Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV Plus launched from RM151K

                PETALING JAYA: Peugeot distributor Nasim San Bhd has launched the new 3008 SUV Plus and 5008 SUV Plus.

The refreshed sport utility vehicles (SUVs), assembled at the company's Naza Automotive Manufacturing plant, are both offered in a base Active and range-topping Allure variant with prices (on-the-road without insurance) at RM150,888, RM163,888, RM166,888 and RM179,888 respectively.

Colour options include Nera Black, Pearl White, Amazonite Grey and the new Aster Grey colours with the 3008 receiving an exclusive Metallic Copper colour and the 5008 getting a distinctive Emerald Crystal finish.
Both French SUVs are covered by a five-year warranty and comes bundled with a three-year service package along with a 24-hour Peugeot Assistance towing service and access to Subang Skypark's airport SkyLounge - compliments of Naza.
The 3008, with a 53-litre fuel tank, has a wheelbase of 2,730mm and measures in at 4,510mm-long, 1,850mm-wide and 1,662mm-tall.

With a 56-litre fuel tank, the 5008 has a 2,840mm wheelbase with measurements coming in at 4,670mm-long, 1,855mm-wide and 1,655mm-tall.

For boot size, the 3008 gets 591 litres (1,670 litres) while the 5008 is massively accommodating with its 952 litres ( 2,042 litres)

Power for both SUVs come from a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 167PS at 6,000rpm and 240Nm of torque from 1,400rpm onwards.

The 1,598cc engine is capable of catapulting these SUVs from 0 to 100kph in 8.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 205kph.

Stopping power comes from front ventilated and rear solid discs with comfort and handling provided by independent front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam.

The base Active model for both SUVs include automatic halogen headlights with Follow Me Home function, LED 3D Claw Effect rear taillights and 18-inch Los Angeles (5008 - Detroit) wheels with 225/55 series tyres.

There are also automatic wipers with Magic Wash function, automatic heated power-folding mirrors with integrated turn signals, rear parking sensors and reverse mirror-tilt function (5008 only).

Inside, the cabins provide a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with Dials, Driving, Minimal, Personal and Navigation (5008 only) themes for choice.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen with Arkamys 3D sound staging provides Bluetooth, CarPlay and Mirrorlink connectivity as well as voice recognition, and i-Cockpit amplify.
Other provisions within include automatic electric parking brake, dual-zone climate controls with rear vents, leather-wrapped steering wheel, two USB ports, one-touch folding rear seats (5008 only and 3008 Allure model).
There are powered front seats for the driver (8-way with two memory slots) and front passenger (6-way) which is standard in the 5008 but only available in the 3008 Allure model. The front centre armrest features a butterfly opening and 11 litres of cold storage.

The Allure model range for the SUVs replaces the halogen bulbs with LEDs for its headlights, front fogs, and sequential scrolling front indicators before adding on front parking sensors, roof rails panoramic sunroof, GPS navigation, premium Black Claudio leather upholstery, LED cabin mood lights, one-touch folding rear seats, auto-dimming auto-dimming rearview mirror and a hands-free motorised tailgate.

Via the i-Cockpit Amplify system, owners are able to adjust the SUV's LED ambience settings by choosing Boost for a dynamic experience or Relax to envelop the occupants in serenity.

Activating the new Drive Sport Pack stiffens up the steering feel, provides for a more responsive accelerator that helps the engine and gearbox to come alive with the addition of a digitally amplified engine sound to further excite the senses.

Convenience for both SUVs has been equipped with hands-free boot activation which operates with some foot motion under the rear bumper.

For safety, the SUVs come fitted as standard with six airbags, advanced electronic stability program, advanced grip control (Normal, ESP off, Snow, Mud and Sand), hill assist descent control, hill start assist, electronic stability programme, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, anti-skid regulation, dynamic stability control and tyre pressure sensor.

The Allure variant adds speed limit information, active lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and driver attention alert.

"We are excited to be celebrating this milestone with two of Peugeot’s best performing models that continue to blaze the trail for SUVs and pushing boundaries of possibility," said Naza Corporation Holdings group executive chairman and CEO SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.

Peugeot 3008 SUV Plus Active

Peugeot 3008 SUV Plus Allure

Peugeot 5008 SUV Plus Active

Peugeot 5008 SUV Plus Allure


Bentley Bentayga Hybrid SUV unveiled

                LONDON: Bentley has introduced the third variant of its best-selling Bentayga line-up, the Bentayga Hybrid, which is also the next step in the company's Beyond100 strategy.

Beyond100 is Bentley's long-term goal to electrify all its model offerings in phases with sustainable and smart mobility as the ultimate aim.

The Bentayga Hybrid is the first of the two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) the British luxury brand will be launching this year.

The Bentayga Hybrid features an E Motor paired to a 3.0-litre twin scrool turbocharged V6 petrol delivering 443bhp and 700Nm of torque.

The electric and petrol power combination will deliver a range of 862km.

On full electric mode, the Bentayga Hybrid can run up to 50km.

Bentley says its research showed 90% of the first generation Bentayga Hybrid owners used the vehicle on a daily basis or several times weekly, and nearly all of them engaged the EV mode.

Of those who used EV mode, 50% of them consistently undertook journeys less than 48km.

Its 17.3kWh litihum battery consists of 168 individual cells with an expected life of 160,000km or eight years, and can be charged to 100% as little as two and a half hours.

The 94Kw (126bhp) E Motor, located between the V6 engine and the transmission, delivers 350Nm of torque for smooth and effortless driving pleasure.

The V6 engine fires up to supplement the E Motor when additional torque is required or at speed above 138kph.

Available drive modes are EV Drive, Hybrid and Hold.

The EV Drive mode is engaged when the Bentayga Hybrid is switched on and is ideal for city and short distance driving.

The Bentley Hybird Efficiency Accelerator Pedal provides feedback to the driver, via a Haptic feel, that the vehicle will be disengaging EV Drive mode to enter Hybrid drive mode shortly if the vehicle is about to exceed its EV drive threshold.

The Hybrid mode, meanwhile, provides the maximum fuel efficiency and is suitable for longer journeys.

It also takes input from the navigation system to reserve battery power for parts of the journey where battery power usage will be most useful.

The Hold mode balances between engine and electric power to reserve battery charge for later use such as driving in a low or zero emissions zone.

The Bentayga Hybrid also gets the latest version of My Bentley in-car and remote connected services delivered via an embedded SIM, meaning a data connection from a customer's mobile phone is no longer needed.

The four specific features that can be accessed from My Bentley app are:

* My Car Statistics - which provides an overview of vehicle data,

* My Battery Charge - allows owners to remotely charge the vehicle that has been plugged to a charger,

* My Cabin Comfort - lets owners warm up or cool down the vehicle prior to driving, and

* E-Charging - where the nearest charging points are located and sorted by distance, bay availability and charging rate.

In addition, the Bentayga Hybrid also gets a next generation infotainment system integrated seamlessly into the Bentley "wing" dashboard design and features a 10.9-inch display super high-resolution screen with edge-to-edge display.

Also included are all-new navigation with satellite maps and online searches.

Wireless Apple CarPlay is also offered as standard for the first time along with the existing wired system and Android Auto.


BMW i8 Roadster: the big tease continues

                MUNICH: BMW continues to tease the next i car with a series of images and a video.

It issued a brief statement on Wednesday, saying that the BMW i8 Roadster will arrive in 2018 "to unlock the door to a whole new dimension in pioneering open-top driving pleasure – virtually silent and with zero local emissions." The Munich car maker also spread the word across social media with postings in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BMW also posted the preliminary energy consumption figures of the new i8 variant which it described as a plug-in hybrid BMW with an eDrive powertrain. The combined energy consumption is listed as 15.4 kWh/100 km; combined fuel consumption at 2.0l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions at 45 g/km.

The roadster is likely to get a new more powerful battery pack, which should give it a longer range. Rumours of a fully electric i8 has been floating around for some time but it remains unconfirmed until BMW says so.

BMW posted the first teaser photos of the roadster last month.


Contra flow at MEX highway extended

                KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of contra-flow on the Maju Expressway (MEX) will be extended due to its effectiveness in easing the traffic flow at the mainline of the highway.

MEX Sdn Bhd in a statement Tuesday said since its implementation, the contra-flow had contributed to a shorter journey time, that is 10 minutes faster than usual. The average number of vehicles using the route is 3,000 vehicles from 6.30am until 9am.

"The implementation of the contra-flow is on the initiative and proposal of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to handle the increasing number of traffic from Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Seri Kembangan to Kuala Lumpur. "LLM and MEX will constantly monitor the contra-flow," the statement said.

Users are advised to follow the road signages in place at KM11.5 to KM7.9 and plan their journey to avoid congestion.

The public can obtain the contra-flow and latest traffic information via @MEXTraffic twitter and MEXTraffic Facebook account or MEX hotline at 03-83159111.


Audi RS 5 DTM revealed

GENEVA: Audi Sport presented the DTM racing version of the Audi RS 5 Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show. The new RS design language premieres in this model that features numerous modifications required by the regulations as well.

“This is a special day for me and everyone involved in the DTM project,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “For the first time, we developed a new DTM car in parallel with the production model. This underlines once again how closely motorsport and production work together at Audi.”

The track record of the previous-generation model sets benchmarks for the future. Having clinched ten victories in each of the last two seasons, it was the most successful DTM car in both years. “Obviously, we’d like to repeat this with the new RS 5 DTM,” Gass adds.

That the new Audi RS 5 DTM is faster than its predecessor in spite of these modifications is primarily attributable to two additional changes.

In the 2017 season, tyre partner Hankook will be supplying softer tyres. While allowing faster lap times to be achieved on the one hand they are deliberately designed to significantly degrade after a few laps on the other.

At the same time, the four-liter V8 engine of the Audi RS 5 DTM now delivers more than 500 HP. “You can feel this additional power in the cockpit,” says Jamie Green who in winter, together with Mattias Ekström, performed the major part of the testing work for the 2017 season.

