PAUHauto: New Porsche Boxster spied

Porsche’s all-new Boxster is shaping up! Beneath its ever-shrinking disguise, the secrets of next year’s two-seater cabrio are beginning to emerge.

The styling is a logical evolution of the current model, but more aggressively contoured bumpers with angular air vents give the car, codenamed 981, a more masculine look. At the side, the vents for the engine are smaller and neater, while at the rear, the LED lights draw inspiration from the Panamera.

The Panamera’s influence is felt inside too, where logically laid-out, quality switchgear dominates the cabin. Porsche has elected to add high-tech features and quality trim materials from the larger saloon as the firm moves the Boxster upmarket, clearing space in the range for a new entry-level model which we expect to see in 2013. As a result, the new Boxster grows slightly, giving extra room for passengers and their luggage.

The newcomer gets the option of the latest Porsche PASM dampers, and shares the front suspension and steering with the next 911 to save money. Despite moving the car upmarket, Porsche has also worked hard to reduce the new car’s weight, as shown by the downsized brake discs on this test car.

When it arrives in early 2012, the new Boxster is likely to be powered by a cleaned-up but similar engine line-up to now, with a 2.9-litre flat-six in the standard car and a direct injection 3.4-litre flat-six in the Boxster S. However, the firm is also working on a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four which will offer both impressive performance and economy.

PAUHjoke: Salah Karipap Ke?

Pada suatu pagi di kelas 2 Mawar, seorang guru matematik sedang menyoal muridnya Zaid Hamidi tentang pengiraan.

"Jika sebiji karipap berharga empat puluh sen, berapakah harga untuk tiga biji karipap?" tanya gurunya.

"RM1 cikgu!", jawab murid itu spontan.

"Salah tu", tegur si guru penuh kasih sayang.

"Mungkin Hamidi tidak faham soalan, biar cikgu ulang semula, dengar betul-betul. Sebiji karipap berharga empat puluh sen, berapa harga tiga biji karipap?", soal guru kembali.

Walaubagaimanapun Hamidi tetap memberi jawapan RM1 untuk tiga biji karipap.

"Salah tu Hamidi, cuba kira betul-betul.", respon si guru dengan sabar.

"Tapi cikgu, tiap-tiap pagi bila saya pergi membeli karipap di warung berhampiran rumah saya, makcik jual kuih tu selalu kata; kuih karipap sebiji empat puluh sen, tiga biji seringgit!" terang Hamidi dengan penuh keyakinan sambil memandang muka guru yang makin berkerut!

PAUHjoke: Selamat Datang Ke Persidangan Teknologi

Hari ini berita di TV dan akhbar sibuk menyiarkan bahawa kerajaan kita mewajibkan semua kawasan perumahan yang baru dan restoran-restoran menyediakan akses internet. Kepada yang ingkar, lesen tidak akan diperbaharui. Benarkah begitu?

Pada sebuah pertemuan antara Menteri Teknologi Sedunia di Pulau Langkawi, Menteri Teknologi dari Jepun, Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Malaysia sedang cuba menunjuk kehebatan negara masing-masing.

Menteri Jepun: Kalau anda ke Jepun, anda gali tanah kami, baru saja sampai 7 meter, anda akan temukan banyak cip, rangka-rangka besi, papan sirkit elektronik dan lain-lain. Ini menunjukkan bahawa sejak zaman nenek moyang, kami bangsa Jepun sudah mengenal teknologi robot.

Menteri AS: Kalau anda ke Amerika, anda gali tanah kami, baru saja sampai 3 meter, anda akan temukan jejak-jejak radioaktif. Ini adalah petanda bahawa sejak zaman dahulu kala, kami bangsa Amerika sudah mengenal teknologi nuklear.

Menteri Malaysia: Oleh kerana tuan-tuan sedang di Malaysia, saya persilakan tuan-tuan untuk menggali di sini biar tahu ada apa di bawah tanah kami.

Lalu dipanggilnya 2 orang tukang untuk segera menggali tanah di situ. Setiap 7 meter kedalaman, kedua-dua tukang tadi akan naik membeli laporan kepada si Menteri Malaysia. Setelah menggali sehingga kedalaman 70 meter, kedua tukang tadi pun naik ke atas untuk ke 10 kalinya.

Maka setiap kali itulah Menteri tadi menyoal perkara yang sama sambil disaksikan oleh menteri dari Jepun dan AS tadi.

Menteri Malaysia: Ada kamu berdua jumpa apa-apa?

