The new BMW 3 Series range is getting a lot of attention as of late and what better way to further entice it than to introduce two more variants into the line-up. BMW is proud to introduce their latest additions, the 2020 BMW M340i xDrive Saloon and Touring versions with more racing technology embedded into its superbly comfortable driving experience. (more…)
Race starts at 1:10 pm in Mexico Sunday/3:10 am on Monday in Malaysia
With Max Verstappen demoted 3 positions, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc takes pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen qualified for pole position but his joy was short-lived. He was penalised 3 places for ignoring warning flags after Valtteri Bottas had crashed.
Porsche is 88 years old, among the older car companies in the auto industry. Like any company that is forward-looking, it wants its business to be sustainable and be around for as long as possible. In fact, Porsche may be thinking of the time when its business expands to galaxies far, far away. To prepare for this, designers at the company are developing a starship and getting assistance from Lucasfilm Ltd., which is famous for its Star Wars films.
For now, the collaborative efforts will be to have a starship ready for the world premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’, which will be the final episode of the Skywalker saga. As the movie has already been completed and will be released this December, the starship will be a supporting element for promotional purposes rather than be in the movie itself.
“Developing a spacecraft with clear Porsche design DNA is exciting and challenging,” said Michael Mauer, Vice-President Style Porsche at Porsche AG. “Even though they do not seem to share many elements at first glance, both worlds have a similar design philosophy. The close collaboration with the Star Wars design team inspires and fascinates us – I’m sure that both sides can draw major benefits from this exchange.”
“The worldwide appeal of the Star Wars and Porsche brands is shaped decisively by their iconic designs,” explained Doug Chiang, Vice-President and Executive Creative Director of Lucasfilm and responsible for overseeing all designs for the Star Wars franchise. “We are bringing together two worlds with this project: the exotic film design of a galaxy far, far away and the precision work that goes into developing emotive Porsche sportscars. This collaboration promises to produce an innovative design that will blend the best of both brands to create an exciting new starship worthy of Porsche and Star Wars.”
The design team will meet regularly in Stuttgart and San Francisco over the coming weeks to design the spacecraft and create a corresponding model. Fans of both brands can follow the development process of the starship online at www.thedesigneralliance.com.
Nissan, which can claim leadership in mass-produced electric vehicles (EVs) with its bestselling LEAF, has long experience with EVs. Though we only read about its advances in recent times, it had a running electric car called the Tama in the late 1940s which was used as a taxi. But EVs in those days had poor performance and as the technology for such vehicles was hard to develop, the manufacturers focused on internal combustion engines which became dominant up till today.
But with pressure to cut exhaust emissions drastically and reduce fuel consumption, the industry began to get serious about EVs again as the new century began. While some companies focused on hybrids, Nissan chose to focus on a pure EV and by December 2010, it launched the LEAF.
As battery and EV technology kept advancing, the performance of the LEAF kept improving and the second generation offers higher performance plus greater range. But just as with internal combustion engine cars, there is a quest to keep pushing the envelope where performance is concerned and Nissan has revealed some of the technologies that will take its next generation of EVs to a new level.
Enhanced all-wheel drive system
Recently, it showed the media a prototype based on the LEAF with an enhanced all-wheel drive system powered by front and rear high-power motors integrated. Nissan developed the chassis control technology in-house for the electric-drive all-wheel-control system. It’s a development that brings to mind the time when Nissan introduced its advanced ATTESA all-wheel drive technology in the 1980s.
“Soon, Nissan will launch a next-generation EV that will be a true breakthrough,” said Takao Asami, Senior Vice-President for Research and Advanced Engineering at Nissan. “The new electric-drive 4-wheel-control technology now being developed integrates Nissan’s electric propulsion and 4WD control technologies with our chassis control technology to achieve a huge leap in acceleration, cornering and braking performance, on par with the latest sportscars.”
High-output twin-motor drive
Using separate front and rear electric motors, the powertrain generates 227 kW of maximum output and 680 Nm of maximum torque. This output is complemented by the ultra-high-precision motor control which offers highly responsive, yet uncommonly smooth, acceleration. Drivers can benefit from the all-wheel-control system on nearly any road condition, heightening driving performance and confidence.