The base of the engine used in the Audi RS 5 DTM has remained unchanged. To achieve the desired power boost, the engineers modified the air intake system and the cooling system. In addition, they made some detailed adjustments to ensure the same reliability as before. After all, a DTM engine has to survive a full season.

Another change resulting from the regulations concerns the suspension, which is now identical on all DTM cars as well. While this avoids costly further developments, the variety of set-up options has remained unchanged.

"We have more power, softer tyres and less downforce. Combined with the best drivers, we expect to see even more thrilling racing. I can only invite everyone to come to Hockenheim at the beginning of May to personally witness the first race of our new baby,” said Gass.


Fake Touch 'n Go card syndicate busted

                PETALING JAYA: A syndicate that forged and sold Touch 'n Go cards was busted by police following a raid on a warehouse in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Acting on information, a team of officers from the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) raided the warehouse at Mukim 12, Jalan Juru at about 3.30pm Wednesday.

"The warehouse is suspected to be the headquarters of the syndicate forging Touch 'n Go cards," Federal CCID director Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said in a statement on Friday.

He said five syndicate members, including an Indonesian, all aged between 29 and 55, were arrested and 264 fake Touch 'n Go cards estimated to be worth RM200,000 were seized during the raid.

He added that police also seized three laptops, 10 smart phones, 13 key tags, one unit of Proxmark software, one computer and two cars.

Comm Acryl Sani said the syndicate had been operating for three months and had raked in half a million ringgit in profits.

He added that the syndicate also forged top-up cards of RM100 to RM1,000 and sold fake cards to customers at 20% to 30% below the said stored value.

He said the suspects have been remanded for four days.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating as well as Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.


Alphabet's self-driving car unit sues Uber with trade theft charge

                SAN FRANCISCO: Alphabet Inc's Waymo self-driving car unit sued Uber Technologies and its autonomous trucking subsidiary Otto on Thursday over allegations of theft of its confidential and proprietary sensor technology.

Waymo accused Uber and Otto, acquired by the ride services company in August, with stealing confidential information on Waymo's Lidar sensor technology to help speed its own efforts in autonomous technology.

"Uber's LiDAR technology is actually Waymo's LiDAR technology," said Waymo's complaint in the Northern District of California.

Uber said it took "the allegations made against Otto and Uber employees seriously and we will review this matter carefully."

Lidar, which uses light pulses reflected off objects to gauge their position on or near the road, is a crucial component of autonomous driving systems. Previous systems have been prohibitively expensive and Waymo sought to design one over 90 percent cheaper, making its Lidar technology among the company's "most valuable assets," Waymo said.

Waymo is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and a court order preventing Uber from using its proprietary information.

Otto launched with much fanfare in May, due in part to the high profile of one of its co-founders, Anthony Levandowski, who had been an executive on Google's self-driving project. Uber acquired the company in August for what Waymo said in the lawsuit was US$680 million.

Waymo said that before Levandowski's resignation in January 2016 from Google, whose self-driving unit was renamed Waymo in December, he downloaded over 14,000 confidential files, including Lidar circuit board designs, thereby allowing Uber and Otto to fast-track its self-driving technology.

Waymo accused Levandowski of attempting to "erase any forensic fingerprints" via a reformat of his laptop.

"While Waymo developed its custom LiDAR systems with sustained effort over many years, defendants leveraged stolen information to shortcut the process and purportedly build a comparable LiDAR system in only nine months," the complaint said.

Last month, Tesla Inc electric car company sued the former head of its Autopilot system. It said he tried to recruit Tesla engineers for his new venture with the former head of Google's self-driving program while still working there, and said he stole proprietary data belonging to Tesla.

Waymo's lawsuit said it learned of this use of trade secrets and patent infringement after it was inadvertently copied on an email from a component vendor that included a design of Uber's Lidar circuit board, which bore a "striking resemblance" to Waymo's design.

Waymo noted that Google devoted over seven years to self-driving cars and said Uber's forays into the technology through a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University had stalled by early 2016.


Maserati Ghibli gets makeover with more electronics

                MODENA: Maserati is equipping its luxury Ghibli sedan with more advanced driver assistance features and a large touch-screen in the cockpit with smartphone integration and Apple CarPlay.

The upgrades will result in price rises of a few hundred dollars, with the executive saloon starting at around US$70,000, according to the Italian car maker.

The new Ghibli will offer proximity sensors, an automatic collision-avoidance system as well as front and rear cameras.

There are only minor changes to the engine, with the 3.0-litre basic petrol version putting out an extra 20hp for a total of 350hp, taking the top speed to 267kph.


Used car dealer ordered to return deposit to purchaser after loan rejected

                JOHOR BARU: A design consultant filed a case with the Johor Baru Consumer Claims Tribunal after a used car dealer refused to refund the booking fee and deposit he had paid.

Mohd Fauzie Zakariya, 28, said despite many calls made to the company to get his money back, the respondent did not entertain him.

The claimant said he went to the car dealer in Kampung Pandan, Johor Baru, in March this year to buy a used car.

“I paid RM500 booking fee for a RM78,000 car and a deposit of RM2,000, which was paid a week later,” he said when met outside the Johor Baru Consumer Claims Tribunal.

He added that the RM2,000 deposit was paid after he went for a test drive and the car dealer agreed to help him apply for a loan.

Mohd Fauzie said he was supposed to pay a total of RM12,000 deposit for the car, with the remaining RM66,000 to be in the form of a loan from a bank.

“But in April, the company called to inform me that I have to pay RM18,000 as deposit as my loan application of RM66,000 had not been approved,” he said.

Mohd Fauzie said the respondent suggested that he settle the RM18,000 in two payments to get a RM60,000 loan approved.

However, the claimant did not agree to the suggestion and decided not to proceed with buying the car.

He demanded that the RM500 booking fee and RM2,000 deposit be returned to him.

“But the respondent refused to return my money,’’ said Mohd Fauzie.

The claimant said he checked with two panel banks of the used car dealer and found that one was willing to give a RM68,000 loan.

“The other bank was only willing to approve RM60,000 and I could not understand why the used car dealer did not choose the one offering the RM68,000 loan,’’ he said.

The respondent, who was present at the hearing, said it was the company’s policy not to return the RM2,500 paid by the claimant as he had cancelled the booking.

However, Tribunal president Lee Chee Thim said the terms and conditions by the used car dealer were in the company’s favour and unfair to buyers.

“In this case, the claimant decided not to proceed with the purchase as he was only willing to pay a RM12,000 deposit instead of RM18,000,’’ he said.

Lee ordered the respondent to return RM2,000 to the claimant in two weeks, with RM500 as compensation for the administrative expenses incurred by the respondent including processing loan applications.


New Honda 3S Centre opens in Skudai

                Honda Malaysia today opened its new Honda 3S Centre in Malaysia located in Skudai, Johor, by Wang Loo Motor (JB) Sdn Bhd (Wang Loo Motor).

For customers’ convenience, Honda Malaysia is expanding its dealership network by opening dealerships in every major town throughout Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia now has 82 3S Centres in Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Katsuto Hayashi, “Customer satisfaction is most important for Honda, and we have started a strategic plan to ensure that customer service is emphasised and customer voice is always heard and acted on. One such step is to continuously enhance the sales and after sales experience of our expanding customer base, and fulfill our customers’ expectations.”

Opened with an investment of RM22 million, Wang Loo Motor has equipped the 73,979 square feet (build-up) Honda 3S Centre with proper tools and the latest equipment according to Honda standards, which is operated by skilled technicians.

The spacious centre houses 18 service bays that can accommodate up to 100 vehicles per day.

This includes three fast service bays, 13 general repair bays, one tyre service bay and one air conditioning service bay.

This Honda 3S Centre is expected to service up to 26,000 vehicles per year.

There is a comfortable and sizeable customer lounge and executive lounge, with hot drinks and snacks from the Café Counter.

Complimentary Wi-Fi services, Car Wash services, Kids Corner and a Surau are among the facilities.

Wang Loo Motor will be drawing on its experience of running two Honda 3S Centres and track record of being a Honda CEO Award winner for two consecutive years (2015 & 2016) to provide service par excellence to customers in Johor.

Customers can contact Wang Loo Motor (JB) Sdn. Bhd. at 07-555 0033 or visit them at No.1, Jalan Jaya 1, Taman Mutiara Rini, 81300, Skudai, Johor.


2016 Detroit auto show: Over 200,000 visitors on opening weekend

                DETROIT: The Detroit auto show or North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was a magnet for 208,327 people on opening weekend – all wanting to get a glimpse of the more than 700 vehicles on display and the over 50 vehicles that debuted earlier in the week at press preview.

Attendees experienced a show floor that has undergone a remarkable 70% transformation, and they interacted with new exhibits that totalled more than US$200 million in investment from exhibitors.

Attendance for Saturday’s kick-off to public days was 107,303, while the second day of opening weekend on Sunday saw 101,024 auto enthusiasts and families visit NAIAS.

The opening of the public show followed a jam-packed Preview Week where 5,068 journalists from 60 different countries witnessed 57 vehicle introductions at the auto show. Eager to see the new, brand-defining vehicles were 39,000 engineers, designers and analysts who attended Industry Preview

“The significant news created from the global debuts and breathtaking exhibits contributed to the strong weekend of attendance,” said Paul Sabatini, 2016 NAIAS Chairman.

NAIAS was trending throughout opening weekend as countless photos and posts appeared on social media as attendees experienced a wide range of exciting products, which included everything from the new technology-packed Chrysler Pacifica minivan, to the performance-driven Lexus LC 500, to the luxurious Lincoln Continental.

“Between the amazing product on display and the interactive exhibits, crowds packed Cobo Center halls this weekend,” said Sabatini.   “I truly love walking the show floor and watching everyone snapping photos and engaging with the brands.”

Sabatini said large crowds are also expected today, Martin Luther King Day.

