This is an awesome video produced by Porsche – and the main star is the new Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid concept. It also has some shots where you can see the interior, which we couldn’t see in the initially released press pix. Check it out!
Proton EMAS Concept Video Presentation
March 2, 2010 at 7:38 pm Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton EMAS Concept, Videos
Italdesign-Giugiaro have uploaded a video presentation of the new Proton EMAS Concept on its website. You can watch it here streamed from local servers. The video has a little technical presentation in it, showing how the interior dimensions were designed to be similiar to that of a C or D segment SUV, etc. Hope you enjoy it!
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VIDEO: Audi A1 in motion – Audi DTM pilot Markus Winkelhock takes it out for a spin
Here’s a chance to check out the new Audi A1 in motion. I don’t particularly agree with the use of a black A1 in this video. Feels like a wasted opportunity to wow potential consumers. Look at the MINI, that Fiat 500 and the MiTo – when you think of one do you ever think of a black one?
No, small premium compacts like this need bright colours, and while Audi did right in releasing photos of the A1 in red for their press kit, the black in thie video looks pretty boring, especially since the A1 seems to be going in a straight line like 90% of the time, despite having Audi DTM driver Markus Winkelhock piloting it.
According to Audi, the A1′s electrohydraulic power steering has a very direct 14.8:1 ratio. The chassis uses MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. Every model of the A1 will come with an ESP system that also has an electric diff lock feature, similar to what Volkswagen and BMW has in their Golf GTI and MINI Cooper S. Winkelhock said the car is very agile and the handling remains neutral even longer thanks to the electronic diff through a corner.
Look after the jump to watch the video.
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Malaysia’s first passenger car outdoor crash test by MIROS – Perodua Alza vs trailer
February 26, 2010 at 1:40 pm Filed Under Cars, Local News, Videos
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, also known as MIROS conducted the country’s first passenger car outdoor crash test at the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT) in Dengkil yesterday. The crash test is the institute’s second following a crash test that involved a motorcycle and a car conducted earlier in January. According to MIROS this test is a prelude to a full-fledged crash test facility that is being set up in Malacca and is expected to be operational by June this year.
Yesterday’s test focused on three aspects including analyzing the safety levels involving a child seated in a safety seat compared to a child wearing just the rear seat belt as well as analyzing the degree and type of casualties sustained by occupants of a vehicle involved in a rear-end collision with a parked or stationary commercial vehicle. It is NOT a crash test for the Perodua Alza, but it just so happens that they used an Alza.
The main focus was to study the effectiveness and level of damage sustained by an energy absorbing underrun protection system developed specifically for commercial vehicles. An underrun is made to absorb impact caused by a rear-end collision and it is compulsory for commercial vehicles. However many commercial vehicles out there don’t even use one and most use unspecified ones.
The guinea pigs for the test? Crash test dummies, a 6-tonne stationary trailer (including load) and a Perodua Alza. The 1.5 EZI Automatic model was used and it was occupied by five crash test dummies including two Hybrid III dummies fully equipped with various sensors, one non-instrumentation Hybrid III dummy, one P3 dummy with nominal instrumentation and a child dummy which simulates a 3-month old child.
A propulsion system featuring a 2.5L Nissan RB engine with pulleys and hydraulic tensioners, various high-speed cameras with up to 1000 frames per second recording capabilities, high-voltage lighting system, a comprehensive Data Acquisition System (DAQ) designed by MIROS as well as various sensors were also used for the test. The crash target was a stationary trailer fitted with an underrun that partially meets the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 58 standards.
The plan was to get Alza to crash into the trailer at 35 km/h although the test was eventually carried out at 30 km/h. The crash test was a successful one while the findings are still being analyzed at the moment. Right after the crash it was evident that both the front airbags on the Alza were deployed and the damage on the MPV was limited to the fore front area of the vehicle leaving the engine’s position and vital parts of the interior including the dashboard and pedals intact.
According to a MIROS engineer, initial findings revealed that all passengers except for the 3-month old child would have survived and would only sustain minor injuries. The child would survive if a safety seat was used. This means that the underrun did its job. Although the impact occurred at 30 km/h which is a speed level most of us use while driving in a shopping mall’s parking lot, it was enough to push the 6-tonne trailer forward by at least 2 feet! Imagine that!
MIROS also revealed its plans to make Malaysia a regional hub for crash testing where auto makers can perform various crash tests for vehicles that are specific to the region. The institute also aims to gain international accreditation to serve this purpose. MIROS believes that secondary findings obtained by its foreign counterparts may not be 100% usable for local and regional markets due to the vast difference in geographical, infrastructural, political, and social environments.
The institute also awards the Malaysian Vehicle Assessment Program (MyVAP) certification to vehicles that conform to MIROS’ safety standards and the Alza became the second vehicle to obtain the MyVAP certification after the Proton Exora. Both the Malaysian-made MPVs now carry 4-star MyVAP ratings. MIROS aims to reduce fatalities on the road and setting up a crash test facility is definitely a good step towards reaching that goal however the institute also calls for the public to understand and accept change to become more safety conscious on the road.
