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Proton to return to South African market in September 2022

Up till 2001, Proton had entered many markets around the world, with over 210,000 cars exported to 51 countries. However, after that, the number fell and although recognizing that exports were vital as its protection in the home market diminished and competition increased, Proton did not have a strong export business.

The number of exported vehicles dwindled to only 248 units in 2017 but over the past few years, the Malaysian carmaker has been slowly rebuilding its presence overseas and even having models assembled in some countries. Volumes are seeing a gradual upturn and last year, 3,018 Proton vehicles were exported, more than double the number in 2020. For 2022, the International Sales Department is targeting to grow export sales exponentially to 10,000 units.

As it has a bigger focus on righthand-drive models, it has obviously given more attention to countries where motorists drive on the left side, like us. The latest new market is South Africa, although it is not unfamiliar to Proton as the brand had a presence there up till 2012. It will return with the X50 and X70 this September, followed by the latest Saga.

It will be represented by the CMH (Combined Motor Holdings) Group, an investment holding company which has been active in the motor business since 1987. Proton joins a long list of global brands that CMH represents, some of which are Ford, Chery, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Mahindra, Peugeot and Citroen.

SUVs to grow export sales
Proton’s growth will be achieved not only by entering more new markets but also increasing local assembly (CKD) operations overseas. Currently, the carmaker has CKD operations in Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh with Sri Lanka set to begin in the second half of 2022. The company currently exports cars to 13 overseas markets, with South Africa becoming the fourteenth one.

As a percentage of Malaysia’s overall vehicle exports, Proton’s numbers are becoming increasingly prominent. From 12.8% of total exports in 2019, the number grew to 30.2% in 2020 and hit 60.9% in 2021. That put the brand at the No.1 position, an achievement in spite of the global pandemic.

Proton SUVs help brand image
Proton’s improved model range has helped in export sales, especially as it has the two SUVs jointly developed with Geely. The SUV segment is the most active globally and the sales success enjoyed in Malaysia by the X50 and X70 has been largely replicated in other markets. This helps to establish the brand, paving the way for more models to be exported.

“Our new model range offers advanced features that are on par with many competitors from other brands. In many of our markets, the Proton X50 and Proton X70 sit near the top of their class in terms of specifications yet are sold at prices equivalent to or less than their direct rivals. This helps to draw in the upper echelon of local car-buyers and helps build brand equity in these markets, making it easier for our other products to then be accepted in the future,” said Steven Xu, Director of International Sales.

“PROTON’s long-term goals require exports to play a major role to grow the company’s overall sales as the annual Total Industry Volume in Malaysia is expected to remain flat. So, we are exploiting the strength of our new products, our brand and even the links Malaysia has with other countries to establish a foothold in many new markets. This is then bolstered by establishing CKD operations where possible, which also helps to grow local economies,” he added.

Porsche 911 Sport Classic brings back 1960s and 1970s style

When talking about cars, ‘classic’ brings to mind an earlier era when cars – especially sportscars – had a unique characters. They may have lacked the reliability of today’s cars but their raw power and handling gave them a special appeal which is remembered fondly. An owner may have cursed his car for breaking down on some remote country road back then but today, it is a memory to laugh about with friends.

In recent years, it seems that there has been growing interest in classic cars, not to say that there has not been since such cars have always been collectors’ items. There are the original ones, restored to perfection, and there are modern copies built to perfect resemblance. Most are the work of specialists and have limited runs, making them very exclusive.

For a full-fledged carmaker, volume is important to support a ‘business case’ as it is very costly to develop a model. But once the model is developed, many opportunities are available to grow its volume and for the upper end of the market, personalization is now big business.

Porsche also has a business making ‘classic’ cars that grew out of its Heritage Design strategy. This approach offers models that represent the more emotionally-driven concepts of the Porsche product line. “This unique approach sees the Style Porsche design department working with Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur to reinterpret iconic 911 models and equipment from the 1950s through to the 1980s and to revive design features from those decades,” explained Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Customisation and Classic.

