Wacky record breakers put to the test

                LONDON: Household items and motoring don't mix. But in the hands of TV presenter and inventor Edd China, they stand a good chance of being put on the road.

China demonstrated two of his craziest creations at Beaulieu on Sunday to launch the summer exhibition Wacky Record Breakers in the National Motor Museum.

The former Wheeler Dealers mechanic delighted visitors at Beaulieu, 144km south-west of here, as he drove around the grounds of the attraction on Bog Standard, a complete bathroom suite that is taxed, insured and registered with the transport ministry.

Just for the day, this exhibit was joined by his road-legal sofa, Casual Loafer, with Edd putting both vehicles to the test in sessions during the day.

Edd’s passenger for the demonstrations was one of his biggest fans, Wave 105 radio presenter Rick Jackson, who commentated as they careered around the special course. With Edd taking his place on the toilet seat of Bog Standard and gripping the sink handlebars, while Rick reclined in the bathtub, the pair achieved a heady 55kph as they motored along.

Casual Loafer did even better as it topped 60kph, with Edd controlling the car using its pizza steering wheel, beer can brake lever and gear selector topped with a chocolate bar.

The Wacky Record Breakers exhibition features more off-the-wall automotive oddities created by inventors Edd China and Colin Furze. The exhibition, which is on display until Aug 31, celebrates the crazier side of motoring with each one of these custom-built vehicles proving that you don’t need a sports car to break a world record.

Edd’s bizarre builds include Fast Asleep, a double bed that can whisk its restful occupants along at the national speed limit. If you think that is strange, then you’ll be blown away by Gone to Speed, a garden shed capable of a window box-wobbling 93kph. This unassuming wooden structure is just at home on the highway as it is nestled in a suburban back yard.

Inventor Furze has masterminded some truly insane creations, specialising in making slow things go very fast. Joining Wacky Record Breakers is the world’s fastest fairground dodgem, the world’s fastest pram and a mobility scooter that also once held its own speed record.


Porsche maps out profit push with new luxury SUV above Cayenne

                STUTTGART: Volkswagen AG’s Porsche plans to introduce a new electric luxury sport utility vehicle and bolster profits in the coming years as the brand tries to win over investors ahead of its initial public offering.

Porsche’s new luxury SUV will be positioned above the Cayenne, which starts at around €83,000 (RM377,000), and be assembled in Leipzig, Germany.

Porsche targets an automotive Ebitda margin of as much as 27% by 2026, up from 24.5% last year, the company said today during its capital markets day. That would be below what Ferrari NV generated in 2021, but well ahead of Tesla Inc. and BMW AG.

"Although we are clearly positioned in the luxury automotive segment, we benefit from significant economies of scale,” chief executive officer Oliver Blume said in a statement.

VW is planning to sell a minority stake in Porsche in the fourth quarter to help finance its push into electric cars and unlock value.

The company has hired more than a dozen banks to push the IPO, which could value Porsche at as much as €80 billion (RM363bil) to €90 billion (RM409bil), according to people familiar with the matter.

VW has pitched the listing as a way for Porsche to gain greater autonomy in areas like software and partnerships while it can continue to benefit from a symbiotic relationship with the parent.

That narrative has sparked pushback from investors, who have flagged a listing structure that fails to make the asset more independent from the billionaire Porsche and Piech family and headwinds in the overall IPO market.

Under the plan, the family would gain a blocking minority stake of 25% plus one share.

Sales increase

Porsche is targeting revenue of as much as 39 billion euros this year and return on sales of as much as 18%, up two points from last year, according to chief financial officer Lutz Meschke. Returns are to climb above 20% in the long term.

Shipments of the 911, Porsche’s most profitable model, could approach a record 40,000 units this year and help deliver luxury-level Ebitda margins, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Porsche is well ahead of peers including Ferrari and Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc when it comes to electrifying its lineup.

Its Taycan EV outsold the 911 last year and the company is preparing to introduce a battery-powered version of its Macan model, with first deliveries expected in 2024.


85 cases filed against fraudulent auto workshop operators

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consumer Claims Tribunal received 85 cases against auto workshop operators for fraud amounting to RM446,262.28, as at July 31.

Its chairman, Wan Rufaidah Wan Omar, in a Radio Bernama programme, Dalam Radar here, stressed that it was up to consumers to take action to avoid being cheated.

Consumers, she said, should insist prior to any job to be done on their vehicle, for a quotation from the operator of the workshop, on the amount they have to fork out for labour cost or spare parts replacement.

"Consumers have the right to ask for information on what is wrong with their vehicle before agreeing to let the workshop carry out any repair.

"Consumers also have the right to get a full explanation on the components that had been replaced. The workshop must inform the vehicle owners whether the spare parts are original, new, second-hand or reconditioned," she said.

Meanwhile, Wan Rufaidah said the tribunal would accept all cases involving authorised service centres or private workshops.

"However, the tribunal will only accept cases seeking compensation for goods and services that do not exceed RM25,000, and the cases must not exceed three years from the date of the initial complaint," she added.

The tribunal is an independent body established under Section 85, Part XII of the Consumer Protection Act 1999. It operates under the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

The tribunal's primary objective is to provide an alternative forum for consumers to file compensatory claims in a simple, inexpensive and speedy manner.


KL traffic cameras may be used to fine errant motorists, says ministry

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Ministry is in discussion with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Kuala Lumpur traffic police’s investigation unit on the feasibility of using the city's 5,000 traffic cameras to issue fines to motorists who violate traffic rules.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaludin Alias said the ministry would discuss this with Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah on the idea, adding that the mayor has been informed about upgrading all the city traffic cameras in Kuala Lumpur.

“We will be talking to the KL traffic police as well our legal advisers and the Attorney General's office to check on legality issues of issuing traffic summonses using evidence taken from CCTV images," he said.

“Our cameras can capture real-time images accurately. So we hope that we can issue summons using the images to those flouting traffic rules. We believe this will educate those who continuously break traffic rules and help reduce congestion," added Jalaludin.

Jalaludin said the cameras have the features to capture illegal activities like illegal parking, parking at yellow lines and bus lanes including hawkers operating in areas that are not allowed.

“Some may take the issue up with the courts when we summon them using these footages, so that's why we need to iron out the legal issue before implementing,’’ he said.

Jalaludin was speaking to reporters at Jalan Istana this morning after an integrated traffic operation to nab heavy vehicles exceeding 7.5 tons from entering the city centre from 6.30am to 9.30am and 4.30pm to 7.30pm daily.

This is part of a task force set up last month to oversee and study traffic flow in Kuala Lumpur, a move aimed to reduce the worsening congestion in the city.


BMW celebrates Oktoberfest with one-off M3 'Munchner Wirte'

                MUNICH: BMW is set to unveil its one-off M3 in a “Münchner Wirte” livery and will coincide with this year’s Oktoberfest in Munich from Sept 19 till Oct 4.

This particular livery harks back to that of the legendary BMW M1 Procar from 1981 and is complete with a Bavarian-style facade painting and blue and white twisted cords.

There are even depictions of Munich’s landmarks that include the Olympic Stadium, Siegestor, Frauenkirche church and BMW’s headquarters – the “four-cylinder” building.

It further includes a roast chestnut seller and the Wiesn-Schänke beer tent at the Oktoberfest.

Walter Maurer is responsible for bringing the design back to life on the current BMW M3 with the designer’s close relationship with BMW dating back several decades to when he created the livery for the BMW M1 Procar “Münchner Wirte”.

It was then that Maurer painted the livery by hand 34 years ago

“Although the two cars are very different, it was surprisingly straightforward to carry over the design from the two-door BMW M1 racer to the four-door BMW M3 Sedan,” said Maurer.

Back in the day, the BMW M1 Procar “Münchner Wirte” had an in-line six-cylinder engine with four-valve technology and 470hp sent to the rear wheels that enabled it to accelerate to 100kph in 4.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 310 kph.

The new BMW M3 “Münchner Wirte” isn’t as powerful, but it does come close with its M TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 431hp for the rear.

The car is able to sprint to 100kph in 4.1 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 280kph with the M Driver’s Package combined with the M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic.

The BMW M3 “Münchner Wirte” will be on display at BMW Welt during the Oktoberfest.

The BMW Procar championship represented arguably the world’s fastest and most spectacular single-make race series in 1979 and 1980 and was held on the undercard of the Formula One grands prix in Europe.

Furthermore, the M1 Procar also saw action in the Le Mans 24-hour race AS well as various national championships, including the DRM series (German Racing Championship) between 1979 and 1986.


2019 Geneva Motor Show: Mazda CX-30

                GENEVA: Making its world debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the new Mazda CX-30 is the second model in the company’s next-generation line-up.

The compact SUV combines uniquely elegant Kodo styling with human-centric interior design and Jinba Ittai driving pleasure.

The Mazda CX-30 is positioned between the CX-3 and the long-established and popular CX-5.

With dimensions of 4,395mm long, 1,795 mm wide, 1,540mm high and with a 2,655mm wheelbase, the Mazda CX-30 enters a new market segment for Mazda.

Luggage capacity is 430 litres - enough to accommodate a large, global-standard baby buggy and a carry-on bag.

The powertrain line-up showcases the latest Skyactiv engines, including the company’s revolutionary Spark Plug Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI) technology, which adopts a unique combustion method to combine the free-revving performance of a petrol engine with the superior response of a diesel.

All Skyactiv petrol engines are equipped with Mazda’s new M-Hybrid system, featuring electric drive technology.

Compact and efficient, this mild hybrid system features an electric motor that assists the engine and a 24V 600kJ lithium-ion battery mounted between the wheels.


Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 AMG Line: Compact attraction

                You can tell the Mercedes-Benz GLA has come far.

Where the first-generation looked like an elevated A-Class hatchback that seemed a bit awkward, the second-generation comes across as a proper sports utility vehicle (SUV).

It has the right proportions setting itself apart even more distinctively as a separate model from the A-Class.

At least on the outside. So no confusion now.

Launched in Malaysia last December, the fully imported H247 GLA is available as the GLA 200 and GLA 250.

