Tesla, electric SUVs get poor scores from Consumer Reports

                NEW YORK: Vehicles from Tesla Inc and electric sport utilities from rival brands are among the least reliable models sold in the United States, a reflection of the risks of new technology, Consumer Reports said today.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organisation that evaluates products and services, said Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, ranked 27th out of 28 brands, just ahead of Ford Motor Co's Lincoln brand.

"Electric SUVs as a vehicle category is the absolute bottom in terms of reliability," Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jake Fisher said today during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association.

Among electric SUVs, Fisher said Ford Motor Co's Mustang Mach-E "is the only one with above-average reliability."

Consumer Reports recommends the Tesla Model 3 sedan and rates its reliability as "average." But Fisher said the rest of Tesla's vehicles are below average.

The popular Model Y SUV, Tesla's best-selling vehicle, has problems with poorly fitting body panels, leaks and issues with its climate control, Fisher said.

The larger Model X SUV "still has problems with the falcon wing doors," Fisher said.

Consumer Reports has been critical of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self Driving automated driving systems. Fisher said Consumer Reports still has concerns that drivers will rely too much on technology that cannot safely take over driving, but that did not factor into the reliability scores.

"Full Self Driving is not full self-driving at all," Fisher said. "It's a convenience feature."

Electric vehicle drive systems, or powertrains, are not the main source of problems, Fisher said. The issues reported by owners are with other features.

Manufacturers "are using EVs as a technological test bed," Fisher said. "Those are the things that go wrong."

The top-ranked brand overall in the survey was Lexus, and eight of the ten top-scoring brands were Japanese. That continues a long-running trend.

Among brands owned by Detroit automakers, Buick was the only one in the top 10, in fifth place.

The Buick Envision, which is assembled in China, was the most reliable compact luxury SUV in the Consumer Reports survey.


Plug wars: the battle for electric car supremacy

Electric car chargers at the Holloway Road Shell station in London. — Reuters
FRANKFURT: German carmakers hope a network of high-power charging stations they are rolling out with Ford will set an industry standard for plugs and protocols that will give them an edge over electric car rivals.

At the moment, Tesla and carmakers in Japan and Germany use different plugs and communication protocols to link batteries to chargers, but firms building the charging networks needed for electric vehicles to become mainstream say the number of plug formats will need to be limited to keep costs down.

Carmakers behind the winning technology will benefit from having an established supply chain and an extensive network, making their vehicles potentially more attractive to customers worried about embarking upon longer journeys, analysts say.

Manufacturers that back losing plugs, however, could end up with redundant research and development and may have to invest to adapt assembly lines and vehicle designs so their customers can use the most widespread fast-charging networks.

Swiss bank UBS has estimated that US$360 billion will need to be spent over the next eight years to build global charging infrastructure to keep pace with electric car sales, and it will be key to limit the numerous technologies now in use.

“The quick-charging marketplace might be growing fast but the issue of different types of connectivity and communication will need to be resolved going forward,” UBS said in a study published this month.

To try to build critical mass for the Combined Charging System (CCS) favoured by Europe, BMW, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler, Ford and the Volkswagen group, which includes Audi and Porsche, said in November they would develop 400 high-power charging stations on main roads in 18 European countries by 2020.

“In the end, it is about safe-guarding investments for those that are investing in electric mobility,” said Claas Bracklo, head of electromobility at BMW and the chairman of the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIN), which is backing CCS.

“We have founded CharIN to build a position of power.”

It is still early days for electric cars and difficult to predict which plug technology will prevail or even whether there will always be different ways to charge vehicles, unlike the one-size-fits-all nozzle that can refill all petrol cars.

But there is a lot at stake for the carmakers ploughing billions of dollars into the development of batteries and electric cars.

Besides CCS, there are three other standards that will charge batteries fast: Tesla’s Supercharger system, CHAdeMO, or Charge de Move, developed by Japanese firms including carmakers Nissan and Mitsubishi, and GB/T in China, the world’s biggest electric car market.

“I think over time CHAdeMO and CCS converge, likely into the current CCS standard, and the jury is out as to what will happen to Tesla,” said Pasquale Romano, chief executive officer of Silicon Valley-based ChargePoint, which runs one of the world’s largest charging station networks.

So far, there are about 7,000 CCS charging points worldwide, according to CharIN, with more than half in Europe. The European Union backs CCS as the standard for fast-charging but does not prohibit other plugs being installed.

That compares with 16,639 charge points compatible with CHAdeMO - most in Japan and Europe - and 8,496 Tesla Superchargers, with the majority in the United States. In China, there are 127,434 GB/T charging stations, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance.

Just as in previous format wars such as the battle for videotape dominance between VHS and Betamax, each charging standard has its pros and cons.

Tesla’s system is exclusive to its clients, for example, while CCS features a double-plug that can charge DC and AC, increasing the number of spots where drivers can recharge.

CHAdeMO, meanwhile, allows cars to sell power from their batteries back to the grid, a process known as bi-directional charging that can help stabilize energy networks in times of demand swings and earn car owners some extra cash.

“If I were Nissan, I’d be wanting to take that standard and make it the dominant one,” said Gerard Reid, founder of Alexa Capital that advises companies in the energy, technology and power infrastructure sectors.

“It creates a competitive advantage for them,” he said.

Most plugs used to charge cars at home use alternate current (AC) and are slow, so building networks that can power vehicles fast when on the road is seen as key by the industry, given many potential consumers still worry about battery range.

Able to deliver more powerful direct current (DC), fast-chargers can load electric cars up to seven times faster.

The fastest DC stations, capable of delivering up to 400 kilowatts, can recharge cars within 10 minutes, a vast improvement on the 10-12 hours it can take to reload at some AC charging points today.

Developers hope drivers will feel more confident about undertaking longer journeys if they know they can reboot with a quick pit stop similar to stopping at a petrol station.

With that in mind, the joint venture set up by the German carmakers and Ford to install CCS fast-chargers has teamed up with companies that have service station networks in Europe: Shell, OMV, Germany’s Tank & Rast and retailer Circle K.

For traditional carmakers, getting ahead in the electric car race is also about staying relevant in an industry that has been shaken up by Tesla.

The German carmakers teaming up with Ford, however, believe their deeper pockets should give them the upper hand in the long run and they see charging technology as an important factor in the fight.

For now, CCS, Supercharger and CHAdeMO plugs continue to be installed in Europe as well as the United States, while China is pressing ahead with GB/T, suggesting it is too early to call a winner in the plug wars - especially as no carmaker will want to lose out on the Chinese market.

Tesla, for example, said in October it was modifying its Model S and Model X cars for China to add a second charge port compatible with the country’s GB/T fast-charging standard.

Most other rivals are also incorporating the GB/T standard into their vehicles for China, which has ambitious quotas for electric car sales, although some industry officials still hope the country will adopt one of the other standards at some point.

While sticking with developing its proprietary network for now, Tesla is a member of the CHAdeMO and CharIN initiatives. It is also selling adapters so owners of its cars in North America and Japan can use CHAdeMO charging stations.

Tesla declined to comment on whether it would consider joining a rival charging standard at some point, a move analysts say could be a tipping point in the race for plug dominance.

“For Tesla it was always very important to have a charging infrastructure for our clients from the get-go,” a spokesman said, adding that it welcomed all investment in car charging.

Tomoko Blech, who represents CHAdeMO in Europe, said fussing over which standard would prevail was not helpful given that the electric car industry was still in its early days and carmakers should fight it out with their models.

Some also argue there will always be several ways to charge battery-powered cars.

“If you drive a petrol car you can fuel it any place in the world. This is the best you can get,” said Nicolas Meilhan, principal analyst at consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

“You will not get that for electric vehicles.”


Conquering the hills with a Ducati Multistrada 950

                The Ducati Multistrada 950 is at home in the city and in the mountains, making it the perfect all-rounder.

Ducati Malaysia recently organised a ride to Cameron Highlands.

The mission was to highlight the capabilities of the Ducati 950 Multistrada.

The convoy planned to ride from Ducati Malaysia in Petaling Jaya to Cameron Highlands via Sungai Koyan, then down the mountain to Simpang Pulai and back to PJ the next day.

It sounded like what any biker would do on a weekend, but the event included a number of interesting “add-ons,” if you will.

The BikeThe Ducati 950 Multistrada was launched for 2017 - during the 2016 EICMA Show in Milan, Italy, as Ducati’s entry into the middleweight sport-touring market.

The world’s press referred to it as the “downsized” Multistrada, but it was actually designed to be more accessible to a wider range of riders in terms of power, size, weight, simplicity and price.

The 937cc, liquid-cooled, eight-valve, L-Twin engine produces 113bhp at 9,000rpm and 96.2Nm of torque at 7,750rpm.

On the other hand, the Multistrada 1200’s engine produces 160bhp and 136 Nm of torque.

The lower power output of the 950 makes it easier for riders other than Dovizioso to manage.

Apart from that, the 950 is much simpler to operate. Instead of confusing the rider with endless amounts of adjustability, ride modes and traction control are pared down to Sport, Touring, Urban and Rain.

In the chassis department, there is no Skyhook semi-active electronic suspension, although the forks are fully adjustable, and the rear shock is adjustable for preload and rebound damping.

There is also a conventional, two-sided swingarm compared to the single-sided item on the Multistrada 1200 and 1260.

The GatheringWe were greeted by a row of three Multistrada 1200 Enduros and another line of eight Multistrada 950s in Ducati Malaysia’s compound.

Pre-ride briefing began with a welcoming speech and short product presentation by Ducati Malaysia marketing executive David Lim.

Following David was Haizal Omar, the Lead Marshal and DRE Instructor for the ride.

We were briefed to a very famous set of riding tips called “The Pace.”