The first of four limited-edition models made its debut in 2020. It was the 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition with design elements from the 1950s and 1960s. Now comes the 911 Sport Classic as the second offering and only 1,250 cars will be available. Like its immediate predecessor, the 997-based 911 Sport Classic presented in 2009, the appearance of this model is inspired by the original 911 (1964 – 1973) and, in particular, the 1972 911 Carrera RS 2.7.

Historical design elements
The wide body – typically found with the 911 Turbo models – with a fixed rear spoiler in the style of the legendary ‘ducktail’ Carrera RS 2.7, and the double-bubble roof underscore the distinctiveness of the 911 Sport Classic.

This special model has the widest body in the current 911 model range. However, while the Turbo models have two side air inlets in the rear wings for drawing air into the engine, the 911 Sport Classic draws in air via the opening below the rear wing. The side air intakes have therefore been removed in order to create a unique look.

Classic paintwork too
As with the first 997-generation 911 Sport Classic of 2009, the designers were inspired by the Fashion Grey paintwork of the early 356 model when choosing the exclusive paint finish for the new limited-edition model.

“The new 911 Sport Classic is the first vehicle to feature Sport Grey Metallic paintwork,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche. “Grey is never boring, quite often a statement and always cool.” As an alternative to the exclusive grey finish, the 911 Sport Classic is also available in solid Black, Agate Grey Metallic or Gentian Blue Metallic.”

The graphics on the flanks of the vehicle reference the brand’s connection with motorsport. These graphics are also in light Sports Grey and include a Porsche logo, a round starting number field (known as a ‘lollipop outline’) and a personalised black start number (0 to 99 is available as an option at no extra charge). The start number or the entire foil trim can be removed for drivers who do not want the complete package.

The Porsche crest is almost identical to the historic crest of 1963. On the exterior, it makes an appearance on the bonnet and on the wheel hub covers. Other notable details include the gold-coloured Porsche logo and the model designation at the rear. The brilliant shine of the lettering is due to the fact that the surface is finished with real gold!

Most powerful manual 911 today
“It’s not just the look of the 911 Sport Classic that makes it special. Its extensive technical modifications are some of its most striking features. For example, the 3.7-litre, twin-turbo flat-six engine, rear-wheel drive and 7-speed manual gearbox combine to form a powertrain that is currently unique in the Porsche portfolio,” said Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice-President Model Line 911 and 718. “The sports suspension with lowered ride height and vehicle-specific tuning deliver excellent lateral dynamics when cornering.”

The flat-six engine delivers 550 ps to the road, an output which places the 911 Sport Classic between the 911 GTS and 911 Turbo from a performance perspective. The engine is based on the options available for the current 911 Turbo models, with variable turbine geometry and wastegates that help to achieve the superior power delivery.

With a 7-speed manual gearbox, the 911 Sport Classic is the most powerful manual 911 available today. The gearbox has an auto-blip function that compensates for speed differences between the gears with a brief burst of revs when shifting down. The shortened shift lever provides a quick shift action and a crisp feel.

The suspension, based on that of the 911 Turbo and 911 GTS models, is managed by the standard Porsche Active Suspension Management. With rear-wheel drive, the axle load at the front is lower than on all-wheel drive models. For this reason, the suspension engineers have slightly reduced the spring rate on the front axle. The steering system, including the standard rear-axle steering, has also been modified especially for the 911 Sport Classic.

1960s elements in 2022 interior
Within the car, the iconic Pepita houndstooth pattern can be found on the door panels and seat centres. Pepita was available for the first time as an official option in a 911 in 1965. The pepita houndstooth pattern comprises small squares connected by diagonal stripes. The pattern made its first comeback in 2013 as part of the ‘50 years of the 911’ special model launch. The original pepita houndstooth pattern made another one-off appearance inside the ‘911 no. 1,000,000’ – a specially made, unique specimen.

The modern instrument cluster with two high-resolution 7-inch displays borrows several historic details. One example is the analogue tachometer which features a classic-style needle with white hands and scale markings for maximum contrast. The green digits pay tribute to the legendary 356, while the Sport Classic logo showcases the sportscar’s modern credentials. The digital displays have also been modified for the Heritage Design strategy.

