Honda Accord 2.0 VTi-L - Executive Cruiser

                Honda has always pride itself in making cars for a younger clientele, as well as the young at heart, and this ambition is reflected in its model range, from the subcompact hatch to the chauffeur-driven sedan.

The Accord may be a D-segment car but it is treated no less differently in styling direction and driving dynamics: it must exude the spirited aura in engine response and dynamic feel to bring about a joie de vivre in motoring.

Now in its ninth stage of development, the latest Accord has indeed come a long way from the very first model 37 years ago: in 1976, it started as a threedoor hatchback with a 1.6-litre engine that had a strong pace for some lively driving.

A four-door sedan was added a year later and which proved to be more popular here.

Its body styling had evolved and expanded along the way, and this included the estate or wagon alternative that found appeal with buyers mainly in the US or Europe.

A few of the latter generation models were given a fastback rear for the four-door model to bring about a sporty element.

That styling direction took a back seat with the eighth generation model as Honda decided to promote the sedan profile again.

It did appear that the general feedback in major markets had indicated a greater preference for the coupe-ish rear and which we heartily agree as the sporty element gels more in line with the youthful slant of Honda cars.

Thus, the ninth generation model comes with a short rear, long bonnet profile that embodies the 'go faster' body design while staying contemporary with LED (light emitting diodes) daytime running headlights.

It had been almost a year since the latest Accord was introduced here, in early September to be precise, and Honda Malaysia was reportedly having its hands full meeting sales orders.

That best explained why a media car was finally available for a drive impression and given the three model variants available — two 2.0- litre models and one 2.4-litre flagship – we chose the 2.0 VTi-L, which we believe to be the more popular one, going by the market trend of the previous generation Accord.

The 2.0 VTi-L is the bridging model between the 2.0 VTi and the 2.4 VTi-L, and shares some equipment and fittings with the bigger engine displacement Accord.

These, among others, included black leather upholstery, steering wheel switch for phone control, eight-way driver power seat, power lumbar support for the driver's seat, rear door sunshade, satellite-linked navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and reverse camera.

Compared to the previous model, the latest Accord is slightly smaller suggesting that its current body dimensions are about ideal for the category, especially when the spacious interior remains a strong feature.

It now runs on a shorter wheelbase of 2,775mm from 2,800mm previously and has a shorter body in length at 4,870mm from 4,945mm.

While it is marginally wider at 1,850mm from 1,845mm, it is shorter in height at 1,465mm from 1,475mm; however, the new Accord runs on slightly wider tracks front and rear at 1,585mm from 1,580mm for better stability.

Despite this shedding off in dimensional expanse, the new Accord did not come lighter in kerb weight than before: model for model, the 2.0 VTi-L is said to weigh in at 1,530kg, up by 30kg.

This might have to do with the higher fittings in new equipment such as the sun shades, bigger 8-inch i-MID (intelligent multi-information display), more panel linings to reduce noise intrusion, to name a few.

There is no mention of an improvement in aerodynamic efficiency in the new body profile but we believe the latest styling should be good enough to provide quiet rides on highways while offering low wind resistance to gain on fuel mileage from an engine that is not working hard to power the car.

The 2.0-litre engine appears similar to that in the previous model, unlike the 2.4-litre unit that is newly developed under the new Honda Earth Dreams programme.

Staying to the belief that less is more, the 2.0-litre engine comes with a single overhead camshaft (while many power units these days come with two and that includes engines as small as 1.0- litre) while continuing with 16 valves and i-VTEC (electronically controlled variable valve timing).

Engine output stays similar at 155PS and 190Nm of torque, and power the front wheels via the same electronically controlled fivespeed automatic transmission with Shift Hold.

There was no inkling of any gain in weight during the few days of driving: initial and passing acceleration was as good as we could recall in the previous model, enough to impress us that the spirited aspect stays true to the Honda design.

At 110kph, the engine is most 'relaxed', turning at an easy 2,000rpm and this should help stretch fuel mileage.

Of course, you can improve on that further with 'ECON' mode by pressing the green button on the dashboard so that the automatic gear changes are electronically controlled to upshift faster to stress the engine even less.

If you are in a hurry, the new Accord would oblige too as the engine delivered the pace for us to cruise easily at 140kph over open stretches, or the grunt to sprint quickly from the lights.

Comfort, both from the driver's and passenger's perspective, stayed good as well if not better than before, especially with the new Active Noise Control and Active Sound Control: these use the car's audio system to reduce low frequency noise and any intrusive engine sound to be linear and be easy on the ears.

Mostly, we heard distant rustle from the wind turbulence around the door mirrors and roof area to make the drive pleasant,especially on highways.

We could also drive the new Accord confidently through a few of our favourite corners although the 225/50 R17 Goodyear tyres did squeal a little having covered quite a bit of mileage.

The Accord has a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear: the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) is part of its active dynamic systems.

Perhaps the more important aspect was the ride comfort: it was unanimous for all on board that we liked the way the new Accord handled all those bumps and ruts that were part of our daily drives.

The suspension appeared to be well sorted out as it had the capacity to absorb the harshness of the road shocks over uneven surfaces while having the car stay firmly rooted to the road at highway speeds.

For the seemingly shorter rear, the boot has 400 litres of space to accommodate a family's luggage for an extended weekend holiday.

There is also a retractable tray (anchored to the upper shelf) that can hold items up to 5kg, which should be useful for containing loose items.

The rear seatrests may not be the folding type but by lowering the centre armrest (which has two cupholders), a few long items can be stored using the 'hole in the wall'.

We have again come away with a positive outlook of the Accord, having first enjoyed its attributes more than a year ago in Thailand, shortly after its launch there.

The Honda was part of a fleet of cars Michelin had provided to get a feel of its then new tyre, Primacy 3 ST, and it was a pleasant double impression.

The latest Accord should continue to draw high interest for all the 'positives' it has to offer and help Honda Malaysia meet its 30% target share in the D-segment market.

Another supporting factor is the Accord 2.0 VTi-L's attractive price RM149,815.30, especially against the wide field of competitors from both the East and the West.


Great Wall to launch electric car and hybrid SUV in Europe in 2022

A WEY iNest car by by Chinese car maker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is pictured during a press preview at the International Motor Show (IAA), on Monday (Sept 6, 2021) in Munich. - AFP
MUNICH: Great Wall Motor will launch an electric compact car and a plug-in hybrid SUV in Europe in 2022, it said today, joining a growing number of Chinese carmakers trying their luck on the continent with low or zero-emission vehicles.

The company said at the IAA car show here it will start taking orders for the Coffee 01 plug-in SUV for the German market at the end of 2021. Deliveries of the vehicle, which will have an electric range of 150km and will be marketed under Great Wall's WEY brand, will start in the first half of 2022.

The IAA show is the first major motor industry event worldwide since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chinese carmaker said it will announce other European markets besides Germany for the Cofee 01 soon. The company will also launch its first European "brand experience centre" here in early 2022.

Great Wall said the compact electric car, which will fall under its ORA brand and have a range of up to 400km, will also come to Europe in 2022. Orders will open for the ORA CAT towards the end of 2021, but the company did not specify in which markets it will be sold.

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio Inc said in May that it had launched its first overseas store in Norway.

Rivals Xpeng Inc and BYD already sell electric cars in Europe.


Proton Saga enters Pakistan

                SUBANG JAYA: The Proton Saga has expanded to its eighth foreign market - Pakistan.

The Saga, which has received a significant update in 2019, is also on sale in Brunei, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius and Nepal.

The Saga line-up in Pakistan consists of three models, Saga MT, Saga AT and Saga Ace AT.

Additionally, 100 units of the Saga R3 Limited Edition will also be offered paired with either the MT or AT transmission.

A lucky draw will be held for the latter and buyers are required to register their interest by April 16.

The product launch was conducted online and present were High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim and Al-Haj Automotive CEO Hilal Khan Afridi. Al-Haj Automotive is Proton distributor in Pakistan.

Following the launch of the Proton X70 in December last year, the Saga is the second model to be offered in Pakistan, the world's fifth most populous nation.

At present, all vehicles are supplied from Malaysia as CBU units but Al-Haj Automotive is set to start local assembly operations at its new plant in Karachi by the third quarter of 2021.

With a planned capacity of 25,000 units per annum, the plant will enable sales of Proton cars to grow quickly in the country.

“Exports are an important pillar for Proton and will account for an increasing percentageof our sales volume in coming years," said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

"Aside from promoting the features of our products, we also leverage on the high quality reputation of Malaysia’s manufacturing sector, which lends credibility to our own product story. In 2021, aside from exploring new opportunities, we will also ramp up efforts to re-enter major Asean markets such as Thailand and Indonesia.”

 Hilal Khan is the point man for Proton in Pakistan.


McLaren may sell off HQ to raise cash

                LONDON: McLaren Automotive is considering a sale of its global headquarters as part of a refinancing strategy the company announced earlier this year.

The British company has also appointed banks to advise on a debt restructuring and equity raise to buttress its balance sheet, it said in a statement Thursday.

The company has struggled since the coronavirus outbreak. A £300 million equity raise early this year hasn’t been enough to face an almost 70% revenue collapse throughout the pandemic.

McLaren sought emergency funds over the summer offering its headquarters and historic car collection as collateral.

However, existing creditors opposed the plan in court, eventually forcing McLaren to raise £150 million from National Bank of Bahrain BSC, a lender linked to its largest shareholder Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund.

The company needs to fix its finances to continue developing models that allows it to compete with the likes of Ferrari NV.

It is also working to increase the proportion of its components that are made in Britain as the transition period for Britain leaving the European Union ends this year.


