Toyota slashes leasing fee for troubled bZ4X EV to rekindle orders

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp resumed taking leasing orders for its first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV) in Japan today, halving a one-time fee to attract interest in a car that suffered a safety recall after just two months on the market.

The automaker said the bZ4X crossover is available through lease only in its home market, where gasoline-electric hybrid models are more popular than EVs in part because consumers prefer not to have to worry about battery life and resale value.

When Toyota introduced the car in May, it charged a one-time application fee of 770,000 yen (RM24,635) on top of a 107,800 yen (RM3,449) monthly lease for the first four years of a 10-year contract.

Starting today, the application fee is 385,000 yen (RM12,318) while the monthly cost is 1,100 yen (RM36) cheaper. Those who signed up beforehand are eligible for a discount, said Shinya Kotera, president of KINTO, the Toyota unit offering the leases.

"In retrospect, we felt the price was a little too high and customers also pointed this out," he said, adding the EV is also available for corporate lease beginning today.

The discount is "painful" and unlikely to generate a significant surge in sales but KINTO will still be able to turn a profit, the former Toyota veteran told Reuters in an interview on Oct 19 that was embargoed for release today.

The automaker recalled the bZ4X and halted production within two months of launch after discovering sharp turns and sudden braking could loosen a hub bolt, raising the risk of a wheel becoming detached. It restarted production on Oct 6.

The model was a flagship of a belated global EV strategy by a firm once lauded by environmentalists and green investors for its revolutionary hybrid petrol-electric technology, but since criticised for being slow to embrace all-electric vehicles.

Just a year into its US$38 billion EV plan, Toyota is already considering starting again to better compete in a market growing beyond the automaker's projections, Reuters reported on Monday.

Toyota initially aimed to lease 5,000 bZ4X crossovers in the current financial year, but Kotera said that would be difficult to achieve following the recall and because of a cautious approach to EVs in a country that lacks charging infrastructure.

"I don't think we are in the kind of environment where customers who would buy the bZ4X would jump at the chance to buy it, so we have to take our time in making the effort," he said.


Vehicle sales expected to grow 9% this year amid scepticism

                PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), an agency under the International Trade and Industry Ministry, has forecast total industry volume (TIV) to grow 9% to 610,000 units this year despite scepticism that the local automotive industry will be affected by the current weak market sentiment.

At a briefing earlier this week, MARii chief executive officer Datuk Madani Sahari said the growth forecast was done last month, prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“We have factored in many variables and believe that we can hit that target, ” he says, adding that MARii is hopeful that the Covid-19 pandemic will ease eventually.

Madani considers Malaysian vehicles the cheapest in Asean and that there is no reason why buyers should be put off by the prices, adding that total production volume is expected to grow to 577,348 units this year from 571,632 units in 2019.

There will also be a continued increase in terms of energy efficient vehicle penetration, at 90%. In terms of exports of parts and components, including re-manufacturing, the value is expected to contribute RM16bil this year, ” he says.

MARii is optimistic that TIV can achieve an average growth of 9% a year over the next decade to hit 1.22 million units in 2030, when the current annual growth rate is barely 2%.

Some local pundits believe that it would be a real tall order for the local automotive industry to achieve an annual growth rate of 9%.

“TIV hit 605,000 units in 2010. It hit a high of 666,677 units in 2015 and then contracted to 580,085 units the following year. It fell to 576,625 units in 2017, before picking up 3.8% in 2018. It didn’t even surpass 2% in 2019, ” said an analyst.

Another analyst concurred that it would be difficult to achieve an annual growth rate of nearly 10%.

“After 10 years, we’re actually back to the same TIV level of 2010, ” he said.

Last month, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) announced that TIV finally exceeded 600,000 units in 2019 after failing to surpass that mark for three consecutive years, rising 1% year-on-year to hit 604,287 units.

For 2020, the association is projecting TIV growth of less than 1% to 607,000 units.

TIV got off to a weak start this year, with vehicle sales contracting 12% year-on-year in January to 42,652 units.

MIDF Research, in a recent report, said although this may have been largely due to January being a shorter working month (as a result of the Chinese New Year festivities), it does not rule out the possibility of some sort of weakness in underlying demand playing out.

“Proton and Toyota staged commendable growth in January, outperforming the industry’s contraction.”

The research house is maintaining a cautious outlook for the automotive sector this year.

“The Covid-19 outbreak has not impacted the domestic auto sector so far, though we note that players such as Proton and Sime Darby have direct supply and demand exposure respectively to the Chinese automotive value chain.

At the launch of the National Automotive Policy 2020 earlier this month, MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad revealed that some of the association’s members had been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Chinese car companies, especially, will be impacted because their supply chain will be affected. Hyundai and a number of other brands have already announced that production has been halted because their parts are coming from China, ” she said.

For now, Aishah said it’s still too early for the MAA to revise its 2020 forecast, unless the situation worsens.

In a report earlier this month, MIDF Research said the local automotive sector is unlikely to face supply disruption in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, despite having direct exposure to China.

“Component supply is a risk, given the complex automotive value chain and impact on downstream output.” The research house emphasised, however, that unlike natural disaster-driven crises such as the 2011 Japan earthquake and the Thai floods, supply disruptions could recover quickly as infrastructure and inventories remain intact.

“Malaysia’s major source of completely-knocked-down kits and components, namely Thailand, has exposure to auto part imports from China, but mainly for replacements and supply to Chinese original equipment manufacturers’ local assembly, ” it said.

The research house says consensus gross domestic product growth forecasts have already been revised downwards earlier this year, after a surprise under-performance in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“For now, our 2020 TIV is maintained at a flattish 0.2% year-on-year growth. Among the key players, both Proton and Perodua are expected to launch their B-segment sport-utility vehicles this year, while Honda’s City and Jazz as well as Nissan’s Almera are due for replacement.”


Toyota aims to make its factories carbon neutral by 2035, says exec

                TOKYO: Toyota will aim to make all its global factories carbon neutral by 2035, a senior executive said today, pulling forward the goal by 15 years from 2050.

Toyota's chief production officer Masamichi Okada said the automaker will focus initially on introducing new technologies for processes such as painting, coating and casting.

"In this way, the processes that have high generation of CO2 will be focused on to reduce as much as possible, or even eliminate CO2 emissions," Okada told an online media briefing.

"By identifying these areas, we will focus our resources and we believe that will contribute to shorten the time until we can achieve carbon neutrality," he said.

The automaker will also consider having onsite and offsite power sources that it can rely on for renewable energy, he added.

With pressure growing on global automakers to slash emissions, German luxury automaker BMW said its factories in China plan to reach carbon emissions neutrality by the end of this year, while Ford also aims to power all of its plants with locally sourced renewable energy by 2035. read more

Toyota has said in recent years that electric vehicles (EVs) will play a greater role in reducing emissions but other solutions should be used, like its successful hybrid or slow-selling hydrogen vehicles.

To achieve carbon neutrality, Toyota aims to have a variety of options, Okada said, adding that the automaker wants to work with multiple types of models for EVs and assemble them simultaneously.

"We're going to utilise our experience and knowledge that we have gained through the years," he said.


Shanghai auto show: Geely enters long-range Zeekr 001 as Tesla Model 3 fighter

                SHANGHAI: Zhejiang Geely Holding, one of China’s biggest carmakers and the owner of Sweden’s Volvo Cars, has entered the fray against Tesla by launching an electric car it describes as a vehicle to excite rather than commute in.

The Zeekr 001 car, a four-door sedan with a range of 700km, is priced at 281,000 yuan (RM178,000), a little higher than the Shanghai-made Tesla Model 3’s starting price of 249,900 yuan (RM159,000).

It will offer air suspension that automatically adjusts ground clearance, and frameless automatic doors that open when a passenger approaches, and close behind them.

“The Zeekr brand is here to succeed in the premium EV [electric vehicle] segment,” said Geely president An Conghui, who is also chief executive of Zeekr Technology, at a launch ceremony on Thursday.

He said it took the carmaker five years to create the new Zeekr brand. It will compete in a fast-changing car market where electrification and digitalisation are the keys to the future of mobility.

“We have the best resources of a car company behind us, including an established supply chain and a wide industrial footprint that is ready to begin producing vehicles.”

Designed in Sweden at Geely Design Gothenburg, the Zeekr 001 will use facial recognition to adjust the car’s settings to the personal preferences of who ever is approaching. Over-the-air updates will be conducted at least once a quarter for the lifetime of the car.

“The Zeekr car is big and spacious, and that will help it attract Chinese drivers,” said Yale Zhang, managing director of Automotive Foresight, an industry researcher in Shanghai. “Conventional carmakers are now upping the ante in EVs and mounting a challenge to Tesla and other leading EV start-ups.”

Earlier this year, Geely formed a raft of partnerships with companies including technology behemoth Baidu, and Foxconn, the world’s largest contract maker of consumer electronics, to build smart electric cars as part of its ambitions to become a global leader in the automotive industry.

Zeekr plans to build 2,200 charging stations by the end of 2023.

Tesla is still the runaway leader in mainland China’s premium EV segment.

In March, the American giant delivered 35,478 vehicles made at its Shanghai Gigafactory 3 – 25,327 Model 3s and 10,151 Model Ys. Its sales jumped 93.7 per cent from the previous month.

Chinese electric car start-ups – NIO, Xpeng and Li Auto – are building smart EVs with longer ranges than Tesla’s Model 3s and Model Ys. But they are still lagging far behind Elon Musk’s carmaker in terms of sales.

China delivered 1.17 million new-energy vehicles - which comprise pure electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell cars – last year, and UBS predicted that could jump by nearly six-fold to 6.6 million units in 2025.

The battery-powered Zeekr-branded cars is based on the open-source Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform launched late last year.

It uses a battery system with a lifespan of 2 million kilometres made by Contemporary Amperex Technology. — South China Morning Post


VW's famed 1.5 TSI petrol engine refined for greater efficiency and lower emissions

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen has enhanced its bestselling 1.5 TSI petrol engine and is now introducing the latest generation, the TSI evo2, in the first models in Europe.

