the world and the new BMW 530i M Sport has already demonstrated this as the model continues to be one of the best-selling in the country with over 1,000 units already delivered since its introduction in March this year,” said managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Han Sang Yung.

Han added that the decision to locally assemble the new BMW 5 Series is a testament to BMW Group Malaysia’s longstanding investment and commitment in Malaysia towards making it a strategic hub for the BMW Group in the South East Asian region.

The new locally-assembled BMW 530i M Sport boasts an athletic, sleek and prestigious design.

The locally assembled variant will carry similar key features such as the M Aerodynamics components, M Sport brake, M light-alloy wheels, M specific pedals, and M leather steering wheels from the M Sport package.

Key driving assistance features such as Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Approach Control Warning & Person Warning, Collision Warning, Park Assistant as well as the BMW Display Key and BMW Gesture Control are all made available in the new locally-assembled BMW 530i M Sport.

The new locally-assembled BMW 530i M Sport will be available in the colours of Alpine White, Mediterranean Blue, Sophisto Grey and two additional colours, Carbon Black Metallic and Bluestone Metallic.

It also comes with a range of Leather Dakota upholstery interior colour choices in Black and Cognac.

Available at all BMW authorised showrooms, it comes with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty and Free Scheduled Service Program, 2 Years BMW Tyre Warranty Programme and backed by BMW Malaysia’s 5 Years New Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline Program.


Almost RM32mil in traffic fines settled via MyBayar Saman app, website

                KUALA LUMPUR: Around RM32mil worth of traffic summonses have been settled via the MyBayar Saman application and website since it was launched on March 25.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Deputy Comm Datuk Azisman Alias said a total of 291,157 summonses worth RM31.9mil were settled through the MyBayar Saman app.

"From March 25 until March 31, some 487,077 users have registered on the app and website.

"We also received 2,677 complaints through emails which have been rectified," he said when contacted on Friday (April 2).

DCP Azisman said the department is very delighted with the response shown by the public.

"The response has been very good. We hope the public will continue the MyBayar Saman app and website as well as the JSPT," he added.

Meanwhile, the JSPT said on its Facebook and Instagram pages on Thursday that there was a technical issue with regards to the MyBayar Saman website and app that ran from March 25 until 4am on March 26.

"It resulted in those making payments not receiving their receipts via email. We have since rectified the matter and since March 31, payment receipts have been sent via email in stages. We expect the process to be completed on April 2," the JSPT said.

Users can also check payment status on the history tab on the MyBayar Saman app and website.

"If any user has not received payment receipts after April 2, inform the JSPT via email at mybayarsaman@rmp.gov.my. We appreciate the cooperation shown by the public," the JSPT added.


Hino comes to aid of customers

                KUALA LUMPUR: Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (HMSM) is offering flood relief assistance to all Hino customers affected by devastating floods arising from heavy rainfall over the past few days.

The flood relief assistance is aimed at alleviating the difficulties that may be faced by Hino customers where there were vehicles stranded in flood and required immediate services.

Available nationwide, this assistance programme started on Dec 21 until further notice.

HMSM managing director Atsushi Uchiyama said trucks and buses are among the most essential infrastructure of transportation to deliver goods and transporting people.

“Hence we see our customer’s operation is not only important to us but to society as well.

“HMSM will give our best support through the most efficient and reliable way. It is also our commitment to helping relieve some of the burden faced by our customers during this natural disaster by listening and understanding the need of our customers and responding to them immediately”, he said.

HMSM is providing free inspection to all affected customers at Hino authorised service centres, and if required, Hino technical team will attend to customer’s place and provide the services.

On the relief assistance initiative, affected customers are eligible to claim towing service subsidies up to RM500 at all nearest Hino authorised service centres with terms and conditions apply.

Also, customers can enjoy up to 50% discount on selected Hino genuine parts and 20% off for labour services.

For more information, visit the nearest Hino authorised service centre or call HMSM at 03-7957 5199.


RM60mil paid to two firms for AES, says Transport Ministry

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has paid over RM60mil in contract service fees to two firms for the implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES).

In a written reply to Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS-Shah Alam), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said up to Aug 25 this year, the Government has paid a total of RM60,122,080 to two companies.

The two companies concerned are ATES Sdn Bhd, which was paid RM27,181,584 and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, which was paid RM32,940,496.

Liow also said from Sept 23, 2012 until Sept 30 this year, over two million summonses were issued.

"There were 2,144,921 summons issued for driving above the speed limit and not obeying traffic lights," said Liow in a written reply.

On Sunday, Liow said the Government would announce the result of an overall review of the AES implementation early next year.