Tukang gali: Tak jumpa apa-apa pun, Dato.

Menteri Malaysia: KABEL TELEFON pun tak ada?

Tukang gali: Memang tak ada Dato!

Sambil menjeling bangga pada menteri Jepun dan Amerika, lalu Menteri dari Malaysia pun berkata...

Menteri Malaysia: Itulah petanda bahawa kami bangsa Malaysia, sejak zaman purbakala, sudah mengenal teknologi WIRELESS! See, no wire!

PAUHauto: Peugeot New Pride

Coupé

After the conventional

three-door and five-door 208 hatches are launched, the

firm will introduce a dramatic coupé that will slot into the range as a baby brother to

the Audi TT-rivalling RCZ.

The new car continues

the trend set by the 508 and 208 in establishing Peugeot’s

latest design language. It’s the work of styling chief Gilles Vidal and PSA Peugeot-Citroen design boss Jean-Pierre Ploué, who have sought to bring back simple, elegant lines

to the brand’s cars.

The idea is to replace the swollen metalwork and gaping grilles of current Peugeots, and re-establish the firm as

a design leader. The Coupé will feature the rakish, feline design cues of the SR1

concept seen at last year’s Geneva Motor Show. Swept-back headlights, sculpted flanks and an elegant tail will be incorporated into the shape.

To match the striking looks, the car will be sharp to drive. The Coupé uses the 208’s front-wheel-drive platform, but gets bespoke settings for the steering and suspension. What’s more, as with the RCZ and 508, the top-spec model will feature a more advanced front suspension set-up that tames torque steer and gives greater steering sharpness.

Power will come from a

line-up of small turbocharged engines, including the 1.6-litre petrol unit found in the RCZ. The Coupé is currently slated to arrive in summer 2013.

Roadster

Following the Coupé, Peugeot is evaluating a 208 Roadster that would take the fight to MINI’s imminent two-seater cabrio. This fabric-roofed model wouldn’t replace the folding hard-top CC – that model has been part of Peugeot’s range since the 206, and will be offered in a 208.

Instead, the Roadster will be aimed at those wanting a mix of wind-in-the-hair thrills and a purer driving experience. That will allow the 208 CC to be sold as a luxurious junior tourer, with high-spec interior, sophisticated multimedia set-up and the option of a twin-clutch gearbox.

Powering the roadster will be the 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine, allowing Peugeot to market it as a spiritual successor to the legendary 205 GTi convertible. Low weight will be central to the car’s appeal: it will get a canvas top and a more spartan interior to shave kilos and help achieve a sparkling driving experience.

The Roadster is expected to match the MINI for pace – the two will share an engine, after all – but should undercut it on price when it arrives in 2014.

SUV

Also breaking new ground for Peugeot is a junior SUV that takes its inspiration from the HR1 unveiled at last year’s Paris Motor Show.

The newcomer is set to be a rival to Nissan’s Juke, and Peugeot may co-develop the car with Mitsubishi. The 4007 was spun from the Japanese firm’s Outlander, while a new, smaller Peugeot model is currently being developed from Mitsubishi’s ASX.

As with the HR1, a hybrid drivetrain is possible, as is a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine.

PAUHauto: Peugeot Moville Eye Drop Concept

MoVille is a compact single passenger vehicle with artificial intelligence and zero-emission drive train. Once you look at this vehicle, you will feel that you have entered into Robot world. There are three magnetic wheels which are rotated with the help of electro magnets. For saving space in urban areas, MoVille can tilt up and down. It features wireless road network in order to connect to other vehicles and road network. With this feature, it can judge where it is located on the road and where other vehicles are. MoVille is also fully equipped with immediacy sensors, cameras, and GPS. Small size and Omni-directional wheels enable anyone to park it easily.

MoVille consists of a single passenger capsule over an electric drive train. Three magnetic ball wheels are rotated without frictionless through electromagnets. Passenger capsule is shaped in an aerodynamic teardrop shape for maximum efficiency. It also tilts up and down for saving space in urban streets and become more aerodynamic on highways.

MoVille’s compact size takes up less space in dense urban cities. Because it has a sliding window door, it is easy to get in and out of in tight spaces. The passenger capsule tilts vertically to save space on the road and pivots for getting in and out.

MoVille features wireless road networking that allows for it to communicate with other cars and the road network. It is aware of where it is on the road and where other cars are. This allows for reduced traffic jams since cars can accelerate/decelerate synchronously. It also reduces the possibility of accidents.