Prior to attending the 2016 NAIAS, attendees are encouraged to view and download the auto show’s “Suite of Apps.”

NAIAS has partnered with MLive on a new 2016 NAIAS Photo Contest that gives auto show attendees the opportunity to share their favourite shots from the show using hashtag #NAIAS, for a chance to win an array of Bose products.


2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate: 2 mild hybrids and a plug-in hybrid

                STUTTGART: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, model series 214, will be offered in two 2.0-litre mild hybrid models (a petrol-powered E 200 and a diesel-powered E 220 d) as well as a 2.0-litre E 300 e plug-in hybrid.

The E 300 e plug-in hybrid has an electric output of 95kW (129hp) and an all-electric range of up to over 100km (WLTP standard).

The combustion engines are four and six-cylinder units from the current modular Mercedes-Benz engine family FAME (Family of Modular Engines).

In addition to turbocharging, both the diesel and petrol engines an Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG), and are therefore mild hybrids.

Thanks to a new battery, the power of the electric motor has been increased from 15 to 17kW and the boost torque to 205Nm.

The new E-Class Estate's design has also changed - the roofline is more dynamically designed compared to its predecessor.

It's wider by 28mm and this gives the rear passengers even more space: elbow room in the rear is increased to 1519mm.

The wheelbase has increased by 22mm to 2961mm.

As a result, those sitting in the back enjoy more knee room and leg room.

The load compartment can be expanded from 615 litres to up to 1830 litres.

In the plug-in hybrid model, the luggage capacity is 460–1675 litres.

With the Digital Vehicle Key, the E-Class Estate can be started and locked simply by the driver carrying a compatible device with them.

Key sharing is also possible: various digital channels can be used to invite family members or friends to use the E-Class Estate.

In doing so, the vehicle owner can assign different rights, granting only access to the vehicle or also allowing it to be driven.

The vehicle can recognise several users at once, and the Digital Vehicle Key can be shared by up to 16 persons.

The entertainment programme in the E-Class Estate is more interactive than ever as software experts at Mercedes-Benz have developed a new compatibility layer that allows the installation of third-party apps.

These apps include the entertainment platform "TikTok", the game "Angry Birds", the collaborative application "Webex" and the office application "Zoom" as well as the browser "Vivaldi" and the podcast app "Pocket Casts".

Another new feature is a selfie and video camera (part of the optional MBUX Superscreen) on top of the dashboard.

Mercedes-Benz is working on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) so that the car learns which comfort systems vehicle occupants use repeatedly.

Given the same circumstances, the aim is for AI to automate such functions.

Customers will be able to use templates for standard routines. They also have the option of creating routines themselves.

The new E-Class Estate features the Agility Control suspension and single-chamber air suspension on the rear axle as standard.

The latter features a compact design, maintains ride comfort even with a full load on board and ensures that the vehicle remains horizontal even when laden.

The all-round Airmatic air suspension with ADS+ continuously adjustable damping is available as an option.

Also, many E-Class Estate components are made partly from resource-saving materials (recyclates and renewable raw materials).

Upholstery made of undyed alpaca wool combined with a recycled material is used for the basic seat.

For the first time, certified recycled raw materials are used in the foam of the seats according to the "mass balance approach".

In terms of their properties, they do not differ from raw materials produced from crude oil.

Also, the standard Active Parking Assist can now be started intuitively via the touchscreen.

Automated parking and unparking is much faster than before, as the speed has been increased to up to 4 km/h.


2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Mazda2 updated

                BANGKOK: At the 36th Thailand International Motor Expo, the 2020 updated Mazda2 was displayed with a new grille, bumpers, headlights, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Powered by 1.3-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines, the 2020 Mazda2 also gets G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) for better driving comfort.

2020 updated Mazda2 sedan

2020 updated Mazda2 hatchback


UMW Toyota Motor rolls out goodies for customers

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor is looking forward to the return to normalcy with the recent resumption of business activities in the auto sector as well as other industries.

New vehicle bookings and sales during the months of June, July and part of August were affected by the closure of retail outlets nationwide.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the company understood the necessity of the actions taken by the Government to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

 A sales representative explaining the features of the Vios.

“On our part, we have made sure that our workforce has been vaccinated so that we can safely resume and continue our activities at our facilities around the country,” he said.

Ravindran said the total sales volume of new Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the month of August was 2,524 units, 56% lower than for the same month in 2020.

However, when comparing the first eight months of 2021 with the same period in 2020, the total sale volume of Toyota and Lexus vehicles was 38,085 units in 2021 and 31,734 units in 2020.

This was due to the continued strong sales momentum that started last year, especially with the exemption of Sales and Service Tax (SST).

Ravindran said the company would be having sales promotions in the coming months which come great savings for buyers.

“Our loyal customers are also not forgotten and we will soon announce a new programme that will reward them for their loyalty to the brand over more than five decades.”

 Toyota assembling facility in Bukit Raja, Klang.

For the month of September, customers can enjoy the lowest instalment for the Toyota Yaris from RM493 a month with EZ Beli, while those who buy a Toyota RAV4 can get a cash rebate of up to RM10,000.

All models have exemption of sales tax until the end of 2021, and customers can save up to RM17,391 for the popular Alphard MPV with this exemption.

Ravindran gave assurance that all sales and service outlets will follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specified by the Health Ministry.

Customers and visitors will be required to have temperature scans and register their visit using the MySejahtera app, as well as use hand sanitisers and facemasks at all times.

Meanwhile, production activities have resumed at the two assembly plants in Selangor.

While there is a small backlog of orders to meet due to the shutdown, UMW Toyota Motor expects to be able to deliver new vehicles to customers within a reasonable time-frame.

UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said it was a challenging time for everyone and the company had been doing its best to assist customers by maintaining communication channels for them to use if they have a problem with their Toyota or Lexus vehicle.

“We thank our loyal customers for their patience, support and understanding.

“Now that activities can resume, we hope they will ensure that their vehicles continue to have maintenance service carried out,” said Takeyama.


Ford's brand new car is going to be designed by gamers

                LONDON: Ford is offering gamers the opportunity to have a hand in creating the ultimate track machine.

Designed fresh from the ground up, Ford’s first virtual race car not to be based on an existing real‑world model, will see an auto manufacturer and the racing community come together in a completely new way.

Among those closely involved in designing the car – codenamed “Team Fordzilla P1” project – will be the captains of Ford’s five Fordzilla esports teams from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The Ford of Europe Design Team will also be actively seeking inputs from the wider gaming community.

“Coming up with a no-holds barred race car for the virtual world is when the gloves come off and the design team can really let their imaginations fly. The expertise of gamers is crucial to ensuring that this will be the best-looking car on the grid,” said Amko Leenarts, director, Design, Ford of Europe.

The design phase of the project will involve a unique collaboration between the Ford experts who imagine and create some of the planet’s most desirable and popular real-world cars and the expert gamers who lead the way in racing their virtual counterparts.

The designers will throw open key design decisions to the wider gaming community through a series of Twitter polls that will be posted by @TeamFordzilla. Each poll will surface a key design attribute – from engine to cockpit shape – that gamers can then decide on.

Human-Centric Design informs Ford’s approach to designing all of its vehicles and ensures the human perspective is considered throughout every step of the design process.

“We all love racing our dream cars but ultimately these are usually painstaking recreations of vehicles that actually exist in the real world,” said Leah Alexandra, captain of the UK Fordzilla team. “It will be an absolute thrill to get behind the wheel of the #TeamFordzillaP1 for the first time knowing that not only have we helped to create it but that no-one else has ever driven it before.”


Volkswagen in Malaysia partners Malaysian Relief Agency to aid 850 victims in post-flood recovery

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has donated RM20,000 to Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) to help victims with post-flood recovery.

Beneficiaries consist 850 victims from 170 families in Teluk Gong, Klang.

VPCM’s donation was channelled towards providing essential food packs and electrical appliances such as rice cooker, kettle, and blender.

A group of VPCM employees volunteered with MRA over the weekends to extend a helping hand too.

MRA is a humanitarian organisation that focuses on assisting those affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts.

VPCM managing director Erik Winter expressed the company’s gratitude at being able to relieve the burden of flood victims.

“It is a sobering reality that thousands of Malaysians are still facing the impact and damages left behind in the wake of the severe floods.”

“At VPCM, we believe that it is our social responsibility to help those in need as our #WeNotMe spirit extends beyond the company.

“We hope that our contributions would help the victims to rebuild their lives,” Winter said.

MRA vice-president Khairil Annuar Khalid said the NGO's distribution of assistance is based on phases.

“As the emergency phase ends, MRA will continue to assist in the early recovery phase. We welcome and are happy to receive funds from the public and corporate bodies such as VPCM who generously contributed RM 20,000.

“At this stage, it is such a relief for victims who have lost everything to be given assistance in any form,” Khairil said.

Those who wish to contribute to MRA’s post-flood relief assistance can donate to Tabung Bantuan Kecemasan Mengharungi Monsun MRA (CIMB Bank - Malaysian Relief Agency - account no. 86000 59478).

VPCM is offering 30% off parts and labour for repair works until Feb 28 to assist Volkswagen owners whose vehicles were affected by the floods.

VPCM is also participating in the government’s Keluarga Malaysia Automotive Discount Voucher initiative where owners can claim up to RM1,000 for repair or replacement.


BMW 2 Series Convertible marks 3 millionth car made in Leipzig plant

                LEIPZIG: Sixteen years after BMW's Leipzig plant went on stream, the 3,000,000th BMW has just rolled off the production lines: an M240i Convertible in Sunset Orange.

The latest milestone vehicle was duly dispatched to its new owner – a customer in Bavaria.

Lined up end to end, the 3,000,000 vehicles made by Plant Leipzig would stretch about 13,000km – roughly the flight distance from Leipzig to Australia’s northernmost city, Darwin.

The first BMW “made in Leipzig” rolled off the production line in March 2005, a 320i.

