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We’re at the beginning of a ‘connected car’ era and it’s starting to look like a sci-fi thriller. Imagine being in your car and the side mirror mysteriously adjusts itself, the sunroof opens on its own or even scarier, the car suddenly brakes without reason. That’s what a group of Chinese security researchers from Tencent’s Keen Security Lab discovered they could do with a Tesla Model S.

While there have been past cases of Tesla hacking, this is the first time it’s been done remoteTesla Model S Interior Dark - Copyly. The researchers were also able to work the wipers, the doors, the lights, among other things.

This type of thing is expected with any new technology as people get itchy fingers and prod the system to find holes. Even computers get hacked all the time. But thankfully, this hacking was done by a team of security researchers to highlight vulnerabilities.

The researchers had documented their hack and notified Tesla of it to give the company time to rectify this weakness before going public. The car maker promptly fixed this with an over-the-air software patch. According to Tesla, this remote hack only happened in a very specific circumstance i.e. when the car was connected to a malicious WiFi network and the in-car web browser is in use, and that this security risk is low, in reality. On the positive side, this type of exposure only serves to strengthen the software that control’s the car’s vital functions and make them less vulnerable.

Nevertheless, Tesla is planning to reward the researchers under the company’s bug bounty program, for helping it uncover software problems; this is a common practice in the technology sector but a first in automotive. An uncovered bug is worth US$10,000 to Tesla so (responsible) hacking pays.

Watch the video below to see how the researchers did it:

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Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is accepting pre-launch bookings for the new Volkswagen Jetta ahead of its official launch.

The new Jetta will be available in three variants i.e. Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. All variants will use the same new 1.4L TSI single-turbocharged, direct injection engine paired to a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG), that produces 150PS and 250Nm of torque between 1,500 to 3,500rpm, making it one of the most powerful cars in its segment.

Another thing to note is that the new Jetta is officially recognized as an Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) and so should offer superior fuel efficiency, thanks to its start/stop and regenerative braking functions.

Safety is a priority for Volkswagen and the new Jetta comes with a host of safety features such as six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), and hill-hold control.

The new Jetta range is expected to be priced between RM110,000 to RM130,000 and is available in four colours – Candy White, Platinum Grey, Reflex Silver and Deep Black.

Bookings can be made starting today, or during a special Jetta Pre-Booking Weekend from 24 to 25 September at all authorized Volkswagen dealers nationwide (opening hours will be extended).

You can also book a test drive of the new Jetta at www.volkswagen.com.my.

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Executives of Wheelcorp Premium with representatives from BMW Group Malaysia, BMW Credit Malaysia, Allianz Malaysia, Goodyear Malaysia and Shell Malaysia

Wheelcorp Premium, a 4S dealership for BMW and MINI in Malaysia, has officially opened the Wheelcorp Premium Driving Circuit, the first ever premium driving circuit owned by a dealership in the country.

The Wheelcorp Premium Driving Circuit is located in Setia Alam, next to Wheelcorp’s 4S center. It sits on 1.5 acres of land and will complement driving activities hosted by Wheelcorp Premium, including BMW, MINI and BMW xDrive Experiences.

Jayden Liew Dealer Principal & Executive Director, Wheelcorp Premium BMW MINI Setia Alam“In the past year, Wheelcorp Premium has been rigorously strengthening its team and workforce to meet the growing demands in the Setia Alam and Klang areas. Now, with this new facility for our customers to experience the dynamism and sophistication behind the BMW and MINI brands, more than ever, we are geared up to deliver the premium promise behind the ownership of a vehicle from the BMW Group,” said Mr Jayden Liew, Dealer Principal and Executive Director of Wheelcorp Premium.

Mr Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia commented when officiating the Han Sang Yun MD & CEO BMW Group Malaysia, Wheelcorp Premium Driving Circuit Setia Alamcircuit’s opening, “Wheelcorp Premium is one of the largest and more prominent 4S dealerships for BMW and MINI in the country. They are no strangers to us at BMW Group Malaysia as they are Platinum Award Winners at the recent BMW Excellence Club awards and consistently deliver over 500 vehicles annually to our performance here. They are true premium partners of the BMW Group in Malaysia.”

With this new driving circuit, BMW and MINI customers will get a chance to discover the Sheer Driving Pleasure of BMW Group vehicles and pick up driving techniques and safety skills. The circuit caters to agility tests for speed and coordination, wet condition driving, braking exercises and car control in extreme and dangerous situations. There is also a section for the BMW xDrive experience with muddy and rugged terrain that come with bunkers and slopes.