The GLA 200 gets a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine while the GLA 250 uses a bigger 2.0-litre turbo mill.

Our test unit is the GLA 250 and is priced at around RM286,000, a RM40,000 premium over the base variant.

The GLA 250 is also the sporty one as it comes with bits and pieces from the AMG Line package along with a lowered height and a suspension tuned for comfort.

In the larger context, Mercedes-Benz has started selling an all-electric version of the GLA in Europe known as EQA. It should make its way to other markets in the coming months and well into 2022.

For the time being, the EQA is basically a GLA converted into an electric vehicle instead of riding ideally on an all-new electric platform in the interest of bringing it to market faster and cutting down on development and production costs.

With the AMG Line package, the AMG bodystyling with special front and rear aprons lends the GLA a resemblance to AMG models. It’s complemented by a diamond radiator grille, sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather.

The GLA is shorter and narrower than before but is now longer and taller with a 30mm longer wheelbase to deliver more interior space and comfort.

The new dimensions also serve as a foundation to mould an exterior that stays true to SUV contours and is easy to like.

As an urban SUV, the 4.41-metre long GLA is ideal for city life.

It is the shortest vehicle from the current Mercedes-Benz portfolio and is compact enough to get into tight parking spots or navigate narrow side lanes around shophouses.

The GLA features a bodywork with powerful shoulders and side windows with coupé-like lines.

The GLA's hallmark off-road design identity include the upright front section, short overhangs at the front and rear and protective cladding all round.

It also features simulated underride guard at the front and rear.

As in the case of the other Mercedes-Benz SUV models, the radiator grille features distinctive openings along with a single louvre and a central star, with LED High Performance headlamps.

While the GLA 200 gets 18-inch wheels, the GLA 250 is fitted with 19-inchers that fill up the wheel wells neatly and look more cohesive with the bodywork.

Stepping inside the GLA is a deja vu moment.

The dash layout is like the one in the A-Class, which is no bad thing. We like it in the A-Class, we still like it in the GLA.

The high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit is already a familiar sight across Mercedes models. It comprises dual 10.25-inch digital screens fused together with touchscreen control on the centre MBUX infotainment display.

The MBUX is accessible via Touch-Control buttons in the steering wheel, touchpad on the centre console or simply by touching the screen — which is direct and more intuitive in our book.

For the most part, the cabin feels high quality and have a sporty bias with brushed alumnium trim, turbine-like air vents, paddle shifters, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, black roofliner, Artico and Dinamica microfibre seats with red stitching, and studded metal pedals.

In addition, the cabin puts on a visually impressive lightshow at night with a 64-colour ambient lighting.

There's good headroom in front and in the rear with plenty of rear legroom to speak of.

Seats are generally comfortable; front seats are power-adjustable and bolstered with an extensible seat bottom to provide better thigh support that's appreciated.

Tailgate swings higher than in some SUVs, giving way to a decent boot volume of 435 litres. More space can be carved out with rear bench seats folded forward in a 40:20:40 split.

The negatives are the absence of rear air-conditioner vents and rear centre armrest for the Malaysian market. And some parts feel plasticky like the control stalks.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 224hp and peak torque of 350Nm, powering the SUV from 0-100kph in a brisk 6.9 seconds.

Paired with an excellent eight-speed dual clutch, the powertrain setup is strong and responsive with plenty of pulling power in the mid-range.

Ride quality is in keeping with the comfort-tuned suspension and patchy road surfaces are traversed without drama.

Steering feedback is good and one can place the GLA in fast corners with relative precision and confidence.

At RM286K, it's a lot to ask for a small SUV especially when rivals like the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 can be had for a more wallet-friendly price.

Blame it on the GLA's CBU status.

But for some aspiring to own their first Merc, the blend of style and commendable performance from a trendy SUV is worth it.

Truth be told, the cachet of the three-pointed star is often a key impetus behind the buying decision.

Say it isn't so.

SPECIFICATIONSMercedes-Benz GLA 250 AMG LineEngine: 1,991cc, inline-4 with twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection and variable valve timing
Maximum power: 221hp at 5,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 350Nm from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual clutch automatic (wet)
Suspension: McPherson Strut (front), multi-link independent (rear)
Acceleration (0-100kph): 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 240kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 6.7 l/100km (NEDC)
Boot: 435 litres
Features: Seven airbags, front-wheel drive, MBUX with 10.25-inch touchscreen, digital instrument cluster, flat-bottomed steering wheel, Artico and Dinamica microfibre seats, brushed aluminium trim, paddle shifters and AMG illuminated treadplates, power-adjustable front seats with memory, single-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, parking assist, 64-colour ambient lighting, voice control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, reverse camera and a hands-free powered tailgate, autonomous emergency braking, door opening warning and Pre-Safe, blind spot monitoring, two rear ISOfix points
Price: RM285,337 (on-the-road without insurance, with SST exemption)


Citroen C4 Grand SpaceTourer ends run in July

                PARIS: Stellantis' Citroen announced on Thursday the end of its C4 Grand SpaceTourer model, drawing a line under 30 years of multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) that embodied the brand's family image now overshadowed by sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

"Because customers' aspirations have evolved, expression of modernity and enhancement is today carried by other shapes (and) the way of thinking mobility is changing, C4 Grand SpaceTourer is now bowing out", the brand said in a statement.

In France, MPV sales fell almost to zero in the first quarter as SUVs claimed the lion's share at 46% of new car registrations, racing with traditional sedans which bring in 47% of sales.

Production of the C4 Grand SpaceTourer at the plant located in Vigo, Spain, will stop at the beginning of July after current orders are delivered, Stellantis added in a press release.

Citroen, which retains two models of electric minivans in its catalog, plans to focus on its C5 Aircross SUV and its large C5X sedan.

In 30 years, the brand sold nearly 4.5 million MPVs worldwide, fuelled by the Evasion from 1994, the C8 from 2002 and, most importantly, the Xsara and C4 Picasso after 1998, whose rounded silhouettes and family-friendly designs found favour with customers.


BMW names Vukotich as new head of autonomous driving development

                FRANKFURT: Germany luxury carmaker BMW said on Saturday Alejandro Vukotich will be the new head of its driver assistance and autonomous driving development department from January 2019.

Vukotich will replace Elmar Frickenstein, who has been in charge of the department since it was created in May 2016 and who will retire after a three-month handover phase in March.

 Vukotich
BMW in April concentrated its driver assistance and autonomous driving development in Unterschleißheim near its Munich headquarters.

BMW and its partners, including FCA, Intel and Mobileye have 1,300 specialists working on the development of a technology stack for automated driving.

Earlier this year, BMW announced plans to increase research and development (R&D) spending to an all-time high of up to 7 billion euros (RM33bil) in 2018 as costs for developing electric and autonomous cars spike.


Khazanah not selling stake in PLUS

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, is not in the mood to sell PLUS Malaysia Bhd, the country’s biggest expressway toll firm, its managing director, Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said.

He said Khazanah, which owns 51 per cent of PLUS, retained its stand not to dispose of its stakes in PLUS.

"We are not in the mood of selling the asset and we actually haven't got any kind of bidding process going on," he told reporters on the sidelines of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) Corporate Summit 2019 here today.

Shahril Ridza said he agrees with the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that all the offers to date were unattractive.

"(Prime Minister) Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) already mention that none of the offers are attractive. so, I leave it to that," he said.

News emerged today that Widad Business Group Sdn Bhd has upped its offer to acquire 100 per cent equity interest in PLUS at a total enterprise value of RM38.34 billion.

This includes RM5.3 billion for the equity interest, RM3.04 billion compensation waiver and RM30 billion debt assumption.

Other offers for PLUS are from businessman Tan Sri Halim Saad, who partnered with Datuk Wong Gian Kui, to take over PLUS whole equity holding for RM5.2 billion.

Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, the operator of Maju Expressway, had also submitted its offer to acquire PLUS at an enterprise value of RM34.9 billion including PLUS’s debt to its bondholders.


Can Hennessey Venom F5 blow away the competition?

                HOUSTON: Unveiled at SEMA 2017 as the first hypercar built completely from the ground up by Texan tuner extraordinaire John Hennessey and his crack team, the Venom F5 arrives with a claimed top speed in excess of 483kph (300mph) and a twin turbo V8 engine, also developed in-house that sends 1,600hp solely to the rear wheels.

And if the car can deliver on those statistical claims then it will have earned the right to call itself the F5 — a nod to the highest possible wind speed category according to the Fujita (F-Scale) scale. "[We expect the F5] to be the first road car capable of achieving more than 300mph and have worked closely with Pennzoil to get us across the finish line," said John Hennessey of the new car.

But if it really is to set a new record — don't forget, for the moment, the performance is theoretical — it is going to have to beat some very tough competition.

Bugatti Chiron
The biggest automotive obstacle to overcome will be the Bugatti Chiron. Like the Venom, it has yet to make a run at setting an ultimate top speed but in early tests the car, which has a 16-cylinder, 8-litre 1,500hp engine, can comfortably hit 420kph. What's more, the VW-owned brand has an ace up its sleeve. It has access to VW's testing track, one of the few places on earth with a long enough straight to actually attempt to set top speed records.

Koenigsegg Regera
The latest piece of carbon fibre physics defying machinery from Swedish engineering genius Christian Von Koenigsegg is also waiting for the right conditions to set its ultimate top speed. But the twin-turbo V8 powered, transmission free (it is the first car to ditch a gearbox altogether in favour of a hybrid battery coupling) can go from 0-400kph in under 20 seconds.

Aston Martin Valkyrie
A Formula 1 technology-derived hypercar developed in partnership with Red Bull racing, this Aston's figures have yet to be independently verified. However, the company says that thanks to its ultra-lightweight build, its 6.5-litre Cosworth-built V12 and the same extremely quick and extremely robust dual clutch transmission system found in the Bugatti, this car will comfortably hit 402kph.

Zenvo TS1
Denmark's only supercar company is still going strong after launching ten years ago. The latest iteration of its sole model, the Zenvo TS1 Anniversary edition — unveiled in Geneva this year — can go from 0-100kph in 2.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited speed of 375kph, thanks to a 1,163hp 5.8-litre turbocharged V8. And like the Venom, production for the car will be capped at 25 examples.

