Chongqingtourist.com: tháng 5 2011

Thứ Ba, 31 tháng 5, 2011

Volvo Flywheel KERS system – significant performance gains, with up to 20% less fuel consumption

Click to enlarge

Volvo is set to test a new system called Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which it claims will make a four-cylinder engine feel like a six-cylinder and at the same time reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%. The company has received a 6.57 million Swedish kronor grant from the Swedish Energy Agency for development, in a joint project together with Volvo Powertrain and SKF.

The Flywheel KERS is fitted to the rear axle – during retardation, the braking energy causes the flywheel to spin at up to 60,000 revs per minute, and when the car starts moving off again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels via a specially designed transmission.

The combustion engine that drives the front wheels is switched off as soon as the braking begins – the energy in the flywheel can be used to accelerate the vehicle or to power the vehicle once it reaches cruising speed.

The flywheel’s stored energy is sufficient to power the car for short periods. How it will have a major impact on fuel consumption is this: based on calculations, the combustion engine will be able to be turned off about half the time when driving in a New European Driving Cycle mode.

Since the flywheel is activated by braking, and the duration of the energy storage (the length of time the flywheel spins) is limited, the technology is at its most effective during driving featuring repeated stops and starts, which means busy urban traffic.

Combining the flywheel’s energy with the combustion engine’s full capacity promises a significant boost in horsepower, and with swift torque build-up in attendance, this translates into rapid acceleration.

The flywheel – which spins in a vacuum to minimise frictional losses – that Volvo will use in its test car is made of carbon fibre, and weighs about 6 kg with a diameter of 20 cm. It’s not the first time flywheel propulsion assistance has been tested by the company – a Volvo 240 also did so back in the 1980s, but the heavy steel-based flywheel wasn’t very efficient.

Volvo also isn’t the first manufacturer to test flywheel technology, but it is in applying it to the rear axle of a car fitted with a combustion engine driving the front wheels. If the tests and technical development go as planned, expect cars with flywheel technology to reach the showrooms within a few years, the company says.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 01 Jun 11 06:41:58 +0000.

Link to full article

Honda Malaysia’s production to fully recover by August

Honda Malaysia announced today that production at its Alor Gajah plant will resume full output of two shifts by 1 August. Not only that, the Melaka plant will also try to boost production by operating additional hours on weekdays and Saturdays to catch up with the shortage of supply from April through July.

“Honda associates in Japan have worked tirelessly with our suppliers since the disaster in March to recover the supply of component parts from Japan. Hence, we are pleased to announce that we are able to resume full production much earlier than previously expected,” said Honda Malaysia MD and CEO Yoichiro Ueno.

Ueno also added that HM will resume taking new bookings of the Insight Hybrid from today (1 June), after suspending order taking on 7 April. The RM99,800 CBU from Japan Insight has been a hit since Honda launched it at KLIMS 2010 – Honda sold 1,830 units of it in the first quarter of 2011.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 01 Jun 11 06:10:06 +0000.

Link to full article

Sektor Penjanaan Elektrik Perlu Reformasi Untuk Mengubah Strukturnya

Oleh Rafizi Ramli

Pengumuman Barisan Nasional menaikkan tarif elektrik bukanlah satu kejutan kepada orang ramai. Selama ini, Barisan Nasional hanya ada satu pilihan sekiranya ia benar-benar ikhlas membawa reformasi ekonomi dan menghidupkan ekonomi negara yang semakin malap: ia perlu berdepan dengan ketagihan kumpulan elit politik-niagawan yang mengaut keuntungan melampau dengan merombak perjanjian-perjanjian yang berat sebelah dan menyebabkan struktur ekonomi kita tempang.

Pun begitu, Barisan Nasional juga telah membuktikan berkali-kali ia tidak mempunyai kekuatan dan keberanian untuk menghapuskan kroni-kapitalisme yang menguntungkannya selama ini.

Barisan Nasional mendakwa bahawa kenaikan tarif ini tidak akan membawa kesan kepada 4.4 juta isirumah atas alasan tarif bagi penggunaan 300 kWj setiap bulan tidak berubah. Bil elektrik pengguna-pengguna ini mungkin tidak berubah, tetapi peningkatan inflasi akibat dari kenaikan tarif ini akan terus mengurangkan pendapatan boleh belanja (disposable income) bulan mereka. Begitu juga dengan isi rumah atau kediaman lain (termasuklah kediaman yang dikongsi beramai-ramai oleh pelajar atau pekerja) yang bil elektriknya mengatasi paras RM77 sebulan – mereka akan mendapat beban kenaikan tarif dan peningkatan harga barang.

