New BMW chief Krueger takes charge as tech challenges mount

                MUNICH: Harald Krueger takes over as CEO of BMW after the group's annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday, a job needing nerves of steel, or maybe carbon fibre given recent trends, as the company battles to keep its lead over Mercedes and Audi.

Under outgoing chief executive Norbert Reithofer, BMW invested between 1.5 billion euros (US$1.7 billion) and 2 billion to develop carbon-fibre electric and hybrid cars, according to analysts' estimates.

Saving 100kg in vehicle weight can translate into a cut in fuel consumption of 0.6 litres per 100 kilometers, helping BMW meet stringent anti-emissions rules, consultants at Frost & Sullivan said.

But carbon fibre is expensive, driving up production costs. A kilo of carbon fibre costs around 16 euros, compared with less than a euro for a kilo of common steel, according to Leonidas Dokos, a sales director at Frost & Sullivan.

Metzler Bank autos analyst Juergen Pieper said: "BMW's forte has been efficiency. Can Krueger keep it up as the number of vehicle variants increases and as cars become more complex, particularly with ambitions to use more carbon fibre?"

Since 2005, BMW Group has defended the title of being the top-selling premium auto maker by volume sales, mainly by expanding its presence in emerging markets and diversifying its range into sports utility vehicles.

At the same time, it has maintained profit levels for its autos division at between 8 and 10 percent of sales, in large part thanks to efficiency gains in production of 5 percent every year.

Krueger, a 49-year-old German currently board member for production, has paid a key part in the expansion by increasing manufacturing to record levels, including at factories in China, while expanding the company's range.

As part of "Strategy Number One" unveiled in September 2007, BMW aimed to make 30 percent more vehicles with the same number of workers, while reducing production costs per vehicle by raising economies of scale in components, drive systems and modules.

A key challenge for Krueger is how BMW can pull off the same trick with cars that are growing more complex and it seeks to make its cars lighter and more fuel efficient.

Carbon fibre weighs less than steel, so using more should help reduce BMW's average fleet fuel consumption. So far it has only made extensive use of it in low-volume cars like the i3 city car and the i8 hybrid.

But scaling up production is a challenge because carbon-fibre parts are difficult to incorporate into a fast-moving high-volume production line.

Carbon-fibre panels cannot be bolted, stamped or welded like steel and aluminum; they need to be baked or glued, processes which are more labor-intensive.

While BMW says it is learning how to make carbon-fibre mass production viable, it remains to be seen whether it will be used in volume models like the 3- and 5-series and as the company sticks to plans to make more than 2 million vehicles a year.

Asked last week by analysts about whether there were plans to significantly scale up the use of carbon fibre in its volume cars, Norbert Reithofer sidestepped the issue, saying: "We have always used a mix of materials in our cars".


First BMW X7 pre-production models roll off US assembly line

                MUNICH / SPARTANBURG. Production of the first pre-production models of the new BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle has started at BMW's Spartanburg plant in the United States.

The countdown has begun for the final 12 months leading up to the presentation of the production car at the end of 2018. Prior to this, the vehicle will undergo various tests under partially extreme conditions.

With the X7, a total of five X models will be exported from Spartanburg to markets around the world.

At the plant, the production of pre-series models serves to secure and optimise future series production. Consequently, BMW X7 pre-production models already use the same assembly line as the X5 and X6 production models.

The pre-production models built are handed over to development department specialists, who require them for homologation, registration as well as for diverse testing purposes such as endurance tests and test drives under extreme conditions in the desert regions of Death Valley or on the ice and snow-covered slopes of Scandinavia.

The pre-production model is fitted with its camouflage wrap while still at the plant. The conspicuous striped patterns are designed to help conceal the new SAV’s final look as far as possible.

With record production figures of more than 411,000 units in 2016, Spartanburg is BMW's largest plant worldwide. Around 70% of the vehicles produced in Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries. Maximum annual production capacity stands at around 450,000 vehicles.

Each day, 1,400 BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 models come off the assembly line at the Spartanburg plant; these will be complemented by the X7.

BMW said the X7's technical details like fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will be announced later next year as the current batch are still in pre-series status.


Nissan sets up new unit to boost NISMO car sales

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan has set up a new unit to expand its NISMO road car business by making a greater range of models available to customers in more markets.

The NISMO Cars Business Department is part of Autech Japan, Inc., a Nissan group company that makes converted vehicles. Using talent from Nissan, Autech, Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. and other group companies, it will plan and develop more appealing products in a shorter time.

Nissan plans to expand the range of NISMO road cars to new segments, market them more globally and boost the lineup in existing markets, including Japan, North America, Europe and the Middle East. This will help increase sales of NISMO cars, which are now about 15,000 units a year.

Nissan introduced the NISMO brand to its mainstream model lineup in 2013 to bring customers more innovations and excitement. Featuring performance and styling developed through NISMO's motorsports activities, the cars offer a sporty driving experience combined with Nissan's quality, reliability and durability.

NISMO road cars introduced so far include the GT-R, 370Z, JUKE and Sentra in the US – plus the Note and Patrol in markets outside the U.S.

"As a Nissan sub-brand, NISMO further builds upon the core values of Nissan cars," said Takao Katagiri, president and CEO of both Autech Japan and Nissan Motorsports International. "With the combined expertise of Nissan group companies, NISMO road cars will make customers enjoy Nissan cars more than ever."

The new business unit will also work with Nissan Motorsports International on marketing. This includes showing NISMO road cars at Nissan dealerships and showrooms and holding events and activities for NISMO car owners.


Sabah woman seen ranting at cops in viral video detained

                KOTA KINABALU: The woman entrepreneur seen ranting at policemen in a viral video has been arrested.

Kota Kinabalu City police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zaidi Abdullah said the woman was arrested at her condominium unit in Jalan Lintas here at about 11.30pm on Sunday to help in an investigation of criminal intimidation.

ACP Mohd Zaidi said police also seized the clothes she was seen wearing in the video which surfaced on June 17.

They also seized her mobile phones, car registration and car keys.

Three phones belonging to policemen at the roadblock where the incident occurred have also been confiscated to aid in the investigation.

"We have seized the woman's clothing as proof of identification," he told a press conference at the police headquarters here today.

ACP Mohd Zaidi said that in the June 1 incident, police issued the woman a summons for expired road tax and insurance on her vehicle.

"However, the woman caused a stir and uttered words of a threat in nature.

"She said 'Kau siapa mahu saman saya? Nasib kau lelaki, kalau perempuan saya kasi telanjang kau dan rungkup kau’ (Who are you to summon me? Lucky you are a man, if you were a woman, I will strip you and pounce on you)," ACP Mohd Zaidi said.

He said the statements of a police officer and seven police constables and Rela personnel have been recorded.

He said the probe is being conducted under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.

"Our investigation is 80% complete and the woman has also given her cooperation since she was detained," he said, adding that a two-day remand order on the woman had been obtained.

According to ACP Mohd Zaidi, police will hand the investigation papers to the deputy public prosecutor for further action once the probe is completed.


Automakers, not Silicon Valley, lead in driverless car patents, says study

                LAS VEGAS: Automakers, not technology companies, are in the driver's seat in developing self-driving, "autonomous" cars, and Japan's Toyota Motor Corp is best positioned to lead the way, according to a new report on patents for the fast-evolving technology.

As automakers enter agreements with Silicon Valley companies to develop self-driving cars, Tesla Motor Inc and Apple Inc would make logical partners, the report says.

The report, by the Intellectual Property and Science division of Thomson Reuters, is based on a detailed analysis of patent filings by automakers and tech companies for autonomous-car technology.

The findings illuminate the challenges for both established automakers and Silicon Valley companies as they compete to profit from moving people around in a world that is increasingly congested and concerned about carbon emissions.

The global auto industry is in the midst of three simultaneous, and interconnected, technology revolutions. The first is the quest for cleaner alternatives to internal-combustion engines. The second involves connectivity and linking cars to information or data services. Lastly, the autonomy revolution is the effort to develop self-driving cars that could enable services in which electric cars connected to the Web can be summoned to provide rides on demand.

"Automakers aren't as good as technology companies in tooting their own horns," Tony Trippe, principal author of the report, told Reuters in an interview. "But when you look at the patent data, the automakers are all over this." Toyota is, far and away, the global leader in the number of self-driving car patents, the report found.

Toyota is followed by Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH, Japan's Denso Corp , Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and General Motors Co. The tech company with the most autonomous-driving patents, Alphabet Inc's Google, ranks 26th on the list.

The report from the Thomson Reuters unit comes as auto and technology industry executives are gathering at the annual Consumer Electronics Show here, where alliances to advance autonomous driving and connected vehicles will be central topics.

Toyota, the Thomson Reuters report found, has more than 1,400 patents on autonomous-driving devices, more than twice as many as any other company. One recent Toyota patent application, for example, is for software that avoids a car's self-driving system being switched off, and thus defaulting to "manual mode" in which the driver controls the car, unless the driver intends to turn off the system.

The raw number of patents does not necessarily equate to leadership in developing self-driving cars, Trippe said.
Non-US companies tend to be more aggressive in filing patent applications than American companies. The quality of patents is also important, since not all are created equal.

Another potential limitation of the report is the 18-month lag time between patent filings and when the filings are published for the public.

In reality, driverless-car development will require alliances between automakers and technology companies, even though both sides will try to gain the upper hand in partnerships.

A Toyota spokesman said the automaker views a fully self-driving car as a long term goal, but one that must wait for autonomous driving systems that never make a mistake. In the meantime, Toyota is accelerating efforts to equip cars with automatic braking and other safety systems that can help avoid crashes.

Most experts say fully self-driving vehicles are unlikely to  be roaming roads in large numbers for many years yet. Google has been testing self-driving cars since 2009, though, and automakers such as Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen AG's Audi unit have revealed cars that can travel long distances without human intervention.

Trippe said Apple and Tesla would make logical partners in autonomous cars because they have complementary, not duplicative patents. Tesla's strength is propulsion technology, notably batteries, while Apple's is in electronic navigation and communication systems.

As the race to develop self-driving cars heats up, automakers are also introducing more "semi-autonomous" driving systems that handle tedious or tricky situations. Audi, for instance, is expected to use the CES show to outline progress on a system that allows cars to pilot themselves in traffic jams at low speeds.