The circuit is supported by BMW Group Malaysia, BMW Credit Malaysia, Allianz Malaysia, Goodyear Malaysia and Shell Malaysia (which supplies OEM engine lubricants to BMW). Wheelcorp Premium is located at No. 1, Jalan Setia Murni AH, U13/AH, Setia Alam, Seksyen U13 40170 Shah Alam Selangor.

In conjunction with the circuit’s opening, Wheelcorp Premium will be hosting a sales event this weekend (23 – 25 September 2016) where every new BMW or MINI purchased will get you 12 months’ complimentary fuel from Shell Malaysia. All new BMW and MINI customers from Wheelcorp Premium will be entitled to a Safety and Defensive Driving Course at the circuit.

Additionally, there will be driving experiences at the circuit with the selected compact, xDrive and MINI vehicles, throughout the weekend. There are only 4 sessions a day so BMW and MINI owners are advised to register in advance by calling +6011 1782 5060.

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On Sunday, September 25 2016, the streets will be abuzz with finely dressed gentlefolk upon their classic and vintage-style motorcycles, united in their support of men’s health. ‘The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’, the world’s greatest motorcycling charity event, shines a light upon the bikes, fashion and ideals of a bygone era, all for a good cause.

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was founded in 2012 by Mark Hawwa in Sydney, Australia after being DGR2015_Vienna_Georg_Aufreiter - Copyinspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike, wearing his nest suit. It was decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles, whilst connecting niche motorcycle communities together. That first ride brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities, with the success of the event encouraging Mark to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause. The rest, as they say, is eloquently attired history:

– In 2013, over 11,000 participants in 145 cities around the world raised over US$277k for prostate cancer research.
– In 2014, over 20,000 participants in 257 cities in 58 countries raised over US$1.5m for prostate cancer research.
– In 2015, over 37,000 participants in 410 cities in 79 countries raised over US$2.3m for prostate cancer research.

This year, 50,000 riders in over 500 cities across 90 countries will take part in their local event. Our fundraising goal is US$5m, which will be invested in both local and global prostate cancer research and suicide prevention programs by our social charity partner, the Movember Foundation.

The Movember Foundation, the world’s largest men’s health organisation, is committed to helping men live happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising US$715m and funding over 1,000 projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention. Their vision is to create a world where men are socially connected, comfortable talking about the big things in life and able to take action early when health issues arrive.

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride Forli'Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle manufacturer offers its continuing support in making sure The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride’s wheels keep spinning. The most outstanding fundraisers globally will be awarded with a modern classic motorcycle as a thank you for their support.

With a longstanding heritage in supporting charity and motoring events, Swiss luxury watchmakers Zenith Watches will make sure riders arrive in style and on time by providing truly remarkable time- pieces for top fundraisers globally.

The rewards continue for the top 100 fundraisers globally, with each receiving an exclusive handcrafted Hedon Helmet featuring a unique design developed for the 2016 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

Now in it’s fourth year as a charity event, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is at the forefront of encouraging men to take responsibility for their health, get checked and seek support in time of need. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride and the Movember Foundation both share this common goal of giving more life to our fathers, sons, brothers and friends.

Mark Hawwa, DGR Founder said, “We are just blown away by the traction and the enormous support over the past 4 years. It’s fantastic to see so many different countries and cultures uniting together, together the much-needed support toward global prostate cancer research and suicide prevention programs. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride truly is a reflection of the thousands of people involved in the event, we simply wouldn’t be where we are today without them. Along with the synergy and genuine support from world class brands such as Triumph Motorcycles and Zenith Watches, and with passionate organisations such as Movember, together we will do everything that we can to support the cause and cover the globe with incredibly well dressed gentleman and genteel lady folk.”

JC, Movember Co-Founder, added “We are stoked to be partnering with Mark and the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride for the next 6 seasons. Mark has been a Mo Bro since way back fighting the good fight with us for men’s health. We have watched the DGR team grow this epic event over the last four seasons into the incredible global ride and brand it is today. We are humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with the DGR team over the coming 6 seasons and look forward to our brands coming together, having fun and doing good. DGR2015_Zurich_Marc_Schneider - CopyMovember has been changing the face of men’s health across the world thanks to the incredible support from our Mo Bros and Mo Sistas. The DGR partnership will further strengthen our journey with it’s incredible Gentlefolk across 90 countries. We can’t wait for the Mo crew to ride out with the DGR team and riding community to continue to support men’s health. Mo On.”