Ruf CTR
Designed as a visual homage to the Porsche 911s of the mid 1980s, the CTR is thoroughly modern once you get past the retro aesthetics. It uses an in-house developed and built 700hp flat-six engine mounted in the rear, and can go from a standstill to 100kph in 3.5 seconds and on to a 223mph (360kph) top speed.

However, even if the Venom can't quite come up with the goods against Bugatti or Koenigsegg, it will still be able to lay claim to being the world's only hypercar designed and built in the US. The Ford GT was an international project and the car, though American, is assembled in Canada.


McLaren goes upmarket for Geneva with the 570GT

LONDON: British supercar company McLaren has surprised everyone by unveiling its most practical and luxurious model to date ahead of next week's Geneva Motor show.

McLaren had been expected to take the wraps off a convertible version of its new "entry-level" Porsche 911 challenging super sports car, the 570S. But instead, on Wednesday the company offered the first glimpse of the 570GT, a car designed to offer extreme comfort as well as extreme performance and one, McLaren claims is genuinely suitable for everyday use.

Like the S model, the GT has a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 in its middle that can output 562bhp, and this translates into a 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 328kph.

However, this is where the two cars start to move in different directions. The new GT has a panoramic glass roof as standard to let more light into the cabin. It also has a swooping glass rear panel that swings open for extra storage capacity. This newly created space plus the front luggage compartment under the hood give the car a very impressive 370 litres of storage, that's 80 more than you get in a Ford Fiesta hatchback.

As well as creating a second luggage compartment, the new glass rear also helps to cut cabin noise. Further efforts to keep the turbocharged roar of the engine from interrupting a conversation or hands-free phone call include bespoke tyres, developed with Pirelli that reduce road roar and a new air conditioning system with a ‘lo' setting that tries to keep the noise of the fan to a minimum.

Standard interior features include electrically operated and heated leather seats, an eight-speaker audio system and a touchscreen infotainment system complete with navigation and telephony controls. While practicality considerations include front and rear parking sensors, an electric steering column that can move to help the driver get in and out and wider opening doors that close more quietly.

Even the suspension and steering have been tweaked so that they are biased towards road rather than track driving and for absorbing bumps rather than amplifying them.

The new 570GT will go on sale immediately after its reveal on March 1 and will cost from £154,000 (RM903,000).


2021 Lexus LS 500 ready for order-taking

                KUALA LUMPUR: Lexus Malaysia has opened its order books for the 2021 Lexus LS 500 ahead of its launch soon.

The flagship Lexus model will be available in two variants of LS 500 Luxury, priced at RM1,023,629 on the road with the sales tax exemption but without insurance, and the LS 500 Executive Kiriko at RM1,304,768.

Early buyer who book now will receive their new flagship rides in May.

The Executive Kiriko features Kiriko Glass ornamentation and hand-folded pleats on the door trim which illustrates the brand’s ‘Innovative elegance through Japanese craftsmanship’ approach.

This top-of-the-line variant also features rear seats with ottoman and massage functions, a rear cooler box and a 23-speaker Mark Levinson Reference Surround Sound System to afford concert hall sound reproduction.

It also gets dual 11.6-inch LCD screens in the rear with Blu Ray Disc, SD Card, WiFi (for Miracast) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and HDMI input so every journey can be filled with your choice of entertainment.

All controls have also been consolidated into the Rear Multi Operation Panel for greater convenience.

The updated LS 500 features revised styling cues that further accentuate the flagship model’s design such as the redesigned front bumper, new Ultra Slim 3-beam LED Projector headlamps and sub radiator grille that offer a refreshed form along with improved functionality.

The new lamps feature a distinctive L-shaped daytime running lights, BladeScan-type Adaptive High-beam System and sharp-looking sequential signal lamps.

Its 20-inch alloy wheels also feature a noise-reducing design using resonator holes incorporated into the wheels.

Finished in Hyper Chrome Metallic, the wheels come with new runflat tyres that are optimised with reinforced sidewalls to further improve ride comfort.

Two new body colours of Iridium Silver and Sonic Iridium are included in the offering.

The new model also delivers excellent vehicle stability, agility, and sharp handling through an air suspension featuring Adaptive Variable Suspension, revised stablisers and suspension bounds stoppers.

The LS 500 also gets the Access Mode Control that raises the vehicle when stopped allowing for easier entry and exit.

An improved 3.5-litre V6 Twin Turbo engine which comes with newly developed pistons and an improved variable valve control design help achieve low emissions and quiet operation, particularly when the engine is cold.

In addition to its improved comfort and driveability, the new engine also delivers 415hp and maximum torque of 600Nm.

The 0-100kph sprint is done in 5 seconds with a top speed electronically limited to 250kph with drive modes of Eco, Comfort, Normal, Custom, Sport S or Sport S+.

Both variants are also equipped with 12 SRS airbags as well as Lexus Safety System+ as standard.

The Pre-Collision System (PCS) sensors are now employed to include pedestrian and bicycle detection.

In the event of a possible collision the PCS will alert the driver and activate pre-collision braking if required.

Also standard are Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) with Stop & Go Function, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

The new Parking Support Brake (PKSB) function can detect static objects such as walls or guard rails or moving objects using the sonar wave sensors.

Additionally, a new Active Assist for the seat belt increases the effect of the pretensioner by winding up the seatbelt using a motor if the vehicle detects a high possibility of collision.

Lexus Malaysia deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said the LS 500 "offers an inspiring look at Japanese ingenuity and craftsmanship, fusing traditional and futuristic designs into a showcase on wheels."


Porsche pulls away from the competition with its latest Macan

                STUTTGART: Proving that there is always room at the top, Porsche today added a new performance flagship model to its wildly popular Macan compact SUV range.

The Macan Turbo with Performance package - to give it its full title - takes the existing Macan Turbo as its starting point but then dials up the power and the performance several notches.

The 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6 nestling under its compact hood now outputs 440hp; that's a 40hp increase, and 600Nm of torque (a 50Nm improvement) in order to get the SUV off the line and on to 100kph in 4.4 seconds, then on to a 272kph top speed if the owner is lucky enough to be driving on the Autobahn where speed limits don't apply.

However, where restrictions are in place, that extra torque means that there's still fun to be had. For instance, it can now accelerate from 80kph to 100kph (highway overtaking speeds) in just 2.9 seconds. That's seriously impressive for what is a high-sided vehicle (1.62 metres tall) that weighs 2,000kg.

To handle the extra performance, Porsche has upgraded the brakes and chassis and lowered the ride height. It's also thrown in the Sport Chrono Package that will be familiar to 911 drivers. So there's a stopwatch for timing laps and an extra driving mode - Sport Plus - that opens the exhaust, opens the taps on the engine and tightens up the dampers, suspension and paddle-shifted gear changes so that the driver can access everything the car has to give.

It's impossible to exaggerate how important the Macan has become for Porsche's bottom line since its launch in 2014. It's well on its way to 1 million sales, and demand for the compact, premium sports SUV is such that owners are finding they can sell theirs on at a premium above the asking price as those that want one aren't prepared to wait for Porsche to build one.

However, Porsche is not the only German car company that knows about how to make a mud plugger both premium and powerful and so to stop customers decamping to a BMW, Audi or Mercedes showroom, Porsche has added this new model to the lineup, before its competitors have a chance to catch up.

The Macan Turbo Performance Package will cost from €91,000 in Europe when it goes on sale following its official debut at the Paris motorshow, which opens to the public on Oct 1.


Musk delivers first Tesla truck, but no update on output, pricing

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk delivered the company's first heavy-duty Semi on Thursday to PepsiCo without offering updated forecasts for the truck's pricing, production plans or how much cargo it could haul.

Musk, who appeared onstage at an event at Tesla's Nevada plant, said the battery-powered, long-haul truck would reduce highway emissions, outperform existing diesel models on power and safety and spin-off a fast-charging technology Tesla would use in its upcoming Cybertruck pickup.

"If you're a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it," Musk said, noting that it was five years since Tesla had announced it was developing the all-electric truck. Still, industry experts remain sceptical that battery electric trucks can take the strain of hauling hefty loads for hundreds of miles economically.

At Musk's first Tesla reveal since taking over Twitter - an acquisition some investors worry has become a distraction - the company did not announce pricing for the Semi, provide details on variants of the truck it had initially projected or supply a forecast for deliveries to PepsiCo or other customers. Tesla said it would begin using the Semi to ship parts to its plant in Fremont, California.

In 2017, Tesla had said the 480km range version of the Semi would cost US$150,000, and the 800km version US$180,000, but Tesla's passenger electric vehicle prices have increased sharply since then.

Robyn Denholm, chair of Tesla, recently said the automaker might produce 100 Semis this year. Musk has said Tesla would aim to produce 50,000 of the trucks in 2024.

PepsiCo, which completed its first cargo run with the Tesla truck to deliver snacks for those attending the Nevada launch event, had ordered 100 trucks in 2017.

Brewer Anheuser-Busch, United Parcel Service Inc and Walmart Inc were among other companies that had reserved the Semi. Tesla did not provide details on orders or deliveries to customers, nor an estimate on what the total cost of ownership for future buyers would be compared to diesel alternatives.

'Not impressive'

Musk said the Semi has been doing test runs between Tesla's Sparks, Nevada factory and its plant in Fremont, California. Tesla said it had completed a 800km drive on a single charge, with the Semi and cargo weighing in at 36,740kg in total.

Tesla did not disclose the weight of an unloaded Semi, one key specification analysts had hoped to learn and an important consideration for the efficiency of electric trucks.

Musk has spoken in the past about the prospect of fully autonomous trucks. Tesla did not provide details on how Tesla's driver assistance systems would function in the Semi it unveiled on Thursday or future versions.

Tesla unveils its Semi truck at live-streamed event.

The Semi delivery presentation ended without Musk taking questions, as he often does at Tesla events.

"Not very impressive - moving a cargo of chips (average weight per pack 52 grams) cannot in any way be said to be definitive proof of concept," said Oliver Dixon, senior analyst at consultancy Guidehouse.