Nissan Sentra gets NISMO-ed

                LOS ANGELES: Nissan has kicked off its slate of new product debuts at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show with a preview of the new 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO in downtown Los Angeles.

The off-site event displayed the latest member of the motorsports-inspired NISMO lineup against a backdrop of classic Nissan and Datsun performance vehicles and where it is most at home – on the street. Nissan moves into the Los Angeles Convention Center today for an action-packed reveal of the new Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition model.

At the heart of the new Sentra NISMO is a 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbocharged engine rated at 188hp and 240Nm of torque. The engine is matched with choice of a 6-speed manual transmission, with gear ratios selected to take maximum advantage of the engine's powerband and torque curve, or an advanced, tuned Xtronic transmission.

"It's important to offer a 6-speed manual transmission with the new Sentra NISMO, both to reinforce its pure performance credentials and to up the direct engagement factor between driver and the vehicle," said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc.

In addition to the new Sentra NISMO, the 2017 Sentra is offered in five other grade levels: Sentra S, SV, SR, SR Turbo and SL.

Bunce said the Sentra NISMO is expected to have an estimated starting price of under US$25,000 (RM109,000) when it arrives in January, adding that it "is going to be very popular here in southern California and around the United States."

The new Sentra NISMO, 2017 Versa Note, 2017 JUKE Black Pearl Edition and Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Star Wars Limited Edition – along with the complete Nissan model lineup – will be on display at the show in the Nissan exhibit.


Porsche rolls out 100,000th Taycan

                STUTTGART: The 100,000th Porsche Taycan rolled off the production line on Nov 7.

The milestone car left the assembly line about three years after production first started at the main plant in Zuffenhausen in September 2019.

The Neptune Blue Taycan Turbo S is destined for a customer in the United Kingdom.

“We are very pleased to have reached this milestone in production history so quickly – despite the recent challenges posed by the semiconductor shortage and the volatile Covid situation,” said Kevin Giek, Vice President Model Line Taycan.

“With the Taycan, we have made a decidedly successful start in the electric age.”

The top three individual markets for the all-electric sports car are currently the US, China and the UK/Republic of Ireland.

The model is now available in three body styles – the Taycan sports sedan, Taycan Cross Turismo and Taycan Sport Turismo.

In each case, up to five engine options are coupled with rear- or all-wheel drive.

Its range of 513km (WLTP) makes the Taycan 4S the version with the longest range. The Taycan Turbo S is the current holder of the fastest production electric car record, with a time of 7 minutes 33 seconds round the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

It is not only in production that the Taycan has quickly reached the 100,000 mark. It’s a magic number in terms of mileage, too, with many customers having already covered far more than 100,000km in the electric sports car.

Jean-Hubert Revolon has already driven more than 188,119km in his Taycan 4S since mid-August 2020. The transport entrepreneur lives in the Lyon area and has already driven his Porsche in almost all of France's neighbouring countries, covering daily distances of up to 1,200km.

His reasons for buying the car were its design and “the technical innovations, which are good for the environment as well as my budget because of the low running costs,” he said.

Other strengths, in his opinion, are the car’s performance and suspension, which offer “fiendishly good grip and maximum agility, something only the wizards at Porsche can manage.”

Moreover, the 43-year-old said none of his many cars have ever been as reliable as his Taycan 4S. Only one suspension sensor has needed to be replaced so far.


SUKE Phase 1 opens on Sept 16, toll-free for a month

                KUALA LUMPUR: Motorists in Klang Valley will enjoy free one-month access to the Sungai Besi–Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) Phase One operating from noon on Friday (Sept 16), says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The stretch will involve a 16.6km alignment from Cheras-Kajang Interchange to Bukit Antarabangsa Interchange.

The Works Minister said the expressway was expected to disperse traffic up to 36% along the Middle Ring Road 2, Jalan Ampang and Ampang Toll Plaza during peak hours.

He also said travel journeys using the brand-new expression will be reduced from 75 minutes to 20 minutes.

"The government is committed to addressing the congestion issues faced by the citizens in the capital through the benefit of shorter travel distances and reduced carbon emission.

"The completion and opening of SUKE will bring in significant impact towards the effort to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow especially at the east Kuala Lumpur," he said, during the launching ceremony tonight at SUKE Bukit Teratai Toll Plaza here.

READ MORE: SUKE is KL’s new highway with a view

Fadillah also said that SUKE achieved two national records in the Malaysian Book of Records by having the country’s first iconic two-level helicoidal ramp and the tallest segmented box girder (SBG) at the height of 56.4 metres from the ground level.

The SBG stretches above the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line and Cheras-Kajang Expressway (CKE).

Prolintas chairman Datuk Idris Kechot said the construction of SUKE has created great spill-over impacts to the economy.

"We have provided many business and employment opportunities.

"248 local contractors and 10 main consultants have been involved in the construction of the expressway," he said, adding that approximately 10,000 jobs were also created.

As of 30 August, SUKE is at a 98% rate of project progress.

The remaining 7.8km alignment which is still under construction involving Alam Damai Toll Plaza and three more interchanges was expected to complete by the first quarter of 2023.


Aston Martin Lagonda All-Terrain concept for Geneva debut

                GENEVA: Aston Martin will debut the Lagonda All-Terrain concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The All-Terrain Concept bears the bold hallmarks of the Vision Concept, which debuted at last year’s Geneva Show.

"The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept offers explicit clues regarding what will be the first Lagonda model to enter production, and further demonstrates how Lagonda’s zero emission powertrain enables us to create spectacular cars," said Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO Andy Palmer.

Joining the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept will be examples of Aston Martin’s three core series production sportscars: Vantage, DB11 AMR and DBS Superleggera.

Two of these cars are the work of Aston Martin’s bespoke personalisation service, Q by Aston Martin. Inspiration has been taken from the high performance of motorsport for its Geneva Show Vantage.

Finished in Q by Aston Martin’s exclusive searing ‘Cosmos Orange’ paintwork and featuring a dazzling array of interior and exterior carbon fibre detailing together with orange graphics and matching anodised interior switches, it perfectly expresses the Vantage’s innate dynamism and racing DNA.

Drama of a different kind is provided by the Q by Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, which explores dark Gothic themes.

Painted with Q by Aston Martin exclusive ‘Numinous Pearl’ with Q Collection Black Tinted Carbon Body Pack, Satin Black and Satin Bronze 21” forged ‘Y’spoke wheels and smoked tail lamps the 715bhp Super GT exudes maximum menace.

Inside a combination of Triaxial Weave carbon fibre, Black Metallic and Bitter Chocolate Aniline Leather upholstery reinforce that message, creating brooding ambience that’s rich in opulence and intrigue.


Mercedes-AMG E-Scooter: Emissions-free last mile mobility

                STUTTGART: A Mercedes-AMG E-Scooter will soon be introduced to market as a means to close the "last mile" mobility gap in an eco-friendly way.

The E-Scooter's 9.6Ah battery allows a range of up to 40km, while a 500 watt electric motor enables the matt black e-scooter to accelerate quickly to 20kph.

Instead of a thumb throttle like most e-scooters have, it features a twist grip, which can be operated more intuitively and precisely.

Turning the twist grip forward activates the kinetic recuperation system for braking and recharges the battery at the same time.

Its low weight of only 14.7kg is an additional plus.

For ease of transportation, the Mercedes-AMG E-Scooter features an intuitive foot-operated folding mechanism and includes foldable handles.

This means that it also fits into a small car boot and can be carried conveniently on all forms of public transport.

It was developed in co-operation with Swiss micromobility specialist Micro Mobility Systems AG.

The Mercedes-AMG E-Scooter is braked either by an electric motor brake on the twist grip, with a drum brake at the rear or via the foot brake on the mudguard.

The focus here is naturally also on safety: thanks to a wide deck with anti-slip coating, a firm and secure two-footed stance is assured.

An integrated bell allows users to alert others to their presence in city traffic, while the centrally positioned display provides information on speed, charging status and riding mode.


Bosch Malaysia in Stop the Crash safety campaign

                PETALING JAYA: Bosch Malaysia is collaborating with Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), ASEAN NCAP and other partners to launch a "Stop the Crash" campaign in November 2016.

The campaign aims to educate the public on the importance of having safe and reliable automotive technologies in their vehicles.

To foster greater awareness on safe driving, Bosch became a partner of the Malaysian ‘Safe Steps’ programme.

The programme, initiated by the Prudence Foundation, is a first-of-its-kind pan-Asian public service campaign to raise awareness on road safety.

Meanwhile, Malaysia is a key research and development location for the Bosch Group.

In 2015, Bosch invested over RM138mil in Malaysia, with a major portion spent on research and development.

Bosch also expanded its car multimedia plant in Penang in April this year, to increase production capacity and enable the company to take on more projects in developing future connectivity solutions for Bosch worldwide, and integrating them into today’s cars.

 Electric power steering for Proton Iriz.

Another key investment in 2016 is the retrofitting of the car multimedia plant with Industry 4.0 technologies.

Its automotive steering plant in Penang is also supplying electric power steering systems for the Proton Iriz.

In Malaysia, Bosch also supplies steering systems to Perodua and BMW.

Malaysia is also the company’s designated global research and development facility for Connectivity Control Units (CCU) for markets such as China and Europe.

 Bosch neoSense head unit with haptic feedback.

The CCU is an integral part of the eCall system – an innovative emergency system that transmits data such as location and time to centralised monitoring centers when an accident occurs.

These centers then relay critical information that are triggered by sensors within the vehicle to emergency rescue services, thus reducing response times to the accident scene, especially in rural areas.

This paves the way to enable information exchange between vehicles, as well as between vehicles and traffic infrastructure.