Regas Premium Sabah unveils newly relocated BMW dealership in Kota Kinabalu

                KOTA KINABALU: Regas Premium Sabah – the sole BMW Authorised Dealer in Sabah since 2018, has unveiled its new relocated 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts and System) dealership in Kota Kinabalu for the brands BMW, BMW Motorrad, BMW Premium Selection (BPS) and BMW i.

The dealership offers a wide suite of services, including car insurance (new & renewal), used car trade-in and BMW Financial Services.

 (From left) BMW Group Malaysia head of corporate communications Sashi Ambi, Tan, de Visser, BMW Group Malaysia director of sales David Kim and Regas Premium Sabah head of sales Theresa Tan.

The new four-storey dealership along Jalan Iramanis is 40,000 sq ft larger than the previous showroom in Jalan Penampang, and it will see up to 28 vehicles across the BMW Group portfolio displayed to customers in Sabah.

It has 54 dedicated staff members to provide quality services to customers.

The new Kota Kinabalu dealership is also complete with a host of familiar facilities, including the Customer Lounge, Handover Lounge, Isetta Bar, BMW Lifestyle & Merchandise, BMW Parts, Relaxation Zone, Reception at the car (RATC), Grand Klasse (GKL) Lounge, BMW Motorrad Community clubhouse, BMW Motorrad Gear & Garment, as well as AC/DC charging at the customer parking area.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser said Regas Premium Sabah has been an invaluable partner in providing a seamless touchpoint for loyal customers in Sabah since July 2018.

“As a BMW Authorised Dealer, Regas Premium Sabah has successfully delivered the promise of Sheer Driving Pleasure to satisfied customers in the state, contributing over 300 vehicles to our total deliveries every year

Regas Premium Sabah dealer principal and managing director Datuk Matthew Tan Yaw Tzuu said the new expanded dealership would continue the company's excellent track record over the past three and a half years in both delivering quality, premium vehicles and a dedicated, comprehensive aftersales treatment to customers in Sabah.

Regas Premium Sabah is opened from 8:30am daily and closed on Sundays.

For details, visit https://www.bmw-regas.com.my/.


Lotus plans China sales expansion to take on Porsche

                BEIJING: British sportscar maker Lotus plans to open up to 70 showrooms in China by 2024 and start production at its new Wuhan factory next year to ramp up competition with rival Porsche, says chief executive Feng Qingfeng.

Premium and luxury car sales are growing in China as coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions leave consumers in the world's biggest car market with more money to spend.

Feng said Lotus, which is owned by Chinese firm Geely and Malaysia's Etika Automotive, will begin production at its Wuhan factory next year, producing around 2,000 compact SUVs. Lotus' first SUV, reportedly called Lambda, will boast 750hp and have nearly 600km range.

The plant, which is still under construction, would ramp up to full production of 20,000 cars in 2023, Feng told Reuters in a telephone call from Hangzhou, where Geely is headquartered.

The cars will be positioned in a similar segment to rival Porsche and higher than BMW and Audi, Feng said.

Porsche has said it sold 88,968 cars in China last year, thanks to demand for its Macan compact sports-utility vehicle.

Feng said Lotus will open more than 20 showrooms next year, first targeting major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. It will expand the network further over 2023 and 2024 to include cities like eastern Suzhou and Ningbo for a total of 50-70 showrooms around the country.

Lotus, the maker of the Lotus Esprit, famously driven by James Bond in 1977's "The Spy Who Loved Me", has four showrooms in China, according to its website.

Lotus said its Wuhan-based technology unit recently received an undisclosed investment from Nio Capital, an investment firm founded by the chief executive of leading Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. The technology unit is valued at 15 billion yuan (RM9.6bil).

Lotus Technology is studying a possible initial public offering, potentially in New York, Hong Kong or London, as soon as 2023 when it would start mass-production in its Wuhan factory, Feng said.


Setra bus converted into mobile Covid-19 testing facility

                STUTTGART: Daimler Buses is supporting the fight against the Covid-19 virus by providing the Setra MultiClass inter-city bus which has now turned into a Covid-19 testing bus.

In the coming months, the S 416 LE business inter-city bus that was converted at the Neu-Ulm site in only four weeks, will be used by the Huber Group Holding SE as a mobile testing station at schools, residential care homes and companies.

"Mobile testing of nursing staff and employees, for example, is possible in the bus," says Thomas Görtler, Business Development Manager at the company in Mühlhausen which is using the Setra bus on loan from Daimler Buses.

The vehicle is thus part of the fully digitised testing process of the Huber Group, which provides safe and efficient implementation of Covid-19 testing thanks to its comprehensively networked infrastructure solution.

The test persons enter the 13-metre long low-entry Setra MultiClass at the rear entrance where personal data can be processed and checked at a newly installed counter.

The mouth and throat swab tests are then carried out in the front section of the vehicle. The bus is also equipped with an awning to protect from rain and a stationary heater.

Using the Wi-Fi on-board, data from the test persons and their tests is entered into a database in encrypted form, guaranteeing results can be processed and accessed quickly.

After about only 90 seconds the process is complete and those tested can leave the bus by the front entrance. The result of the PCR test process is available within 24 hours.

The Huber Group operates fully digitised stationary Covid-19 testing stations. Thanks to the Setra inter-city bus that has been converted into a mobile facility, testing is now more flexible.


Aussie startup H2X on track to restart auto production with its hydrogen cars

                SYDNEY: H2X, an Australian startup that was formed in May is looking to resurrect local automobile production by making hydrogen cars in Port Kembla, a smelting town about 100km south of here.

Brendan Norman, the company’s chief executive who previously worked on hydrogen cars in China, expects a prototype to be ready later this year.

It plans to introduce a hydrogen-powered SUV, heavy vehicles and a  taxi/MPV/van. Its SUV named Snowy is expected to start production in 2022.

The operation is looking to employ 100 people by the end of this year, which could ramp up to 5,000 by 2025.

Norman said production could use 80% local content by 2024. That bet is based on a belief that Australia already has most of the skills and materials needed to make items such as supercapacitors and fuel cells, even if the manufacturing scale is not there yet.

“Australia can certainly compete in this because it is high-tech manufacturing and this is something that we feel we should be able to encourage to come back,” he said.

“If we’re producing the bulk of the world’s hydrogen, I’d like to think that we can produce the tools that are required to use it properly.”

H2X’s plan relies less on low labour costs that offshore production provides and more on the value of intellectual property, like Germany’s high-tech factory sector.

In 2017, the last car Australia built rolled out of a General Motors’ plant in the city of Adelaide, ending seven decades of local automotive history and the belief that the country’s factories could ever compete globally.

Three years later, policymakers are once again looking to manufacturing to generate some growth as they scramble to drive the economy through the coronavirus and out of its deepest slump on record.

While Australians are unlikely to buy millions of locally made cars, refrigerators and toasters as they did in the 20th century, a government push that puts manufacturing at the centre of its longer-term recovery plan has strong industry support and has kindled ventures that would have seemed far-fetched half a year earlier.

Behind the pivot is a realisation that Australia has been too reliant on Asia for the supply of essential goods. A recent worsening in relations with China, Australia’s biggest trading partner, has only strengthened that view.


BMW sales rise but China growth keeps Mercedes ahead

                MUNICH: BMW delivered more brand vehicles in May on strong demand for sport-utility vehicles and its flagship 7-Series saloon but slipped behind luxury rival Mercedes-Benz, which keeps thriving on record momentum in China.

Sales of BMW brand models rose 5.6 percent last month to 168,129 cars and SUVs, with registrations in China up 7.5 percent to 37,487 cars, the automaker said on Friday.

Daimler's premium passenger-cars division on Monday said its global sales jumped 13 percent to a record 170,625 models, thanks to strong compact-car and SUV demand, with China alone posting record growth of 39 percent.

Volkswagen's Audi, which dropped behind Mercedes in global luxury vehicle sales last year for the first time since 2010, increased May deliveries 6.7 percent to 164,150 cars, extending its year-to-date sales by 5.3 percent.

Sales of Audi models in China, where the VW luxury division has for years been premium market leader, rose no more than 5.5 percent, it said on Thursday.

BMW's sales gain in May, also helped by a double-digit increase in Europe, is keeping the manufacturer on course for profitable sales growth this year, the company said on Friday.

But the Munich-based group may struggle to retain the luxury sales crown it has held since 2005 this year, lagging behind Mercedes with five-month sales of 797,457 cars versus 818,175 autos for the Stuttgart-based rival.


Jan 11-17: RON97 petrol down by 3 sen

                PETALING JAYA: The price of RON97 petrol will go down three sen per litre beginning Saturday (Jan 11) until Jan 17.

The Finance Ministry said RON97 petrol would be priced at RM2.62 per litre, down from RM2.65, for one week.

Meanwhile, the prices of RON95 and diesel will stay at RM2.08 and RM2.18 per litre respectively.

"Based on the calculation under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM), the retail prices for both RON95 and diesel should be RM2.32 and RM2.46 per litre respectively," it said in a statement on Friday (Jan 10).

It added that the estimated subsidy to be borne by the government between Jan 11 and Jan 17 would be about RM122.85mil.


Wait times for luxury EVs stretch to 18 months in Singapore

                SINGAPORE: Buying a car in the city-state could get even more expensive as external factors limit supply

After waiting for almost a year, Lim Swee Hoe was ecstatic when his S$340,000 Porsche Taycan finally arrived in Singapore last month.

“It was definitely worth the wait,” said the 56-year-old managing director, his eyes twinkling with pride at the white electric vehicle parked in the garage of his semi-detached home.

His swanky ride has contributed to a surge in EV adoption in the island state. Electric vehicles accounted for 8.4% of all new car registrations in the first five months of the year — double the level for all of 2021 and 20 times higher than 2020.

But just as a government push has seen demand for cleaner cars finally take off, global supply chain snarls are lengthening wait times and threatening to push prices even higher.

“The question is how many vehicles will EV makers ship to the city-state, given the market is relatively small,” said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Steve Man.

“With limited supply, EV makers will likely prioritize shipments to larger markets where demand is greater. The waitlist could expand due to this.”