Tesla had initially set a production target for 2019 for the Semi, which was first unveiled in 2017. In the years since, rivals have begun to sell battery-powered trucks of their own.

Daimler's Freightliner, Volvo, startup Nikola and Renault are among Tesla's competitors in developing alternatives to combustion-engine trucks.

Walmart, for instance, has said it has been testing Freightliner's eCascadia and Nikola's Tre BEV trucks in California.

'Like a cheetah'

The Semi is capable of charging at 1 megawatt and has liquid-cooling technology in the charging cable in an updated version of Tesla's Supercharger that will be made available to the Cybertruck, Musk said. The Cybertruck is scheduled to go into production in 2023.

Trucks in Semi's category represent just 1% of US vehicle sales but 20% of overall vehicle emissions, Tesla said.

Tesla said other, future vehicles would use powertrain technology developed for the Semi without providing details. The Semi uses three electric motors developed for Tesla's performance version of its Model S, with only one of them engaged at highway speed and two in reserve for when the truck needs to accelerate, a feature that makes the truck more energy-efficient, Musk said.

"This thing has crazy power relative to a diesel truck," Musk said. "Basically it's like an elephant moving like a cheetah."

In a slide displayed as part of Musk's presentation, Tesla showed an image of a future "robotaxi" in development with a mock-up of the future car covered under a tarp.

The presentation took place after Tesla shares closed at US$194.70. The stock has fallen about 45% so far this year, losing about US$500 billion in market capitalisation, down to about US$615 billion.

Among factors cited by investors have been Musk's sales of Tesla shares to finance his takeover of Twitter, signs that a slowing global economy has started to cut into demand for Tesla's premium-priced cars, and a warning by the company that it might not meet its target to grow deliveries by 50% this year.


Honda Malaysia broadens after-sales reach and rewards owners

                Honda Malaysia has opened two new centres to provide greater after-sales reach and convenience for its customers.

The 2S (service and spare Parts) is operated by Kah Motor Sdn Bhd in Cheng, Melaka, while the BP centre is operated by JM Motor Services Sdn Bhd in Penang.

According to Honda Malaysia, it is currently averaging over 100,000 monthly service intakes nationwide and the new centres are crucial in providing more locations and convenience for their customers.

“These two new 2S and Body & Paint Centres in Melaka and Penang will be able to cater to our customers there, providing an after-sales location nearer to them. The move to open 2S and BP Centres is part of our commitment to improve our service to customers, and to elevate the Joy of Buying for them,” said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Katsuto Hayashi.

Also, the company will provide a petrol card for 1,500 Honda owners who take part in special contest from now until Aug 6 - one entry per vehicle registration number and excludes reconditioned Honda vehicles).

Participants will stand a chance to win cash-prizes from a RM300,000 pool by SMS-ing their answer to a true or false question (found at all authorised Honda Malaysia showrooms, official website and facebook page) along with details including car registration number, full name and Identity Card number to 39993.

For more information, log on to www.honda.com.my or call Honda Toll Free at 1-800-88-2020.


Jaguar wants Oxford English Dictionary to redefine outdated description of 'car’

                LONDON: The Jaguar brand is spearheading a campaign for the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and Oxford Dictionaries (OxfordDictionaries.com) to change their official online definitions of the word "car".

The I-PACE, the Jaguar brand’s first all-electric performance SUV, is the 2019 World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year. However, based on its current definition, the zero-emission vehicle isn’t defined as a "car".

The OED, the principal historical dictionary of the English language, defines a ‘car’ in its online dictionary as: “a road vehicle powered by a motor (usually an internal combustion engine) designed to carry a driver and a small number of passengers, and usually having two front and two rear wheels, esp. for private, commercial, or leisure use.”

Whereas the current definition of a ‘car’ on Oxford Dictionaries.com, a collection of dictionary websites produced by Oxford University Press (OUP), the publishing house of the University of Oxford, is: “A road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people.”

To remedy the situation, Jaguar has submitted a formal application to the OED and OxfordDictionaries.com to have the definitions updated to include additional powertrains, including electric vehicles (EV).

“A lot of time and thought is put into the name of any new vehicle or technology to ensure it is consumer friendly, so it’s surprising to see that the definition of the car is a little outdated,” said, David Browne, head of the Jaguar Land Rover naming committee.

“We are therefore inviting the Oxford English Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionaries to update its online classification to reflect the shift from traditional internal combustion engines towards more sustainable powertrains.”

The Oxford English Dictionary is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words - past and present - from across the English-speaking world.

Jaguar unveiled the I-PACE, last year to deliver sustainable vehicle performance, next-generation driver assistance technology and five-seat SUV practicality. Featuring a 90kWh lithium-ion battery, two Jaguar-designed motors and a bespoke aluminum structure, the I-PACE is capable of 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and an EPA certified range of up to 377km.

While both the Oxford English Dictionary and Oxford Dictionaries review the application, Jaguar is encouraging people to get behind the campaign by asking how the word "car" should be defined. Contact Jaguar on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #RedefineTheCar with your thoughts.


French finance minister to emphasise Nissan alliance priority in talks with Renault's Senard

 Le Maire denied he was responsible for derailing the proposed Renault-FCA merger. — Reuters
PARIS: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday a Fiat Chrysler-Renault merger remained an “interesting opportunity” but added he would tell the French carmaker’s chairman that strengthening the Renault-Nissan alliance was the priority.

The French state is Renault’s biggest shareholder and sources have said chairman Jean-Dominique Senard is furious over the government’s interference at the carmaker after Fiat Chrysler (FCA) withdrew its offer for a 35 billion euro merger with Renault.

Le Maire said he would meet Senard later on Thursday, with the chairman’s position seen weakened by the deal’s collapse and the ensuing fallout with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

Le Maire told franceinfo radio he was not responsible for derailing the proposal that would have created the world’s third biggest carmaker behind Japan’s Toyota and Germany’s Volkswagen.

“It remains in interesting opportunity. But I have always been very clear: that it should be in the context of a strategy to reinforce the (Renault-Nissan) alliance.”

“As long as the French state is the main shareholder, its responsibility to the company, its employees, its factories and research centres is to fulfill its role with other shareholders in defining a strategy.”

The deal collapsed after Nissan said it would abstain at a Renault board meeting to vote on the merger proposal, prompting Le Maire to request the Renault board to postpone the vote for five days.

“We simply asked for five extra days. Five additional days seems entirely reasonable to me,” Le Maire said. “Fiat withdrew its offer, as it was entitled to do. But believe me, the state will never react under pressure.”


Euro NCAP releases more stringent commercial van ratings, announces plans for safety testing of heavy goods vehicles

                BRUSSELS: Euro NCAP is tightening up the criteria for commercial van ratings in 2023.

The results for 18 vans, tested under these new conditions, have been released.

The Fiat Ducato, rated Platinum last year, once again tops the list but is dropping to Gold under this year’s tougher protocol.

The Nissan Interstar retains its position and continues to be rated Not Recommended based on its lack of crash avoidance systems.

Under Euro NCAP’s plans, by 2026 vans will be expected to have the same ADAS requirements as passenger cars, and the van rating will from then on only consider standard fitment across all European markets.

Euro NCAP will soon advance safety solutions in the fleet market with the introduction of a rating scheme for heavy goods vehicles.

Results in the commercial van ratings announced today include the Ford Transit, which like the Fiat Ducato achieved a Gold rating.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito drops from Gold to a Silver rating, where it joins the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter, the Renault Trafic, Nissan Primastar and Volkswagen Crafter.

Those that achieved a Bronze Rating were the Citroën Jumpy (known as the Dispatch in the UK), the Citroën Jumper (Relay), Iveco Daily, Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, Opel/Vauxhall Movano, Peugeot Expert, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master and Toyota PROACE.

Commercial vans do not have a higher crash rate than other vehicles, but crashes involving vans tend to be more severe for their opponent vehicles and vulnerable road users.

Euro NCAP has seen that ADAS technology can help effectively prevent or mitigate the consequences of these crashes.

However, commercial vans are often not adequately equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Euro NCAP’s new criteria for commercial van ratings takes ADAS to a higher level with greater emphasis on vulnerable road users including pedestrian safety, with focus on night-time scenarios, and cyclists as well as the introduction of one new van-to-car crash scenario.

In 2021, Euro NCAP launched the commercial van rating to improve safety information for fleet managers and provide a safer experience for van drivers and other road users.

Good improvements in system performance and availability were reported when Euro NCAP revisited the van results a year later.


New Triumph Tiger 900 starts from RM63,900

                PETALING JAYA: Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia has introduced the new Tiger 900 adventure bike.

Prices start from RM63,900 and the motorcycle is available at Triumph outlets in Petaling Jaya, Penang, Johor Bharu and Kota Kinabalu.

The Tiger 900 is 5kg lighter than the earlier Tiger 800 model and gets a more responsive 888cc triple-cylinder engine.

Variants are:

>Tiger 900 Rally and Rally Pro – Designed for off-road adventure with road-focused capability,

> Tiger 900 GT and GT Pro – Designed for urban adventure and long-distance traveling, and
> Tiger 900 – Base model.

Key highlights include:
> 10% more torque than the Tiger 800 model, peaking at 87Nm at 7,250rpm,
> Category leading acceleration,
> Large 20-litre fuel tank.

Additional features available on selected variants are the new class-leading 7-inch TFT instrument panel, My Triumph connectivity system, six riding modes of Rain, Road, Sport, Rider, Off-Road and Off-Road Pro, and new Triumph Shift Assist.


Honda aiming to unite Super Cub-fans worldwide via photo project site

                TOKYO: Honda today launched its “Love Cub Snap” website, a photo project dedicated to bringing together Super Cub-lovers from around the world.

Customers are encouraged to upload photographs of themselves with their Super Cubs to the website.

Super Cub fans from all over the world will appear linked to other fans by their Super Cubs’ wheels. The photographs will be shown as a gallery on the website.

