Ford in deal with Chinese automaker to build electric vehicles in China

Anhui Zotye Automobile Co chairman and president Jin Zheyong and Ford group vice president and president for Asia Pacific Peter Fleet.
Ford Motor is exploring setting up a joint venture with Chinese firm Anhui Zotye Automobile Co to build electric passenger vehicles in China under a new brand, tapping into a boom for such vehicles in the world's top auto market.

China, struggling with alarming pollution levels in major cities, is aggressively pushing plug-in vehicles and has poured in tens of billions in investment, research funding and subsidies, drawing many new automakers to launch projects.

Tesla, Daimler AG and General Motors are among firms that have already announced plans for making electric vehicles in China, which wants electric and plug-in hybrid cars to make up at least a fifth of the country's auto sales by 2025.

Ford, whose overall China sales are down 7 percent this year, said in a statement on Tuesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Zotye Auto to build a new brand under which the electric vehicles will be sold. Both firms will hold a 50-50 stake in the JV, it said.

It did not provide details of financial commitments nor say by when it will take a firm decision on the JV.

Ford sees China as the fastest growing market in the world for new energy vehicles (NEV) and forecasts that segment to grow to six million vehicles per year by 2025, of which approximately four million would be all-electric.

The potential JV with Zotye Auto would represent a deepening of commitment to electric vehicles in China by Ford. In April, it outlined plans to offer by 2025 hybrid or fully electric versions of all models built in China with its domestic joint venture partner, Chongqing Changan Automobile Co Ltd.

However, it also said at the time that it would take a cautious approach to the market due to uncertainty about consumer interest and government policy.

Zotye, which Ford described as the market leader in China's all-electric small vehicle segment, sold more than 16,000 all-electric vehicles this year through July, representing a year-on-year growth of 56 percent, it said.

The privately-owned company, which is headquartered in China's coastal Zhejiang province, also makes sport utility vehicles and cargo trucks. On Monday, it reported a near six-fold jump in first-half profits.

Ford said it would release details about the brand, products and production volumes at a later date, pending a final agreement and regulatory approvals.


Toyota plants start again after six-day parts shortage

                TOKYO: Toyota said today it had resumed operations at all vehicle assembly and parts plants in Japan after its longest domestic production suspension since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The world’s top automaker said earlier this month that it would temporarily stop all domestic vehicle production from February 8 through 13 due to a components shortage following an explosion at supplier and affiliate Aichi Steel.

Additionally, Toyota said production at its “directly owned and operated“ plants in Japan that make parts and components would also stop on February 8 for one day, but later extended the stoppage to Feb 13.

“Toyota would like to confirm that production recommenced today as scheduled,” it said in a statement today.

A total of 29 vehicle assembly and parts plants resumed operation on Monday as components were obtained from other steel manufacturers as well as other Aichi Steel production lines, company spokeswoman Kayo Doi told AFP.

Earlier this month, Toyota said that the six-day domestic production suspension would be the longest since a 10-day stoppage following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of northeastern Japan.
The company’s production target for 2016 — 10.196 million vehicles globally, of which 4.134 million are to be made domestically — would not be affected as the company “will boost operations on holidays” to catch up with the target, Doi said.

Aichi Steel, which produces speciality steel products among other items, was hit by an explosion on January 8 which badly damaged parts of its production site. It expects to return to full operation in March.

Toyota does not disclose its daily production plans, but the firm has said it produced 14,000 units a day in 2015.

The company, which surpassed Volkswagen in 2015 to keep the title of world’s top-selling automaker, produced more than four million cars in Japan last year and over 10 million worldwide.


BMW rolls out wireless induction charging mat

MUNICH: If you're one of those people who'd like to have an electric or plug-in hybrid car but don't have easy access to a charging point, there is a little hope on the horizon. Car magazine is reporting BMW's wireless induction charging system, which is a mat a car can park on and wirelessly recharge from, is set to go into production in July and go on sale in Europe towards the end of the summer. However, there are a few drawbacks.

For a start, there isn't going to be a purchase option for the device, at least not from the beginning. Initially, the charging mat will only be available to lease for the 530e iPerformance, because the mat alone isn't enough to recharge an electric car as the car also has to be compatible with the system. It turns out leasing is the overwhelmingly preferred choice when it comes to sales of the plug-in version of the 5 Series in Western Europe.

This is probably a big part of why BMW has chosen a lease-only option for this brand new technology that will eventually be rolled out to all of its PHEV models. AutoBlog reports that a pilot programme for the mat with the 530e will also be deployed in California.

And of course, to make use of the mat it has to be installed at your preferred location and connected to a mains electricity supply, so it doesn't really address the problem of not having a driveway or a garage at home where you can house a recharging point. One day though, it's hoped we may even have roads with wireless induction charging built-in so we can recharge as we drive.

The floor mat itself is roughly 89cm long, 80cm wide, and 6cm thick, and the pad mounted to the car is 30cm square and 2cm thick. The floor mat needs plugging into a 220-volt outlet, and can transmit 3.2 kilowatts of power to the secondary coil under the car. That will charge the 9.2-kW battery of the 530e in three and a half hours, which compares favourably with the three-hour charge time for the hard-wired 3.7-kW BMW i Wallbox.

Sealed so it can work indoors or outdoors, the mat will automatically turn off if it detects an interfering object such as a dog or cat, and for those worried about such things it's also said to put out less electromagnetic radiation than a hotplate.

 The 530e iPerformance.


US to allow advanced headlights after Toyota petition

                WASHINGTON: Vehicles on US roads will now be allowed to use advanced headlights known as "adaptive driving beams" that could help prevent night-time crashes, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Tuesday.

The agency acted in response to a petition filed by Toyota Motor Corp in 2013 to allow the lights.

They automatically adjust the beams using additional sensors so they can provide more illumination without causing a glare to oncoming motorists.

The headlights have been permitted in Europe for more than a decade and are also allowed in Japan, Canada and other countries.

Volkswagen AG and BMW AG also later filed petitions to use the lights on US vehicles.

The lights ran afoul of US rules setting maximum levels for lower beams. An infrastructure law signed in November requires NHTSA to issue a final rule by late 2023 allowing advanced headlight use.

NHTSA said the rule "will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists by making them more visible at night, and will help prevent crashes by better illuminating animals and objects in and along the road."

US pedestrian deaths are up 45% since 2010. In 2020, there were 6,236 pedestrian deaths - about 1 in 6 traffic deaths.

NHTSA’s data shows about 72% of pedestrian fatalities and 51% of driver fatalities occur at night despite accounting for just 25% of vehicle miles travelled.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents nearly all major automakers, said research shows the headlights "can help provide enhanced down-road visibility without increasing glare to oncoming vehicles."

Unlike some automatic headlight switch systems from high to low beams, adaptive headlights use sensors, cameras, data-processing software, and headlamp hardware to detect oncoming and preceding vehicles and automatically adjust the beams.

NHTSA has received thousands of complaints about headlight glare over the last four decades, especially with the introduction of halogen lights in the late 1970s and then high-intensity discharge lights in the 1990s.


Tesla building own EV battery cells, says report

                SAN FRANCISCO: Five Tesla employees told CNBC that the company is privately working to reduce its dependency on Panasonic for EV battery cells by creating its own cell manufacturing facility.

Because the battery pack and cells are the most expensive parts of an electric vehicle and the component whose limited supply is slowing the production of Tesla models, producing its own parts would give Tesla greater control over its manufacturing process.

Musk has publicly stated that Panasonic is the reason that the Model 3 production has been dragging. In fact, he claimed that the cell lines at their shared cell manufacturing facility in Nevada are "operating at only two-thirds of their capacity."

According to the employees, research surrounding this manufacturing project is taking place at a lab just a few minutes away from the company's Fremont plant.

If Tesla-branded cells do take off, it could lead to a drop in vehicle prices as fewer costs would be sent to vendors, partners, or other third-party suppliers.


Land Rover Discovery Sport available from RM380K

                PETALING JAYA: Land Rover has announced the arrival of its Discovery Sport sport utility vehicle (SUV) that promises greater comfort, safety, versatility, refinement, efficiency and of course performance.

The new Discovery Sport can be found at all Land Rover showrooms nationwide and have been priced at RM379,800 (excluding road tax, registration and insurance).

All Land Rover vehicles, distributed by authorised dealers, are covered by the ‘Land Rover Care’ programme, which is based on whichever comes first, and provides a five-year warranty or 150,000km, five-year servicing or 65,000km and a three-year Roadside Assistance.

Firstly, the 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine produces 240PS and 340Nm of torque for the nine-speed ZF automatic transmission to manage.

This helps provide for low-end response, an improved mid-range acceleration and lower engine speeds when cruising at high speed - all of which helps to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and engine noise.

Additionally, the interior (with seven airbags) has been dialled with more comfort, safety and versatility through its configurable 5+2 seating option when travelling at an 'altitude' of 340mm from the ground.

Meanwhile, the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system keeps occupants entertained with its smartphone-like touchscreen behaviour, customisable home screen and wallpaper and the ability to add widgets for shortcuts to favourite features.

For more information, log on to www.landrover.com.my.


112 Lamborghinis set new Malaysian record

                KUALA LUMPUR: The record for the largest number of Lamborghinis gathered at an event in Malaysia was shattered when 112 of the Italian supercar aficionados assembled here to ride their way into the Malaysia Book of Records.

This eclipsed the previous record set in 2013 when 77 Lamborghinis from both Singapore and Malaysia gathered in conjunction with Lamborghini’s 50th global anniversary celebrations.