That’s a reality car distributors are learning to deal with.

“Supply chain disruptions aren’t making things easy, so we work closely with the manufacturers and also manage customer expectations,” said Cheong Yan Pang, a managing director at Sime Darby Motor Holdings Ltd., a distributor of BMW and BYD Co. electric cars.

It’s a similar story for Sabrina Sng, a managing director at car dealership Wearnes Automotive Pte., who’s in charge of Polestar EVs.

“We have limited stock and it’s sporadic,” she said.

“It didn’t help with the Shanghai lockdown. Sometimes we lose certain months of production because vessels can’t leave the port, costing us time in which cars could have been built.”

Supply chain disruptions triggered by China’s Covid-19 pandemic curbs and the worldwide chip shortage have upended the global EV industry at a time of growing demand.

Across South-East Asia, countries are gearing up for mass electrification, from Thailand’s government trying to slow the sale of gas guzzling cars, to Indonesia planning a slew of incentives for electric-car manufacturers and drivers.

Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran said earlier this month he expects demand to continue to rise. The nation wants to phase out internal combustion-engine vehicles by 2040 and replace most of them with EVs.

Singapore is expected to lead the region in new EVs as a percentage of all vehicle sales, with at least one-third of all cars sold on the island forecast to be electric by 2030, according to a BloombergNEF report last year.

The city-state is still in its very early stages of adoption, however, with just 1,739 electric cars registered last year, and 1,116 in the first five months of this year, Land Transport Authority data show.

That compares with 2021 passenger EV sales of 9,015 in Thailand and 718 in Indonesia, according to BNEF estimates . In China, about one in five cars sold is electric.

Singapore has relatively low car ownership overall. It’s one of the world’s most expensive places to buy a car with steep excise and registration duties. People must also bid for a limited number of car-ownership permits, known as certificates of entitlement, that are auctioned by the government.

Lower registration fees and improved charging infrastructure are helping fuel demand for EVs.

The government has targets to equip 2,000 public housing car parks with chargers by 2025, and install a network of 60,000 chargers across the island by 2030 in an effort to spur uptake.

That should alleviate concerns mass market car buyers have on the feasibility of EVs as their primary vehicle, said BNEF analyst Allen Tom Abraham.

Among the potential new customers is Justin Chiam, a 42-year-old engineer who’s considering swapping out his Subaru Forester SUV for a battery-powered BYD Atto 3. It retails for about S$80,000 and an ownership permit will cost around S$100,000.

The island is currently dotted with about 2,500 charging ports and Chiam has mapped out his charging route. “Now I just pump and go at the petrol kiosk,” he said.

“I think for EVs it’s a whole new way of living in a sense that you’ve got to integrate that part into your lifestyle.”

Meanwhile, Lim is enjoying his new Taycan, for which he paid about S$340,000, plus almost S$100,000 for an ownership permit.

He finds it “just as powerful” as the Porsche 911 he test drove several times. And he’s grateful it’s finally arrived: Porsche said the waiting time now has ballooned to as long as 18 months.


Nissan to reduce presence in Europe, says Yomiuri

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor is planning to further reduce its presence in Europe and outsource the sales and manufacturing of its cars to alliance partner Renault, the daily Yomiuri newspaper reported today.

As part of its global turnaround plan, which is reversing a rapid expansion led by the ousted former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan will cut its distribution channels in thirty countries, mainly in East Europe. It is also planning to close its Avila plant in Spain and convert it into a warehouse, the report said.

The report didn’t provide details of the scale of the outsourcing. Calls to Nissan’s public relations office went unanswered on Friday, a public holiday in Japan.

The Japanese motor company is currently moving its operations away from Europe and shifting its focus to China, the United States, and Japan.

Nissan, which expects to post a record operating loss of 340 billion yen (US$3.25 billion) in the year to March 31, is cutting production capacity and model numbers by a fifth and aims to slash operating expenses by 300 billion yen over three years.

The company’s three-way alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motor was plunged into uncertainty in 2018, when Ghosn was arrested on financial misconduct charges, which he denies. He later fled Japan while being monitored by law enforcement and awaiting trial at his residence.


2016 New York Auto Show: Top 8 premieres

NEW YORK: New York's International Auto Show opened to the public on Friday. Some stunning new cars have been presented at this year's event, including a rechargeable Toyota Prius and the Mercedes GLC Coupé, as well as the spectacular Audi R8 Spyder and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Audi R8 Spyder
Loaded with a 540hp V10 engine promising 0 to 100kph acceleration in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 318kph, the new-generation Audi R8 Spyder caused a sensation at the New York show. It's expected to land in Europe from September 2016.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, which comes with a 640hp V8 engine and a choice of six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic gearboxes. Surprisingly, the American car maker hasn't yet announced performances for this car, which is due to land before the end of 2016. A convertible version, also presented at the New York event, should be available in early 2017.

Subaru Impreza
The new version of this Japanese hatchback debuts the Subaru Global Platform architecture, increasing rigidity throughout the body and chassis by 70%, according to the manufacturer. The first models are expected to land in the USA by the end of the year.

Mazda MX-5 RF
In a worldwide premiere, the Mazda MX-5 RF showed off an automatically retracting roof and rear window, and a new colour finish called "Machine Gray." It should be available in autumn in Europe, in a gasoline version with manual or automatic transmission. Note that the MX-5 is the 2016 World Car of the Year and has also won the World Design Award in a historic win.

Mercedes GLC Coupé
Daimler presented the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé at the New York event, billed as a cross between a functional SUV and a sports coupé, with a sleek, sporty, off-roader design and a stylish interior. The GLC Coupé is set to land in eight different versions, including gas and diesel options. A rechargeable hybrid version is expected towards the end of 2016.

MINI Clubman All 4
The MINI Clubman All 4 has a lighter build and gets all-wheel drive, promising improved handling, a more comfortable ride in the larger cockpit, and a special mode for boosted efficiency. It's expected to land in dealerships in the springtime.

Nissan GT-R
The 2017 version of the Nissan GT-R supercar gets a 570hp V6 biturbo engine. It also has a new chrome-finished V-shaped front grille and a redesigned trunk promising increased stability and holding at high speeds, particularly at the front of the car. It'll be available from summer 2016, with trims including a "Gentleman Edition" with a leather interior.

Toyota Prius Prime
A rechargeable version of the Toyota Prius was presented in a worldwide premiere at the New York show. This doubles battery life in fully electric mode (over 50km or 31 miles), for average fuel consumption of just 1.4l/100km and CO2 emissions at 32g/km. It also has an original solar charging system on the roof. The rechargeable Prius is scheduled to launch towards the end of 2016.

The New York International Auto Show runs March 25 to April 3, 2016.


Airspeeder makes historic first flights

                ADELAIDE: The world’s first electric flying racing car has made its historic first flights.

The successful execution of these Airspeeder flights means that uncrewed electric flying car Grand Prixs known as the EXA racing series will take place in 2021 at three soon-to-be-revealed international locations.

The historic flights took place on Thursday at an undisclosed test locations in the deserts of South Australia under the observation of Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

These races will rapidly hasten the arrival of eVTOL advanced air mobility craft. This technology, predicted by Morgan Stanley to be worth US$1 trillion by 2040 is already finding applications in air logistics and remote medical care and has the potential to free cities from congestion though clean-air passenger applications like air taxis.

Under the EXA racing series, up to four teams with two remote pilots per team would compete in three individual events across the globe through 2021.

They will race "blade-to-blade" over locations inaccessible to traditional motorsport. Audiences will tune-in through global streams available on-demand. This approach reflects the changing requirements of global audiences, in particular a generation used to streaming and the ability to interact directly with the content generators they follow.

A pre-season will soon be announced and will take the form of an internal drag-race style competition between two distinct "works teams" drawn from within Alauda. These final test events will serve as an important technical and strategic shake-down before external teams are invited to prove their competitive edge against the creators of the sport.

The Alauda Aeronautics Airspeeder Mk3 EXA race-craft are remotely piloted by trained women and men. They take a seat in a simulator environment that mimics the dynamics and ergonomics of the Mk3 cockpit environment.

From there they control the Airspeeder in exactly the same way as a pilot located in the cockpit with finger-tip commands sent instantly to the physical Speeder as it plots a series of courses dictated by electronic sky-tracks. Each Airspeeder is presented to teams with identical specification, meaning it is pilot skill and team strategy that will determine race-winners. This will ensure the close competition traditional motorsport fans crave.

Physical tele-robotic avatars named "The Aviators" sit within the cockpit environment of the Airspeeder. They have been designed to represent the frame of human pilots. This will provide engineers with critical data and information on the effects of high speed racing, rapid turning, acceleration and deceleration on the human frame. This will accelerate Airspeeder’s progression to human piloted races which are scheduled in 2022.

EXA will remain the proving ground for the Airspeeder crewed racing series, providing a technical test-bed for teams and the space to develop pilot skills.

In legacy motorsport terms, EXA will take its place as the feeder series for crewed Airspeeder races in the forthcoming Alauda Mk4.

Every Airspeeder race includes rapid pit stops. To facilitate this, Alauda’s engineers have developed an innovative "slide and lock" system for the swift removal and replacement of batteries when on the ground.

Intense internal competition between in-house pit-crews has driven the pitstop time down to just 20 seconds, which is entirely comparable with any form of ground-based legacy motorsport. This is expected to continue to fall. For context, a Formula 1 pitstop used to take more than a minute.


Roll out B15 biodiesel programme pronto, senator urges Govt

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to upgrade quickly the B10 biodiesel programme being implemented to B15 to ensure that Malaysia remains a key player and the benchmark for palm oil prices in the world.

Senator Datuk Lim Pay Hen said Indonesia’s plan to introduce its own crude palm oil (CPO) benchmark price in June poses a threat to Malaysia’s palm oil industry, especially as the Asean neighbour has launched the B35 (35% palm oil biodiesel blending) programme to spur domestic palm oil demand.

Currently, Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer, with CPO output of 47 million tonnes in 2022.

“If Indonesia were to continue with its plan, Malaysia would continue to be left behind, and cease to be significant in the global palm oil industry.