Two-tone, semi-aniline leather upholstery in Black/Classic Cognac provides an elegant contrast with the exterior colour. Porsche previously used semi-aniline leather in the 918 Spyder and the 911 Sport Classic is the first model to benefit from this type of leather in the characteristic colour of Classic Cognac. Only a very thin layer of paint is applied to protect it, which allows the natural structure of the leather to remain visible and the soft feel to be maintained.

For those who want a sportscar with the style of the 1960s and 1970s, the 911 Sport Classic is available (in righthand drive as well) with prices starting from 272,714 euros (in Germany). European customers will get their cars from July 2022 onwards and those in other markets will have deliveries progressively after that.

6-speed manual gearbox for Toyota GR Supra only for 3-litre model

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), the high-performance arm of the Japanese carmaker, has finally revealed details of the manual transmission for the GR Supra. It is part of a number of updates for the model which is now in its third year of production.

Available only for the 3-litre versions as well as a limited-run A91-MT Edition model, the manual transmission has been engineered and tuned specifically for use with the straight-six engine. The engineering team modified an existing transmission housing, driveshaft and gearset and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight.

At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. The larger friction area and a stronger spring are deemed necessary for the GR Supra’s high-torque engine which generates up to 500 Nm in standard form. The newly developed 6-speed manual gearbox is described as an ‘intelligent Manual Transmission’ (iMT) and has software that prioritizes sporty performance when required.

With an automatic, it’s possible to use second gear when pulling away uphill when opposite wheels are on surfaces with different grip levels – eg when the car is parked on partly icy road, progress is smooth with no rolling back or wheelslip.

With a manual gearbox, first gear must be used and releasing the clutch brings a greater risk of wheelspin. To address the issue, the TGR engineers tuned the car’s TRAction Control (TRAC) system for smoother operation like that experienced with an automatic. The system is also optimized for the GR Supra’s characteristic high engine torque, wide tyres and rear-wheel drive.

The car’s behaviour when accelerating out of a corner is a key element in the ‘Fun to Drive’ quality Toyota promises with the GR Supra. For the manual version, the traction control has again been the focus to ensure an ideal balance of agility and stability when exiting a corner on the throttle. TRAC intervention has been calibrated to maintain stability – so the car keeps faithfully to the driver’s intended line – while allowing the right amount of power for a sporty experience.

The ambition to make the GR Supra fun to drive in the most demanding scenarios inspired the introduction of a new Hairpin+ function. This is designed to allow experienced drivers more freedom and reward when taking tight bends on an uphill gradient (more than 5%) with a high-friction road surface. More ‘freewheel’ spin can make such routes more enjoyable to drive, so the engineers optimized engine torque control to allow a greater difference in the degree of wheelspin on the left and right-side tires.

To counter the possibility of ‘snap-off’ oversteer – something that may be hard to control with the car’s Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) alone – an Anti-Roll Program has been included for both the manual and automatic versions. This intervenes at an earlier point with the VSC to cover any sudden loss of grip when the car’s high-response suspension setting it used.

In addition, the Track mode has been tuned to allow for easy drifting with freedom of throttle control. The vehicle remains agile, but there is less risk of spinning thanks to specific engine and torque control.

When upshifting, the parameters are tuned to optimize engine torque at the moment of clutch engagement and release; on downshifts, the software has been fine-tuned for consistent performance with rev-matching. The iMT is set as the default but, if the driver prefers, it can be switched off in Sport mode. To avoid a sluggish take-off and a low in-gear acceleration feel, the final drive ratio has been shortened, from 3.15 (in the GR Supra automatic) to 3.46 (in the GR Supra MT).

The lever ratio was specifically set to minimize the effort required to make shifts and engage reverse gear. The weight and shape of the 200 gm gear knob, along with the quality of shift engagement, have all been precisely defined. Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra.

