This year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este has its public day tomorrow, which is when the world will presumably get its first look at the new BMW M1 concept, a stunning, modern take on Munich's original supercar that is part of Bimmer's 30th anniversary celebration of the classic machine. The private exhibition took place today, however, and the guys at Asphalte.ch -- they were the first with live shots of the Lamborghini LP560-4 earlier this year -- have once again scored a coup, snapping the new, copper-colored M1 concept in all its glory, both alone and alongside its forebears. We expect to have a lot more on this car tomorrow (assuming a press kit will be released sometime overnight), but for now, head to Asphalte.ch to see more shots of the car under the lights. Hey BMW, just pull the trigger and greenlight a production version already, because this thing is awesome. Sunday, January 31, 2010
BMW M1 Concept at Villa d'Este 2010
This year's Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este has its public day tomorrow, which is when the world will presumably get its first look at the new BMW M1 concept, a stunning, modern take on Munich's original supercar that is part of Bimmer's 30th anniversary celebration of the classic machine. The private exhibition took place today, however, and the guys at Asphalte.ch -- they were the first with live shots of the Lamborghini LP560-4 earlier this year -- have once again scored a coup, snapping the new, copper-colored M1 concept in all its glory, both alone and alongside its forebears. We expect to have a lot more on this car tomorrow (assuming a press kit will be released sometime overnight), but for now, head to Asphalte.ch to see more shots of the car under the lights. Hey BMW, just pull the trigger and greenlight a production version already, because this thing is awesome. Special Bugatti Veyrons 2010
Watch out MX-5 and Elise - the Bugatti Veyron is well on its way to becoming the most special editioned car yet. After the Pur Sang, Sang Bleu, Centenaire et al comes this rather shiny and expensive trio.
First up is the Nocturne (main pic). It’s based on the Veyron coupe, with a combination of polished aluminium and a black finish on the outside, and an extravagant interior that boasts a nanocoated magnesium dashboard and galvanised platinum centre console. Obviously.
Five Veyron Nocturnes will be made, and they’re all bound for the Middle East, although its 1.65million euro (£1.5m) pricetag is probably more of a stumbling block than the geography of its sales plan.
It's on display at the Dubai motor show alongside two even more limited edition Veyrons. There’s the Sang d’Argent coupe – silver paint and aluminium outside, quilted and personalised seats inside – and the Soleil de Nuit Grand Sport cabrio, which mixes blue/black paint with mirrored finishes on the exterior and has a contrasting burnt orange interior.
Both are one-offs (although that’s perhaps for the best), priced at around 1.5million euros each (£1.35m). As usual, the changes are cosmetic meaning the Veyron’s ‘regular’ 16-cylinder 8-litre engine remains untouched. With 1000bhp on tap and a 253mph top speed, that’s probably no bad thing…
Toyota MR2 Hybrid Sports Car In the Offing 2010
There's a feeling among car fans that hybrid vehicles are set to kill the driver-oriented sportscar. But many skeptics were silenced when Honda took the wraps off of its CR-Z coup concept recently. After all, anything that could bring back the CRX hatchback with extra power at no extra cost at the fuel pumps has to be pretty good right? Now it seems Toyota wants in on some of that hybrid sports car action.
Recent reports out of Japan are suggesting that Toyota may be working on a reborn hybrid sportscar of its own. The company once known for its sports-coupes recently unveiled the FT-86 concept, and might be ready to follow up with a gasoline-electric resurrection of the cult classic MR2. The budget-friendly mid-engine/rear-drive sportscar had a big following right up until the third-generation model was discontinued two years ago. But if the latest reports are to be believed the old MR2 is set for a hybrid comeback.
TESLA sports car in action 2010
It's not often you get told to put your foot down on a test drive but that's what happened last week when I test drove a Tesla electric sports car.
Electric cars seemed like an engineer's pipe dream only a few years ago, now they're becoming a reality.
Only yesterday Nissan announced its Leaf hatchback which could be built at the Sunderland plant and is expected to go on sale in 2011.