“So this is a two-pronged solution to save the nation’s palm oil industry, as the implementation has been delayed time and again. If the government is serious [about dealing with the issue], it needs to move swiftly,” he said during the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Negara here today.

Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government targets to implement the B30 biodiesel programme in the transport sector by 2025.

He noted that only two years are left to achieve the goal of introducing B30.

The B20 biodiesel programme was previously scheduled to be carried out by end-2022.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also the plantation and commodities minister, said Indonesia’s plan to have its own CPO benchmark price will affect the entire oil palm industry chain, not just Malaysia, but also globally.


Erdogan-backed EV maker targets Europe exports next year

                ISTANBUL: Turkey’s first homegrown EV maker plans to start exports to Europe from the end of 2024, the culmination of a €3.5 billion (RM17bil) project championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a key government achievement ahead of this week’s elections.

Togg, the Turkish acronym of the manufacturer, is currently producing cars to meet domestic orders, chief executive officer Gurcan Karakas said at the company’s manufacturing plant in the port town of Gemlik, about 160km south of here.

“We will start producing our smart vehicles for the European market at the end of 2024, starting with Scandinavian countries because these markets are more inclined toward EVs,” said Karakas, a former Robert Bosch GmbH executive until he was hired to lead the project in 2018.

Togg will double sales to more than 50,000 units in 2024 after the 28,000 units planned for this year, he said as he showed journalists around the plant’s bodywork unit where robotic arms assemble the vehicles.

Formally known as Turkiye’nin Otomobili Girisim Grubu AS, Togg is a key campaign achievement for Erdogan ahead of Sunday’s elections, and part of the president’s lore that includes domestically built fighter jets, warships or the breakthrough grain deal between Russia and Ukraine.

(Note: Video in Turkish. Enter Settings to auto translate to English)

His opponents point to the country’s deepening economic woes amid soaring inflation driven by the central bank’s unorthodox interest-rate cuts encouraged by Erdogan.

Erdogan, his wife and several ministers and officials from his Justice and Development Party have been seen driving the electric car since the first deliveries began in April.

While Togg is supported by the government through tax breaks and incentives, it’s a private company, Karakas said.

The government has also supported the project with free land and a purchase guarantee of 30,000 vehicles until the end of 2035.

“Many other automobile projects have also similar government support,” he said.

The first model, a C-segment SUV called the T10X with single and double electric motors that have ranges of 314km and 523km respectively, was unveiled in October and production started earlier this year.

Next year, the company is planning a sedan or cross coupe model, Karakas said. Togg engineers worked with Ferrari designer Pininfarina SpA of Italy to design the cars, he said.

The government is keen to promote Togg as a national project, and Karakas said about 76% of the vehicle’s 5,000-odd parts are domestically made by 130 suppliers.

“What matters here is where the intellectual property rights are produced, not where the parts are made. We developed and produced Togg’s intellectual property rights in Turkey,” he said.

Total investment will be €3.5 billion by 2028 or earlier, including €1.8 billion from shareholders and bank loans to be spent by the end of this year.


VW aims for 90% electric car sales in Norway next year

                OSLO: Electric cars will likely make up 90% of Volkswagen AG's sales in Norway next year and could completely replace diesel and petrol engines in the Nordic country by 2023, the German auto maker's local importer said on Wednesday.

With a 2025 goal of becoming the first country to end the sale of fossil-fuelled cars, oil-producer Norway exempts battery-powered vehicles from taxes imposed on petrol and diesel engines.

The policy has turned the country’s car market into a laboratory for global auto makers seeking a path to a future without internal combusion engines, vaulting new brands and models to the top of bestseller lists in recent years.

A record 61.5% of new cars sold in Norway last month were fully electric, registration data showed, up from 42.4% for 2019 as a whole.

The debut last month of Volkswagen’s highly anticipated ID.3 model vaulted it to the top of the Norwegian sales ranking, outselling California-based Tesla’s Model 3 and Geely’s Polestar 2 from China, according to the Norwegian Road Federation.

In its 2021 fiscal spending plan on Wednesday, the Norwegian government extended its policy of zero tax on fully electric cars, providing predictability for auto makers.

“This allows us to be confident in saying we can hit 90% electric car sales next year,” said Harald A. Moeller AS, the Norwegian importer of Volkswagen cars, including the Audi, Skoda and SEAT brands.

“Customers will have access to an even greater selection of electric cars in most segments in 2021,” it added.

At the start of 2020, Harald A. Moeller set a 60% target for electric cars this year.


Subaru builds on its Legacy in Chicago

The new Legacy.
PHILADELPHIA: The 2018 Subaru Legacy ups the quality, safety and refinement levels, but thankfully keeps the firm's renowned boxer engine at its core and with it, its core customers very happy.

Subaru is getting ready to unveil a new compact SUV - the XV - at next month's Geneva motor show that it hopes will help it drive further into the booming crossover market.

However, despite the seemingly insatiable demand for all things SUV-esque, Subaru hasn't lost focus of who its core customers are, and at the Chicago Auto Show it will be officially launching the 2018 Legacy.

 The interior and rear view of the Legacy.

It promises sharper, cleaner styling front and rear to highlight its sporting potential. Inside, the highest specification models will get some premium materials, fits and finishes including real stitching on the dashboard and door panels. Sound proofing is denser, the air conditioning is more responsive and there's also a new infotainment system on offer.

It has an 8-inch touchscreen, uses software from industry leader Nuance for the clearest voice recognition and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has Subaru specific apps for finding local events and parking spaces, and even a programme for monitoring and suggesting improvements to driving style to conserve fuel.

However, what remains largely unchanged is the boxer engine sitting way down under the bonnet for improved centre of gravity and therefore all-round handling. Available as a 2.5-litre 175hp flat-four or 3.6-litre flat six with 256hp on tap, both powertrains come with Subaru's smart, rally-developed all-wheel-drive system as standard, making it the only car on sale in the US in its segment to do so.

In terms of safety, the car can now autonomously brake while reversing as well going forward. Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring are all also either standard or optional equipment.

Despite being the smallest of the Japanese carmakers, Subaru has been building up a steady momentum over recent years and even walked away with the 2016-17 Japan car of the Year award for its new Impreza. It's the second time it's won the award. The first time was for the Legacy, back in 2003.

The 2017 Chicago Auto Show opens on Feb 9.


Congestion charge to replace highway toll, free usage from 11pm-5am

                PETALING JAYA: Hold your horses! Even when the Government manages to abolish toll, highway users will still be charged for usage based on time of day.

The new plan is called congestion charge and is a compromise in a way. The congestion charge is necessary to pay for the operation and maintenance of the highways and repayment of borrowings. Any surplus will go into a public transportation fund to improve the quality of public transport.

The Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday that the “congestion charge” would be introduced, equivalent to the existing toll for six hours of “peak” period a day.

During “off peak” periods between 11pm and 5am, highway users can travel for free.

“At other normal travelling hours, commuters will enjoy discounted rates of up to 30%, compared to existing toll rates,” it said.

“Further details on the proposed exercise will be announced by the Finance Minister at the appropriate time,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

In a related development, the government said it has begun talks with Gamuda Bhd to negotiate the acquisition of highway concession for four main highways as part of its promise to abolish tolls in stages.

The four highways are Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (SPRINT), Lebuhraya Shah Alam (Kesas) and SMART Tunnel.

“Pakatan Harapan has promised in its election manifesto to take steps to acquire highway concessions and abolish tolls in stages, in accordance to the terms of the concession agreement.

“This is to alleviate the high cost of living for highway users.

“Upon the successful takeover, the government intends to abolish the existing toll mechanism,” said the Prime Minister’s Office.


MINI Countryman Boardwalk released

                MUNICH: MINI has put together a limited edition Countryman it calls the Countryman Boardwalk.

It comes in three variants.

The SUV features an exterior finish in Deep Laguna metallic and has new design features for the exterior and interior.

The body colour was previously developed only for the MINI Convertible Sidewalk, also a limited edition.

It is combined with a black contrast finish on the roof and exterior mirror caps.

The name of the edition refers to the promenades of traditional seaside resorts in the British home of the MINI brand.

The often mile-long walkways, which connect spas and serve as access to the typical English piers, were originally the preferred stage for large social performances.

The characteristic pattern of the wooden beams laid longitudinally and diagonally on the promenades now serve as the inspiration for the emblem of the new edition.

A stripe pattern in Deep Laguna metallic and black metallic with the lettering “BOARDWALK” adorns the frame of the side trims known as Side Scuttles. Patterns and inscriptions can also be found on the entry bars.

In addition, the side flanks of the roof at the rear side windows and the interior bar on the passenger side each bear a logo with the name of the edition model.

The three variants are:

> Cooper Countryman Boardwalk, a three-cylinder petrol engine with MINI TwinPower Turbo technology that produces a maximum output of 136hp.

> Cooper S Countryman Boardwalk with a four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 178hp.

> Cooper S Countryman ALL4 Boardwalk uses the same engine as the Cooper S but is four-wheel driven instead of the standard front-wheel drive.

The all-wheel-drive edition variant is equipped with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission as standard, while the other two get a 6-speed manual transmission but can be optionally specified with a 7-speed Steptronic gearbox.

The three variants can be further personalised with extra-cost options.


Delivery of Benimar Tessoro 463 motorhome

SHAH ALAM: Luxe Motorhomes and Caravans, the sole importer and distributor of Benimar motorhomes and caravans in Malaysia, delivered the Benimar Tessoro 463 motorhome which features a Ford engine and chassis, to events management company, Bidara Mega Sdn Bhd.The Tessoro 463, priced at RM582,142.18 (on-the-road without insurance) is described as a practical motorhome for a family of four which features a dining/lounge area complete with kitchen, bathroom and bedroom with two single beds as well as rotating cab captain style suede seats.The 463 is powered by a 2.0 liter turbo diesel Ford engine which produces 170hp mated to an automatic transmission and comes with LED daytime running lights, rear view observation camera, driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), Hill Start Assist and two USB ports among others. From left, Luxe Motorhomes and Caravans chief executive officer, Mohd Arne Haffnee handing over the key to Bidara Mega chief executive officer, Datuk Shamsul Rosli.The 463 also has the benefit of the new increased rear axle width for better stability and the new heavy duty chassis extension.Although designed for the family in mind, this motorhome will be used by Bidara Mega for business as its chief executive officer, Datuk Shamsul Rosli related that "it would make for an ideal space to meet clients."The marketing director of Luxe Motorhomes and Caravans, Nadiah Abas said that motorhomes are not just built and designed for leisure in mind."Motorhomes are more than just a mobile home. There are models designed for corporate use and we are in the process of attracting more corporate clients by creating 'corporate awareness' of our products," said Nadiah.Luxe Motorhomes and Caravans stated it will absorb the sales and service tax (SST) if bookings are made before Sept 1, 2018.For more information visit www.luxemotorhomes.com.my or call 019-515 4769 to book a test drive.