Just as with the GR Yaris, close attention was also paid to how a manual shifter could be accommodated in the cockpit of the GR Supra. Ergonomics were studied thoroughly and the console unit and position of the drive mode selector were adjusted to provide a 43 mm clearance between the shift knob and the control panel. The spherical shift knob has also been shaped to allow a firm grip.

In addition to the new manual transmission, TGR has also further refined the steering and suspension with modified stabiliser bushings and retuned adaptive variable suspension (AVS) and other chassis control systems to improve handling performance and ride comfort.

For certain versions, the 19-inch forged alloy wheels come with a new design of revised spoke and cross-sectional shapes and premium Titanium Dark Silver finish. They are said to have greater strength and are lighter, with a weight reduction of 1.2 kgs per wheel.

Customers also have three new exterior colours to choose from – Volcanic Ash Grey, Dawn Blue and Avalanche White – while the interior is now available with a tan trim option.

Toyota has not announced pricing for the additional manual version but exports from the factory in Japan will start later this year.

To know more about the GR Supra or to purchase on in Malaysia, visit www.toyota.com.my.

Mitsubishi sales continue to grow in spite of market challenges

In spite of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) was able to achieve a higher sales volume during it its last financial year (FY21: April 2021 – March 2022). The total volume of 19,217 units was a 66% increase compared to the volume sold in the same period when the Total Industry Volume of the Malaysian market declined by 6.7%. This achievement put the company comfortably in the top 3 spots of the non-national automotive category.

The Triton pick-up truck was the bestseller for the brand with 9,420 units sold in FY21, which was a 24% increase compared to FY20. Its popularity among Malaysians was evident as it maintained a market share of around 21.4%.

The XPANDER was also a strong seller and the dominant model in the non-national MPV segment. 9,065 units of the locally-assembled 7-seater were sold, accounting for 47.2% to the company’s overall total sales.

*Volumes shown are for calendar year (January- December). Data for 2022 from January to March. Data source: MAA monthly reports.*

“In general, the past 2 years have been tough on the automotive industry, not only with the rising cases of Omicron COVID-19 but floods that affected the Klang Valley and East Coast region, as well as parts or chips shortage. There were many hurdles for the industry to overcome, thus for our sales performance to grow is a significant triumph for us. We take this chance to thank the Malaysian government for initiating and extending the SST exemption these last couple of years. With this, our customers could enjoy extra savings while it also gives us the time to fulfil all booking orders made,” said Shinya Ikeda, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.

“The company will continue to charge forward with strong momentum for 2022. We are aware that a large number of our customers aim to purchase their cars before the SST exemption expires by end of June. We are continuing our best efforts to meet the booking numbers, and we have already increased our production capacity while maintaining a high level of product quality. Our customers are the ones that put us here, thus providing them with utmost convenience and confidence towards the brand is our utmost priority,” he added.

The Mitsubishi Motors network consists of 54 showrooms (out of which 49 are 3S Centres) and 55 service outlets throughout Malaysia. In East Malaysia, there are 14 showrooms (7 in Sarawak and 7 in Sabah). The present range consists of the Triton which is imported as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) model from Thailand, and the XPANDER MPV which is assembled locally.

To know more about Mitsubishi models in Malaysia and to locate a showroom, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.

Fuel Price Updates For April 28 – May 4, 2022

Datsun brand is retired again as production in India stops

Datsun, a name familiar to older Malaysians, disappeared from the market in the 1980s. It was replaced by Nissan as a brand name for products, and the name happened to also be the company’s name. Part of the reason could have been that Datsun was so well known all over the world and sometimes, senior executives had found that people did not know their company when they mentioned it was ‘Nissan’ but showed much familiarity when they said ‘Datsun’.

Older Malaysians will remember Datsuns as the earliest Japanese cars which were brought in by Tan Chong in the late 1950s. Though seemingly fragile, they proved to be lasting, economical and good value for money. The 120Y (below) was one one of the models that built up the brand’s strong reputation which was inherited by Nissan when it replaced Datsun in the mid-1980s.