“The Malaysian market and industry are dynamic and changing rapidly. Increased agility and new ways of seizing opportunities are essential. This includes strengthening our collaboration with partners, widening online portfolios for consumer-centric products, and increasing our mid-price point product range that is sophisticated, yet affordable,” said Simon Song, managing director of Bosch in Malaysia.

Bosch has been present in Malaysia since 1923, represented by Robert Bosch Sdn Bhd, with offices located in Selangor, Penang and Johor.

The company has three manufacturing arms in Penang providing car multimedia systems, power tools and automotive steering.


Apple’s plan for cars: Using iPhone to control a/c, seats, radio

                LOS ANGELES: Apple Inc., whose CarPlay interface is used by millions of motorists to control music, get directions and make phone calls, is looking to expand its reach within cars.

The company is working on technology that would access functions like the climate-control system, speedometer, radio and seats, according to people with knowledge of the effort.

The initiative, known as "IronHeart” internally, is still in its early stages and would require the cooperation of automakers.

The work underscores the idea that cars could be a major moneymaker for the tech giant - even without selling a vehicle itself.

While plans for an Apple car have faced setbacks, including the defection of key executives this year, the company has continued to make inroads with CarPlay.

It lets customers link up their iPhones with a vehicle to handle so-called infotainment features.

Seven years after its launch, CarPlay is now offered by most major automakers.

IronHeart would take CarPlay a step further. The iPhone-based system could access a range of controls, sensors and settings, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the project is secret.
That includes: inside and outside temperature and humidity readings; temperature zones, fans and the defroster systems; settings for adjusting surround-sound speakers, equalisers, tweeters, subwoofers, and the fade and balance; seats and armrests; the speedometer, tachometer and fuel instrument clusters

An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the Cupertino, California-based company’s car plans.

By gaining access to controls and instruments, Apple could turn CarPlay into an interface that could span nearly the entire car.

The data also could be used by Apple or third parties to create new kinds of apps or add features to existing functions.

Some Apple users have complained about the need to jump between CarPlay and a car’s built-in system to manage key controls. This initiative would alleviate that friction.

The effort would be similar to Apple’s approach to health and home technology.

The company offers an app on the iPhone that can access and aggregate data from external health devices using its HealthKit protocol.

The Home app, meanwhile, uses Apple’s HomeKit system to control smart appliances, including thermostats, security cameras and door locks.

IronHeart would represent Apple’s strongest push into cars since CarPlay was released in 2014, but it may not be a hit with automakers.

They could be reluctant to hand over control of key features to Apple. While CarPlay is now in more than 600 car models, other Apple initiatives launched in recent years have been slower to catch on with automakers.

In 2015, Apple started allowing carmakers to build third-party apps for CarPlay that could access the car radio, GPS and climate controls.

In 2019, it started supporting CarPlay on secondary car screens like digital instrument clusters.

A year later, it announced CarKey, a feature for unlocking a car with an iPhone or Apple Watch, and electric-vehicle routing, the ability for the iPhone to sense when it is connected to an EV and provide charger information in the maps view.

But automakers have mostly balked at adding these enhancements. The climate control and radio apps are only supported by a few cars.

And the EV routing feature isn’t available on any vehicles that are currently shipping. The CarPlay display expansion is only supported by a few brands, such as BMW and Volkswagen, and CarKey is just on some BMWs.

For some time, Apple also allowed its Siri voice assistant to tap in to certain car features, letting it change audio sources and radio stations, move seats, and operate climate settings.

But those features, which relied on app support from carmakers, were removed in iOS 15, the latest version of the iPhone operating system, according to a message sent to developers in July.

Apple could ultimately delay or even cancel the IronHeart features if they don’t show enough promise.

Some manufacturers, including Tesla Inc., have disregarded the car efforts of Apple and Google altogether, choosing to build their own next-generation infotainment ecosystems.

Ford Motor Co. is looking to get more ambitious as well. It recently hired Doug Field, the former chief engineer of Tesla and the head of Apple’s own car project, to work on its in-car technology.

Still, carmakers risk irking iPhone fans by focusing on their own incompatible systems. And that may ultimately sway more of them to embrace Apple’s technology.

They also may choose to implement the features in different ways depending on the car. In some vehicles, Apple could gain control over climate controls, while others may only offer access to speakers.

For Apple, the project could provide insights helpful to its efforts to build a self-driving car. However, the company wouldn’t collect a user’s or car’s data as part of the initiative.

After the departure of Field, the company appointed Apple Watch and Health software chief Kevin Lynch as its car project head.

An actual car is probably years away - if it ever happens - but Apple has several ex-Tesla vice presidents and former BMW electric car executive Ulrich Kranz working on the project.

Gaining a stronger foothold in cars could also keep the iPhone entrenched in customers’ daily lives. Each time the device handles more tasks - like using a car, paying for groceries, showing an ID or unlocking a house door - it gives consumers another reason to stay an iPhone user.

Then they’re more likely to uprade to newer models and steer clear of rival phones.

Even with Apple’s push into new areas, the iPhone remains the company’s biggest moneymaker, accounting for about half of sales, or nearly US$138 billion last year.


Audi shows off vehicles for artificial intelligence

                FRANKFURT: Audi is presenting three vehicles equipped with a new form of artificial intelligence: the new A8 and the concept cars Elaine and Aicon.

The German carmaker is intent on showcasing Audi AI, its new name for a range of innovative systems that will make vehicles increasingly autonomous, and eventually enable drivers to engage in other activities.

Thanks to Audi AI, future models by the ring-logo brand will be "intelligent" and better able to adapt to their passengers than ever before.

These innovations have been highlighted in two new concept cars. The first of these, the Elaine, is an electric SUV with fully automated driving that enables it to function without a driver or passengers on board, and also to autonomously perform certain manoeuvres like parking, visiting a carwash or finding a charging station.

For its part, the Aicon goes even further because it has no pedals or steering wheel. This is Audi's vision of the interior and exterior design of vehicles of the future. The Aicon is also a fully electric concept with a record range of 800km without a charge.

Coming soon to dealerships, the new generation A8 is billed as the first series car with the capacity to take over driving functions in certain traffic conditions (for example on an open road at a constant speed).

If it encounters conditions that are not compatible with its autonomous systems, the vehicle will tell the driver to take back control with an alert that is  seconds in advance.

To achieve this result, the Audi A8 is equipped with radar units, ultrasonic sensors, camera systems, a high-performance processor to interpret all of this incoming data and integrated fast Internet.


Bentley launches Fragrances for men and women

                CREWE: Bentley Fragrances is delighted to introduce its first collection of exclusive fragrances for men and women.

Launching with three evocative sensuous journeys to be followed by further additions, Bentley Beyond - The Collection matches peerless ingredients with exotic destinations.

Each of the three fragrances showcase a most precious ingredient that conjures an exotic destination.

Composed by three rising young master perfumers, the first trio of the collection takes us to three different countries, each associated with a fragrance note and a colour theme inspired by Bentley Motors’ exclusive palette.

The trio comprises: A trip to Acapulco, Mexico, with Exotic Musk, an ambery musky composition by Mathilde Bijaoui; a voyage to Goa, India, with Majestic Cashmere, a woody fragrance by Julie Massé; an odyssey in Java, Indonesia, with Wild Vetiver, an aromatic woody scent by Sidonie Lancesseur.

In collaboration with the Bentley Styling Team, the flacon and packaging of Bentley Beyond -The Collection display the same exacting standards and attention to detail as its cars.

Bentley offers an unrivalled range of interior options, resulting in a rich choice of colour and trim combinations. The new collection draws inspiration from this palette to give each scent its distinctive chromatic code, both in the handstitched leather cap that evokes the interior of a Bentley car, and the tint of the scent, showcased by the transparent glass of the bottle:

Blue and teal for Exotic Musk; Amber and plum for Majestic Cashmere; Green and mustard yellow for Wild Vetiver.

Created with the Bentley Styling Team the majestic faceted flacon is inspired by the signature cut-crystal glass headlights of the Continental GT. The stability of the heavy 400-gram bottle is ensured by a thick glass base. The legendary Bentley emblem is engraved on the silver metal shoulders of the flacon.

The elegant packaging is covered in a soft-touch leather grain paper. The label, in the same colour as the cap of each scent, bears the names of the collection, of the fragrance, and of the destination that inspires it.


BHPetrol educates primary school kids on road safety

                KUALA LUMPUR: BHPetrol is hard at work again to raise road safety awareness among primary school children for the tenth consecutive year for its "Cerah Ceria Bersama BHPetrol" programme.

The programme was conducted by BHPetrol employees on Oct 9 at SK Kementah Kuala Lumpur as part of BHPetrol’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

More than 1,000 students participated in various road safety activities that included stopping distance of vehicles, five steps to cross safely, physical limitations, wearing bright clothing and cycling safely.

However, the main focus of this year's programme was about visibility where the child not only needs to see but also be seen - especially by a driver of a large petroleum tanker.

Also, as with every other year as part of the programme, a short road safety talk is given by the local district traffic Police or by a representative from the road safety department.

This year, it was Federal Territory director of Road Safety Department Azharul Izwan Puaadi who addressed the students on the importance of being safe on the roads and following traffic rules.

The event was also attended by Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd operations and Health, Safety, Security and Environment general manager Fardzi Shah Razali, Leftenan Kolonel Azizul bin Abdul Kadir Kem Kementah Commanding Officer.

“We hope the activities organized have increased the students’ understanding to become more cautious at all times.“ said Fardzi.


Bentley rolls out Continental GT Speed Black Edition

LONDON: The Bentley Continental GT Speed was already one of the most comfortable and exclusive ways for a driver, three passengers and their overnight bags to hit 331kph, thanks to an incredibly smooth twin-turbo six-litre W12 engine calling the shots.