Among the Lamborghini models spotted today were the Gallardo Malaysia Limited Edition, of which only 20 were produced; the Murcielago; and modern standouts such as the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, Aventador SVJ and Urus SUV.

Lamborghini Owners Malaysia (LOM) president Roslan Rosdi drove the 78th car, a Lamborghini Murcielago, ferrying Italian ambassador to Malaysia Massimo Rustico to the venue, which was an open air car park here, marking the new record.

Roslan said the support from both LOM members and non-members was outstanding.

 Roslan (4th from left) recieving a certificate from the Malaysian Book of record chief marketing officer Jwan Heah as Italian ambassador to Malaysia Rustico ( 3rd from left) looks on.

“The record-breaking feat this year was a great success due to cooperation from all Lamborghini owners in Malaysia.

“The number of vehicles that participated has also exceeded our expectations with many Lamborghini owners wanting to play a part in making history,” he told reporters.

The signature roar of the car engines was heard as people neared the venue, further raising the excitement levels among all present there.
Rustico said the event was amazing, with the community coming together for the feat.

“I would like to commend the LOM leadership for organising this endeavour and also the police for supporting the event.

“I have been to many beautiful events across the world, but this really stood out due to the substantial number of vehicles present alongside the concept and well-planned nature of the event,” he said.

LOM organising chairman Datuk Rakesh Sachdev voiced his gratitude to the police for their help in ensuring the event ran smoothly.

“Our sponsors and the committee themselves also played a big part in making this a success,” he said.

Malaysia Book of Records chief marketing officer Jwan Heah said it was great to see more events slowly coming back to life.

“It is exciting to see so many Lamborghinis showing up for the raging bull event especially after what everyone has experienced throughout the past two years,” he said after presenting the Malaysia Book of Records certificate to Roslan.

Established in 2014, the LOM began with only 50 members but membership has now grown to 150.


Audi's S-badged E-Tron will get 503hp from two rear-mounted motors

                FRANKFURT: Since the end of 2018, the first fully electric Audi has been quietly humming down streets around the world. Now the German manufacturer is preparing to roll out an even more powerful version of the E-Tron SUV.

Arriving in late 2020 with as much as 503hp, Audi's new S-badged version of the E-Tron will deliver a bigger performance for a bigger price.

For comparison, the normal E-Tron has one motor at the front and one at the rear for 408hp, while the E-Tron S has two mounted in the rear for an acceleration from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds. Top speed is put at 210kph.

Because each motor can be controlled individually and the power can thus be better distributed, Audi says this car represents the next generation of its four-wheel drive with better driving dynamics.

This is helped by a more tightly tuned chassis and a sharpened design. Among other things, the E-Tron is 5cm wider and has a modified grille.

To improve aerodynamics, there are flaps to regulate air flow, and the fender extensions are punctured in such a way that the airstream can flow through them, Audi says.

Prices in Audi's home market in Europe start at €93,800 (RM453,000) for the conventional model and €96,050 (RM463,000) for the Sportback version with a sloping rear.


US city of Nashville bans all electric scooters following rider death

People riding Bird electric scooters. — AFP
NASHVILLE: The mayor of Nashville, capital of Tennessee, announced that all publicly-accessible electric scooters operating within the city will be banned and removed "immediately".

Following the death of an intoxicated individual who was killed while riding on a Bird electric scooter in Nashville, the city's mayor David Briley announced that all e-scooters will be "removed from the Metro rights-of-way immediately upon the enactment of the Council legislation".

Despite the city police determining that the scooter rider was responsible for the accident, mayor Briley believes that the vehicles produce a sufficient number of safety concerns – including "improper riding, parking violations, and poor rider education" – that the shared e-scooters should be banned completely.

In May, Briley requested that all shared urban mobility device companies operating within the city address these various concerns within 30 days; however, in response to the death, he has recommended to the Metro Council that all e-scooter programmes are discontinued.

The city remains open to the possibility of shared mobility devices operating within the Nashville, but only if "they are able to meet our requirements for safety and accessibility".

READ MORE: About 200 Beam e-scooters now available for rent in Kuala Lumpur


Two million vehicles expected on NSE after CNY celebrations on Jan 24

                KUALA LUMPUR: Heavy traffic is expected on several highways as many return home after the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Comm Datuk Seri Mat Kasim Karim said the department expects traffic to reach two million vehicles on the North-South Expressway (NSE), 150,000 vehicles on the East Coast Expressway 1 (LPT1) and 200,000 vehicles on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak route today.

"As of noon, traffic on the North-South Expressway reached 1.18 million vehicles followed by 115,158 vehicles on LPT1 and 160,000 along Kuala Lumpur-Karak," he said in a statement.

Several highways and routes are expected to be congested from this afternoon until late night, he said.

The locations are the main routes to Kuala Lumpur such as Gombak and Sungai Besi toll plazas as well as the Karak-Bentong Expressway (from Bentong toll plaza towards Kuala Lumpur).

Other areas involved are Slim River and the Changkat Jering -Ipoh routes along the NSE and at Elite Expressway (Shah Alam-Sepang-Nilai).

"We advise road users to drive carefully as it is the rainy season and the roads are slippery.

"Follow traffic regulations and don't switch on the hazard lights if it is raining heavily.

"Don't use the emergency lane as it will hamper the work of rescue operators," Comm Mat Kasim said.

He also reminded the public to store highway hotline numbers of the police as a preparation in case there is an emergency.

"Drive responsibly and always be patient and tolerant with other road users" he added.


Faster way to dispose of abandoned vehicles

                PETALING JAYA: Abandoned vehicles in Ampang Jaya, Selangor, will be legally disposed of in an effort to expedite the process of removing derelict vehicles from public areas.

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said the local council was implementing a pilot project to manage cases of abandoned vehicles, through a court process that would cut down the length of time needed to dispose of such vehicles.

“We are one of the local councils chosen by Local Government Development Ministry to implement this disposal process using the Guidelines for the Management of Abandoned Vehicles in areas managed by MPAJ.

“It will usually take more than a year to finalise the process to dispose of abandoned (which have not been claimed by owners) and condemned vehicles.

“The new process will see a shortened time of seven or eight months for each case,” he said during the council’s full board meeting at Menara MPAJ yesterday.

He said procedural improvements such as vehicle checks with the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ), as well as vehicle deregistration were included in the new system.

“The process of seizure and disposal of abandoned vehicles involves prosecution at the Ampang Magistrate’s Court and also through the application of a forfeiture order issued by the court,” said Mohd Fauzi.

“To date, 165 cases have been registered with the Ampang Magistrate’s Court with 81 vehicle revocation orders issued to be deregistered by JPJ,” he disclosed.

He urged vehicle owners not to leave their old or damaged vehicles by the roadside for a long period of time as they could be considered an obstruction.

Notices under Section 46 of Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 would be sent to the owner to remove their vehicle.

Mohd Fauzi stressed that the act of leaving an abandoned vehicle in a public space was an offence and those found guilty could be fined up to a maximum of RM500.


New Ford Mustang finds its first customer

                PETALING JAYA: It's no less a historic moment when the first customer of the new Ford Mustang 5.0 litre V8 received the keys and rolled out of the showroom in Malaysia.

 Syed (left) and the new Ford Mustang's first customer in Malaysia, Ganesan.

Sime Darby Auto Connexion managing director, Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, presented the all-new Ford Mustang to Ganesan A/L Selvaraj, who snapped up the all-American muscle car after its arrival in Malaysia.

Ganesan chose the 5.0-litre V8 variant because of its adrenaline-pumping power, iconic, sculpted design, and exhilarating performance and handling.

The Mustang was launched in Malaysia earlier this month with a choice of two engines: a 5.0-litre V8 producing 416PS of power and 530Nm of torque, and a state-of- the-art, turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost producing 317PS of power and 432Nm of torque.


Ford Ranger pick-up truck stolen from service centre

                KUALA LUMPUR: A black Ford Ranger four-wheel drive was reported stolen from a service centre in Sungai Penchala, off Jalan Damansara.

The vehicle belonged to a 60-year-old man, who had sent the vehicle in for servicing and to check the vehicle's doors, on Dec 22.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Amihizam Abdul Shukor said a police report on the theft was lodged at 11.59am on Wednesday.

"The vehicle was last seen at the service centre at about 7pm on Tuesday (Dec 28).

"Checks on CCTV revealed two suspects at the service centre in a BMW, using fake number plates. The four-wheel drive is worth about RM150,000," he said in a statement today.

He urged witnesses to come forward to assist in identifying the suspects.

"We are investigating under Section 379A of the Penal Code.

"He also urged those with information to contact the Brickfields police hotline at 03-2297 9222, the KL police hotline at 03-2115 9999 or any nearest police station.


Rapper Skepta makes music inside Rolls-Royce Phantom

                LONDON: There are a lot of quiet luxury cars available these days, but Rolls-Royce has always been seen as the benchmark of near-silent transportation and unadulterated comfort and luxury.

That status has only been further reinforced by the news that Mercury Music Prize and MOBO award-winning musician, Skepta, has written and recorded a new track in its entirety while inside a RM1.9mil Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Rolls Royce has always had an intrinsic link with the contemporary music scene since the beginning of rock 'n' roll. The luxury marque has always been seen as the ultimate symbol of an artist's success and remains so today.

Because of this, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced a collaboration with Joseph Junior Adenuga, who's better known by his stage name of Skepta. The British rapper wrote and recorded a new track, called Skepta RR, at the same time as he was being chauffeured through the mountains of Switzerland and along the banks of Lake Lucerne.

