Something from WWII still very relevant today

You'd think the rules of economy and efficiency have changed much over the years have you? No, not really. The automobile is still basically in its current state with the exception of having more electronics than the chap who did the first space flight in the 1950s.

 Tyres have gotten better but only slightly. From bias ply to full steel carbon fiber belted radials. But the same basic rules apply. Over fifty years ago as you can see from this British MoD poster.

TOC Automotive College's Car Maintenance 101 Course - A review

I was invited last Saturday by the good people over at TOC (The Otomotif College), Automotive College in Petaling Jaya to participate in their short course called Car Maintenance 101. Now this half day course is basically a beginner's guide towards how one can keep a car in good nick, make basic repairs, give basic driving tips and safety pointers to its participants.

Smart ForTwo becomes a Smart Limo with six wheels...Errr

So much for being a compact personal transport. Limouzine.de will be showcasing this limousine conversion for the Smart ForTwo. It is now the Smart MadeForSix. From less than 3 meters long it is now over 5.5meters in length. It has gull wing doors too. And somehow I think you would need more parking space than before when you go out in one of these. Of course, that problem is now the chauffeur's problem. 

Leaked photos of the 2016 USDM Honda Civic

Someone has leaked photos of the upcoming 2016 USDM model Honda Civic. USDM means United States Domestic Market. What we know is that the car is usually slightly different from global specced or JDM specced cars. Slightly different front and rear lights and bumpers too. 

Test Drive Review: Great Wall Haval M4 AMT (NOW Called the Haval H1) - The most affordable mini SUV in Malaysia now shifts gears by itself

I was recently invited over to Gurun, Kedah by Go Auto to take a look at their automobile assembly facility and to test drive the Great Wall Motors Haval M4 AMT which they distribute (Now called the HAVAL H1). If you folks remember, I managed to spend some time with a Manual transmission M4 in October of 2014 and came away pretty impressed with it.

What Euro 4 petrol and Euro 5 diesel grades really do for you aside from saving the planet

After some thought I will now discuss a little bit about what is really and truly good about the fact that Euro 5 diesel and Euro 4 petrol for RON97 is now on sale in Malaysia. By the way, the cleanest RON95 could very well be from BHPetrol or BHP, which is at the very least Euro 3. So what does this mean for us motor vehicle users actually? 

Sulphur is naturally present in crude oil and usually oil companies process the sulphur out of the oil during refinery process. The extent to which sulphur is removed during the refining process will is partly what makes it Euro 1,2,3,4,5,6 or whatever number compliant. Euro4 now means 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur instead 500ppm for Euro 2.

Trucking News: Top drivers in the region compete for first place at the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2

Volvo Trucks, a global leader in sustainable transport solutions, will hold its annual Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 Final from 16-17 September 2015 in Hua Hin, Thailand. The competition will see 17 top drivers from 10 countries in Asia Pacific region contend to be the region’s most fuel-efficient driver. b. The 2015 edition’s cohort of contenders includes four female drivers, and is a testament to the growing number of women within the Fuelwatch community.  The grand final will see country representatives of the Volvo Trucks Fuelwatch Challenge in the region compete against one another in terms of fuel-efficient driving as well as general vehicle handling, safety methods and overall productivity in on-road and off-road segments. Participants will hone their driving skills, industry knowledge and technological expertise through training sessions and all of this know how will culminate in the grand final on 17 September, where the most fuel-efficient driver will win an opportunity to be immersed in a personalised Volvo experience. Malaysia is represented by Mr Nor Rahmat Bin Abd Talib from Prifaria Sdn Bhd, of Prai (pictured below, the chap in the middle). He defeated 17 other semi-finalists and now represents the Malaysian challenge this time around. Good luck Mr. Nor Rahmat! PRESS RELEASE

[10 SEPTEMBER 2015, SINGAPORE] Volvo Trucks, a global leader in sustainable transport solutions, will hold its annual Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 Final from 16-17 September 2015 in the Thai city of Hua Hin. The competition will see 17 top drivers from 10 countries in Asia Pacific contend to be the region’s most fuel-efficient driver. The 2015 edition’s cohort of contenders includes four female drivers, and is a testament to the growing number of women within the Fuelwatch community.

Over the two days, participants will hone their driving skills, industry knowledge and technological expertise through training sessions. This will culminate in the grand final on 17 September, where the most fuel-efficient driver will win an opportunity to be immersed in a personalised Volvo experience.

Volvo Trucks is committed to championing fuel efficiency as a means to effect positive and tangible change, from individual drivers to customers, businesses, society at large and the natural environment. Since its inauguration in 2007 in South Korea, the Fuelwatch Challenge has offered more than 15,000 participants across the region an accessible platform to pick up fuel-efficient driving skills and best practices. The competition is recognised today as a standard bearer in fuel efficiency and driver competency.

Christophe Martin, President of Volvo Trucks in Asia Oceania, noted: “We are very excited to hold the 2015 edition of the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge. As one of our mainstay events, it continues to attract the very best in the industry. It is also great to see more and more female drivers demonstrating their skills to optimise fuel efficiency at the highest level, and to contest for the top prize.”

“Notwithstanding the competition, the Fuelwatch Challenge wholly reflects our commitment to champion fuel efficiency in the industry. At Volvo Trucks, we believe that enhanced technical capabilities of individual drivers can complement state-of-the-art engineering and technology to optimise fuel efficiency. Participants of the Fuelwatch Challenge return home as ambassadors of fuel efficient driving, and we look forward to supporting them beyond the competition to influence positive change in their home markets”, Mr. Martin added.

Finalists that will be competing in the 2015 Volvo Trucks APAC Fuelwatch Final:

On Road final Australia Mr. Scott Chandler China Mr. Jian Zong Ms. Jie Liu Indonesia Mr. Pepen Effendi Korea Mr. Kwangjong Yu Ms. Jaeyeon Kim Malaysia Mr. Nor Rahmat Abd.Talib New Zealand Mr. Phil Thomas Ms. Louise Marriott Singapore Mr. Jee Ben Soh Taiwan Mr. Tsu-Wen Cheng Thailand Mr. Suthep Pakkruk Ms. Rotsukhon Krokruam

Off Road final

India Mr. Ravi Poleboina Indonesia Mr. Johan Sampe Toding Korea Mr. Donghyuk Nam Singapore Mr. Thomas Sek

2016 Renault Megane revealed. Looks good. Can't wait for a RenaultSport version.

The 2016 Renault Megane has been revealed ahead of its official preview at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. It looks good. It is larger. The wheelbase is longer by 28mm and it is also wider as well as longer in body length too. Good news for us car enthusiasts is that the car is 25mm lower. Now why would that be good news then?

Made in China Super Slow Electric Car Called the Yogomo 330 - RM18,000+ ...Can't we get one of these too?

This is not a Kia Picanto. It is a Yogomo 330. This was highlighted by a friend of mine who travels to China often. We are all mostly aware that China's automobile manufacturers clone every other manufacturer's vehicles all of the time. Some are ridiculous copies, some have the front of one make and the rear of another. And then there are those like these - near copies, like the recent Landwind Range Rover Evoque clone. 

This one differs in one aspect. It is fully electric. It has a range of 160kilometers and get this, a maximum speed of 60kmh. Wow. Yes, 60kmh. Try driving that in Kuala Lumpur especially on the NKVE. But at least this looks like a proper car. Even the quad bike-like Renault Twizy can cross 80kmh. So this is purely an electric city car.