Jeremy Clarkson bought a farm 11 years ago. Now he has to run it

Clarkson as a farmer is like a fish out of water. But he's slowly getting there. — All photos from Amazon Prime Video
LONDON: Under normal circumstances, a 1,000-acre farm in rural England could rationally be considered the perfect antidote for a 61-year-old TV presenter with a penchant for cars, booze, and off-colour jokes.

But it’ll take more than dewy sunrises over undulating barley fields and the plaintive sweet bleats of spring lambs to tranquilize Jeremy Clarkson.

For 13 years, Clarkson spearheaded the wildly successful Top Gear car show. Then his contract went unrenewed in 2015—on account of a disagreement with a crew member that turned physical, according to most reports. Co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond resigned soon after.

In his new show, Clarkson’s Farm (now showing on Amazon Prime Video), the “polarising car fetishist” is as salt-and-vinegary as ever. The charismatic star’s particular form of zest is simply directed at different targets than the sports cars he used to accost.

His aptly named Diddly Squat Farm lies between Chipping Norton and Chadlington towns in Oxfordshire, the northern portion of the Cotswolds. Chipping Norton is renowned for its wool and tweed production and has a market that has sold such items dating back to the 13th century.

Over the course of the show, Clarkson contrives to make his own market of farm produce, which in this early case sells mostly potatoes. No kale.

But what makes Clarkson’s Farm such fun to watch is that while Clarkson reigned supreme in his Top Gear role as master of the car guy universe, his knowledge and capability levels hover around zero on these grounds.

There’s something satisfying in seeing Clarkson repeatedly admonished by a woman half his age as he bumbles his way through operating the biggest (wrong) tractor he can find. He calls her to teach him how to operate its 80 gears—40 forward, 40 reverse—his “first driving lesson in 40 years.”

See how he installs a do-it-yourself electric fence in the hope of containing his newly purchased and wayward flock of sheep—you can guess how that goes. Watch as he thinks he outsmarts his young farmhand plowing 10 acres his own way and is eviscerated that evening for having made the rows “as straight as a roundabout” to boot.

But a funny thing happens along the way through the eight episodes of Clarkson’s Farm: Clarkson is possibly upstaged by his own farmhand.

 It's delightful to watch the interaction between Clarkson and Cooper.

Kaleb Cooper, a ruddy, round-faced 21-year-old towhead, comes on board in the first episode. Clarkson hires him having determined he absolutely cannot plow, plant, breed, birth, rotate, irrigate, harvest—and all of the myriad other farm-y things required to run the operation—by himself. Cooper had helped run the farm under a previous manager, who, after 11 years of operating it for Clarkson, decided to retire.

Salt-of-the-earth Cooper is such a delight to watch because he shows no deference to Clarkson at all. The local farming prodigy is completely unintimidated and unamused by Britain’s most notorious car guy and ends up as the perfect foil for the inept urbane celebrity who fancies himself a plot in the same Cotswolds haven as David Beckham and Kate Moss.

Those who believed the secret to Top Gear’s success involved the chemistry and banter of the three hosts more than anything related to actual cars will be relieved to discover a rapport budding between this odd couple.

 Clarkson's girlfriend Lisa Hogan helps out around the farm.

The occasional appearance of a toothless wall-builder whose long speeches are melodious if indecipherable and the glimpses of Clarkson’s lanky girlfriend, the Irish actress Lisa Hogan, add bright spots to each episode.

The only thing Cooper won’t touch is sheep. He doesn’t have the patience. (“With sheep, I don’t understand why people try to make any money, find it enjoyable, and not get so stressed you lose your hair,” he says.) Which is why Clarkson, Hogan, and a local shepherd are left to carry the brunt of the labor when almost 80 of them go into, well, labor over the span of several feverish days and nights.

Watching Clarkson’s face fill with elation as he helps deliver lambs in a cold, muddy barn in the middle of the night is to see a man transform. He exults when his two rams, Wayne and Leonardo, are unleashed for the first time upon a field of “lady sheep.”

He cries at the market where he sold three ewes unfit for the herd—after realizing they’d been slaughtered before he had a chance “to say goodbye.”

The pathos of farm life shows well on him. If it hasn’t calmed him down, exactly, it appears to have done him good.

At the end of the fifth episode, Clarkson rides off on his hulking Lamborghini tractor proclaiming this “is genuinely about the happiest I’ve ever been.”


2019 CarSifu Auto Show: A look at luxury

KUALA LUMPUR: No matter the age or income bracket, its hard not to be attracted to premium and luxury cars such as BMW and Volvo, the two participating brands at the 2019 CarSifu Auto Show which is being held at the Ground Floor Concourse, Mid Valley Megamall.German marque BMW is showcasing its newly launched BMW 3 Series, the 330i M Sport, and visitors to the Auto Show can't help but check the car out.

The BMW 330i M SPort at the CarSifu Auto Show.

Among them was 23-year-old Indran who looked impressed once he sat behind the wheel.

"This is a young man's car and it looks really good inside and out," said Indran when asked about the new 3 Series which is fully imported.

Swedish marque Volvo is also receiving a lot of attention from visitors which is showing off its luxury sedan, the S90 T5 as well as the XC90 and XC60 SUVs.
Volvo is giving the premium treatment as personal appointments can be made for test drives and they can either pick you up at your preferred location if one can't make it to the showroom.

If you are in the market for a good deal on sedans then do visit Honda which has the Honda City V variant and Proton which has the Proton Saga CVT Premium on display.

Both cars come with a RM3,000 discount.

There are also rugged pick-up trucks at the Auto Show such as the Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X which features the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine.

Be among the first 1,000 customers to register the new Triton and you will receive an exclusive limited edition Thule Subterra Luggage worth RM2,000.

The Mitsubishi 2.0L Outlander SUV is also on display at the Auto Show.

Meanwhile, Ford is offering a cash rebate of up to RM6,000 the for Ranger Wildtrak and those who book the Ranger Raptor will receive an exclusive limited edition Ranger Raptor bomber jacket and car air purifier.

Isuzu has its line-up of D-Max trucks including a new Z Prestige variant which has new design cues as well as two accessory packages.

There are 20 vehicles on display at the 2019 CarSifu Auto Show which runs from today till Sunday, 10am to 10pm and other participating brands include Subaru with the Forester mid-sized five-seater SUV and the popular XV crossover, and Nissan has the X-Trail Hybrid and a sporty-looking Serena J Impul MPV.

Bring the family along this weekend and let the kids be entertained by Cellworm Crax the clown.

Also, visitors who complete a CarSifu survey will receive the Himalaya Pastilles peppermint candy.

The 2019 CarSifu Auto Show is organised by Star Media Group Bhd and the official tyre partners for both the show and the Editors’ Choice Awards are Toyo Tires and Silverstone.


Driving change: Saudis end ban on women behind wheel

Halah Hussein Reda, a newly-licensed Saudi motorist, opens the door of a car before leaving her driveway in Jeddah early today. - AFP
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia, until now the only country that did not permit female motorists, allowed women to get behind the wheel for the first time in decades today.

Here are some key facts about the historic move, seen as the most striking in a series of reforms as the kingdom prepares for a post-oil era.

How the reform happened

In September 2017, King Salman issued a decree declaring an end to the decades-long ban from June 2018.

A handful of driving schools for women were subsequently permitted to open in cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah.

Earlier this month, the kingdom began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades, with a handful of women swapping their foreign licences for Saudi ones after undergoing a practical test.

How many women will drive?

Some six million women - or 65 percent of the female driving-age population - are expected to apply for a licence once the ban is lifted, according to the London-based consulting firm Facts Global Energy.

But such a high number may not be immediately attainable, some analysts say.

Some three million women in Saudi Arabia could receive licences and actively begin driving by 2020, according to consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Eligibility

In addition to cars, women will be allowed to drive motorbikes, vans and trucks.

Women with licences from Gulf countries will be required to convert them to Saudi licences, according to the kingdom's traffic department.

Those with international driving licences would be able to drive in the kingdom for up to a year, after which they would be required to apply for a Saudi licence, the department said.

Licences to drive private vehicles will be granted at the age of 18, and public transport at 20 - the same as men.

Crime and punishment

Many women fear they will be easy prey as drivers in a nation where male "guardians" - their fathers, husbands or other relatives - can exercise arbitrary authority to make decisions on their behalf.

In preparation for the lifting of the ban, the government preemptively addressed concerns of sexual harassment - with a prison term of up to five years and a maximum penalty of 300,000 riyals (RM321,000).


Mazda MX-5 Kizuna special edition model on sale in UK

                LONDON: Mazda UK has announced the sale of the MX-5 Kizuna special edition model.

Limited to 250 units in the UK, the model arrives in dealerships next month.

Based on the 1.5-litre Exclusive-Line Roadster, the £30,265 (RM169,000) Kizuna features a stand-out design that includes Deep Crystal Blue or Machine Grey paint matched to a blue fabric hood.

Leather seats are in Light Stone Nappa leather to complement the exterior colour and 16-inch bright alloy wheels.

Across more than three decades on sale, special edition MX-5 models have proved popular with sports car enthusiasts looking for a car with unique details, extra equipment and an added dose of exclusivity.

Kizuna (meaning "enduring bond" ) follows the popular tradition of limited edition MX-5s. With the Kizuna 170 cars will be in Machine Grey with the remaining 80 cars in Deep Crystal Blue.

The Kizuna's Skyactiv-G engine produces 132 PS and it is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

It goes on sale alongside the 10-variant MX-5 line-up in the UK.


