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Big Changes For Season 9 Of Formula E In 2023

Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – the series for all-electric single-seaters – will see big changes when it starts in January 2023. Not only will the new Gen3 racing cars be used for the first time but there will also be new teams, new sporting formats, new venues – and even a new Formula E sound.

The inaugural championship was run in 2014/2015 with the first race held in Beijing, China. As more venues were added with each season and the series had met the criteria of having 4 manufacturer competitors and races on 3 continents, it was granted World Championship status by the FIA.

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4 years After Launch, the VW ID.3 Will Start Its Second Generation

It used to be that a model would be in production for around 5 years before a new generation succeeded it. That is the norm but some manufacturers may shorten or lengthen that period depending on various circumstances. With increased competition and technologies being improved at a faster pace, especially for electric vehicles (EVs), the 5-year cycle might be too long.

It was in 2019 that Volkswagen introduced its new ID designation for a new family of battery electric vehicles, with the first model being the ID.3 which was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now, after just 3 years, the carmaker is preparing to launch the second generation of the model in early 2023.

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Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Launched In Malaysia

For those who want something more hardcore than the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, there’s now the 718 Cayman GT4 RS which takes its place at the top of the 718 family. Just two weeks after its global debut in Los Angeles, the new model – the first 718 to carry the RS badge – was also introduced in Malaysia during the official opening of Porsche Centre Johor Bahru yesterday. Pricing starts from RM1,550,000.

Intended to be an uncompromising driver’s car, development of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS focussed on lightweight construction, extremely agile chassis set-up, sophisticated aerodynamics, and providing a stratospheric soundtrack.

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Ultra-thin, Super-light Speakers Could Be In Your Car In Future

Space is at a premium in a car’s passenger compartment and interior designers have to find ways to install the various features and equipment. It doesn’t help that over the years, more and more equipment has been introduced and with audio equipment, the number of speakers has increased for what used to be just two to a double-digit number. For example, a Mercedes-Maybach with a Burmester system can have up to 27 speakers.

The specialist audio system companies have been constantly advancing their technologies as well as the designs so the dimensions of speakers have become more compact, allowing them to be more easily and discreetly integrated in panels around the cabin.

However, weight is still an issue and while each speaker is not really heavy, a number of them (especially with magnets) can add weight. Ten speakers could add up to 40 kgs, although tweeters might be insignificant in this respect. And there is still the physical thickness which needs to be accommodated but this too could see a reduction in future.

Engineers at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in America have now developed a loudspeaker that can turn any surface into an active audio source. About the size of a hand, it is paper-thin and weighs about as much as a coin! It will generate high-quality sound no matter what surface the film is bonded to, while using a fraction of the energy required by a traditional loudspeaker.

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Perodua’s Cumulative Sales Volume Passes 250,000 Units With One Month Left

With one month remaining to the year, Perodua’s total sales volume has reached 250,785 units, already exceeding its 2022 target of 247,800 units. The output from the Malaysian carmaker’s two factories also reached new highs in November as the company shifts into higher gear to meet demand.

During the month of November, another 28,592 units were added to the sales volume, an increase of 40.9% when compared with 20,299 units delivered in November 2021, and a 10.6% increase when over the 25,849 units delivered in October this year.

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BMW Group Malaysia Continues To Grow Charging Network For Its EV Customers

With the government helping to promote the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) by exempting them from as well as providing some other incentives, the car companies are also doing their part by participating in the development of the charging network nationwide. After all, if they want people to buy their EVs and enjoy using them, then enabling owners to travel far is necessary as part of ‘aftersales’

BMW Group Malaysia, having been among the early pioneers in electric mobility in Malaysia, is one of the companies that has been helping to grow the number of charging stations. Besides having such facilities at its dealerships, it has now introduced BMW Charging to gives its EV customers peace of mind when they wish to go on long journeys.

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