Not all composers want or need a space as quiet as the cabin of the Phantom to compose music, but vocals need silence so other sounds don't "bleed" into a microphone during the recording process.

It's not common for the interior of a luxury vehicle to be used as a vocal booth, but the results show this can be an effective, if somewhat unconventional and expensive, option for recording music.

Update:  Rolls-Royce had a blooper moment after it decided to remove the promotional film of Skepta writing and recording "Skepta RR" on its YouTube and Facebook channels when road safety campaigners pointed out that he wasn’t wearing a seat-belt during the journey. Under British and Swiss laws, all occupants must wear seat belts  However, the film and the music created is still hosted on other Youtube channels.


Female car repair shop owner blazes trail in UAE

                SHARJAH (UAE): Huda al-Matroushi is one of few Emirati women to venture into the car repair business, an industry that has long been dominated by men in the Arab world.

"I enjoy it a lot," says Matroushi, holding up her oil-stained work glove. "Because I'm on top of my job, and it's my business, I belong to it: I feel proud of myself."

Cars have been a hobby for Matroushi, 36, since childhood.

"I like cars and their models and their details. I like sports cars, I like luxurious cars, even normal non-luxurious cars, I love them all."

She turned that passion into a profession and now owns and manages a car repair shop in Sharjah, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.

Matroushi's family had doubts about her pursuing a job in car mechanics, but she asked her father to take a leap of faith with her.

"I said: 'Dad, please trust me and you will see what I will do.' He said: 'OK, OK!'. Most of my family are surprised... because this project, this business, it's not easy for ladies," she said.

Matroushi's male employee, Mohammed Halawani, said it was initially strange to see a woman in charge of the garage.

"But after I joined and we started working and she'd tell me: disassemble this, assemble that, [it was clear] that she has experience."

Matroushi hopes she can transform her single garage into a big repair centre, or open more garages across the UAE.

The UAE stipulates under new legislation that came into effect last month that UAE-based companies must have at least one woman on their board of directors.


Govt welcomes German carmakers for third national car project

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government is opening its door to German automakers to participate in the third national car project, says the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

Deputy Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming said there were a lot of German car companies which had been successful in assembling completely knocked-down (CKD) vehicles with a lot of local content.

“If the German (auto) companies are interested to explore opportunities in the third national car project, we are willing and open to their proposals,” he told reporters after the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Malaysia-Germany Strategic Collaboration and the soft launch of the East Coast Economic Region's (ECER) Asia Centre of Excellence for Smart Technologies (ACES) here today.

On whether any proposals have been received from these automakers, Ong said an announcement would be made in the future.

German ambassador to Malaysia Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff said German car brands were already a familiar sight to Malaysian consumers.

“Four German carmakers wish to expand their business and increase their production in Malaysia. They are very active here, looking not only at the Malaysian market but also at neighbouring countries,” he said.

However, Lambsdorff said to date, there were no official proposals or enquiries of interest from these carmakers to participate in the third national car project.

Meanwhile, East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John said the RM12 million ACES was scheduled to begin operations in early January next year.

“ACES is a joint-venture initiative between ECERDC and Germany's TUM International GmbH to provide Industry 4.0 certification, advisory, consulting and training services on smart technologies and practices in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

“It will also drive efforts to upskill the local talent pool to be ready for jobs of the future, particularly in Industry 4.0-related careers in digital and automation,” he said.

Ong said that the centre, serving as a neutral platform to connect various government agencies, industry players and institutes of higher learning, boded well for the national goal of enabling the needed ecosystem for industries to adopt Industry 4.0.

“At the same time, this initiative will equip the local talent pool in ECER with the resources to upgrade their skills and move up the value chain by learning from Germany's industry-leading expertise and experience,” he added.

ACES also exchanged MoUs with IJM Corporation Bhd , MCKIP Sdn Bhd, Kuantan Port Consortium, Universiti Malaysia Pahang and Siemens Malaysia to support Industry 4.0 initiatives and the upskilling of local graduates.


Daimler's Torc Robotics picks Amazon as cloud provider for self-driving trucks

                SEATTLE/STUTTGART: Daimler AG unit Torc Robotics said today it has selected Amazon’s cloud computing division to handle huge amounts of data in real time as it prepares to test self-driving test trucks in New Mexico and Virginia.

Acquired by Daimler in 2019, Torc is developing level 4 autonomous technology - where the vehicle operates itself under specific operating conditions - which Daimler Trucks believes will fundamentally change the trucking and logistics business.

“The problem we’re trying to solve is the most difficult technical problem of our generation,” said Torc chief executive Michael Fleming. “In order to solve that, you must partner with the best in class.”

Torc’s software collects and processes massive volumes of raw data from multiple sensors such as lidar, radar and cameras on its self-driving trucks. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide engineers with tools to design tests and run simulations, the two companies said.

The tests on Torc’s second generation of trucks will begin this quarter.

Self-driving technology for freight trucks has attracted investor attention as it should be easier and cheaper to roll out than in self-driving cars and robotaxis, while providing a clearer path to profitability.

Self-driving freight services run on fixed routes between predefined points - mostly on major highways without intersections or pedestrians. That requires far less mapping than shuttling customers between random points in robotaxis.

Wendy Bauer, global head of automotive at AWS, said 90% of the cloud computing division’s innovations come from working with customers so “by partnering with Torc that will push us to further advance our service offering.”

Amazon has invested in self-driving software startup Aurora and seeks a major role in self-driving technology, connected cars, electric vehicles and management of the data generated by automakers and drivers.

In December, AWS and BlackBerry said they have developed a cloud-based software platform to help automakers standardiSe vehicle data and swiftly deploy revenue-generating services.

And BMW has built a data hub with AWS to boost efficiency.


Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 turns up the heat

                LONDON: The car that popularised the "hot hatch" phenomenon is 40 years old in 2016 and, to mark the occasion, Volkswagen has created the most potent iteration of the GTI to date.

The specially commissioned Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 celebrates four decades of a true automotive icon.

Powering this addition to the GTI range is a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection engine that delivers 265PS, making it the most powerful Golf GTI yet.

Accelerate hard in third gear or higher and, for up to 10 seconds, an additional ‘overboost’ function increases the engine power to 290PS.

The engine – which delivers its 265 PS between 5,350 and 6,600 rpm – is technically based on the 1,984 cc TSI engine that appears in the award-winning Golf R.

This is a third generation EA 888 unit and maximum torque, under boost, is 350Nm.

In the new Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 this power is channelled entirely to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG.

The DSG version of the car has launch control as standard.

Just as with a track racer the Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 – which boasts an unladen weight of as little as 1,375kg, accelerates in a controlled manner from standstill using its maximum overboost power of up to 290PS.

The 0-100kph time is a brisk 6.3 seconds.

The new Clubsport Edition 40 has a sport chassis with 15mm lower ride height.

Equipped with a front differential lock as well as the XDS+ vehicle dynamics function and progressive steering – which means significantly smaller steering inputs are required – the latest Golf GTI is all the more agile.

Power is transferred to the road via 18-inch alloy wheels that are offered as standard with 225/40 tyres.

Optionally, the GTI Clubsport Edition 40 may be ordered with 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/35 tyres.


Big discounts offered on cars

                PETALING JAYA: Tis’ the season to be merry, and it’s all there to see at the various car showrooms around the country.

With extra special year-end deals being dangled by car companies, buyers are rushing to get the business done by Dec 31.

To be entitled to the huge December discounts and rebates, most car companies require the new vehicles to be registered by next Sunday to help meet sales targets set for 2017.

With the Christmas holiday tomorrow, there is expected to be a mad dash at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) offices next week.

Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd group chief operating officer Datuk Samson Anand George said special deals were being offered for Peugeot, Citroen and Kia models.

“The long school holidays in December is a boon as customers have the time to make their surveys at the various showrooms,” he said.

He said Naza projected a 25% increase in sales for Kia models in December compared with the previous month, adding that year-end promotions were also expected to help push sales for Peugeot and Citroen models.

For its 17th anniversary, Honda Malaysia is offering reward packages worth between RM4,000 and RM15,000 for selected car models.

Honda salesman Nicholas Foong said things were getting hectic with the year drawing to a close.

“The Honda CRV, Civic, Jazz and City continue to be our top models. Interest in these cars are maintained throughout the year,” said Foong, who works with Honda dealer Tenaga Setia Resources in Section 51 here.

Perodua has exclusive offers for the Axia, Bezza and Alza models with rebates of up to RM2,000.

Perodua Sales managing director Datuk Dr Zahari Husin said the demand for the all-new Perodua Myvi has reached a new milestone with over 20,000 units booked within a month from its launch.

“The focus now is to ensure delivery of the cars within an acceptable time-frame,” he added.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) is giving rebates of up to RM8,000 for selected Nissan models this month.

A company official said customers could also enjoy a RM1 promotion for the premium accessory package, if they opted for a rebate of up to RM6,500.

She said ETCM had partnered with The Walt Disney Company Malaysia to offer buyers the chance to win a Star Wars: The Last Jedi-themed holiday trip to Croatia.

Proton’s December promotion offers savings of up to RM8,000 on selected models while Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia’s “Volkswagen Sedanza” is offering low interest rates and rebates of RM10,000 and RM15,000 on certain sedan models.

Buyers can also save up to RM7,000 for selected models with Toyota Malaysia’s “RM1,000,000 Bonanza” promotion.

READ MORE:
Car buyers have many special year-end deals to choose from

Mazda Malaysia’s nationwide “Mazda Festive Carnival” in December features exclusive deals and instant gifts.

Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad said things were looking up for the car industry with rising sales.