Why Tesla keeps changing its prices

                LONDON: Tesla Inc. has done seemingly nonstop tinkering with its prices this year, moving them lower in dramatic fashion only to occasionally bump them back up. What gives?

Chief executive officer Elon Musk has said he’s willing to prioritise growth over profits, a stance that has made some investors wary and irked more than a few customers who bought before the discounts.

There are a number of factors at play here, and a lack of consensus as to whether it all amounts to disruption or desperation.

Here’s what you need to know:

Tesla has a floating-price strategy

For years, Tesla’s cheapest car closely tracked the average amount US consumers were paying for new vehicles. Only US$300 or so separated the starting price of the Model 3 and the industry’s average transaction price.

When the sedan went into production in 2017, Musk touted a US$35,000 price tag that almost exactly mirrored the US$34,944 average paid for a new vehicle at the time.

Five years and a burst of inflation later, the Model 3 started at US$46,990 as of early January, versus the US$47,681 average in the US.

This floating-price strategy is unique among car companies, and was made possible by Musk’s rejection of two century-old traditions.

First, he eschewed the franchised dealership model, putting Tesla in control of the final price paid by customers. Second, he bucked the industry norm of setting prices at the start of each model year, then mostly keeping them static.

Early this year, though, the Model 3 began to bifurcate from average vehicle prices in dramatic fashion. Perhaps even more jarringly, the Model Y sport utility vehicle went from a starting price almost US$20,000 above the typical transaction price to one below the industry average.

Musk has room to play offence

Contradictory as it may seem, Tesla is cutting its prices from a position of strength.

With the exception of China’s BYD Co., no automaker is anywhere close to producing as many electric cars as Tesla.

The company’s high production volume across just a handful of models means unmatched economies of scale. And with manufacturing innovations ranging from single-piece vehicle structures to simpler batteries, Tesla has been reducing costs.

Rivals such as Rivian automotive Inc. and Lucid Group Inc. are far from breaking even, and the same can be said for Ford Motor Co. and other incumbents standing up their EV operations.

Tesla also is sitting on a sizable cash cushion and paid down about US$10 billion of debt in the past three years.

Tesla is dealing with demand issues

Of course, high production capacity cuts both ways. It’s great to have when the economy is humming and demand is strong, and not so good in times of turbulence.

In the second half of last year, Tesla was making tens of thousands more vehicles than it delivered each quarter. Blogs that aggregate the company’s listings of vehicles online show that inventory continues to build.

The 15-day supply of vehicles in inventory that Tesla reported for the first quarter is relatively healthy by industry standards.

But the way this figure has trended - it’s at the highest since the start of the pandemic, even after all the recent price cuts - isn’t encouraging.

"Tesla is clearly transitioning from being supply constrained (where delivery volumes grow in line with production capacity and prices increase) to being demand constrained (where prices fall to stimulate demand and production outpaces delivery),” Toni Sacconaghi, a Bernstein analyst with a sell rating on the stock, wrote in a May 1 report.

Musk himself has sounded the alarm about the risk of a recession. During a Twitter Spaces conversation late last year, he called higher interest rates and lower demand for big-ticket items like cars a "double-whammy,” and said the company faced a choice.

"Do you want to grow unit volume, in which case you have to adjust prices downward? Or do you want to grow at a lower rate, or steady?” Musk asked, rhetorically. "My bias would be to say let's grow as fast as we can without putting the company at risk.”

Dynamic pricing might be the new normal

While disgruntled Tesla owners swarmed showrooms in China early this year over its price cuts, there haven’t been clear signs of sustained anger with the company on the part of consumers.

Other manufacturers are also eyeing Musk’s approach. As electric vehicle demand soars and established manufacturers chase after Tesla, automakers including Ford and Volvo Car AB are beginning to move toward more centralized control over EV sales and pricing.

Ford, for example, changed the suggested retail price of its new electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning, three times last year.

"You have to be able to reprice quickly,” Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters last month.

"It’s a competitive market, and some brands are going to protect growth over profitability.”


California maps go-it-alone path on car emissions for Trump era

                LOS ANGELES: Investors who pushed up shares of GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler on a bet that Donald Trump will gut clean-air rules may have forgotten another player with a big say: California. The state has more people and cars than any other, giving its regulators an outsize influence on what automakers build.

And lest anyone think differently, California has no intention of backing away from clean-air enforcement, even if Trump undermines federal mandates, said Dan Sperling, a member of its powerful Air Resources Board.

“The ARB is definitely committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030,’’ Sperling said. “I don’t think the California effort will be much affected.’’

Carmakers have long complained of mandates that force vehicles to have fuel-saving technologies regardless of whether buyers want them. During the campaign, Trump promised to renegotiate the Paris climate accords and called the Environmental Protection Agency a disgrace for writing too many regulations. Auto stocks surged last week after the president-elect named climate change skeptic Myron Ebell to lead his EPA transition team.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, whose lineup is filled with light trucks and is the least fuel-efficient, soared the most since October 2014 on Thursday while General Motors Co. gained the most in a year. Tesla Motors Inc., which produces only electric vehicles and is making a big push into solar energy, declined.

California accounts for such a big portion of US auto sales that its rules have long been a de facto national standard, and the ARB is helping design zero-emission vehicle standards in other parts of the world including China and Canada’s Quebec.

The state influence will continue even if Trump slows the global fight against climate change, Sperling said. He’s concerned that “other countries will say, 'if the US is not committed, why should we invest more money in this?’’’

Smog-plagued California enacted its first air quality standards in 1959 and demanded the right to continue doing so after Richard Nixon created the EPA a decade later. Five years ago, the state agreed to link its targets to national U.S. standards as part of President Barack Obama’s plan to boost average fuel economy to a projected 50.8 mpg (21.6l/km) by 2025.

Until 2025, neither side can breach this agreement unilaterally. But California for now is barrelling towards new rules for the following five years that would keep it on track to lower greenhouse gases by 2030 as Sperling outlined. To do that, some 40 percent of the state’s auto sales would have to be zero-emission vehicles - ZEVs - or gas-electric plug-ins by 2030, up from 3 percent now, according to the ARB staff’s published projections.

There’s still a need for cooperation between the state and federal regulators. Before California can extend its ZEV mandates beyond 2025, it will need permission from Trump or his successor - or threaten to sue, a step it’s taken before. In the meantime, the Republican-controlled Congress could amend the Clean Air Act to remove California’s ability to set its own standard, or for other states to adopt similar plans. Congress could slash the EPA budget.

Automakers may be in a position to promote a compromise between Trump and California, since they need rules that let them sell the same cars in all 50 states, said Robert Bienenfeld, assistant vice president for environmental policy at Honda Motor Co. in the US.

“Maybe automakers will need to come to the defence of the EPA,’’ Bienenfeld said. “We need an enforcement agency to make sure everyone is playing by the same rules. There are lots of good rules that are broadly supported by the public. The wholesale disbandment of EPA is unthinkable.’’


Could 2016 spell the beginning of the end of the auto show as we know it?

 Ford is set to return to CES 2016 with the Gord GT as the official show car.

DETROIT: As the US gets ready to host the first official international auto show of the new year in the heart of its Motor City (Detroit), the list of carmakers choosing to pass on the event is almost as long as the list of new cars expecting to make their debut.

When the North American International Autoshow opens its doors to the public on Jan 11, it will do so without Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini or McLaren. That doesn't mean that the show will be a disappointment – the new Mercedes E Class, one of the marque's most important cars, will be making its global debut, as will the new Porsche 911 Turbo.

However, as the list of attendees at this year's event has contracted, the number of car companies heading to the International CES – a trade show for consumer electronics – has never been longer.

"Ford was the first automaker to have a significant presence at CES nine years ago, and we are proud to continue that legacy of innovation in 2016," said Mark Fields, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company. "CES is the perfect venue for sharing news on our efforts to change the way the world moves and provide new solutions in the areas of connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics."

 Samsung at CES. Earlier this month, Samsung announced it would diversify into the auto technology business, making electronics for driverless cars.

As well as a headline sponsor in the shape of Ford, Audi will be demonstrating its production-ready semi-autonomous car, Volkswagen will be showing off a plug-in electric reimagining of its iconic Microbus campervan and BMW is expected to raise the roof on a convertible version of its ultra high-tech i8 environmentally-friendly supercar.

January's CES will also be the venue where Toyota formally outlines its plans for artificial intelligence and gives its first demonstrations of connected vehicle and telematics systems.

All of which means that as the convergence between high-tech and cars continues apace, the motor show as we know it could be coming to an end. There has not been an official auto show in Britain for a decade due to the high cost of attendance – £5 million (RM32mil) per car company, plus the small European market share the country represents.

It's also likely that other shows that were once an integral part of the calendar could soon go the same way. As well as Detroit, the US hosts the Chicago, New York and LA auto shows every year while in Europe, which is just as large a market, there are only two shows a year Geneva and, for 2016, Paris.

Over the past 12 months, Volvo has been experimenting with different digital ways of reaching and interacting with customers – from virtual reality headsets to virtual, online showrooms – while at the same time drastically reducing the number of car shows it attends. Ironically, Detroit is one of only three shows that Volvo will attend in 2016.

However, expect the company to be at the International CES as well.


Porsche celebrates with GTS Club Coupe

                ATLANTA: Celebrating six decades of the largest Porsche club organization in the world, Porsche Cars North America is commemorating this milestone with a 60 unit limited-production run of the Club Coupe based on the 911 Carrera GTS.

Known as the GTS Club Coupe, the 430hp sports car is painted in a color unique to this model appropriately named “Club Blau,” which was created exclusively for this anniversary edition by the Porsche Club of America.

The GTS Club Coupe features the 44 mm wider body of the 911 Carrera 4 models with a rear wheel drive platform.

Painted in the newly created “Club Blau” color, the limited-edition model is also characterized by the SportDesign package, which is fitted as standard.

20-inch Sport Classic wheels painted in semi-gloss black with polished wheel centers and rim flanges are also standard on the GTS Club Coupe.

The interior is highlighted by the GTS Interior Package.

The stitching, seat belts, and rev counter are held in contrasting Carmine Red, while the dashboard trim strips, door trim and center console are finished in carbon fiber.