Since Honda released the “Super Cub C100” in 1958 in Japan, the Super Cub has drawn a devoted following for its reliable utility in everyday life. Honda projects that during 2017, the accumulated production and sales of the Super Cub series will reach 100 million units.


Qoros 3 City to make international debut

SHANGHAI: Qoros, the new Chinese car brand with international standards of engineering and quality, will host the international premiere of its latest production model at the 85th annual Geneva International Motor Show on Mar 3, 2015.

The new Qoros 3 City SUV is designed for a more premium metropolitan lifestyle, perfect for urban cruising and country driving. And thanks to innovative connectivity, drivers can make the most of every journey.

Its modern design and flexibility is exemplified by its increased ground clearance, large wheels, and a more commanding driving position. It offers generous space and more control for an exciting driving experience.

The new Qoros 3 City SUV went on sale in China in December 2014, joining the Sedan and Hatch in Qoros’ growing family of cars. As well as its purposeful, rugged looks, it exhibits world-class standards of engineering, safety and quality.

It comes with a 1.6 turbo charged engine mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission and outputs 154hp at 5500rpm and a maximum torque of 210Nm at 1750rpm-5000rpm.

It also features the brand’s pioneering and award-winning QorosQloud connected services platform.


Daimler accelerates electric car programme

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler is accelerating its electric car programme, it said on Wednesday after announcing that it had failed to cut fleet emissions in Europe for the first time since 2007.

Daimler put its emissions numbers down to customers increasing preference for sports utility vehicles (SUVs), which tend to be more polluting than sedans, making it more difficult for carmakers to hit a European target for each new car to produce no more than 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2020.

The company said it expects Mercedes-Benz Cars to bring more than 10 new electric cars to market by 2022 through 10 billion euros of investment, having previously aimed to achieve the target by 2025.

Daimler has been set a goal of achieving a European average fleet emissions level of 100 grams for Mercedes-Benz Cars, including its Smart brand, by 2020.

Last year, the average fuel emissions remained at 123 grams for Mercedes-Benz Cars, the same level as in 2015. It is the first time since 2007 that it has failed to cut average pollution levels despite the introduction of more fuel efficient engines throughout its range.

Daimler also said it is expecting record sales volumes for the Mercedes-Benz Cars division in the first quarter of the year.

"The positive sales trend continued in March," Daimler said in a statement ahead of its annual shareholder meeting.

The company also reiterated its full-year group sales and earnings targets. The car and truck maker expects a slight increase in earnings and a significant rise in sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars.


US regulators step up probe into Hyundai, Kia engine fires

                WASHINGTON: The US auto safety agency has stepped up its probe into engine fires that have plagued some Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp vehicles for over six years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it had opened an "engineering analysis" covering about 3 million vehicles to evaluate, among other things, the efficacy of recalls initiated by the two automakers.

The agency added that it was aware of 161 fires occurring potentially due to engine failures.

An engineering analysis is the next step in a process that could lead to a recall, although sometimes NHTSA closes such probes without requiring any action.

The agency had opened an investigation in 2019 covering the 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento and the 2010-2015 Kia Soul, along with the 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe to investigate instances of non-crash fires.

Hyundai and Kia said on Monday they continue to fully cooperate with NHTSA in regard to non-collision engine fires.

The two South Korean companies had agreed to a record US$210 million civil penalty last year after regulators said they failed to recall 1.6 million vehicles for engine issues in a timely fashion.


Land Rover already set to refresh Discovery Sport

                LONDON: Land Rover's best-selling model and replacement for the long-running Freelander, the Discovery Sport, is already getting a substantial refresh ahead of an expected reveal early in 2019.

And from what's being reported by the UK's Autocar publication, it appears to be quite an update for a model that's only been with us in its current form for a relatively short time.

From the sound of what Land Rover is planning for the refreshed Discovery Sport that's now being seen out and about undergoing testing in its black and white camouflage, some manufacturers have done less work on their models and called them a new generation.

As well as some relatively minor cosmetic changes that don't exactly jump out from under the camouflage, the 2019 Discovery Sport will be built on a heavily updated platform.

The idea behind the move to a revised platform is to bring about considerably improved levels of ride comfort, to provide extra boot space, and to deliver extra room to accommodate underbody lithium ion batteries that will be needed for models with a new hybrid powertrain.

 The current Discovery Sport. The refreshed one will see an important shift to an updated PTA platform for improved torsional rigidity, better ride comfort and to also accommodate a  hybrid powertrain in future.

The new platform underpinning the 2019 Discovery Sport is called the Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), and it's said to be much stiffer than the current vehicle's current D8 platform.

Of course, the addition of hybrid powertrains to the Discovery Sport lineup is the really big news, and it's a key development for the future of what is currently Land Rover's most affordable and best-selling model. Naturally, the hybrids are likely to be the top-of-the-range variants, and they'll feature a new three-cylinder Ingenium combustion engine coupled to an electric motor/transmission.

And if the full-blown hybrid is out of your price range, there are also going to be mild-hybrid versions too, although it's not yet known if these will make use of electrified turbochargers or a belt-assist starter/generator.

Either way, the hybrid and mild-hybrid models will be essential additions to the range as diesel engines, which have long been the preferred option with Land Rover buyers, continue to come under ever-increasing scrutiny from the authorities for their emissions.

 The success of the Volvo XC60 has forced Land Rover to whip the Discovery Sport into better shape. Hence the need for the refresh now.

Such significant change so early in the model's lifespan could be due in part to sales in the first four months of this year falling by 18 percent, compared to the same period the year before.

In March of this year, the Volvo XC60 sold more than 1,500 units more than the Land Rover, and by June the gap between sales of the two had widened further.

As the more sophisticated Volvo is so much in the ascendency, it's no wonder Land Rover is set to improve the Discovery Sport so significantly this early in its lifecycle.


Electric cars are about to get louder

                MUNICH: Electric cars are whisper-quiet and that is exactly where the problem lies.

Stressed city dwellers may not miss the familiar rumble of vehicles but the calmer panorama poses problems for children, pedestrians and cyclists in both urban and rural areas. Without an audible warning they will not hear the the zero-emission vehicles approaching on streets.

In some countries, lawmakers have already responded to the potential threat and are preparing legislation for electric cars and artificial noise.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, pedestrians are 19 per cent more likely to be involved in accidents with electric cars than conventional diesel or petrol vehicles.

US research also shows that some electric and hybrid vehicles cannot be heard until just one second before impact with a pedestrian.

"It is a kind of paradox but after we spent the last 20 years quietening down cars we have to make them loud again," said professor Hugo Fastl of Munich's Technical University.

Surrounded by 96 loudspeakers, the acoustics professor is working on a sound that may become very familiar in the future.

Should it be a subtle hum, a deep growl or a high-pitched whistle? Fastl checks out what sounds pleasant, up-market or downright cheap.

Sportscar fans are used to the burbling of V8 motors or the turbine-like sound of a straight six and "naturally a sports machine needs to sound different from a luxury limousine," said the expert.

Carmakers spend a lot of time creating the right sound for combustion engines and they will need to do just the same for electric cars.

Sound design is so important at German premium maker Mercedes-Benz that board members have been known to sit in on clinics when new noises are discussed and sound bites played.

For a tweaked AMG version of a Mercedes-Benz sport saloon the hallmark sound of the eight-pot engine is a key part of the emotional package that makes the car attractive to buy.

The sound of an electric car needs to be tuned to the particular car sector and market. Researchers have discovered that Asian customers prefer a car to make a deep rather than a high-pitched sound when it is moving - this poses technical problems since larger loudspeakers are needed for sonorous sounds.

BMW has fitted a so-called "Audible Pedestrian Protection" sound as an extra to its i3 runabout which works up to a speed of 30 km/h. When the vehicle starts up Audible Pedestrian Protection is always active, but it can be disabled by pressing a button when silence is desired.

"We have created a whole range of sounds," says BMW spokesman Wieland Bruch. The standard i3 "sounds a little like the USS Enterprise from Star Trek - it’s a turbine-like noise."

The upcoming, all-electric Mini will sound different, says Bruch without revealing any more detail. Around a dozen experts are working on the acoustics.

The sound made by a vehicle is a big issue for blind people and their lobby is keen to make sure electric cars are acoustically noticeable. The problem is worse at low speeds when electric cars make little more noise than a golf cart.

"Societies for the blind have been raising the issue of the hazards posed by silent-running vehicles as far back as 2006," says Gerhard Renzel who heads the traffic section of a leading German organisation for the bind and partially-sighted.

"Blind people cannot establish eye contact with the driver - we have to hear whether a car is approaching and whether it is braking or accelerating," said Renzel. "For safety reasons some kind of noise is essential." Renzel said the same applied to pure-electric buses and trucks although these are still a rarity on public roads.

The European Union has laid down that from July 2019 all electric and combustion-hybrid models must make "a continuous sound in the minimum range of vehicle speed from start-up to about 20kph and during reversing". From 2021, all electric vehicles must make a continuous sound although the driver will be able to deactivate this from the dashboard.

In the United States a quota of 50 per cent of newly-registered cars must be audible to pedestrians from September 2019. From September 2020 this applies to all e-cars and the audibility must continue until 30kph.


MyBayar Saman app up and running again

                PETALING JAYA: The MyBayar Saman application is up and running again, says the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department.

It added that users can now resume payment with discounts on selected summons.

The announcement was made in a post on their Instagram page, adding that the service resumed operations at 6pm on Friday.

On Thursday, Bukit Aman launched the application, while also offering discounts of up to 50% for selected summons.

The offer is valid until April 11 and is only applicable for payments made via the app, while discounts for payments made at the counter at police stations are subject to the discretion of the police contingent.


Don't fall for invisible cars and emoji plates

                PETALING JAYA: A reminder. Don't believe everything you read in print and online today because it's Duping Day.

If you don't have a healthy cynicism, you are fair game for people who want to make fools of you. So fair warning, folk.

Trawling the Net, we have come across an invisible car from MG, emoji licence plates from Honda and retractable stadium sunroof from Citroen.

MINI
To add mirth to the mix, MINI has whipped a fair-trade Peruvian cotton sheet off its latest model this morning in Hoxton, London. Featuring Instagram filtered windows, twin-deck cassette player and a fixed-gear drivetrain, the new MINI Hipster Hatch launches today.