This engine makes it possible to reduce both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The compact, ultra-modern four-cylinder engine will initially be available with an output of 110 kW (150 PS), and further variants of the 1.5 TSI evo2 will follow.

The T-Roc and T-Roc Cabriolet will be the first models to be delivered with the new engine. The TSI evo2 will also be introduced successively in other models by the end of the year.

“The 1.5 TSI is a key pillar of the Volkswagen engine range because it powers many models worldwide, from the T-Cross through to the Passat Varian," said Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand, responsible for “Technical Development”.

"We have continuously enhanced the compact four-cylinder unit. It now offers significant fuel consumption benefits and a very dynamic response.”

“The highlights of the latest version include Active Cylinder Management ACTplus, an emission control module close to the engine and the modern TSI-Evo combustion process.”

In the latest evolutionary stage of the 1.5 TSI, the development engineers have moved the three-way catalytic converter and petrol particulate filter close to the engine in a single emission control module, thereby further improving the efficiency of the emission control system.

As a further contribution to sustainability, this permits reduced use of precious metals in production and at the same time creates the basis for compliance with future emission standards.

A key technological feature for reducing fuel consumption in the 1.5 l evo2 is the enhanced Active Cylinder Management system, ACTplus – a joint development of the Wolfsburg and Salzgitter sites.

The focus of this new development was on improving activation and deactivation of the two cylinders in order to guarantee smooth engine running.

The combustion process in two-cylinder operation was optimised, thus also allowing the operating range of the Active Cylinder Management system to be extended.

With ACTplus, the second and third cylinders are not fired when the engine is operating at low and medium loads and speeds.

This switchover is hardly noticeable. The efficiency is increased in the active cylinders, while the middle cylinders simply follow with practically no losses – they are reactivated when the accelerator is pressed again.

Alongside the variable-geometry turbocharger, the 1.5 TSI also features other high-tech components: the high-pressure injection system generates a pressure of up to 350 bar, plasma-coated cylinder walls reduce friction, and pistons with cast-in cooling ducts allow combustion to be optimised and efficiency increased.

The TSI evo2 engines are designed for operation with fuels containing ingredients made from renewable energy sources – this also ensures that they are ready to meet future requirements.

In addition, they are suitable for various hybridisation levels; a system power of up to 200 kW (272 PS) is possible with a plug-in concept, for example.

The TSI-evo combustion process already familiar from the 1.5 l TSI evo1 is also used in the TSI evo2 generation. Alongside optimisation of combustion chamber cooling, the decisive factor is once more the symbiosis of the Miller cycle (early closing of the inlet valves with high compression) and VTG turbocharging technology (variable turbocharger geometry).

A key factor for this next step was above all the possibility of developing and optimising the relevant engine software components internally at Volkswagen.

By 2030, Volkswagen plans to already achieve a sales share of 70 percent with its electric models. Parallel to this, the important combustion engines are receiving further enhancements.

There are two reasons for this: firstly, this will allow them to comply with future worldwide emission standards such as Euro 7. Secondly, the combustion-engine models from Volkswagen are still popular in many markets – particularly where electric mobility is establishing itself only slowly due to the lack of charging infrastructure.

The compact TSI engines from the EA 211 family (EA = German acronym for development order) have been global bestsellers since 2012.

Each year, Volkswagen builds over four million of them at 11 locations on three continents. At their debut in 2012 – in three capacity variants – they already incorporated a host of high-tech features. Strict lightweight construction reduced their weight by up to 21kg compared with their predecessors.


Australian number plate sells for nearly RM9mil

                SYDNEY: A black-and-white number plate with the single digit "4" has sold at a Sydney auction for a record-breaking near US$2.0mil (RM8.5mil), reportedly to a Chinese-Australian sex toy entrepreneur.

The sale shattered pre-sale estimates of up to Aus$1.5 million, with the auction hammer coming down at A$2.45mil — more than twice the average cost of a Sydney home.

"Just nine of these New South Wales number plates were ever issued, making them ultra-collectible and irreplaceable," said Shannons auction manager Christophe Boribon. "Their unique status and desirability is never going to change.

"The opportunity to acquire such a plate is exceptionally rare, as most single-digit plates remain in family hands, are usually passed down through generations and rarely, if ever, come onto the open market."

The auction house refused to reveal who the buyer was, but the Sydney Morning Herald said it was Chinese-Australian billionaire Peter Tseng, who made his fortune in sex toys.

It said he arrived at the Sydney auction on Monday evening in his red Ferrari bearing a No. 2 licence plate.

He also reportedly owns a Hong Kong-registered No.1 plate and a personalised number plate "ONE" registered to his 1969 Mercedes in Sydney.

Boribon said the previous Australian auction record was for the NSW plate "2", which sold for A$689,000 (RM2.3mil) in 2003.

According to records, the "4" plate first adorned a 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, then owned by Michelin tyres importer Noris Duval, in New South Wales in the early 1920s.

More recently it was on another Rolls-Royce — that of Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond, who then sold it to a Sydney collector who was among crowd on Monday.

The number "4" was one of seven black-and-white heritage NSW plates at the auction, with "321" selling for A$192,000 (RM653,000) while "1968" made A$94,000 (RM320,000).

According to the Herald, the New South Wales "1" plate is owned by the family of the late founding chairman of Australian National Airways, Sir Frederick Stewart, which has been in the family since the 1930s.

The number four is considered unlucky in Chinese culture because it almost sounds similar to the word for "death".


Third generation Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain set for Borneo Safari duties

                KOTA KINABALU: After showcasing its dazzling urban style at this year’s Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is now ready to get down and dirty in this year’s Borneo Safari International Off Road Challenge.

Three units of the award-winning pick-up truck are set to perform duties as the official media vehicles.

Sabah Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) president Faez Nordin who received the trucks from Isuzu Malaysia’s marketing manager Alan Lee thanked Isuzu for their continued support of the week-long event that is scheduled to run from the final weekend of October for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic broke.

 Faez receiving the vehicles from Lee.

This year’s event is expected to traverse some of the most difficult terrain in the lower plateaus of Mount Kinabalu in the region of Kota Belud.

While magnificent views of the mountain and crystal-clear river flowing waters are on offer, the rocky and rugged terrain poses a significant challenge and experience to man and machine.

Faez said an event of this magnitude requires tremendous support both in monetary terms as well as with the use of highly-capable vehicles.

“We are very grateful to Isuzu Malaysia for providing us with both once again as the event’s Platinum Sponsor and supplier of the official media cars,” said Faez.

This year's Borneo Safari will also witness the debut of the all-new third-generation D-Max with the flagship X-Terrain tasked to conquer the unforgiving jungles of Borneo.

Isuzu Malaysia chief operating officer Kenkichi Sogo said the X-Terrain was selected as the flag bearer as it is endowed with a significant array of electronic driving aids.

“Coupled with its highly-engineered mechanical components, we believe the D-Max X-Terrain combines the brains and brawn required to become one of the most capable modern off-road vehicles in the event,” he said.

The D-Max X-Terrain will now follow in the long tradition of service as the official media cars in the Borneo Safari, with both the first and second generation versions of the D-Max successfully pressed into service in the past.

Follow Isuzu D-Max Malaysia’s official Facebook or their social media platforms to keep up to date with the happenings during the Borneo Safari that runs from Oct 30-Nov 6.

There will even be a Watch and Win web series that will follow so be sure to keep in touch through these platforms to win exciting prizes.


Vietnam's VinFast steals show in Paris

                PARIS: Global sporting and style icon, David Beckham, helped new Vietnamese car manufacturer, VinFast, reveal its first two vehicles at the 2018 Mondial de l’Auto in Paris earlier today.

Huge crowds of journalists flocked to the Paris Motor Show display of the new brand where they witnessed him unveil the company’s new LUX A2.0 sedan and LUX SA2.0 SUV in what was the vehicles’ world debut.

Vietnamese celebrity, Trần Tiểu Vy - voted Miss Vietnam 2018, was also in attendance as the two vehicles were driven onto the stand in front of hundreds of watching journalists, photographers and videographers.

As the cars were revealed he told the assembled crowd: “Vietnam is such a beautiful country and I can see how the VinFast design team have been able to bring some of that beauty alive in the lines of these amazing new cars.

“I’ve always been a car fanatic, and it’s a thrill to be here in Paris to celebrate the arrival of a new carmaker on the global stage,” he added, “The passion that the VinFast team have for these cars is infectious. It’s an inspirational story and I’m really excited to have been part of this launch moment for VinFast.”

 From left, Miss Vietnam 2018 Trần Tiểu Vy, VinFast Chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy and David Beckham.

VinFast Chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy who opened the press conference said: “The Vietnamese people will be immensely proud, honoured and excited to see two such well-known figures unveiling these first cars from Vietnam in such a high profile setting as the Paris Motor Show. Together they represent our intention for VinFast to be a successful automotive brand both in Vietnam and internationally.”

”With our ambitious plans to bring these two vehicles to market in such a short time, it was crucial for us to make a big entrance and an immediate impact, and we certainly did that today,” she added.

With Vietnamese spirit, Italian design and European technology, the two models have been developed to international standards after the Vietnamese people voted on their favourite styling sketches from a range of options presented in October 2017.

VinFast’s participation at the 2018 Paris Motor Show will significantly raise the profile of the brand and these two models ahead of the start of sales in Vietnam in September 2019.

In addition to the cars being presented in Paris, VinFast is rapidly developing other vehicles and the company is planning to export to foreign markets in the coming years.

As a proud Vietnamese business with a truly global outlook, VinFast is working with world-leading European design, engineering and production technology partners to create products that meet international standards and customer expectations in terms of design, quality, dynamics, premium in-car features and the ownership experience.

VinFast has also recruited senior executives from some of the industry’s leading automotive companies. As a newcomer to the automotive industry, this investment builds a strong foundation to ensure VinFast can build a highly successful automotive business from scratch within a remarkably short timescale.