Six years later the 1,000,000th car was made, in December 2011, an Alpine White 116d that was presented to the non-profit organisation Joblinge. The 2,000,000th car came even faster, in October 2016, a BMW i3 in Protonic Blue for a customer in the United States.

The Leipzig plant was the first BMW plant to kick off production of electrified vehicles.

"When we start making the successor to the current MINI Countryman, Leipzig will be the first BMW facility to make both BMWs and MINIs,” said BMW AG Board Member for Production, Milan Nedeljkovic. The next Countryman would be made in Leipzig from 2023.

Along with the i3, Plant Leipzig currently makes the 1 Series, 2 Series and its most powerful model, the M2 Competition. Output totals more than 1,000 vehicles a day and reached 200,000 units last year.

Since going on stream in 2005, production capacity at Plant Leipzig has gradually increased.

The facility is currently capable of delivering up to 350,000 vehicles a year, compared with some 54,000 in the first year of operations.

It now has its sights set on the next million and is also undertaking the next steps towards greater sustainability and becoming a “green plant”.

Plant Leipzig has always been known in the BMW plant network for its sparing and efficient use of energy, with regenerative sources used wherever possible.

Since 2013, production of the i3 has been powered by green energy from four wind turbines on the plant premises, meaning the BMW Group’s first fully electric model has been made with locally sourced green energy since day one.

But now the plant is aiming even higher: “By 2030 we intend to reduce CO2 emissions from production by 80 percent compared with 2006. Our vision is to fully decarbonise production by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen,” said plant director Hans-Peter Kemser.


VW emergency call problems also discovered in Audi, SEAT models

                WOLFSBURG: A problem with an emergency call feature that had already prompted a delivery halt of some Volkswagen models has also been discovered in cars manufactured by company subsidiaries Audi and Seat, according to company sources.

The affected models are the Audi A3 and the SEAT Leon. Reports emerged on Friday of similar problems with VW's Golf 8.

The problem centres on the emergency call assistance function known as eCall, which automatically makes a free call if the car is involved in a serious road accident. Company research has shown that, in some cars, the function might not work because data is transferred improperly.

Volkswagen is preparing itself for a recall of the Golf 8. The decision for a recall and on how to provide a software patch is expected from the Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Authority (KBA) in the coming days.

Production on the Golf compact car series - a mainstay of the German carmaker - will continue for the time being, but all new vehicles will be kept off the market until the issue is fully resolved.


San Francisco bridge tolls and Berlin traffic show oil demand flat-lining

Sparse traffic on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. — Bloomberg

SAN FRANCISCO: From the number of cars crossing San Francisco’s Bay Bridge to the traffic jams in Berlin and air pollution on the streets of Beijing, everything suggests that a recovery in global fuel demand is wobbling.

What the world’s not doing is heading back to the kind of historic collapse in consumption witnessed earlier this year, despite swaths of Europe returning to restrictive measures to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Those are the findings of high frequency data that suggest countries accounting for more than 70% of global petroleum consumption are faring a lot better this time around than during the previous lockdowns.

The data will give producers in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies cautious optimism that the market can limp through until some time next year, with hopes rising that a vaccine to halt the spread of the virus will help consumption to recover.

“The global oil demand recovery seems to have almost stalled” but remains robust in Asia, in particular China and India, said Bassam Fattouh, head of The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

On top of anecdotal evidence from streets in major cities, Bloomberg News has been tracking dozens of weekly data points for gasoline and diesel demand around the world, from tolls on bridges in the US to city traffic jams in Europe. From Chinese pollution indicators to credit card activity at Saudi Arabian fuel stations.

Taken together, a picture emerges that demand may not be growing on a month-on-month basis anymore, as it did steadily since the recovery started in May. At best, it’s probably flat-lining. At worst, it might be ebbing. What it’s not doing is collapsing like it did from February all the way to late April.
Sideways

“The lockdown measures are not comparable to the spring and, importantly, demand in Asia is growing strongly,” said Amrita Sen, co-founder of consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. As the Northern Hemisphere enters into winter next month, oil consumption should also receive a seasonal lift from heating demand.

Traffic in capitals like Paris and Madrid is lighter than a few weeks ago, but the streets aren’t almost empty like they were six months ago. Take the UK, which went into a new lockdown in early November.

Schools are open this time, supporting car use. Traffic has fallen to roughly where it was in early June, down about 30% from normal levels, compared to a plunge of nearly 80% in late March and early November.

Despite demand growth stalling worldwide, crude inventories have continued to dwindle as the OPEC+ alliance keeps supply in check. So-called floating inventories -- oil kept on giant supertankers offshore -- have fallen sharply recently, and to the lowest since April.

Brent crude oil for January traded as high as US$45.30 a barrel on Wednesday. It was at US$44.51 at 5:11 p.m. in London.

The traffic data go a long way to determining the consumption of gasoline and diesel, two products that are vital for the OPEC+ producers. In less than four weeks, they will need to decide whether to hike output in January, as previously planned, or change course to keep supplies more constrained.

Top trading houses in the oil market have opposing views. Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent energy trader, has described European lockdowns as a mere “speed bump.” By contrast, Trafigura Group, the second-largest oil trader, has warned of the potential for a big drop in demand, not only in Europe, but also in the Americas.

The International Energy Agency is due to update its closely watched monthly oil market report on Thursday, providing fresh direction.

For now, though, weekly data show a huge geographical split. Colonial-era terminology still lives on in the oil market, with an imaginary line dividing the world in two at Egypt’s Suez Canal.

East of Suez, as oil traders often refer to Asia, demand growth remains quite strong, supported not only by China, but increasingly by India, Japan and even South Korea. India, the world’s third largest oil consumer, posted its first year-on-year growth for both gasoline and diesel demand in October.

In an example of the recovery in Asia, ExxonMobil Inc. said its forecourts in the Asia-Pacific region were selling more gasoline and diesel than a year ago by late September -- the only region in the world to exhibit a year-on-year gain.

The most recent traffic, pollution, and highway-use data suggest the trend continued into October, only disturbed by Chinese holiday festivities. Pollution levels in Beijing, for example, are running at the highest since March as more people drive into work, rather than using public transport.

The situation is different west of Suez. Across Europe, road usage was already waning even before a fresh round of lockdowns pushed traffic lower still. Yet, “the demand impact this time could be much smaller and focused more on some transportation fuels only,” said Eric Lee, oil analyst at Citigroup Inc.

In France, perhaps the European country under strictest lockdowns, traffic is around 25% below normal levels, compared with a 5-10% reduction in August, according to toll road usage and traffic jams in cities. The danger for European gasoline and diesel demand is that the lockdowns are either tightened, lengthened, or both.

Further west, the outlook is brighter. In the U.S., traffic data suggest the recovery of the past few months has plateaued. But consumption isn’t dropping like in Europe. Last week, for example, American drivers clocked 10% fewer miles on highways than a year ago. That’s below the 4% reduction of early September, but well ahead of the 49% drop in early April, when several states imposed lockdowns.

And in Brazil and Mexico, which together consume as much oil as India, traffic data also point to rising demand for transport fuels.

“It seems like we may have turned the corner,” said James Allison, spokesman for California Fuels and Convenience Alliance, a trade group representing forecourts. “The general feeling is that people are more willing to make those day trips.”


Suzuki Raider R150 Fi: A value-for-money proposition that delivers

                The Suzuki Raider R150 Fi is one of the most talked about underbone bikes in Malaysia.

Its slim, long and rugged design made it perfect for daily commutes.

The bike has a fully-digital instrument panel with red lighting.

All the lights are LEDs and the bike's looks are further enhanced by the sporty livery.

The Raider is powered by a 147.3cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled, DOHC four-valve engine featuring with EFI.

Power is rated around 18.2hp at 10,000rpm and peak torque is 13.8Nm at 8,500rpm.

Although the Raider is a value-for-money proposition, nothing on the bike looks cheap.

I tested the bike by commuting to work as well as riding it from Kuala Lumpur to Lumut and back.

The bike is perfect for all riders as the reach to the handle was not a problem.

Weighing 109kg, the Raider is nimble and can easily weave through traffic and making it perfect for city rides.

No wonder they called this two-wheeler the King of Underbone.

On a few occasions, I took the bike onto the five-foot pathways when it was impossible to weave through the cars.

I was able to get the bike from the tarmac onto the five-foot pathways without any problem.

A little twist on the throttle and voila,  I was on my way.

Meanwhile, whenever at the traffic lights, I will be the first to take off ahead others once the light turns green.

The acceleration on this bike is satisfying.

There is also a small compartment for storing gloves and a slim mobile phone.

Honestly, I don’t find the small space useful at all as those items could be kept in my riding jacket or my waist pouch.

One thing for sure, the Raider grabs the attention of every other ‘kap chai’ owner because this is like THE ‘kap chai’ to own.

I was able to shift gears smoothly and effortlessly while in traffic.

The front and rear disc brakes were also efficient as those who brave the traffic every day to work will know the importance of having good brakes.

The headlight is very bright at night and allowed me to see everything clearly including the fine cracks on the roads along the way up to Genting Highlands.

Meanwhile, the taillight is also bright enough that everyone will be able to notice the bike even from a distance away.

My ride to Lumut and return to Kuala Lumpur covered about 450km.

The overall ride experience was OK but its 4-litre fuel tank was meant for short distances, making me do a few refuelling stops.

It was stressful when the fuel gauge shows that the Raider was running on reserve.

I was able to clock this bike above the legal speed limit and did not feel any vibrations from the machine's belly or handlebar.

I also encountered two crosswinds along the North South Expressway on the way back to Kuala Lumpur where I had to anchor my weight to the foot pegs for a more stability.

The Raider's well-tuned suspension also enabled a smooth ride while on the trunk roads from Bidor to Lumut although the experience was not as plush like those from larger adventure bikes.

The Raider comes with front telescopic forks with rear preload-adjustable monoshock.