Motorists no longer have to settle for the natural colour of their surroundings (#nofilter), thanks to the exclusive and fully adjustable Instagram filter on all exterior window glass. Live life in LO-FI. Or Clarendon. Or Crema. In fact, occupants can choose from 12 pre-loaded Instagram window filters and turn any journey into a nostalgic memory at the touch of a button.

The new MINI Hipster Hatch has just one forward gear with a maximum speed of 25 mph. Taking inspiration from the ‘Fixie’ pedal bike, four of the forward gears have been removed to give the driver a greater feeling of control when popping out for a superfood smoothie.

MG
Also on the same page with MINI is MG Motor which coincidentally launched the world’s first invisible car in concept form. Whatever that means.

MG marketing and sales chief Matthew Cheyne said: “At first we had some trouble with the cars, as people kept walking into them or we’d misplace them on the site. As soon as we placed the iconic MG badge on the front of them, using non-invisible materials, we were able to find them much more easily.

“At first we couldn’t see the point in doing something like this and we know that some people won’t think the car is much to look at, but we are proud of creating something so advanced.

“It definitely makes parking in busy cities easier, as traffic wardens can’t see the car to put a ticket on!”

Honda
Honda has unveiled plans to introduce emoji registration plates for car buyers in Britain, releasing images of the world’s first official emoji number plate on its race car for the road, the Civic Type R.

Honda’s plans for emoji registration plates are in response to demand from younger car buyers across the UK, and initial talks are planned with the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency in an endeavour to exclusively launch the new plates in early 2017.

In research conducted with UK consumers earlier this year, 96% of respondents aged under 30 indicated a preference for emoji plates over the traditional car license plate. 97% of those questioned admit they now use emoji faces as their main method of expressing an emotion or idea in texts and instant messages.

Honda announced its pioneering plan with the release of an emoji plate including images of the Hinomaru “circle of the sun” Japanese flag, symbolic of its roots as a Japanese automobile manufacturer, the red car and those first car keys.

Citroen
Talk about queer. Citroën and Arsenal Football Club have announced a unique new partnership, never seen before in sport. The French car manufacturer, known for its creative approach to technology and innovation, has inspired Arsenal Football Club to install the world’s first retractable sunroof at the club’s Emirates Stadium.

Inspired by the Citroën C1 Airscape roof, and with building work due to commence at the end of the 15/16 season, the development is part of the ‘Arsenalisation’ project, a scheme that aims to make the 60,000 seater stadium the best in the world.

In keeping with the C1 Airscape’s aesthetics and exceptionally large sunroof, the stadium roof will be made from nearly 9,000 metres of red canvas, be able to open and close in around 11 seconds, and operate in an identical fashion to the C1 Airscape roof.

Featuring the latest technology, the new Emirates Stadium roof promises to benefit both players and fans. For players, avoiding sun-in-the-eyes is likely to save between 4 and 6 goals a season, while climate control will help improve player stamina.

Fans will not only be able to watch replays through a projection on the roof, but one lucky Arsenal fan will be given the chance to decide and control whether the roof should be open or closed ahead of each game.


Toyota to launch its own automotive software platform by 2025, says Nikkei

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp is planning to launch its own operating system, which would be capable of handling advanced operations such as autonomous driving, for its vehicles by 2025, Nikkei reported on Monday.

Software is playing an increasing role in vehicles, from managing electric motors and batteries to supporting functions such as autonomous driving, entertainment and navigation.

Toyota's automotive software platform Arene will compete with German rivals, Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG, with Volkswagen working on its 'VW.OS' software and Daimler planning to roll out its own 'Mercedes-Benz Operating System' in its cars by 2024.

The Japanese carmaker aims to put the operating system in its own vehicles by 2025, with plans to make it available to affiliates such as Subaru in the future, Nikkei said.

Toyota is considering a licensing model to make Arene available to other car manufacturers and companies working on electric or self driving cars, the report added.

Toyota did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.


Flash floods hit several areas in Klang Valley

                PETALING JAYA: Flash floods have struck a number of areas in the Klang Valley following the late afternoon downpour today, with social media users posting images and videos to show the conditions.

At 5.30pm, the Irrigation and Drainage Department recorded 38mm of rainfall at Kampung Simpang Tiga in Gombak.

Rainfall in parts of the Klang Valley is expected to continue into the night, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s forecast.

The Environment and Water Ministry has also issued a flood preparedness warning for several locations in the Klang Valley.

In Selangor, areas within the Petaling district are: Kampung Tengah A, Kuala Sungai Baru, Kg Bersatu Baru, Kg Subang Melayu, TTDI Jaya, Kg Aman Bestari, Kg Sri Aman Berkat, Kg Bukit Lanchong, KTM Batu 3, Seksyen 13 Shah Alam, Kg Kenangan Puchong, Taman Mesra, Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya), Seri Kembangan and Kompleks Jabatan Pertanian Serdang.

Meanwhile, areas at risk in Klang include Kg Delek, Jalan Kebun Nanas, Taman Melawis, Teluk Pulai, Taman Petaling, Taman Sentosa, Taman Saujana, Taman Rashna, Kg Bukit Naga, Batu 8 Jalan Bukit Kemuning and Pandamaran,

In Kuala Lumpur, several locations and roads are at risk, including Bulatan Dato Onn-Bank Rakyat, Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Pekan Salak Selatan, Razak Mansion, Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak, Masjid Jamek, Universiti Malaya, Kg Pantai Dalam, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Maarof, Jalan Kia Peng and Jalan Leboh Pasar.

At the national level, the Environment and Water Ministry has issued a flood preparedness warning for six states and territories – Penang, Selangor, Johor, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak – until 3am Nov 12.

It said in the notice that several localities and their surrounding areas within the six states and territories are at risk of flooding based on the forecast by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.


Study shows manufacturers driving up prices for new cars

                FRANKFURT: Car buyers are being told to get ready to spend more money on new cars in the future, and new market research in Europe reports that manufacturers have been spotted using subtle ways to drive up prices.

An analysis led by Germany-based automotive analyst Ferdinand Dudenhöffer forecasts that anyone in the market for a new car during the current economic uncertainties should prepare themselves for unexpected costs.

That's because manufacturers are driving up prices with both hidden and clear measures, according to a research from Center Automotive Research (CAR).

Fiat and BMW, for example, have cancelled the low-priced entry-level variants of popular models, study lead Dudenhöffer said.

Mercedes' best-selling car, the GLS SUV, has meanwhile been announced with a 10% higher price.

At the same time, manufacturers in Europe are scrapping any discounts they had on new cars that can be freely configured online, while the prices for so-called car subscriptions have risen.

Many manufacturers have also been putting more resources into luxury cars, since the profit margins to be made on selling larger SUVs and fancy saloons are higher than those of compact cars.

During the chip crisis, this led to manufacturers putting their scarce resources into the luxury class where good money was to be made.

For the time being, manufacturers can still work off the many pre-orders on smaller, cheaper cars that have accumulated, says Dudenhöffer.

But the picture will soon change if, in addition to rising prices, credit interest rates also increase and the risk of default on consumer loans rises at the same time.


This is how far you’re driving blind when you glance at your phone

                BERLIN: Generally there’s no safety issue with speaking to someone through a phone on loudspeaker, and most countries don’t have specific laws against this.

But even if you keep your eyes focused on the road while talking, a swipe or tap of some sort will be needed to answer and hang up your phone, not to mention all the distractions that come from a phone sending you notifications.

Even a quick glance at your phone while driving at 50kph will mean you’ve driven 14 metres without looking at the road. Take just three seconds to skim a WhatsApp message, and you’ll have covered 42 metres at this speed.

On the highway at 120kph, this turns into 100 metres of blind driving.

Trauma surgeons in emergency rooms say this isn’t just a problem for car drivers. Cyclists and people riding scooters are also being injured by risking a quick glance at their phone.

Some carmakers have been trying to end driver distraction by allowing drivers to speak to a built-in assistant to access their phone’s functions with a command like “Hey Mercedes, call dad”.

But for all other drivers using swiping their phone to answer calls, Germany’s organisation of trauma surgeons (DGOU) and Tuv, a leading safety inspection agency, are recommending no mobile phone use at the wheel.

Aside from the safety risks, if it can be proven that you were using a phone during a crash, you can also expect to be paying most of the damages.


Ford Fiesta and Focus to get mild hybrid options next year

                DETROIT: Ford has announced plans to offer at least one electric drive option for each of its major product lines in future, with mild hybrids arriving first on the Fiesta and Focus (above) in early 2020.

To this end, the Blue Oval is adding a 48-volt electric starter generator to its 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

The mild hybrid tech above all come into play when starting and during prolonged start-stop phases, while also helping to recover more energy during braking, Ford says.

These mild hybrid motors will significantly reduce fuel consumption, with the Fiesta needing just 4.9 litres and the larger Focus 4.7 litres/100km. This corresponds to CO2 values of 112 and 106 g/km.

However, Ford has not yet announced which performance levels these "EcoBoost Hybrid" engines can reach or what speeds are possible.

 Fiesta.


Fancy Italian silk masks for the gentlemen drivers

                BOLOGNA: An Italian company has created a set of non-medical face coverings, featuring some of the company’s most popular automotive designs.

Using 100% silk and handcrafted by artisans in Como, Italy, each set of three face masks comes in a selection of designs, including the ‘Posh, ‘Type 75 Atlantic’ and ‘World Beater’. These new mask designs by The Outlierman join the first set of three launched earlier this year with the ‘Gentleman Driver’, ‘World Beater’ and ‘Vintage Race’ designs.

The Outlierman describes itself as a company that creates luxury automotive inspired accessories for gentlemen drivers.

Designed with comfort in mind, these multi-layer masks are made for covering your face while maintaining the best possible facial comfort: the external and internal layers are both made of 100 percent silk and include a filter pocket, which has been incorporated for a one-time use medical filter. Elastic ear loops ensure tightness on any size face, alongside an adjustable wire nose, which helps create a tight seal and comfort over long periods.