This year, Malaysia is on board again alongside DGR worldwide with the Penang edition. The DGR Penang edition is jointly organized by Riders Garage and Rotten Motocycles with full support from Art of Speed Malaysia. The convoy will take dapper riders on tour around UNESCO Heritage City of Georgetown from morning to afternoon. The ride is planned to push-off from Hin Bus Depot and make stops at Heritage buildings for photos & to create awareness. Last pit stop will be at Gurney Paragon for refreshments and awards presentation before the show ends.

Details of this Sunday’s itinerary:

Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride PENANG 2016

8am – Registration at Hin Bus Depot & Flag Off

(For route info visit www.gentlemansride.com)

12.30pm – Arrival at Gurney Paragon

Programme at Gurney Paragon

12.30pm – Arrival of motorcycles

1.30pm – Speech

1.40pm – Prize giving

1) Most Donation – Brand New Hedon Helmet

2) Most Dapper Gentleman

3) Most Dapper Gentlewoman

4) Best Dapper Bike

5) Best Beard

6) Tryharder Award

*Breakfast & light refreshments provided. Please REGISTER at DGR Official Website.

Contact for Penang ride information : Miss Deni (Mobile : +6019.373.6798  E-mail : deni.switchbladekl@gmail.com)
For more information – www.gentlemansride.com | www.movember.com

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Volvo Trucks handed over 7 of its FM 440 6×2 prime mover trucks to Taipanco Sdn Bhd, a leader in the local haulage industry, to add to the company’s fleet of 197 prime movers and 728 trailer units. Taipanco relies on high quality, durable transportation to move containers for its clients.

The new trucks not only help to expand Taipanco’s presence in the container transport industry within Peninsular Malaysia’s central region, but also complements their other logistics and non-logistics businesses. The company began operations in 2004 with 10 prime movers in its fleet, the same year it started with Volvo Trucks.

With the addition of the new movers, Taipanco currently operate 92 units of Volvo trucks. The FM 440 is a workhorse that meets rugged operating conditions and features a powerful, responsive D13 engine and an automated I-shift gearbox that allows effortless handling. 2 of the 7 units delivered to Taipanco are equipped with power take-off (PTO) systems, one with a generator and one equipped with equipment for special projects.

Volvo Trucks Taipanco FM 440Taipanco’s Lee Chan Hooi and Nazari Akhbar received a mock key and a truck scale model from Law Ah Tiong, Vice President, After Market, Volvo Malaysia and Lim Eng Loon, Dealer Manager of Port Klang, Volvo Malaysia at a handover ceremony at Volvo Trucks’ flagship dealership in Port Klang.

“Taipanco acquired the Volvo FM 440 prime movers because these vehicles are known for their performance, reliability, comfort and primarily, safety,” said Nazari. “Volvo trucks are famed for their safety, which is critical to us in delivering our customers’ goods, but we also selected these trucks for their reliability and aftermarket services.”

Nazari added that Taipanco would be able to better serve the increasing demand for their services thanks to Volvo Trucks’ genuine parts, highly-trained staff and quick turn-around time. The purchase of the Volvo FM 440 includes driver training and 24-hour breakdown service.

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To commemorate its 125th year in Malaysia, Shell has launched a collection of limited edition Shell Heritage Canisters. This special collection illustrates the various designs of Shell stations and pumps from the 1920s until the 1980s.

“Shell has fuelled Malaysia’s progress, as well as the journeys of countless Malaysians on the road. We have come a long way and the designs of our stations and pumps have followed to suit changing times. We wanted to provide our customers a chance to bring home a small piece of our history through these limited edition collectibles. We hope the designs evoke a sense of nostalgia, and inspire Malaysians to continuously improve for the future,” said Ben Mahmud, Head of Retail Marketing, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.

Made available yesterday (18 September 2016), the canisters will be offered until 31 October 2016 (or while stocks last) at all Shell stations nationwide.

The canisters are available in two sizes – mini and big. Customers who spend a minimum of RM40 on any Shell fuel are entitled to purchase the big canisters at RM 12.90 each, which come with complimentary fridge magnets, while those who purchase Shell Select items worth at least RM6 or any Shell Select promotion, are entitled to purchase the mini canisters at RM 7.90 each. A new design will be released each week.

Further, a Limited Edition Shell Tanker and Helix Car Care Kit with designs depicting vintage Shell motor oil canisters are also up for grabs. For a minimum of RM40 on any Shell fuel from 16 to 22 October, customers are entitled to purchase the Limited Edition Shell Tanker at RM 12.90 each, while a purchase of Shell Helix HX5 3L/4L entitles customers to purchase the Helix Car Care Kits at RM12.90 each. With the purchase of the premium Shell Helix Ultra or HX7 (4L), customers will be entitled to get a complimentary Helix Car Care Kit (while stocks last).