Kali terakhir tarif asas domestik dinaikkan adalah dalam bulan Jun 2006. Tarif asas bagi 200kWj pertama sebulan pada masa itu dikekalkan pada kadar sekarang iaitu 21.8 sen setiap kWj. Namun, tahun 2006 menyaksikan peningkatan harga barang dan kadar inflasi kedua tertinggi dalam separuh dekad yang lepas iaitu pada aras 3.6%. Satu-satunya masa harga barang mencanak dengan lebih cepat adalah dalam tahun 2008 akibat kesan berganda kenaikan harga petrol dan diesel.

Jika kita meneliti data inflasi dalam tahun 2006, jelas kenaikan harga sedemikian rupa adalah disebabkan oleh kesan gabungan berganda kenaikan tarif elektrik dan harga petrol/diesel.

Barisan Nasional mengulangi pendekatan dasar yang sama dalam tahun 2011 ini – menaikkan harga-harga barangan asas secara serentak iaitu gula, petrol, diesel dan sekarang elektrik. Kesan gabungan berganda ini dijangkakan akan mendorong inflasi bagi tahun 2011 mengatasi kadar inflasi 2006 dan menyaksikan berjuta isirumah berdepan dengan masalah kenaikan harga barang, sedang pendapatan boleh belanja mereka semakin mengecil.

Rakyat tidak perlukan penarikan subsidi semborono sebegini yang menyebabkan kenaikan-kenaikan harga barang. Mana-mana kerajaan yang bertanggung jawab dan menghadapi krisis defisit dan inflasi di Putrajaya (seperti mana masalah yang dihadapi Barisan Nasional sekarang) sepatutnya mengambil langkah berani dan ada kekuatan moral untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini di peringkat umbinya.

Sektor penjanaan elektrik di negara ini terus dihantui dengan warisan perjanjian-perjanjian yang berat sebelah dan membebankan rakyat. TNB dipaksa membeli elektrik pada kadar yang lebih tinggi dari kos dalamannya dari penjana bebas (IPP). Untuk mengimbangi harga elektrik yang terlalu tinggi, TNB dan IPP diberikan subsidi gas yang terlalu tinggi setiap tahun dan ditanggung PETRONAS.

Pengumuman Barisan Nasional semalam langsung tidak memenuhi keperluan sektor penjanaan elektrik yang memerlukan reformasi segera. Kenaikan tarif yang dikenakan akan menjadi pampasan kepada TNB untuk menggantikan potongan subsidi gas akibat kenaikan harga gas asli dari RM10.70 k3 RM13.70 setiap mmbtu. Kesan keseluruhannya langsung tidak mengubah keadaan sekarang: TNB masih mencapai keuntungan yang sama, rakyat terus dibebankan dengan setiap kenaikan harga dan IPP langsung tidak terkesan kerana ia dilindungi oleh mekanisme harga bahan api sedia ada. Sepatutnya Barisan Nasional mengubah mekanisme ini agar IPP juga menanggung kesan kenaikan harga bahan api dan untungnya berkurangan; sebaliknya rakyat pula yang dihukum apabila selepas ini tarif elektrik akan disemak setiap 6 bulan untuk memastikan ia melambangkan kenaikan kos bahan api semasa.

Ini hanyalah dandanan kosmetik untuk menenangkan kritikan yang semakin memuncak yang menuntut reformasi sektor penjanaan kuasa. Barisan Nasional boleh sahaja berharap dandanan ini diterima sebagai satu pakej reformasi ekonomi untuk mengurangkan subsidi, tetapi penghakiman rakyat sudah tentu berbeza. Hakikatnya, ia satu rompakan yang mengambil lebih banyak wang rakyat untuk diberikan kepada syarikat korporat bagi menggantikan potongan subsidi gas yang terpaksa dibuat.