The striking steering wheel has a Red 12 o’clock marker and two-tone stitching in Carmine Red and Blue.

The center compartment lid is embossed with a “60” and the dashboard trim is personalized with “GTS Club Coupe 60 Years Porsche Club of America” lettering above the glove compartment.

Stainless steel door sills which read “GTS Club Coupe” serve as a further distinction.

Powering the GTS Club Coupe is an enhanced version of the Carrera S engine, which is also found in the 911 Carrera GTS model variants.

430hp propel the GTS Club Coupe from standstill to 100kph in just 3.8 seconds when equipped with the optional PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) dual-clutch seven-speed transmission.

Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), incorporating adaptive dampers and a 10 mm lower ride, and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), as well as the Sport Chrono Package with dynamic engine mounts, contributes to the car’s optimal handling characteristics.

The GTS Club Coupe will be launched in the United States in June 2015.


The Aznom Palladium has arrived

                MONZA: Those looking for a vehicle capable of moving with elegance on any terrain can set their sights on the Aznom Palladium.

Palladium is a unique and surprising automobile built with the intent to fill a rather interesting and exclusive niche.

The designers have already described the car as “hyper-limousine” as it unites the traditional characteristics of great luxury sedans with outstanding capabilities.

Designed and manufactured in Italy, Palladium wants to retrace the steps of famous Italian coachbuilders from the past when each vehicle was truly handmade with care and passion.

Each and every one of the ten cars on the production schedule will be tailor-made for the client after having chosen the customization of every detail.

“We have produced this vehicle choosing artisanal manufacturing techniques that are almost lost today, such as panel beating and hand-crafting the body of the car, together with other technological solutions, engine builders, tanners, panel beaters, designers and engineers who have worked on this project are heirs to a tradition that has made Italian cars famous all around the world,” said Aznom’s founder Marcello Meregalli.

The name of the vehicle itself takes inspiration from the mansions of renowned Italian architect Andrea Palladio who is famous for using ancient Greek and Roman styles as the base for his creations.

The Aznom Palladium is just shy of 2 meters in height and almost 6 meters in length positioning it unquestionably within the limousine realm, while its non-conventional appearance confers a powerful image equal only to its mechanical strength.

Capable of traversing any terrain with two- or four-wheel drive, the Palladium is equipped with a 5.7 liter biturbo engine capable of delivering more than 700hp and a torque of 950Nm.

Pairing up with the engine is a latest generation 8-speed automatic transmission.

It features six airbags and the most recent Advanced driver-assistance Systems (ADAS) and both active and passive safety systems including the Advance Brake Assist, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind-stop Monitoring and Park Assist.


Lotus Evora Sport 410 - lighter more powerful

                LONDON: Lotus has added 10 more horses to the Evora Sport 410 's supercharged engine, but more remarkably, the English sportscar builder managed to find and shed 70kg worth of weight thanks to the predominant use of carbon fibre parts.

The Evora Sport 410 is being retailed in England for £79,900 (RM500,000) will be limited to a global production run of 150 vehicles per annum and will be available in all major markets from June 2016, while a specific North American version of the Evora Sport 410 will be announced later in the same year.

With the loss in weight and the gain in power, the Evora Sport 410 is now able to go from 0-100kph in about 4.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 299kph and it's also capable of lapping the company’s Hethel test track in 1 minute 28 seconds - three seconds faster than the Evora 400.

Lotus, howevers, says that this is not just a stripped-out special, but rather an Evora 400 that's been re-evaluated, with every component assessed, optimised and re-engineered as required.

The list of Carbon fibre parts include a front splitter, roof panel, tailgate, and rear diffuser as well as race-derived sports seats, door trims, a revised front access panel and rear quarter-light panel.

The final kerb weight of the car now comes down to 1,325kg, which brings its power-to-weight ratio up to 309hp/ton and even with some aerodynamic additions its drag coefficient remains unaffected, while the car's down force has improved by 15% - 37kg of aerodynamic downforce at 240kph.

The company also adds that with the loss in mass, the 410 is not only faster in a straight line, but its handling has gotten sharper, more agile and intuitive.

Although the 410 produces 410hp at 7,000rpm, maximum torque of 410Nm at 3,500rpm remains unchanged from the 3.5-litre V6 all-aluminium engine equipped with an Edelbrock supercharger, while it rolls on lightweight 10-spoke forged aluminium wheels with optional Michelin Cup 2 tyres.

Following the weight loss, the 410's suspension geometry and damping characteristics were recalibrated for sharper handling and less body roll.

But even though the suspension is now 5mm lower than the Evora 400, the company says that it still managed to retain its rider comfort.

To appeal to purists, the 410’s manual gearbox features a low inertia flywheel, to help ensure swift changes, while a Torsen-type limited slip differential (LSD) gives better traction, and faster exit speeds when cornering.

The optional automatic transmission offers gear selection via lightweight aluminium paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

The Lotus Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) system provides two drive settings of 'Sport' and 'Race', which proportionally increases throttle response, lowering traction slip thresholds and removing understeer recognition and allows for more driver control before the system intervenes.

As standard, the Evora Sport 410's carbon fibre sports seats are upholstered with Alcantara, along with the steering wheel, centre console and the one-piece door trim panels with contrast stitching.

Lastly, an integrated touch-screen entertainment system can also be specified, including iPod connectivity and Bluetooth functionality.

"We couldn’t help ourselves," admitted Group Lotus plc CEO Jean-Marc Gales.

"We wanted to make the Evora even better: lighter, faster and sharper, but our team has exceeded our expectations. Lotus has distilled what makes the Evora so special into something that’s even more focused. The result is dynamically excellent and nothing short of superb.”

Specifications - Lotus Evora Sport 410

ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND CHASSIS
High power, 410hp. 3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water cooled, all-aluminium engine, with Edelbrock supercharger
Sports ratio 6-speed manual transmission
Lightweight low inertia fly wheel
Torsen Type Limited Slip Differential (manual only)
Servo assisted 2-piece cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs with AP Racing four piston calipers (front 370mm x 32mm, rear 350mm x 32mm)
Lightweight aluminium extruded and bonded chassis
Front and rear: Fully independent suspension, forged aluminium double wishbone suspension, anti-roll bar, Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers
Rack and pinion steering box with 2.86 turns lock-to-lock
Lotus tuned hydraulically assisted steering
Driver selectable ESP modes - Drive/Sport/Race
ESP/traction control
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Active exhaust valve control

EXTERIOR SPECIFICATION
Carbon fibre rear diffuser and front splitter
Carbon fibre tailgate with integrated rear spoiler and louvered backlight
Carbon fibre roof panel
Carbon fibre front access panel
Brake callipers – yellow painted with black AP Racing logo
Lightweight satin black forged wheels (19" front and 20" rear 10 spoke alloy wheels)
Michelin Pilot Sport tyres (front 235/35 R19, rear 285/30 R20)
Bi-xenon headlights
LED daytime running lights
Powerfold and heated door mirrors
Oval exhaust finisher
Rear parking sensors
Thatcham approved immobiliser and remote activated alarm system

INTERIOR SPECIFICATION
2+0 seat configuration
Engine start button
Alcantara trimmed carbon fibre sports seats with contrast stitching
Steering wheel trimmed in leather and black Alcantara®, with black stitching with red leather position stripe
Lightweight door panels trimmed in Alcantara®
Door grab handle, gear lever gaiter and hand brake sleeve in black leather with black stitching
Gunmetal finished door release levers, door grab handles and instrument panel surround finisher
Aluminium face level vents and blanking plate surround
Aluminium blanking plate etched with Evora Sport 410 logo
Lightweight aluminium gear knob (manual only)
Door sill insert etched with Evora logo
Lightweight driver's footrest
Steering wheel finisher and HVAC panel in gunmetal finish with metallic finished bezels
Lightweight aluminium pedal pads
Black IP fascia and binnacle top with black twin stitching
Dark grey headlining
Black carpet
Windscreen visor

OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (front 235/35 R19, rear 285/30 R20)
Alcantara® trimmed, adjustable Sparco® seat from Evora 400
Lightweight silver, forged alloy wheels (19" front and 20" rear 10 spoke)
4 speaker double DIN ICE unit with full satellite navigation and reversing camera
Sound insulation pack
Air conditioning


Tesla recalls nearly 6,000 US vehicles over potentially loose bolts

                WASHINGTON: Tesla Inc is recalling nearly 6,000 US vehicles because brake calliper bolts could be loose, with the potential to cause a loss of tyre pressure, documents made public today show.

The recall covers certain 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles.

Tesla's filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had no reports of crashes or injuries related to the issue and that the company will inspect and tighten, or replace, the calliper bolts as necessary.

In other related news, Musk said the price of Tesla vehicles is increasing due to supply chain pressures across the auto industry, particularly for raw materials.

In May, Tesla increased its Model 3 and Model Y prices, the automaker's fifth incremental price increase for its vehicles in just a few months, the Electrek website reported.

Speaking of raw materials, Tesla said it expects to spend more than US$1 billion a year on battery raw materials from Australia given the country's reliable mining industry and responsible production practices.

Robyn Denholm, chair of the US carmaker, said today that Australia, which is rich in minerals used for batteries like lithium and nickel, is poised to benefit as developing supply chains for electric vehicle batteries and the green energy age focus on environmental, social and governance.

Tesla already sources three quarters of its lithium feedstock from Australia and over a third of its nickel, Denham said, without specifying a dollar figure.


BMW Year-End Expo this weekend

                CYBERJAYA: Quill Automobiles, Ingress Auto and Wheelcorp Premium, the three dealerships representing the BMW and MINI brand in the Klang Valley will transform The Marquee at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre into the largest BMW and MINI dealership in the City Centre this weekend.

The one of a kind event – The BMW Year-End Expo 2019 - will run from Dec 6 to 8.

The event will present over 90 vehicles with exciting offers which include a special 6 Years and 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty programme, special financing rates from 0.33%, a complimentary one-year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance and many more attractions for your new BMW or MINI vehicle.

The BMW Year-End Expo 2019 is at The Marquee at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 10am to 7am.