The 120 mph Tesla is already on the roads and selling well for a £94,000 sports car.
It has been deliberatley designed to be eco cool and "could only have come out of Silkicon Valley" Not surprisingly, the first owners are London eco pioneers.
The newly opened London showroom is selling four a month.
But back to the test drive. Like all electric cars it's very simple to drive. Accelerator, break and just neutral forward and back.
It's when you put your foot down you get the full thrill of the instant acceleration. All torque and lots of action, as you might say.
It's got a range of 200 miles, re-charge centres are springing up and if you do get stuck there's a rescue service.
My only regret was the 30 mph and 40 mph speed signs within range of Canary Wharf which stopped me putting my foot on the floor.
World’s Fastest Street Legal Sports Car 2010
Swiss car maker Weber Sportscars is billing its latest creation, the “faster one,” as the world’s fastest street legal sports car. Powered by a 900-horsepower/774 lb-ft twin-supercharged V8, the faster one does 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-124 in 6.6 seconds, 0-186 in 16.2 seconds, and it hits a top speed over 248 mph (comparable to the Bugatti Veyron).
The car’s design is distinguished by a motorized rear wing, which doubles as an air brake when necessary, similar to the Veyron’s. Yet, unlike the Veyron, the styling resembles more of a suped-up rice rocket than a work of sophisticated European engineering.
For 1.6 million Swiss Francs (U.S. $1.55 million), Weber will build you your own faster one. So, at least you’ll save a little more than $100K as compared with the $1.67 million Veyron. But, for your money, which would you rather park in your garage?
Porsche adds power to its Cayman S sports car 2010
The company has invested some money in its potent mid-level sports car, the Cayman, which debuted in 2005 as a 2006 model. Four years into the model run, Porsche has freshened the 2009 Cayman with a mild restyling of the front and rear — headlights and taillights mostly — and has added power.
The base Cayman gets a larger, 2.9-liter six-cylinder engine, with 265 horsepower. And the uplevel Cayman S now has a 3.4-liter six-cylinder engine, with horsepower boosted from 295 to 320. The Cayman S still isn't playing in the same league as the flagship 911, but it's closer than ever.
On the Cayman S test car, that new engine is matched with a new seven-speed "Doppelkupplung" transmission — that translates to "double clutch," meaning that while this transmission operates as an automatic, it can be shifted manually, thanks to internal clutches. It's an effective update of the Tiptronic transmission, but whether you think it's worth the $3,420 option price over the six-speed manual is up to you.
There is no denying, though, that this new transmission maximizes the engine's muscle, and it feels like more than 320 horsepower, pulling strongly from a standing start, up through and well past legal limits. And fuel mileage is surprisingly good: An EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 29 mpg on the highway, thanks in part to that seventh speed that lets the engine lope along at freeway speeds.
The handling is excellent and the ride is surprisingly good. Steering is quick but not twitchy. Brakes are superb.
BMW’s Green Sports Cars 2010
“It’s the sports car of the future, the way BMW imagines it.” That’s how Adrian van Hooydonk, director of BMW’s group design, describes the “BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics” two-door concept vehicle to be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show. Think of it as a showcase of the many fuel-efficient technologies that BMW has in various stages of development. Some of the technologies already appear in production vehicles, while the feasibility of rolling out other systems stretch the future to the point of never.
BMW’s overarching goal was to combine breath-taking speed and groundbreaking efficiency. In the BMW Vision, that boils down to 4.8-second 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration and 63 mile to the gallon.
First, BMW engineers use the rear-axle to combine a turbo-charged small diesel engine and the mildest forms of hybrid technology. That kind of combo comes standard in BMW 1-series cars in Europe. The Vision's setup is a little more similar to the BMW 320d, also to debut in Frankfurt, which uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel to deliver 162 horsepower, while promising more than 57 miles to the gallon. The BMW Vision takes it a step further by downsizing the engine to a 1.5-liter three-cylinder diesel engine mated with the more robust hybrid system found in the pricey BMW ActiveHybrid7, expected in the US early next year.