Link to full article

BMW 528i M Sport is now available for RM449,800

Click to enlarge

BMW Group Malaysia has introduced its latest model, the BMW 528i M Sport. This new variant features more aggressive M Sport styling on the outside and comes with BMW ConnectedDrive, which includes on-board internet access, Bluetooth audio streaming and Office functions, among other uses.

Breaking down the changed bits, the 528i M Sport features the M Sports package with M Aerodynamic trimmings consisting of the M front bumper with large air intakes, M rear bumper with anthracite insert and side sills. The window frames are no longer in chrome, but in BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trim. There are also exhaust tailpipe embellishers in Dark Chrome. And of course, the 18-inch double-spoke M light alloy wheels (style 350M).

Click to enlarge

Inside, this sports sedan offers sports front seats, BMW Individual headliner anthracite, interior trim finishers in Aluminium Hexagon, M leather steering wheel and M door sill finishers. It is powered by the N52B30 3.0 litre NA inline six with 258 hp and 310 Nm. 0-100 km/h is done in 6.7 seconds and top speed is 250 km/h.

The retail price for the locally assembled 528i M Sport (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair) is RM 449,800. This is the same price as the standard CKD 528i when it was introduced in October 2010, so you’re getting more for the same price.

This car receives the baton from the highly popular E60 525i M Sport; like the previous gen car, it’s the flashy member of the family alongside more sober siblings. But for the style, one will have to pay a huge premium over the most affordable F10, the RM333,800 520d.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 01 Jun 11 04:37:28 +0000.

Link to full article

Kaji Dasar Pro-Korporat Besar Sebelum Pemotongan Subsidi Rakyat

Dari Merdeka Review

Oleh KPRU

Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU) berasa kesal dengan langkah kerajaan untuk meningkatkan tarif elektirk secara purata sebanyak 7.12% mulai Jun 2011 mahupun pelbagai pihak, termasuk pakar ekonomi telah mengingatkan kerajaan bahawa tekanan inflasi semakin mendesak. Dalam pada itu, kerajaan juga mengumumkan bahawa tarif elektrik di negara ini akan dinaikkan setiap enam bulan bagi tahun-tahun berikut supaya selaras dengan kenaikan harga gas asli yang dijual oleh Petronas kepada pengeluar tenaga.

Pengumuman kerajaan bahawa 4.4 juta atau 75% pengguna di Malaysia tidak akan mengalami sebarang kenaikan tarif elektrik memang dalam jangkaan. Akan tetapi, kerajaan secara sengaja mengabaikan satu fakta, iaitu harga barangan harian dan makanan akan meningkat susulan daripada pengumuman tersebut. Hal ini kerana pihak industri pengeluaran makanan yang menggunakan sebahagian besar tenaga elektrik dijangka memindah kos berkaitan kepada pihak pengguna.

Pandangan sedemikian juga disahkan oleh ketua ekonomis Ratings Agency Malaysia (RAM) Yeah Kim Leng yang mengatakan bahawa walaupun sebahagian besar isi rumah terlepas daripada kesan langsung kenaikan tarif elektrik, tetapi mereka tetap akan menghadapi bebannya apabila pengeluar dan peniaga memindakan kos yang lebih tinggi kepada pengguna.<1>

KPRU ingin menekankan bahawa kenaikan tarif elektrik dengan kuantum yang tinggi pada ketika inflasi cukup membebankan rakyat adalah kurang wajar. Dalam konteks kenaikan kos atau harga barangan utama dan barangan harian lain beberapa kali sebelum ini, kenaikan tarif elektrik kali ini akan menyebabkan gegaran berganda kepada pengeluar yang akhirnya memindahkan tekanan itu kepada harga barangan pengguna.

Misalnya, mulai Julai 2010, harga minyak RON97 mula dinaikkan sehingga RM2.15/liter pada 2 November 2010, RM2.30 pada 1 Disember 2010, dan RM2.50 pada 4 Januari 2011. Harga minyak RON97 terbaru mencecah RM2.90/liter.

Minyak RON95 mula diperkenalkan dalam pasaran domestik pada 1 September 2009 untuk menggantikan RON92. Harganya bermula pada RM1.75/liter dan seterusnya dinaikkkan kepada RM1.80. Dalam tahun 2010, harga minyak RON95 telah meningkat sebanyak dua kali. Harga terkini minyak RON95 adalah RM1.90/liter, dan dijangka akan naik lagi dalam masa yang singkat.