This RM8,173 underbone bike is a practical and value-for-money choice for daily commutes that can still do outstation runs.

It's also complemented by good power-to-weight ratio that will not disappoint any rider.

SPECIFICATIONSSuzuki Raider R150 FiEngine: 147cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC
Maximum power: 18.2hp at 10,000rpm
Maximum torque: 13.8Nm at 8,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front telescopic fork; rear preload-adjustable monoshock
Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic with petal discs
Fuel capacity: 4 litres
Wet weight: 109kg
Price: RM8,173 (without registration, road tax and insurance)


BMW missing out on China’s karaoke fans exposes digital car gap

Sorry, no karaoke feature in BMWs. Shop other brands or check back in a year.
MUNICH: BMW AG rarely has to answer this question in Western showrooms, but it’s becoming increasingly important for selling cars in China: Can I sing karaoke in this automobile?

Customers in the world’s biggest auto market are demanding that sing-along apps such as Changba work in new vehicles. Local manufacturers XPeng Inc., Nio Inc. and BYD Co. are at the forefront of this trend, besting Western rivals by offering models with karaoke microphones.

The push extends beyond music, with Chinese buyers expecting seamless access to features like in-car payment and social-media connectivity.

“We’ve identified this as a challenge,” said Christoph Grote, BMW’s digital car chief. “Chinese consumers are the most demanding when it comes to digital technology in the car.”

Tapping into local tastes is crucial to win over customers in China, where electric-car adoption is accelerating and homegrown auto offerings are mushrooming. The country is the biggest market for BMW as well as Volkswagen AG, accounting for 36% and 40% of sales, respectively.

Local brands are trying hard to win over the digital-native crowd. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. earlier this year started Zeekr, an all-electric marque aimed at millennials, and carmakers are using local influencers to tout their models as online buying becomes more widespread.

Western manufacturers are lagging behind integrating Chinese digital ecosystems into their cars, according to Kearney. More than two-thirds of local consumers view Chinese navigation apps as a must-have feature and Western brands risk falling behind in the “everything-connected” era, the consultancy said in a report last year.

While Western carmakers have traditionally viewed digital connectivity as a feature they can charge customers extra money for, its Chinese rivals are using it as an enabler to integrate third-party services, said Bill Russo, chief executive officer of Automobility Ltd., a Shanghai-based consultancy.

“Such digital services are dominated by local ecosystem players in China and multinationals often lack the deep local collaborations needed to generate revenue from these services,” Russo said.

BMW doesn’t yet offer karaoke features in its cars, but has worked with Tencent Holdings Ltd. to integrate a function to pay parking fees via the popular WeChat Pay app.

The manufacturer plans to use a joint venture formed last year with Nanjing-based technology company Archermind Technology Nanjing Co. to expand its connectivity features and is open to additional partnerships, Grote said.

“You need a technology road map for China and you need local capabilities,” he said. “Our joint venture allows us to develop directly within the Chinese technology ecosystem.”


Range Rover Sport SVR stars in chase scene in Bond flick

                LONDON: Car product placement in movies are pretty common these days. Car makers hope that what entertains will quickly translate to sales at the showrooms.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is a case in point. It's featured in the much anticipated James Bond flick No Time To Die that will see Daniel Craig in his fifth and final role as 007.

No Time To Die is set for release in cinemas globally from Sept 30.

The action vehicles and stunt professionals on the new James Bond film pushed the most powerful Land Rover ever made to extremes. A new video gives a taste of the high-speed action as the team explain why Range Rover SVR was up to the task.

The chase sequence puts the SUV in the midst of the action, led by Oscar-winning special effects and action vehicles supervisor Chris Corbould and stunt coordinator Lee Morrison.

Lee Morrison, stunt co-ordinator, said: “I was really keen to shoot a Bond chase sequence off-road, in a really challenging environment and the Range Rover Sport SVR was the perfect choice for this part of the story. We shoot everything for real so we’ve pushed it to the absolute maximum and the pursuit promises to be one of the memorable set-piece moments of the film.”

The Range Rover Sport SVR takes luxury performance to new heights with enhanced driving dynamics and a powerful 575hp supercharged V8 engine. It can accelerate from 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 283kph, making it the fastest ever Land Rover.

The SVRs used in No Time To Die feature the same specially tuned suspension as production models devised by engineers at Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations to deliver more responsive handling and tighter body control without compromising comfort.

The pair of Eiger Grey models are fitted with Gloss Black 22-inch alloy wheels and the optional Carbon Pack, which includes Gloss Carbon Fibre front fender vents, lower bumper intakes, grille and mirrors.

The optional lightweight SVR Carbon Fibre vented bonnet features a body coloured finish in No Time To Die, but can also be specified with an exposed carbon fibre centre section.

Customers can now replicate the No Time To Die specification using a configurator.

“The Range Rover Sport SVRs in No Time To Die strike a unique mix of stealth and performance. Now you can replicate this combination and celebrate the release of the 25th Bond film with a single click on the Land Rover configurator,” said Jaguar Land Rover marketing operations director Finbar McFall.

The Range Rover, the original luxury SUV, made its world premiere in 1970. Since then the family has grown to include the Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Velar. No Time To Die will also feature a Range Rover Classic alongside three Defenders and a Series III Land Rover.

Land Rover has a long-standing partnership with EON Productions and James Bond films, which began in 1983 when a Range Rover Convertible appeared in Octopussy. Most recently, in 2015 the Range Rover Sport starred in major action sequences in SPECTRE.

The Range Rover Sport SVR is priced from £99,620 (RM575,000) in the UK.


This nice 'Yellow Teapot' is Renault's way of celebrating 40 years in F1

                PARIS: The French car maker is celebrating 40 years in the world of Formula 1 with a "Yellow Teapot" in the team's signature yellow, black and white colours.

It was in 1977 that the French car maker entered the world of Formula 1, with a car called the RS01. This model had a turbo compressed engine, a first for Formula 1.

But, as with many trailblazing innovations, the RS01 encountered certain technical difficulties, and the yellow, black and white car would regularly pull into the pit lane streaming white smoke, a sign of engine trouble.

On seeing the smoking car go by, team boss Ken Tyrell dubbed it the "Yellow Teapot," a moniker that stuck, becoming the nickname of the RS01. The car won its first Formula 1 victory two years later at the French Grand Prix in Dijon.

Renault is now paying tribute to this car and its difficult beginnings with a new "Yellow Teapot," designed to celebrate the team's 40th anniversary in Formula 1 racing.

The teapot will equip the kitchens of the "L'Atelier Renault" restaurant on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France, from September. Forty limited-edition copies will also be available to buy priced €129 (RM632) from the "L'Atelier Renault" store and e-shop.


Tesla patents sunroof with electric tinting and integrated lighting

                SAN FRANCISCO: Electrek spotted on Monday a recently published patent by Tesla that outlines the company's potential plans to develop a sunroof with "electrically controllable" tinting and an integrated lighting system.

While both sunroof features are not new technologies, putting them together is.

According to the patent, which refers to this combined technology as an "advanced sunroof lighting system," a controller would be used to "control whether the tint layer is tinted" as well as "control the brightness and/or colour in the lights."

READ MORE: Advanced Tesla Model X and Model S windscreens hail from Lima

The collection of LEDs to be integrated into the sunroof is described as having varying emissions spectra; this would allow the system to emit a wide range of colour. Furthermore, the patent states that the lights would be configured in such a way to produce an even distribution of light throughout the vehicle cabin.

The patent explained that a driver could use this feature, for example, when driving in the morning to let a particular amount of natural light into the cabin by controlling the tint level.

Of course, this technology has simply been patented for now. Tesla did not comment on the sunroof nor its potential development, though it would certainly be a useful one.


Fuel up at Shell for extra BonusLink points

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia and BonusLink launched the ‘Ekstra Ganjaran Setiap Hari’ campaign from Nov 16, 2020 to April 30, 2021 to reward loyal customers with up to 4X BonusLink Points for fuels purchases.

Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, Shairan Huzani Husain said,“Helping customers and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic remains a top priority at Shell. At a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty, we’ve had to rethink our loyalty programme offerings to ensure we continue to stand behind all our customers and provide them the best value.

"Our partnership with BonusLink has helped us turn every journey into a rewarding one by giving customers up to 4X Points whenever they refuel at Shell, and at the same time they can also redeem a wide range of snacks and drinks from our stores from only one hundred (100) Points. We hope customers will take this opportunity to get rewarded at Shell so they can go well on their journeys.”

During this campaign, customers can accumulate BonusLink Points faster than before, based on the principle of tiered rewards where the more purchases one makes in a month, the higher the points tier they move up into, and the better the rewards they will receive up to 4X BonusLink Points.

To participate and be upgraded to a higher points tier, customers simply need to swipe their BonusLink card at Shell and pump a minimum of RM50 of Shell FuelSave 95, Shell V-Power 97, or Shell V-Power Racing fuels in a single receipt.


Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 teased in concept sketch

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company today revealed a design concept sketch of its highly anticipated Ioniq 6, the second model in its Ioniq all-electric lineup brand after the Ioniq 5.

The concept sketch depicts the unique and streamlined silhouette of the Ioniq 6.

Inspired by the company’s Prophecy concept EV, Hyundai has called the Ioniq 6 an "Electrified Streamliner" with clean, simple lines and an aerodynamic form.

The streamliner design shown in the sketch reflects Hyundai designers’ commitment to satisfy both aesthetic and functional needs of customers in the electric mobility era.

The Ioniq 6,  which wants to  compete against the BMW i4,  takes advantage of Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) to provide a stretched wheelbase and optimised interior design.

Hyundai will be releasing more Ioniq 6 teaser images in the coming days. And we reckoned final technical details would be revealed at the July 14-24 Busan Motor Show.

As a higher-end model than the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 will reportedly has a tad larger 77.4-kWh battery and a nicer infotainment setup. Hyundai will certainly offer dual motor and single motor variants for all-wheel and rear-wheel drive respectively.