Geneva showcase for swanky cars is shadowed by talk of trade war

                GENEVA: The Geneva International Motor Show is known as a staging ground for the glitzy luxury models that swaddle the wealthy and deliver them in style.

This year’s no exception, with a new version of the Bentley Bentayga SUV, Bugatti’s US$2.6 million Chiron and the Ferrari special-edition 488 Pista among the cars that will jostle for photographers’ attention.

But a separate plot line is emerging this year. European auto executives face the threat of a trade war, after U.S. President Donald Trump singled out the car industry as the next battleground after steel and aluminum tariffs.

Europe’s largest annual automotive gathering starts Monday (the alternating Paris and Frankfurt shows draw more visitors but each runs every two years) with two days of press conferences before it opens to the public.

Here are some things to look for:

Electric buzz
While the show will have its usual displays of top-end cars — this time largely without the skimpily clad female models that have been a staple in the past — manufacturers will continue unveiling the technology that may eventually come to rule the industry.

Tata Motors Ltd.’s luxury Jaguar brand provided a sneak online preview last week of its fully battery-powered I-PACE sport-utility vehicle ahead of its official premiere in Geneva. Volkswagen AG’s Audi division presents the production version of its competing electric E-Tron at the show.

Among newcomers offering battery cars will be Chinese producer LVCHI, presenting the Venere sedan that it wants to build as of 2019, and Italian design company Icona, debuting the self-driving, steering-wheel-less Nucleus concept.

Questions on diesel...
Industry executives at the show will be asked whether they’re holding tight to a strategy of developing cleaner diesel technology to meet ever-tighter regulations on fleet emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. They’ve come under scrutiny on two fronts.

Authorities are questioning whether current model lines already violate rules, particularly after Volkswagen’s disclosure in 2015 that it rigged diesel engines to cheat on emissions tests. Separately, a top court ruling in Germany last week put into question whether the fuel is permissible in city centres, given that the motors also produce nitrogen oxide, a key component of health-threatening smog.

Car buyers are already responding: diesel cars’ market share in Germany has dropped to 32.5 percent as of February from about half before VW’s scandal erupted.

... and on US trade
Trump’s announcement last week of impending tariffs on US steel and aluminum imports means raw-material supply costs are likely to rise at the American plants that German carmakers set up years ago — partly to reduce the effects of any trade barriers. It’s an indirect but potentially important hit at an industry that the US leader has already targeted with blame for a widening German trade surplus.

And it may be only a start. Trump is now threatening to tax car imports directly if Europe retaliates against the steel and aluminum tariffs. And then there’s Nafta, which presents carmakers with another wild card, and Brexit, which is chilling sales in Britain.

The political developments come on top of General Motors Co.’s pullout from Europe with the sale of its Opel and Vauxhall brands to Peugeot owner PSA Group. The French carmaker is using mobility services to revive its presence in the US, a market it left in 1991.

Watch for comments from chief executive officer Carlos Tavares on whether the Trump administration’s stance is affecting his strategy, and from leaders of BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler AG and Volkswagen on whether it’s changing any calculations for their American factories.

Who’s who
The press events kick off with trade journalists naming the "Car of the Year" this afternoon. The show will be the first for Renault SA chief operating officer Thierry Bollore since his promotion last month to the post, which put him in line to succeed Carlos Ghosn as head of the French carmaker.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche will be particularly in demand to answer how he expects to get along with the German manufacturer’s new top investor, Li Shufu, following the purchase of a 9.9 percent stake.

Meanwhile, the event could be the last one for Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and chairman of sports-car maker Ferrari NV, who has pledged to retire in early 2019.


Car Craft 7 for the classics

                SUBANG JAYA: A perennial problem among classic car owners is the reliability of the workshop.

To change all this, two friends Desmond Flaivel and Arvind Paul have started a workshop called Car Craft 7 that specialises in servicing continental classic models.

Desmond, an avid classic car collector who owns seven units, promises that honesty and transparency would take priority in the venture.

“I have been cheated many times with parts, overcharged and refurbishing time takes longer than what was agreed. It is frustrating. Here at Car Craf7 we will change all these poor ethics,” he said.

The chief mechanic, Arvind has 10 years of experience repairing and refurbishing classic cars and modern cars.

He is assisted by three other highly experienced mechanics to manage the daily running of this modern workshop.

“Every single car goes through a stringent quality check by me before it goes out. Satisfied customers are very important to Car Craft 7,” he said.

Located in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Car Craft 7 is open from Monday to Saturdays from 9am - 5.30pm.

For appointments, Arvind can be contacted at hp: 016 503 3032.

Besides servicing, repair and refurbishing classic cars, Car Craft 7 is working on videos educating the classic car community on basic classic car maintenance.

These videos will be made available on to Car Craft 7 website and Facebook page in October.

Over the last few months, Car Craft 7 has sourced few classic cars and will be putting these cars up for auction on the site and FB from September onwards.

Plans are underway to set up another Car Craft 7 workshop in Penang in the middle of next year.


Isuzu's single cab D-Max gets beefy with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel mill

                KUALA LUMPUR: Isuzu Malaysia has a new variant - a 3.0-litre single-cab for its ever-popular D-Max.

It is currently available in Magnum White Solid with on-the-road prices with GST and insurance at RM84,543.40 for the 2.5-litre and RM90,250.40 for the 3.0-litre.

The 3.0-litre variant is currently the most powerful single cab in the country with a maximum output 177PS and 380Nm of torque.

The new 3.0L and refreshed 2.5L D-Max single cab pick-up are set to exceed performance standards in their categories.

Both 2.5 and 3.0-litre single cab pickups are now fully equipped with driving safety aids such as anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control system, electronic stability control and hill start assist.

Other prominent improvements include a new set of heavy duty leaf springs that can endure the load when traversing over harsh road conditions.

The single can pickup now sport newly designed front hood, grille and bumper as well as new decals and meter cluster with gear-shift indicator.

said that by introducing the powerful variant, they will be able to better serve the needs of the users in Malaysia. This type of vehicle is mainly used for heavy duty purposes, hence they are confident that this new variant will be welcomed by the professional users.

"The D-Max single cab has always been the preferred choice for heavy duty purposes. We are now the only brand that has a 3.0-litre single cab (pickup truck)," said Isuzu Malaysia executive director Hajime Machimura.


Perodua sold 7,886 vehicles in May, announces Raya promo with up to RM1,300 cash back

                RAWANG: Perodua has announced that it managed to sell 7,886 vehicles at the close of the month of May.

This brings its year-to-date (YTD) sales total to 52,920 units against an estimated YTD total industry volume of 129,401 units - netting the company a 41% YTD market share.

“The ongoing COVID-19 situation has had a significant impact on car sales in Malaysia over the past two months, but we are thankful that in just three weeks since we restarted operations nationwide, we have managed to come close to the level of our March figures pre-Movement Control Order (MCO),” said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Leading the sales figures in May were 2,612 Myvis sold followed by 2,028 Axias, 1,820 Bezzas, 950 Aruzs and 476 Alzas.

The company managed to sell 8,601 cars in March before the MCO came into effect on Mar 18,

Throughout the month of June, the company's Meaningful Raya campaign is currently offering special cash redemptions of up to RM1,300 for the Aruz and selected Myvi variants.

In addition, buyers of other models will get a RM300 e-voucher that is redeemable for the purchase of selected parts and accessories at any authorised Perodua service centre.

“In this age of social distancing and heightened hygienic awareness, the role played by personal transport becomes all the more important. Vehicles are still needed for short, quick trips out for household essentials, and e-hailing drivers have begun using their vehicles to deliver goods instead of just transporting passengers," said Zainal.

He added that the company is trying its best at the moment to fulfil new and outstanding orders as fast as possible while adhering to the new safety measures.


Mercedes-Benz dishes up SUV trio - GLC 250, GLS 400 and AMG G 63

                KUALA LUMPUR: Three new luxury SUVs by German marque Mercedes-Benz were launched simultaneously today and they are the GLC 250 4MATIC Coupe, GLS 400 4MATIC and the Mercedes-AMG G 63 priced at RM423,888, RM888,888 and RM1.18mil respectively.

Prices are on-the-road without insurance inclusive of GST.

"The premium SUV range by Mercedes-Benz once again redefines the standard of the local luxury SUV segment with the additional three variants to out extensive portfolio. Each vehicle offers an exciting option to complement the unique lifestyle of our Malaysian customers.

"Combining ultimate driving comfort, dynamic handling and great agility, our SUVs are here to define a new best in class, break conventions and provide our customers with the vehicle to make a statement," said vice president, sales and marketing passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Mark Raine at the launch held at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC).

The GLC Coupe features an AMG Line exterior with its dynamic bodystyling and diamond radiator grille with chrome pins and 20in AMG light alloy wheels.

The cabin features Artico leather upholstery with AMG flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, sports pedals floor mats.

 GLC Coupe interior.

The GLC Coupe is powered by the 4 in-line, 2.0 litre petrol engine which produces 211hp and 350Nm of torque and is mated to a 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission.

The GLS 400 is the flagship seven-seater SUV which boasts ample space and combines luxury with high levels of comfort, agility and safety features.

The GLS has imposing proportions and a dramatic exterior coupled with a stylish and generously equipped interior featuring Apple CarPlay connectivity, a Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround system and comfortable seating for seven adults.

The GLS 400 features a 3.0 litre V6 biturbo petrol engine with direct injection and pushes out 333hp and 480Nm of torque and is mated to the 9-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission.

And finally, the G-Class or the AMG G 63 sits on top of the pyramid of Mercedes-Benz' luxury class cross-country vehicles. Originally conceived in 1979, the G-Class has undergone a process of evolution as it was designed primarily for tough off-road terrain.

 GLS 400 interior.

Today, the G 63 is still a very capable off-roader and now features state-of-the-art drive technology with its AMG 5.5 litre V8 biturbo engine which outputs 571hp and 760Nm of torque, mated to the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic transmission.

And even more impressive is that it goes from 0-100kph in just 5.4 seconds.

The G-Class features the AMG radiator grille with duel lamellae and four chrome inserts, prominent bumpers with large air-intakes, red-brake calipers and 21in AMG forged wheels in matte black.

 AMG G 63 interior.