Dalam tahun 2010 sahaja, harga gula telah naik mendadak sebanyak 55%. Pada Januari 2010, harga gula hanya berada pada paras RM1.10/kg, kemudian naik sebanyak tiga kali, iaitu 20 sen dalam Jan 2010, 25 sen dalam Julai 2010 dan 20 sen dalam 4 Disember 2010 sehingga RM2.10/kg. Pada 10 Mei 2011, harga gula sekali lagi naik sebanyak 20 sen menjadikan harga runcit sebanyak RM2.30/kg. Ekoran itu, Persatuan Kedai Kopi Wilayah Persekutuan-Selangor telah menaikkan harga minuman daripada RM1.20 secawan kepada RM1.40 secawan mulai 1 Jan 2011.<2>

KPRU ingin memaklumkan bahawa fenomena kenaikan harga bukan sahaja berlaku ke atas barangan tertentu, malah kesannya besar merangkumi sektor yang luas, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam jadual berikut:

Barangan	Harga Sebelum 2010 (RM)	Harga 2011(RM)	Kenaikan
Pakaian cita			30-50%
Tayar Baru	200	210	3-7%
Tayar Celup			10-15%
Minuman panas bancuhan		+0.20	16%
Kacang Kuning	3/kg	5/kg	67%
Kacang	4/kg	7/kg	75%
Kacang Hitam	5/kg	14/kg	180%
Kacang Merah	4/kg	7.5/kg	88%
Kacang Hijau	4/kg	7/kg	75%
Halia	4/kg	7/kg	75%
Cili Kering	7/kg	10/kg	43%
Bawang Putih	4/kg	10/kg	150%
Bawang Besar	1.2/kg	3.2/kg	167%
Kentang	1.8/kg	3/kg	67%
Nescafe dan Milo	30.00	31.50	5-6%
Gula	1.1/kg	2.30/kg	110%
Minyak RON95	1.75 /liter	1.90/liter	11%
Minyak RON97	2.05/liter	2.90/liter

(Sumber: Sinchew Jit Poh, Malaysiakini, 2011)

Ekoran itu, kadar inflasi di Malaysia pada Disember 2010 mencecah 2.2%, iaitu yang tertinggi dalam tempoh 19 bulan.<3> Indeks Harga Pengguna (CPI) kemudian melonjak ke 3% pada Mac 2011, dan seterusnya 3.2% pada April 2011, menjadikan kadar inflasi setinggi 2.9% sepanjang bulan Januari hingga April tahun 2011.<4><5> Perkembangan ini sejajar dengan unjuran dalam Laporan Tahunan Bank Negara bertarikh 24 Mac 2011 bahawa kadar inflasi akan mencatat 2.5%-3.5% bagi tahun 2011.<6> Peningkatan kadar inflasi jelas akan memberikan impak negatif seperti menjejaskan kuasa membeli dan meningkatkan beban kos sara hidup rakyat, terutamanya kepada golongan yang kurang berdaya dan berupaya.

Satu lagi faktor penting yang telah diabaikan oleh kerajaan ialah kadar kenaikan gaji dan pendapatan boleh guna rakyat tidak dapat menyaingi kadar kenaikan inflasi. Mengikut Laporan Bank Dunia, purata kenaikan gaji sebenar di negara ini hanyalah sekitar 2.6% dari tahun 1994 hingga tahun 2007.<7> Satu lagi kajian yang bernama Reshaping Economic Geography Report in East Asia, East Asian and Pacific region companion volume to the World Development Report 2009 juga menunjukkan kadar kenaikan gaji secara purata selepas krisis ekonomi 1997 di Malaysia hanya sekadar 1.9%.<8>

Selain itu, walaupun Robert Walters Global Salary Survey 2011 mengunjurkan kenaikan gaji sebanyak 5-30% di Malaysia bagi tahun ini, tetapi unjuran tersebut hanya merujuk kepada golongan professional daripada sektor ICT, akaun, kewangan, bank, logistik dan penjualan yang jauh lebih selesa dari segi kehidupan dan pendapatan boleh guna.<9>