“The Pace” was written by the famous motoring journalist, Nick Ienatsch, in Sport Rider circa 2009.

The sub-heading read, “Separating street from track, riding from racing.”

The Pace covers the disciplines of road riding, especially in a group.

It was not about outright speed, but about the ultimate enjoyment by riding within each person’s comfort level.

We journalists were divided into two groups.

This writer was assigned to Haizal’s, while another DRE Instructor, Diddy led the other.

Each Marshal will lead at a pace that’s comfortable for the riders in his group.

He will continue to check from time to time to determine each person’s level.

Additionally, Haizal is a certified instructor out of California Superbike School and teaches riding techniques himself.

Hence, he will impart his experience and knowledge to us during the ride as part of the Ducati Riding Experience.

Ducati Malaysia then loaned us Ducati-branded riding jackets.

Most of them were made by Dainese, although there are some made by Rev’ It.

The Ride
We rode straight to the Gombak Toll BHPetrol petrol station before continuing on the wonderfully winding highway.

Traffic was light since it was a weekday.

The Marshal kept the pace up for us to experience the MTS 950.

The keyword here, however, was a high pace without feeling rushed.

Attempting to banzai corners will cause fatigue, no room for mistakes and people getting left behind.

Sungai KlauWe turned off the Karak Highway and rode towards the Sungai Klau.

This route not only bypassed the choked roads around Bentong town, it was also way more scenic.

The narrow road was flanked by oil palm estates until they gave way to the view of a river and small lakes.

We could see the Titiwangsa mountain range topped by cotton-like clouds up ahead.

We stopped for a breather and photo opportunity.

Later on, Ducati Malaysia support crew waved us into a parking area, where they handed us much welcomed cold towels and drinks.

Lunch at YES Orchard
We were well ahead of time for lunch, so the orchard provided a basket of Raub durians to calm us down.

These durians were huge and the fruits inside were just as large once we split them open.

They were the best durians we’ve ever tasted with flesh as thick as cream cheese and sweet!

Meanwhile, the DRE instructors sat down with us to impart some riding tips.
We were briefed on countersteering, vision, line selection and other skills and soon after, lunch was served.

This writer was never a fan of tempoyak ikan patin, but this was superb, and complemented by juicily fresh vegetables.

Sg Koyan-CameronsThis leg was definitely the highlight of the entire ride.

The Sungai Koyan-Cameron Highlands road is for riders who are embarrassed about having chicken strips on their tyres. It consists of long corners with tight entries, and a number of decreasing radius turns to up the thrill quotient.

The surface is grippy, but many corner apexes have sunk since the dam project.

This writer and his wife were thrown off the seat the last time we came up here on a motorcycle.

This was going to be a real test for the MTS 950.

As before, the pace was controlled expertly from the front.

We rolled off the throttle early, continued on the outside the corners a little longer to establish the safest lines, before peeling in late and coming on the throttle a little earlier to balance the bike.

There was no full throttle blast, eyeball-popping brakings, bike squirming nor tyre-squealing corner entries.

It was all smooth, smooth, smooth riding.

The speeds were not exactly slow yet there was still time to admire the view. That is how The Pace rewards a rider.

The MTS 950 was fully at home here. A small force at the handlebar was enough to have the bike leaning over.

Once on its side, a crack of the throttle settled the chassis and the bike stuck beautifully onto the chosen line.

Tightening the cornering arc only needed a slight shift of the inside shoulder or elbow.

The dips on the road were noticeable, of course, but the suspension didn’t threaten to send us into orbit on the rebound, while the engine’s torque punched us out of corners smoothly and predictably.

A bike like this makes cornering fun and the rider feeling like a hero.

RingletIt’s true how time flies when you’re having fun. We covered the 80km before we knew it.

The white-canopied nurseries on the hillsides welcomed us as we approached Ringlet.

They look like groups of giant UFOs when the lighting is right.

We rode into the Shell petrol station at Ringlet to top up our tanks.

This was the only refuelling stop since we left Ducati Malaysia in the morning.

We had covered 294.5km with a balance of 30km of fuel. That’s impressive considering our elevated pace.

ConclusionThrough it all, the answer was crystal clear - the Multistrada 950, which starts from RM88,900, was a wonderful motorcycle to ride.

It did everything that was asked of it and delivered in spades.

There were minor dislikes, but they never impeded the fun.

It proved that fun can be had without needing to spend huge amounts of money.

By KESHY DHILLON
carsifu@thestar.com.my


1,900 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire to be recalled over faulty electric parking brake

                SHAH ALAM: Another recall in the car industry, and this time it's for the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire.

Distributor UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd said the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the electric parking brake system has to be updated on some units of both models. The fix takes one hour.

The company said around 1,900 units of the two models produced from April 2016 to Feb 2018 have to be recalled for a safety inspection.

UMW Toyota Motor said it will inform affected vehicle owners to update the ECU programming, which is free.


Driver rams car into petrol station’s convenience store

                PETALING JAYA: A 61-year-old woman escaped unhurt when the vehicle she was travelling in rammed into the convenience store of a petrol station in Jalan PJU 1A/20 Tuesday morning.

The driver had just refuelled her Proton Wira at about 9.30am when she crashed her car into the mart.

Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Azmi Abu Kassim said investigations revealed that the woman had intended to reverse her car.

“But she accidentally put the car in drive,” ACP Azmi said.

He added that no one was injured in the incident.

The incident was similar to another on Jan 18 where a 70-year-old man sent his car hurtling into a bank.

The retiree had also thought his Perodua Kelisa was in reverse gear when he caused the crash at CIMB bank in Damansara Uptown here.


Peugeot Roadshow at 1Utama Shopping Centre from May 17-25.

e-2008.
PETALING JAYA: Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd will be showcasing a range of  Peugeot models and a special preview of the e-2008 electric vehicle at the Peugeot Roadshow.

The event will be held from May 17– 25 at the LUXE Concourse of the 1Utama Shopping Centre from 10am–10pm.

An array of Peugeot models will be showcased at the roadshow, including the newly introduced Landtrek pick-up truck, 2008 and 2008 SE compact crossovers, and 3008 sports utility vehicle.

 2008 SE.The 2008 SE
Based on the 2008 model, the SE variant comes fitted with extra items to deliver a more exciting outlook.

Among the items are unique graphic decals, the Special Edition Accessories and Piano Black finished 17-inch alloy wheels to highlight the overall sportiness of the vehicle.

 e-2008.The e-2008
The Peugeot e-2008 battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), comes with an exclusive and distinctive styling design, including body-coloured chequered front grille, signature lights and a horizontal bonnet topped with a Black roof, highlighting its sporty and tenacious
personality.

The crossover SUV is equipped with a 50kW battery and 100kW powertrain configuration with an output of 136hp motor that provides an estimated range of up to 320km from a full charge.

The charging of e-2008 is made easy as the vehicle can support 100kW rapid charging from any dedicated DC charging station, achieving 80% charge in 30 minutes.

 Landtrek.The Landtrek
The newly introduced Peugeot Landtrek features attractive and alluring styling designed to handle city roads and challenging terrains while complementing outdoor leisure activities.

The mid-size model is a new game changer in the pick-up truck market, with state-of-the-art onboard technology, advanced adaptability and SUV-liked driving pleasure.

Built with all the essential elements of the pickup segments, the Landtrek is reliable, easy to maintain and versatile with real off-road capabilities as well as towing and loading performance.

Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd (Formerly known as Berjaya Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd), is the sole distributor of Peugeot vehicles and non-exclusive Peugeot service and spare parts provider in Malaysia.

Mega Galeri Sdn Bhd is the sole and exclusive importer of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia.

Peugeot models available locally are the 2008, 3008, 5008 and Landtrek.


Citroën meets Asterix: Citroën creates 2CV concept chariot for new Asterix & Obelix movie

                PARIS: Citroën has reinterpreted its iconic 2CV as a chariot that features in the new Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom movie, as part of a partnership between the French carmaker and Pathé, Trésor Films and the Albert René Editors, creators of the new movie.

Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom will stream exclusively on Netflix in spring 2023.

The 2CV chariot can be seen at various points in the movie and marks a first for Citroën. Its design team sketched and built the model in less than three months, compared to the usual 12 months it takes to create a concept vehicle.

For the chariot, Citroën focused on its core values of comfort, technology and bold design, adding a special touch to the movie.

The result is a concept chariot featuring suspension made of a boar's stomach, and a sunroof and headlights that are operated by fireflies boosted with a magic potion.

Another detail is the wheels, made of recycled shields, incorporating Citroën’s iconic chevrons.

The chariot features in different parts of the movie, including when Caesar’s army reaches China, where there is an advertising billboard at the entrance to the country promoting the best car at the time: the 2CV, an incredible chariot made in Gaul, pulled by two horses.

This is a subtle allusion to the famous Citroën advertising film made on the Great Wall of China. The wings of the helmet worn by Asterix also feature the new Citroën logo.

As part of the partnership, Citroën also provided the film crew with an entirely electric fleet of vehicles for use during filming.

The fleet was made up of 10 vehicles: three ë-C4 models, three new C5 Aircross PHEV’s, two ë-SpaceTourers, an ë-Jumpy (ë-Dispatch) and an Ami.

Citroën also arranged charging for the vehicles on the film sets at Bry-sur-Marne and Bretigny-Sur-Orge.


Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce gets a showing

                SINGAPORE: The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce (SV) made its debut in Singapore – merely two months after the Geneva Motor Show, with 750hp on-tap and 690Nm, it’s 50kg lighter and takes 2.8sec to reach 100kph from standstill.

This particular “bull” is the third and most powerful Aventador, which has been deemed worthy to wear the SV logo over the standard Aventador and Roadster.