Anyway, the brand name was brought back in 2014 as a sub-brand alongside Nissan and Infiniti to represent entry-level products for emerging markets. Nissan’s CEO then, Carlos Ghosn, had thought that there might be a market for lower-cost models in places like Indonesia, India and even Russia. These products would benefit from Nissan’s technology but be built with a lower cost base. The company expected the brand’s previous reputation for value and reliability would be beneficial – but perhaps forgot that the new generation of buyers it targeted would not have known that.

Nissan built Datsun models in three countries – Russia, China and India – and though there was favourable response initially, dealers found difficulty selling the cars because they also sold cheap Nissan models. To make the cars cheap, features were less and even the engineering was felt to be not as tough as Nissans, so consumers were not greatly persuaded to buy Datsuns when, for a little bit more, they could get better Nissans.

Nissan’s expectations and targets for the brand were thus too ambitious and it showed in the years that followed its launch. In some markets, the network was limited and as mentioned earlier, there was much dependence on Nissan dealers who would have found it more profitable to sell Nissans, rather than cheaper but low-margin Datsuns.

*Datsun display at a motorshow in Indonesia in 2015.*

*In many markets, Datsun models were sold in the same showrooms as Nissan models, which proved to be a bad move.*

In the emerging markets, there was certainly demand for cheap cars but even consumers in such markets did not want a car that was so cheap but was lacking in features and worse, safety. Crash tests of early Datsun models placed the brand in an unfavourable light, further diminishing its appeal. Perhaps in a different era 40 years earlier, the Datsuns might have done better but with competition from low-priced Korean cars and also brands like Maruti, customer expectations were higher.

By the end of 2019, Nissan came to the conclusion that the Datsun brand was not going to make it and there was little point in trying. Furthermore, as a legacy of the Ghosn era which had become controversial, it was probably one of the moves that was accepted as a way to ‘right past wrongs’. The operations in Russia and Indonesia were discontinued during the following year, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started.

*Datsun advertisement in Indian market.*

That left India as the only market which produced and sold Datsuns. The final phase of ending the brand was to take another two years as the lifecycle of the last model was run to the end.

Recently, Nissan announced that the final remaining redi-GO model was no longer produced at the plant in Chennai and dealers would sell off whatever stocks remained.

“As part of Nissan’s global transformation strategy, Nissan is focusing on core models and segments that bring the most benefit to customers, dealer partners and the business. In India, this includes the all-new, locally produced Nissan Magnite with over 100,000 customer orders to date,” Nissan India said.

Of course, like any responsible manufacturer, Nissan will provide the necessary aftersales support to Datsun owners in the years to come. This would run for a number of years and in as far as replacement parts are concerned, there should not be difficulty since many of the cars would be shared with Nissan models anyway.

So, for the second time in its history, the brand that first appeared in 1934 and helped to build a strong reputation for Nissan, is retired again. Perhaps it is best left in history books and museums where its glorious days are not blemished by the unsuccessful attempt to bring it back.

Updated Hyundai IONIQ 5 gets more powerful battery pack and digital mirrors

The 2022 World Car of the Year – the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – which is just starting to appear on Malaysian roads has received enhancements for better performance and new features. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV), which is just over a year old in the global market, is the first model to use the Hyundai Motor Group’s first dedicated BEV platform, Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

A major upgrade is the capacity of the lithium-ion polymer battery pack; when launched, it was available with a 58 kWh or 72.6 kWh battery pack but now, there is an additional battery pack with a greater 77.4 kWh capacity. Compared to the 58 kWh battery pack which has 24 modules/288 cells, and the 72.6 kWh battery pack with 30 modules/360 cells, the new one has 32 modules/384 cells. It also operates on the 800V system and is available for both RWD and AWD versions.

*Hyundai Motor Group E-GMP platform with the battery pack in the middle.*

Better performance and range
The new 77.4 kWh pack has an increased range of up to around 500 kms (with RWD) and a power increase of 11 ps compared to the 72.6 kWh battery pack. An 80% recharge should be possible in 18 minutes using ultra-fast chargers.