Not satisfied with 162 horsepower, BMW adds a second motor to drive the front wheels exclusively by electricity. When both motors and the diesel engine are called into service, the overall system can put out 356 horsepower. The BMW Vision is lightweight and aerodynamic. The design features an aluminum chassis and suspension, and an outer skin made mostly of polycarbonate glass. The car’s slippery design boasts a drag coefficient of 0.22—beating out the Toyota Prius’s 0.25.
To mitigate the fuel efficiency penalty paid for power, the BMW Vision utilizes plug-in hybrid technology. This is where the Vision becomes more of a fantasy. The combination of diesel and hybrid technologies is widely viewed as cost prohibitive. Adding enough battery power to allow the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics to travel for 30 miles of all-electric drive, as BMW is promising, would send costs through the roof.
BMW also indicates that the Vision only needs a 187-pound 10.8 kWh battery to achieve the 30-mile all-electric goal. To pull that off, the Vision, according to BMW, will discharge the battery pack's capacity by 80 percent, which is likely to significantly reduce the longevity of the battery. (The Chevy Volt will use about 50 percent of its capacity to help ensure a lifetime of use.)
Ferrari's latest the 458 has 570bhp and goes faster 2010
There are two things that Italy does better than anyone else: outrageous politicians and sports cars.
And while old Silvio has been up to his tricks, Ferrari has been busy building a fabulous new mid-engined sports car to replace the F430, itself a bit of a stunner.
The new car is called the 458 Italia. From the first bit of the name we can deduce that it's powered by a 4.5-litre eight-cylinder engine.
The new engine is direct-injection and has a whopping 570bhp at a screaming 9,000rpm.
It's more powerful than the F430 engine yet it is cleaner and more economical, not that economy is going to bother an owner that much.
What is important is driving slowly past nightclubs and attracting attention by blipping the throttle.
Many car companies claim to learn lots from racing and include the lessons in their road cars. Often it's just marketing talk but with Ferrari it's believable.
The Italia is full of hi-tech gizmos. For starters it has a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox that changes gear faster than a blink, an electronically controlled differential and something called F1-Trac - a traction-control system that maximises acceleration out of corners without the risk of you flying off into a field.
The major controls are mounted on the steering wheel and by major we don't mean the stereo controls. Ferrari gives you a host of buttons to press that change the traction-control settings, throttle response and lots more. Just like on Raikkonen's F1 Ferrari racer.
As with the F430 the Italia's body and chassis is all aluminium, put together using aerospace technology including hi-tech glues. The Italia's dry weight is 1,380kg (a bit naughty that, as most manufacturers weigh their cars with oil and water in them).
A bloke called Michael Schumacher has played an active part in developing Ferrari's new sports car including helping to design the car's racer-like instruments.
Watching Avatar in 3D
Ok guys, this is not a review, I just decided to write about it since i've got so much time in my hands and gotta get into the act of blogging again. Might as well tell you about something I just did recently.
Last Weekend, I paid RM18.50 for a ticket at GSC One-Utama to watch Avatar with Soon Yang and Daphne.
As I've never paid so much for a movie ticket in my entire life, it better be good.
Not just good. LIKE DAMN GOOD!!
Its not surprising to me that I went ahead to watch the movie at such a price because I mean, a movie does not just gross US1 Billion without actually being good. I mean DAMN GOOD!!
Some say that you should watch Avatar in 2D first then go to 3D, but then, I mean seriously if i really wanted to watch it in 2D, there's always the DVD to depend on. I know in my heart that i'll never get another opportunity to watch it in 3D. My TV can't do 3D so...I watched it...Its a 2 and half hour movie..Enjoyed every bit of it..
Also another point to add is that I've always had the misconception of watching 3d behind a glass with blue and red film just like this..
But what you actually get is like something that looks like real glasses.