With a wheelbase of 2,700mm, it stands measuring 4835mm-long, 2030mm-wide (without mirrors) and just 1,136mm-tall.

The SV packs the same L539 engine found in the standard Aventador, but the mid-mounted naturally aspirated 6.5-litre 60-degree V12 behind the cockpit for two has been “beefed up”.

A 90-litre tank supplies fuel for the engine to produce 750hp at 8,400rpm (50hp-more) and 690Nm of torque at 5,500rpm (1Nm-more) before reaching a maximum engine speed of 8,500rpm.

The engine is mated to a single-clutch seven-speed independent shifting rod (ISR) semi-automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via a fourth-generation electronically controlled Haldex coupling system that distributes torque between the front and rear wheels.

The 1,525kg (dry weight) supercar is able to reach a top speed of more than 350kph and reaches 100kph from standstill in just 2.8sec (Aventador in 2.9sec and the Roadster in 3.0sec).

The aerodynamics of the supercar has been extensively revised to achieve an additional 170% more downforce, while efficiency has been improved by 150%, thanks to two additional two front wings, a new adjustable rear wing and larger rear diffusers – all made of carbon fibre.

More carbon fibre parts include the rear engine bonnet, fixed side air-intakes (adjustable in the standard Aventador) as well as the interior door panels, rockers and a pair of sports bucket seats - even the carpets and noise insulation were not spared to reach a 50kg weight reduction.

Additionally, more weight was saved by its new exhaust system – not only is the naked four-pipe exhaust lighter but also provides for better engine response by lowering back-pressure.

The SV’s lightweight wheels have been up-sized by an inch for both front and rear to 20 and 21-inch respectively, while wearing Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres that measure 255/30 at the front and significantly wider 355/25 series tyres for the rear.

With a weight-distribution of 43% (front) and 57% (rear), Lamborghini still maintains use of the adaptive Magneto-Rheological push-rod suspension system to enhance the SV’s handling performance as well as the standard Aventador’s brakes.

The front end’s air intakes have been enlarged to supply more airflow to cool the six-pot (front) and four-pot (rear) callipers that bite down on the 400mm (front) and 380mm (rear) carbon-ceramic discs – requiring 30m to stop from 100kph.

Depending on the driver’s preference, the SV possesses three drive settings of Strada (road), Sport or Corsa (track), which changes the engine, transmission, differential, dampers and steering characteristics of the supercar.

The SV is further equipped with six airbags and an electronic stability programme (ESP), which works with the antilock braking system (ABS) that varies in intensity depending on the drive mode selected.

The driver now peers down at a new instrument cluster with a TFT screen that’s predominantly in yellow and now gets a light blue shift-indicator and a g-force indicator in the lower part of the cluster – similar to racing cars.

The Singapore launch saw the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce come draped in a specially developed Rosso Bia (red) for the exterior, while the interior was clad in black Alcantara.

Five more colours will be made available in the near future in addition to the virtually unlimited options under the Lamborghini Ad Personam personalisation programme.

With a limited run of 600 units worldwide for the SV, Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur says that five are headed for Malaysia, of which four have been booked, and should arrive sometime in October with an estimated price of RM3.5mil (including duties).

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster


Daimler kills off X-class just three years after launch

                STUTTGART: German automaker Daimler is to end production of its X-class Mercedes Benz pick-up truck in May, a company spokesman said on Tuesday.

The X-class model — launched in 2017 — is currently manufactured in Barcelona in cooperation with Renault Nissan, whose Navara pick-up truck is also produced at the factory in the Spanish city.

Production at a second planned Daimler site in Argentina had not yet begun. This was said to be down to the price expectations of Latin American customers, which were not economically viable.

Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz's van division, had already admitted last year that the X-class, intended as a niche product for certain markets, was not performing as expected.

Around 15,300 units were sold over the course of 2019, a year which brought heavy losses for the Van division of Daimler's luxury car brand.


Ford seen laying off 1,300 workers in China, local media reports

                HONG KONG: Ford Motor Co. plans to cut jobs in China, potentially by more than 1,300, as its sales decline in the world’s biggest car market, local media including Economic Daily News reported.

Ford’s wholesales in China fell below half a million units for the first time in a decade in 2022, continuing a slide since 2016, when the US automaker shipped 1.27 million vehicles and had a market share of 4.6%.

That share dropped to 2.1% last year, as Chinese consumers increasingly embrace electric vehicles made by the likes of Tesla Inc. and local players such as BYD Co.

“Our costs are not competitive, and we are working internally and with our partners to reduce costs in all areas,” a Ford spokesman wrote in an email response to Bloomberg News.

“We can only win through a lean and agile organisation. These actions are necessary for us to build a healthier and more sustainable business in China.”

She didn’t specify how many jobs would be cut or provide a time frame.

Ford said earlier this year it would eliminate 3,800 jobs across Europe due to rising costs amid the transition to EVs.

The company, which has about 173,000 employees globally, has said it will invest US$50 billion in EV production by 2026.

“China remains a very important market and Ford is committed to developing our business here,” the spokesman said.

“We will continue to accelerate our electrification transformation in China. Our new localised EV products are under development now. We are also working with our partners to strengthen our EV business, including expanding the distribution.”


Korean EV battery prices may jump 40% in coming years, says SNE

                SEOUL: South Korean battery makers could raise prices by 30% to 40% to offset high commodity costs and they are in talks with electric-vehicle makers over new long-term contracts, according to market research firm SNE Research.

"We had a meeting with Korean cell makers recently that led us to adjust the outlook for prices of electric-car batteries,” SNE’s executive vice president James Oh said at a seminar today.

"They say battery prices are highly likely to rise by 2024 or 2025.”

While the companies didn’t disclose how much they might increase prices by, those using lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese could lift prices of battery packs as much as 40% by 2025, Oh told Bloomberg News on the sidelines of the event.

Last year, the average lithium-ion battery pack for an EV was between $147 and $153 per kilowatt hour, according to SNE Research. Batteries account for about 30% to 40% of the price of an EV.

Rising lithium prices are also affecting solid-state-batteries that use sulfide electrolytes, LG Energy Solution Vice President Jay Kim said at today’s seminar here.

"Sulfide-electrolyte-based solid-state batteries are extremely expensive compared to other types of solid-state batteries and need a lot of lithium,” Kim said.

"Prices of sulfide electrolyte could double from last year’s level.”

With labs in South Korea and the U.S., LG is working on commercialising sulfide-electrolyte-based solid-state cells by 2030, Kim said.

Global automakers are pushing Korean battery partners to change to prismatic-shape cells from pouch-type ones being produced now, as they believe they are safer, Oh said.

Volkswagen AG is among them, and its partner SK On Co. is likely to announce a prismatic plan soon, he said.

Samsung SDI Co. is the only South Korean battery maker with the technology for manufacturing the cells.

"You need to be a bit careful with handling pouch-type cells, which have a higher possibility of swelling than prismatic ones,” Samsung SDI Vice president Lee Tae Kyung said during a presentation on battery safety.


Ford's January sales looking up, thanks to Ranger

                KUALA LUMPUR: The bulk of local Ford sales in January was driven by the Ranger pickup truck, which accounted for 687 out of 792 vehicles sold.

The Ranger, as the most powerful pickup truck, boasts an unmatched blend of capability – including best-in-class payload and water-wading – and advanced technology.

The Ranger is equipped with a range of active and passive safety features that include up to six airbags and driver assistance technologies like Lane Keeping Aid and Adaptive Cruise Control. Ford’s Electronic Stability Control and ISOFIX child safety mounts also come standard, making Ranger the only pickup truck in Malaysia to offer these two important safety features across all variants.

READ ALSO:
5 highlights of Ford Ranger
Refreshed Ford Ranger driven on and offroad
The new Ranger’s safety leadership was recently recognized by the Asean New Car Assessment Program, which awarded a maximum 5-star safety rating, with the highest Adult Occupant Protection score of any pickup truck tested.

“Our momentum continues as demand for the Ranger grows across the country,” said Ford managing director for Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets David Westerman.

“Malaysian consumers continue to respond to the way the new Ranger combines class-leading toughness and capability with a level of refinement normally reserved for premium passenger cars.”

Ford expects sales to be given a boost over the next few months, as the company plans the Malaysia launch of several new vehicles, including the Mustang, Focus, Everest and S-MAX.


France installs its first 'noise cameras' to crack down on ear-splitting motorcycles

                PARIS: A noise camera targeting the loudest motorcycles will be officially inaugurated today in Saint-Lambert-des-Bois in France's Yvelines region, west of here.

The idea is to identify the owners of vehicles exceeding a certain tolerated noise threshold, particularly due to modified exhaust pipes. In the future, offenders could face a fine.

France's move to control noise pollution from vehicles forms part of France's Mobility Orientation Law (loi d'orientation des mobilités), passed in 2019.

After a first phase of tests, a full-scale experiment is being launched at the beginning of the year in Saint-Lambert-des-Bois, west of Paris, on a section of the RD46 road. At the same time, trials will take place in seven other towns and cities around the country (Bron, Nice, Paris, Rueil-Malmaison, Saint-Forget, Toulouse and Villeneuve-le-Roi).

A special device was developed to record this antisocial vehicle noise, equipped with a 360-degree camera and four microphones.

Developed by Bruitparif, this jellyfish-like noise camera named "Méduse" can, in theory, identify vehicles with excessively high noise levels, including at night, by recording their licence plate details.

These cameras will be installed first in urban areas where the speed limit is 50kph. The so-called trial period should last about two years.

For the time being, France's noise cameras are designed to act as a preventive measure and will not yet result in fines. In the long term, a maximum decibel level will have to be set.