MoVille’s small size and omni-directional wheels means it is easy to park. Equipped with proximity sensors, cameras, and GPS, MoVille can drive and park automatically.

MoVille features an organic led display on the façade that allows passengers to communicate and personalize their own cars. Because MoVille doesn’t need any headlamps, the OLED “eyes” are used for displaying vehicle status (running/charging/turn signal/etc).

MoVille has an artificial intelligence which allows it to act more like a robot than a car. MoVille recognizes its owner and opens its doors when you approach it. MoVille can drive itself allowing the passenger to save time.

Although MoVille can drive itself, it can be manually controlled with your digital devices like cellphones and portable game consoles. MoVille communicates with these devices which allow the car to be driven wirelessly. The dashboard can be retracted on demand.

MoVille has an electric drive train that uses electromagnets to rotate the ball wheels. Because there is no mechanical transmission and internal combustion engine, it is more efficient, and more reliable. MoVille’s compact body is built out of unpainted biodegradable plastic.

MoVille’s unique form factor allows it to integrate a second sliding door with integrated photovoltaic solar cells which can recharge the car’s batteries.

PAUHauto: Ferrari Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD)

It’s Forza Ferrari! Meet the FF, Ferrari’s replacement for the 612 Scaglietti. Not only is the newcomer an all-new model, it’s also the company’s most powerful four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel-drive car.

The FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) – is described by Ferrari as a car that “represents not so much an evolution as a true revolution”.

And that includes an all-new naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 with direct injection. The unit produces 651bhp at 8,000rpm and an impressive 683Nm at 6,000rpm. Performance is suitably rapid, with 0-62mph taking 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 208mph. The 612 managed the sprint in four seconds and hit 199mph flat out.

Drive is fed via a transaxle-mounted dual-clutch F1 gearbox, but the big news is the FF’s patented four-wheel-drive system. Called 4RM, Ferrari claims the system weighs 50 per cent less than a conventional all-wheel drive transmission, and helps to maintain a 47:53 weight distribution, although is yet to detail whether the system features conventional driveshafts or uses electric motors to power the front wheels.

The FF’s drivetrain is integrated with the car’s electronic dynamic control systems, and Ferrari claims it “delivers record levels of performance on all terrains and in all conditions”.

Despite the addition of four-wheel drive, the FF weighs 1,790kg – 50kg less than its predecessor. That also helps curb fuel consumption, with the FF returning 18.3mpg and 360g/km when specced with the HELE stop-start system, down from 13.8mpg and 470g/km respectively.

Completing the FF’s dynamic package, is Ferrari’s latest SCM3 adaptive dampers and Brembo’s new carbon-ceramic brakes.

As for the striking design, the FF was penned by Pininfarina, under the guidance of Ferrari’s styling chief Flavio Manzoni. It breaks with tradition by offering a unique two-door hatchback. The newcomer measures 4,907mm long, 1,953mm wide and 1,374mm high, making it longer, but narrower and taller than the 612.

PAUHtoon: Mainan dan Jumaat!

Lama aku tak merapu macam ni.

Rasanya dah hampir 7 bulan dah.

Bila tangan dah gatal maka jadilah macam ni!

KLIK GAMBAR UNTUK ENLARGE!

PAUHauto: Lamborghini Limo in coming!

Move over, Aston Rapide – the Lamborghini limo is on the way!

The Italians’ fast, edgy Estoque is back on the cards after senior executives at owner Audi threw their support behind the four-door supercar last week.

Lambo first revealed the 
model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, before putting it on the back burner. But now, senior sources at the German marque have stated that the Estoque is exactly what Lamborghini needs to more than double sales, and gain financial independence.

But Audi has done more than simply comment on the Estoque. By unofficially confirming plans 
for its own A9 limo-coupé, it has 
also given Lamborghini the 
perfect production chassis.

Our source confirmed: “Designing a supercar from a clean sheet of paper is one thing, but a limousine that people 
will drive to work every day... 
well, that’s a different thing, 
and Lamborghini doesn’t have the resources to do it by itself.”

“[Lamborghini boss] Stephan Winkelmann has said the brand needs a third model to give it a product cycle with fewer gaps.”

The super sedan is likely 
to be offered with V10 and V12 engines, and will have the Italian maker’s usual all-wheel drive.