VinFast is a subsidiary of Vingroup, Vietnam’s biggest private enterprise, with interests in several market sectors including retail, construction, real estate and education.


Electric car laggard Australia prepares to release the brake

                SYDNEY: An impediment to electric-vehicle sales in one of the world’s biggest laggard markets may finally be on its way out.

The absence of fuel-efficiency standards in Australia has long been blamed for making the country a dumping ground for old and dirty models automakers aren’t allowed to sell elsewhere.

Australia’s EV fans have meanwhile been left to scrap over the few pricey electric models available.

In a key step, Australia’s government will this month explore ways to introduce efficiency targets. The newly elected Labor administration is seeking carmakers’ views to help develop a strategy to catch up with markets that embraced EVs years ago.

New regulation would go some way to address Australia’s status as an EV anomaly - a developed nation that’s one of the biggest per-capita polluters where electric cars accounted for just 2% of new auto sales last year.

As US EV sales break records and President Joe Biden offers tax breaks for going electric, Australia has defied the global shift.

Wait times for a new Tesla in Sydney are so long that second-hand Model 3s are going for more than A$130,000 (RM394,000).

Australia is the only OECD nation other than Russia that doesn’t have or isn’t developing fuel-efficiency standards, according to Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

There are just eight EVs priced under A$60,000 (RM182,000) in Australia, compared with 26 in the UK, Bowen says.

Global manufacturing giants Volkswagen AG and Nissan Motor Co. are among those supporting the push for new fuel standards in Australia.

Volkswagen says countries that impose fines for missing fuel-efficiency targets jump up the priority list for EV shipments.

"Greater supply inevitably leads to greater affordability,” said Paul Sansom, the German company’s managing director for Australia.

With car production cycles planned years in advance, Nissan says fuel-efficiency standards in Australia would establish certainty about the size of the local EV market.

"Australia does not currently get the range of choice of EVs that other markets enjoy,” Nissan said in an email.

Without a long-term goal to decarbonise transport, "Australia will continue to be a laggard in terms of market uptake.”

Fuel-efficiency standards typically penalise carmakers if new vehicles exceed a certain level of carbon emissions.

Automakers can gain credits to be traded with other manufacturers when their fleet beats emission targets.

Australia’s government should aim for all new-car sales to be zero-emission by 2035 to deliver on the country’s net-zero commitment by 2050, the country’s Electric Vehicle Council said.

While the scope and timing of Australia’s targets isn’t clear, they’re likely to have teeth.

"Standards that lack ambition will leave us at the back of the global queue for longer,” Minister Bowen said last month as he announced the consultation paper for a national EV strategy.

Fuel-efficiency targets would boost EV supply, while the government’s planned EV tax credits will stoke demand, said Diane Kraal, a lecturer in business law and taxation who’s an EV researcher at Melbourne’s Monash University.

"We have to step up and bring ourselves in line with what’s happening in the rest of the world,” she said.


Nissan used uncertified inspectors even after misconduct found

                TOKYO: Nissan said on Wednesday it conducted uncertified vehicle checks as recently as last week even after revealing the widespread misconduct at its domestic factories.

Japan’s second-largest automaker has recalled all 1.2 million new cars it sold in Japan over the past three years after discovering final vehicle checks for the domestic market were not performed by certified technicians.

An internal investigation discovered the latest misconduct at affiliate Nissan Shatai Co Ltd’s Shonan factory on Oct 11, a Nissan spokesman said by email.

At a news conference on Oct 2, chief executive Hiroto Saikawa said only certified technicians had conducted checks since Sept 20.

However, two uncertified technicians carried out inspections at the Shonan plant even after that date, the automaker said on Wednesday, with around 3,800 vehicles affected.

Shipments of vehicles produced at the Shonan plant were suspended after the issue was discovered and resumed on Oct 16, the automaker said.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport inspected Nissan’s factories earlier this month, finding names of certified technicians used on documents to sign off final vehicle checks conducted by non-certified technicians.

The ministry has asked Nissan to report measures to prevent a recurrence of the issue by the end of this month.


CES 2016: Volkswagen's hippie-era Microbus morphs into all-electric van

LAS VEGAS: Volkswagen AG is using this week's Consumer Electronics Show to hark back to happier times as the scandal-burdened German carmaker presents an emissions-free concept model reminiscent of its iconic, hippie-era Microbus.

The VW BUDD-e heralds new high-performance battery technology the company is creating for future electric cars, the Wolfsburg-based automaker said in a statement on Wednesday in advance of the show's opening in Las Vegas. VW didn’t specify whether it expects to produce a vehicle based on the all-wheel- drive concept.

Volkswagen is seeking to balance model development with the widening costs of a diesel-emissions cheating scandal that emerged in September, a task complicated by a US Justice Department lawsuit filed on Monday seeking penalties as high as US$80 billion.

Even with a 7 percent cut in the group's capital budget this year and reductions in other spending, Herbert Diess, head of the namesake VW brand, has vowed to invest in electric-drive systems and in December outlined plans for flat automotive batteries.

The battery for the BUDD-e is integrated into the vehicle floor and powers two electric motors, which drive both axles. The van offers a maximum range of as much as 375km, compared with 413km that Tesla Motors Inc. asserts for its new Model X electric sport utility vehicle.

The VW model's battery takes about 30 minutes to recharge to 80 percent of capacity, either from being plugged into a power socket or through an induction pad. The BUDD-e has a top speed of 180kph, and can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 6.9 seconds.

The BUDD-e exterior is similar to that of the Microbus, which was built primarily in the 1950s and ’60s. Interior features include carpet or wooden flooring, a cushioned side bench, an electronic display panel instead of a dashboard and a wall-mounted touchscreen for the infotainment system.

Volkswagen looked into bringing back a version of the Microbus about 15 years ago especially for sale in the US, but scrapped the plans in 2005 after deciding the model wouldn’t make money. An electric variant would enter a segment that has yet to generate high demand, and VW has put off a redesign of its top-end Phaeton sedan as a battery-powered model.

 The e-Golf Touch infotainment system.

VW's display at the CES also includes the e-Golf Touch, a hatchback whose new infotainment system includes 9.2-inch, high-resolution touchscreen as well as gesture controls similar to what the carmaker plans for coming compact models.

The e-Golf Touch also marks the debut of Volkswagen’s latest generation voice control technology. This system offers significantly improved controls, as voice commands are displayed on the screen to accompany the request. This new version of the voice control system will be launched in the early summer of 2016 in Europe.


Sept 14-20: RON97 petrol up 3 sen to RM2.53


Swiss Microlino reboots bubble car with electric model

                ZURICH: Two Swiss brothers are seeking to put their country back on the carmaking map by reviving a 1950s motoring classic with an electric twist.

Oliver and Merlin Ouboter have launched a new version of the micro car, modelled on BMW's Isetta bubble car, this time with four wheels, not three.

The new Microlino replaces the old petrol engine with a 12.5 kilowatt electric engine giving it a range of up to 230km and a top speed of 90kph.

Its light weight - 496 kg - and small size - 2.5 metres long - reduce the vehicle's environmental impact and makes it easier to park in tiny spaces, said Oliver Ouboter, chief operating officer at Microlino AG.

"The idea was to create an alternative to conventional cars. The Microlino does that much better than bicycles - it's weather protected, you have space for cargo, you can have two people sitting next to each other," said Ouboter.

"Because it's smaller than a conventional car it consumes less material to make it, and it has a smaller battery which means it uses less electricity," his brother Merlin added. "So the ecological footprint is about a third of a conventional electric car."

More than 35,000 reservations have been received for the Microlino, which is being built in Italy and costs upwards of 15,000 Swiss francs (RM72,000).

The Oubuters' parents - whose company has sold 90 million kick scooters - have invested more than 10 million francs (RM48mil) in the project, although the brothers declined to specify how much.

More known for chocolate, watches and banking, Switzerland did have a car industry in the early 20th century, with long forgotten brands such as Ajax, Fischer and Turicum.

High production costs and a tiny home market doomed many, although Switzerland does host some niche manufacturers.

"Ideas can be developed in Switzerland, the marketing is taking place here, but the mass production somewhere else. Microlino is the latest example of that," said Daniel Geissmann at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne.

"There is a market for such a car," he said. "It's striking and it's fun."


Waze introduces moods and colours to your drive

                KUALA LUMPUR: Waze, the Google-based global positioning system (GPS) navigation software app, has refreshed its brand identity by adding the element of fun into its users' drives.

Now, users are able to share the way they feel with the Waze community with Happy, Wild, Zombified, or anything in-between.

“Waze is home to the world's largest community of drivers, and we’ve always used the power of our people to transform the road into a happier, more humane place,” said Waze head of creative Jake Shaw.

Shaw added that the brand refresh is all about a unique visual Waze experience that comes with a new grid format and moods with a "lively" colour palette.

The company's addition of Moods basically enables users the ability of self-expression with the app.

Other than that, a new colour palette has been added for the benefit of users to reflect their uniqueness.

Also, the new visual language based on roads and maps has also been reflected on the company's website, emails, and social channels.

“We wanted to build a strong, flexible visual identity that would support the brand and its users while allowing them to authentically express themselves and have fun," said Waze Malaysia country lead Kelvin Sim.

For more information, log on to the company's blog.


Tesla celebrates holidays with fart sound app integration

                SAN FRANCISCO: After Tesla's Elon Musk alluded to a new fart feature in the Tesla app on Saturday, sure enough, Monday's software update came with an Easter egg giving you the options to "fart on demand" or "fart on turn signal."

You always knew your Tesla was missing something, right? You couldn't figure it out, but the car just wasn't quite living up to its full potential? Don't worry, Elon Musk apparently thought that the vehicles were lacking some pizzazz, and not a moment too soon, the Tesla software was updated with a hidden fart Easter egg.