To find out more about the limited edition Shell Heritage Canisters, visit www.shell.com.my/heritagecanister

To read more about Shell’s 125th anniversary in Malaysia, visit www.shell.com.my/125years

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It comes as no surprise that Takata Corp, the company in the middle of the global airbag recall storm is putting itself up for sale / rescue.

According to Reuters and Bloomberg, the Tokyo-based company will take initial bids today (19 September 2016) from 7 potential buyers, including Daicel Corp (a Japanese chemical maker which supplies inflators to Takata) in a joint bid with Bain Capital, Ningbo Joyson Electronic (the China parent of American-based airbag maker Key Safety Systems), and KKR & Co (a global investment fund). The bidders are expected to present their plans to Lazard Ltd (the advising bank) today and a shortlist of 2 – 3 potential buyers should be ready by October. It is said that there were as many as 30 interested parties in June but its reported that Lazard will only be accepting bids from 7 in a private process.

TakataWith its stock price plunging nearly 90% since 2014 and its potential of facing billions of dollars in liabilities arising from the global airbag recall which will go on for the next few years, Takata is in dire need of financial support. Why not let the company go under or put it out to pasture and let other airbag manufacturers take over its market share? It isn’t that simple. Firstly, Takata still needs to supply replacement airbag kits for the recall and secondly, Takata is one of only 3 dominant airbag makers supplying to the global market and as many as 10 automakers rely on Takata’s supply.

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Make some time free this weekend for Motor Image Malaysia, the authorized distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, is bringing you the thrilling spectacle that is the Subaru Russ Swift Stunt Show starring none other than the world’s number one precision driver, Paul Russell Swift.

Russ Swift Subaru Forester 2016 Bangkok International Motor ShowRuss Swift is a well-known personality in motorsports, particularly in stunt driving, having set several Guinness World Records. In 2004, he set a Guinness World Record for making 10 complete spins with a car (aka donuts) in just 16.07 seconds – a mere 1.6 seconds for each complete spin. Swift was also a two-time British Autotest Champion and England Autotest Team Captain in 1982 and 1983.

Now back in its 3rd year, the Subaru Russ Swift Stunt Show is poised to deliver another jaw-dropping spectacle of precision stunt driving that will leave you truly amazed. The stunt show will be held at Setia City Convention Centre Carpark from 17 – 18 September 2016 at 1:00pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm daily; with autograph sessions after each show.

At the same time, there will be a Subaru roadshow (10:00am – 6:00pm) at the same venue where you can try out the pleasure of Subaru’s All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology in various driving and off-road conditions. You can put the AWD capabilities of Subaru vehicles through a four-obstacle course which simulates off-road, slippery, muddy and hilly conditions, with guidance from professional instructors, of course.

Below is the schedule for the Subaru roadshows this month:

Subaru Schedule September 2016

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If you live, work and/or play in a city, you will know what congestion is and how frustrating and wasteful it can be. And this is why Ford is teaming up with major cities around the world to solve this issue and help people move about in a less stressful manner.

Ford is starting it off in San Francisco where it is set to acquire Chariot, a San Francisco-based crowd-sourced shuttle service, and collaborating with bike-sharing provider, Motivate, to expand its transportation solutions in city centers. Ford also is establishing a new City Solutions team to work with cities around the world on their transportation needs.

Ford City Solutions - Chariot shuttle service Transit“We’re expanding our business to be both an auto and a mobility company, and partnering with cities on current and future transportation needs is the next major step,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “For more than 100 years, Ford has been part of the community and the trusted source for automotive transportation. Now, we want to work with communities to offer even more transportation choices and solutions for people – for decades to come,” he added.

Today, half the world’s population live in cities and by 2030, that is expected to grow to 60%. As city populations grow, the challenges tied to moving people and goods around become tougher and Ford is committed to being part of the solution.

“Cities globally are dealing with increased congestion, a growing middle class and environmental issues – all of which can be alleviated by developing mobility solutions fine-tuned to the unique challenges of each location,” said Jim Hackett, chairman, Ford Smart Mobility LLC, the company’s subsidiary created to design, build, grow and invest in emerging mobility services. “At the same time, by expanding our business model to include new forms of transportation – from bikes to dynamic shuttles and more – we are introducing new customers to Ford and creating new revenue and profit opportunities for the future.”