Hakikatnya, pada tahun 2010, antara lebih 10 juta tenaga kerja di Malaysia, hanya 3.76 juta orang rakyat yang layak membayar cukai.<10> Dengan kata lain, hampir 6.4 juta rakyat Malaysia tidak mampu membayar cukai pendapatan peribadi. Golongan 6.4 juta ini membentuk lapisan rakyat miskin, seperti yang disebut dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-10 sebagai “40% isi rumah yang berpendapatan kurang daripada RM2,300 sebulan dengan purata pendapatan hanya mencapai RM1,440″.<11>

Jika pengagihan pendapatan diteliti mengikut subjek pekerja, satu kajian oleh Kementerian Sumber Manusia mengenai gaji pekerja di Malaysia mendapati bahawa hampir 34% daripada kira-kira 1.3 juta pekerja memperolehi pendapatan bulanan bawah RM700. Hampir 34% pekerja memperoleh gaji di bawah garis kemiskinan yang bermaksud seramai 1/3 pekerja bergaji di bawah paras kemiskinan.<12>

Golongan sebeginilah yang terpaksa berdepan dengan kos sara hidup yang meningkat, kekurangan peluang pekerjaan, tekanan harga barang dan sewa rumah yang melambung serta masa depan yang muram. Akibatnya, dasar rasionalisasi subsidi secara tergesa-gesa ini memang tidak banyak menggoyangkan gaya hidup golongan atasan dan elit, tetapi kehidupan rakyat biasa terjejas dan terbiar papa kedana.

KPRU berpendapat pemotongan subsidi wajar dilaksanakan sekali dengan “rasionalisasi” dasar kerajaan sedia ada yang bersifat berat sebelah. Pengurangan subsidi rakyat sewajarnya dilaksanakan selepas kerajaan menilai dan merunding semula perjanjian yang memberikan subsidi “luar biasa” kepada korporat besar, antaranya termasuk perjanjian antara Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) dengan Penjana Tenaga Swasta (IPP) yang memberikan subsidi sebanyak RM22 billion setahun. Jika tidak, langkah kenaikan kos kehidupan rakyat tersebut bukan sahaja akan mewujudkan persepsi ketidakadilan dan kurang “legitimate“, malah dilihat sebagai menjalankan penjajahan berbentuk ekonomi terhadap golongan rakyat marhaen.

Link to full article

(Gambar) Majlis Pertunangan Elly Mazlein & Azmi, Dulu Pengarah Kini Bakal Suami.

Tahu tak, Elly Mazlein merupakan satu-satunya pelakon & penyanyi yang berjaya mendapat hati kami. Walaupun Elly Mazlein ni boleh dikatakan senior dalam dunia hiburan, tetapi setiap kali kami tonton lakonannya, memang boleh jatuh hati beb!

Berbekalkan raut wajah yang manja serta suara yang lembut, mana-mana lelaki pun akan jatuh hati pada empunya nama Elly Mazlein ini. Kini, Elly Mazlein sudah pun mengikatkan tali pertunangannya bersama Azmi, yang dahulunya pengarah, kini bakal suami. Kami ucapkan tahniah buat Elly Mazlein, walaupun hati ada sedikit sedih.

Elly Mazlein akan melangsungkan perkahwinannya pada Januari atau Februari depan. Kredit gambar buat akhbar kesukaan kami, MStar.

Link to full article

Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro with 503 PS, 0-100 in 3.7 sec!

The annual Wörtherseetour meeting for fans of VW Group models is celebrating it’s 30th birthday this year, and Audi is bringing a hot gift to the party. Meet the one-off A1 clubsport quattro powered by a heavily-modified version of the RS 3 Sportback’s turbocharged engine. This scary little car does 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds and 0-200 kph in just 10.9 seconds!

The heart of the A1 clubsport quattro is a five-cylinder unit displacing 2.5 litres with turbocharging and direct fuel injection. Compared with the version used in the TT RS and RS 3 Sportback on which it is based, output has been increased dramatically to 503 PS (available between 2,500 and 5,300 rpm) and 660 Nm of torque, thanks to tweaks on the turbocharger, intercooler, induction tract and exhaust line. As on the Audi A4 DTM, the tailpipe is located on the left flank, just in front of the rear wheel.

A six-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent AWD, both taken from the TT RS and enhanced, deliver the power to all four wheels. Audi did not reveal this monster baby’s true top speed without the 250 km/h limiter.