It was hard to believe on Saturday when Musk tweeted, "Tesla *wind emoji* app almost done. Important to get every note right!" that he could be suggesting that Tesla's could be farting in the near future, but on Monday that's exactly what came to reality.

Not only can you select when fart noises come through the speakers — either on demand, when you activate a turn signal, or at random — but also you can choose which type of fart sounds: a Not a Fart, a Short Shorts Ripper, a Falcon Heavy, a Ludicrous Fart, a Neurastink, and a Boring Fart. It's not every day that a CEO will name farts in honour of his various ventures, but then again, we shouldn't be surprised by Musk.

Indeed, Musk put some Tesla resources towards creating a fart feature for the software. The company also added a fireplace Easter egg that turns the center screen into a festive, cozy fire. Tesla really is turning up the heat for the holidays.


New Ducati Streetfighter V4 and Scrambler 1100 PRO launched

                PETALING JAYA: Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Ducati products in Malaysia, has unveiled the Ducati Streetfighter V4, Streetfighter V4 S, the Scrambler 1100 PRO and 1100 Sport PRO priced at RM115,900, RM145,900, RM75,900 and RM80,900 respectively.

Ducati Streetfighter V4 and Streetfighter V4 S
This Panigale V4 is offered in stripped off fairings, a high and wide handlebar, 178kg (dry weight) on the scale, powered by the 1100 cc Desmosedici Stradale delivering 208 hp, aerodynamically enhanced with biplane wings, and finished off with a complete electronics package.

The Streetfighter V4 has the minimalist full-LED headlights, recalling the front of the Panigale V4 while evoking the grin of the Joker (the comic strip character from which the designer of the new naked drew inspiration).

The bike’s elegant yet aggressive design is complete with a front cover that hides the fixings and wirings of the TFT display.

 Ducati Streetfighter V4.

The Streetfighter V4’s fast, agile mixed-road performance demands maximum stability at high speed and when braking, reduced wheel-up during acceleration and minimized electronic control of the suspension set-up.

Ducati Corse specialists together with the Ducati Style Centre have developed aerodynamic biplane wings for the bike for optimum stability without compromising its performance.

The latest-generation electronics package on the Streetfighter V4 is based on a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU) which instantly detects the bikes’ roll, yaw and pitch angles.

The electronics oversee every part of the ride; some controls manage start, acceleration and braking, others handle traction, while some lend a helping hand in corners and out-of-corner stretches.

Accompanying the Streetfighter V4, the Streetfighter V4 S featuring Marchesini forged wheels and Öhlins electrically controlled suspension (43 mm NIX30 forks and TTX36 monoshock) and steering damper.

The latter uses the second-generation Öhlins Smart EC 2.0 system which, in addition to making full use of the IMU 6D, provides a more rider-friendly interface.

Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO and 1100 Sport PRO

Featuring an original design, the new Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO and 1100 Sport PRO models deliver the exhilaration of a 1079 cm³ engine packing generous torque right from the bottom of the rev range, and a 15-litre steel tank that, combined with a plush seat with enhanced coating, ensures that even the longest ride is as comfortable as it is exciting.

The Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO stands out for its new two-tone & Ocean Drive colour scheme, combined with a steel Trellis frame and rear aluminium subframe, both finished in black. The aluminium covers are also black.

A new right-side dual tailpipe and low-slung plate holder ensure distinctive rear-end styling and, together with the new livery, give the bike a coiled, compact look.

Another hallmark is the framed headlight; inspired by the protective adhesive tape used back in the ‘70s, a black metal “X” has been incorporated inside the headlight: a detail that makes the bike instantly identifiable, even with the lights off.

The Ducati Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO is the beefiest version in the Scrambler family. It features all the styling details of the PRO, but also a unique equipment set with Öhlins suspension, low-slung handlebars and Café Racer rear-view mirrors.

The 1100 Sport PRO also features a Matt Black colour scheme, complemented by side panels sporting a painted 1100 logo.

Both Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO variants are also at the forefront of electronics. They are equipped with Ducati Traction Control (DTC), regulated specifically for these models, and ABS Cornering, which ensure safety on every bend.

The three standard Riding Modes (Active, Journey and City) help even less experienced riders to find the right balance in the use of electronic components by choosing their riding style.

Datuk Nik Hamdam Nik Hassan, Group Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings “It brings us great joy to be able to bring more excitement to the Malaysian motorcycle and automotive scene with the launch of these amazing new Ducati and Scrambler models.

“The recent 2020 model launches over the past months have contributed to increasingly positive growth for the Ducati brand in Malaysia, which is remarkable given the rough roads that we are all traversing right now. The near future remains volatile but our goals, ambitions and trajectory remain steadfast – we will continue to stay on the right track.”

The Ducati Streetfighter V4 and V4 S, and Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO and Scrambler 1100 Sport PRO are now available for viewing and orders at authorised Ducati dealerships.

To celebrate the launch of the aforementioned bikes, Ducati Malaysia is also running a Ducati Digital Festival campaign from Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2020 which offers great deals including discounts up to 70% on official merchandise, demo bikes clearance sale and special financing packages with the lowest interest rates available.

Ducatisti can book a test ride or check out the special savings and packages being offered via Ducati Malaysia’s official social media pages Facebook or Instagram.

For the full Ducati and Scrambler range, customers can reach out to the following dealers: Ducati Petaling Jaya, Ducati Sungai Buloh, Ducati Penang.


Rally variant of Ford Ranger Raptor in the offing

Update:  See more details on Twitter account of Ford Performance with a video of the new Ranger Raptor undergoing tests.  The update came a few hours after this story was posted.

DETROIT: Ford has tapped social media to whip up some buzz on its Ranger Raptor Rally Version, which is due to be unveiled at the Melbourne Cup Day horse racing event today.

Ford released a teaser video showing the vehicle having extra lights, which could mean it would be aimed at fans of rallying such as the Baja 1000. If so, it certainly would have a Baja drive mode baked in as in the Ranger Raptor.

The new generation Ranger Raptor is rolling out in North America in 2023, so that would be the basis for Ford Performance to work on the racing variant that is set to break cover today.

Two output specs would be offered in the new Ranger Raptor namely 392hp/583Nm for US and Canada, while Europe would get a detuned 288hp/491Nm to comply with tougher emissions rules.

Ford has also changed the second-generation Ranger Raptor powertrain from a twin-turbodiesel four-cylinder to a V6 petrol mill.


New Mazda CX-5 rolls out of Kulim plant, prices start from RM135K

                KULIM: Watch out, Honda CR-V. The new Mazda CX-5 is barging onto your turf in October to give you a run for the money.

The new five-seater 2018 Mazda CX-5 sport utility vehicle (SUV) comes in five variants, consisting of two 2.0-litre petrol, a 2.5-litre petrol, and two 2.2-litre diesel models.

On-the-road prices without insurance are RM134,605.50 (2.0-litre GL petrol); RM148,605.50 (2.0-litre GLS petrol); RM160,996.70 (2.5-litre GLS petrol); RM164,579.10 (2.2-litre GLS diesel 2-wheel drive) and RM175,179.10 (2.2-litre GLS diesel all-wheel drive).

"The new CX-5 offers improvements in powertrain response, NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels, and driving pleasure," said Mazda Motor Corp programme manager (product division) Minoru Takata at the roll-out of the new SUV at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.

Three new premium colours, namely Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray and Snow Flake White Pearl Mica are offered.

Soul Red Crystal is billed as having 20% greater colour saturation and 50% more depth than Soul Red, for a more lustrous look. Also offered are two other new colours: Deep Crystal Blue and Sonic Silver.

A new Mazda-exclusive paint line system was built at the Inokom plant for the CX-5, which is said to provide ptemium paint quality and finishing on par or even exceeding that of cars produced in Japan.

"The new CX-5 raised the bar for Mazda in every area: design, performance, functionality. Mazda Malaysia invested RM87mil to bring our latest premium paint process here," said Mazda Motor Corp managing executive officer Masatoshi Maruyama.

The new Cx-5 is set to be launched in Malaysia on Oct 11.

2018 Mazda CX-5: Standard features on all variants

> 6-speed automatic gearbox with manual shift mode
> direct injection fuel system
> all round disc brakes
> MacPherson strut front, multi>link rear suspension
> Electronic Powered Assisted Steering (EPAS)
> 11>metre turning circle, curb to curb
> LED headlights with auto levelling and auto on/off function
> LED front fog lights
> rain sensing wipers
> Engine start/stop button
> Electronic parking brake
> auto-hold function
> steering wheel switches for audio, Bluetooth and cruise control
> auto dimming rear view mirror
> 4 windows with one>touch up and down powered function
> dual-zone automatic air>conditioning
> rear air-conditioning vents
> three 12-volt power outlets
> 4 USB ports
> MZD Connect infotainment system with voice command
> 7-inch colour touchscreen display
> CD/MP3 player
> 6 audio speakers
> reverse camera
> i-Stop Idling technology
> G-Vectoring Control (GVC)
> 6 airbags
> Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
> traction control
> hill start assist (HSA)
> speed sensing auto lock
> ISOFIX child seat points and top tethers
> 442-litre rear cargo space (seats up)
> 1,342-litre rear cargo space (seats down)

Mazda CX-5, 2.0-litre GL petrol (features)

> DOHC 4-cylinder engine with VVT (variable valve timing)
> 162hp at 6,000rpm
> 210Nm at 4,000rpm
> two-wheel drive
> fuel consumption: 6.8 litres per 100km
> 56-litre fuel tank
> 225/65 R17 tyres
> daytime running lights or DRLs (bulb type)
> rear taillights (bulb type)
> Gun Metallic dashboard trim
> standard display instrument cluster
> fabric seats

Mazda CX-5, 2.0-litre GLS petrol (extra features)

> LED daytime running lights or DRLs
> LED rear taillights
> Keyless entry
> front parking sensors
> metal and wood dashboard trim
> 10-way powered driver's seat
> leather seats
> GPS navigation system
> walk away lock function
> Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS)
> Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
> Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
> Smart City Brake Support (front only)

Mazda CX-5 2.50-litre GLS petrol

> 192hp at 6,000rpm
> 257Nm at 3,250rpm
> fuel consumption: 7.1 litres per 100km
> 225/55 R19 tyres

Mazda CX-5, 2.2-litre GLS diesel two-wheel drive

> DOHC 4-cylinder
> 173hp at 4,500rpm
> 420Nm at 2,000rpm
> Euro 5 diesel
> fuel consumption: 5.9 litres per 100km
> multi-information display instrument cluster
> Adaptive LED headlights
> Lane Departure Warning System
> Lane Keep Assist System
> Driver Attention Alert
> Smart City Brake Support (front and rear)

Mazda CX>5 2.2-litre GLS diesel all-wheel drive

> All-wheel drive
> fuel consumption: 6.2 litres per 100km
> 58-litre fuel tank


S. Korean prosecutors raid VW office in emissions probe

                SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors today searched the local office of Volkswagen AG and sister firm Audi AG as part of a probe into an emissions case, a spokesman for the German carmakers' local unit said, confirming media reports.