That would correspond to outputs of around 300hp and sub-200hp in the respective variants. Note that 576hp can be squeezed out of the E-GMP platform as proven in the Kia EV6 GT, which shares the same underlying structure.

The Ioniq 6 should be capable of travelling up to 500km before needing a charge.

An Ioniq 7 with three rows is also in the works and is expected to be ready by 2023.

Hyundai is also working with Michelin to develop tyres optimised for electric vehicles.


Tan Chong posts loss for first time in 17 years

                PETALING JAYA: Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd (TCMH) posted its first quarterly loss in 17 years during the three months to March 2016 (Q1’16), as intense competition and the weak ringgit hit its bottom line.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the automotive assembling and distribution company said the challenging business environment during the quarter had resulted in the company slipping into a net loss of RM37.21mil, compared with a net profit of RM26.35mil in the corresponding quarter last year.

“The challenging business environment, marked by intense competition coupled with significant currency headwinds faced by the ringgit, has impacted the bottom line,” TCMH said.

During the quarter in review, the group saw its revenue fall 6.6% to RM1.47bil from RM1.57bil previously. Its loss per share stood at 5.70 sen in Q1’16 compared with an earnings per share of 4.04 sen in Q1’15. TCMH’s shares closed unchanged at RM2.20.

The group said the remaining three quarters of the current financial year would likely be tough due to the volatility in the domestic and global economic situation.

“We believe the domestic automotive sector will remain challenging, as consumer confidence remains weak,” TCMH said, adding that it would remain disciplined and focused on key priorities to weather the challenges.

“Our aim is to be cash-generative and deliver profitable growth through the economic cycle,” it explained.

Among the initiatives TCMH had implemented were raising the selling prices of certain Nissan models by around 2.7% to 6.7% from April 1, 2016 to mitigate the impact of the weak ringgit, focusing on sales and marketing activities together with value offerings to enhance sales and boost competitiveness in the domestic market, and strengthening its footprint in Vietnam and other Indo-China countries by expanding its sales network and filling plant capacity with new models.

In Q1’16, TCMH said its automotive division saw a 6.6% year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in revenue to RM1.45bil and a 81.6% y-o-y fall in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to RM13.5mil.

“The lower revenue was due to the overall slower consumer demand, and consequently the lower Ebitda as a result of higher completely-knocked-down kit cost, arising from the unfavourable foreign exchange rate compared to the previous year,” it pointed out.

Meanwhile, TCMH’s financial services division saw a 3.8% decline in revenue to RM13.8mil on a lower volume of motor insurance policies, while Ebitda fell 54.9% y-o-y to RM3.2mil due to a one-off impairment loss provided for hire purchase receivables of RM3.4mil during the quarter in review.

The group said its other operations, comprising investments and property, also posted a lower revenue and earnings, with income falling to RM2.7mil compared with RM4.3mil previously, while losses stood at RM3mil, compared with an Ebitda of RM5.6mil.

“The loss suffered was due to the unrealised forex loss, arising from financing overseas entities denominated in foreign currencies,” TCMH said.


Tesla slashes China prices by up to 9% as analysts warn of 'price war'

                SHANGHAI: Tesla has cut starter prices for its Model 3 and Model Y cars by as much as 9% in China, reversing a trend of increases across the industry amid signs of softening demand in the world's largest auto market.

The price cuts, posted in listings on the electric vehicle (EV) giant's China website today, are the first by Tesla in China in 2022, and come after Tesla began offering limited incentives to buyers who opted for Tesla's insurance last month.

The price cuts come after Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said last week that "a recession of sorts" was under way in China and Europe and Tesla said it would miss its vehicle delivery target this year.

Musk told analysts last week that demand was strong in the current quarter and said he expected Tesla to be "recession-resilient".

China Merchants Bank International (CMBI) said Tesla's price cuts underlined the growing competitive risk for EV makers in China, with industry-wide sales projected to slow into 2023.

"The price cuts underscore the possible price war which we have been emphasising since August," said Shi Ji, an analyst with CMBI.

Data on Monday showed retail sales in China grew 2.5% in September, below the expected 3.3% rise and less than half August's 5.4% growth.

Analysts are warning of a growing car inventory glut for autos in China, where auto sales growth slowed in September while EV sales rose at their slowest pace in five months.

The U.S. automaker and several Chinese rivals have hiked prices several times since last year amid rising raw material costs. But Tesla has also regularly adjusted prices of its cars in China, including reductions, reflecting government subsidies.

Tesla told Reuters it was adjusting prices in line with costs. Capacity utilisation at its Shanghai Gigafactory has improved, while the supply chain remains stable despite the impact on the economy of China's stringent zero-Covid restrictions, leading to lower costs, it said.

The starting price for the Model 3 sedan was reduced to 265,900 yuan (RM174,000) from 279,900 yuan, while that for the Model Y sport utility vehicle was cut to 288,900 yuan (RM189,000) from 316,900 yuan, the product prices listed on its Chinese website showed.

The average price for a new Tesla in the United States, the EV maker's largest market, has been climbing steadily since last year and was just under US$70,000 (RM332,000) in August, according to research company Kelley Blue Book.

Tesla upgraded its Shanghai factory earlier this year in a development that brought the factory's weekly output capacity to around 22,000 units compared with levels of around 17,000 in June, Reuters previously reported.

Tesla delivered 83,135 China-made EVs in September, an 8% increase from August, and set an output record for the Shanghai factory since production began in December 2019. read more

CMBI analysts warned last week that 2023 would bring more competition to the EV sector, saying that it expected to see sales growth for EVs and hybrids on a combined basis to drop below 50%. read more

Tesla is currently China's third best-selling EV maker after BYD Motor and SAIC-GM-Wuling, and is the only foreign player in the top 15 list published by the China Passenger Car Association.

CMBI said it expected that other automakers would need to cut prices on battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, following Tesla's lead because of a projected increase in production capacity next year.


Unique Bentley Fanatec steering wheel made for real and virtual racing

                LONDON: Bentley and Fanatec have co-developed a unique steering wheel that can be used for both real and virtual motor racing.

The wheel was designed specifically for the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak challenge car, carefully crafted from lightweight carbon-fibre and magnesium alloy, and equipped with a host of driving functions.

Fanatec is a German sim racing hardware maker.

The first steering wheel of its kind to have actually raced in a car, the desirable accessory offers gamers a chance to experience first-hand what it must be like to drive one of the world’s most powerful cars.

The centre of the GT3 steering wheel is given over to a circular digital display that offers the driver vital telemetry and information about their performance.

Exclusive Bentley design details include signature knurling on the rotary encoders.

Other key features include a forged carbon display bezel, two 7-way FunkySwitch directional sticks with encoder functionality, a pair of aluminium thumb wheels with optical encoders, and four magnetic paddles – two for gearshifting and two auxiliaries, based on the design of the Continental GT road car.

When not being used to provide a thrilling virtual driving experience, Bentley’s collector’s piece steering wheel can be displayed on a wall or desk – it comes equipped with a special mount. A robust hard travelling case is also provided.

Paul Williams, Director of Motorsport at Bentley Motors, and a keen sim racer, said: “Our detailed collaboration with Fanatec has repurposed the steering wheel from the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak car for virtual use. There cannot be a more realistic way for gaming enthusiasts to experience the thrill of driving one of our fastest ever vehicles, from home.”

The Continental GT3 Pikes Peak car features a specially-tuned, twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8 engine producing more than 750bhp and 1,000 Nm of torque. Designed to run on renewable synthetic fuel, it will attempt a new record for the gruelling 20km hill climb course in Colorado in a production-based racing vehicle.

Bentley already holds the course record for the fastest production SUV, set by the Bentayga in 2018, and the production car class, set the following year in a Continental GT. Success in the GT3 today will give Bentley a unique hat-trick of titles.


Shell Malaysia and BonusLink team up to help Covid-19 fighters

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia and BonusLink have joined forces to launch an initiative to enable customers to show their gratitude to the nation’s frontliners.

From April 2-7,  BonusLink members can contribute a minimum of 100 points, which is equivalent to RM1, which will be channeled directly to the Covid-19 fund by the Ministry of Health.

Shell has pledged to match RM1 for every 100 points donated during the period.

Donations can be made at www.bonuslink.com.my or via the BonusLink app from Google Play and Appstore.

All donations to the Covid-19 fund will be used to help the ministry buy  medical equipment, protection gear and other medical necessities.

Shell Malaysia donated hand sanitisers, mineral water, food and beverages to medical frontliners at Hospital Sungai Buloh, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh.

The company also gave essential items to local communities and frontliners at selected Shell stations in the country.

Part of the initiatives included supplying electricity for lamps and fans to temporary tents as well as contributing foods and drinks to local authorities.

"We recognise the challenges faced by these brave Malaysians and we hope these essential items will give our frontliners some needed support," said Shell Malaysia Trading managing director Shairan Huzani Husain.


Ford opens Cologne EV Centre – its first carbon neutral assembly plant

                COLOGNE: Ford opened on Monday its Cologne Electric Vehicle Centre, a hi-tech production facility in Germany that will build Ford’s new generation of electric passenger vehicles for millions of European customers.

Ford has transformed its historic plant in Niehl, Cologne – first founded in 1930 – as part of a US$2 billion investment.

Designed to be highly efficient, the 125-hectare site is equipped with a brand-new production line, battery assembly and state-of-the-art tooling and automation, enabling an annual production capacity of 250,000+ EVs.

Following the successes of Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and F-150 Lightning, Ford recently unveiled its fourth EV globally, the electric Explorer, which will be the first electric vehicle to be produced here, followed by a second electric vehicle, a sports crossover.

The Cologne EV Centre will be Ford’s first carbon neutral assembly plant to open globally and supports the company’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality across its entire European footprint of facilities, logistics and direct suppliers by 2035.