Multifunctional, these face coverings can also be used as a pocket square, before or after being used, and can be matched to ties and pocket squares from The Outlierman with the same designs.

“Our face coverings allow both modern and classic car enthusiasts to share their passion for all things automotive, with an extremely comfortable product that also captures some of The Outlierman’s most iconic designs,” said The Outlierman founder Andrea Mazzuca.

The face masks can be ordered online. Each set retails for RM435.


Toll concessionaires have recouped more than double their costs

                KUALA LUMPUR: Toll concessionaires have collected more than double the cost of constructing their highways from the start of their operations up to 2017, says Work Minister Baru Bian.

He revealed that there were 29 highways with tolls that would still be in operation until the end of their concessions.

“The total amount of construction costs for 29 highways is RM35.14bil.

“The amount of compensation paid (to concessionaires) from 1990 to 2017 is RM5.109bil.

Akmal had asked the ministry to state the construction costs, maintenance, and operating costs of each highway.

Baru Bian said the average total operational and maintenance cost for the highways is about RM2.5bil a year.

“The total average operational costs for 29 highways is RM1.7bil a year. Routine maintenance stood at RM402mil annually and periodic maintenance and upgrade costs are about RM459mil a year,” he said.

He also noted that there were two concessions that were ending in 10 years' time, 16 ending between 11 and 20 years’ time, and another 11 highways where tolls will be collected beyond the next two decades.

Baru Bian said his ministry was given six months to negotiate with the stakeholders and concessionaires on Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto to abolish tolls.

“After six months, we will submit a few proposals based on the on-going negotiations. We will see if there is any space in the agreements for a review and will act accordingly,” he added.


Toyota debuts new GR Yaris, Yaris and Vios

                PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor today launched the new Vios and Yaris.

At the same time, it also rolled out a sports package for the Vios as well as the true-blue performance hatch GR Yaris that promises a fun-to-drive experience.

The Vios is available in three versions: Vios 1.5J, 1.5E and 1.5G priced from RM74,623, RM82,593 and RM87,584 (OTR excluding insurance, minus SST).

Meanwhile, the GR-S package for the Vios is RM7,700 extra and adds a GR Sport grille, sports-tuned suspension, GR-S aerokit, suede/leather-wrapped sports seats and 17-inch alloy rims.

 The GR Yaris interior.

The Yaris, also in 3 variants are priced at RM70,940 (1.5J), RM80,380 (1.5E) and RM84,808 (1.5G).

The most exciting model is the GR Yaris. It comes with rally car pedigree, and features a manual transmission. It's the most expensive of the lot, priced at RM299,000. Only 25,000 units of the GR Yaris are produced worldwide.

At the virtual launch ceremony, Season 4 of the TGR Festival Vios Challenge was also announced.

Season 4 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival kicks off in January 2021 and takes on new format that offers racers three racing series, 11 spectacular races and combined prize monies amounting to RM420,000.Expanding from three successful seasons, Season 4 of the Festival will be anchored by the ever popular Vios Challenge, in addition to the introduction ofthe Gazoo Racing Vios Sprint Cup and Gazoo Racing Enduro Cup (endurance race).


Flow battery promises EV recharging in seconds

                PETALING JAYA: If an electric vehicle could be charged in the same time it takes to fuel up a conventional car with petrol, that would be a gamechanger.
 The team made up of (from top clockwise) Cronin, Symes and Jia.
A University of Glasgow research points to such a promising outcome. Chemists at the university have developed a flow battery system using a nano-molecule that can store electric power or hydrogen gas giving a new type of hybrid energy storage system that can be used as a flow battery or for hydrogen storage.

The team's research findings was published in the Nature Chemistry journal. The research was funded by the University of Glasgow complex chemistry initiative as well as the European Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

READ MORE:The big picture on EV battery tech

The flow battery, based upon the design of a nanoscale battery molecule can store energy, releasing the power on demand as electric power or hydrogen gas that can be used a fuel. When a concentrated liquid containing the nano-molecules is made, the amount of energy it can store increases by almost 10 times. The energy can be released as either electricity or hydrogen gas. IN other words, the system could be used flexibly in situations that might need either a fuel or electric power.

If the flow battery is proven to work reliably and can scale up, it would mean a fuelling revolution for electrified cars.

With the material as a pumpable liquid like petrol or diesel, such electric cars could be charged in seconds, the same amount of time it takes to fill up conventional cars with fossil fuels. The advantage is that the old battery liquid would be extracted at the same time and "recharged" for use again.

The team comprises Professor Leroy (Lee) Cronin, the University of Glasgow’s Regius Chair of Chemistry, Dr Mark Symes, Senior Lecturer in Electrochemistry, also at the University of Glasgow with Dr Jia Jia Chen, who is a researcher in the team.


Scotland's Munro unveils all-electric MK_1 pick-up

                GLASGOW: Munro Vehicles, a manufacturer of all-electric 4x4s, and Scotland’s only volume production car company has revealed its second model, the MK_1 pick-up.

The ultra-utilitarian pick-up followed swiftly in the wheel tracks of the Munro MK_1 truck launched last December.

Like the Munro MK_1 truck, the MK_1 pick-up enable customers operating in challenging sectors such as mining, construction, utilities, agriculture, and defence to meet imminent decarbonisation targets without compromising on performance.

“Deliveries will start later this year. We have already secured more than 200 orders for the MK_1 pick-up, three of which have come from FTSE 100 companies and 10 from FTSE 250 companies,” said Munro CEO and co-founder Russell Peterson.

Unveiled in "Performance" guise in striking Munro yellow paint finish, the Munro MK_1 pick-up creates an purposeful visual presence.

The spacious, easy-to-load rear bed of the Munro MK_1 pick-up accommodates a 1050kg Euro Pallet payload, while the Performance model has a 3,500kg maximum braked towing capacity to haul cargo from farm implements and livestock to construction and disaster relief equipment.

Replenishing the 82.4kWh battery from 15 to 80% using a 100kW DC charger takes 36 minutes.

With a fully charged battery, the MK_1 has a range of more than 305km, enabling it to operate off-road for up to 16 hours on a single battery charge.

Designed, engineered, and built in Britain, the Munro is the first light vehicle to enter production in Scotland in more than four decades.


Carsome offers free car inspections at selected Tealive outlets

                KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, Carsome has entered a strategic partnership with Southeast Asia’s largest lifestyle tea brand, Tealive, which sees the setting up of Carsome Inspection Points at selected Tealive outlets nationwide.

Consumers can now book a free car inspection at the selected Tealive outlets, where Carsome’s professional vehicle inspectors will conduct a thorough 175-point inspection on their cars in about 30 minutes - as fast as having a cup of bubble tea.

Carsome co-founder and group CEO Eric Cheng explained that the collaboration enables both companies to leverage on each other’s expertise and retail presence in diversifying benefits for consumers.

“Just as Tealive revolutionized the tea culture, Carsome does the same for the car buying and selling experience through trust, transparency, and technology.

“This strategic partnership is part of our expansion plans to extend our strategic footprint and reach out to more customers while offering even more convenience,” Cheng said.

 Cheng (centre) and Loo (right) watching a Carsome inspector checking out a SUV.

Loob Holding founder and CEO Bryan Loo said the brand was excited to be partnering with Carsome as both companies are innovative and progressive homegrown brands in their respective fields.

“Now, our customers can enjoy a refreshing cup of bubble tea while their cars are being inspected. We hope that this partnership will increase traffic to Tealiveoutlets and diversify our customer base while strengthening brand presence for both Tealive and Carsome.”

Customers who send their cars for inspection at Tealive outlets will get a free drink (equivalent to RM7) upon completion.

Additionally, the first 30,000 customers will get a RM15 Shopee voucher with a minimum spend of RM30, for first-time users only.

An offer price will be made upon completion of the car inspection; alternatively, customers can also opt to put their cars up for bidding to Carsome’s nationwide network of dealers.

Carsome will handle all the paperwork for customers and complete payment in as quick as one hour (terms and conditions apply), promising a seamless and hassle-free car-selling process.

Consumers interested in selling their cars can browse the list of the participating Tealive outlets here and book an appointment at carsome.my.


PLUS wooing motorists to use cashless toll payment

                KUALA LUMPUR: An estimated 1.5 million vehicles will be on the North-South Expressway (NSE) daily in the run-up to Chinese New Year, especially on Feb 17 and 18 (eve of Chinese New Year), Feb 21 and Feb 22, said PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

In view of this, the concessionaire of NSE and a few other expressways are appealing to the public to stagger their travel time by referring to its Travel Time Advisory (TTA) so that traffic flow will be as smooth as possible.

Besides its TTA, PLUS is also pushing for cashless transactions for toll payments by throwing in discounts for those using the NSE, the Expressway Lingkaran Tengah (Elite) and North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), with discounts starting at 20% for drivers of Class 1 (mostly cars) vehicles travelling over 100km who pay using Touch’n’Go, SmartTag or Plus Miles.

The catch is that the vehicles must adhere to the entry and exit times prescribed under the TTA.

There is even more good news for those opting to travel more than 100km on Feb 16 and 23, as the discount goes up to 30%.

“This is to encourage more to travel on off-peak dates,” said PLUS managing director Datuk Noorizah Abdul Hamid to the media yesterday.

Other steps to speed up flow will be the opening of a fourth lane at critical stretches between Shah Alam-Jalan Duta-Sungai Buloh overhead restaurant, and from Nilai Utara to Seremban, as well as deploying 3,000 personnel at all plazas and opening up a further 1,200 toll counters.

PlusRonda teams will also be increased, while additional parking areas will be created at 21 key rest stops, including putting in portable toilets at 20 locations.

Prolintas, the concessionaire for the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway and Kemuning-Shah Alam Expressway will also be offering a 20% discount, reported Bernama.

The group’s chief executive officer, Zainuddin A. Kadir, said the discount was offered to all Class 1 vehicles using cashless payment from 5am on Feb 19 to 6am on Feb 20.

The Road Transport Department has barred heavy vehicles from using the expressways on the four days mentioned.