However, the company's engineers have decided to give that hefty powerplant a spring clean and in doing so have found some more horsepower - seven to be exact.

That might not sound like much but it takes engine output to 633hp (from 626hp) and torque up to 840Nm. This has shaved a fraction of a second off the 0-100kph sprint (4.1 seconds a 0.1-second improvement) plus at every increment onwards up to its still conservatively estimated 331kph top speed.

More importantly for daily use, all of that power is available between 2,000 and 5,000rpm, the "everyday" rev range of inner city and highway driving, rather than powering through Switzerland on the way to Milan.

That alone might not be enough to seal the deal for the most discerning of drivers so Bentley is paring the improved performance with a new Black Edition specification which adds a special high-gloss black finish to external brightwork, unique 21-inch alloys and special brake callipers.

Other little exterior details include a choice of four contrasting colors for the car's aerodynamic elements - front splitter, side skirts and diffuser.

The cabin also boasts heavily contrasting hide and carbon fiber tones including for the first time, the option of a new Cyber Yellow leather.

"We have developed the GT Speed Black Edition to meet demand from customers for a model in the Continental line that offers both increased sporting capabilities and instantly recognisable styling cues. The Black Edition has a subtle but purposeful look that is backed up by exceptional performance," said Paul Jones, Product Line Director for Continental GT.


GPS tracker from China's MiCODUS highly vulnerable, say researchers

                BOSTON: A popular Chinese-made automotive GPS tracker used in 169 countries has severe software vulnerabilities, posing a potential danger to users’ safety, national security and supply chains, cybersecurity researchers have found.

A report by the Boston cybersecurity firm BitSight says the flaws could let attackers remotely hijack device-equipped vehicles, cutting off fuel to them and otherwise seizing control while they travel.

The researchers say users should immediately disable the MV720 GPS tracker until a fix becomes available. The report was released Tuesday to coincide with an advisory from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency listing five vulnerabilities.

BitSight said it tried unsuccessfully for months - beginning in September, with CISA joining it in late April - to engage the manufacturer, Shenzen-based MiCODUS, in discussion addressing the vulnerabilities.

The Associated Press telephoned and emailed the company but got no response. A person who answered a phone number listed on its website was unable to respond in English.

CISA said in a statement that it was not aware of "any active exploitation” of the vulnerabilities.

GPS trackers are used globally to monitor vehicle fleets - from trucks to school buses to military vehicles - and protect them against theft. In addition to collecting data on vehicle location, they typically also monitor other metrics, such as driver behavior and fuel usage.

Via remote access, many are wired to cut off a vehicle's fuel or alarm, lock or unlock its doors and more.

Using the MV720, which BitSight says costs less than US$25 per unit, a malicious user could remotely cut off the fuel line of a vehicle in motion, know a vehicle’s real-time location for espionage purposes or intercept and taint location or other data to sabotage operations, said the principal BitSight researcher on the project, Pedro Umbelino.

He said multiple malicious scenarios are possible: First responders' vehicles could be crippled, or a hacker could shut off an engine and demand a cryptocurrency ransom of victims to avoid calling a mechanic.

The main vulnerabilities: The device comes with a default password that more than 90% of users don’t change, and there is second, obscure but hard-coded password that works for all devices, BitSight found. It also found security flaws in the software of the web server used to remotely manage the GPS devices.

The manufacturer, MiCODUS claims an installed base of 1.5 million devices across 420,000 customers, said BitSight.

Its research found they included a Fortune 50 energy company and an aerospace company, a national military in South America and in eastern Europe, a nuclear power plant operator and a national law enforcement agency in western Europe. It did not name any of them.

Countries with the most users included, by continent: Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Russia.

Richard Clarke, the former US cybersecurity czar, called the insecure GPS device yet another example of a smart Chinese-made product "that is phoning home and could be used maliciously by the Chinese government.”

While Clarke said he doubted the tracker was designed for that purpose, the danger is real because Chinese companies are obliged by law to follow their government’s orders — which is why Washington has been seeking to minimise Chinese components in US telecoms networks and why some in Congress are pushing for a ban on US government purchases of Chinese drones.

"You just wonder, how often are we going to find these things that are infrastructure — where there’s a potential for Chinese abuse — and the users don’t know?” said Clarke.


Why is Tesla activating the in-car camera of its vehicles?

                SAN FRANCISCO: In its latest software update, Tesla is enabling activation of the camera placed in the interior of some of its cars, in order to detect the presence of the driver at the wheel when the vehicle is in Autopilot mode.

This camera is placed above the rearview mirror and is therefore intended to capture any moments of inattention from the driver.

It complements the various sensors already installed, particularly on the steering wheel, but which are much less reliable.

All of them are intended to ensure the presence and attentiveness of the driver, even when they are not exercising direct control over the automatic steering of their car. They must be capable of reacting and taking action at any time, in case of danger.

For the moment, this concerns Model 3 and Model Y owners. Tesla has also ensured the confidentiality of data. According to this new update, "Camera data does not leave the car itself, which means the system cannot save or transmit information unless data sharing is enabled."

This decision to activate the interior camera comes in the aftermath of numerous accidents that involved a Tesla with Autopilot mode activated and drivers who were not sufficiently vigilant.

Tesla's Autopilot is a driving mode that allows the vehicle to maintain a trajectory, accelerate and brake automatically in its lane, without the intervention of the driver.

However, the driver has to keep an eye on what's going on so that they can take control at any time if something goes wrong.


Jumping on the electric bandwagon

                PETALING JAYA: Electric car enthusiast Farhan Abdul Rahim is thrilled about the tax exemptions for the sector recently announced in Budget 2022.

Farhan, who has had a Tesla Model 3 for over a year, thinks that the full exemptions from import and excise duties and sales tax for electric vehicles (EVs) will make the price of these cars more affordable to Malaysians.

“The exemptions are likely to mean a price tag of about RM60,000 to RM70,000 less for some models.

“For instance, the base model for Tesla 3 is priced at around RM330,000 to RM340,000. With these exemptions, you can get one for around RM280,000,” says the chemical engineer who had another EV, the Renault Zoe, previously.

“Many of my friends who used to be on the fence before went forward to make a booking for an EV the moment the Budget was announced,” he adds.

Farhan is a member of the Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club, whose Facebook group has grown to 7,500 members. When it first started in 2019, it only had seven paid up members, including its founders; last year, there were 217.

Rise of the (electric) machines

Malaysia is not the only country in which there has been a rise in EV bookings as well as people showing an interest in buying one.

As climate change grips the world and the search for ways to reduce carbon emissions without impeding economic activities becomes even more urgent, the sale of EVs – and with it, the dream of using cleaner and more environmentally-friendly energy – has been increasing.

From escooters for that last mile connectivity from public transport stops to electric buses plying city routes, EVs are taking the transport sector by storm.Earlier this month, Tesla reported that it had delivered 936,000 of its electric cars in 2021, an 86% increase from the previous year despite the ongoing shortage of computer chips due to supply chain issues.

In Britain, electric cars accounted for 26% of sales in December last year alone when just a year before, in 2020, it only made up 6.6% of new cars bought.

Among sectors with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia in 2016, mobility was second only to electricity consumption, so targeting this sector to reduce our carbon footprint is a no brainer.

However, Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad says EVs are generally beyond the reach of most people in the country at the moment, especially those in the low-income bracket.

“Thus, they are not meant for the mass market segment, at least not at present. The market for EVs is still very small, that is, not even 0.1% of annual total industry volume,” she points out, adding that consumer interest and demand remain low due primarily to price.

Aishah explains that over the past few years, the market for EVs in Malaysia has been driven mostly by the efforts and initiatives of some OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) such as BMW, Porsche, Nissan and Renault.

“These are the popular brands of EVs in the country at the moment,” she says.

But with the latest incentives announced by the government, Aishah notes that a number of other OEMs, particularly from China, Europe and South Korea, are showing more interest in introducing their EVs into the Malaysian market, citing the latest launch by Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors.

However, she cautions that even with the tax exemption incentives the cheapest electric car would still be beyond the reach of most ordinary rakyat.

“For example, the cheapest EV, such as the Nissan Leaf which costs more than RM150,000, is way more expensive than our national cars,” she says.

Nonetheless, MAA appreciates the government’s recent incentives for EVs, she says, calling them “a move in the right direction” and a way for the automotive industry to support the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from motor vehicles.

Last year, Malaysia ambitiously pledged to unconditionally reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity across its economy by 45% against gross domestic product by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. We have also promised to achieve net zero emissions as early as 2050.

Policy support, reminds Aishah, has so far played a key role in most successful EV markets – without it, it is not easy for such markets to grow.

Power to the people

It will take more than just making EVs cheaper to get Malaysians excited about driving these cars.

For one thing, charging stations are still few and far between, even in the Klang Valley.

When he started driving his first EV, the first generation of Renault Zoe, which could then travel between 120km to 150km on a single charge, Farhan remembers a fear then was the lack of charging points.

“It took me some time to get used to knowing how far I could drive,” he recalls.

Not to mention that while there may soon be charging stations sprouting up in shopping malls and hotels in the Klang Valley and other major cities, that may not be the case in, say, a kampung in the depths of Sabah, which makes travelling to rural areas difficult.

“Look at how Tesla has become so successful. It may be one of the few manufacturers that not only makes EVs but sells the infrastructure as well,” says Farhan.

And selling almost a million units has really helped to accelerate the development of the EV infrastructure, he points out.

But we can’t rush into putting up charging stations willy-nilly. Aishah says implementing the EV industry must be carried out in stages to ensure its sustainability in the long run.

“More infrastructure development, particularly charging stations, ought to be built throughout the country and not only in major cities like Kuala Lumpur,” she says.