“Opening the Cologne EV Centre is the start of a new generation of clean manufacturing and electric vehicles in Europe,” said Ford executive chair Bill Ford.

“This facility will now be one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible plants in the entire industry."

To achieve carbon neutrality, Ford will reduce the use of energy and emissions in the plant by the installation of new processes, machinery, and technologies. All electricity and natural gas required to operate the facility is carbon neutral based on being 100 per cent certified renewable electricity and biomethane.

The heat required to warm the facility and processes is carbon neutral, as the local energy provider will offset the corresponding emissions from the assembly plant on behalf of Ford. The heat is generated by an external power plant and waste incineration plant and provided through a dedicated steam network to Ford.


Dubai plans to list road-toll system

                DUBAI: Dubai plans to list its road toll-collection system on the local stock exchange, the latest step in its attempt to increase liquidity on a bourse that’s lagged regional rivals over the past year.

The so-called Salik toll system is part of the Roads and Transport Authority and a key source of revenue for the emirate.

"Investing in it carries many opportunities,” Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed, Dubai’s deputy ruler and head of its financial market, said on Twitter Saturday.

Salik, Arabic for open, is an automated system introduced in 2007.

Each time a vehicle passes through one of the city’s eight toll points, 4 dirhams (RM4.60) is charged to a prepaid account - eliminating the need for cash or toll booths.

"It’s a cash machine,” Mohammed Ali Yasin, the chief strategy officer at Al Dhabi Capital Ltd., said in a Bloomberg TV interview today.

Salik’s listing is part of Dubai’s efforts to catch up with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi - the Middle East’s busiest IPO venues over the past year.

It comes after the city said on Nov 2 that it would list the utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, another important source of government revenue, in what’s likely to be Dubai’s biggest share sale to date.

In all, Dubai plans to list as many as 10 state firms over the coming months.


Russia approves RM617mil in subsidies for car plants

                MOSCOW: Russia will provide carmakers with 10 billion roubles (RM617mil) in subsidies, the government said on Thursday, in a bid to support an industry struggling to cope with the country's economic downturn.

However, the industry is only expected to return to growth in 2016 and is therefore likely to need more government support than the measures announced on Thursday.

Car sales in Russia have fallen sharply as the economy has weakened, as consumers put off big-ticket purchases and auto makers look for ways to cut costs and review their strategies for what was once a booming market.

On Wednesday, General Motors said it would shut its Russian factory, cutting 1,000 jobs.

In addition to lower sales car producers have seen their margins fall by 10 to 15 percent as a result of the rouble weakening, which has increased the cost of imported components, as well as higher metals prices, the government said on its website.

"Most carmakers currently work with a minimum profitability level ... (The) budget allocation of 10 billion roubles will allow (them) to use additional production capacity in the first quarter in the amount of around 110,000 vehicles and preserve jobs," it said.

According to the state statistics office the production of passenger cars in Russia fell 17 percent in February on a year ago to 130,000 vehicles.

The government is considering allocating additional funds this year to its car-buying incentive programme which offers discounts to buyers trading in their old vehicles and also subsidises loans and leasing terms.


Two Tesla executives leaving ahead of Model 3 ramp-up

                SAN FRANCISCO: Two top manufacturing executives are leaving Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA.O) as the Silicon Valley electric-car maker prepares to launch its first mass-market car, the Model 3, and sharply ramp up production.

The departures follow a rocky production start for the company's Model X sport utility vehicle, a technology-heavy crossover that faced problems including parts shortages and quality issues, such as non-fastening doors.

Tesla's vice president of production, Greg Reichow, has chosen to take a leave of absence for a "well-earned break," a Tesla spokesman said. Chief executive Elon Musk said Reichow and his team deserved credit for "building an all-new manufacturing organization from the ground up" and making the Model S sedan and Model X a reality.

Reichow, who has led production for the past three years and has been employed for five years at Tesla, will stay on until a successor is found to ensure a "smooth handoff," the company said.

Tesla also confirmed its vice president of manufacturing, Josh Ensign, has left the company.

Tesla says the Model X issues have been resolved and production of the SUV, which began deliveries in September, is now on track.

The company hopes to produce 500,000 vehicles annually by 2020, led by its hotly anticipated Model 3, which is to be priced around US$35,000 (RM141,000) and due to begin production at the end of 2017.

Some analysts question whether the company will be able to handle a ten-fold increase in production, given demand for the Model 3, which has already received more than 325,000 reservations in the month following its unveiling on March 31.


Yuumi is the face of Isuzu Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: Isuzu Malaysia Sdn Bhd (IMSB) announced that talented Japanese entertainer and model Yuumi, is joining Isuzu Malaysia family as their brand ambassador.

Born in Japan, Yuumi and her parents had moved to Malaysia when she was five years old. She is able to converse in multiple languages including Japanese, English, Malay and Chinese.

In 2015, she made her debut as a model. She also appeared in local popular TV3 program Jenaka Kampung Kalut. She also took part in TV9 morning show Nasi Lemak Kopi O and “Melodi” at TV3.

Coming in August 2017, she will be featured in The Captivating Travel of Malaysia that will be on air at few cable and satellite providers in Japan such as CATV, SkyPerfecTV and IPTV.

“I am delighted to welcome Yuumi as our brand ambassador. Although she is still young and at the development stage of her career, she is strongly committed to be a part of Malaysian society and willing to take a challenge in this country, in which we found something in common with ourselves.

"In addition to that, her charisma and lively personality are an ideal fit for the Isuzu brand. I am confident that our collaboration will be tremendously beneficial to everyone”, said Hajime Machimura, Executive Director of Isuzu Malaysia.

“I am excited and feel very grateful for this collaboration with Isuzu Malaysia. This is such an amazing honour in my career to be associated with Isuzu, a top Japanese brand both in Malaysia and globally”, said Yuumi.

As the face of Isuzu Malaysia, Yuumi will appear in all multimedia campaigns including all types of media, digital, roadshows and social media.  She is set to appear as a ring girl in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia and Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title fight on July 9 in Mid Valley Exhibition Center. Isuzu Malaysia is the main sponsor of the title fight.


Japan carmakers enjoy cruise in China fast lane

Vehicles parked in a lot in Shenzhen, China. - Bloomberg
BEIJING: Japan’s top carmakers are enjoying strong growth in China, the world’s top auto market, bucking concerns about a slowdown in the market after tax incentives were cut back this year.

Toyota and Honda said today vehicle sales in China grew close to 15 percent in September, after strong sales in August. Nissan Motor Co Ltd posted similar growth on Monday.

After a sluggish start to the year, China’s car market has shifted into a higher gear since mid-year, posting a third successive month of rising sales in August. Overall growth is expected to slow to 5 percent from a double-digit rise in 2016.

Analysts said international carmakers were benefiting most from the uptick, even as some Chinese rivals saw sales growth slow and a diplomatic spat between Beijing and Seoul hit South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co and affiliate Kia Motors.

“After a good run in recent months, local Chinese brands are growing much slower now,” said Yale Zhang, head of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight.

“That’s why some good foreign (carmakers) are now seeing their sales grow by double-digits.”

Toyota’s sales in China grew 14.1 percent in September from a year earlier to 118,900 vehicles, after a 13.2 percent increase in August. It sold 960,400 vehicles in the first nine months of the year, up 7.9 percent against 2016.

Honda’s sales in the market were up 15.5 percent for the month, following a 20.6 percent rise in August. Its Jan-Sept sales totaled 1.03 million vehicles, a 17.7 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

Honda, the smaller of the two automakers, has been outstripping Toyota in China so far this year, thanks to hot-selling models that include the redesigned Civic and its subcompact crossover SUVs.

Toyota, Japan’s top automaker by volume, is still on target to sell more than 1.21 million vehicles this year in China up from the 1.2 million vehicles it sold in 2016.


Porsche is letting drivers digitise favourite roads and routes

                STUTTGART: Porsche has announced that it has developed a road digitisation solution that allows any familiar or favorite route to be experienced through compatible video games.

This system has been achieved in collaboration with Swiss startup Way Ahead Technologies.

The aim of the project, called "Virtual Roads," is to offer Porsche customers the possibility of digitising in 3D their favourite roads and routes, in order to later access them virtually in a video game.

All they need is a smartphone and an accompanying application.

The idea is to allow drivers to record any route using a dedicated application on their smartphone, simply positioned behind the windshield.

The data collected will then be automatically converted into 3D to be used in a virtual world. The project leaders suggest that this process is up to 100 times faster than a more traditional laser-based method used today by video game publishers.

The software used here captures the main data and characteristics relating to the road (width, gradient, etc.) but also its environment, such as trees or guardrails.

All of these are then reproduced as faithfully as possible in digital 3D form. Note that other road users encountered during this capture process are obviously not digitized.

At present, this technology can digitise routes of up to 8km in less than an hour.

According to Porsche, the file of each unique route generated by the new application should be compatible with a number of racing games, including "Assetto Corsa."

As such, it may soon be possible to drive your vacation route from the comfort of your home!


Toyota Gazoo Racing shows off GRMN Yaris at Tokyo Auto Salon

                CHIBA: The GRMN Yaris are among several new cars Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) and Lexus are exhibiting at Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 here from today to Jan 16.

The GRMN Yaris is a fully tuned model of the GR Yaris that has gone through rigorous refinement with professional drivers.

Since its launch in September in 2020, the GR Yaris has been involved in various motorsports, such as the Super Taikyu Series.

The GR Yaris has been refined through "driver first" car development. Issues under extreme use conditions are identified through driver feedback and quickly resolved. Each car can be tailored to the driver to evolve into a safe and easy-to-drive vehicle.

Using lessons learned from motorsports competition, body rigidity has been enhanced, weight has been reduced by approximately 20 kg, overall width has been increased by 10 mm for aerodynamic improvement, and vehicle height has been reduced by 10 mm for a lower center of gravity.

Also, it uses mechanical LSD, a close-ratio gear transmission, and a low final gear set, which has been improved through repeated "breaking and fixing".