Volkswagen and Audi face a flurry of legal complaints globally after Volkswagen admitted in September to falsifying US emissions tests on some of its diesel cars.

Yonhap News Agency said investigators from the Seoul Supreme Prosecutors' Office raided the office and the house of an unidentified senior company official today. They seized emails exchanged with headquarters and documents on emissions verification and vehicle certification, the report said.

A spokesman for Volkswagen Korea confirmed the raid but provided no other details, and reiterated that the company is cooperating with the probe.

Two officials with the prosecutors' office were not immediately available for comment.

The country's environment ministry last month filed a criminal complaint against the South Korean unit of Volkswagen/Audi and two company officials, saying that their vehicles do not meet permissible emission levels required by law..

Under South Korean environmental law, a guilty conviction could result in a prison term of up to seven years and a fine of up to 100 million won (US$81,253), the ministry has said.

Volkswagen and Audi top the imported car sales rankings in South Korea, the second-biggest Asian market for diesel cars after India.


Trump and California go to war over clean cars

Highway traffic heading into Los Angeles, California. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and the state of California went to war on Wednesday over who should set the standards in the United States for vehicle emissions and electric cars, foreshadowing a legal battle over environmental policy issues that will affect the auto industry and consumers.

Trump confirmed he would revoke California’s authority to require automakers to build cleaner vehicles than federal requirements demand.

The Republican president is counting on voters in truck-friendly heartland states to carry him to re-election in 2020, and he portrayed his decision as a win for consumers. Trump tweeted that vehicles would be “far less expensive” and “substantially SAFER” - claims California officials rejected.

Trump, who is in California this week, urged automakers to back the action, which also seeks to eliminate California’s electric vehicle mandates that are also adopted by 10 other states.

The announcement will not immediately lead to revised emissions requirements, but the Trump administration plans to announce this autumn a separate rule to dramatically roll back Obama-era fuel-efficiency standards agreed with California, advancing a multipronged attack on the state’s efforts to reshape the mix of vehicles driven by Americans.

“Automakers should seize this opportunity because without this alternative to California, you will be out of business,” Trump tweeted.

So far, none have publicly supported revocation of California’s authority.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co and others, declined to take a position on Trump’s revocation of California’s waiver, saying automakers will review the decision “to get the full picture of how this impacts automakers, our workers and our customers.”

The Environmental Protection Agency and US Transportation Department plan to announce on Thursday that the government is revoking an EPA waiver California received in 2013 to set state emissions rules and that the agency believes federal law preempts the state from setting fuel efficiency rules.

The roughly 150-page final action will cite the July decision of four major automakers to adopt voluntary emissions standards with California stricter than Trump has proposed, but lower than Obama-era rules, and challenge the state’s lack of analysis of its existing waiver authority.

“Recent actions by the state of California ... have confirmed the need for final decision from agencies that the states do not have the authority to set (greenhouse gas) standards or establish (zero emission vehicle) mandates,” the draft document says, according to a person briefed on the matter who wasn’t authorized to discuss the confidential document.

On Wednesday morning, California governor Gavin Newsom, California attorney-general Xavier Becerra and Mary Nichols, the state’s top clean air regulator, denounced Trump’s action as a “political vendetta” that risks damage to the climate and public health and would leave the US auto industry behind in a global race to develop electric vehicle technology.

Newsom, Becerra and Nichols said the state will go to court to challenge the administration’s action once it is official.

“This is the fight of a lifetime for us,” Nichols said. “We have to win this and I believe we will.”

Trump’s action came on the same day teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was addressing the US Congress and urging lawmakers to treat climate change “as the existential crisis it is.”

When asked about Trump’s move, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday he was opposed to it.

“I’m strongly in favor of a decentralized approach to these measures and I’m strongly against any reduction of that decentralization,” he said.

Political battle

The fight over highly technical emissions rules will play out in the political arena where the issues are more visceral.

Trump and other administration officials framed their decision as a move to protect consumers from regulatory mandates that would drive up the cost of vehicles, and force heartland truck owners to pay more for their vehicles to subsidize the sale of money-losing electric cars to wealthy coastal dwellers.

California officials, Democratic presidential candidates and environmental groups countered that Trump’s action benefits only the oil industry.

Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune said the environmental group would file a lawsuit to challenge the move, calling it “nothing more than pure vindictiveness from an administration set on giving Big Oil a polluting pass at the expense of our climate and the well-being of American families.”

Americans will spend more on gassing up less efficient vehicles than they will save if new vehicle prices are kept down, California officials said. Nichols said Trump’s action threatened more asthma and more premature deaths from dirty air.

Automakers are caught in the middle. While worried that California’s electric vehicle mandates will be costly, global automakers have little choice but to develop battery electric cars and trucks because Europe and China are pushing ahead with rules requiring them.

“Every single one of these companies knows where the consumer is going and where the world is going ... the elimination of the internal combustion engine,” Newsom said.

The auto emissions battle is just one front in a widening battle between the Trump administration and California’s Democratic administration. The White House and the leaders of the largest US state by population have also locked horns over high-speed rail funding, building a border wall and immigration regulations.

Trump has also moved to roll back other Obama-era climate change regulations California’s leaders support.

Under Trump, federal regulators have backed freezing emissions requirements for new cars and trucks at 2020 levels through 2026. Administration officials say the final regulation will include a modest boost in annual efficiency requirements but far less than what the Obama administration set in 2012. At the time, California agreed to adopt the Obama rules rather than set its own standards.

The Obama-era rules called for a fleetwide fuel efficiency average of 46.7 miles (75 km) per gallon by 2025, with average annual increases of about 5%, compared with 37 mpg by 2026 under the Trump administration’s preferred option to freeze requirements.

The Trump plan’s preferred option would increase US oil consumption by about 500,000 barrels per day by the 2030s but reduce automakers regulatory costs by more than US$300 billion.

California wants 15.4% of vehicle sales by 2025 to be EVs or other zero-emission vehicles and 10 other states have adopted those requirements.


New Hyundai Elantra teased

                HOLLYWOOD: Hyundai Motor revealed the first images of the all-new 2021 Elantra.

The upcoming seventh-generation Elantra showcases an edgy and aggressive look based on parametric shapes and textures, which reflects Hyundai’s new design identity.

The new vehicle platform delivers a sporty four-door-coupe look with longer, lower and wider than ever proportions.

The 'Immersive Cocoon' interior layout creates a driver-focused user experience. Low and wide structures go from the door and connect all the way to the center console, while the large interface consisting of two harmoniously integrated displays elevates the racing-inspired feel of the car.

More than 13.8 million Elantra/Avante models have been sold since its introduction in 1990.

The world premiere press conference took place March 17, at The Lot Studios in West Hollywood, and was livestreamed around the world.

It is now known that a performance-oriented N Line variant will join the next-generation Elantra sedan range, as a performance teaser was shown as the end of Hyundai’s livestream event.

There is a good chance that this N Line variant will use the turbocharged 2.0-litre 275hp four-cylinder engine from the I30 N.


Tata Motors maps out long-range EVs for India and beyond

                MUMBAI: Tata Motors plans to launch electric cars with a minimum range of 500km and advanced technology features, targeting buyers in India and beyond.

The first electric vehicles (EVs) built using its new platform should be on the road in 2025, Tata said during a Friday event here where it unveiled a concept model.

Tata is striving to position itself alongside global automakers that are investing billions of dollars to build EVs that meet stricter carbon reduction goals.

Tesla's Model 3 EV can have a range of more than 500 kms, according to data on the U.S. company's website, and by 2025 industry analysts say that should be close to the norm.

"We have pivoted to make all the strategic investments that are necessary. Our goal is to go global eventually," N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Motors, said.

While Tata is coming from "way behind" other carmakers, electrification will lead its globalisation push, he added.

Chandrasekaran said that Tata group will soon reveal plans to produce battery cells locally and is also evaluating making semiconductors in house, all attempts to support its EV push.

Last year, Tata announced plans to launch 10 EV models by March 2026, investing about US$2 billion, of which US$1 billion has come from private equity group TPG.

Rolling out EVs is central to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's carbon reduction agenda and by 2030, India wants electric models to make up 30% of total car sales. Chandrasekaran said he expects Tata to go beyond that goal, without giving figures.

Tata plans to ramp up EV annual production to more than 80,000 units this financial year, from 19,000 a year earlier, Reuters reported this week.

The automaker accounts for 90% of India's EV sales - a segment that only represents 1% of the country's annual sales of about 3 million vehicles.

For exports, Tata will seek out markets that have similar climate conditions as India, Shailesh Chandra, managing director of passenger vehicles and EV subsidiaries told Reuters on the sidelines of Friday's event.

"It would be where electrification is seeing growth, which are big and where there is a supportive policy environment," he said, adding that right hand drive markets are a good start.

The vehicles built on the new platform will be agnostic to battery chemistries and battery cell formats, giving Tata the flexibility depending on the market it launches in, Chandra said. The batteries will also have higher density and be more durable than those in its earlier cars.


