Automologist ATHERTON makes a plea for the disappearing manual transmission.
In a day and age when everything in our lives seems to be geared towards autonomy, there still are purists who prefer if things were left as they are. Yes, technology can improve our lives in leaps and bounds. But, to me, there are some man-made objects that would be good if they kept a certain element of manual labour. Not all, but some—like, the car.
Walter Röhrl in the automotive world is akin to Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. He is a four-time winner of the Monte Carlo Rally with four different automakers, and a two-time World Rally Champion winner—first with a Fiat 131 Abarth in 1980 and two years later in an Opel Ascona 400.
China, we know, is trying to electrify its roads, and automakers like Tesla have been trying to make inroads into the country to take advantage of the Chinese cash cow.
Perodua, despite already being Malaysia’s best-selling car brand, is not resting on its laurels and this is evident by the opening of another new Perodua 3S centre in Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh. Yusmanida Auto Sdn Bhd, a Perodua dealer since 2003, opened the new 45,000 sq. ft. outlet, which has a built-up area of 16,000 sq. ft.
Designing a car is an artform in itself. As a matter of fact, designing anything stems from emotion and a vision of how one wants the work to materialize. Some use the latest devices whilst others prefer the tried and trusted old school way, so to speak.
Automologist MAC, who travels to the Philippines regularly, assures us that we are unlikely to be run over by a car when we visit the country.