PAUHauto: Amatoya, Bring The Rain

The AMATOYA concept will introduce a new class of vehicle to the field of fire appliance design; capable of reconnaissance and suppression, the proposal may gradually shift the way authorities approach modern fire fighting. Research indicates a need to develop an advanced and highly specialised light tanker. It must function primarily as a reconnaissance vehicle while providing unparalleled vehicle and crew safety/survivability, maintain superior off road capabilities and possess appropriate fire suppression technology for the purpose of initial response and front line defence.

Typically medium and heavy tankers require 5-6 crew members to be operated effectively. AMATOYA requires only 2. More military in its approach, reducing crew numbers per appliance will allow for greater dispersion of resources during a fire response.

Principal concerns when developing a vehicle of any nature are driver position, ingress/egress and vision angles. These elements become even more crucial in a vehicle purpose built for reconnaissance. A central, forward and high driver and ROSCO operator position akin to the Apache assault helicopter with generous down vision will assure functionality.

Access is via two gull wing doors, an optimal solution to accommodate the unconventional bodyside form. The distinct lack of a traditional b-pillar will provide uninterrupted views for the ROSCO operator situated above and behind the driver.

The vehicle adopts many conventional fabrication techniques associated with low production run specialised vehicles. The point of difference which separates this concept from existing appliances is the proposed monocoque steel body, comparable to military MRAP vehicles. A conventional fire tanker is built body-on-frame from a standard cab chassis truck base. While this approach is successful, the lack of integration results in certain performance issues. Body roll due to the on board water supply is an notable problem, however by creating a fully integrated solution, water reservoirs can be strategically located central and low in the vehicle to dramatically improve the centre of gravity.

With an emphasis on crew and vehicle survivability combined with a radically altered approach to fire suppression, the AMATOYA Fire Reconnaissance Vehicle is dramatically separated from any existing appliance in operation.

The use of contemporary technology, materials, finish and form, encourages desirable attributes of safety, mobility, efficiency and performance. In an extreme fire event any measure of advantage is welcomed in a very real situation where seconds count. The AMATOYA concept provides the monumental ability to sustain reconnaissance work without impairing mobility or compromising the safety of operating crew developing a revolutionary dimension to fire suppression which has yet been explored.

While idealistic in its execution, the project endeavours to question the adequacy of existing appliances and suppression strategies. The goal is not to dismantle a system which has been utilised for over 70 years, but rather to modernise and homogenise, to ask the question and demonstrate just what may be possible in the future.

PAUHnews: Bila duit bertaburan di depan mata!

Jika anda semua terserempak dengan duit yang menimbun di depan mata, apa yang anda akan lakukan? Tak kiralah samada wang itu wang kertas atau syiling, yang penting wang itu wang yang sah. Padahal anda tahu itu bukan wang anda. Berikut adalah contoh sebenar bila perkara sebegini berlaku di tempat kita!

Berebut duit syiling di lebuh raya

(Akhbar Kosmo 19/01/2010)

TANPA menghirau keselamatan dan anggota polis, orang ramai mengambil kesempatan mengutip duit syiling yang bertaburan di lebuh raya.

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SEREMBAN - Kilometer 243 Lebuh Raya Utara-Selatan menghala ke selatan berhampiran susur keluar Pedas dekat sini yang sentiasa sibuk semalam bagaikan 'pesta' apabila orang ramai berebut-rebut mengutip duit syiling yang bertaburan di lebuh raya itu.

'Pesta' itu berlaku apabila sebuah kenderaan Toyota Hilux yang membawa satu peti duit syiling berjumlah RM75,000 terlibat dalam kemalangan.

Dalam kejadian pada pukul 3 petang itu, peti tersebut tercampak keluar dari pacuan empat roda itu selepas kenderaan itu dilanggar dari belakang oleh sebuah kereta BMW.

Akibatnya ribuan duit syiling 10 sen, 20 sen dan 50 sen bertaburan di lebuh raya sepanjang kira-kira 100 meter.

Keadaan itu menyebabkan ramai pengguna jalan raya menghentikan kenderaan masing-masing di bahu jalan untuk mengutip duit syiling.

Kehadiran beberapa anggota polis dan pekerja lebuh raya gagal menyuraikan orang ramai yang terus mengutip duit syiling tanpa menghiraukan keselamatan mereka.

Orang ramai meninggalkan lokasi itu selepas duit syiling itu habis dikutip tiga jam kemudian.

PAUHnews: UFO lawat Menara KL?

Petikan dari KOSMO 18hb. Januari 2010.

OBJEK terbang yang tidak dikenali atau UFO (dalam bulatan) dirakam di ruang udara Menara Kuala Lumpur pada Selasa lalu.