She said the sales volume in November increased by 4.6% from the previous month, with the total industry volume (TIV) till November this year being 1.3% higher compared with the same period last year.

The TIV up to November stands at 521,907 units, against 515,252 units sold in the corresponding period last year.

MAA had forecast in January that the year-on-year TIV in 2017 would grow by 1.7% to 590,000 units. - CLARISSA CHUNG


It's May 2016 and Malaysian car market hit by slowdown

                PETALING JAYA: A suprising development has hit the local market. Sales by Malaysia’s most affordable car maker, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), have contracted by double digits.

Typically though tough economic conditions tend to be a boon for companies like Perodua as consumers would steer their spending to cheaper vehicles. During the financial crisis of 2007/2008, Perodua achieved one of its best sales with the company recording the most bookings in its 15-year history in July 2008.

“We were in Nirvana then,” says its managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh. But it is a different story now. The leading automotive company with a 35% market share is experiencing a slowdown in sales with an almost 17% year-on-year drop as at April 2016.

Perodua expects to chalk up weaker sales of just above 200,000 units this year against 216,000 units last year. Following suit, another local automotive company, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton) is also experiencing slumping sales. Other popular foreign brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda have also been impacted.

Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) forecasts Malaysia’s total industry volume (TIV) to drop by 2.5% to 650,000 units in 2016 against last year. This will be a shock to the automotive industry that grew for six consecutive years from 2010, and peaked at a new all-time TIV high of 666,674 units last year, albeit at a marginal increase of 0.03% against 2014’s TIV.

MIDF Research has also trimmed its 2016 TIV by 6% to 626,633 units while 2017 TIV is reduced by 3% to 632,899 units from 653,098 units previously. The changing consumer behaviour might be influenced by the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in April last year. Since then, people have been holding back purchases.

According to research company Nielsen, Malaysian consumers’ saving intentions are one of the highest globally. About one third of Malaysians are focused on building their financial nest by channelling extra cash towards investing in shares or in mutual funds while two in five respondents use any extra monies to clear debts, credit cards or loans, Nielsen says.

Saving intentions among South-East Asian consumers continue to be a priority. The region’s consumers are the world’s most avid savers with all six countries securing the top 10 spots globally when it comes to saving. On average, only half of global consumers prioritise saving any spare cash.

“With no real changes in the economic outlook, Malaysians’ confidence remains low and we see that this trend will continue to be the case until the pressure on ringgit eases. Only when the pressure on ringgit improves can consumers start to feel the burden of their day-to-day spending lessen,” says Richard Hall, country manager of Nielsen Malaysia.

The survey by Nielsen also reveals that consumers in Malaysia would continue to reduce household spending even when economic conditions improve with nearly nine in 10 Malaysian consumers changing their spending habits in the past year to improve savings.

The top three areas where consumers in Malaysia will continue to cut back even when economic conditions do improve are spending less on new clothes, reducing out-of-home entertainment and switching to cheaper grocery brands.

Other than economic factors, the emergence of on-demand or ride-sharing transport services such as Uber and improvements in public transport also have their fair share of influence in the slowdown of private vehicle sales.

Uber Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a fully-owned subsidiary of Uber Technologies Inc, was launched in Malaysia in January 2014 with the premium offering Uber Black and low-cost option Uber X introduced in August 2014. It now has over 20,000 active driver partners and 200,000 unique riders, the majority of whom are in the Klang Valley.

Another mobile based ride-sharing service Grab has introduced a carpooling app which offers cheaper rides while helping to ease traffic congestion. Besides reducing fares by between 50% and 85%, the carpooling service would help ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution in the long run.

According to a study by Nielsen, Malaysia has the third highest car ownership globally, where 93% of households own at least a car and 54% have more than one car.

The app will allow registered GrabHitch drivers to key in their routes to match with potential passengers for a deal to be struck based on mutual consent. The Grab app has been downloaded on more than 15 million smartphones with 270,000 vehicles registered under the Grab network in six countries in the Asean region.

On top of that, Malaysia or specifically Kuala Lumpur public transport services have also been improving with the new light rail transit (LRT) extensions and two new lines of mass rapid transit (MRT) systems.

The operator of urban train system, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, is expecting to serve 1.5 million commuters each day by the middle of next year.

The increase from the current one million commuters a day would come from the full completion of the LRT extension programme that connects the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines by next month as well as the opening of the first phase of the Klang Valley MRT from Sungai Buloh to Semantan (12 stations) this December.


Honda Civic bags CarSifu's  'Car of the Year' title - VIDEO

Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah with the Civic TC-P sedan that clinched the 'Car of the Year' title.
PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia’s Civic TC-P sedan has clinched the “Car of the Year” title of the inaugural CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards.

The sporty 1.5-litre turbocharged sedan had also won the Best Mid-Size Car category, one of the 22 categories being contested by a field of 48 cars. The Civic TC-P won because of its advanced styling, features package, sharp handling, comfortable ride and accessible pricing of RM135,800 on-the-road.

Among winners in other categories were the Proton Persona, BMW 330e, Mazda CX-3, Mercedes-Benz GLE 400, Nissan X-Trail Impul, Renault Captur and Volvo XC90 (see table below).

The awards, organised by Star Media Group, recognises the automotive industry as one of the key pillars of the economy and the brands which have become its driving force.

Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Roslan Abdullah received the trophy from Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong at a gala dinner here this evening.

READ MORE:
CarSifu Editors' Choice Awards 2016 in pictures
Who the finalists were Winners in the different categories come together for a group photo.

In his speech, Lee noted that the government had, via the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014, further facilitated more competition and growth in the automotive industry.

"There are also customised incentives for the local assembly of hybrid and electric vehicles," he said.

Also present at the event were heads and representatives of car companies, Star Media Group chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, chief operating officer Calvin Kan and chief revenue officer Lim Bee Leng.

 Three cars on display in the hotel ballroom where the gala dinner was held. They are (from left) the Perodua Bezza, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and of course the turbocharged Honda Civic.

Kan said the awards aims to recognise one of the key pillars of the economy, and the brands that form the driving force behind an exciting local automotive industry.

“It’s an uncertain period but also one of the most exhilarating. Today, we witness the engineering of car-to-car communication, autonomous driving, as well as hybrid, electric and hydrogen propulsions that are reshaping the world of mobility, and the way we move about and interact with automobiles,” he said.

"Through its motoring arm Carsifu, Star Media Group applauds the creativity and ingenuity in the automotive industry."

Some of these winning cars, along with several latest models in the local market, will be presented at the Carsifu Auto Show 2016, to be held the new wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre from Oct 26 until 30.

Visitors can enjoy test-drives on a route around Bandar Utama, and expect attractive sales promotions.


BMW not interested in settling EU cartel probes, says mag

                BERLIN: Germany’s BMW has no interest in settling an investigations by the European Union antitrust authorities against the company and other German carmakers, German magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported on Friday, citing company sources.

In April, EU cartel regulators charged BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen for colluding to block the rollout of cleaner emissions technology between 2006 to 2014.

The European Commission said the collusion took place during technical meetings held by the “circle of five”, namely BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen Group’s VW, Audi and Porsche.

BMW had said it would contest the allegations “with all legal means if necessary”, adding that it was probable the commission would issue a “significant fine” and it would set aside a provision of likely more than €1 billion (RM4.6bil).

BMW was not immediately available for comment on the WirtschaftsWoche report.


Is this the world's first truly all-terrain vehicle?

                LOS ANGELES: Google co-founder Larry Page is putting hundreds of millions of dollars into developing a feasible flying car but it looks as if SkyRunner, a small company based here, has already beaten him to it.

The SkyRunner MK 3.2 all-terrain vehicle has just been awarded S-LSA classification by the US Federal Aviation Administration. This means that it is officially recognised as a light aircraft. "This is one of the most significant milestones in our company's history," said Stewart Hamel, SkyRunner's CEO and Founder.

Developed and honed through input from a host of very different sources - from the US military and extreme sports fans to light aircraft enthusiasts, off-roaders and social media - the SkyRunner at first glance, looks like an off-road go-kart or UTV with room for a passenger behind the driver.

Built with an exposed tubular steel exoskeleton and with carbon fibre and aircraft grade aluminium panels, the only clue to its true capabilities is the large rear-mounted propeller.

When the going gets too tough, it can deploy a parachute wing and take off to a height of 10,000 feet and maintain a speed of about 72kph. Once in the air, toggle left or right to steer and drop or raise the accelerator pedal to ascend or descend.

Though only this week attaining full certification, the SkyRunner has been in development and testing for several years, winning a host of fans in the process. For example, Dan Johnson, President of the Light Aircraft Manufacturing Association, called the vehicle: "A full-on macho pulse-pounder that catches the interest of people."

And now that it is fully certified, full-on production can begin and a backlog of existing orders can be cleared. "This airworthiness certification is monumental, as it now triggers serial production, creates jobs, and makes for happy customers," said Daryl Ballard, SkyRunner Shop Foreman.

A stock SkyRunner retails for US$119,000 but there are also a host of optional extras, from carbon fibre racing seats (US$1,899) to a set of augmented reality driving and flight goggles that offer a head-up display and facial protection (US$750).

And for those that live in areas that suffer extremes of weather, from torrential rain to heavy snow, the car can also be specified with pro caterpillar tracks for an extra US$5,200.


Six safety innovations in cars that help prevent accidents

                BERLIN: More than two-thirds of vehicles are now fitted with driver protection features like airbags, anti-locking brakes and electronic stability control.