The prototype’s precision control of both motors provides unparalleled ride comfort. Pitch and dive are minimized by adding regenerative rear motor braking to the usual front motor regenerative braking. When slowing down on city streets, for example, this helps keep passengers from being shaken back and forth. This reduces the potential for motion sickness and related discomfort. Similarly, on rough, bumpy roads and when accelerating, motor control is optimized to maintain ride comfort by minimizing irregular movement.
Independent brake control
In addition to optimizing front and rear torque allocation, the system applies independent brake control at each of the four wheels to maximize the cornering force generated by each tyre. This lets drivers enjoy cornering that faithfully follows their intentions with minimal steering.
Inside, a 12.3-inch display mounted in the centre of the instrument panel reports, in real-time, information on the vehicle control technology via a polished graphic interface. With the custom display, the test driver can better understand car’s movements and judge the all-wheel-control technology’s performance at a glance.
Better tracking and control
Electric 4-wheel-control technology can increase driver confidence across a broad range of road conditions. When cornering on snow-covered roads, for example, the car can faithfully trace the driver’s intended line, thanks to ultra-high-precision motor and brake control. This would greatly enhance safety for the driver as well as other road-users.
Nissan has not said when this new technology will be installed in its models but with the pace of development being so brisk, it should be within the next few years. The thing about the Japanese is that they want to make sure their whatever systems they introduce are thoroughly tested and once in the market, customers will not be inconvenienced by flaws that were not resolved before production.
Visit www.nissan.com.my to know more about the latest LEAF EV which is available in Malaysia and where to test it.
In 2013, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the popular Gran Turismo racing simulator, Polyphony Digital invited a number of top carmakers to develop virtual racing cars that could be included in the series. Many companies responded positively and came up with some extraordinary sportscars which were a combination of what’s possible today and what could be possible in future. There were no limitations to the technology and engineering so it was a unique opportunity to go to extremes.
Since 2013 and the launch of the sixth Gran Turismo simulator, over 30 sportscars have appeared from carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, Mazda, Hyundai and others. All of them have been known as the Vision Gran Turismo cars.
Vision Gran Turismo sportscars from Volkswagen (left) and Aston Martin
This month, Jaguar has also joined the program with its first all-electric virtual sportscar – the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo Coupe. The futuristic EV will be available for players to download in Gran Turismo Sport for the Sony PlayStation 4 from the end of November. Before then, it will first be driven by competitors in the latest round of Sony’s Gran Turismo World Tour event at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show this weekend.
Inspired by brand’s racing lineage
Jaguar’s Vision GT Coupe has been designed and developed from the ground up taking inspiration from the brand’s racing lineage. The iconic C-type and D-type influence its fearless futuristic design, while Jaguar’s I-TYPE 4 Formula E and I-PACE eTROPHY racing cars provide the technical foundations for its uncompromising racing performance. Jaguar’s team of designers had complete creative freedom to develop the perfect proportions and beautiful surfaces of this virtual Jaguar of the future.
“This project has been completely led by our young designers and represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to create a vehicle steeped in our incredible heritage but pushing the boundaries of future design. The team have done an incredible job in creating something which is clearly identifiable as a Jaguar, inspired – but not constrained – by our iconic past,” said Julian Thomson, Jaguar Design Director.
The Vision GT Coupe is crafted from experimental lightweight materials, with the light and stiff monocoque made from carbonfibre composites and advanced aluminium alloys. This focused lightweight construction keeps its weight to just 1,400 kgs with near 50:50 weight distribution. Gamers will have 1,020 ps of power and 1,200 Nm of torque, a 0 – 100 km/h time of less than 2 seconds and perfectly balanced handling,
Dream project for designers
Beautiful shapes and purposeful proportions from three key cars in Jaguar’s racing heritage, the C-type, D-type and E-type, have influenced the form and graphics of the Vision GT Coupe. Radical front fenders are reminiscent of the C-type, the epic plan shape is inspired by the ‘Long Nose’ D-type, and the fast and elegant cabin hints at the Lightweight E-type.
The Vision GT Coupe is the first Jaguar to feature the iconic Leaper on the front grille. Elsewhere, the historic references continue with the twin-charging sockets flanking the rear haunches, inspired by Jaguar’s revolutionary 1968 XJ saloon.