There should also be more direct incentives, such as incentives for companies that switch their corporate fleet to EVs and tax relief for individual owners, as well as incentivising the industry to bring in models directly (CBUs, ie, completely built up, or made in foreign countries and imported as fully operating vehicles, not parts assembled here), followed in stages by vehicles assembled in the country.

Another player in this sector, the Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia, signed a memorandum of agreement in August last year with the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT (Internet of Things) Institute to collaborate on setting up a network of 1,000 DC rapid charging stations around the country by 2025.

Likewise, the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation has announced it is aiming to increase the number of its charging stations in Peninsular Malaysia from roughly 400 to over 2,500 units.

The agency under the Water and Environment Ministry is leading the country’s charge in green growth, climate change mitigation, and climate resilience and adaptation.

“We understand that land transportation consistently remained the second largest greenhouse gas-emitting sector in the country. As such, it’s important for the automotive industry to support the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from motor vehicles,” says Aishah.

“After all, this is ultimately for the benefit of each and every one of us in terms of a cleaner and safer environment.”

There are also moves from the government beyond tax benefits. In a statement issued last Saturday, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said a national platform to develop and commercialise energy storage systems for electric mobility as well as domestic and industrial consumption is being worked on.

The NanoMalaysia Energy Storage Technology Initiative (Nesti) programme, which was launched on Nov 23, will see participation from industry players, researchers and end users.

Adham said the ministry will continue to search for solutions based on science, technology and innovation in its efforts to achieve the country’s target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

“Among these is the technology to create energy storage for EV use, which will have positive spin-offs.

“The ministry has identified a storage system for renewable energy which is environmentally friendly as well as capable of reducing the use of fossil fuels,” he said.

Adham said that this year, the Enabling Mobility Electrification for Green Technology (Emerge) Programme, which is being spearheaded by Nano-Malaysia, will focus on developing and commercialising local EV technology with start-ups and small and medium-sized companies.

Electric dreams

However, people switching en masse to EVs won’t totally reduce Malaysia’s carbon footprint overnight.

This is primarily because much of our electricity – including the power at EV charging stations – comes from “dirty” sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels like natural gas and coal.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, out of the 156,665GWh of electricity generated in 2016, coal was the main energy source at 46%, followed by natural gas at 39.7%, hydropower at 13.2% and oil at 0.7%.

Renewables made up a miserly 0.4%.

“Even with the introduction of EVs, one of the primary questions that has surfaced is, where does the primary source of energy come from?” says Renard Siew, climate change advisor at the Centre for Governance and Political Studies, a political science and social behavioural research firm.

“If the electricity comes from coal or other dirty sources, then technically, it wouldn’t really make much difference in terms of reducing the impact of carbon,” he points out.

We’re a country that is heavily reliant on fossil fuels – we are a net exporter of them – so to truly make a difference in mitigating climate change, Malaysia needs to commit to making the transition to renewable energy by increasing its portfolio in the sector, says Siew.

“The fact that we are situated near the Equator means that there is a lot of potential for harnessing solar power but this isn’t happening fast enough,” he says.

There have been various efforts to increase the mix of renewables in the country’s energy portfolio which “is encouraging to see”, Siew adds.

Despite the currently low adoption rate, he thinks that the transition to EVs is “just a matter of when”; however, he thinks there needs to be a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of EVs before Malaysians will consider purchasing one.

Like Aishah, though, he thinks the government’s incentives for EVs are commendable and definitely a “good start”.

But without a definite shift away from relying on fossil fuels towards renewables for power generation, there is a danger that the promotion of EVs – and subsequently, Malaysia’s ambitions to lower our carbon emissions – may remain just that: A good start.


Thai king orders new traffic rules to curb congestion from royal motorcades

File pic of Thai traffic police stopping vehicles as the king's convoy passes near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. — Reuters
BANGKOK: Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered police to stop completely blocking roads here for royal motorcades, said a government spokesman.

The order followed rare criticism of royal motorcades and other inconveniences that Thais have aired online in recent months.

Thai police will instead block off only a part of the roads for the motorcade, said spokesman Narumon Pinyosinwat on her Facebook page.

She also posted a video outlining the new rules, which also included allowing people to resume using bridges that tower over the motorcade route.

"His Majesty the King is concerned his royal travel or that of the royal family's could affect Thai people's commute," said a voice-over in the video.

Bangkok is one of the most congested major cities in the world, ranking 11th on U.S.-based traffic analytics firm INRIX's Global Traffic Scorecard in 2017.

Last year, the #royalmotorcade hashtag became one of the top-trending subjects on Thai-language Twitter.

Another recent hashtag, #islandsclosure, also rose to the top of the Twitter trending list over the New Year's holidays, as southern tourist islands were closed off for visits by the king's youngest daughter.

Thailand has a tough law against insulting the king, queen, heir or regent. Anyone who violates this law faces up to 15 years in prison.


Hundreds of Ford India workers protest over planned plant closure

Ford workers attending a protest outside Ford's car assembly and engine-making facility in Sanand, Gujarat today. — Reuters
SANAND (India): Hundreds of workers at a Ford Motor Co factory in India's western Gujarat state protested outside the automaker's plant today, demanding that the factory's closure plan be scrapped or workers be provided other jobs.

The blue-uniformed workers gathered outside what is Ford's car manufacturing and engine-making facility in Gujarat's Sanand city and said the plant's closure planned for the year-end would lead to the loss of their livelihoods.

"After working here for seven years, I am suddenly being told I do not have a job. What is my future?" asked Anil Singh Jhala, one of the workers.

"Our demand before the company and the government is that the plant should not be shut," he added. "If the plant is going to be shut, our request to the government is that when any other plant comes up here, we should get priority for jobs there at the same wage."

Once upbeat on emerging markets including India, major automakers have recently been retreating from the country due to stagnating sales.

Ford, which built its first factory in India in the 1990s, said earlier this month it planned to stop making cars in the country and take a US$2 billion hit as it does not see itself making profit in the country.

The plant employs around 1,200 people, a Ford India spokesman said in a statement.

"We will be working with the unions and other stakeholders on measures to help balance the impact and to care for those directly affected by the restructuring," he added.

"We have started discussions with the union and have nothing additional to share."

The string of exits and plant closures by automakers in India in recent years have worsened the country's unemployment crisis, posing a major challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who came to power in 2014 on the promise of creating jobs.

"We are in shock since the announcement," said Jaisukh Kandolia, an employee who had been working at the Ford plant since 2016.

"We have been told the plant will close by Dec 31," he said. "We do not know what we are going to do in the future."


Next-gen Toyota 86 in the works?

                PETALING JAYA: The internet has been abuzz with news of the next-generation Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, which stems from a report by autocar.co.uk.

According to the site, Toyota and Subaru are working together once again and Toyota has decided to name the GT 86 successor as GR 86, adding another model to Gazoo Racing’s lineup after the GR Supra and the recently revealed Yaris GR-4.

The same source also adds that the new generation of rear-drive coupes for both the Toyota and Subaru brands will be built on a modified version of Toyota's TNGA architecture. Autocar estimates the GR 86 will arrive in 2021.

Meanwhile, reports from the Japanese motoring media are betting on the introduction of the FA24 H4-T engine for the upcoming sports car. It premiered in the Ascent three-row crossover and is a 2.4-litre boxer engine with a single turbocharger and produces 260hp.

If that's the case, then the horsepower count would increase significantly from the original 200hp along with a substantial torque bump available much earlier in the rpm range with the implementation of forced induction.

The current 86 offers 212Nm of torque which does 0 to 100kph in 7.6 seconds for the manual and 8.2 seconds for the automatic model.


New F1 qualifying faces delayed introduction

                LONDON: The introduction of Formula One's new qualifying system will be delayed until the fifth race of the season due to technical issues, the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Saturday.

The season starts in Australia on March 20 but the new qualifying format, announced by the governing FIA last week, will require changes to the software controlling the timing system.

"My guys who do the timing said: 'Mr E, we don't want to be put in the position because we don't think we can get it done properly in time," Ecclestone told the BBC.

He said that the new format would probably be introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix in May instead. The season is due to feature a record 21 races.

Ecclestone's Formula One Management handles the timing software, along with screen graphics and data, and he explained that the changes involved in the new elimination format were not straightforward.

"If you're going to try and explain it to the public properly, it's not just a case of 'Okay, the guy was the last one, bye-bye'," he said.

"We'll have to deal with it. I've told the FIA this and asked them what they'd like to do with it but the bottom line is there's not a lot they can do with it because we do all the timekeeping."

Under the new procedure, the slowest drivers will be eliminated as the three sessions progress rather than at the end of each phase.

After seven minutes of the first session have elapsed, the slowest driver is eliminated with others following at 90-second intervals.

Fifteen of the 22 go through to the next phase, with the slowest eliminated after six minutes. The same 90-second sequence ensues until eight drivers are left.

The final session sees one driver eliminated after five minutes and then one every 90 seconds until two are left fighting for pole position with one-and-a-half minutes remaining.


Tighter climate policies could erase US$2.3 trillion in companies value, says report

                LONDON: Tighter government climate regulations by 2025 could wipe up to US$2.3 trillion (RM9.6tril) off the value of companies in industries ranging from fossil fuel producers to agriculture and car makers, an investor group warned in a report.

Rules aimed at lowering carbon emissions are expected to accelerate in the coming years as countries scramble to meet obligations under the 2015 Paris climate agreement limiting global warming.

Any abrupt policy shifts risk severely disrupting current investment strategies, UN-backed Principles of Responsible Investing (PRI), a group representing investors with US$86 trillion of assets under management, said in a report.