The Wörthersee showstar rolls on 255/30 low-profile rubber mounted on 19-inch alloys with a unique turbine design. Sitting behind those are large, internally ventilated disc brakes. Up front, six-piston callipers grab perforated carbon fibre-ceramic discs. Large steel discs are mounted on the rear axle. The coilover suspension of the A1 clubsport quattro features adjustable compression and rebound damping.

The front wings, the doors and the rear side panels of the A1 clubsport quattro have been widened by a 60 mm. They form horizontal “blister” edges, like those found on the Audi Ur-quattro. Air outlets are integrated into the rear ends of the wings, and the newly designed trim strips on the sills are made of exposed CFRP, as with the roof.

The cabin still looks good, but is stripped out and has no rear seats. In its place is a large crossbar to further stiffen the body and storage for helmets. A weight-optimised starter battery used in racing is mounted in the rear below the two storage compartments. The lightweight bucket seats are taken from the R8 GT and feature a carbon reinforced polymer chassis.

They’ve gone mad! Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 01 Jun 11 03:51:34 +0000.

Link to full article

Peugeot Design Competition seeks potential local talent

If you’re a secondary school or college student with a love for cars, the following will definitely pique your interest. Nasim and Automobiles Peugeot have launched a design competition with the New Straits Times, with the aim of educating college and secondary school students with skills needed to design an automobile.

The inaugural NST-Peugeot Design Competition kicked off on May 29 and will run until August 21, with the winners announced on Nov 1. Open to all college and secondary school students in Malaysia, the competition seeks to offer Malaysian students a chance to design a car.

Full story after the jump.

Participants of the competition – which is split into two categories, secondary school students and university or college students – will need to submit their design of what they envision to be the perfect Peugeot vehicle for Southeast Asian markets in 2018.

Secondary school students will have to submit a design illustration mounted on an A3 or A2 board which must include a perspective and package drawing (an elevation drawing, including interior design) and a description of the design in English.

As for university and college students, they’ll also be required to submit a design illustration mounted on an A3 or A2 board. One hundred semi-finalists will be shortlisted, and awarded consolation prizes, and the top 10 participants of this shortlisted group will then be required to submit a 1/5th scale model of their proposed design.

Secondary students will have to participate individually for the competition, while college/university students are required to enter as a team of three, which must include one tutor/lecturer/professor.

All design illustrations for both secondary school and college students can be either hand drawn or computer assisted or a combination of both. In the case of the 10 chosen finalists in the college/university category, there are no prerequisites as far as choice of materials go in building the 1/5th scale model – anything from papier-mache and beeswax to clay or putty can be utilised.

In terms of prizes, the winner in the university/college student category will be awarded a five-day, four-night expense paid trip for all members of the team to Paris and Peugeot’s design centre in Velizy, France, along with RM1,000 in cash. The winning team also gets Peugeot merchandise valued at 100 Euro and a three-month automotive internship with the Naza Group.

The second-placed team will also receive a five-day, four-night trip with all expenses paid, but for for only two members of the team to Paris and the design centre in Velizy, France. Like with the winners, second also bags Peugeot merchandise valued at 100 Euro and a three-month automotive internship with the Naza Group. The third-placed team will receive RM250 for two members in the team and a three-month automotive internship with the Naza Group.

As for secondary school students, the first place winner will receive an iPad 2 and Peugeot merchandise, while the second prize winner will receive RM500 and Peugeot merchandise and third prize takes home RM250 and Peugeot merchandise. Besides the top three places, a further 30 entrants will be given consolation prizes.

As part of the design competition, tutorials on design will be available on a weekly basis to assist the participants in creating their own designs, and there’s a two-month roadshow beginning in June, which will make its way to over 100 schools nationwide and five institutions of higher learning to promote the design competition.

Nasim or Automobiles Peugeot may decide to develop the winning design into a model for display at motorshows and roadshows, said Datuk Samson Anand George, COO of Nasim. “With this competition, it is our aim to give Malaysian students a platform to showcase their talent and creativity. It is also an opportunity to the lay the ground work for tomorrow’s automotive designers in Malaysia,” he said.

Entries will be judged on the relevance to the theme, concept originality, design value and quality and development potential. You can find out more about the competition here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 01 Jun 11 03:16:40 +0000.