He said the Government wanted to ensure that the AES implementation would go hand-in-hand with the demerit points system (Kejara).

Liow said currently, there were 14 AES cameras in operation, adding the Government had not abandoned the system and those issued with summonses still needed to pay them.


Shell contest winners to get all-expense paid motorcycle trip to Langkawi

                KUALA LUMPUR: If you like to go on an adventure astride a motorcycle, then here's a chance to get an all-expense paid road trip to Langkawi with your riding buddy.

Whip out your smartphone or camera, or simply dig through your photo album.  Choose a photo of your most memorable road trip moment, caption it and share it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #Advance2Langkawi.

Based on the most creative entry, five lucky winners will be able to bring one riding buddy each to an all-expense paid 4-day 3-night road trip to Langkawi! The winner and the friend will get to ride their own motorcycles on the trip lubricated by Shell Advance, and fuelled by Shell V-Power.

The Shell Advance #Advance2Langkawi contest runs from now until Dec 31.


Penang set to be first smart parking state

HeiTech Padu executive vice-president Abdul Halim showing the parking sensor for each lot.
GEORGE TOWN: Scratching parking coupons will soon be a thing of the past as an advanced parking system will soon replace the conventional coupon system at all council parking spaces in Penang.

The Penang Smart Parking System, which will be implemented in August this year, will see the use of a mobile phone application using e-wallet as its payment mechanism at 36,000 lots throughout Penang.

Parking sensors will also be installed at each parking lot to monitor the entry and exit of vehicles.

HeiTech Padu Berhad is the project’s appointed technology service provider.

Executive vice-president Abdul Halim Md Lassim said the project would start with the first phase on a trial run at about 1,000 parking lots here and in Bukit Mertajam.

“The first phase which involves 1,000 lots with equipped sensors will start in August this year while the second phase is expected to be completed by January 2020,” he said here last Thursday.

“The system is the first of its kind in the country to harness the Internet of Things, IR4.0 and cloud computing technology with navigation system and online payment system.

“This system will allow drivers in Penang to be directed towards available parking spaces based on real-time information,” he said.

“It will also enhance enforcement by reducing parking violations and leakage in revenue through the system’s dashboard with monitoring by the local government.”

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang would be the first state in the country to implement such a system complete with parking sensors in individual lots at all state-run public car parks.

“The public will need to merely download and use the app to get to their desired parking lots at the different public car parks.

“The app sends real-time information to the equipped sensors at the lots, allowing drivers to know if a space is occupied even before they head there.

“If the parking lots in the area are full, the system will provide them the next closest parking alternatives in that area.”

He said the system would be implemented at all 12,000 lots under the Penang Island City Council and 24,000 lots under the Seberang Prai Municipal Council.

The RM24mil smart parking project is one of the ongoing smart initiatives in Penang which include Smart Traffic Analytics and Terragraph System, BDA project for Disaster Management and Terragraph POC Project, Smart City of Penang and Smart Bus Stops.

State Housing, Local Government, Town and Rural Development Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the application for the Penang Smart Parking System could be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store after the launch of the first phase in August.

Penang Island mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the parking rate on the island would remain at 80 sen per hour, while Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Datuk Rozali Mohamud confirmed that the rate on the mainland would stay at 40 sen per hour.


Malaysian car buyers increasingly doing research online, says J.D. Power

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are increasingly starting their car-buying purchases through online channels, with the Malaysian market forming the biggest in the region.

Results from the J.D. Power 2018 Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM (Mass Market) show a large increase in the number of new car buyers researching online.

With 59% of customers in Malaysia starting their shopping journey via digital channels, the market outperforms India (54%), Thailand (46%) and the Philippines (45%) in the region.

In 2016, only 27% of new buyers across the country used online sources when considering a new car.

Significantly, new car buyers who researched online are more likely to contact their purchase dealer in advance of purchase than those who did not (78% vs. 59%, respectively).

Typically, shoppers use the internet to source information, contact showrooms to arrange for a visit, confirm dealer opening hours/ location, enquire about vehicle prices, stock and model features.

The growth of online research highlights the need for brands and dealers to ensure their websites and social media pages are providing the information required by shoppers.

Moreover, content can be enriched to cover not only the essential transactional functions like booking a test drive, calculating the chosen car price, selecting and initiating finance, but including more engaging digital experiences.

For example, using augmented or virtual reality software to make the sales process as engaging and personalised as possible.

However, data shows that sales consultants’ preparedness to interact with their customers is lacking. Among car buyers who researched online and initiated contact with their purchase dealers, 37% indicated that their sales consultants did not completely understand their needs.