“This was the dream project for a car designer, creating a futuristic sports car for Gran Turismo means our designs and ideas could be truly limitless. It has to excite future generations and most importantly, look and feel unmistakably Jaguar,” explained Oliver Cattell-Ford, Exterior Designer, Jaguar Advanced Design, said.
Immersive interior design
The interior has been designed to fuse Jaguar’s heritage with its contemporary interior philosophy of progressive luxury, purity, driver focus, and stunningly intricate details, all of which are allowed to breathe through the simplicity of the car’s design.
“We’ve really pushed the limit to imagine how a future Jaguar sports car interior could look. The architecture is visually lightweight, simple, and dramatic; featuring advanced and experimental materials and finishes. Sitting in the stunningly considered cockpit and looking out onto the gracefully long bonnet of the Jaguar Vision GT Coupe – a view that is unmistakably Jaguar – the player will be fully immersed in the action,” said Chris Shaw, Interior Designer, Jaguar Advanced Design.
This selection of inspired details and inventive, innovative flourishes include hologram technology. The car features an on-board artificial intelligence system affectionately named “KITT-E” – a companion that would operate systems, and interface between the driver and machine to enhance the ‘emotional connection’ with the car. This technology can also display other useful information to the driver in a variety of formats, including three dimensional maps, and essential vehicle data.
The cockpit has been crafted to envelope the driver, creating a racing experience reminiscent of Jaguar’s Le Mans-winning D-types. It also features augmented reality digital side glass for enhanced vision either side of the car; the glass being able to highlight danger and obstacles, therefore increasing driver perception. Complementing this, ahead of the driver is a transparent information cluster, displaying three-dimensional information inspired by iconic Smiths gauges, with rearward vision integrated either side in the screen’s simple wrapped design – all in perfect eye-line of the road ahead.
Pure Jaguar racing experience
A unique soundscape has also been created to immerse the driver in a pure Jaguar racing experience. Led by the team responsible for the Jaguar I-PACE’s soundtrack, the Vision GT Coupe’s distinctive sound was created using brand new recordings of the 1957 Le Mans podium-finishing ‘603’ Long Nose D-type. Its race-spec 3.8 litre XK engine provides a unique layer, manipulated and woven into a futuristic and distinctive electric soundtrack.
To offer uncompromising racing performance, albeit virtually, the team called on the same Panasonic Jaguar Racing engineers who lead the design and development of the brand’s I-TYPE 4 Formula E and I-PACE eTROPHY race cars. The car is powered by three powerful, compact motors – one driving both front wheels, the other two driving a rear wheel each – which together produce a combined 1,020 ps and 1,200 Nm. Players will be able to hit a maximum speed of more than 320 km/h but should something go wrong at that extreme speed, well, it’s just a simulation…
The Ministry of Works has announced that highway users will enjoy toll discounts of between 10% and 30% on 21 highways, while a 10% toll discount will be given at two toll plazas in conjunction with Deepavali. Most highways will provide the discounted rates beginning on October 27, 2019 (Sunday) from 12.00 am to 11:59 pm. The chart below shows the highways and discounts available – for Class 1 vehicles only.
All highway users are advised to adhere to the travel rules and signage provided when passing through all toll plazas to ensure a smooth and safe journey to the destination. In addition, highway users are also advised to plan their journey in advance by following the Travel Time Advisory Schedule provided by some of the concessionaires.
PLUS, for example, has this chart (below) which shows suggested starting times for those travelling on its North-South Expressway from today until October 29.
PLUS also reminds highway users to reload their Touch‘nGo cards with sufficient value for the entire journey. They can reload at any of the 10,000 reload centres covering ATM machines, R&Rs, petrol stations, malls, self-service kiosks and convenient stores throughout the country. However, they will not be able to reload at PLUS toll plazas from today until October 29, 2019. This is to facilitate smoother traffic flow during the upcoming Deepavali season when high traffic volumes are expected.
Be sure you have enough balance in your tollcard as reload lanes on PLUS highways will be closed. A good idea would be to store RM20 in your MyKad for emergencies so you can enter the highway and find a R&R to reload instead of blocking other vehicles because you cannot go through. To know if your MyKad can be used for Touch’NGo payment, check the back of the card for the logo.
The latest traffic information can also be obtained from the TMC Highway Authority Malaysia (LLM) traffic management centre operating 24 hours a day via 1800-88-7752 or @LLMinfotrafik Twitter account or any other highway customer service centre.