Automakers are now moving on to reducing hazards such as cyclists being run over in traffic, children dying from heatstroke in locked cars or multiple pile-ups on fast roads.

New self-activating safety options are appearing all the time in new cars. Here are a few of the most significant developments.

Doors with eyes

The “dooring” of cyclists – the name given to an incident when a someone opens a car door in the path of a passing cyclist is an all-too-common situation with a high risk for all those involved. Carmaker Hyundai says it has come up with an answer to the problem.

The company's exit warning system uses radar sensors to scan the area behind a parked vehicle and will lock the doors if it spots a cyclist.

The decision is taken out of the driver’s hands and it works for all occupants for up to three minutes after the engine has been switched off. The system has been fitted to the rear doors of Hyundai's new Santa Fe SUV, says press spokesman Bernhard Voss.

Prepare for impending impact

Audi’s flagship A8 limousine uses electric motors to activate the suspension for enhanced passive safety. The system can jack up a side of the car to better protect its occupants the moment before a crash.

The body is raised on the exposed side so that the collision is directed to the stronger areas of the heavyweight car, such as the sills and floor structure. Audi says the potentially damaging load on occupants is cut by 50%.

Stop child deaths

Children and dogs left in closed cars can suffocate and die, especially if it hot outside. Hyundai's Sante Fe has a solution for this too Called Rear Occupant Alert. It helps make sure nobody is left behind when the car is parked, namely infants, young children or family pets.

An ultrasonic sensor is activated when the car is parked and locked, and if movement is detected inside, the horn will sound and lights will flash. The system also sends an alert to the owner's smartphone. A number of other automakers offer similar passive reminders for drivers.

Forward-collision warning

This is a feature more commonly seen in mainstream cars but the latest versions are more sophisticated. Front sensors detect what cars in front are doing and send a warning to the driver if a collision seems imminent.

The best set-ups apply the brakes automatically if an object is approaching too quickly or in an accident situation. Others sense that a driver is not responding to the warning and apply light brake force to slow the vehicle.

This can be a lifesaver on motorways when tail-ups build up quickly, leaving little time for drivers to react at high speed when encountering a column of stationary traffic.

Avoid car park scrapes

BMW believes parking should be as enjoyable as driving. It has equipped the new luxury 8 Series coupe with an assistant which takes the stress out of negotiating a crowded multi-storey car park. The company’s remote control parking assistant lets the car do the parking.

The system is so clever that it records up to 50 metres of the car's previous movements in a car park as long as the vehicle is travelling at under 36 km/h, said press spokesman Martin Schleypen.

When it is time to leave the parking space, the car retraces its route automatically, with no need for the driver to accelerate, steer or apply the brakes.

The car as parking attendant

The revised C-Class from Mercedes-Benz is the first from the range to get the tweaked Me-App which sends the vehicle information to smartphones and smart watches.

The app enables owners to locate the vehicle, plan a journey and also find out if someone has dented the car when it is parked – thanks to on-board surveillance cameras

The owner gets an prompt alert to say that someone has damaged the car although there is not a lot he or she can do about it. The next stage is more interesting but it has legal repercussions.

Courts might accept evidence from on-board cameras to unmask the crash perpetrator and possibly lead to a prosecution.


Toll-free or discounted travel on all highways this Hari Raya

                PETALING JAYA: There will be toll-free travel or discounts of up to 50% on local highways for all vehicles when the Malaysian Family returns home for Hari Raya on April 30 and May 1, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

In a statement today, the Prime Minister said the free toll provision involves the North-South Expressway under PLUS Malaysia and the East Coast Expressway (LPT) under Anih Bhd.
 Toll-free travel on the North-South Highway and LPT will also be given on May 7 and 8.
A discount of between 30% and 50% will also be given for other highways on the same date and time for all vehicle classes.
 A toll discount of 50% off will be given for those using the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), Cheras-Kajang Highway (GrandSaga), Sungai Besi Highway (Besraya), New Coastal Expressway (NPE), Ampang-KL Elevated Highway (Akleh), KL-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX) and Duta-Ulu Kelang Highway (DUKE).
Meanwhile, a 30% discount will be given for the Flood Water and Tunnel Management Project (SMART), Guthrie Corridor Expressway, KL-Kuala Selangor Highway (Latar), Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB), Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA), Kajang Ring Road (SILK), Sultan Abdul Halim Muad’zam Shah Bridge (JPP2), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), KL-West Traffic Dispersal Scheme Highway (SPRINT), Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas), New North Klang Straits Bypass (Grand Sepadu), Senai-Desaru Expressway (SDE) and West Coast Expressway (WCE).


BMW and Baidu joint project on self-driving cars fails

                GUANGZHOU: BMW and Chinese Internet giant Baidu will end their joint research on self-driving cars, executives for the two firms said on Friday, with Baidu now searching for new global research partners.

Wang Jing, the head of autonomous car development at Baidu, said the company was now using cars from Ford's Lincoln in its US testing, declining to elaborate.

"I'm open for any partners, actually I'm talking to many,” Wang said, speaking on the sidelines of China's third World Internet Conference in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen.

Tech and automotive leaders contend that cars of the future will be capable of completely driving themselves, revolutionising the transportation industry, with virtually all carmakers as well as companies such as Alphabet's Google and parts supplier Delphi investing heavily in developing the technology.

The two companies decided to end the cooperation, which involved testing in the United States and China, because they held different opinions on how to proceed with research, BMW's China CEO Olaf Kastner said at the Guangzhou auto show, which began on Friday.

"We now have found that the development pace and the ideas of the two companies are a little different," Kastner said, without specifying the exact point of disagreement.

At the conference in Wuzhen, Baidu offered test drives of various autonomous driving prototypes developed separately with Chinese automakers Chery, BYD Co Ltd and BAIC Motor.

The test cars drove a closed road, automatically avoiding a bicycle and overtaking cars moving at various speeds.

BMW's Kastner said the two made decisions to part ways after jointly developing the automatic overtaking capability, seeing it as a key milestone for the technology.

The German automaker plans to expand its research and development team for autonomous drive in China, Kastner said.

The two companies will continue to be partners on high-definition maps, which are a vital to the navigation of autonomous cars, he added.

Baidu aims to commercialise autonomous cars on a small scale by 2018, with wider deployment by 2021. BMW has similarly targeted highly or fully autonomous cars by 2021.

Last month, China issued its roadmap for the development of self-driving cars that can drive in most situations between 2021 and 2025, with nearly every car having some self-driving capability by 2030.

That roadmap did not back a single technology for self-driving cars to communicate with each other, leaving the possibility it could back a different standard from Europe or the United States.


Daimler and Volvo in talks to jointly build engines, says report

                BERLIN: Daimler and Volvo Cars, owned by China’s Geely, are considering cooperating to cut the costs of developing combustion engines, a magazine reported on Sunday, citing unnamed company sources.

The Automobilwoche weekly cited a Volvo manager as saying there were initial talks with Daimler, but no concrete plans, while a company spokesman said it was too early to talk about firm projects, although it was not excluding anybody.

A Daimler spokesman said the company’s cooperation with Geely, which owns a 10% stake in the German carmaker, was developing in a positive way, but declined to comment further.

Global tariffs, accelerated by a trade war between China and the United States, as well as higher investment requirements for electric and autonomous vehicles, are forcing carmakers to seek new ways to cut and share costs.

In October, Volvo said it would merge its engine development and manufacturing assets with those of Geely, creating a division to supply in-house brands and also potentially others with next-generation combustion and hybrid engines.

The Automobilwoche said this new division would start operating by the end of March, which could be a possible starting point for cooperation with Daimler, while a further step could be a partnership to develop electric power trains.
Geely and Daimler have said they plan to build the next generation of Smart electric cars in China through a joint venture and the two companies are also cooperating on a premium ride-hailing service in China.

Geely bought Volvo Cars in 2010 from Ford Motor Co, allowing the Swedish brand to operate on an arms-length basis. But in recent years, it has deepened cooperation between the two brands.

Volvo already supplies engines to some Geely-branded vehicles, sharing technology through Geely’s Lynk brand. Both companies share and develop common vehicle platforms.


New and meaner Ford Police Interceptor

                DETROIT: Already accounting for nearly two-thirds of police vehicle sales in the United States, Ford believes it has found the key to continue winning over the hearts of the law enforcement community – even better-performing vehicles that keep officers safer and save departments, and taxpayers, money.

Led by a new hybrid variant of its popular Police Interceptor Utility, Ford’s new lineup of pursuit-rated vehicles aims to build upon its 65% of US police vehicle sales in 2017.

When the all-new Police Interceptor Utility takes to the streets this year, that lineup will include Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, F-150 Police Responder, Expedition SSV, F-150 SSV, Transit PTV and SSV Plug-In Hybrid Sedan.

The Police Interceptor Hybrid’s powertrain allows the engine to shut off for extended periods, powering the electrical equipment via its lithium-ion hybrid battery, helping achieve significant reductions in fuel usage and CO2 emissions.

The all-new 2020 Police Interceptor Utility hybrid has a projected EPA-estimated rating of 9.8l /100km combined, a 41% improvement over the current Police Interceptor Utility equipped with a 3.7-litre petrol engine. Projections indicate the first pursuit-rated hybrid police utility will save between US$3,500 and US$5,700 per vehicle annually in fuel costs versus the current Police Interceptor Utility. If those savings were applied to every Police Interceptor Utility sold in 2017, it would equate to between US$118 million and US$193 million, or more than 162 million litres of fuel.