Furthermore, during the in-store visit, only 43% of these online customers noted that their dealer was very effective in using information given prior.

This highlights a lost opportunity for sales consultants to fully leverage the information provided in advance to meet customer needs and help focus on providing a personalised sales experience.

Interestingly, customers contacting the dealer online are more satisfied overall, so it is important that sales consultants ensure the online to offline conversation is as seamless as possible.

“With more customers starting their purchase journey online there is a need to enhance the digital sales experience in Malaysia. Brands and dealers should review their online content to ensure they successfully capture each prospect from the very first click,” said J.D. Power Malaysia country manager E-Ling Cheah.


UMW Toyota Motor promises shorter delivery time for Harrier

                SHAH ALAM: Buyers of the Toyota Harrier in Malaysia can expect a shorter delivery period, as UMW Toyota Motor is co-operating with Toyota Motor Corp to get more cars from Japan.

To date, UMW Toyota Motor delivered over 500 units in Malaysia.

"The global demand for the Harrier has been great right from the start and for Malaysia, it surged further during the three months of tax break. The production in Japan is now able to supply more to suit the demand and we will have more vehicles available for delivery,” said Ravindran K., president of UMW Toyota Motor.

Priced from RM243,000 (for Peninsular Malaysia registration with SST, without insurance), the latest Harrier is available in two variants – Premium and Luxury.

Both variants use the latest generation 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine which features a twin scroll turbocharger, D-4ST direct fuel-injection and VVT-iW (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent Wide) for high output with high fuel efficiency as well.

The Harrier’s occupants are well protected with the Toyota Safety Sense Package, a comprehensive suite of Active Safety systems (available in a Toyota model in Malaysia for the first time).

These include a Pre-Crash System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System, Lane Departure Alert and Adaptive High-Beam System.

Other safety systems included are Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Emergency Stop Signal, Electronic Parking Brake + Auto Brake Hold, and Parking Sensors with a Reverse Camera.

Four colour choices are available – Dark Blue Mica Metallic, White Pearl, Sparkling Black Pearl and Silver Metallic.

The Harrier comes with 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage.

For peace of mind, owners are assured of service and spare parts from all Toyota dealerships throughout Malaysia.

Toyota is also currently running the ‘All About the Drive Bonanza’ promotion until end of the year, those who book a new Harrier stand a chance to win a holiday package and will also be eligible to win a brand new Toyota Sienta compact MPV.

More details are available at www.toyota.com.my.


Want a safer electric scooter experience? Opt for a three-wheeler

                PARIS: As with moto scooters, three wheels on a stand-up scooter allow for a safer ride than two. With two wheels at the back, stability is optimized and the risk of falling is reduced.

Several manufacturers have recently announced new models of this type, a trend that could win over a host of new users, who may still be afraid of getting hurt on a traditional electric stand-up scooter.

Italian builder Askoll, a major player in the car-sharing field in Europe, has introduced its first three-wheel electric scooter, the Scoo3.

Its most notable design feature is its two wheels at the back, but its tilting footrest system and its disc brakes are also designed to optimise the user's stability in all circumstances and therefore limit the risk of falling.

As for the rest, it is a classic stand-up scooter with an electric motor of 350 W and a range of 50km. It is able to reach its maximum speed of 25kph in eight seconds. Recharging its battery completely takes about four hours. This new model will likely be initially reserved for operators of self-service scooter programs.

Earlier this summer, Honda presented an original three-wheeled scooter, called Striemo, whose mechanism also ensures balance and a stable ride in all situations. It will be available in Japan by the end of the year and is set to arrive in Europe in 2023.


Ever wondered how thirsty a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport actually is?

                LOS ANGELES: The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport has an 8.0-litre (7,993cc) W16 engine that gets boosted by four turbochargers to produce a whopping 1,479hp, but ever wondered how thirsty it actually is? Try 29.4 litres per 100km.

From a common fuel tank that would hold about 55-litres of fuel, that's not going to help you get very far - about 187km by our calculations based on the consumption figure.

Thankfully, the French carmaker provided a 100-litre tank for its fuel-guzzler, but still...it will only net its owner abut 340km per tank of fuel - even lesser if the pedal meets the metal.

At current fuel prices, the Chiron Pur Sport's 100-litre fuel tank will cost RM245 to fill to the brim with RON100 - because not only is the Chiron Pur Sport expensive, it also needs to feed on expensive fuel.

So, with it consuming 29.4 litres per 100km  - according to the Environmental Protection Agency in the US who derived this figure based on 45% extra-urban and 55% urban driving, this is going to cost the average Malaysian user an insanely painful RM72 per 100km for the average "Joe".