“As the realities of climate change catch up, social pressure mounts, and low carbon solutions get cheaper, it’s highly improbable that governments will be allowed to let the world sleep-walk into greater rises in temperature without being compelled into forceful action sooner,” PRI chief executive Fiona Reynolds said.

“This poses huge threats for assets and for the wider system.”

Most exposed is the fossil fuel sector which could lose one third of its current value, the report said. Fossil fuels account for around two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Coal firms could lose as much as 44% in value, while the world’s top oil and gas companies risk losing up to 31% of their current market share, according the report which forecasts oil demand peaking around 2027.

The analysis showed that broad index-based funds such as the iShares MSCI ACWI ETF could lose up to 4.5% or US$2.3 trillion in its value under the most extreme scenario.

The shift would nevertheless also lead to winners.

Auto makers heavily invested in electric vehicles and electric utility firms using low-carbon power could more than double their values, the report said.

The report came out as world leaders meet in Madrid for the 2019 United Nations climate change conference, known as COP25.


Sporty new Zapp scooter designed for quick commute

                LONDON: British start-up Zapp has unveiled an eye-catching electric scooter with sporty performance which is designed to make the daily commute more fun.

The lightweight Zapp i300 blows the competition into the weeds with a top speed of 100kph, more than twice the benchmark for a typical electrified urban scooter.

Nifty acceleration from the 14kW motor makes the two-wheeler ideal for city streets and overtaking.

A removable Li-ion battery pack enables riders to charge at the office while the Zapp waits for the trip back home. Range is given as 57km.

The scooter also features regenerative braking, which returns energy to the battery cells during a journey to squeeze out a few more road kilometres between charging, while also reducing particulate pollution and helping the scooter's brakes to last longer.

"With air quality in cities worsening and our roads becoming increasingly congested, the world needs new alternatives to urban transport. We believe the i300 is the urban mobility solution people have been looking for," says Zapp CEO Swin Chatsuwan.

The Zapp i300, now available for pre-order, has a starting on-the-road price of 5,250 pounds (around RM29,000) in Britain.

The first 1,000 pre-orders will be delivered in Launch Edition, which includes an upgrade to diamond cut wheels, special graphics and a limited edition x/1000 plate. First deliveries are expected to be made in early 2019.


Lamborghini shuts factory

                FRANKFURT: Italian supercar maker Lamborghini is halting production for nearly two weeks as parent Volkswagen AG looks to limit the impact on its operations from the coronavirus crisis that has spread across the globe.

Lamborghini will temporarily close its plant in Italy, which has been hit hard by the viral outbreak, until March 25, the company said Thursday in an emailed statement.

All of the brand’s cars are manufactured at its headquarters plant on the outskirts of the northern Italian city of Bologna.

"This measure is an act of social responsibility and high sensibility toward our people, in the extraordinary situation in which we find ourselves right now,” Lamborghini chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said in the statement.

"We continue to monitor the situation in order to react rapidly and with the right flexibility, in collaboration with our people and in order to restart with energy in the right moment.”

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday ordered all shops in the country to close except for grocery stores, pharmacies and few others until March 25.

The government said factories can continue operating, but only with "precautions.”

Lamborghini’s second largest market for its super cars is China, where the virus originated and demand for vehicles has plummeted in the wake of the epidemic.

Last year, it delivered 770 vehicles in greater China — including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau — which was second only to its 2,374 deliveries in the United States.


Nissan teases all-new Altima ahead of NY reveal

                NEW YORK: About time. The sixth generation of the Altima will make its world debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show on March 28.

This official exterior sketch reveals an expressive, sophisticated all-new Altima and hints at the future of Nissan’s sedan design language. The upcoming Altima takes some sporty styling cues from the larger Maxima sedan and Nissan V-Motion 2.0 Concept.

The redesign of the Altima has been a long time coming as Nissan hasn't overhauled it since the the 2013 model year. You may recall that the North American Altima is rebadged as the Teana and sold in Malaysia, China and other Asian markets.

It's likely that the 2.5-litre-cylinder engine and CVT would be carried over plus the addition of a V6 engine option. An all-wheel drive version could also be in the mix for the upcoming Altima which goes up agaimst the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

This year’s auto show is open to the public March 30 – April 8.


Nikola announces Badger electric pickup set to compete with Rivian and Tesla

                PHOENIX: Nikola has announced the launch of its Badger electric pickup truck, a model said to generate over 900hp and have a range of almost 1,000km on a single charge.

Joining the ranks of Rivian, Tesla, and now GMC with the revival of the Hummer, the Badger is a model "designed to target and exceed every electric or petrol pickup in its class" and handle whatever needs a construction company could have for it.

Two versions of the model will be available: a fuel-cell electric or a battery-electric option.

In terms of power, the EV can generate up to 906hp and 1,329Nm of torque. From standstill, the Badger can sprint to 100kph in about 2.9 seconds and run for 965km on a single charge.

To cater for construction work, the model will be equipped with a 15kW outlet to power tools, lights, and compressors. Towing capacity measures at over 3,628kg.

The Badger will debut this September in Pheonix at Nikola World 2020, where prototypes will be available for select customers to test.


Toyota charts advances in autonomous driving

                SAN FRANCISCO: The first autonomous test vehicle developed entirely by Toyota Research Institute (TRI) was shown recently at the company’s Prius Challenge event in Sonoma, California.

The 2.0 generation advanced safety research vehicle will be used to explore a full range of autonomous driving capabilities.

“This new advanced safety research vehicle is the first autonomous testing platform developed entirely by TRI, and reflects the rapid progress of our autonomous driving programme,” said TRI CEO Gill Pratt.

The platform is the second generation of the advanced safety research vehicle revealed to the public by Toyota at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show.

It is built on a current generation Lexus LS 600hL.

The 2.0 is designed to be a flexible, plug-and-play test platform that can be upgraded continuously and often.

“Basically, it is a smart vehicle designed to get smarter over time,” said Pratt.

“It will learn individual driver habits and abilities and will benefit from shared intelligence from other cars as data gathering, sharing and connectivity technologies advance.”

Toyota’s approach to Automatic Emergency Braking shows a similar commitment.

It will be standard equipment on nearly every model and trim level of Lexus and Toyota vehicles in the US by the end of 2017, five years ahead of NHTSA’s 2022 target date.


Death of Johanna Quandt will not affect family's stake in BMW, says spokesman

                FRANKFURT: The death of Johanna Maria Quandt, head of the family which has a controlling stake in BMW, will not affect the family's shareholding in the German carmaker, a spokesman said.

Johanna Quandt died on Monday in Bad Homburg, Germany at the age of 89, the spokesman for the family said on Wednesday. The Quandt family has a 46.6 percent stake in BMW, including a 16.7 percent stake owned by Johanna Quandt.

"The stake will remain within the family," spokesman Joerg Appelhans said.

Johanna Quandt was the wife of Herbert Quandt, the German industrialist credited with BMW's revival in the post-war years, who died in 1982.

Johanna Quandt's children are also shareholders in BMW: Stefan Quandt has a 17.4 percent stake, and his sister Susanne Klatten holds a 12.5 percent stake.


A fortress on wheels: BMW grants behind the scenes access to its secretive Protection Vehicle division.

                LONDON: For 40 years, BMW has set the standard in the design and development of armoured vehicles.

Now, for the first time in its history, the company has granted TV cameras access inside its secretive Protection Vehicle division.

The Secrets of the Supercars TV show will take viewers behind the scenes for an exclusive look at manufacturing and testing of the BMW X5 Protection VR6 – an SAV capable of withstanding attack from automatic weapons like the AK-47.

The next episode of Secrets of the Supercars, to be broadcast this Sunday evening in the UK's Dave TV channel (May 2, 19:00 BST), will lift the lid on the X5 Protection VR6. It will take viewers behind the scenes at the BMW Protection facility in Munich to see how the company designs and builds a car that can withstand sustained enemy attack whilst keeping occupants safe.

The vehicle will also be put to the test on track and at the shooting range, providing viewers with unique insight into how it achieves its industry-leading safety certification.

Barely distinguishable from the series-production model both in terms of its appearance and driving dynamics, the X5 Protection VR6 shields occupants with 30mm thick multi-layer safety glass that features an internal polycarbonate splinter protection layer.

Combined with the armoured passenger compartment, post-blast-protection, leak-resistant fuel tank and run-flat tyres, the X5 Protection VR6 can safeguard against attacks from short-range and long-range weapons.

The Secrets of the Supercars series provides an inside look at some of the most exclusive car companies on earth, putting vehicles through their paces on the track, discovering game-changing supercars of the past and revealing what happens when engineers push supercar design to the extremes.

After the UK screening, the X5 Protection VR6 episode would be televised across Europe and other territories.


134,000 people to benefit from one-off RM500 cash aid under Pemerkasa Plus, says Wee

                PETALING JAYA: The one-off RM500 cash aid for public transport players is set to benefit some 134,000 people, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister said that those who will receive the cash aid included drivers of taxis, e-hailing cars, hired cars, school and tour buses including tour guides.

"These are the people who are always on my mind especially when we are facing these challenging times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Through the Pemerkasa Plus aid programme, the government agreed to allocate RM68mil for the one-off RM500 cash aid as announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday night.

"Hopefully this will benefit all 134,000 recipients, " he said in his Facebook post earlier today.

Dr Wee noted that among the recipients are 62,000 hired car and e-hailing drivers, 40,000 taxi drivers, 17,000 tour guides, 11,000 school bus drivers and 4,000 tour bus drivers.

The special aid will be channelled to the recipients beginning July, he said.

"The method and eligibility requirement will be announced soon by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad)," he said, adding that people should get the latest and accurate information from Apad's website or official social media platform.