Meanwhile, Petronas Dagangan Bhd is offering snacks and coffee as selected stations along expressways and major roads on Feb 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 39 participating Petronas stations.

Petronas Dagangan managing director and CEO Mohd Ibrahimnuddin Mohd Yunus said the Petronas Coffee Break Campaign was part of the brand’s commitment towards safety by encouraging drivers to “refresh and recharge”.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) has also warned travellers to exercise care during the festive period.

“Anticipate a difference in traffic volume, and don’t hesitate to take a break if you need to,” urged Miros director-general Prof Wong Shaw Voon.

The PLUS TTA can be found at www.plus.com.my.


VW's Diess says existential electric race awaits after pandemic

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen AG chief executive officer Herbert Diess vowed to pursue a sweeping transition to electric cars, declaring it a matter of survival even as the coronavirus risks upending business in the near term.

While the world’s largest carmaker has a "healthy order bank,” its development in the coming months hinges on major economies controlling the disease and averting restrictions that would hurt demand and operations, Diess said today.

Despite the uncertainties, VW will press ahead with aggressive investment in new technology to avoid falling behind as the auto industry fundamentally changes.

"If you’re not fast enough, you’re not going to survive,” Diess said during a virtual Bloomberg event. "In the long run, climate change will be the biggest challenge mankind is facing.”

While VW CEO warned another lockdown would be "difficult to manage,” the German automaker has shown it can weather turbulence. It swung back to profit in the third quarter, echoing robust results from peers including Daimler AG, Tesla Inc. and Ford Motor Co. on the back of a swift demand recovery in China.

Another wave of new infections in key markets, an unsettled U.S. election and Britain’s messy exit from the European Union are now among the risks facing the auto industry. Car registrations fell in Europe’s four largest auto markets last month, signaling that sales have relapsed after a surprise gain in September.

Beyond managing through those issues, the more complex task for the 62-year-old Diess is positioning the 83-year-old industrial behemoth for the future. Volkswagen, which operates the Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini brands, owned the combustion engine and now wants to control the software brains for next-generation vehicles.

"This is the most important race and decisive point for our industry in next five to 10 years,” he said, adding he won’t compromise on the company’s technology roadmap even if the coronavirus crisis saps sales. "We think we can do it. We have software skills and we are ramping up fast.”

Internal hurdles

Pulling off the transition trying to catch up with Tesla has been made all the more challenging by divisions within VW’s supervisory board and powerful works council that publicly clashed with the former BMW AG executive earlier this year.

The coming months will be critical for the CEO to show his electric push is working.

After the launch of the ID.3 was delayed due to software problems, VW is going global with the introduction of its crossover sibling, the ID.4, which will be built and sold in China and eventually the US.

To bolster its electric push, Volkswagen plans to raise investment in the technology, is building up battery capacities and transforming entire plants to churn our electric cars, Diess said. Even the ultra-luxury Bentley brand will become electric within four to five years, he said.

VW’s supervisory board will meet next week for the annual review of the group’s investment plans. Budgets are poised to tighten after the pandemic weighed on economic prospects, and analysts are concerned about Diess’s efforts to lower costs.

The investment review might also determine whether the CEO can make VW’s conglomerate structure more nimble by focusing decision-making mainly on the VW, Audi and Porsche divisions.

Over the past four years, the manufacturer has been reviewing options for non-core businesses and niche nameplates - like the Ducati motorcycle brand and Bugatti supercars.

Volkswagen aims to double electric-vehicle sales in 2021, the CEO said, as the company seeks to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations in Europe and elsewhere, part of a broad-based political push to adapt to climate change.

Much to do

"Government’s play a huge a role” by setting policy to influence consumer choices, Diess said. "For many people, it will be very difficult to decide against an electric car.”

With an eye on the election in the US, he said his strategy probably better aligns with that of the Democrats, even though the company has developed a "trustful” relationship with Donald Trump’s administration.

While incumbent automakers wrestle with overhauls of their legacy operations, Tesla has surged ahead to become the world’s most-valuable car manufacturer, even as it generates far less cash and sells fewer vehicles than VW or Toyota Motor Corp.

That puts VW under pressure to keep pace with technology development, even as the pandemic roils day-to-day business of making cars. At a stake is what role, Volkswagen will play in the future.

"Are we able to convert this exciting, precious device into a real internet device?” Diess said. "We’re confident, but there’s still a lot to do.”


Latest Subaru BRZ is here

                KUALA LUMPUR: Motor Image Malaysia, the authorised distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country, has introduced the refreshed BRZ.

The new BRZ (available in Crystal White Pearl, WR Blue Pearl and Pure Red) is currently priced on-the-road with GST without insurance at RM224,389 (manual transmission) and RM230,749 (automatic transmission).

It features a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder 'Boxer' engine that helps sit the vehicle’s mass at 460mm above the ground, while helping to align the crankshaft perfectly with the drive-shaft.

With 200PS and 205Nm from the engine, it is managed by a six-speed manual (7.8L/100km) or automatic gearbox (7.1L/100km) before reaching the rear wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential.

The car sits on a fully independent suspension system and is touted to have TRACK mode.

There's been slight changes in the looks department that has helped improve aerodynamic performance along with some aesthetic upgrades to the C-shaped lamps, LED headlights, new front end, twin-tail muffler and 17-inch 10-spoke design aluminium-alloy wheels helps it stand out over its predecessor.

Inside, there's Alcantara inserts for the lowered seats and the rear seat's backrest can also be folded down to help accommodate a set of tyres or two golf bags as drivers get to peer at new instrument cluster.

For safety, the BRZ possesses seven airbags, anti-lock braking system, hill-start assist and vehicle dynamics control among others.

It also has a ring-shaped reinforced frame for better occupant safety, which has strengthened the passenger cabin from the roof to the doors, pillars and floor thanks to the predominant use of high-tensile steel,

For more information, log on to www.subaru.asia/my.


Tesla sends Shanghai boss and aides to jumpstart US output

Zhu speaking at a delivery ceremony for China-made Model 3 vehicles in the Shanghai Gigafactory in December 2019. — Reuters
SHANGHAI/SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc's China chief Tom Zhu and a team of his reports has been brought in to troubleshoot production issues in the United States, fuelling talk among colleagues he is being groomed for a bigger role at a time when chief executive Elon Musk has been distracted by Twitter.

Zhu, who heads Tesla's Asia operations, has been travelling with a team including Shanghai gigafactory manager, Song Gang, to Tesla's plants in California and Texas, and was there as recently as last week, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

Both asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Tesla did not respond to written requests for comment from Reuters sent to its Shanghai and global media relations accounts. Musk did not respond to a Reuters' email seeking comments for the story. Zhu and Song could not be reached for comment.

Under Zhu, Tesla Shanghai rebounded strongly from lockdowns this year to bring Tesla close to its growth target for 2022 of 50% production growth. Analysts expect output to fall short at closer to 45%, based on forecasts for the just-concluding fourth quarter.

Zhu and others made their first trip to the United States for Tesla this year in August, one of the people said, at a time when the company has some key management roles there unfilled.

Among the projects the Shanghai team have worked on is Tesla's long-delayed Cybertruck, its next new model, a third person said.

Tesla's Austin plant is ramping up production of the Model Y and readying the Cybertruck. The Fremont plant is preparing to launch a new version of the Model 3, which will start production in Shanghai next year, Reuters has reported.

Some Tesla investors and analysts have voiced concerns about Musk's distraction following his acquisition of Twitter in October and the depth of the executive bench at the electric-car company.

Bloomberg reported this month that Zhu was helping to run the Austin plant. However, Zhu's colleagues in Shanghai believe he is in line for a more senior and wider-ranging role at Tesla, the two people said.

A close aide to Zhu in Shanghai circulated a farewell poem for the China boss in recent weeks on social media, anticipating his new assignment, according to the message reviewed by Reuters.

Shanghai team on the road

At the Austin factory, Chinese engineers were seen by people at the plant working in the area reserved for development of the Cybertruck and batteries, a third person with knowledge of operations there said. Tesla has targeted production of the Cybertruck next year.

At Fremont California, Chinese staff have been working on Model Y underbody assemblies, according to another person with knowledge of their work there.

When Tesla posted a picture on Twitter on Friday to celebrate Austin hitting a new production milestone of 3,000 Model Ys in a week — still less than a third of the weekly output of Shanghai last quarter — Zhu was shown smiling with hundreds of people on the factory floor.

Zhu, who was born in China but now holds a New Zealand passport, is a no-fuss manager who favours Tesla-branded fleece jackets and lives in a government-subsidised apartment a 10-minute drive from the Shanghai Gigafactory, according to people who work with him and his comments to Chinese media.

When Musk sent a memo in early June warning he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy, Shanghai was on track to end the quarter down 36% from the quarter before because of Covid lockdowns, data released later showed.

With help from Shanghai officials, Zhu restarted operations by asking thousands of workers and suppliers to stay at the factory for more than six weeks. Zhu himself opted to stay longer, sleeping at the factory as Musk had in 2018 when Fremont was struggling to ramp production, two people with knowledge of the events told Reuters.

Shanghai, a complex that employs some 20,000 workers, came roaring back in the third quarter, with output of the Model Y and Model 3 up over 70% on the quarter.

Through September, Shanghai accounted for more than half of Tesla's output.

The plant has excelled in applying cost-saving, factory-floor innovations for Tesla, including the use of massive casting machines to simplify production.

"The manufacturing people who led that push are obvious choices to spread the production gospel into the other new plants," said Sam Fiorani, who tracks production trends Auto Forecast Solutions.

Tesla board member James Murdoch said last month the company had recently identified a potential successor to Musk without naming the person. Murdoch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters has no evidence that Zhu is the possible candidate.

"With Elon Musk's attention currently being pulled in a number of directions, finding someone to help guide Tesla is important, especially someone with the manufacturing know-how that Tom Zhu has," Fiorani said.

Some investors are sceptical that Zhu alone could turn things around: "In America, doing business is very, very different than running a factory in China," Ross Gerber, a Tesla investor and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management said on Twitter Spaces on Tuesday. "So I think Elon needs to be at Tesla."