According to Le Parisien, fines could amount to €135 (RM638).

The devices' first targets are motorcycle riders who have tampered with their bike, particularly with the exhaust pipe, which is illegal. In fact, each recent model of motorised two-wheeler has a maximum authorised noise level written on its registration card.

Note that some particularly noisy cars could also be in the sights of the authorities.

Noise cameras or sonic radars have also been tested in some locations in Canada, the UK and the US.


VW Golf GTI TCR track car celebrates 40 years of Golf GTI

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has produced the 330hp Golf GTI TCR and the 265hp Golf GTI Clubsport to celebrate 40 years of the Golf GTI.

All 40 units of the Golf GTI TCR developed by Volkswagen Motorsport have already been snapped up.

The customer racing version sports 18-inch racing rims, a chassis that is roughly 40cm wider than the production Golf, and a striking rear wing also guarantee optimal handling. An aerodynamic front splitter and carbon rear wing are among the modifications for the racetrack. Among the features that ensure maximum safety for the driver are a racing seat with head protectors, racing safety cage, and an FIA-approved safety tank.

A powerful straight four-cylinder engine, a sequential gearbox with shift paddles located on the steering wheel, a consistently developed racing chassis – the new Golf has been prepared for its outings on the racetracks of the world.

Volkswagen Motorsport developed the car in cooperation with the sport department at SEAT. This made it possible to call on the extensive experience gained with the SEAT Leon Cup Racer. As with the Volkswagen Group’s production cars, the MQB platform also offers many synergies when it comes to racing cars, thus reducing the costs involved in assembling and running the touring car. The 2-litre turbo engine with direct fuel injection is the same one used in the top sporting model, the Golf R. The racing version generates 330hp and produces 410Nm of torque.

Volkswagen is launching the most powerful GTI for the road ever: the Golf GTI Clubsport. Volkswagen presented sketches of the new car at the GTI meeting at the Wörthersee in May 2015, before unveiling a production model at the International Motor Show (IAA) in September. The 2-litre TFSI engine generates 265 hp – that is 35 hp more than the previous most powerful Golf GTI. Another feature of the turbocharged direct-injection engine is a boost function, which allows the driver to briefly increase the engine power by 10% to 290hp.

The customer racing teams can field the 20 cars, which were developed by Volkswagen Motorsport, in up to 16 national and international TCR touring car championships. The cars for the international TCR championship in Abrera/Barcelona are to be handed over to the customer racing teams from March 11. An initial roll-out with the opposition is planned for the test drives at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia from March 14.

There are 11 venues on the calendar of the TCR International Series, with the races coming to Malaysia on Sept 30-Oct 2 as a support event for the F1 Grand Prix.


Mercedes-Benz envisions the future of parking

                STUTTGART: One day,  parked cars will become a hub for innovative services where providers are able to deposit packages, food or clean laundry in the car, thereby usefully combining the parking time with a wide range of services, says Mercedes-Benz.

The future of parking is many-facetted: Parked cars will become a hub for innovative services where providers are able to deposit packages, food or clean laundry in the car, thereby usefully combining the parking time with a wide range of services.

This is the idea behind CHARK.me (Change the way you park). The project has just commenced as an alpha test with Daimler AG employees in Stuttgart, and an expansion to external customers is planned for next year.

The scheme requires a Mercedes-Benz vehicle with a Mercedes me connect capability (usually from production year 2015 onwards).

The currently available services include the delivery of food and packages to the vehicle's boot, collection of soiled laundry and delivery of clean laundry, and car washing directly in the carpark.

Driverless parking, which was already introduced in the multi-storey car park at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in 2017, means more convenience and less stress for customers and more efficient use of the available parking area.

It is expected that from December 2018, automated valet parking will become available to all in the multi-storey car park at the Mercedes-Benz Museum if the vehicle is correspondingly equipped.

Clicking on the corresponding smartphone app will start the car without further human action and manoeuvre it into a free space when its driver has already left the car park. The same happens in reverse. The app is used to order the vehicle just before the intended departure time.

Driverless parking is made possible by an intelligent multi-storey car park infrastructure from Bosch in conjunction with the vehicle technology from Mercedes-Benz. Sensors installed in the car park monitor the driving corridor and its surroundings and steer the vehicle. The technology on board the car performs safe driving manoeuvres in response to the commands from the car park infrastructure, and stops the vehicle in good time when necessary.

Another alternative to conventional parking was indicated by the smart vision EQ fortwo concept car (premiered at the 2017 International Motor Show IAA): This fully automated share taxi collects its passengers directly from the appointed location, takes them to their destination and leaves for its next mobility assignment. -Pix by Bloomberg


Start getting used to life without SST exemption after June 2022

                PETALING JAYA: The second half of 2022 (2H22) is expected to be bumpy for automotive players, with lower sales and margin compression being among the prime challenges.

RHB Research, which maintained a “neutral” view on the sector, said 2H22 is likely to be weaker after the sales and service tax (SST) exemption expires in June.

The first six months of this year appears to be favourable to carmakers as new vehicle sales or total industry volume (TIV) is projected to remain strong, driven by the SST-holiday and robust order backlogs

“We understand that some industry players are lobbying for another round of extension and s staggered end to the SST-exemption.

“However, in our view, another extension is unlikely, which may leave some marques absorbing the SST and provide promotions to buoy sales, at the expense of margins.

“Moreover, should costlier raw materials translate into higher prices of future launches, sales volume could face further downside risks. If the distributors do not pass on the higher input costs, margins may face a further downward pressure,” the research house said in a note yesterday.

RHB Research pointed out that other downside risks that may hamper the automotive sector’s recovery include persistent shortages of key components and delays in new model launches.

With a mutating Covid-19 virus, it said disruptions to operations could not be ruled out going forward.

“Other downside risks include the tightening of bank approvals for car loans and a sharp weakening of the ringgit,” it added.

For the full year, RHB Research has retained its TIV forecast of 540,000 units.

For comparison, the domestic automotive industry recorded a TIV of 508,911 units in 2021, representing a drop of 3.9% from the previous year.

In February, the automotive sector registered a TIV of 43,722 units, up by 0.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) and 7.7% month-on-month (m-o-m).

The m-o-m increase was mainly driven by Proton and Honda as most other marques saw dips.

The February TIV did not include BMW and Volkswagen. Proton’s new vehicle sales in February jumped by 109.4% m-o-m to 9,039 units. However, on a year-on-year basis, the sales volume tumbled by 22.7%.

RHB Research noted that Proton’s sales for January and February 2022 declined by 24% or 4,295 units as production fell 18% due to the floods last December.

The lower production had in turn disrupted the supply of components from vendors in Klang Valley.

Nevertheless, for the first two months of the year, national carmakers controlled slightly over 57% of the local market share with Perodua contributing 41.4% and Proton, 15.8%.

Honda’s sales were up by 56% m-o-m to 6,026 units. On a year-on-year basis, the number of vehicles sold rose by 37.3%.

“Among the non-national marques, Toyota continued to lead with a 16.6% local market share, while Honda trailed at 11.7%,” said the research house.


Green plates for green cars: Britain boosts zero-emission transport

                LONDON: Britain will introduce a distinctive number plate for electric cars later this year to promote cleaner vehicles, the transport secretary said, as the country targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The new plates, which will carry a bright green stripe down one side, will help authorities identify electric vehicles, making it easier for their drivers to access incentives such as cheaper parking and exemptions from emissions charges.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Tuesday the initiative would raise awareness of cleaner vehicles and show Britons “a greener transport future is within our grasp”.

“A green recovery is key to helping us achieve our net-zero carbon commitments while also promoting economic growth,” he said in a statement.

Additionally, the government has allocated £12 million to fund research into zero-emission technology, including developing greener vehicles and improving existing car battery charging technology.

Tuesday’s announcement follows a public consultation in October as part of the government’s £1.5 billion “Road to Zero” strategy to slash emissions from road transport.

Only zero-emission vehicles will be eligible to receive the new registration plates.

Leading automotive services company RAC Ltd said the move alone was unlikely to spur real change in consumer behaviour and called for further financial incentives to encourage drivers to make the switch.

“We’d like to see more direct financial incentives to bring the cost of EVs (electric vehicles) down, as drivers tell us it’s the cost that’s one of the biggest barriers to them opting for an EV,” RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said.

The Telegraph reported last week that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was considering giving drivers up to £6,000 to swap their diesel and petrol cars for electric vehicles.

Edmund King, president of British motoring association AA Plc, said the distinctive licence plates could instill a sense of pride among drivers, adding that more than a third of AA members backed the initiative.

“Having a green flash on the number plate may become a badge of honour for some drivers,” he said in a statement.


Didi shows driverless concept car in biggest move post-crackdown

                SHANGHAI: Didi Global Inc. rolled out an autonomous car concept and self-driving taxi services today, outlining its first big business foray since becoming a central target of Beijing’s sweeping campaign to rein in powerful tech players.

The company showcased a futuristic-looking vehicle prototype called the Didi Neuron in a sleek event here, without saying when or how it will be available.

Didi’s existing Level 4 self-driving technology, a standard just shy of complete autonomy, is at a stage where it can be “fully self-reliant and controllable,” chief technology officer Zhang Bo said.

Didi’s self-driving taxi service, known as Robotaxi, is available in some areas of Shanghai and Guangzhou on a limited basis.

The company will move beyond the trial stage with the next generation of Robotaxi, which it plans to co-develop with renewable-energy automakers and integrate into its ecosystem by 2025, executives said.

“We have already made the long-term preparations for our autonomous driving development efforts, both mentally and in terms of our resources,” Zhang, who also heads Didi’s autonomous driving business, said.

The Neuron, presented in white with various protrusions for cameras and self-driving sensors, was not shown to be operational during the event.