Annualise that figure to about 15,000km travelled per year per average Malaysian - while maintaining that the price of fuel remains unchanged for that distance, the total expenditure rises to a whopping RM10,800.

Of course, that's an expenditure that's considered nothing when compared to its USD$3.4mil (RM14mil) price tag (before taxes, options and etc).

Bugatti plans to only build 60 units of the Chiron Pur Sport for the world which has an engine that has a 6,900rpm redline (+200rpm compared to stock) while a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission helps it to sprint from 60 to 120kph almost 2.0 seconds faster than a stock Chiron.


French automaker PSA remains profitable despite virus

                PARIS: French automaker PSA, which is in the process of merging with Fiat Chrysler, said Tuesday it had remained profitable during the first half of the year despite sales plunging due to coronavirus lockdowns.

The firm — whose brands include Peugeot, Citroen and Opel — managed a net profit of €595 million (RM2.9bil), a drop of two-thirds from the same period last year.

Sales fell 34.5 percent to €25.1 billion during the period as stay at home orders by authorities kept clients out of car showrooms. By volume car sales fell 45.7 percent.

"These past years we have stressed that for us that lowering the breakeven point is a clear strategy for us and the first half of 2020 showed that it is the right strategy in a chaotic world," chief executive Carlos Tavares said in a conference call.

The company has been focused on boosting profit margins in recent years rather than chasing sales volumes, and it moved to quickly cut costs during the coronavirus crisis.

Operating profits came in at €517 million, a drop of 84.5 percent, or 2.1 percent of sales. For strictly automotive sales, the profit margin was 3.7 percent.

For the 2019-2021 period the carmaker intends to keep profitability above 4.5 percent on average thanks to a rebound in sales expected in the second half of this year.

"We still consider this figure as the minimum, with a strong possibility of doing better given the results of the first half," said financial director Philippe de Rovira.

Tavares expressed confidence in completing the merger with Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and a rebound in the car market.

"We are determined to achieve solid rebound in the second half of the year, while finalising the birth of Stellantis before the end of" the first quarter of 2021, he said in the earnings statement.

Earlier this month, the carmakers announced the new group formed by their mega-merger would be called Stellantis.

The tie-up, which was announced at the end of October, will create the world's fourth-largest automaker in terms of volume, and number three in terms of sales.


Countryman singled out in latest MINI promo campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI is promoting the Countryman range in its latest "Catch of the Year" campaign that was announced today.

The campaign from now until Dec 31 covers Countryman Pure, Countryman Sports, Countryman Plug-in Hybrid and Countryman John Cooper Works.

These offers include interest rates from 0% (based on straight line financing), savings of up to RM32,000, monthly instalment plans from RM2,102, as well as an additional year of MINI Service and Repair Inclusive Programme (MSRI) for selected models – making it a 4+1 Year MSRI in total.

Additionally, new owners of the Countryman Plug-in Hybrid will enjoy an extension of the high voltage battery warranty for 8 years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.

To learn more, visit the local MINI site.


Perodua maintains strong orders even after sales tax reinstated from July 1

                KOTA BARU: Perodua collected some 24,265 orders in the month of July, which is a healthy sign that demand for its vehicles remain strong notwithstanding the sales tax reinstatement on July 1.

The compact carmaker also reported higher year-to-date sales numbers with a 48.7% jump to 145,689 units sold from January to July compared with 97,945 units sold in the same period last year.

Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the sales increase could be attributed to two main reasons.

 Zainal Abidin.

“The first is due to the strong demand for our vehicles, especially between January and June this year as customers wanted to take advantage of the government’s sales tax exemption initiative.

“The second reason why the 2022 year-to-date numbers are stronger is due to the nationwide Covid-19 pandemic lockdown that happened between June and mid-August last year,” he said.

Zainal Abidin said the booking momentum, while not as strong as the bookings collected in the first half of 2022, was better than expected and this showed the automotive industry still has room to grow.

The all-new Alza multi-purpose vehicle received 39,000 bookings so far, of which 9,000 was collected in July.

Zainal Abidin had earlier announced a 3,000 monthly sales target for the new Alza.

“While the year-to-date numbers are encouraging, we are still cautious as there are still lingering issues in the automotive ecosystem last month, which include shortage of labour and residual semiconductor supply availability.

“As a result, our month-to-month sales were reduced by 13.3% to 18,346 units in July compared with 21,164 units registered in June this year,” Zainal Abidin said.