The only problem of watching it in 3d is that if you are already wearing glasses like I do (not for 3d purposes of course), it may be a bit difficult to wear another glass (3d glass) on top of it (nuff said!) which is annoying I suppose.
All I can say is..
Its really good!!A good mixture of romance, action, and science.You know its a good movie when you do not want to get out of the movie to take a piss or waiting for the movie to end and hoping for more...I think you get what I mean...So for all you dvd goers out there, Trust me, if you're reading this, watch in in the cinema..Its worthwhile..
Here's a glimpse of it...
Last Weekend, I paid RM18.50 for a ticket at GSC One-Utama to watch Avatar with Soon Yang and Daphne.
As I've never paid so much for a movie ticket in my entire life, it better be good.
Not just good. LIKE DAMN GOOD!!
Its not surprising to me that I went ahead to watch the movie at such a price because I mean, a movie does not just gross US1 Billion without actually being good. I mean DAMN GOOD!!
Some say that you should watch Avatar in 2D first then go to 3D, but then, I mean seriously if i really wanted to watch it in 2D, there's always the DVD to depend on. I know in my heart that i'll never get another opportunity to watch it in 3D. My TV can't do 3D so...I watched it...Its a 2 and half hour movie..Enjoyed every bit of it..
Also another point to add is that I've always had the misconception of watching 3d behind a glass with blue and red film just like this..
But what you actually get is like something that looks like real glasses.
The only problem of watching it in 3d is that if you are already wearing glasses like I do (not for 3d purposes of course), it may be a bit difficult to wear another glass (3d glass) on top of it (nuff said!) which is annoying I suppose.
All I can say is..
Its really good!!A good mixture of romance, action, and science.You know its a good movie when you do not want to get out of the movie to take a piss or waiting for the movie to end and hoping for more...I think you get what I mean...So for all you dvd goers out there, Trust me, if you're reading this, watch in in the cinema..Its worthwhile..
Here's a glimpse of it...
2010 Bugatti Veyron
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the second fastest car in the world and the most powerful, it can easily pass as a super hero`s car like Batman. It has the fastest acceleration speed, reaching 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
Endowed with W16 engine-16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders fed by four turbochargers, a dual-clutch DSG computer-controlled manual transmission, the Veyron has a length is 4462 mm (175.8 in) a wide of 1998 mm (78.7 in) and hight of 1206 mm (47.5 in). Counting a sum of 10 radiators, for the engine cooling system, for transmission oil, a heat exchanger for the air to liquid intercoolers, for engine oil etc., the car has a power to weight ratio of 529 bhp/tonne.
If we talk about performance we are dazzled by this supercars power to reach 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph) in 7.3 and respectively 16.7 seconds, wining for herself the name of the quickest-accelerating production car in history.
If we count the fact that the top speed of Bugatti Veyron is 253.2 miles per hour (407.5 km/h), a speed limited electronically to prevent tire damage (it can run even faster) we can understand why this spectacular car must consume 40.4 L/100 km (4.82 mpg) when it`s running at top speed and in city driving 24.1 L/100 km.
A model drove by superstars like Tom Cruise, couldn`t name itself cheap, rising the Bugatti Veyron at least of $1,700,000, a price that measures it`s quality. Many new designs has been released since 2006, the color might have changed, but the speed and power remain the same.
Bugatti Veyron Review
Endowed with W16 engine-16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders fed by four turbochargers, a dual-clutch DSG computer-controlled manual transmission, the Veyron has a length is 4462 mm (175.8 in) a wide of 1998 mm (78.7 in) and hight of 1206 mm (47.5 in). Counting a sum of 10 radiators, for the engine cooling system, for transmission oil, a heat exchanger for the air to liquid intercoolers, for engine oil etc., the car has a power to weight ratio of 529 bhp/tonne.
If we talk about performance we are dazzled by this supercars power to reach 200 and 300 km/h (124 and 186 mph) in 7.3 and respectively 16.7 seconds, wining for herself the name of the quickest-accelerating production car in history.