It was described as 4.5 metres long, with three screens in the front and two in the back, sporting eight different cameras. Meng Xing, chief operating officer of Didi’s autonomous driving unit, demonstrated a giant robotic arm that swivels out from the trunk and helps passengers load their luggage.

The announcement signals Didi is preparing to tiptoe back into the public spotlight, following the restoration of its main apps to the country’s biggest mobile stores in January.

It is the highest-profile indication that the company has begun mounting a comeback from a year-long security probe, after Beijing ordered Didi to delist in the US and erased US$60 billion from its market value.

Didi said it had also begun trials for autonomous vehicles for its logistics business, known as KargoBot, between Tianjin and Inner Mongolia. Since 2021, KargoBot has garnered more than 100 million yuan (RM64mil) in cumulative revenue.

Executives at today’s event also unveiled a high-precision lidar sensor called Beiyao and a computing platform dubbed Orca.

In a nod to the hardware and supply chain challenges facing Chinese autonomous cars, Meng said the aim was for 90% of the components of future Robotaxi vehicles to be made domestically in China.

Regulators fined the company US$1.2 billion (RM5.3bil) for violating data management rules that affected national security, and also fined its co-founders Cheng Wei and Jean Liu 1 million yuan (RM640,000) individually. Neither of the top executives were present at the event.

Didi, once feted as a national champion that forced Uber Technologies Inc. out of China, was one of the major targets of Beijing’s crackdown on its Internet industry that began in 2020.

The regulatory easing on the company was among the clearest signs that officials may be relaxing their grip over top firms from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to Tencent Holdings Ltd. to boost economic growth, which will allow Didi to eventually work towards relisting its stock in Hong Kong.


Did your rented e-scooter suddenly shut down? Blame the geofence

                LOS ANGELES: Like scores of tourists who zip through Santa Monica on e-scooters every day, 21-year-old Elliot Stephenson had no idea there was a fence around the pier until he hit it.

"I was cruising down the hill and lost power," the bewildered visitor from New Zealand said as he wheeled his just-rented Lime back toward Ocean Avenue on

Some electric scooter manufacturers are testing the limits of a technology called geofencing to remotely enforce speed, parking restrictions and even dead zones. Photo: David Young/dpa

Cities across California have followed Santa Monica's lead in limiting the type and number of micro-mobility devices that move inside their borders, and how those vehicles are deployed. Now, many are testing the limits of a technology called geofencing to remotely enforce speed, parking restrictions and even dead zones.

"Even getting the companies to acknowledge that they were capable of geofencing was initially an issue," said Cynthia Rose, director of Santa Monica Spoke, a bike and pedestrian advocacy group, and a member of the advisory committee that helped write the city's scooter rules. "(Now) it's written into their system. When the scooter approaches that area, they slow down and the motor no longer works."

Eighteen months ago, that application seemed far-fetched. Today it's so common that Lime keeps employees on hand to explain it and to relocate the dozens of scooters abandoned in frustration when they stop.

"We have dedicated people to make sure we're in compliance," said Stephen Lee, a Lime operations manager. "The rules are changing a lot."

Indeed, where fences are and what they do is constantly shifting, the product of agreements that, while often shaped by city ordinance, are designed and negotiated behind closed doors.

"These aren't on the books," said Juan Matute, deputy director of the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. "Given that what the companies are asked to do changes week to week, it can be hard for an individual to keep up with what's permitted and what each company's restrictions are."

While cities around the world have begun to experiment with geofencing, those on LA's Westside are on the cutting edge. But with so many companies operating with different rules in contiguous municipalities, the consequences are sometimes perplexing.

The city of Beverly Hills banned scooters in July 2018, but that ban feels different on a Lime than it does on a Jump or a Bird.

A Jump rider crossing Whitworth Drive at full throttle on Robertson Boulevard will find the scooter slowing to the Beverly Hills speed limit of 5 mph from the LA city limit of 15, while a Bird will stop completely at the border. A Lime can cruise through the city at 15 mph, though, like the others, it won't be able to end the trip there. Those who abandon their still-active scooters inside city limits can face fines.

"We've had a hard time understanding the geofencing agreements and how they're put in place," said Eli Kaufman, executive director of LA Bike, which has begun to advocate for scooter riders. "There's no didactic signage to let scooter riders know, there's nothing on any of the micro-mobility websites that says this."

Many companies do designate "red zones" on their service maps, but what actually happens to the scooter inside those boundaries often isn't clear until a rider reaches one, experts said.

Signs along the beach bike path in Santa Monica warn riders e-vehicles are illegal, but not that they'll stop. Other boundaries are still in flux, their rules and borders changing too fast to signpost.

"It's evolving," said Maurice Henderson, director of government partnerships at Bird. "Cities are trying to learn from each other. Some are more sophisticated about this conversation than others."

Advocates say geofencing is more efficient than law enforcement at preventing accidents, and that it's less punitive than the fines levied against those who ride on the sidewalk, an infraction that technology isn't accurate enough to prevent.

The GPS on a scooter is what data scientists call "noisy," a bit like a fuzzy radio signal. In ideal conditions, it can guess its location within about 16 feet. But that guess can jump moment to moment, adding a layer of frustration to barriers that, by design, appear suddenly out of thin air.

"The reality of consumer-level devices is that they're going to be pretty noisy, and if you're using (geofences) to control something without attempting to filter the noise, it's not going to be safe," said software engineer Morgan Herlocker of Shared Streets, a transportation data company. "We've got systems that are being built without a lot of testing and there's no real safety regulations around a lot of this stuff."

In addition to shaping geofencing rules, cities have also secured unprecedented rider trip data, a practice that troubles some digital privacy experts.

"A lot of people right now are like, I don't care because I don't like scooters, but it's going to impact everyone eventually," said Jamie Williams, a staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "What we're seeing right now is cities trying to get data first and decide what to do with it later."

Both data sharing and the current patchwork of scooter bans and regulations are the subject of state Assembly Bill 1112, which was proposed in February and will probably be taken up next year. But whether the state steps in to regulate it, geofencing's ephemeral urban architecture likely signals something more permanent about scooters in Los Angeles.

"We were thinking maybe this is just going to be a fad," said Kaufman, the bike advocate. "But I think it's pretty clear, the agreements they're making with the cities are a sign these things are here to stay." — LAT/dpa


Toxic particle linked to diesel kills 6,000 a year in Germany, says govt agency

                BERLIN: Some 6,000 early deaths linked to nitrogen oxides (NOx) are recorded each year in Germany, the Federal Environmental Agency said on Thursday, providing more evidence of the health hazards posed by the toxic particles mostly produced by diesel engines.

The figure is likely to add pressure on carmakers and the government as they scramble to slow the demise of the diesel technology in which Germany’s car industry invested billions.

The Environmental Agency also said that NOx causes one million people to fall ill each year and that levels of the toxic particle are higher in 70 cities than the limit set under air quality standards.

The car industry has relied on diesel as a stop-gap technology to boost efficiency, meet CO2 emissions goals and buy time for a shift toward electric mobility.

But sales of diesel cars have been falling since Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating on emissions tests. Subsequent studies have exposed the true levels of NOx, which is emitted more abundantly by diesel vehicles than petrol engines.

A German court ruled last month that German cities can ban the most heavily polluting diesel cars from their streets, a decision that could accelerate the demise of the combustion engine.


Proton sponsors 10 vehicles for ministry's sports event

                PUTRAJAYA: Proton has presented 10 units of various car models to the Ministry of Higher Education to support the 2022 edition of the Sukan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi.

The bi-annual sports event, organised by the ministry, will be held from Aug 12-21 at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

There will be 21 sporting events in which around 6,000 athletes and officials from institutions of higher learning throughout Malaysia will take part.

Comprising eight units of the Perdana and a single unit each of the X70 and Saga, the cars were received by Datuk Megat Sany Megat Ahmad Supian, Deputy Secretary-General for policy and Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli, Deputy Secretary for sports from Ministry of Higher Education at a sponsor handover ceremony held at the ministry yesterday.

This is the second time Proton is supporting the event; the last one was in 2012.

Proton has also contributed to the development of sports at schools in Tanjung Malim this year.

The company presented cash and equipment to SMK and SK Proton City on June 27 June, while it donated cash on July 28 to Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud
in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, to support its academic excellence programmes.


Hyundai to slash combustion engine line-up, invest in EVs, say sources

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group will slash the number of combustion engine models in its line-up to free up resources to invest in electric vehicles (EVs), say two people close to the South Korean automaker.

The move will result in a 50% reduction in models powered by fossil fuels, one of the people said, adding the strategy was approved by top management in March.

"It is an important business move, which first and foremost allows the release of R&D resources to focus on the rest: electric motors, batteries, fuel cells," the person said, without giving a timeframe for the plan.

While Hyundai did not specifically address a Reuters query on its plans for combustion engine models, it said in an email today that it was accelerating adoption of eco-friendly vehicles such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and battery EVs.

The automaker added that it aims to gradually expand battery EV offerings in key markets such as the United States, Europe and China with a goal for full electrification by 2040.

Hyundai Motor Group, which houses Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Corp and Genesis, aims to sell about one million EVs per year by 2025 to achieve a 10% share of the global EV market.

Facing tightening CO2 emission targets in Europe and China, all major automakers are accelerating their shift to EVs.

The huge cost of developing electric motors and increasing the driving range of car batteries has already led some to say their days of investing in conventional engines are over.

"Hyundai has stopped developing new powertrains for internal combustion engine cars," one of the people said.

PSA Group said in November, shortly before merging with Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis, that it was no longer investing in combustion engines.

Daimler has recently revamped its combustion engines and executives say the new generation will see it through the electrification process.