He said Perodua is working closely with the government to overcome the labour shortage by early August and Perodua expects its production to resume in full beginning this month.

“On the semiconductor issue, we have secured enough chip supply for us to produce and register more than 247,800 units this year, however we are still working on sustaining production growth. This means that we could not announce our new targets yet,” he said.

Zainal Abidin said the total industry volume for this year could be more than 630,000 units as nearly all automotive brands had accumulated massive bookings between January and June this year.

“Also, given that the government has extended the registration deadline for all vehicles booked on or before June 30 to March 31 next year, we believe the industry can do better than a 30,000-registration increase by the end of this year,” he added.

In July, the Malaysia Automotive Association announced an increase in the total industry volume to 630,000 units from a forecast of 600,000 announced in January.

READ MORE: Carmakers start to see weaker demand in Europe and N. America amid inflation squeeze


China’s Didi drops social features from carpooling service after passenger murder

Didi said profile pictures on the service will be replaced with generic images and that the service will only be available from 6am to 10pm. — Reuters
BEIJING: China's biggest ride-sharing company, Didi Chuxing, will disable features such as profile pictures, ratings and public tags from its carpooling service, as it looks to win back trust following the killing of a passenger that sparked questions about safety.

The 21-year-old female passenger, a flight attendant, was killed this month while travelling from an airport hotel to the Eastern Chinese city Zhengzhou's downtown area, allegedly by her driver who bypassed defective safety controls in the app.

Didi said it will disable carpooling at night and make facial recognition checks compulsory for drivers.

It also proposed recording audio for every trip as an added security measure on its carpooling feature – “Didi Hitch” that has been temporarily suspended this week.

The male suspect had used a driver account that belonged to his father, contrary to Didi's policy, the company has said.

Following news of the death, users have criticised Didi's efforts to market Hitch as a "social carpooling" service, which allowed drivers to create public tags for passengers including physical features, gender and age.

On Wednesday, Didi said profile pictures on the service will be replaced with generic images and that the service will only be available from 6 am to 10 pm.

It also said it would extend facial recognition requirements to its other services and redesign its emergency help function.

Didi Chuxing – which is valued at US$50bil (RM198.17bil) and counts SoftBank Group Corp as a major investor is expanding heavily overseas, targeting new markets in Mexico, Brasil and Australia where it will come head-to-head with Uber.

After acquiring Uber's China business in 2016, Didi controls over 90% of the country's ride-hailing market, giving users few alternative options, although new players have begun to edge their way into the market.


Paris, Brussels call for car-free day in Europe

                PARIS: Europe should hold an annual car-free day in a bid to ease air pollution, the mayors of Paris and Brussels said Saturday on the eve of a vehicle-free day in their cities.

The call came in a joint statement by Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and her counterpart in Brussels, Philippe Close, in which the two pointed to "the urgency of climate issues and the health impact of pollution".

Both capitals will today hold their annual car-free day as part of the European Heritage Days 2018, a weekend of cultural events staged every year in countries throughout the bloc.

 Hidalgo cycling in Paris. - AFP

In Paris, City Hall had on Friday said six areas at the heart of the capital would remain traffic-free on the first Sunday of every month, including Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis, Louvre, Opera, Chatelet and the Marais.

The plan will kick in from Oct 7, with cars only allowed on the major roads crossing these neighbourhoods.

Between 2017 and 2018, car traffic in central Paris fell by 6.0 percent, which reduced air pollution "by a comparable proportion," City Hall said, describing it as a "record" drop.


Czech maker Praga launches road-legal hypercar for petrol-heads

                LONDON/PRAGUE: Praga, an old-established Czech car brand that few have heard of, has just launched a track-focused supercar which should delight combustion fans.

The carbon-tubbed Bohema is unashamedly petrol-powered with not a battery cell in sight. It uses an uprated 3.8-litre V6 engine from the Nissan GT-R and is all about raw speed, with up to 700hp on tap.

The insectoid look of the Bohema is heightened by a narrow central cockpit which can only accommodate driver and passenger by staggering the seats.

When it comes to the bodywork and power plant, only the finest materials are good enough for the Praga, which is set to go on sale next year with a price tag of €1.28 million (RM6mil).

Praga is known in racing car circles but the Bohema marks the first genuine road car since the Praga Lady model in 1947. UK tuner Litchfield has modified the unit for increased reliability and power, including upgrading to new twin turbos.

The Bohema's engine breaths through titanium tubes right from the turbos to the tailpipes, giving a sharp crackle to the engine note, say the makers.

Effective silencing ensures that occupants can still "hold a conversation, even at well over legal road speed limits," Praga says.