The operating temperature of the battery pack is extremely important to performance and its service life. The conditions cannot be too hot or too cold and to maintain an optimum environment, there is a new battery heater and conditioning feature. This will enable the system to adapt its battery temperature while on the move to achieve optimal charging conditions when reaching the charging point. Ultimately, the owner benefits with improve charging performance in hot or cold ambient conditions.

Three digital camera-based mirrors
Besides the more powerful battery pack, the latest IONIQ 5 will be available with video-based digital interior and exterior mirrors. Instead of using conventional reflective surfaces, the mirrors will display real-time imagery from small cameras. For the inside rearview mirror, the camera is mounted on the IONIQ 5’s rear spoiler.

The Digital Side Mirrors have already been available for Korean-market models and are now being offered outside the country in a Hyundai Motor Group vehicle for the first time.

Namsan Edition
In some markets, there will be a special Namsan Edition of the IONIQ 5. This has a very generous equipment level and top technical specifications. The Namsan Edition is named after Namsan Mountain in Seoul, from which where there are expansive views across the skyline of the capital city and a national park covering over 3.3 million square metres

The IONIQ 5 Namsan Edition honours the Korean landmark with its full-length vision roof presenting an unobstructed panoramic view, whilst there is leather upholstery, relaxation seats and spacious interior cossets occupants within.

*The first batch of IONIQ 5 owners in Malaysia recently received their BEVs.*

Toll charges waived/discounted for 4 days during Hari Raya period

For the 2 million motorists expected to be travelling along highways during this Hari Raya period, toll charges would have been expected to be part of the travelling cost. However, on four days during the festive period, they won’t have to pay any toll, or pay a discounted rate.

Announced by the Prime Minister this afternoon, the special concession will be on April 30/May 1 and May 7/May 8. It will be applicable to all classes of vehicles. The total amount of toll that will not be collected is estimated at RM77.11 million.

The full exemption of toll will be on the PLUS and LTP (East Coast) highways, Penang Bridge, and Second Link while other highways will have 30% or 50% discount.

*Opened in 2011, the LATAR highway from Templer’s Park in Selangor provides a quick connection to Kuala Selangor and the West Coast Expressway. It is also accessible from Shah Alam using the GCE.*

PLUS also says that facilities (including food and beverage outlets) and services at all its R&Rs and lay-bys along the highways will be operating 24-hours a day throughout the Hari Raya. In anticipation of more visitors to these areas, there will be additional mobile toilets and water tankers.

However, if over-crowding disrupts traffic flow along the highway, some of the rest areas will be temporarily closed to manage the congestion and will be immediately re-opened once the crowd has dispersed and traffic flow is back to normal. It should also be remembered that social distancing is still required for public safety. Let’s prevent the case numbers from going back up again.

Finally, whether you are using a Touch’nGo card, SmartTAG or RFID, be sure that your tollcard or e-wallet has enough balance to cover the toll charges if you are travelling on other days. There will be a lot of vehicles behind you so don’t cause others inconvenience by not being able to pass through because you didn’t have enough balance. The PLUS website has a toll charge calculator which can let you know exactly the amount you need to pay between two toll plazas.

Britain’s new law allows drivers to watch TV while on the move – with autonomous vehicles

Autonomous cars – vehicles which can operate on their own without a driver in control – are now already available, with Tesla’s cars best known for such an advanced feature (which costs an extra US$10,000) at this time. Other carmakers are also offering limited levels of autonomous motoring in their newer models as well, but use of such a feature requires approval by each country’s authorities. Malaysia, as with many countries, does not yet allow autonomous cars, as highlighted in a recent case where a Singapore-registered car was shown to be travelling on a Malaysian highway without the driver in control.

Even in countries where autonomous vehicles can operate, there are only certain sections of highways that their autonomous operation can be activated. This is because the road infrastructure has to be properly designed with standardized signage and clear road markings. The cameras on autonomous vehicles are the ‘eyes’ of the computer which assesses the surroundings and makes decision based on what it ‘sees’.

The systems in autonomous vehicles have to be able to recognise signs and road markings for the vehicle to proceed safely and not hit other objects. They also need to be able to recognise traffic lights so that the vehicle will be brought to a stop if the light is red.