Ford’s planned acquisition of Chariot will serve as the cornerstone for its new global shuttle services business. The shuttle service is expected to be expanded beyond San Francisco to at least five additional markets in the next 18 months.

Started in 2014, Chariot operates nearly 100 Ford Transit shuttles along 28 routes throughout San Francisco Bay Area. Today, Chariot’s routes are crowd-sourced based on rider demand. In the future, they will operate dynamically – using data algorithms to map efficient routes to best serve the real-time mobility needs of communities.

The Chariot shuttles complement mass transit by filling the gap between taxi and bus services – providing an on-demand, point-to- point transportation option that is convenient, efficient and cost-effective; sounds very much like a system we need here. For every one dynamic shuttle that is placed into service during peak travel times, urban congestion could be reduced by up to 25 vehicles, according to a private study for Ford conducted by KPMG.

“Chariot’s mission from day one has been to solve the commute by providing a mass transit solution that is fast, reliable and affordable for people living in today’s cities,” said Ali Vahabzadeh, Chariot co-founder and CEO. “We started our Chariot service with Ford’s 15-passenger vehicles and continue to use Ford Transit shuttles to this day. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be Ford Smart Mobility’s first acquisition and leverage its leadership in transportation to fulfill Chariot’s goals worldwide.”

Bikes are another important mode of transportation for commuters in the Bay Area. Ford and Motivate, the global leader in bike share, are working with city officials to add new stations and increase the number of bikes to 7,000 in the Bay Area by the end of 2018. When it launches next year, Ford GoBike will be accessed by users through the FordPass ® platform.

Ford City Solutions 3 - Motivate Bike Sharing“A transportation revolution is coming to the Bay Area,” said Jay Walder, CEO of Motivate. “This unique partnership with Ford shows that bike share is no longer alternative transportation; it is central to creating smart, on-demand mobility that represents our values for equity and sustainability. Thanks to the partnership of Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville, bike share will soon be available for all in the Bay Area.”

Ford plans to develop technologies to use data collected from the bikes to build an interconnected mobility network. This could include real-time data, such as weather conditions, usage patterns and bike availability, to optimize commutes.

Ford also is establishing its new City Solutions team to work with cities on expanding mobility services worldwide as part of Ford Smart Mobility LLC. John Kwant – who has worked with several global cities during his Ford career as part of the company’s government affairs and global strategy teams – has been tapped to lead the effort as vice president, Ford City Solutions.

The team will address the reality that each city’s transportation ecosystem has evolved over time and poses a unique set of transportation challenges. Through a joint discovery process, Ford City Solutions will work with municipalities to propose, pilot and develop mobility solutions tailored to the community. Discussions are already under way with several global cities.

The way things are going with autonomous vehicles and ride sharing, it sounds like people living in market centers do not need to own a vehicle in the future and just rely on ride services when necessary. Perhaps this is better for the sanity of those living in such areas.

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Our athletes who won medals at the recent 2016 Rio Olympic Games were presented with cars by DRB-HICOM and PROTON Holdings Bhd yesterday. A total of 8 cars were given to our Olympic medalists in an event attended by Minister of Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian contingent, Tan Sri Mohamed Al-Amin Abdul Majid.

Proton car presentation - Lee Chong Wei 2016 Rio OlympicsDatuk Lee Chong Wei, our most successful Malaysian Olympian in history, with 3 silver medals, was given a new Proton Perdana. Datuk Lee won his first silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Games followed by another silver at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Our other silver medalists, Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong (Women’s Synchronized 10m Platform diving), Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying (Badminton Mixed Doubles), and Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong (Badminton Men’s Doubles) were each presented with a Proton Suprima S 1.6L Turbo Premium.

Azizulhasni Awang aka Azizul the Pocket Rocket, the first Malaysian cyclist to win a medal at the Olympics, was given the recently launched Proton Persona, for his bronze medal achievement.

Proton cars presentation 2016 Rio Olympic medalists, Malaysia athletes

Group Managing Director of DRB-HICOM and PROTON Chairman, Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar commented, “In this auspicious month of Merdeka as well as in celebration of the forthcoming Malaysia Day, we are truly inspired by these Malaysians who fought for our glory at the recent Rio 2016 Olympics. In appreciation of their sacrifices for the country, we are extremely honoured to present the national cars to our athletes to celebrate their achievements at the highest level such as the Olympics.”

“We hope that with the record achievement at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games recently, more talented Malaysians will be inspired to achieve greater heights and make our country proud,” he added.

Autoworld congratulates our Rio Games medal winners. Keep on fighting!

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