The GR Yaris has evolved into a car that can be driven faster and with more peace of mind, with improved braking force, grip, cornering and following performance based on feedback from professional drivers.

Additionally, through the two Update Program and Personalization Program services, Toyota will provide customers with "cars that evolve quickly and can be tailored to individuals" just like they are in motorsports.

Sales of a 500-unit limited edition model are expected to begin at GR Garages across Japan around summer 2022.

In addition to the basic grade, a Circuit Package focused on road performance based on feedback from the Super Taikyu will also be available. The Circuit Package is available in a special Matte Steel exterior colour and will be sold as a 50-unit limited edition.

Prices start from 7,317,000 yen (RM269,000).

GR GT3 Concept

TGR said it wants to further accelerate customer motorsports activities to make the world of motorsports sustainable. Hence, the GR GT3 Concept.

As was the case with the GR Yaris, by commercializing motorsports cars rather than simply adapting production vehicles for use in motorsports, TGR intends to use feedback and technologies refined through participation in various motorsports activities to develop both GT3 and mass-production cars and further promote making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.

bZ4X GR Sport Concept

Based on the bZ4X dedicated battery EV, the bZ4X GR Sport Concept delivers an elevated level of environmental performance and driving pleasure.

Large-diameter tyres, sports seats, and matte black exterior body panels are among the highlights of this concept vehicle.

NX PHEV Offroad Concept and ROV Concept

Lexus will display a one-third scale model of the Zivko Edge 540 V3 air race aircraft that Yoshihide Muroya of Lexus/Pathfinder Air Racing will pilot in the Air Race World Championship to be held this year.

Also joining the exhibit are the NX PHEV Offroad Concept and the ROV Concept-two concept vehicles that embody the brand's aspirations to realise a carbon-neutral society, expand customers' choices and lifestyles, and provide new values that exceed customers' expectations.

LX 600 "OFFROAD" JAOS version

JAOS Corporation and Lexus have teamed up to feature a new customized LX "OFFROAD" model.

The new LX, which has just gone on sale in Japan, offers a higher level of refinement, while maintaining its reliability, durability and off-road driving performance.

JAOS, set up in 1985, has been developing and offering 4WD & SUV parts.

The two companies came together "to provide customers with an all-new experience."

The LX 600 "OFFROAD" JAOS version, based on the LX 600 "OFFROAD" model, combines the exclusive "OFFROAD" version's exterior design with JAOS's distinctive rugged customisation.

The exterior uses lightweight, high rigidity infusion-molded CFRP parts for the front and rear bumper skid protectors, as well as for the over fenders.

The vehicle also features specially developed 20-inch ENKEI-made wheels forged by "TEAM JAOS" through their participation in global rally raids.

GR Heritage Parts Project

The GR Heritage Parts Project aims to reproduce discontinued replacement parts for sale as new genuine parts.

On display at the show is a selection of reproduced parts slated for release in 2022 for the A70 Supra, A80 Supra, Toyota 2000GT, Land Cruiser 40 series, and AE86 Corolla Levin/Sprinter Trueno.


Get cash back with Shell when you go cashless

                KUALA LUMPUR:  From June 15 until July 26, customers who choose cashless payment methods at Shell stations nationwide will receive "Ganjaran Ekstra" ( "Extra Rewards") through cashback and fuel rebates.

As the effort to break the chain of Covid-19 infection continues, Malaysians are taking precautionary measures such as practising social distancing as well as wearing face masks and  gloves for extra protection.

Cashless payment is another way to lessen the risk of exposure.

Customers who use debit cards and e-wallets to buy fuel or Shell Select items at Shell stations during the campaign period will receive extra cashback and fuel rebates.

You can fuel up with the following cashless payment methods.

> Visa Debit Card:

Customers who spend a minimum of 3x RM40 per transaction via any Visa debit card will stand a chance to win RM12 Shell fuel rebates. Registration of the first transaction is required.

> Touch ‘n Go eWallet:

Customers who spend a minimum of RM40 per transaction via Touch ‘n Go eWallet will receive RM4 cashback after three working days.

> Boost eWallet:

For two weeks from July 13 to July 26, 2020, customers who spend a minimum of RM40 per transaction via Boost eWallet will receive RM4 cashback after three working days.

“We strive to do what we can for Malaysia during these trying times by providing an experience that is ‘senang, mudah dan selamat’ (easy and safe) coupled with extra rewards for all our customers when they opt for cashless payments at our stations," said Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd managing director Shairan Huzani Husain

"We will continue to do our best in ensuring the safety and comfort of Malaysians who visit our stations."

Visit Shell for more information.


Visa payWave user wins Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG in Caltex promotion

                KUALA LUMPUR: A new Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG was recently won by Gary Yeap Zak Wang of Penang, in a “Wave and Win” promotion held by Chevron Malaysia Ltd, which markets the Caltex brand, in partnership with Visa.

During the “Wave and Win” promotion period, 32 lucky Visa cardholders who purchased any Caltex fuel or Mart convenience store items using Visa payWave walked away with monthly StarCash prizes worth RM5,000 each.

Yeap won the promotion using his Visa debit card, after utilising the convenient Visa payWave contactless payment system at one of Caltex’s service stations.

 From left: Gary Yap Zeak Wang, winner of the “Wave and Win” promotion, with Visa Malaysia country manager Ng Kong Boon and Chevron Malaysia Ltd finance manager Thilaghan Mohanadas.

"The “Wave & Win” promotion was definitely a contest that caught my attention – it stood out from the rest of the contests. Winning a brand new car on top of RM10,000 StarCash, Caltex has definitely made my journey a truly memorable one. Since I started driving, Caltex has been my fuel of choice. With Caltex’s offering of a full-fledged contactless payment at outdoor pumps, this has assured me speed and convenience when fuelling my vehicle,” commented Yeap.

“The campaign that we conducted with Chevron enabled us to encourage use of contactless payments and rewards motorists when they use Visa payWave to pay for their fuel,” said Ng Kong Boon, Visa country manager for Malaysia.

“As the first fuel provider in the country to introduce Visa payWave at our service stations, we believe this service will make motorists’ journeys more enjoyable by saving them more time,” says Thilaghan Mohanadas, finance manager of Chevron Malaysia Ltd.


Jaguar Land Rover shows off sensory steering wheel that keeps your eyes on the road

                LONDON: A steering wheel developed by Jaguar Land Rover could help keep drivers’ eyes on the road – by using heat to tell drivers when to turn left or right.

The research, in partnership with Glasgow University, has created a "sensory steering wheel", parts of which can be quickly heated and cooled to inform drivers where to turn, when to change lane or to warn of an approaching junction. This could be particularly useful when visibility is reduced through poor weather or the layout of the road.

The technology has also been applied to the gear-shift paddles to indicate when handover from the driver to autonomous control in future self-driving vehicles is complete.

Driver distraction is a major contributor to road accidents around the world and accounts for 10 per cent of all fatal crashes in the US alone. Jaguar Land Rover’s research suggests thermal cues could be a way to keep drivers fully focused on the road.

The cues work on both sides of the steering wheel, indicating the direction to turn by rapidly warming or cooling one side by a difference of up to 6 degree C. For comfort a driver could adjust the range of temperature change.

tudies have shown temperature-based instructions could also be used for non-urgent notifications, where vibrations could be deemed unnecessarily attention grabbing, for example as a warning when fuel is running low, or for upcoming events, such as points of interest. Thermal cues can also be used where audio feedback would be deemed too disruptive to cabin conversations or media playback.

“Safety is a number one priority for Jaguar Land Rover and we are committed to continuously improving our vehicles with the latest technological developments as well as preparing the business for a self-driving future," said Jaguar Land Rover Electrical Research senior manager Alexandros Mouzakitis.

“The ‘sensory steering wheel’ is all part of this vision, with thermal cues able to reduce the amount of time drivers have to take their eyes off the road.

“Research has shown people readily understand the heating and cooling dynamics to denote directions and the subtlety of temperature change can be perfect for certain feedback that doesn’t require a more intrusive audio or vibration-based cue.”

The Jaguar Land Rover-funded research is part of a PhD study undertaken by Patrizia Di Campli San Vito at Glasgow University as part of its Glasgow Interactive Systems Research Section.

Jaguar and Land Rover models already boast a wide range of sophisticated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) designed to improve driver and vehicle safety, including the new generation Head-Up Display in the Range Rover Velar. The Velar also features capacitive steering wheel controls for common functions that combine with the Interactive Driver Display to help reduce driver distraction.


Next up: A 7-seat BR-V crossover from Honda

                JAKARTA: While the HR-V has given Honda lots of reasons to smile, the BR-V ( Bold Runabout Vehicle) could soon step up the joy.

From Indonesia comes the first official sketches of the all-new BR-V Prototype which will make its world premiere at the upcoming Gaikindo Indonesian International Auto Show 2015, scheduled for Aug 20 - 30, in Tangerang, Indonesia.

The 7-seat BR-V was jointly developed for the Asian market by Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd., in Thailand, and P.T. Honda R&D Indonesia. This model will be introduced to the Indonesian market as Honda’s new generation crossover utility vehicle to address various customer needs.

The new BR-V features tough and solid exterior design with high ground clearance, big and stylish alloy wheels and sleek roof rails. The model is also claimed to offer a comfortable and cabin with seven seats in a 3-row configuration although we think the last row is typically for young children.

The new BR-V, rumoured to be based on the Honda Brio, would  be powered by a 1.5L petrol engine with a choice of two transmissions. Honda says it would have high standard safety features.

“The all-new Honda BR-V has been developed for the needs of customers in Indonesia,” said Tomoki Uchida, President Director of P.T. Honda Prospect Motor. “We are confident that the Honda BR-V will be loved by Indonesian customers for its appealing design and value”.

P.T. Honda Prospect Motor will open booking for the BR-V at the Gaikindo Indonesian International Auto Show 2015.