Dr Wee also said the RM1bil allocation for the Bus and Taxi Hire Purchase Rehabilitation Scheme will benefit eligible bus and taxi operators to get a loan moratorium of up to 12 months and an extended period of up to 36 months.

He also noted that the government has extended the Sales and Services Tax (SST) exemption and discount for locally-assembled (CKD) and imported (CBU) vehicles until Dec 31.

"We hope all these extensions will meet the government’s objectives in supporting businesses’ sustainability through the Pemerkasa Plus aid programme."


Mon Ami: Citroen's new 8-hp electric arrives by post in a parcel

                PARIS: Some 70 years after Citroen made mobility affordable with a nifty little car called the 2 CV, the French maker now wants to start another small revolution with a budget two-seater electric you can order online for delivery by mail.

The electric Ami is launching in the first quarter of 2021 at a low price of around €7,000 (around RM35,000) in Citroen's home market in Europe, the maker say.

To make it even more inviting to younger buyers, the car is designed to slot into the moped category of driver's licence, meaning drivers at the age of 16 will be able to use it in many countries.

With a boxy shape, plastic parts and a design where you can't quite tell where front or back is, the Ami measures just 2.41 metres in length and 1.39 metres in width, taking up even less parking space than a Smart car.

With a tiny turning circle of 7.20 metres, it's also very handy at manoeuvring through tight urban spots and parking spaces.

At the same time, it still manages to offer ample space for two people to get in through asymmetrically hinged doors: On the passenger side, it opens the normal way, while the door on the driver side is hinged on the opposite side.

There is no separate boot, however, so you won't be going on any road trips with this car. Weighing just under 500kg, the Ami is powered by an electric motor with just 8hp - yes you read that right. This allows for a top speed of 45kph, hence the moped driver's licence category.

Taking its power from a 5.5-kWh battery, it can cover up to 75km, which translates to roughly two hours of driving at higher speeds. After that, it needs three hours at a household socket to charge up again.

The most unusual part of this car is how it's sold: Citroen is only selling it online and in a few shops. Once you've the car to your "cart" and paid for it, it will arrive at your home (or your nearest dealership) in a large parcel.

If you want extra features, Citroen is offering a handful which can be delivered together in packages for self-assembly.


A cinema for drivers: Car control displays becoming ever more complex

                FRANKFURT: More and more car manufacturers are building huge displays into the dashboard of their vehicles - and not only in luxury models. Imposing displays are being crammed into even the smallest cars, such as the Renault Clio.

The latest trend is to replace the entire dashboard with a single screen.

“Customers today are more impressed by the size of the screen than by the size of the engine,” says Jan Burgard, from the car industry consultancy Berylls, linking this to the ubiquity of smartphones in modern society.

The Chinese manufacturer Byton was quick to react to this trend, and its M-Byte is considered the current record holder for screen size - there is not only a screen across the entire width of the car, but also a touch display integrated in the steering wheel and on the central column.

German manufacturers are catching up and Mercedes now wants to steal the show from the Chinese with a Hyper screen for the new EQS. When the electric alternative to the S-Class is launched in the second half of this year, its entire dashboard will consist of a continuous glass surface under which three screens merge, design chief Gorden Wagener has announced.

BMW has announced the next generation of iDrive, which is to make its debut in the iX e-car later this year, 20 years after the launch of the operating concept. It too relies on an XXL screen instead of many buttons, even if it’s not as wide as its rivals.

However, the industry is not only concerned with the screen surface, which in the case of the Mercedes measures a record-breaking 2.5 square metres, but also with the depth of the display. In the new Mercedes S-Class, navigation graphics appear three-dimensional with a depth effect that doesn’t require special glasses.

Continental, and the US start-up Leia have also opted for 3D displays. Leia says its screen will be ready for series production by 2022, and will feature apparently solid warning signs.

Along with all these driver-oriented screen landscapes, passengers are benefiting from improved on-board entertainment displays. In the Porsche Taycan, for example, there is an equally large screen for the passenger, and the Byton M-Byte and on the Hyper screen of the Mercedes EQS have also made developments in this area.

This isn’t something limited to the luxury end of the market. The new Citroen C4, for example, has a rather conventional cockpit, but surprises with a clever drawer above the glove compartment in which a tablet computer can be attached in a crash-proof mount which is invisible to the driver.

While the trend provides plenty of amusement, and excites designers like Gorden Wagener, it is also attracting critics. A court in Germany recently ruled that touchscreens can be as distracting for drivers as a mobile phone.

Critics also say fewer switches actually make cars more difficult to drive. In the new VW Golf, for example, almost all the buttons have been replaced with sensor fields, sliders and screens, and the car has been criticised in many tests for being very hard to operate.

“As long as cars have drivers, their attention must remain on the road,” says Guido Meier-Arendt, who researches the human-machine interface (HMI) for Continental. He believes that safety-critical functions such as the windscreen wipers, the hazard warning lights or the headlights should therefore always be activated with physical, fixed controls.


Nissan USA turbocharges Sentra

                MIAMI: The new 2017 Sentra SR Turbo made its world debut today at the 46th annual Miami International Auto Show.

Also making its debut at the Sept 10-18 show is the 2017 Rogue. The Sentra SR Turbo joins the popular Sentra sedan lineup (known as Sylphy in other markets) later this fall in Nissan showrooms in the United States.

Sentra is Nissan's third best selling vehicle in the United States with sales up 11.2 percent this year. The Sentra SR Turbo is expected to help keep the sales momentum going by expanding its market reach.

At the heart of the SR Turbo is its new 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline (DIGTM) turbocharged engine that delivers a 50 percent horsepower increase from the normally aspirated 1.8-litre Sentra SR powerplant. Rated at 188hp and 240Nm of torque, the new SR Turbo engine offers 64hp more and 70Nm more of torque than non-turbo 2017 Sentra grades.

To help handle the increased power and torque, the new Sentra SR Turbo also receives an enhanced body structure, revised steering system, larger front disc brakes, new 6-speed manual or Xtronic transmission with manual mode and unique suspension tuning. The result is improved acceleration from standing starts and highway passing, improved handling and enhanced ride comfort.

"The Sentra SR Turbo is designed for buyers who want all the attributes of traditional compact sedans but also desire some serious turbo performance," said Michael Bunce, vice-president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. "The SR Turbo builds upon the redesigned Sentra and adds 50 percent more horsepower and more than 40 percent more torque, as well as the upgrades where drivers will feel them. It's truly the complete package for compact car buyers and enthusiasts alike."

The 2017 Sentra SR Turbo includes a standard power sliding glass moonroof and SR Turbo badging. The SR Turbo Premium Package, the only option package available with the SR Turbo, includes Blind Spot Warning (BSW)2, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)2, leather-appointed seating and Bose® Premium audio system with eight speakers.

All Sentra SR models feature LED low beam projector headlights with LED accents, lower body side sill extensions, rear spoiler with integrated LED brake light, fog lights, chrome exhaust finisher, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, and unique design 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 205/50R17 all-season tires. Inside, Sentra SR includes sport interior trim, premium sport cloth seats, driver's seatback pocket, heated front seats, a 5.0-inch Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display (ADAD) and standard Siri Eyes Free™ Voice Recognition.

In addition to the new SR Turbo (6MT and Xtronic), the 2017 Nissan Sentra is offered in four other grade levels: Sentra S, SV, SR and SL (Xtronic).

The auto show is being held at the Miami Beach Convention Center.


Tesla races into third position in innovation survey

                NEW YORK: Electric car star Tesla has joined Apple and Google at the top of an annual ranking of innovative firms by Boston Consulting Group.

Tesla raced into third position in a list of the 50 most innovative companies based on a survey of 1,500 senior executives at a wide array of companies, according to a BCG report released today.

“Apple and Google again hold the top two spots,” BCG said in the report, which showed the iPhone maker at the head of the list.

“Tesla, which has been moving up the list at the speed of one of its Model S sedans, reached number three.”

Tesla, one of three car makers in the top ten spots on the list, made its debut on the list in 41st place two years ago. The leading trio was followed in order by Microsoft, Samsung, Toyota, BMW, Gilead, Amazon, and Daimler. The rankings also took into account how the companies performed for shareholders.

The list included 29 US companies; 11 European firms, and 10 based in Asia. Only 12 companies, 24 percent of the group, were in the technology sector, while many were veterans of the Industrial era such as General Electric and Dow Chemical.

Nearly 80 percent of those who responded to the survey cited innovation as a priority for their businesses, with more than a fifth of them labelling it a main priority.

“The clearest trend which maybe has been growing over time but really crystallized this year is the importance of science and technology as an underpinning of innovation,” report co-author and BCG Boston office director Michael Ringel told AFP.

“The fact that science and technology are becoming more important then drives a need for speed; it becomes a race to be able to commercialize first.”

Technology platforms and mining valuable insights from the growing mountains of information in data centers are seen as key areas of innovation.

“We are becoming more and more capable with new technology like big data,“ said Ringel, who reasoned that an “explosion” of genomics data should help shake up healthcare.

Characteristics shared by innovative companies included using new technologies to create value, not increase costs, with new products, services, or ways of operating, according to the report.

BCG refered to General Electric as a “great example,” noting that it used new 3-D printing technology to cut the cost of making probes used in ultrasound equipment.

Pushing down the price opened doors for the components to be used in other industrial equipment, effectively expanding the market for the part, according to BCG.

“GE is now exploring how 3-D printing can be used in additional businesses, including jet engine manufacturing,” the report said.


Leona Chin is Mitsubishi's official brand ambassador

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia motorsports athlete Leona Chin is now Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia's (MMM) official brand ambassador.