Link to full article

Siti Nurhaliza Nafi Beli Penthouse RM20 Juta

Timbulnya gosip seumpama ini untuk artis berprofil tinggi seperti Datuk Siti Nurhaliza bukanlah perkara yang janggal. Ceritanya, sebuah portal hiburan berkongsi cerita mengenai sebuah penthouse mewah yang berkedudukan di hadapan KLCC, mempunyai keluasan 7000 kaki persegi, kononnya dibeli oleh Siti Nurhaliza pada harga RM20 juta!

Menurut gosip tersebut, beberapa penghuni kondominium mewah berkenaan pernah terserempak dengan kelibat Datuk Siti Nurhaliza di dalam lif yang dipercayai tinggal di tingkat 40.

Dan, perkembangan gosip ini mendapat perhatian Siti Nurhaliza. Melalui laman Twitter, Siti Nurhaliza menafikan gosip tersebut dengan berkata, “Salam, alangkah nikmatnya namun itu gosip sahaja. Jangan terpedaya ya.”

Kenyataan balas Siti Nurhaliza mengenai gosip tersebut sekaligus menutup desas-desus pemilikan rumah mewah tersebut. Tetapi, pada kami, memang tak hairan pun kalau Siti Nurhaliza boleh memiliki rumah mewah tersebut. Iyalah, suaminya pun ahli perniagaan terkenal, kan?

Link to full article

(Trailer) Filem Azura 2011 Lakonan Shahz Jaszle & Neelofa

Yes, you heard that. Filem cinta epik Azura lakonan Jamal Abdillah & Ogy Ahmad Daud sekitar 27 tahun lalu diolahkan semula dalam nafas yang baru, diarahkan oleh pengarah baru, serta barisan pelakon yang baru.

Imbas kembali, filem ini pernah menaikkan nama Jamal Abdillah sebagai seorang pelakon popular selepas memenangi Bintang RTM beberapa tahun sebelum itu. Watak heroin yang didokong oleh Ogy Ahmad Daud meninggalkan kesan yang mendalam buat penonton & ia pernah mencatatkan sejarah sebagai filem Melayu Malaysia pertama yang mencapai pungutan box-office.

Untuk versi terbaru, filem Azura 2011 terbitan produksi Ace Motion ini menerima arahan pengarah berbakat iaitu Aziz M Osman, akan mula ditayangkan pada tahun 2012. Azura 2011 membariskan pelakon baru Shahz Jaszle & Neelofa. Menarik sekali, pelakon veteran Farouk Hussein

Enjoice trailer selepas ini.

Link to full article

Ecoboost turbo powered Ford S-Max MPV and facelifted Mondeo Titanium launching in Malaysia very soon!

Ford has announced that the Ecoboost engine will make its debut in Malaysia by mid year 2011. Since we’ve just entered into June, the launch should be just around the corner! The two vehicles that will be powered by this new generation turbo engine are the S-Max MPV and the facelifted Mondeo sedan, which will come in top Titanium spec.

Like the modern petrol engines found in other Continental makes such as Volkswagen and Peugeot, Ford’s Ecoboost engines combine a (single) turbocharger with direct fuel injection for better power, torque and fuel economy. It also features Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing). Compared to non Ecoboost engines, fuel efficiency is improved by up to 20%, while emissions are down by 15%.

The version that will debut in the Mondeo and S-Max is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit. It’s likely to have 203 PS and 300 Nm of torque, if we get what Singapore gets. Partnering it will be Ford’s wet clutch 6-speed Powershift transmission, which is a dual-clutch gearbox also found in the Focus TDCI.

Launched here in late 2009, the Mondeo is a D-segment sedan (hatchback not available here) that’s an alternative to Japanese favourites such as the Camry, Accord and Teana. The refreshed car features a new front end and a much longer equipment list.

Meanwhile, platform-mate S-Max is a sporty looking MPV with three rows of seats (second and third rows fold flat into the floor) that’s about the size of a Mitsubishi Grandis. Launched in 2006 as the first Ford to feature Kinetic Design, it was facelifted last year.

We’ve driven both the current 2.3L Duratec powered Mondeo AND the facelifted Mondeo Titanium with Ecoboost. Click here for the review of the current car and here for a preview of the upcoming car. You can also check out Ford’s new microsite for Ecoboost at www.ecoboost.com.my.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 31 May 11 17:29:15 +0000.

Link to full article