It was also revealed that UNECE R58-compliant underruns are expected to become compulsory in Malaysia by October this year, which will make the highways a safer place for us. Most of our low rider passenger cars and even some lower then usual SUVs protect us best against crashes with other vehicles of similiar height. When faced with a high object such as the rear of a trailer, the end result can be very tragic. The car will often slide under the truck, and the full impact will hit the car’s A-pillar, and not the crumple zone built into the front of the vehicle. Underruns will be able to reduce damage from these crashes and ensure the crumple zone takes the hit and not anything else that wasn’t designed for it.
Watch the crash test video below and look after the jump to view an image gallery.
McLaren MP4-12C development on schedule
We know what McLaren’s new MP4-12C sports car looks like already but in reality the car is actually pretty much still under development. McLaren says it has begun testing the latest Experimental Prototype (XP) version of the car at various test locations around the world, including the IDIADA facility in Spain. IDIADA should be a familiar name to some of you – it was IDIADA’s crash test facilities that Proton used to ensure the Proton Exora had good crash safety.
In the video below, you can watch the XP8 and XP10 in action. They are the names for two of the “XP Beta phase” prototypes. They are wrapped with black matte vinyl. Differences from the initial “XP phase” cars from last year include a revised M838T turbo engine, a transmission with revised gear ratios, a more efficient cooling package, new and improved suspension geometry, and an upgrade electrical system.
Watch the video below, which explains better what the differences are between prototypes of different stages. You also get to hear how the new McLaren turbo engine sounds like in the MP4-12C!
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics stars in new ad
February 19, 2010 at 12:43 pm Filed Under BMW, Cars, Concept Cars, Videos
There has been numerous taglines associated with BMW over the years. BMW used to be known as the Ultimate Driving Machine. And then we had the tagline ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’, which you can still see plastered over a huge billboard as you enter the Penchala Link tunnel from Mutiara Damansara.
Now they’ve moved on to something else – “Joy”. BMW’s “Joy” campaign mostly uses three word headlines starting with “Joy is…”, followed by something relevant to whatever message they are trying to convey. This videos are part of BMW’s “Story of Joy” campaign, which were launched in conjunction with the Winter Olympics.
“Tunnel” depicts the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept Vehicle driving through a dark tunnel, and you are shown glimpses of vehicles in BMW’s product line-up as it darts in and out of shadows. The Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is a diesel-electric 2+2 sports car using a 1.5 litre inline-3 mated to two electric motors, one each on the front and rear axle. Enjoy the video shown after the jump!
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VIDEO: V6-Powered Porsche Panamera Promo
Here’s another one of those Porsche promotional footages of their products – this time it’s the new baseline Porsche Panamera and Porsche Panamera 4, which with their V6 power joins their more powerful Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo 4S siblings to complete the Panamera range. Or at least for now – I’m expecting at least one hybrid variant, and could we perhaps see a diesel as well, since there is a diesel Cayenne?
Teaser vid reveals details of new Nissan compact
A new Nissan compact car will be unveiled at the Geneva show at the end of this month, and Nissan has given us a preview of what they will be launching in the form of a video that shows interviews of members of the project team.
Some juicy details revealed include the fact that the car will be powered by a new 1.2 litre 3-cylinder engine, although both 3-cylinders and 4-cylinders were considered at first. According to Nissan, it was “obvious” that the 3-potter delivered the best balance of performance, cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness. This new engine will also be mated to a new CVT transmission that uses a sub-planetary gear. All these new components will sit on a new platform called the “V-platform”.
This new compact car will be none other than the new Nissan March/Micra and we’ve actually already seen spyshots of this car (shown above) – and they seem to match the previously released sketches (shown at the top).
Check out the video below. You’ll have to put up with the team members going on and on about what a breakthrough the car is though. Nissan says sales of the production car will begin in Thailand in March, with European sales starting in the autumn. Wonder if a Thai introduction means ETCM are able to bring it in Malaysia anytime this year?
BMW X5 gets loads of plugs in Ghost Writer
The last time we saw Pierce Brosnand and a BMW star in the same movie, it was in Tomorrow Never Dies. Pierce Brosnan will be reacquainted with a BMW this year in the new Ghost Writer movie. But Pierce won’t be driving it – Ewan McGregor will be the BMW’s driver, and the BMW in question here is the new BMW X5, not a 7-Series with a V12 or anything like that. BMW has put up a trailer of the movie on its YouTube page, and from what I see the X5 really gets loads of screen presence. There’s also a very obvious in your face plug for BMW’s ConnectedDrive service in there, where the system tells Ewan’s character that traffic is clear to where he wants to go. Don’t get me wrong, the X5 is a nice vehicle but as a car enthusiast I’d rather see something like the E92 M3 Coupe in action, perhaps fully decked up with the Competition Package bits 
Toyota uploads recall safety videos
Toyota posted up four videos related to its ongoing recall crisis. The first one and probably the most important one if you own one of the affected Toyotas is a safety instruction video letting you know what to do in case your Toyota’s accelerator pedal goes bonkers on you and won’t release when you take your foot off it. The rest are to do with the floor mat recalls, how an electronic throttle works, and how the pedal assembly works (and why it sometimes sticks). Look after the jump to watch the videos.
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