All-new McLaren Artura GT4 jettisons hybrid parts for sake of racing

                LONDON: McLaren Motorsport today revealed the new Artura GT4 race car, ahead of its global public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 23-26.

Based on the Artura supercar, the Artura GT4 builds on the successes of the 570S GT4 and 720S GT3 competition cars.

The new Artura GT4 shares much of its technology with the Artura road car, which debuts the McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture featuring a carbon fibre monocoque.

This motorsport-inspired chassis design and construction is the ideal platform for a race car, as a rigid structure enables a wider setup envelope for the driver as well as providing a strong and extremely safe driving environment.

The weight reduction is a key element of the Artura road car, and this philosophy continues in the race car – with a compact V6 engine and ancillaries including the exhaust system all weight-optimised, the new GT4 car is more than 100kg lighter than the outgoing 570S GT4.

The Artura road car has a hybrid powertrain with an all-new, compact twin-turbo 120-degree V6 petrol engine, allied to an Axial Flux E-Motor located in the transmission.

The V6 engine alone generates more than enough output for the tightly-controlled GT4 racing requirements, where regulations do not permit hybrid powertrains.

The lack of hybrid components delivers a weight-saving of 130kg on an already super-lightweight car, while the space within the carbon monocoque for the hybrid battery of the road car now houses the fuel cell and ancillary drive system, keeping weight central and low down.

The new V6 engine features fast-responding twin turbochargers situated within the engine vee and the unit has been designed to offer improved throttle response and fuel economy compared to the older M838 V8 used in the 570S GT4, even without electrification.

Considerably lighter and smaller than the older unit, the new V6 engine further improves power-to-weight, lowers the car’s centre of gravity and benefits weight distribution.

The V6 engine is controlled by a Bosch Motorsport ECU to fine-tune Balance of Performance management, essential for competing in the GT4 category. The Artura GT4 also features a modular motorsport wiring harness for serviceability, reducing repair times and costs. This interfaces with a motorsport electrical system for enhanced versatility, with the benefit of more robust and variable control systems.

Power is delivered through a seven-speed gearbox with an improved set of ratios optimised for performance and the transmission system has onboard diagnostic software.

The unit is not the same as the Artura road car’s eight-speed seamless shift gearbox as this employs the E-motor for reversing; GT4 regulations demand that the car must have a reverse gear.

The GT4 iteration comes with an aerodynamic package that offers greater downforce than the outgoing 570S GT4 particularly at the front end, which features a bespoke splitter, dive planes and bespoke bonnet duct.

At the rear, a high efficiency wing incorporates seven angle settings to cover a wide spectrum of circuit types.

Ingress and egress is better than in the 570S GT4, important for swift driver changes mid-race.

Safety levels are on a par with the 720S GT3, including the fixed FIA 8862 spec driver’s seat with adjustable pedals for reach and the steering wheel is also inspired by the GT3 car with illuminated buttons for competition in all conditions at both day and night. The cockpit also features a new Bosch DDU instrument display, with enhanced graphics.

Suspension and handling is enhanced over the 570S GT4 with the front wheel width increased for more grip and less tyre degradation with development carried out in conjunction with tyre partner Pirelli.

At the rear a mechanical Limited Slip Differential offers increased grip and performance with the benefit of improved rear brake wear, performance and reduced fuel consumption over the 570S GT4’s Electronic Stability Program system.

Damping has also been improved, as has brake cooling efficiency. Driver aids include motorsport-specific Anti-lock Braking and Traction Control systems with adjustment for different grip conditions.

The Artura GT4 will make its global public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 23-26, where visitors will be able to see it in action on the hill ahead of its competitive debut.

At the wheel will be McLaren Factory Driver Rob Bell, winner of last year’s Timed Shootout Final in the McLaren 720S GT3X.

McLaren Automotive’s motorsport division will continue an intensive test and development programme ahead of the 2023 season when the first customer cars will compete. Customers can register interest in the new Artura GT4 now, through McLaren Motorsport retailers.


Continental accelerates development of car systems with supercomputer

                BERLIN: German car parts manufacturer Continental is now operating its own supercomputer with the goal of accelerating the development of driver assistance systems as well as robot vehicle software.

Continental's fleet currently travels about 15,000km per day - creating roughly 100 terabytes of data. One of the supercomputer's tasks is thus to crunch those numbers and evaluate what they mean.

The supercomputer based in Frankfurt is run with technology from US company Nvidia. Thanks to the supercomputer, systems based on artificial intelligence can be taught faster with large data amounts.

The information also helps train the AI system's neural networks.

It should, for example, help ensure that a vehicle can master a lane change or a roundabout as smoothly as a human would. "Nvidia's high-performance technologies have made it possible for us to shorten processes that used to take weeks to hours," said Christian Schumacher, responsible for driver assistance systems at Continental.

The simulation then comes into play primarily when testing the solutions. "(A distance of) 15,000km a day sounds a lot, but it doesn't cover by far what you need to be able to say that you can drive safely with such systems in every corner of the world," said Schumacher.

"In the real world, many things happen that you can't necessarily foresee." For example, you could drive down a road in sunshine and then simulate rain or snow for the sensors. This accelerates development and saves costs, he said.

The development of assistance systems and technology for autonomous driving involves very large amounts of data - "and our expectation is that this will increase," said Nvidia manager Philippe van den Berge.


Beam rolls out micromobility promos

                KUALA LUMPUR: Micromobility service operator Beam Mobility Malaysia is offering promotions for regular and casual users.

Frequent Beam users should also take advantage of Beam’s 50% off promo on its Zero Unlock Fees Monthly Pass.

From now until Feb 28, purchase the pass at just RM10 to enjoy zero unlock fees on any Beam e-scooter, perfect for those who use Beam’s e-scooters to travel frequently or simply for fun.

 Beam in Shah Alam.

The company is also offering the Weekly Pass promo for users to enjoy unlimited rides starting from only RM9.99 per week.

This pass, limited to 15 minutes per day, is the perfect pass to purchase for users who use Beam as their go-to option for first and last-mile transport.

The company which started off in 2019 with just a handful of its iconic purple shared e-scooters in the Klang Valley, now operates in six major cities of Kuala Lumpur, Ampang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kuantan and Langkawi.

 Beam in Kuantan.

Beam showcased strong growth momentum in 2022, registering a vast number of new sign-ups which brought its total pool of riders to be 65% higher than it was in the previous year.

Today, the total number of registered users in Beam’s database sits at well over 800,000 people.

Beam Mobility Malaysia general manager Justin Tiew said the company is currently working towards making its shared e-scooters available in all urban cities in Malaysia, regardless of whether they are in Peninsular or in Sabah and Sarawak.

 Beam in Ampang Jaya.

“Traffic congestion and urban pollution are issues that many Malaysian citizens and authorities face today, and we believe that we have the solution towards solving these issues.

“Beam is constantly in discussions about the conditions and aims of making micromobility widely available in new cities with the relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Transport (MoT), Road Transport Department (JPJ), Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), and more.

“We look forward to these partnerships and to making our shared e-scooters more widely available to more Malaysians,” he added.

Download the Beam app today via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

For first-time registrations, complete the in-app Beam Safety Quiz to redeem RM5 free credits.

Stay up to date on Beam’s latest promotions and discounts at Beam Malaysia’s official Facebook or Instagram channels.


J.D. Power: Quality of national brands improving, closing gap with non-national brands

The study has singled out the Perodua Myvi as a local car with top-notch quality.
KUALA LUMPUR: National makes are catching up in quality with non-national brands, with the gap the smallest it has ever been, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Malaysia Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), released today.

New-vehicle quality in Malaysia improved by 18% from 2015, the largest improvement in the 14-year history of the study.

Overall initial quality improved to 69 PP100 (problems experienced per 100 vehicles) in 2016 from 259 PP100 in 2003. While the initial quality score for non-national brands is still better at 54 PP100, national brands, with a score of 83 PP100, are closing the gap.

The year-over-year rate at which national makes are improving outpaces that of non-national makes, at 18% vs. 16%, respectively. National makes performed particularly well in the compact car segment, in which the top three compact car models are all locally made.

Initial quality improved across all eight problem categories measured in the study, with engine/ transmission registering the greatest reduction in problems. Vehicle exterior continued to be the category with the most reported problems, a trend that has persisted from the start of the study in 2003.

“In a span of 14 years, the gap between national and non-national makes has shrunk to just 29 PP100 from 146 PP100, signifying local manufacturers’ commitment to producing high-quality products,” said Mohit Arora, regional vice president at J.D. Power. “To sustain this momentum, auto manufacturers should continually focus on the most frequently reported problems and identify groups of customers that are particularly sensitive to problems in their cars.”

The study found that there are particular groups of car owners that experience a higher incidence of problems with their vehicles. For example, men reported more problems than women (79 PP100 vs. 56 PP100, respectively). Additionally, owners who usually have four passengers in their vehicle reported an average of 73 PP100, compared with 54 PP100 for those who drive their car alone. Owners with more than 10 years of driving experience are also more prone to report problems, compared to those with no more than 10 years of driving experience (85 PP 100 vs. 55 PP100, respectively).

“Clearly, usage patterns and driving savviness influence car owners’ perceived quality of their vehicles,” said Rajaswaran Tharmalingam, country head of Malaysia at J.D. Power. “Auto manufacturers that are able to identify these groups of customers, and communicate to them in advance what to expect from their cars, may help mitigate any dissatisfaction that can arise from unexpected problems.”

Among the 39 models examined in the study, two Toyota models, one Mazda and one Perodua model rank highest in their respective segments.

The Toyota Vios ranks highest in the entry midsize segment (48 PP100), and Toyota Avanza ranks highest in the MPV/ Van segment (52 PP100) for the eighth consecutive year. The Perodua Myvi ranks highest in the compact segment (73 PP100), and the Mazda CX-5 ranks highest in the SUV segment (41 PP100).