In recent testing by Michigan State Police, the all-new Police Interceptor Utility hybrid had the fastest 0-100kph acceleration, fastest lap, fastest average lap and highest top speed of 220kph, versus competitive police utility vehicles tested, including V8-powered entries. The only faster entry was its cousin – Ford Police Interceptor Utility powered by a 3.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

And at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department testing, the new Police Interceptor Utility hybrid bested the outgoing 3.7-litre model in 0-100kph by 1.1 seconds and 0-160kph by 4.7 seconds. It also turned a fastest lap time that was 2.4 seconds better than the 3.7-litre and fastest average lap time that was 1.7 seconds better

The Police Interceptor Utility platform was engineered around its lithium-ion battery, which does not intrude into the cargo area, meaning there are no tradeoffs in passenger volume, cargo volume behind the first row, cargo volume behind the second row or total interior volume – in fact, most of these measurements improve over the current vehicle.

Tech to keep officers safer

The all-new Police Interceptor Utility introduces a number of advanced innovations designed for officer safety.

Factory-installed Police Perimeter Alert uses sensors to monitor a 270-degree area around the vehicle. It analyses nearby movement to detect potentially threatening behaviour. When such motion is detected, the system automatically turns on the rear camera, sounds a chime, rolls up the windows and locks the doors. Motion trails of the detected threat appear on the digital instrument cluster so officers can monitor.

Ford also equips its new Police Interceptor Utility and Police Responder Hybrid Sedan with a Ford modem and two years of complimentary Ford Telematics service that enables timely feedback of vehicle usage and location to agency fleet managers.

“Officers take care of people in our communities, so we feel it’s important that our vehicles help take care of our officers,” Tyler said.

Available driver-assist technology includes Pre-Collision Assist with automatic emergency braking, which features Pedestrian Detection and forward collision warning. A unique disable switch for law enforcement allows officers to temporarily override the system to perform precision immobilization technique maneuvers when necessary.

Additional optional equipment includes Rear Camera On-Demand, which allows officers to view behind the vehicle at the touch of a button, and a host of factory-installed and factory-sealed wiring and lighting packages that offer agencies turnkey solutions.

Purpose-built features include heavy-duty cloth front seats with reduced bolsters for comfort and easy entry and exit for officers. Vinyl rear seats and vinyl flooring enable easy cleanup. Anti-stab plates in the rear of the front seat backs help protect officers from potential threats.

Three powertrain options for the all-new Police Interceptor Utility include a standard 3.3-litre hybrid, plus available 3.0-litre EcoBoost and 3.3-litre V6 engines. All are powered by a new 10-speed automatic transmission and feature standard full-time Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and deep snow/sand traction control mode.

Ford Police Interceptors remain the only vehicles in the world engineered to meet Ford’s stringent 120kph rear-impact crash standard. The federal standard for such testing is 80kph. Additionally, safety cell construction directs collision force around the occupant compartment, and features advanced ultra-high-strength boron steel, crumple zones that absorb and dissipate crash energy, and SPACE architecture that provides structural reinforcement and side-impact protection.

Police Interceptor Utility is tested for enhanced police durability, including improved cooling, specially tuned braking system, front-door tethers, and police-purposed steel wheels, tyres and hubcaps that are designed to withstand the rigours of a chase. The vehicle is also tested for eight-inch curb impact, median crossing and 30-mph railroad crossing validation, and water fording to 18 inches at 15 mph and 10 inches at 40 mph.

“Everything about it was designed for keeping police officers safe, comfortable and ready for action," said Bill Gubing, chief engineer for Police Interceptor Utility and Ford Explorer.

Other standard equipment includes Bluetooth pass-through commands to mobile devices, to help officers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, low- and high-beam LED headlamps, four user-configurable steering wheel switches, a Class III trailer tow receiver with 2,267kg capacity and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.


A future without parking: The benefits of autonomous cars for cities

Roorda (right) with Bahrami (left) and Mehdi Nourinejad. The trio designed an algorithm to optimise the design of parking lots for autonomous vehicles, increasing their capacity by an average of 62 per cent. — Image by Roberta Baker
TORONTO: Researchers at the University of Toronto here have published a new study in which they look at ways that an increased use of self-driving cars could bring huge benefits to the overall design and infrastructure of parking lots.

The researchers used a computer simulation to determine the perfect size of a parking lot that was entirely designed around accommodating self-driving cars - or autonomous vehicles (AVs).

"In a parking lot full of AVs, you don't need to open the doors, so they can park with very little space in between," says Professor Matthew Roorda, senior author of the study. "You also don't need to leave space for each car to drive out, because you can signal the surrounding AVs to move out of the way."

The report shows that a parking lot for AVs could hold up to 62 per cent more vehicles than current lots. Another advantage is that the size of the lots can change to adapt to needs, as you don't need to paint more spaces and can "just signal the cars to rearrange themselves," says co-author Sina Bahrami.

"Right now, our downtown cores have giant municipal parking lots next to major attractions," Roorda says. "AVs could allow us to both shrink and relocate these parking lots, opening up valuable space in cities."

However, the concept is not yet fully-fledged. Whilst having a massive grid-system parking lot has advantages - such as saving space overall - having these huge lots further out from city centres and main attractions has its downsides. For instance, this would mean longer wait times for cars, and as everybody orders their own car, this would create more traffic on the streets, especially during high-peak times in certain areas.

Another problem the report acknowledges is that this idea is based on a world where non-AVs have become virtually obsolete, and not on a reality in which a mix of the two are on the streets - which would call for the need of mixed parking lots.

So before the study's ideas can really be implemented, a full-scale transition of our driving habits and infrastructure needs to get under way. And while this is sure to happen sooner rather than later, a lot still needs to change.

"We're talking about large numbers of vehicles that can fully drive themselves, with no requirement for a driver to take over if something goes wrong," says Roorda. "There's a lot that has to happen before we get to that stage."


Auto sector sales to taper post-SST exemption

                KUALA LUMPUR: Coming out of a fourth quarter that yielded sequential improvements to bottomlines, the auto sector is planning ahead for the scheduled end of the government's exemption on the sales and service tax (SST) in June 2022.

According to RHB Research, there is a pick up in bookings as the expiration date of the SST exemption looms but it is expected to slow in subsequent quarters.

"We gather that Perodua and Toyota have order backlogs of 3-4 months, while the general view for the other marques is that bookings are improving as we approach the end of the SST holiday," it said.

RHB maintained its 2022 forecast total industry volume at 540,000 units, and expects sales to taper off for a few quarters post SST re-imposition before resuming growth

Moving forward, RHB also expects marques to adopt a strategy of absorbing car price differences post-SST exemption, although this is likely to hurt margins.

It said this was owing to the price sensitivity on large-ticket items and production is unlikely to keep up with demand as consumers take advantage of the SST exemption.

"That said, industry players are likely to lobby for another round of extensions.

"It is possible for the SST reimplementation to be performed on a staggered basis, which should minimise price shocks and reduce the burden on margins," it added.

RHB maintained its "neutral" call on the auto and autoparts sector with key risks including shortages of key components and delays in new model launches, Covid-19 disruptions, the tightening of bank approvals for car loans as well as a sharp weakening of the ringgit.


5 facts on the new Toyota Prius

                PETALING JAYA: Why would a person want to get the latest Prius hybrid?

While Malaysians can only hope at this point, the world’s best known petrol/electric hybrid from Toyota is all-around better and comes closer than ever in fulfilling its mission statement.

Here's 5 solid reasons why the new Prius is better than the old one.

1. Bolder styling
With its radically designed head/tail lights and a wedge chiselled by a wind tunnel, the new Prius is possibly be one of Toyota’s best looking production family car to-date.

2. Fun-to-drive
With a lower centre of gravity, a more responsive powertrain, sharper steering and a rear double wishbone suspension (above), the Prius doesn’t drive like the hybrid of the past.

3. Better fuel efficiency
An re-engineered 1.8-litre VVT-i equipped Atkinson cycle petrol engine with reworked electrical drive components help contribute to a low fuel consumption of 40km per litre from the previous generation’s 32.6 litre per litre.

4. Larger boot space
Clever thinking in moving the hybrid battery to below the rear passenger seats frees up the new Prius’ boot space by 56 litres to a total of 502 litres.

5. Silent operator
More generous use of floor silencer, and noise absorption and insulation material keep the cabin of the Prius quiet.

READ ALSO: First drive of new Prius


Automobili Pininfarina shows off 1,900hp Battista

                LONDON: Automobili Pininfarina has put on display its 1,900hp zero-emissions Battista hypercar as part of the British Library's 'A Mind in Motion' exhibition.

The exhibition marks the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death and celebrates it by revealing the inner workings of his complex mind and his fascination with motion – which he considered to be “the cause of all life”.

The Battista with its unique exterior finish will be featured in a bespoke enclosure in the British Library’s main courtyard from June 7 to 9.

The Italian-designed hypercar is set to redefine automotive motion, becoming the most powerful car ever produced in Italy, at the home of Pininfarina in Cambiano, near Turin.

From late 2020 the famous Italian Carrozzeria will hand-build no more than 150 examples of the Battista that has been designed by Automobili Pininfarina’s Luca Borgogno.

Leonardo’s Codex reveals the concepts and innovations in design that formed the inspiration behind his ideas and the engineering solutions to much of his design work.

Core to his inventions were the seamless integration of form and function, and the blurring of lines between art, design and engineering: principles for which Pininfarina S.p.A. has become renowned in its almost 90-year history.

Pininfarina S.p.A. has been commissioned by the world’s newest luxury car brand, Automobili Pininfarina, to design and hand-build the Battista to a challenging design brief from design director Luca Borgogno.