Some car makers have already announced plans to go fully electric, with Sweden's Volvo, which is owned by China's Geely, saying it would do that by 2030.

Ford Motor Co says its line-up in Europe will be fully electric by the same date.

For Hyundai, which together with Kia is one of the world's top 10 auto groups, the move is particularly important because it has one of the broadest ranges of engine and transmission technologies in the industry.

The group will finalise its strategy to switch to all electric models within the next six months, one source said.

In April, Hyundai said it would cut the number of its gasoline models in China to 14 from 21 by 2025, while launching new electric models every year starting in 2022. read more

In February, the group said it was no longer in talks with Apple to develop an autonomous vehicle.

Sources familiar with the matter said the idea of the group becoming a contract manufacturer for Apple encountered strong internal opposition.


Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Centenario Edition arrives at RM72,900

                PETALING JAYA: Didi Resources, official distributor of the Moto Guzzi brand in Malaysia, recently introduced the new Moto Guzzi V7 Stone Centenario Edition in celebration of the 100 years of Moto Guzzi.

Priced at priced RM72,900 (not including road tax, insurance and registration), the new bike comes with a 850cc engine that offers 25% more performance.

Output is now higher at 65hp at 6,800rpm from 52hp previously while maximum torque is also up to 75Nm at 5,000rpm from 60Nm at 4,250Nm.

Didi Resources general manager Juan Chow Wee astride the Centenario Edition with the company's head of Piaggio brand Tan Soon Wei.

Compared with the previous model, the new bike comes with large exhaust pipes, wider rear wheel and a more robust pair of Kayaba shock absorbers.

The V7 Stone Centenario Edition is fitted with two-tier saddle ensuring greater comfort and new, full LED light system with the headlight that features a daytime running light in the shape of the Moto Guzzi Eagle.

The new instrument cluster is also perfectly in-line with the look of a minimalist motorcycle, entirely digital on a single circular dial.


Ford re-evaluates office space in coronavirus world

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co is re-evaluating how much office space it needs for white-collar workers as restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic are eased and employees return to workplaces.

In March, Ford, General Motors Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) told salaried employees to work from home to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Ford brought back 12,000 salaried employees last month, and others have been told they can work from home until September, spokeswoman Marisa Bradley said.

Given potential workplace changes caused by the outbreak, a facility consolidation the No. 2 US automaker had already launched could accelerate.

“If we know we are going to have a smaller population that’s going to come back to work, we could look at maybe shrinking our footprint,” Bradley said.

US companies are wrestling with who can work from home and how much office space is necessary.

Ford chief operating officer Jim Farley said recently many salaried employees can work from home, and the Dearborn, Michigan-based company could eliminate offices. The shutdown is “really an opportunity to redesign how we do work,” he said.

FCA has one of the largest offices spaces in the country with its US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

A small number of employees who work in testing facilities have returned to work there, and more salaried workers will return slowly over the coming months, a spokesman said.

A GM spokesman said the No. 1 US automaker is not looking at consolidating office space, but is bringing salaried workers back in phases, focusing first on those “who need to be in the office to do their job.”

Hourly workers in the automakers’ US plants largely returned to work May 18 after a two-month lockdown, using greater safety measures such as screening workers for fevers and providing face masks.


BMW recalls 12,000 diesel cars over emissions

                MUNICH: BMW has recalled thousands of diesel cars for a software update, after reports it had admitted to authorities they released more harmful emissions on the road than in the lab.

BMW "noticed during internal testing that correctly programmed software was wrongly used in a few models that were not compatible," the group said in a statement.

The Munich-based company "immediately informed the relevant authorities... (and) therefore plans to recall 11,700 vehicles worldwide," it added.

"Niche motor variants of an already discontinued generation of the 5-series and 7-series built between 2012 and 2017" were affected, BMW said.

Der Spiegel magazine reported earlier Friday that BMW had admitted to the KBA vehicle licensing authority that some of its cars included software that could mislead regulatory tests for levels of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Suspicion fell on the entire German car industry after Volkswagen - parent company of BMW competitor Audi - admitted in September 2011 that it deliberately built such "defeat device" software into 11 million cars worldwide.

But BMW has so far been able to trumpet clean diesel credentials.

After the KBA recently found no issues with a 3-series car that environmental activists had suggested might include a defeat device, development chief Klaus Froehlich stated baldly that "vehicles from the BMW group were not manipulated. Our diesel engines are clean."

On Friday, a spokesman for the company told Spiegel that "we do not consider the software to be a 'defeat device'."

The offending software had been "mistakenly" loaded into cars with a different system for removing harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the exhaust than originally intended, the group said in its later statement.

"Corrected software will be made available for these vehicles after approval by the relevant authorities," BMW said.


Peugeot's concept car changes cabin kit according to 4 modes

                PARIS: Peugeot will reveal an autonomous, all-electric and fully-connected concept car with a 600km range at the Oct 4-15 Paris Motor Show.

The styling and technology of the e-LEGEND CONCEPT will offer a glimpse into the future whilst retaining PEUGEOT style and heritage DNA.

The car features four driving modes – two autonomous and two manual. The modes can be selected depending on the road and traffic conditions, as well as the driver’s preference.

The car is powered by a 100% electric powertrain, with the 100 kWh batteries reaching 800Nm torque and 340Kw/456hp power, distributed to the four-wheel drive. This level of performance makes it possible to travel 0-100 kph in less than 4s and reach a maximum speed of 220kph.

The range is 600km according to the WLTP protocol, of which 500km are accessible in 25 minutes thanks to a fast induction charging.

The four modes of driving are quite interesting.

Two autonomous modes:
> SOFT – focuses on the comfort of the vehicle’s occupants, with projection on digital material screens and information displays reduced to a minimum
> SHARP – features maximum connectivity for digital activities, such as engaging on social networks, arranging electronic calendars etc.

Two manual modes:
> LEGEND – cruising mode with dashboard reflective of the iconic 504 Coupé’s three dials and a digitally-created wood effect display on various screens
> BOOST – more dynamic and stimulating driving thanks to a powerful electric engine and 180-degree immersion for the driver, with projection of the road on a single, large screen

When the e-LEGEND CONCEPT is in either of the autonomous modes, the interior configuration changes, with the steering wheel retracting under the sound bar in order to make the 49-inch central screen fully visible. The front seats recline for extra comfort and the side armrests deploy automatically, freeing up a large storage area and an induction charging area for smartphones and other devices.

The fully autonomous capabilities of the vehicle are designed to give drivers more time to themselves, with Peugeot’s i- Cockpit offering a comfortable and intuitively usable environment.

Peugeot has recently teamed up with AI technology company, Soundhound Inc., to offer a voice-activated personal assistant suitable for autonomous driving. Using this, the driver can change the driving style of the car, listen to music or even open and close the electrified doors.

Using the digitised voice of Peugeot style director, Gilles Vidal, the system works in 17 languages – a version of this will be available in Peugeot production vehicles within two years.

Meanwhile, Peugeot ’s existing audio partner, Focal, offers acoustic architecture to ensure optimal sound diffusion. This allows, for example, the driver to input navigation voice commands while the other occupants of the car listen to music, or places each individual occupant in their own "sound bubble", meaning they can each listen to different things without affecting the others.


Toyota moves mountains to improve mobility for the elderly

                TOKYO: Toyota is examining how to ensure older people -- even in the most remote regions -- can remain mobile and healthy with a new three-year project in Japan's Aichi Prefecture.

The Asuke Mobility Project is a 360-million-yen ($3.2 million) undertaking in partnership with Nagoya University that will do more than simply provide the city's elderly population with access to electric vehicles or ride-sharing schemes.

The idea is to build a mobile society that ensures older residents can retain their role in the community be it through regular activity, access to regular health check-ups or through organized excursions and to understand the role transportation will play.

All strands of the project will be linked together via a tablet-based reservation system so that a person can book an electric car to go to the doctor, for example, or share a ride with other community members heading on the same excursion.

Japan's population is one of the world's healthiest and as a result longest living. But as its population ages the issues surrounding mobility and maintaining independence grows.

In the more mountainous regions where individual mobility -- i.e., access to a car -- is of even greater necessity, these problems are amplified. As the younger generation move away for work the older generations left behind can find it difficult to get about with no direct family to help them.

The new Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) project, announced on Tuesday, is the fourth of its kind and, with the ongoing assistance of Nagoya University's Institute of Innovation for Future Society, one the company hopes will continue to develop and grow once the initial three-year funding comes to an end.

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda said, "We hope TMF's support of these local efforts will revitalize the community by helping the residents in semi-mountainous areas all over Japan, including Asuke, to experience the freedom of mobility."


Mercedes-Benz gears up powertrain network for EVs from 2024

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz laid out today an over 1 billion-euro plan to adapt its global production network for electric powertrain systems - including battery assembly, electric drive units, and axles - from 2024.

Plants in Kamenz and Untertuerkheim in Germany as well as Beijing, which already assemble batteries for electric and hybrid models, will assemble batteries for models on the upcoming MMA and MB.EA platforms, with another battery assembly site in Koelleda pending support from regional government.

Untertuerkheim, Beijing and Sebes in Romania will build electric drive units for cars on the new platforms, with Hamburg and Untertuerkheim to remain the lead plants for assembling electric axles and components.

"There is no site that is not included," production chief Joerg Burzer said on a press call.

Management and employee representatives reached an agreement in June on shifting European car plants towards EVs, making Sindelfingen the home for high-end vehicles on the AMG.EA platform, Bremen and Kecskemet in Hungary for core luxury models and Rastatt and Kecskemet for entry-level vehicles.

The carmaker has set up its car plants to produce both combustion engine and electric cars on single production lines, but assembling batteries and motors on the same line is more complex, Burzer said.