The engine is mated to a Hewland sequential gearbox through a robotic clutch allowing for semi-automatic drive mode.

Exact performance figures have not been revealed but the firm hails the car's "unique rear spoiler design which results in over 900 kgs of down-force at 250kph."

Twenty Bohemas a year will be turned out from next year at a Czech factory.

Praga, a 115-year-old, multi-disciplinary company, dates back to the late 1800s. It began as a heavy industrial manufacturer of everything from bridges to steam trains and later switched to making trucks.

With the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, Praga made racing karts and motocross motorcyles before it re-entered the racing car arena in 2012.


Perodua's year-to-date sales soar 33%

                PETALING JAYA: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) sales jumped 33% to 46,385 vehicles from 34,865 vehicles for the first two months of the year.

Year-to-date, its production jumped 32.95% to 51,134 units from 38,460 units.

The carmaker said the increase was due to improved efficiency in terms of production, better financing facilities to Perodua dealers, and greater communications both within the ecosystem as well as with Perodua customers.

“While there are still ongoing challenges with the supply of semiconductor chips, cost increases – among others but despite these challenges, we managed to see double-digit growth in our production and sales, for this, we thank our partners for their dedication,” Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

He said demand for Perodua vehicles has also remained healthy so far and Perodua is ramping up production to meet that demand.

“As a result, the average waiting period as of 28 February is now between 2.5 months and 8 months. Of course, this timeframe is subject to the model, variant, and colour.

“That being said, we apologise to our customers and thank them for their patience. We will try to further improve our production and registrations in the months to come,” Zainal said.

Moving forward, he said the outlook for the automotive industry and Perodua are positive given that the current economic situation remains stable.

“The current focus now is labour stability, especially for the automotive suppliers to ensure that production can be improved. We also hope that the policy makers continue to engage with the ecosystem on future changes in policies that may impact the industry” he added.


McLaren kicks off Sports Series production

 The 570S Coupe interior.

LONDON: McLaren Automotive has started production of its new Sports Series family of luxury high-performance sports cars at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, England.

The first car to be launched in the Sports Series family is the 570S Coupé, and this will be followed by the 540C Coupé and another bodystyle in 2016. The first McLaren 570S Coupé to roll off the production line has been delivered to a retailer in Britain, with over 1,000 orders in hand globally.

The start of production of the new Sports Series heralds a new chapter in the short history of McLaren Automotive, as well as completing its three tier product strategy of Ultimate Series, Super Series and Sports Series.

When the full Sports Series family is complete by 2018, it is forecast to more than double the annual volume of McLaren Automotive to more than 4,000 cars per year. The Sports Series is priced from £126,000 (RM824,000) for the 540C Coupé rising to £143,250 (RM937,000) for the 570S Coupé.

"The Sports Series is targeted towards a new buyer and opens McLaren up to the sports car market that we have not served to date," said McLaren Automotive sales and marketing executive director Jolyon Nash.

"The buyer of a Sports Series model will still experience the benchmark performance and driver engagement delivered by every McLaren model, but will also notice the increased usability and practicality that differentiates it from our existing cars. In addition, the Sports Series will make a significant contribution to the long-term sustainability of the company."


JPJ holding public auction of 106 vehicles on April 30

File pic of cloned cars.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 106 vehicles, including various units of Toyota Wish, BMW and Mercedes Benz, will be put on public auction on April 30.

Kuala Lumpur Road Transport Department (JPJ) director Datuk Ismail Mohd Zawawi said the vehicles – 75 cars, 28 motorcycles, two lorries and a van – would be auctioned off at its headquarters on Jalan Genting Klang from 9am onwards.

“We will also hold a public inspection of the vehicles on April 26 and April 29 between 10am and 3.30pm.

“Most of the vehicles to be auctioned are cloned vehicles,” he told a press conference after the state-level JPJ Day celebrations today.

The auctioned vehicles are categorised as licensed vehicles (can be used on the road) and those that must be scrapped, he added.

“For the vehicles that must be scrapped, only licensed scrap metal operators are allowed to bid for them.

“The operators must also bring the relevant equipment and dismantle the vehicles at the JPJ office. We will prepare space for them to do so,” he said.

Those interested can obtained the auction documents at the department’s financial unit, said Ismail.


Biden vows to replace US govt fleet with electric vehicles

Biden’s 'Buy America' executive order signed on Monday does not direct the purchase of electric vehicles. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Monday vowed to replace the US government’s fleet of roughly 650,000 vehicles with electric models as the new administration shifts its focus towards clean-energy.