KUALA LUMPUR - Seorang penyelia kanan sebuah projek pembinaan di sini terkejut apabila mendakwa terlihat satu objek pelik yang dirakamnya melalui telefon bimbit melintasi ruang udara Menara Kuala Lumpur Selasa lalu.

Abdul Jalil Ibrahim, 50, berkata, pada kejadian pukul 7.46 pagi Selasa lalu, dia sedang merakam pemandangan awan dari tingkat 51 sebuah bangunan yang sedang dibina di sebelah sebuah hotel di Jalan Ampang di sini menggunakan telefon bimbit milik kawannya.

"Pada mulanya saya tidak menyedari ada objek pelik seakan-akan UFO (Objek Terbang Yang Tidak Dikenali) di dalam rakaman ini tetapi selepas empat hari, rakan setugas saya beritahu ada benda pelik pada gambar yang saya rakam dengan telefon bimbitnya.

"Apabila diteliti, saya terkejut melihat sebuah objek pelik berbentuk piring dan bujur berwarna hitam di ruang udara Menara KL," ceritanya lagi ketika ditemui Kosmo! semalam.

Bagaimanapun Abdul Jalil berkata, dia tidak dapat mengesahkan apa sebenarnya objek berkenaan walaupun jarak tapak binaan dengan Menara KL hanya sejauh satu kilometer.

PAUHauto: Land Rover Defender X-Tech

Land Rover has launched a new limited edition version of the Defender. Called the X-Tech, the newcomer makes its debut at the Brussels Motorshow and will go on sale from March, starting at £24,995

Based on the 90 Hard Top Commercial derivative, the X-Tech’s exterior is painted in Zermatt Silver, with a contrasting black finish to the roof and wheel arches. The X-Tech Defender also debuts newly-designed gloss black 16-inch Saw Tooth alloy wheels. The interior is available in Ebony and the seats now feature leather side bolsters.

The Defender X-Tech is powered by a 2.4-litre diesel engine with 360Nm. Despite the special edition spec, buyers can still pick from the full range of accessories also available.

PAUHauto: Alfa revives curvy Giulia

The Giulia is ready for its close-up! Alfa Romeo is preparing a stunning new BMW 3-Series rival for next year – and our exclusive image shows how the storming 300bhp Cloverleaf version is shaping up.

The successor to the 159 follows the design language first introduced on the MiTo, and reinterpreted on the Giulietta, and will uphold the Italian company’s tradition of building beautiful cars. A shark-like nose, LED lights and clutter-free body panels give even more road presence than its key German rivals. And the hot Cloverleaf shown here is marked out by a road-hugging bodykit, 19-inch alloy wheels and the distinctive Quadrifoglio Verde badge on the flanks.

Many had hoped the Giulia would use a rear-wheel-drive layout, but our sources have revealed that won’t be the case until the next-generation car. For the time being, it will feature a stretched version of the Giulietta’s platform – underpinnings that will also grace Alfa’s forthcoming SUVs.

Bosses are aiming for a class-leading balance of ride and handling, and will introduce an Active Roll Control system. This tightens up the springs and dampers automatically through corners. What’s more, an optional two-mode Active Damping programme will enable the driver to tailor the trade-off between comfort and agility. 

Completing the package will be the switchable DNA system already seen on the MiTo and Giulietta – this alters steering weight and throttle response.

The engine line-up taps into owner Fiat’s latest MultiAir technology, and will be among the most advanced in the class. As well as the 1.4-litre turbo unit from the Giulietta – with 118bhp or 168bhp – the Giulia will be offered with the Brera’s 200bhp 1750 TBi powerplant.

PAUHauto: Toyota Prius C concept

Compact hybrid concept takes Prius family tally to four, and previews production model for 2012.

The Prius is growing down as well as up! Toyota has sprung a surprise in Detroit, unveiling an all-new smaller member of the Prius family called the Prius C concept.

Joining the standard car, the plug-in Prius and the new Prius V on the show stand, the C is aimed at a much younger customer base, and while Toyota say this is strictly a concept, it conceded that a production version inspired by this show car would go on sale in 2012.

Designed at Toyota's European design studios, ED2 located in Sophia Antipolis, South-East of France, the C will be the most affordable and also the most efficient member of the Prius family when it reaches production - thanks largely to its low weight.

With four doors and four useable seats, the most obvious rival is the Honda Insight which has always been cheaper and smaller than its arch rival, the Prius. However, with its edgy styling and youthful appeal it could double up as an alternative to the Honda CRZ coupe, too.