Still, many of the component-making plants will carry on making parts for combustion engine cars for as long as there is demand, as the premium carmaker works towards all-electric sales by 2030 "where market conditions allow".


Volkswagen considering entry to more sustainable F1, says BBC

                LONDON: Porsche and the Volkswagen Group would consider entering Formula One if the next engine regulations due to be introduced in 2025 promote sustainable fuels, the BBC reported.

The broadcaster quoted Porsche Motorsport vice-president Fritz Enzinger as saying it would be “of great interest if aspects of sustainability - for instance, the implementation of e-fuels” played a role.

“Should these aspects be confirmed, we will evaluate them in detail within the VW Group and discuss further steps,” he said.

“Porsche and Volkswagen AG are observing the constantly changing regulations in all relevant racing series around the world.

“This is also the case with regard to the emerging new engine and drivetrain regulation for Formula One from 2025.”

Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, last year delivered the first barrels of 100% sustainable fuel made from bio-waste to engine manufacturers for testing and validation.

It said the aim was a mandatory requirement of 100% sustainable fuels in F1, which has target of being a net zero carbon sport by 2030.

“Our top sustainability priority now is building a roadmap for the hybrid engine that reduces emissions and has a real world benefit for road cars,” managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn said in December.

“We believe we have the opportunity to do that with a next generation engine that combines hybrid technology with sustainable fuels.”

Formula One’s new chief executive Stefano Domenicali, a former head of Volkswagen-owned Lamborghini, said in January that the sport was in discussions with manufacturers not currently involved.

“For the moment, they prefer to stay still quiet, but the good news is that there are other…companies, very important companies, that are really keen to understand what is the value that they can bring home using the F1 platform,” he said.


Traffic in Penang under control at lunchtime on CNY Eve

                GEORGE TOWN: Traffic flow at several major roads here is reported to be under control on Chinese New Year Eve.

State Traffic and Public Order Department chief Supt Zafri Zolkapli said the state police contingent was prepared for an increase in vehicles during the festive period.

"People will take the opportunity to spend the Chinese New Year holiday to visit the state, so we expect more vehicles during the celebrations," he said when contacted today.

Supt Zafri advised motorists to comply with traffic rules to prevent traffic congestion in the city.

A check by The Star at major roads around lunchtime, especially Penang Road, Transfer Road, Esplanade and the road to Batu Feringghi, found a steady stream of vehicles especially at popular eateries and haunts.

Traffic, however, appeared to be flowing smoothly with police and Penang Island City Council personnel seen monitoring the situation.

On Friday (Jan 28), Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said they expected about 50,000 cars on the road especially at hotspots during the Chinese New Year period.


July fuel prices up 5 sen across the board

                PETALING JAYA: There will be a 5 sen increase in fuel prices across the board for the month of July.

This means RON95 petrol will be priced at RM1.75 per litre (from RM1.70 previously) while RON97 will retail at RM2.10 (from RM2.05)

Diesel will be priced at RM1.60 per litre (from RM1.55).

Petron Petrol Dealers Association president Datuk Alang Zari Ishak confirmed the 5 sen increase when contacted. This marks the first increase in pump prices since April.

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


Renault completes self-driving research project Tornado

PARIS: Groupe Renault has completed a ground-breaking three-year research project called Tornado in France exploring and understanding the technology required and conditions needed for autonomous vehicles to work away from built-up urban areas.

The trial was made up of two key experiments, including one completed using a specially developed autonomous Renault ZOE.

The first was an on-demand and shared car service using an autonomous Renault ZOE to provide a direct link between Gazeran train station and Bel Air – La Foret business park in Rambouillet (southwest of Paris).

The second was a separate shuttle service calling at predefined stops within the Bel Air business park itself. Both experiments aimed to deliver a reliable, connected autonomous mobility service.

Starting in September 2017 in a region to the southwest of Paris, the Tornado project, led by Groupe Renault and Rambouillet Territoires, collaborated with 10 industrial and academic partners to test the requirements for autonomous mobility services to work in less populated and less dense suburban and rural areas.

With large portions of the UK and Europe made up of suburban and rural areas, the findings from this advanced project could be used to help inform how autonomous mobility might work beyond bustling cities in these types of areas that present unique challenges to autonomous vehicles.


NSX GT3 Evo to compete globally in 2019

                LOS ANGELES: Acura Motorsports announced that an enhanced Acura NSX GT3, designated the NSX GT3 Evo, will compete on racetracks throughout the world in 2019.

Based on the race-winning Acura NSX production model, the latest evolution of the multiple race-winning NSX GT3 features a number of important revisions aimed at delivering improved performance and reliability to customer racing teams around the globe.

Revised bodywork, including a new front splitter, diffuser and rear bumper, will reduce drag to create higher top speeds, improve cooling and enhance both balance and driveability for an even wider range of amateur and professional drivers.

New turbochargers will improve throttle response, boost control, and fuel economy and will be retrofitted to all existing NSX GT3s in addition to the new NSX GT3 Evo.

Newly built cars will also feature improved hardware and calibrations for the anti-lock braking system (ABS), and an upgraded Bosch display and data-logging unit to increase efficiency and enhance the driver experience. These improvements will also be available as Variant Supply (VF) to retrofit to existing NSX GT3s.

The effects of these updates, the result of constant analysis of information generated from within the global NSX GT3 Customer Racing Program over the last two years of testing and

racing, will be improved performance and reduced running costs, the result of a 25 percent increase in engine life and greater component durability.

The latest evolution of the Acura NSX GT3 retains the nucleus of what makes the NSX one of the most sought-after supercars for the road.

The 3.5-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engines are built alongside their production-vehicle counterparts at the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio, USA, and use the same design specification, including the block, heads, valve train, crankshafts, pistons and dry-sump lubrication system.

Several racing modifications to the car, including a six-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox, state-of-the-art chassis and aerodynamic package, and the very latest in FIA-standard safety systems, complete the ultimate mid-engined GT3 racer.

As with the current NSX GT3 racer, chassis originate at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio, USA. Final assembly is completed by JAS Motorsport in Milan, Italy. As part of the NSX GT3 Customer Racing Program, Mugen and Honda Performance Development (HPD) are responsible for technical and sales support in Japan and North America, respectively, while JAS Motorsport has responsibility for vehicle support in the rest of the world.

The NSX GT3 made its debut in late 2016 and has tackled some of the world's iconic GT races, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and Spa; the 12 Hours of Sebring; Petit Le Mans and the FIA GT World Cup in Macau.

The car is a multiple race winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GTD division and is one of the main contenders for the Drivers', Teams' and Manufacturers' titles this year.

It is also a winner in the Pirelli World Challenge and a podium finisher in the Blancpain GT Series Asia. Examples have contested ADAC GT Masters in Germany, Super GT in Japan and selected events in the Intercontinental GT Challenge.


Chinese car boasts fish tank in back seat

 GAC Group's concept autonomous electric car Witstar with a fish tank in the rear.

DETROIT: Combine a fish tank and a driverless car and what do you get? The WitStar, an autonomous electric vehicle from China’s GAC.

The concept car, on display at the Detroit auto show, also boasts a wooden floor and swish front seats that swivel around so the family can enjoy the sight of the fish all together -- all while in transit.
“In southern China, water means fortune and wealth,” Tang Xiaojian, studio engineer for the ambitious Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group, told AFP.

“So many people will have a fish tank in their home.

“So in this concept, the interior will feel like your living room at home.”

GAC had another concept car with the whole dashboard an elongated fish tank, he said.
But asked the likelihood of the fish tank staying when the WitStar is one day produced, Tang said: “The final product -- maybe not because you need to keep the water in the tank clean.”

And when will the driverless WitStar make it to market? “Every company is developing autonomous cars, but probably it will take a long time.”


ADVERTORIAL: Perodua Bezza making a big difference

                Easily the best selling car in the second half of the year, the Perodua Bezza continues to attract interest and new buyers at unprecedented levels.

Since its launch on July 21, more than 20,000 units of the Bezza “A segment” compact sedan have found new owners.

The car has set the highest ever delivery record within 90 days for a new model.

The Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) certified Bezza is the first Perodua vehicle whose upper body was fully designed by Malaysians.

Development began in 2014 with the support of Perodua’s partner, Daihatsu of Japan.

The sedan name takes inspiration from the Malay word “beza” which means different.

“And that is exactly what Perodua’s first energy efficient sedan is – distinctly different,” said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

The double ‘Z’ in the name, which somewhat resembles the number ‘22’, also subtly alludes to the fact that Perodua has been in the market for 22 years

With the “Beyond Compact” tagline, the Bezza goes beyond drivers’ expectations of what a Malaysian sedan offers – advanced technology, amazing usability and affordability built upon Perodua’s trademark of quality, reliability, value and care.

The Perodua energy efficient sedan is a first of its kind for the compact car company as the car comes in a new 1.0-litre 1KR-VE engine with VVT-i and a 1.3-litre 1NR-VE engine with Dual VVT-i.

The manual transmission is a five-speed type while the electronic automatic transmission (E-AT) is a four-speed type.

Offered in five variants – the 1.0L manual and automatic transmission, the 1.3L “Premium X” manual and automatic transmission, and the 1.3L Advance automatic transmission.

The Bezza with a 1.0-litre engine with manual transmission is capable of travelling up to 22.8km on a litre of fuel, while the same variant with an automatic transmission can go up to 21.3km per litre.

This feature is part of the model’s fuel saving technology adapted to Malaysian weather – another first for Perodua and a first for a national carmaker.

Meanwhile, the eco driving 1.3-litre Bezza with manual transmission can travel up to 21.7km on a litre of fuel while the 1.3-litre automatic transmission version can travel up 22km per litre.