“The federal government also owns an enormous fleet of vehicles, which we’re going to replace with clean electric vehicles made right here in America by American workers,” Biden said Monday

Biden criticised existing rules that allow vehicles to be considered US-made when bought by the US government even if they have significant non-American made components.

Biden said he would close “loopholes” that allow key parts like engines, steel and glass to be manufactured abroad for vehicles considered US-made.

The White House did not immediately answer questions about over what period Biden planned to replace current vehicles. It could cost US$20 billion (RM81bil) or more to replace the fleet.

Biden’s “Buy America” executive order signed Monday does not direct the purchase of electric vehicles.

As of 2019, the US government owned 645,000 vehicles that were driven 7.2 billion kilometres consuming 1.4 billion litres of petrol and diesel fuel, according to the General Services Administration (GSA). The US government spent US$4.4 billion (RM17.8bil) on federal vehicle costs in 2019, the GSA said.

Of US-government vehicles, just 3,215 were electric vehicles as of July 2020, GSA said.

During the campaign, Biden vowed to “make a major federal commitment to buy clean vehicles for federal, state, tribal, postal, and local fleets.”

He also vowed to create one million new jobs in the “American auto industry, domestic auto supply chains, and auto infrastructure, from parts to materials to electric vehicle charging stations.”

Biden backs new consumers rebates to replace old, less-efficient vehicles with newer electric vehicles and incentives for manufacturers to build or retool factories to assemble EVs and parts.

Biden vows to build 550,000 EV charging stations and spend more in clean energy research.


Secure your old Porsche – if you have one

                STUTTGART: Old Porsche cars are more sought-after than ever. Not only by lovers of vintage cars, but also by organised gangs of car thieves.

With this in mind, Porsche Classic has now further developed a satellite monitoring system that has been offered for new vehicles for some time, for use in modern and vintage classics.

The key feature of the new “Porsche Classic Vehicle Tracking System” is an autonomous sensor package that is integrated at concealed points on the vehicle. This device communicates with a security network that covers the whole of Europe.

The tailored versions of the new system are suitable for all Porsche classic vehicles – from the 356 with its six-volt electrical system to the Carrera GT. “In future, the new tracking system will allow us to offer our customers anti-theft functionality that will trigger an alarm for tracking the vehicle if someone tries to steal it. In an ideal scenario, this intervention will stop the vehicle from disappearing right from the outset”, said Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Classic.

The system consists of several components. First is the hardware.

The rather inconspicuous and compact component is housed in the vehicle. The developers have defined several options for each Porsche model. The Porsche Centres in question also receive the relevant plans. And even if a highly organised gang of thieves succeed in stealing technical information of this kind – because there are always different places to position the transmitter in the cars, it is extremely difficult and above all time-consuming to detect the device and possibly disable it. The time factor plays a crucial role for thieves in general, because they want to leave the scene of the crime as quickly as possible with the object of desire.

A popular trick with car thieves is to first disconnect the battery, so that alarm systems and similar protection devices are disabled. But with the new system this is useless.

“It’s true the hardware is connected to the electrical system. But if the circuit of a vehicle equipped with this is interrupted, an alarm is immediately triggered”, said Linda Vetten, Product Manager in the Classic Customer Centre.

In addition, the system is equipped with its own battery and is therefore autonomous. As with the GPS monitoring of new vehicles, the alarm is sent to the international security centre. The customer also receives a notification through the corresponding app. If the owner confirms unauthorised access when prompted, the authorities are informed and the hunt for the thieves begins. The security centre uses the system to identify the location or driving route of the classic vehicle and supports local responders in the search.

There is also the option to prevent the engine from being restarted via a wireless command, if the car is switched off in the meantime. The vehicle can then only be unlocked by employees of the security centre.

Porsche developers are aware that criminals have access to state-of-the-art technology, such as jammers that block GPS signals.

Vetten said: “If jammers are detected, once again an alarm notification is immediately sent out.” Only Porsche Centres are authorised to perform the installation. Depending on the model, installation takes between one and four hours. The cost of the device is around €1,000 (RM4,737) plus a service charge of €20 (RM95) per month.

To complement the electronic solution, a mechanical shift lever lock is also available. This makes it virtually impossible for thieves to drive the car. This €250 (RM1,185) shift lever lock has been developed by the Berlin-based company Bear-Lock.

It is currently available for prospective Porsche modern classics, such as the 997 generation of the 911, the Boxster 986 and 987 series, the first Cayman (987) as well as the first and second Cayenne.


The 'Scooby' is Japan's rally-icon of all time

                LONDON: Organisers of Europe’s biggest Japanese car show - Japfest, commissioned a research ahead of a special Mitsubishi Evo v Subaru Impreza feature with voters being divided with less than a percent separating them.