His challenge is for the Battista to be aesthetically beautiful, unprecedented in its performance and pure in its output, with classic supercar proportions, acceleration faster than a Formula 1 car, and a 300-mile (486km) electric range on a single charge.

“We are proud to be a part of ‘A Mind in Motion’ exhibition because we are proud of what Italian design has brought to the world. Leonardo was a true Italian genius, the first person to combine the disciplines of art, design and engineering – and from Leonardo in the 16th Century to Pininfarina in 2019, these principles remain strong.

“Italy is defined by design classics, whether that is Leonardo’s work, Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Pininfarina’s Cisitalia 202 or Mattè-Trucco’s car factory in Lingotto. The common theme between them is that they presented modern, elegant, innovative functions and design in perfect harmony for the first time. The Battista design brief is a breath-taking expression of this tradition,” said Borgogno.

It is anticipated that only 50 of the 150 Battistas will be available for the European market and the electric luxury hypercar is now available for order from H.R. Owen and Rybrook - two of the UK’s leading luxury car retailers.

Potential customers are invited to apply to own a Battista via an online service within the company’s website: Apply Now.


Mazda to halt Indonesian ops as distributorship changes hands

                JAKARTA: PT Mazda Motor Indonesia will halt operations in the country next month as the automobile market was developing rapidly and Mazda had to undertake a drastic management change to cater to the demand.

President director Keizo Okue said Mazda Motor Indonesia had signed an agreement to hand over the distribution rights for Mazda cars in Indonesia to the Singapore-based Eurokars Group.

With the closure, all 45 dealers and MMI employees would come under the ownership of PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia in February 2017.

"Eurokars will also be responsible for the warranty and customer service of all Mazda cars sold, prior to the take-over," he said in the statement.


2017 Frankfurt Motor Show: Six must-see supercars

                FRANKFURT: Visitors to the Sept 16-24 Frankfurt Motor Show can enjoy more than 200 premieres.

This year's line-up includes a host of must-see supercars - exceptional vehicles that never fail to draw a crowd with their breathtaking performances and cutting-edge technologies.

Mercedes-AMG Project One
This exceptional vehicle is basically billed as an F1 car that's road-legal. It was, in fact, driven directly onto the Mercedes stand by triple F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Made from ultra-lightweight and high-resistance materials, this performance-packed beast is a hybrid street car with a centrally mounted 1.6-litre V6 engine and four electric motors, promising 1,000hp, a top speed of 350kph, and 0-200kph acceleration in under six seconds. This race car for the road is expected to go on sale in limited numbers from 2018, priced at more than €2.3 million (RM11.5mil).

Bugatti Chiron
Bugatti's new production vehicle, on show in Frankfurt, grabbed attention ahead of the event by breaking a new speed record. With Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya at the wheel, the Bugatti Chiron delivered a breathtaking performance, accelerating from 0-400kph then braking to a complete standstill in just 41.96 seconds - a new world record for a production vehicle.

The car is named after the legendary Monegasque race driver, Louis Chiron, who helped build Bugatti's success on the racetracks in the 1920s and 1930s. This supercar is expected to sell for over €2.5 million (RM12.5mil).

Ferrari Portofino
With its sleek and aggressive lines, this new cabriolet is set to replace the California from the end of 2017. With its 600-horsepower V6 turbo engine, the new Ferrari Portofino can reach a top speed of 320kph and promises 0-100kph acceleration in 3.5 seconds. This earns the Portofino its billing as the world's most powerful car in its category. Price is yet to be announced.

Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster
A far cry from the hybrid aspirations of its competitors, Lamborghini is sticking to old-school power with its new roadster, which gets a 740-horsepower, 6.5-liter V12 engine. Performance is evidently on the cards, with a top speed of 350km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration in just three seconds. Drivers can select the driving mode of their choice from four options, whether cruising leisurely on the road or driving aggressively on the track. This Aventador S Roadster is expected to be on sale from Q1 2018.

Bentley Continental GT
The new Bentley Continental GT marks a break with the current version both in terms of interior features and power. Onboard technology has notably been modernised, with the arrival of a connected "virtual cockpit," and the car's engine power has been boosted. Its spectacular 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbo engine gains 45 horsepower, making a total 635hp.

That has an obvious effect on performance, with a top speed of 333kph and 0-100kph acceleration in just 3.7 seconds. Price and availability are yet to be announced.

Porsche 911 GT3 Turbo with Touring Package
From the outside, this new version of Porsche's sporty supercar stands out with its variable rear spoiler, replacing the traditional fixed wing. But the real difference is found under the hood, with a four-litre, six-cylinder, 500-horsepower Boxer engine - the most powerful engine developed by Porsche for its road-approved models.

As for performance, the 911 GT3 with Touring Package promises 0-100kph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 316kph. Orders are already open.


US auto safety regulator awards over US$24m to Hyundai Motor whistleblower

In 2020, Hyundai and Kia's US units agreed to a record US$210 million civil penalty. — Reuters
SEOUL/WASHINGTON: The US auto safety regulator announced today its first-ever reward to a whistleblower, handing out more than US$24 million (RM100mil) to a former Hyundai Motor Co employee who provided key information about safety lapses at the South Korean carmaker.

The award to ex-Hyundai Motor engineer Kim Gwang-ho is the biggest ever in a whistleblower case in the auto sector globally, according to law firm Constantine Cannon, which represented Kim.

It comes as the US regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the US Department of Transportation prepare to propose regulations related to an automotive whistleblower program Congress created in 2015.

Kim reported to NHTSA in 2016 that Hyundai was failing to address a design flaw linked to its Theta II engines, which were prone to seizing up and even catching fire.

"This award is the maximum percentage allowed by law," NHTSA said in a statement announcing the award.

“Whistleblowers play a crucial role in bringing information to NHTSA about serious safety problems that are hidden from the agency," said Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s deputy administrator.

Citing an internal report from Hyundai’s quality strategy team to management, Kim had told NHTSA the company was not taking enough action to address an engine fault that increased the risk of crashes.

NHTSA found that Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary had delayed recalling affected vehicles, and that the automaker had provided inaccurate information about the problems.

In 2020, Hyundai and Kia's US units agreed to a record US$210 million civil penalty after NHTSA said they failed to recall vehicles for engine issues in a timely fashion.

“I am pleased that I have been justly compensated for the risks I took to protect owners of these defective cars, and grateful that the US’s legal system had a program in place to make this possible,” Kim said in a statement today.

“I hope my reporting leads to real safety improvements, both at Hyundai and throughout the industry," he added.

In 2017, US safety regulators began to investigate if the recalls had covered enough vehicles and were done in a timely fashion. That followed the concerns reported by Kim to the US auto safety regulator.

The payout to Kim is the first under the US Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act, passed by Congress in 2015 to create a whistleblower reward program in the Department of Transportation for industry insiders who provide information to safety regulators about defects in vehicles.


BMW M Performance Parts Concept debuts

                MUNICH: BMW brings the M2-based BMW M Performance Parts Concept to Goodwood, showcasing the sporty bodykit and for further enhanced driving dynamics.

The concept car is presented in the exterior paint finish Frozen Black with M Performance wrapping in gold for accentuations and inscriptions. In the interior, Alcantara and carbon fibre further emphasise the sense of exclusivity, along with additional gold accentuations.

The M Division was closely involved in creating this more emphatic design, contributing its racing expertise to the development of all M Performance Parts.

Exterior

In addition to M Performance Parts that are already available, the BMW M Performance Parts Concept offers exclusive concept features. The result is a lower vehicle weight and further optimised driving dynamics – and this applies on the race track, too. The overall effect is achieved by a range of individual measures – the use of carbon fibre lightens the car plus it looks good as well.

Among the carbon fibre offerings are for front radiator grille, front side panels, front winglets, side sill winglets, tailgate and rear diffuser. The carbon fibre roof in clear carbon-fibre finish is especially impressive (available next March): it reduces the car's weight by another six kilograms and shifts the centre of gravity further towards the road.

The complete wheel set with 19-inch M Performance forged wheel Y-spoke 763M in Frozen Gold (expected to be available from July) with semi-slicks not only provides a visual highlight, it is also six kilograms lighter than the standard wheels. This reduces unsprung masses as well as having the relevant positive effect in terms of driving dynamics and steering response.

Interior

Racing optimisation is also be seen in the interior: carbon fibre and Alcantara add especially refined sporty highlights inside the BMW M Performance Parts Concept. The M Performance carbon fibre sport seats with golden contrast seam ensure an excellent hold even when driving in highly dynamic style.

The seats are covered with Alcantara and include a folding function for convenient access to the rear; they weigh nine kilograms less than the standard sports seats. Alcantara is also a defining feature of the M Performance lightweight rear seats, which reduce the weight of the vehicle by another 13 kilograms. In addition to a lasered M logo they bear a golden contrast seam – like the sports seats for driver and front passenger – and this is to be found in the same colour on the door and side trim in Alcantara and leather.

The steering wheel Pro is also worth a mention. The upper and lower sections are covered in leather. In the handling section, Alcantara ensures an excellent hold combined with an exceptionally pleasant grip feel. The combination of carbon fibre and Alcantara is likewise to be found in the M Performance carbon fibre handbrake with Alcantara gaiter (available), which also features a golden contrast seam in the BMW M Performance Parts Concept – as do the velour floor mats.

Even the suspension has M Performance treatment. It is already available as a retrofit set for serial production vehicles. This coilover suspension enables a lowering of up to 20mm; the damping technology is independently adjustable to 12 different compression stages and 16 different rebound stages. These properties give the M Performance suspension a very neutral driving response with much reduced rolling movement. To match the exterior body finish, the springs of the M Performance suspension in the Concept are finished in black, as are the calipers of the 18-inch brakes. An additional weight reduction of 14 kilograms is achieved by the use of a lighter BMW battery.