If we count the fact that the top speed of Bugatti Veyron is 253.2 miles per hour (407.5 km/h), a speed limited electronically to prevent tire damage (it can run even faster) we can understand why this spectacular car must consume 40.4 L/100 km (4.82 mpg) when it`s running at top speed and in city driving 24.1 L/100 km.
A model drove by superstars like Tom Cruise, couldn`t name itself cheap, rising the Bugatti Veyron at least of $1,700,000, a price that measures it`s quality. Many new designs has been released since 2006, the color might have changed, but the speed and power remain the same.
Bugatti Veyron Review
Happy New Year!
If there was any day where I can update my blog,
today is THAT DAY!!
Because today, we celebrate Federal Territory Day!! Here's how this day works. If you're working in KL that is your office is literally in KL as long as your address does state 'Kuala Lumpur', you get that DAY OFF!!
But if you're office address says something else like 'Selangor', than sorry pal, just forget about this day altogether.
Anyway, here's my latest update since the start of the year and i'm gonna talk about what I did on New Years Eve.
I told myself that i'm gonna do this post today and I'm GONNA DO IT!!I know its been a month back but helll..i'm still gonna do it!!
This year I started the New Year again with some of my closest friends back in Penang. Every year, we would celebrate New Years at home because of the idea that celebrating up at happening spots like Upper Penang Road or Esplanade or some formal events would always turnout to be horrendous and at the end never turning out to be fun.
Some say that one of the problems would be finding a car park and even if you do find one, it would be so crazily overpriced that it would create an upset in your tummy not to say, a hole in your pocket to begin with.
Some also say that even if you do find yourself in a nightclub, it would be so packed with people that is nothing different to squeezing yourself in say a box to be shipped into another country. It would give you a taste of how exotic animals are illegally transported to another country.
Some also say that even drinks would be over priced on that day and when I mean over priced I don't mean like by a few cents or something but probably by the double figures. Its like buying a proton at the price of a Bentley or so to speak..
Some also say that with all the crazy revellers around, you would never know whether your car is safe enough to defend itself when its been targeted for extra decorations by these revellers.
Anyway, a few of us decided that celebrating at home has always been a better way to welcome the New Year.
Here are some pictures.
Picture with the guys...At the heat of the moment hearing the "1 Malaysia Song", we all were taking pictures so fast that Tiam did not even have a chance to swap his cake for a glass of champagne to take pictures with.
Picture of the girls that came...
This is Dr. Yong Lin! She Saves Lives in General Hospital! She works sometimes for 48 hours straight. Makes me rethink how hard i'm working when I use to complain that I only get like 6 hours of sleep a day.
Last but not least, if there was anyone you guys should thank, it would be Tiam! He kind of pushed me to hold a party, so...yeah..THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!!HAHA...Hope you enjoyed it...
I guess thats all I have to share in pictures. Thank you guys for coming!Its always been great to have you guys around to celebrate with. Would like to take this opportunity to wish you all on my blog and all my dear existing readers,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Can't wait to see how we gonna do it in 2010? I hope to be updating this blog more often..wait a minute...
I SAY IT EVERY YEAR!!!HAHA
today is THAT DAY!!
Because today, we celebrate Federal Territory Day!! Here's how this day works. If you're working in KL that is your office is literally in KL as long as your address does state 'Kuala Lumpur', you get that DAY OFF!!
But if you're office address says something else like 'Selangor', than sorry pal, just forget about this day altogether.
Anyway, here's my latest update since the start of the year and i'm gonna talk about what I did on New Years Eve.
I told myself that i'm gonna do this post today and I'm GONNA DO IT!!I know its been a month back but helll..i'm still gonna do it!!
This year I started the New Year again with some of my closest friends back in Penang. Every year, we would celebrate New Years at home because of the idea that celebrating up at happening spots like Upper Penang Road or Esplanade or some formal events would always turnout to be horrendous and at the end never turning out to be fun.