Other findings of the 2016 study include:

> Top three most frequently cited problems: Consistent with the 2015 study, excessive wind noise remains the most frequently reported problem (4.6 PP100), followed by air conditioning not cold enough and fast enough (2.7 PP100) and noisy brakes (2.5 PP100).

> MPV/ Vans have the most problems: MPV/ Van owners reported the most problems, at 79 PP100, although quality in this segment has improved from 90 PP100 in 2015.

> High Quality = High Loyalty: High initial quality is an important driver of brand loyalty, which can influence consideration and shopping for a brand. Among owners who do not experience any problems with their vehicle, 25% said they “definitely would” repurchase the make. The repurchase rate dropped to 13% among owners who experienced one or more problems.

The 2016 Malaysia Initial Quality Study (IQS) was based on responses from 2,436 new-vehicle owners who bought their vehicle between August 2015 and June 2016. The study included 39 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models of 12 brands. The study was fielded between February and August 2016.


Pay more for petrol from tomorrow but, hey, diesel is cheaper

                PETALING JAYA: Petrol prices will go up for the second week of April since the new weekly pricing mechanism was introduced.

RON95 will retail at RM2.16 per litre up three sen from RM2.13, while RON97 petrol is up two sen to RM 2.43 from RM2.41.

The price of diesel, however, is down by three sen to RM2.08 from RM2.11.

The new prices will come into effect on Thursday until April 12.

The official Twitter page of the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry confirmed the prices.

Previously, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that a new weekly fuel pricing mechanism would be used from April onwards.


Lyft gets USD$25mil injection from Jaguar Land Rover and InMotion

                LONDON: InMotion, Jaguar Land Rover’s mobility services business, announced a USD$25mil (RM108.5mil) investment in Lyft, a fastest-growing rideshare company in the US.

The investment supports Lyft’s expansion and technology plans and it will also provide Jaguar Land Rover's InMotion Ventures with the opportunity to develop and test its mobility services, including autonomous vehicles, and to supply Lyft drivers with a fleet of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.

“We are excited to collaborate with a leading platform like Lyft not only on developing premium mobility solutions but also devising innovative solutions to the transport problems Jaguar Land Rover's customers face,” said InMotion managing director Sebastian Peck.

InMotion’s latest investment follows its recent seed investment in SPLT, the Detroit-based digital carpool business, which works with Lyft to provide non-emergency medical transport.

The Lyft investment was included as part of the company's most recent round of fundraising, which closed in April.

“Personal mobility and smart transportation is evolving and this new collaborative venture will provide a real-world platform helping us develop our connected and autonomous services,” added Peck.

“We’re excited to join forces with Jaguar Land Rover and InMotion,” said John Zimmer, Lyft President and Co-founder. “Lyft envisions a future where shared mobility will transform cities and improve people’s lives. This partnership will help us achieve that ambitious goal.”

"This is a strategic investment for both parties as we focus on innovating new mobility solutions for our customers. Collaborating with an expanding technology business like Lyft is going to help us both accelerate our ambitions,” said Jaguar Land Rover executive director of Corporate and Strategy Hanno Kirner.


Lexus RC F Sport goes Black Line

                NEW YORK: One of the most dynamic cars in the Lexus lineup, the RC coupe, has pushed the limits of design and performance since its introduction in 2014. This month, that tradition continues as Lexus rolls out the RC F Sport Black Line Special Edition at the 2018 New York Auto Show.

Available on all RC 300/350 F Sport models, the Black Line coupes feature two exterior paint colors: Caviar and Atomic Silver.

A limited run of 650 units will be available this spring at dealerships nationwide. The gloss exterior paint contrasts with the standard matte black wheels and orange or black brake calipers that make the wheels pop. In place of the standard chrome trim, the Black Line edition features black chrome accents around the grille and windows.

Inside, these special models showcase tasteful orange stitching throughout the interior. Everything from the seats to the dash and doors feature the eye-catching hint of color that defines the car as a Black Line edition.

Additionally, an exclusive wood-trimmed steering wheel features distinctive shades of black that were created by a Japanese calligraphy shop dedicated to perfecting ink for more than 200 years.

All RC F Sport Black Line coupes come equipped with the Navigation + Mark Levinson Audio Package, Intuitive Parking Assist, Moonroof and Triple Beam LED headlamps.

The Black Line special edition is available on all four versions of the RC coupe. The base RC 300 comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The RC 300 AWD, RC 350 and RC 350 AWD come with a 3.5-litre V6.

The 2018 RC F SPORT Black Line Edition will be joined at the 2018 New York Auto Show by the 2019 Lexus UX compact crossover, which will be making its North American debut.


Reality TV car show aims to squeeze bigger ratings out of contestants

A reality show is built around the premise of being stuck in a small car with five people for 10 days.
CANNES (France): It may sound like your worst nightmare — being stuck in a small car with five people for 10 days.

But television executives are hoping a new extreme reality show called "In The Car" can repeat the success it had in Switzerland last year.

The show caused a sensation in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland last year when nearly a quarter of the population who have access to the Internet went online to watch the live finale on Facebook.

It also turned heads when a TV version of the emotional and physical endurance test was announced at MIPTV, the world's biggest content market in Cannes, France, last weekend.

The show's brutal simplicity is part of its appeal, the producers said, with the last person remaining in the car winning it.

Viewers and listeners to a local radio station voted out contestants one by one, with the five free to leave if the pressure of living squeezed into a tiny Volkswagen up! became too much for them.

Producer Marco Elia of Pandora Format said that tempers frayed quickly in the cramped conditions. "People crack, there is heartbreak, it is like living in a very small and crowded prison cell.

"Things got very heated but even in such a small space people can adapt we noticed. Human beings are very flexible, much more so than we thought," he added.

He said that contestants were allowed to leave the car for short breaks every few hours to go to the toilet and to shoot a "confessional" telling the viewers how they were coping. They were also examined by a doctor every day.

Elia said the show "threw up interesting situations", not least when it came male behaviour in cars.

The only woman in the pilot show was also the first to leave, with Elia admitting that the men had turned on her. "She was very nervous and she cried a lot," he said. "There was a lot of aggression, though thankfully it was only verbal." Elia said reaction to the show had been "incredible. We have been really surprised how it has taken off. People really connected to it."

A first fully TV version of the show will be made later this year by the Swiss broadcaster Teleticino.


Car tyres likely a major source of microplastics in coastal waters

                LOS ANGELES: Driving is not just an air pollution and climate change problem: Turns out, it just might be the largest contributor of microplastics in coastal waters.

That is one of many new findings from the most comprehensive study to date on microplastics in the US state of California.

Rainfall washes more than 7 trillion microplastics, much of it tire particles left behind on streets, into San Francisco Bay each year - an amount 300 times greater than what comes from microfibres washing off polyester clothes, microbeads from beauty products and the many other plastics washing down our sinks and sewers.

These tiny plastics, invisible to the naked eye, have been vilified for tainting water and wildlife but are notoriously difficult to study. They're everywhere and seemingly come from everywhere. They wash into the ocean in all different shapes and sizes, many covered with dyes and chemicals. Scientists and labs across the US and the world haven't even agreed on how exactly to measure or sample or study them.

So a team of researchers, led by the San Francisco Estuary Institute and 5 Gyres, a nonprofit research group focused on reducing plastic pollution, set off to create an inventory of sorts to identify all the ways these different microplastics were getting into the San Francisco Bay. They analysed hundreds of samples from fish, sediment, surface water, wastewater and stormwater runoff and tried to trace the origins of all these particles.

Mark Gold, who heads the state's Ocean Protection Council and was recently appointed the state's deputy secretary for ocean and coastal policy, said he was surprised that car tire particles were such a large source.

"I'm so used to thinking of the toxics that come from urban runoff and not the actual physical particles from something like tire dust," said Gold, who has worked for 30 years on cleaning up California's beaches and oceans from toxic chemicals. "But the sheer number of particles ... the scope and scale of this problem makes you realise that this is something that's definitely worth looking at a great deal more seriously."

Once plastic enters the environment, it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces but never goes away. The tiny particles make their way into the ocean, into the stomachs of marine animals, and ultimately become part of the food and water people consume.

A recent UC Davis study sampled seafood sold at local markets in Half Moon Bay and found that one-quarter of fish and one-third of shellfish contained plastic debris. A survey comparing 150 tap-water samples from five continents found synthetic microfibres in almost every sample - 94 per cent in the United States.

Microplastics have been found in Lake Tahoe, in the deep, deep ocean - even in the Arctic, one of the most remote regions in the world. A scientific review of 52 studies recently concluded that humans on average consume a credit card's worth of microplastic each week. The European Union is trying to classify microplastics as a contaminant that is unsafe at any level of discharge.

Eliminating plastic at its source will always be the ultimate, though somewhat unrealistic, solution. While people can stop using plastic straws, states can ban microbeads and companies can redesign their shrink wrap, reducing the world's dependence on automobiles is a tougher nut to crack.

One creative idea is the use of so-called rain gardens and other nature-based infrastructure that can trap polluted runoff before it reaches the ocean. Designed to remove well-known toxics and metals - as well as bringing more nature back into the city - a local rain garden was found to capture more than 90 per cent of the microplastics.

"The role of greening cities becomes part of the overall solution. [...] It's all part of a complex dance," said Warner Chabot, executive director of the San Francisco Estuary Institute, an independent science think tank.

"Plastic pollutes the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. Plastics are a big part of the climate change problem.... Since California is the fifth-biggest economy on earth, we have the potential to lead the planet with solutions."  — tca/dpa


Formula 1 joins forces with cryptocurrency company

                PARIS: Cryptocurrency is everywhere these days, it seems. To inaugurate its new Sprint series format, with a 100km sprint qualifier to determine the standing grid for the full race, Formula 1 has partnered with Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

The platform also becomes the NFT partner of F1 for the next five years.

Crypto.com has pledged to become a carbon-neutral platform by December 2022 - a goal shared by F1, which aims to be carbon-neutral by 2030.