With ‘Eco Idle’ system, available in the Advance variant, promises a driving range of up to 792km on a full tank.

The ‘Eco Idle’ system will automatically shutdown the engine when the car is idle and restarts upon release of the brake, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

This fuel-saving feature can be deactivated with a button on the dashboard.

In addition, Bezza variants also come equipped with anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution and speed-sensing wipers.

The car is developed based on feedback from rural and urban consumers nationwide.

“The result is that potential buyers were looking for a sedan which has global features but at the consumers’ price,” Aminar said.

Its boot size of 508 litres is the most spacious in its class.

Together with foldable rear seats configuration of 60:40, the Bezza has the flexibility to address a variety of seating and cargo carrying duties.

Among the features are shark fin antenna, remote boot release, one-touch power window with jam protection, front corner sensors, reverse camera and sensors.

Aside from the a low drag design, the 1.3-litre variants of the Bezza come with push start/stop button and smart entry with smart key, a first for Perodua.

The top-of-the-line Bezza 1.3L Advance variant gets equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) that reduces skidding and hence allows the driver to maintain stability and safer driving.

This variant also comes with Traction Control (TRC) and Brake Assist (BA) which allows the driver to maintain traction on slippery roads.

It also has the Hill Start Assist (HSA) that prevents the car from rolling back on slopes when the brakes is released, giving the driver time to switch to the accelerator pedal.

The Bezza 1.3L Advance variant gets more goodies such as a multimedia-mobile link device where users can access social media and entertainment features of their Android gadget when the vehicle is stationary.

Users can also interface navigation applications such as Waze and Google Maps through this “Smart Link” feature.

On top of these features, back passengers can also charge their devices at a USB port located at the rear centre console.

These smart and convenient features, when put into a compact and fuel efficient package, won the Bezza the Best Family Ride of the Year (<RM100K) category in CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2016.

Available colours are Sugar Brown and Ocean Blue for 1.3L variants, which are new metallic colours for Perodua, as well as existing colours of Lava Red, Ebony Black, Glittering Silver and Solid Ivory White. Perodua uses eco-friendly water based paint which also provides a better finish.

Bezza can also be enhanced with sporty GearUp front and rear bumper kit, rear spoiler and side skirtings.

Other available GearUp accessories are seat covers with Diamond design, door trim with white double-stitching, side door protectors, door visors, chrome door handles, chrome scuff plates, luggage tray and hood/door insulators.


Audi targets massive cost cuts to fund electric-car push, say sources

                BERLIN: Audi aims to cut costs by 10 billion euros (RM50bil) by 2022 to help fund a shift to electric cars as it seeks to move on after the emissions scandal, sources close to the carmaker said.

Audi, Volkswagen's main profit driver, plans to bring five new all-electric models to market in coming years, starting with the e-tron sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to be assembled from 2018 in Brussels.

Despite run-up costs for its electric-car programme, the luxury automaker wants to keep its operating profit margin at 8 percent a year at least, two sources close to Audi said. Its profit margin in the first half of this year was 8.9 percent.

The bulk of the 10 billion cost savings would come from cutting research and development costs, the sources said.

A spokesman at Audi's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, declined comment. German business daily Handelsblatt reported the cost-savings target and profitability plans earlier on Sunday.

Audi also aims to free up funds for investments in zero-emission technology by developing a new production platform with Porsche, allowing both VW premium brands to save money by sharing components and modules.

Audi is grappling with car recalls, prosecutor investigations and persistent criticism from unions and managers over the diesel emissions scandal and its strategy post-dieselgate.

Sources said on Friday that four of the brand's seven top executives are earmarked for dismissal in the near future. On Sunday, sources said the dismissals were discussed by supervisory board members last Thursday but a formal decision has yet to be taken.


Lexus tells the world: Yeah, we are proud to have sold 2 million electrified cars

                TOKYO: Lexus announced today that it has sold 2 million electrified cars globally.

The milestone was reached at the end of April 2021.

It launched its first hybrid car - the RX400h SUV - in 2005. Today , it sells nine models of electrified vehicles, including hybrids (non-plug-ins) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), in 90 countries and regions around the world.

In 2020, 33% of the Lexus models sold globally were electrified.

Under the "Lexus Electrified" vision announced in 2019, Lexus plans to evolve its electrification technology to roll out better cars.

By 2025, Lexus will introduce 20 new or improved models, including more than 10 BEVs, plug-in hybrids, and HEVs. That year is also the target for the brand to offer electrified vehicle options across the entire Lexus product range.

In addition, by 2050, Lexus will achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle such as materials, parts, and vehicle manufacturing along with logistics, driving, and disposal/recycling.

In order to further accelerate the spread of electric vehicles, Lexus plans to introduce its first plug-in in 2021, and a completely new BEV in 2022.

The new models would exploit advances in motors, inverters and batteries.

Future Lexus electrified models would feature DIRECT4 and steer-by-wire systems. DIRECT4 is a four-wheel-drive torque distribution technology that combines drive force control with responsive steer-by-wire systems that greatly enhance vehicle reflexes.


Tesla tests car insurance with a variable premium based on driving behaviour

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla is conducting an innovative experiment in Texas, where it is offering its customers car insurance with a variable monthly premium, calculated according to a safety index based on various driving behaviour criteria.

Here, age and gender are of no importance.

Tesla offers competitive car insurance rates, currently in Texas and soon in California.

Indeed, the insurance premium is indexed on a so-called safety score.

Each month, a new total gives rise to a new payment. The idea is simple: the better the driver drives, the less they will pay for their insurance. And vice versa.

READ MORE: Twins who built US$1.3b Marshmallow app take on insurers

Several driving criteria are taken into account to calculate this score, such as the number of head-on collision warnings recorded every 1,000km, the number of hard braking incidents, aggressive cornering, dangerous following distances, and the number of forced Autopilot deactivations.

In other words, the cost of this innovative insurance policy varies in relation to driving behaviour.

Indeed, drivers who sign up to this insurance will make monthly payments based on their driving behaviour instead of more traditional factors such as age, gender or claims history.

Tesla is offering this new type of insurance policy to all Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y owners who want it, initially in Texas.

This type of insurance does not require any additional device to be installed in the vehicle, since Tesla uses functions and data already integrated in its system.

The lower the score (and the lower the driver's risky behaviour), the lower the monthly payments will be.

According to its calculations, Tesla estimates that the safest drivers could save up to 60% compared to classic car insurance.


Entry-level Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Life introduced from RM173,000

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has introduced the new entry-level Tiguan Allspace Life priced from RM172,990.

Completing the Tiguan Allspace trio in Malaysia, the Life maintains the seven-seat configurations that offer up to 1,775 litre of class-leading boot space.

Visually, the Life shares the same sharp and dynamic look as its siblings, including a sleeker front grille with the signature Volkswagen illuminated light strip between full LED headlamps.

Other elements include the ‘Allspace’ trims, silver-painted side mirrors, ‘Tiguan’ lettering on the rear, and 18-inch Frankfurt alloy wheels.

Among the standard equipment available are the 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system with wireless app connect, navigation system, and voice-control, three-zone Climatronic air conditioner, and a leather multifunction sports steering wheel.

The Life is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI turbo engine delivering 150PS and 250Nm of torque paired with six-speed DSG transmission for a fuel economy of 7.7 litres per 100km.

Safety features are six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Brake Assist (BA), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), Lane Assist and Driver Alert systems.

Both headlamps and taillights are fully powered by LED.

For added safety in any climate conditions, the headlamps include an all-weather light system and dynamic cornering light for improved visibility.

The tail light cluster with a distinctive lighting signature puts on a dazzling show (Click-clack effect) when brakes are applied.

Available metallic colours are Atlantic Blue, Platinum Grey, and Pyrite Silver, while no surcharge pearl-effect colours are Deep Black and Oryx White.

The Life comes with three years free maintenance, five years unlimited mileage warranty, and five years roadside assistance.

VPCM managing director Erik Winter said the model is locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang.

“The Tiguan Allspace plays a key role in our portfolio, so we are pleased to be able to bring its full range to Malaysia. With the Life, we are offering a high-performing SUV that gives our customers excellent value for money.

“It is also an ideal option for a young family’s first choice of vehicle,” he said.

Bookings and test drive arrangements can be made at all authorised Volkswagen dealerships nationwide.

For details, visit volkswagen.com.my.


Kia Picanto (Mk3) to debut on Jan 10

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Kia Malaysia is introducing the third generation Picanto (JA) while promising it to be the company's most versatile vehicle with a futuristic design, safety enhancements and better performance.

The company has earmarked the car's local debut for Jan 10 (February for East Malaysia) at selected Kia Showrooms after it was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. A Kia on Tour Roadshow will feature the car from Jan 10-14 at the One Utama shopping centre.

The new Picanto has a 2,400mm (+15mm) wheelbase, while measuring 3,595mm-long, 1,595mm-wide and 1,485mm-tall (-5mm).

Boasting of greater use of high-tensile steel over its predecessor, this non-national A-segment vehicle has three petrol engine options - 1.0-litre NA, 1.0-litre Turbocharged and 1.2-litre NA, but it is unconfirmed as to which will find its way under the hood, while mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox.

Additionally, luggage capacity and space efficiency has been further improved upon thanks to its foldable 60:40-split second row seats providing 1,010 litres of cargo space.

For entertainment, there will be a ‘floating’ 7.0-inch touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard.

This will allow for seamless smartphone connectivity for music, calls, messages and directions.

It will also include navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and voice recognition.

To further bolster safety, the Picanto will include six-airbags as before and may add torque vectoring brake based system, straight line stability, forward collision warning system and autonomous emergency braking.