Some say that one of the problems would be finding a car park and even if you do find one, it would be so crazily overpriced that it would create an upset in your tummy not to say, a hole in your pocket to begin with.
Some also say that even if you do find yourself in a nightclub, it would be so packed with people that is nothing different to squeezing yourself in say a box to be shipped into another country. It would give you a taste of how exotic animals are illegally transported to another country.
Some also say that even drinks would be over priced on that day and when I mean over priced I don't mean like by a few cents or something but probably by the double figures. Its like buying a proton at the price of a Bentley or so to speak..
Some also say that with all the crazy revellers around, you would never know whether your car is safe enough to defend itself when its been targeted for extra decorations by these revellers.
Anyway, a few of us decided that celebrating at home has always been a better way to welcome the New Year.
Here are some pictures.
Picture with the guys...At the heat of the moment hearing the "1 Malaysia Song", we all were taking pictures so fast that Tiam did not even have a chance to swap his cake for a glass of champagne to take pictures with.
Picture of the girls that came...
Last but not least, if there was anyone you guys should thank, it would be Tiam! He kind of pushed me to hold a party, so...yeah..THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!!HAHA...Hope you enjoyed it...
I guess thats all I have to share in pictures. Thank you guys for coming!Its always been great to have you guys around to celebrate with. Would like to take this opportunity to wish you all on my blog and all my dear existing readers,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Can't wait to see how we gonna do it in 2010? I hope to be updating this blog more often..wait a minute...
I SAY IT EVERY YEAR!!!HAHA
Alfa Romeo Mito GTA
Alfa Romeo Mito GTA, upload feito originalmente por Which? Car.
The Alfa MiTo GTA concept is the perfect car to be on show at Geneva. The Swiss motor show is renowned for being a showcase for the world’s most exotic automotive machinery and the GTA embodies the rich competition heritage of the Alfa Romeo brand.
Mercedes E-class Coupé
Mercedes E-class Coupé, upload feito originalmente por Which? Car.
The Mercedes E-class Coupé is a sleek design packed with high technology features. In fact, it's so sleek it has the best aerodynamics of any current mass-produced car – with a drag coefficient of just 0.24Cd.
http://www.which.co.uk/reviews-ns/geneva-motor-show-2009/index.jsp
http://www.which.co.uk/reviews-ns/geneva-motor-show-2009/index.jsp
Nissan Qazana
Nissan Qazana, upload feito originalmente por Which? Car.
It takes a lot to steal the thunder of Nissan’s latest GT-R and 370Z sports cars , but the Nissan Qazana concept car has managed just that at the Geneva Motor Show.
Visit the Geneva Motor Show report on the Which? website for more on this car.
http://www.which.co.uk/reviews-ns/geneva-motor-show-2009/index.jsp
Visit the Geneva Motor Show report on the Which? website for more on this car.
http://www.which.co.uk/reviews-ns/geneva-motor-show-2009/index.jsp
Ford Losis Concept Car
The Iosis, whose name is an alchemic term referring to the final stage of the transformation of base metal into gold. The Iosis is a concept study which develops some ideas expressed by the SAV concept, embodies all the elements of the future design of European Fords.
Have the inverted trapezoid motif is echoed throughout the exterior and interior of iosis: it is also featured in the 20-inch wheels, milled from solid aluminium billets, with contrasting polished and anodised finish that accentuates 3-D design. Another recurring design theme is the kick-up in the DLO at the ‘C' post, which is echoed in the headlamp design. The ridge then continues along the ‘A' post and cant rail before terminating in the cat's eye style rear light clusters. The concept car have the doors swung open, and the car interior provide the ultra modern steering wheel is fashioned from solid aluminium with contrasting orange glove leather grips and a black leather airbag pad. via carbodydesign
Visit the Geneva Motor Show report on the Which?
www.which.co.uk/reviews-ns/geneva-motor-show-2009/index.jsp