More JPJ officers caught over sale of junked Singapore posh cars

                ALOR STAR: Two more Road Transport Department (JPJ) officers have been arrested by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for their ‘insider’s role’ in a syndicate that sold scrapped luxury cars brought in from Singapore.

The duo — aged 32 and 29 — were arrested at the Petaling Jaya JPJ office on Thursday and brought to the Alor Setar Court for remand yesterday. The two, an assistant enforcement officer and an administration assistant, have been remanded until Sept 29.

State MACC director Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohamad confirmed the arrests, which were the result of follow-up operations under ‘Ops Piang’ conducted by the Putrajaya MACC headquarters in Kedah, Kuantan and Kuala Lumpur since Tuesday.

On the first day of the operation, MACC officers detained a 31-year-old female JPJ administration assistant and her husband, who is a factory worker and used car salesman, in Kulim.

A 32-year-old car salesman from Kuantan and a 33-year-old online businessman from Kuala Lumpur were also arrested in connection with the case.

MACC Intelligence Division director Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya had then said that the syndicate used agents to promote the luxury cars through social media, especially Facebook, and sold them at cheap prices with guarantees of ‘legal’ documents.

“False documents from Puspakom, the Chemistry Department and the Customs Department were used to ‘legalise’ the cars,” he said.

All the suspects have been remanded for further investigations.


New UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman named

                PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor has announced the appointment of Takashi Obata as its new deputy chairman which took effect from Feb 1.

Obata takes over from Akio Takeyama who held the deputy chairman's post for seven years.

Obata, who has 30 years' experience at Toyota Motor Corp, brings his vast experience and vision for the future of mobility and commits to driving the company to innovate and adapt to CASE ("Connected" cars, "Autonomous" driving, "Shared", and "Electric") and carbon neutrality.

As a key member in Toyota’s Product Planning in Sales & Operation Planning divisions, he has been in charge of the product planning of various Toyota-brand models for the global market, prior to his new role as deputy chairman.

"Technology is progressively evolving with the increasing necessity and responsibility to adapt to CASE, as well as carbon neutrality.

"This is a priority that is aggressively being pursued by Toyota globally and has already started in Malaysia with the recent launch of the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid model,” he said.

Takeyama, who served in Malaysia for a total of 12 years under two tenures, had always sought to provide ever-better cars and the best customer services while continuously contributing to the Malaysian automobile industry.

"I had two key phrases I always kept in mind: Reborn, and Change & Challenge," said Takeyama who also has more than 30 years in Toyota Motor Corp.

Under Takeyama's leadership, UMW Toyota Motor achieved many significant milestones including the launch of its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Bukit Raja which is now recognised as the No.1 quality and productivity Toyota plant in Asia; restructuring of the sales and service network throughout Malaysia; the introduction of Gazoo Racing and reclaiming its title as the No.1 non-national automotive brand after six years as well as successfully introducing many new Toyota models.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said it had been a honour to work alongside Takeyama.

"With his passion and automotive brilliance, he has indeed inspired many and leaves behind an incredible legacy," Ravindran said, while welcoming Obata to the company.


BMW M celebrates its 50th anniversary with emotional campaign

                MUNICH: BMW kicked off the 50th anniversary celebrations of its M division today with a film that is an ode to its past, present and future.

In the “We are M” campaign, various M vehicles along with their drivers get together for a huddle ahead of May 24, which marked the birth of the BMW's sportiest cars.

The 50 Years campaign is divided into four chapters, each of which is activated over a period of one quarter.

Whilst the first chapter, the “Huddle Speech”, heralds the basic theme of 50 years of BMW M, the second will be predominantly about M's 50-year motorsport history.

The third chapter deals with electrification, while the fourth focuses on the unique lifestyle.

During the course of the year, BMW M GmbH will present a host of new vehicles. In addition, the brand will present itself at numerous major international events.

The recently unveiled “BMW Motorsport Anniversary Emblem” is just one of many more developments for the global BMW M community.

“We are proud of the roaring start to our anniversary year on 24 February. The film “Huddle Speech” is in the tradition of extraordinary films for BMW M, but is nevertheless different: it heralds our transformation. We are looking ahead, but continuing to create a feeling of home that defines the great BMW M fanbase,” said BMW M GmbH head of customer, brand, sales Timo Resch .

“We want to celebrate with all the fans, with our international community, therefore we have surprises in store for all communication channels, all year round. We are really looking forward to it.”


Perodua launches loyalty programme

                PETALING JAYA: Perodua launched its latest and most comprehensive customer loyalty programme which rewards purchases for all its products, services and even by participating in official Perodua events.

“This programme, which we named ‘UFirst: Perodua’s passport for brighter and better days’ aims to offer the best programme for our valued customers. The name UFirst represents our commitment in placing our customers’ needs first in our offerings and in building lasting relationships with them,” said president & CEO of Perodua, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

Aminar said that to be a part of this programme, a customer must register at Perodua’s website for them to collect points which they could later redeem for goods, services and also be used to participate in our contests.

 Professional Boy Ambassador for UFirst.

Unlike other programmes, UFirst welcomes all members of the public, above 18 years old, regardless whether they are Perodua vehicle owners or not.

To further simplify the experience, Perodua will also launch a mobile app in September that would track points accumulated as well as alert users of offers, give motoring tips as well as a one-tap call for a road side assist.

Other benefits included under the programme are free breakdown and emergency services; deals on Perodua sales and services; discounts; invitations to fun activities; tips on how to maintain your vehicle, exclusive birthday vouchers and many more.

“The first activity we are planning for UFirst is an Adventure Quest drive to an agro farm in Kluang, Johor from Oct 3 to 4. Participants will enjoy a package worth RM480 at minimum entry fee of RM108, and stand a chance to win cash prizes as well as many exciting gadgets.  Members who register from Aug 1 to 31 will also enjoy an extra value of more than RM80 from our early bird package,” said Aminar.


All-new Lexus GX unveiled

                AUSTIN: The new Lexus GX made its world premiere here and is set to be released in stages to different regions, starting from the end of 2023.

Positioned between the LX and RX, the GX is an SUV launched in 2002 mainly targeting the North American market featuring a body-on-frame structure.

Lexus said the vehicle was designed to achieve a high degree of both driving performance and interior refinement.

The all-new GX, has been reimagined as "The Premium Off-Roader," designed to elevate the customer experience in diverse scenarios, whether that's navigating rugged terrains or cruising along urban streets.

Marking its first redesign since its initial launch in 2002, the platform has undergone a comprehensive overhaul.

With the incorporation of the new GA-F platform shared with the LX and the inclusion of a highly efficient V6 twin-turbo engine, the vehicle's fundamental performance has dramatically evolved.

Building upon its legacy of off-road durability, the vehicle has undergone notable advancements, combining purpose-built packages for off-road performance with the introduction of the E-KDSS (Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System), resulting in improved traction on diverse road surfaces.

In addition, the vehicle's individual components boast exceptional rigidity, coupled with the use of EPS to ensure precise and linear steering response while maintaining the signature Lexus on-road ride quality, all while preserving its genuine off-road capabilities.

Furthermore, the exterior design embodies the pursuit of proportions and uniqueness rooted in functional essence and dynamic performance, creating a visually striking aesthetic that also contributes to its exceptional driving performance over diverse terrain as an authentic off-roader.

With an exterior design crafted to evoke a sense of exceptional performance and adventure, it has been designed to ensure driver comfort on all roads.

Lexus is also promoting the "Overtrail Project" in order to bring the enjoyment of diverse outdoor lifestyles and vehicles.

The new GX, as the driving force behind the Overtrail Project, will help provide customers with new experiences in magnificent natural environments, such as rugged mountainous terrain and lush forests.

In addition, the Overtrail Project is embodied in the new "OVERTRAIL" grade, which is equipped with functions and design features that are required in even harsher environments.

They include:

> An exclusive exterior design that elevates off-road performance, alongside captivating interior and exterior color options that ignite the adventurous spirit within
> Exclusive all-terrain tyres combine design and aerodynamic performance to enhance driving performance
> Adoption of Lexus' first E-KDSS, which provides exceptional compatibility between off-road and on-road driving
> State-of-the-art brake control technology (Multi-Terrain Select and Crawl Control) and Multi-Terrain Monitor to support driving in a variety of environments
> Special seats designed to minimize head toss while driving on rough roads, thereby contributing to reduced passenger fatigue

A potent 3.5L V6 twin-turbocharged engine delivers 349hp/649Nm along with class-leading towing capabilities.

A 2.4L turbo-hybrid variant, a Lexus first for a body-on-frame vehicle, promises exceptional fuel efficiency without compromising on power output. It will arrive later and Lexus has not revealed output figures for this variant yet.

Electric power steering system (EPS) minimizes unnecessary road surface information enabling the driver to fully concentrate on driving

It is equipped with the latest preventive safety technology, Lexus Safety System +.


Dec 22-28: RON97 petrol down 20 sen

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail price of RON97 petrol will drop by 20 sen from RM3.55 to RM3.35 per litre, while prices of RON95 and diesel will remain unchanged from Dec 22 to 28.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said the ceiling price of RON95 petrol and diesel would remain at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 per litre respectively although the real market prices of the two products have increased beyond the current ceiling prices.

It said the government would continue to monitor global crude oil prices and take appropriate action to protect the welfare of the people.