Who is responsible for accidents?
The other more important issue is legal provisions since the vehicle is not under the control of the driver. If there is an accident when under autonomous operation, can the driver be held liable? Or should the manufacturer be responsible for damages? Different countries are examining this legal responsibility and in Britain, the legal changes necessary have been put forward which will allow the use of autonomous vehicles and how legal issues will be dealt with.

The new law considers the person in the driver’s seat as a ‘user-in-charge’ and will not be prosecuted for offences such as exceeding speed limits or not stopping at red lights if the vehicle is operating autonomously. However, the user-in-charge still has certain responsibilities such as ensuring that everyone has their seatbelts on and that the vehicle is not overloaded. Being drunk while using an autonomous vehicle will still be an offence.

The driver will be the ‘user-in-charge’ when the vehicle is operating autonomously, but will not be considered liable if there is an accident. This responsibility will be the manufacturer’s and/or software developer for the autonomous system, and insurance companies will pay compensation accordingly.

Responsibility for an accident will be directed to the Authorized Self-Driving Entity (ASDE), an entity that applied for authorization of the automated vehicle. This can be the manufacturer of the vehicle or the software developer of the automated driving systems (or both parties).

There already exists in British law an Act which makes reference to automated vehicles. Introduced in 2018 as the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act, it states that victims who suffer injury or damage from a vehicle operating independently will not need be charged and the insurance company will pay compensation as specified.

Can watch TV, cannot use mobilephone
The new law allowing the full benefits of autonomous vehicles to be used are expected to be introduced in the middle of 2022. Apart from the convenience of travelling long distances without actually driving the car, motorists can look forward to being able to watch movies or other broadcasts on their journey. Or they could read a book or have a meal without having to also pay attention to the road ahead (although it would still be a good idea to do so).

Strangely though, use of a mobilephone is still considered illegal. The thinking behind this is that the display on an infotainment screen can be interrupted to display a warning message in an emergency when the driver may have to take over control of the car. A mobilephone would not have such a capability since it is an entirely independent device.

*The new law in Britain would allow the driver to watch TV or read a book (or even eat) but using a mobilephone (below) would still be an offence.*

Self-driving and ADAS
The new rules are a first step in allowing use of autonomous vehicles on British roads and they also clarify the difference between cars that are ‘self-driving’ and those with advanced driver assistance features (ADAS). The latter can already be found in many cars today, common ones being automatic emergency braking, cruise control and lane-keeping. ADAS, also referred to as Level 2 autonomy, helps drivers avoid accidents or minimize their effects but the driver must have control as well.

*Autonomous vehicles have many sensors – cameras and radar – around the car to constantly scan the surroundings so that the car will avoid them.*

*What the computer ‘sees’ from images captured by cameras (pictured below) on the car.*

As with most other countries, an autonomous vehicle would have to be homologated by the authorities before it can be used on public roads. No doubt new testing will be formulated to assess autonomous systems, just as the authorities have had to regularly update their testing as technologies have advanced.

Laws have to be periodically updated to take into account new technologies and Britain is doing so not just to keep pace with the changes but also see it as beneficial to the country’s economy. With clear laws that permit usage of autonomous vehicles, there can be more activity in R&D to develop the technology and related products. By 2035, around 38,000 new, high-skilled jobs could be created within the industry that would be worth £41.7 billion.

*Some concept cars already suggest that, in future, autonomous vehicles will allow the driver to be completely uninvolved in operating the vehicle. But will it then be driving?*

F1/Round 4: Highlights and Provisional Results of 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Cloudy conditions with the 60% possibility of rain was the forecast as the race was about to start. The damp starting grid filled up with 19 cars as Zhou GuanYu’s crash in the Sprint Race meant that the Alfa Romeo ORLEN driver would have to start from the pit lane.

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was ready this time, unlike yesterday when he lost out to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc leaving the starting line. This time he got a great start and even his team mate Sergo Perez in third position slipped past Leclerc. However, it was not good for the other Ferrari driven by Carlos Sainz – a bump with McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo had both cars in the gravel and Sainz could not get back out. To enable the marshals to recover the Ferrari, the Safety Car came out and took over the lead.

Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell did well to cut through from starting at 11th to place himself in 6th in the convoy behind the Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton managed to improve his 14th starting position to 12th in the running order.

Racing resumed from the fifth lap as the Safety Car left the track. Verstappen amd Perez shot forward and opened up the gap with McLaren’s Lando Norris who had managed to grab third place before the Safety Car came out. But right behind the McLaren driver was championship leader Leclerc who did not want to be delayed from getting to the front.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel had also done well to move up 5 places and got past Alpine’s Fernando Alonso who was struggling after sustaining damage that took off his sidepod. When he finally got back to the pits, the engineer gave him the bad news that the damage was severe and he might have to retire.

On lap 8 of the 63-lap race, Leclerc finally got past Norris, much to the delight of the home crowd. But his third position was still some 6 seconds from Verstappen who was protected by his team mate.

As the track was drying out, the radar showed that rain could start to fall by lap 22, so decisions were being made to hang on to the intermediates for the time being. The three frontrunners – Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc were well ahead of Norris who was 10 seconds behind the Ferrari and, for the time being, safe from Russell who was occupied with keeping Haas F1’s Kevin Magnussen from passing him.

By lap 15, Hamilton was in the mirrors of the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll and trying to get into 10th and start to think about points. Just ahead of the two was Scuderia Alphatauri’s Yuki Tsunoda who started to become involved in the tussle as well.

The first drive to come in was Ricciardo on lap 18 and his McLaren got medium tyres. He was followed by Pierre Gasly (Scuderia Alphatauri) and Alex Albon (Williams) who changed to the dry-weather tyres. By lap 21, all the cars had made their tyre changes. During his pit stop, Hamilton had contact with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who was departing after his tyre change and it was deemed an unsafe release, for which the Stewards gave him a 5-second penalty.

The forecast changed to less risk of rain which meant that the medium tyres would have to last for another 39 laps. Ricciardo decided to come in again on lap 27 for slicks but he still had a lot of work ahead as he was way down in 18th. He would come in again another 4 laps later and try another set of tyres.

Perez was doing a good job of keeping Leclerc in third but the Ferrari driver was pushing hard. When told of the increasing efforts, Verstappen widened the gap to 9 seconds but by about halfway through the race, he would start to encounter traffic.

It seemed that Ricciardo, being way back, was a ‘tyre tester’ and from his experiences with the hard tyres, it was better to stick to the mediums for the rest of the race, so Norris would have to think about tyre management for another 25 laps.

By lap 40, Verstappen appeared behind Hamilton, down in 14th, and it must have been hard for the 7-time world champion to let the man he lost to last year pass. Once the Red Bull got past, Hamilton got back to trying to displace Gasly from 13th place. It was obvious that the Mercedes-AMG just did not have the speed to overtake the Scuderia Alphatauri.

With 13 laps to go, Verstappen had built up a comfortable lead of almost 14 seconds. Leclerc was still battling with Perez, while Norris was also safe in 4th place and just had to make it to the end.

On lap 50, Leclerc came in and switched to soft tyres (which he was not 100% convinced was right) and on the very next lap, the two Red Bulls came in and did the same change. Verstappen had such a big gap that he easily returned to the lead as he rejoined the race.

Disaster struck for Leclerc on lap 54 and he spun and hit a barrier. He was fortunate to slide sideways into the barrier so the damage was less but still the front wing was damaged. He managed to get back to the pits but when he got back out, he was done in 8th. With 5 laps left, he had to try to improve his position but make sure he did finish as well.

As two laps remained, some teams started to alert their drivers of rain on some parts of the track, but for Verstappen, there were no worries of challenges before the end. Both Red Bulls were comfortably ahead as they crossed the finish line, with Norris joining them on the podium.

Behind Norris came Russell who had put in a strong effort in those closing laps to prevent Valtteri Bottas from taking fourth place. As for Leclerc, he could only reach up to 6th position, having managed to get past Yuki Tsunoda, by the time the race ended.

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