According to CNBC, the five-year deal between the two parties could total more than US$100 million. Crypto.com reportedly has more than 10 million users on its platform, and has an app available for Apple and Android devices.

The company generates revenue from transaction fees and sports partnerships, including with the Montreal Canadiens, a National Hockey League franchise.

"We are extremely proud to be the first cryptocurrency sponsor of Formula 1, joining a prestigious collection of brands supporting a sport with technology and innovation at its core. We look forward to many years of innovating together, and will begin at the Belgian Grand Prix where we will present a brand new award," said Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com.

The Aston Martin F1 team, home to drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, already has a partnership with Crypto.com. In fact, the exchange platform has featured among the sponsors on the British car since March 2021.

Both companies are working on developing products related to cryptocurrencies, including NFTs themed on the drivers and the team. All in all, partnerships between cryptocurrencies and sports seem to be on the up. But it remains to be seen where this could lead.


Designworks drafts prototype for Dubai hyperloop capsule

                LOS ANGELES: BMW-owned Designworks has created a prototype design for the Dubai hyperloop capsule.

The design recently made its global debut at City Walk Dubai as part of UAE Innovation Month. This is the first time a physical, full-scale hyperloop prototype has been shown to a broad public audience.

The design was the result of a collaboration with Virgin Hyperloop One and the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai.

Once built, the passenger capsule, electromagnetically propelled through a vacuum tube, could reach speeds up to 1,080kph, potentially traveling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in as little as 12 minutes.

At present, Virgin Hyperloop One is negotiating the next stage of development with the Dubai authority to build the world’s first hyperloop transportation system in the UAE/Middle East.

“With the Virgin Hyperloop One design, we wanted to create a new visual expression for a new mode of public transportation” says Designworks LA Studio Design Director, Johannes Lampela.

The central challenge the Designworks team faced was how to create a comfortable and engaging interior with no windows, and a current requirement for passengers to be seated throughout the journey.

Designworks sought to create a sense of individualised space for each passenger. In first class, for example, adjustable leather seats feature touchscreens for personal settings for light brightness and colour, allowing passengers to shift the light from blue to pink to set the mood.

The seats include integrated heating and cooling. Passengers could enjoy personalised entertainment through built-in displays. In this way, the concept could create a more sophisticated and user-centered spatial experience. Floor lighting is also used to double as wayfinding.

To localised the design, inspirations from traditional Arabic patterns were used while also applying a more futuristic and progressive interpretation.


Car personalisation going on strong

                One of the standout automotive trends of 2014 was without a doubt the growing demand for customisation.

But what sorts of personal touches are clients demanding, and is there a point where even the most gifted automotive craftsmen have to draw the line.

The short answer is that laws of physics and road safety legislation permitting, there is no line to draw.

"Customers' wishes are put into practice in accordance to the motto 'The highest level is the one you define yourself'," explains Benjamin Titz, press spokesman for BMW Individual Manufaktur, BMW's bespoke personalisation department. "There are nearly no limits to imagination. The car becomes a canvas for the customer's creativity."

In terms of what customers choose to paint on that automotive canvas, it can range from relatively simple touches, such as a unique exterior paint color beyond the 100 BMW Individual Manufaktur already offers or adding hand-painted coach lines to integrating personalized monograms into the head restraints, door handles, instrument gauges, door sills and sun blinds.

Like all such companies, BMW prizes its clients' confidentiality so won't be drawn on the finer details and specifics.

However, when asked to give some idea of what the department has been asked to make possible, Titz says that clients have requested that wooden interior trim come from trees in their own garden and that salmon skin be used as an alternative to leather as a contrasting feature.

Clients have also specified rear bookshelves and extra reading lights in their cars, that the trunk as well as the interior and seats be lined in the finest leathers and have also requested that the car come with matching handkerchiefs and umbrellas. "The experts at the BMW Individual Manufaktur have the experience and expertise to fullfil virtually any wish," he explains.

But what about those clients that want something that's as truly individual on the outside as it is inside. Back in 2007, Ferrari set up a Special Projects Programme specifically for this purpose. If you're a valued client and the request won't detract from Ferrari's brand, the company will literally build you the car of your dreams, from the wheels, up.

 The Phantom Metropolitan Collection.

The department is a top secret affair but this year it has confirmed it has competed two bespoke cars - the F12 TRS and the F12 SP America - both of which use the already quite special F12 Berlinetta as a starting point, and are each purported to have cost in excess of US$3 million.

And why stop at the car itself 'Q' by Aston Martin, the British sportscar company's bespoke service, has already been commissioned by one client to help him with the finer points of designing his home to give it an Aston Martin flavour.

When clients enquire, the company is quick to highlight that it is just as happy to bring bespoke levels of luxury to the interior of a yacht as it is to an Aston Martin, presuming you're an existing customer, of course.

With so many personalisation options available, deciding on how to best proceed can seem daunting rather than exciting and that's why 2014 has also seen a host of very special editions and limited run vehicles coming to market from the world's premium automotive brands to help point customers in the right direction.

"At regular intervals, we create market-specific, special editions that focus on the preferences of a particular sales region and encompass a special range of options," says Titz. "These products serve as a benchmark and as inspiration for developers and customers alike. "

For instance, at the Paris motor show in October, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Phantom Metropolitan Collection - a very limited run of cars featuring bespoke elements and design features inspired by the great world cities, including Paris, of course.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin re-imagined its 1970s sports limousine the Lagonda for 2014 and decided to offer it solely in the Middle East as a completely bespoke limited edition.

In developing special editions, BMW Individual Manufaktur has tried to be a little different, looking to form partnerships with other brands that also bring a new dimension of craftsmanship or exclusivity to an already rareified product.

That's why past models have been built with Steinway and Sons - complete with Steinway and Sons piano black veneering or with silver specialists Robbe and Berking.

"The meeting of two worlds sparks a creative atmosphere in which the boundaries of exclusivity are pushed further and new premium solutions are conceived and implemented in the most superlative way possible," says Titz.


Weststar opens 3S centre, unveils new model

Weststar group senior vice-president Datuk Nik Hamdan Nik Hassan (left) and Vikram at the launch.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Weststar Maxus Sdn Bhd has opened a new 3S showroom here to support its customers in the northern region.

Weststar group executive director Datuk Vikram Menon said the showroom, providing support for sales, services and spare-parts, would serve customers in Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis.

“The economic propulsion in the northern region is one of the key factors that encouraged Weststar Maxus to open the new facility,” he said at the opening of the new 3S showroom and the unveiling of the 2018 Maxus V80 commercial van in Bukit Mertajam.

“We’re making a great leap forward to become a mainstream automobile player in Malaysia.

“We now have refreshed and expanded award-winning models such as Maxus G10 and Maxus V80, and an expanding network of showrooms and after-sales service facilities to achieve our goal,” he added.

Vikram said the after-sales component is an integral part of the company’s overall plan to grow the Weststar Maxus brand.

“This facility, together with our appointed service dealers in the region, are able to serve our customers with well trained technicians.

“Plans are afoot to operate another 3S facility in Alor Star in the foreseeable future to consolidate Weststar Maxus’ presence in the northern region,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vikram said the cost-competitive 2018 Maxus V80 commercial van could be customised to meet individual business needs.

“Among its growing number of fleet customers are Eco Coach Travel and Tours, DHL, Federal Express and FFM-Massimo.

“A huge fleet of these vans are now being operated by various government agencies including the Malaysian Armed Forces, Health Ministry and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall,” he said.

Vikram the Maxus V80 boasted the highest space utilisation rate, the best ground clearance and the best interior height among its peers.

“It has also passed the world’s most rigid ECE automobile road tests in severe conditions including extreme low and high temperatures, and high altitudes.

“With the support and global resources of China’s largest automobile company SAIC Automotive Co Ltd, the Maxus V80 carries its core parts and components from world renowned component suppliers,” he added.

Vikram said the group was shifting gears and committed to enhancing the quality gap by building affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles to meet Asean preferences.

“The new line of Maxus V80 vans comes with upgraded features and superior volume of space.

“It has all the trappings of a value-for-money commercial van that is truly ‘built to work’,” Vikram added.

As part of its green initiative, Weststar Maxus plans to launch the fully electric version of the Maxus V80, known as EV80, soon.

Weststar Maxus is the sole distributor for the Weststar Maxus van. It handles the sales and marketing and after sales services for the Malaysian market.

Weststar Maxus also customises the van for a range of commercial uses such as medical, postal, security, VIP transport and other services.


Up to 290kph: The 'most powerful Range Rover ever' is the Sport SV

                LONDON: The Range Rover Sport range has been topped with a new V8-powered SV model.

Billed as ‘the most powerful Range Rover ever’, the SV is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine which is combined with mild-hybrid setup to develop 626hp, ensuring a 0-100kph time of under 4 seconds and a 290kph top speed.

A lower weight is behind this sharp performance, with 76kg in weight savings coming over the previous range-topping Sport through the fitment of carbon ceramic brakes and optional 23-inch carbon fibre wheels. It gets a standard-fit carbon fibre bonnet, too.

The SV’s new 6D suspension system aims to provide a comfortable ride with the perfect blend of sporting feel. It combines hydraulic dampers, height-adjustable air springs and pitch control.

Because of these elements, the Range Rover can maintain a level body positioning even when cornering hard or accelerating.

Inside, the SV uses the same basic architecture as the "regular" Sport, but adds in some performance-orientated features.

For instance, there’s a new "SV Mode" button on the steering wheel, which sharpens up the steering and gearchanges while making the throttle more responsive. This button also lowers the ride height by an extra 15mm.

Carbon fibre-backed performance seats are fitted as standard, with more sculpted bolsters and illuminated SV logos on the backrests. The SV is one of the first cars to get translucent edge-lift gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel, too.

The exterior benefits from a sharper front profile, while around the back there are carbon fibre-tipped quad tailpipes. There are also some carbon fibre details on the Range Rover script, front bumper blades and grille surround. - PA Media