Much like the how the Evo and Impreza went head-to-head on the World Rally stage on gravel, mud and tarmac, the iconic pair was once again pitted against each other on an online vote to determine which one came out on top.

The people behind the show ran a social media poll to determine which was considered the ultimate Japanese rally hero, and the voting concluded with the Impreza pipping the Evo to the post with 50.95% of the total votes cast, compared to the Evo’s 49.05%.

The poll was created to raise awareness of a special Evo versus Impreza stand-off at the event, which will celebrate the old school rivalry between Subaru and Mitsubishi that can trace its roots back to the halcyon days of Group A rallying in the mid-1990s.

Japfest will be putting the iconic rivals to the test, inviting clubs to nominate five cars each to take part.

They will be given a slot to set the fastest time on the Silverstone Handling Course with the fastest combined score winning for their club and their model.

"It’s great to see that the Impreza and Evo are as fiercely competitive as ever, but none of us expected the voting to be this close. Battle lines were drawn, and it was very nearly a tie break, but in the end the Impreza was victorious,” said event director Phil Weeden.


2015 Tokyo Motor Show: Beauties at work

TOKYO: Cars took centrestage at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show but it’s hard not to notice the showgirls or brand ambassadors at the 160 stands.

Every exhibitor at the motor show including the car accessories and commercial vehicles brands, would have a number of girls on duty. As the largest exhibitor, the Honda stand had easily a dozen girls preening for pictures and interacting with visitors.

In tune with the trend in the motor show circuit, most of the girls were soberly dressed without the titillating attire of yesteryear.


Speaking of the depth of corruption, this low-ranking officer owns a Rolls-Royce

                PUTRAJAYA: Graft busters could not believe their eyes in their investigation into an immigration syndicate offering “special services” – a fleet of luxury cars comprising a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mustang, Range Rover and an Audi.

Not bad for an Immigration officer in the KP19 grade, where the salary range is only RM1,360 to RM4,052, not including allowances.

The four cars were seized, adding to an overall haul that included more than RM800,000 in cash, 22 other luxury cars, four high-powered motorcycles, as well as other assets such as houses, plots of land, jewellery and designer handbags.

Living within your means is sound advice for anyone, but perhaps more so if you’re going to run foul of the law.

The seizures came as part of a nationwide blitz codenamed “Ops Selat”, which has also seen the arrest of 50 people involved in the syndicate: 28 Immigration Department officers, 17 foreign worker agents and five others.

The latest arrest yesterday involved an Immigration officer and three foreign worker agents who have been remanded for six days.

The syndicate providing “stamping facilities” to foreign workers and illegal immigrants is believed to be involved in international human trafficking, particularly in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

This was discovered during investigations into the syndicate which found that foreign agents had been working with Immigration officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and KLIA2 to help foreigners enter and leave Malaysia.

Sources close to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said investigators were shocked to discover that a low-ranking Immigration officer possessed a fleet of luxury cars.

 Two of the four suspects remanded at the Shah Alam magistrate's court.

It was found that the setting up of the entire process and also special Immigration counters at KLIA and KLIA2 involved international syndicates and local agents.

“Visitors who have been blacklisted but want to enter Malaysia will be assisted by agents overseas who will provide their Malaysian counterparts with the visitors’ details.

“The local agents will then contact Immigration officers at KLIA and KLIA2 to ‘set up’ counters to facilitate the foreigners’ entry, ” a source told The Star.

A similar process was carried out when a foreigner – who has either been blacklisted, has a visit pass that has expired or possesses a fake passport – wanted to leave the country.

“We found out that the luxury cars were registered under two Chinese nationals believed to be foreign workers’ agents operating here, as well as under the names of two local agents, ” said the source.

The syndicate, whose services were in high demand since the movement control order was imposed in March, is believed to have provided the “flying passport” services where agents would collect passports belonging to foreign workers and illegal immigrants whose social visit passes had expired.

The passports would then be given Immigration exit and entry stamps by the syndicate to allow the permits to be extended, which is a violation of procedure as the owner of a travel document must be present during the Immigration process.It is believed that the syndicate charges between RM500 and RM6,000 for “counter” facilities.

The syndicate, which has been in operation since 2017, is believed to have raked in RM14.5mil.

Intelligence revealed that the syndicate had provided their “flying passport” and “counter services” to at least 30,000 foreign workers and illegal immigrants.

MACC investigations director Datuk Norazlan Mohd Razali confirmed the arrests, saying that the suspects were being investigated under the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.