“We are happy to welcome Leona as MMM’s brand ambassador. Leona has been involved in many car racing events worldwide and recently gained victory in the Clio Cup China Series as one of the two female drivers during the first race weekend back in March 2016 in Zhuhai, China.

"Leona’s involvement in motorsports proves to be a great platform in which we found something in common with ourselves - producing Mitsubishi rally inspired vehicles that will in return benefit our customers in terms of handling, performance and not forgetting safety as well”, said MMM chief executive officer Tomoyuki Shinnishi.

As a lady in an overwhelmingly male-dominated profession, Chin has proven herself and broken many stereotypes by conquering the motorsports industry.

Leona became more involved in Mitsubishi Motors after her famous "Sales Girl Drifts Customers in Pickup Truck" prank video that garnered more than 7.3mil views on YouTube.

As Mitsubishi Motors’ brand ambassador, she will appear in several campaigns including all types of media, roadshows and social media.

“I am proud of representing Mitsubishi - a strong and prestigious brand with a great motorsports heritage. It was an exciting journey for me last year, as the Triton product ambassador and owner," said Leona.

She is set to appear at the recently introduced locally-assembled Outlander preview roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall, from Sept 27 to Oct 1 from 10.00am-10.00pm.


New Honda Accord radically revised to appeal to younger buyers

                LOS ANGELES: Honda might have discontinued the Accord in some markets over the last year or two, but it's still a big success in other places such as the United States where it's currently the biggest-selling model in the midsize sedan segment of the market.

It's therefore a pretty big deal when such a successful model undergoes a major restyle, and Honda has probably gone a little further with its recently unveiled 2018 Accord than some commentators may have expected.

The all-new 10th-generation Accord was recently revealed at an event in Detroit, the spiritual home of the US auto industry. It goes on sale in the autumn, and the 2018 Accord is more stylish, more premium and sportier than this illustrious nameplate has ever been in the past. Honda is well aware of the older demographic it's normally associated with, and the company is now going out of its way to appeal to a wider audience. The HR-V and the latest Civic were the start, and this new Accord appears to be a really big play to appeal to a more youthful audience.

This isn't just a cosmetic exercise though, as this 10th-generation model is all-new from the ground up and employs a lighter and more rigid body structure, an advanced new chassis, a pair of new high-torque direct-injected and turbocharged engines, and a 10-speed automatic transmission that's a first for a front-drive car. There will also be a new generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid technology and plenty of new safety, driver-assistive and connected-car technologies.

 2018 Accord Hybrid

The first of the new engines is a 1.5-litre direct-injected turbo with dual Variable Timing Control, which develops 192hp and 142Nm of torque. The more powerful option will be a 2.0-litre turbo sharing a lot of its design with the 2017 Civic Type R, which in the Accord will produce 252hp and 370Nm of torque and replaces the current 3.5-litre V-6.

Accords with the 1.5-litre engine will be available in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring trims, while the 2.0-litre model will come in Sport, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring variants. And for those wanting a more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient Accord, the new 2018 Accord Hybrid will be available in Hybrid, EX, EX-L, EX-L Navi and Touring trims. Prices for the new Accord will be revealed at a later date.

 The new Camry. US production of the model began last month.

Like the Accord, Toyota's new Camry, launching this month in the United States, is expected to offer major improvements in fuel economy, technology, styling and safety, Honda's US dealers told Reuters.

The Accord and Camry are pillars of their manufacturers' US businesses, each selling well over 300,000 vehicles a year. In the coming months, Nissan is expected to launch a new Altima midsize sedan, and Hyundai will launch a new Sonata midsize car. Both are popular marques that will be promoted heavily.

"There has been no new news on the midsize sedan side for three years and we think this is a great opportunity to bring attention back to the segment," said Jack Hollis, Toyota's head of marketing for North America.

 Accord 2.0 Turbo with 10 AT.

2018 Honda Accord Touring


‘Hot’ numbers linked to ex-PM’s arrest sold out

                PETALING JAYA: Two sets of four-digit numbers among punters – 5753 and 2469 – linked to the arrest of the former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak were “hot” yesterday.

Both numbers were sold out nationwide in less than two hours after all three 4D betting operators opened for business.

Even illegal 4D bookies stopped accepting the bets since noon despite an overwhelming demand.

The number 5753 was based on a special 4D booklet used among the punters to indicate “arrested for corruption”.

While 2469 – the number plate of a red Proton Inspira – was believed to have been used to take Najib to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters on Tuesday evening.

Checks at Magnum, Sports Toto and Pan Malaysian Pools showed all outlets having exhausted the maximum quota allowed for a number to be placed as bets on a single draw.

One of the betting outlet operators, who only wanted to be identified as Lai, said there was a rush to buy both numbers.

“There was already a long queue since 8am. Punters rushed to place their bets as such hot numbers often sold out quickly.”

Magnum has a combination of RM8,000 bet for their big and small draws on a single number while Sports Toto maximum bet is at RM5,000.

Pan Malaysian Pools, the operator of Da Ma Cai, allowed a maximum bet of RM6,000 for a single number draw.

According to an illegal 4D operator in George Town, who declined to be named, some punters had placed bets since Tuesday evening.

“We do not allow any bets that are more than RM100 on a single number initially.”

However, he said, as of noon yesterday, illegal bookies stopped taking in bets but honoured the earlier bookings despite an overwhelming demand.

“We are worried it may turn out as a winning number. In the past, we were badly hit by such hot numbers.”

Following Najib’s arrest, which is the topic of coffeeshop talk everywhere, hardcore punters looked up the “4D bible” for the right number to place bets, hoping it could bring them a windfall.


Move to boost safety along expressway

                PARIT BUNTAR: The Perak government will meet with the Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Berhad (PLUS) management to discuss the beefing-up of safety features such as lighting up accident-prone stretches along the North-South Expressway, said state public transport committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

“I will carry out a site inspection with PLUS personnel to identify the dangerous stretches, especially the part between Tapah and Gua Tempurung.

“In fact, even before the fatal accident which claimed eight lives on Thursday, I told PLUS of my concern about the poorly-lit stretches along the highway,” he said after presenting a RM2,000 aid to each of the eight victims’ families here yesterday.

The Bagan Serai MCA division also gave out an additional RM300 to each family.

During the incident, a group of tourists comprising mostly senior citizens took a bus to Genting Highlands for a one-day trip.

The bus driver M. Jayagunasgaran, 40, lost control of the vehicle when trying to avoid a tyre left on the highway and swerved to the left, collided with a stationary car and overturned before landing in a ditch.

The bus then burst into flames, killing seven passengers and the driver.


IBM Watson machine smarts hitch a ride with GM cars

                DETROIT: IBM on Wednesday announced it was teaming with General Motors to put Watson artificial intelligence to work to personalise the driving experience for motorists.

OnStar software built into GM cars will be imbued with Watson smarts, enabling them to get to know their drivers, IBM chief executive Ginni Rometty told the WSJD Live technology conference in California.

"It learns from how you behave and what you do," Rometty said. "It knows how you like your coffee and orders it for you; it reminds you to pick up your children."

The resulting OnStar Go system will be the auto industry's first "cognitive mobility platform," according to the companies.

Watson-enabled capabilities in OnStar Go will be available in more than two million GM vehicles by the end of next year. Watson learns preferences of drivers, applies machine learning and then studies data to identify patterns in decisions and habits, according to IBM.

"It's a good example of where we are focused," Rometty said at WSJD Live. "It's really Watson becoming the AI (artificial intelligence) platform for business."

A GM statement said the partnership will "deliver personalised content" to motorists through car dashboards and other channels via the OnStar system, GM's connectivity platform.

Century-old IBM has been adapting to modern trends by devoting resources to business services hosted in the internet cloud and enhancing offerings with Watson artificial intelligence.

A Watson music algorithm even helped create a pop song produced by Alex da Kid, who has worked with stars such as Nicki Minaj and Eminem.

Rometty boasted that the song jumped to the top spot on music streaming service Spotify on Wednesday.

Watson analyzed musical tones, years of tweets, hit songs and more for the "man and machine together" project, she said.

"It is augmented intelligence, not artificial intelligence, and that has major implications," Rometty said.

Major technology firms including Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are racing to infuse internet-linked devices with software smarts that help them think like people.

The effort is seen as an evolution in computing that allows users to interact with machines in natural conversation style, telling devices to tend to tasks such as ordering goods, checking traffic, making restaurant reservations or searching for information.

The AI component in these programs promises a world in which everyone can have a virtual aide that gets to know them better with each interaction.

IBM made headlines nearly 20 years ago with "Deep Blue" software that beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov at his own game, and more recently with Watson artificial intelligence that triumphed over top human players in a Jeopardy television game show.

IBM has put Watson to work making business systems and services smarter with data and customers. Thousands of people are expected to attend a World of Watson conference this week in Las Vegas.


Safety at BHPetrol

                PETALING JAYA: BHPetrol has launched the “Go-to-Safety-Point” campaign at 11 of its outlets in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Victims of crime or those in distress can come to these BHPetrol outlets and get help under the campaign which is participated by the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Co-operatives Ministry, the police, and Fires and Rescue Department.

Bukit Aman deputy director strategic planning of crime prevention and community safety department DCP Datuk Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said BHPetrol staff have also been trained to report crime cases, provide trauma assistance to victims and briefed on laws about making public arrests.

The campaign is expected to be expanded to other BHPetrol outlets.

Present at the launch in BHPetrol’s Kampung Sg Kayu Ara station were Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry deputy secretary-general (Franchise and Consumerism) Datuk Basaruddin Sadali, Selangor Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry director Mior Najmuddin Mior Dzulkifli, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Othman Abdullah and BHPetrol managing director Tan Kim Thiam.