Twizy

This is a Renault. Renault, besides possessing the secret recipe for making world-championship-winning F1 engines, has also been known to be a little bit quirky in their design department... take the previous generation Megane, with it's uniquely likeable rear end...

This is the Twizy, the latest solution to urban motoring, by Renault. It's not exactly what you would call a typical car... That said, it's small enough to be compared to a scooter. But then, the Twizy is clearly more than a scooter...

This smallish quadricycle-car of a thing is so instantly likeable... Or maybe it's just because I am such a sucker for small cars...

And the best thing yet is that the Twizy is all-electric... 3.5 hours of battery-charging action and you're ready to go... Simple, joyful, and clean motoring... :)

It reaches (nearly) 50 mph, has a range 60 miles, and seats two... It's even got scissor-doors...!! The battery pack is located under the driver's seat, which lowers the Twizy's center of gravity, indicating that this machine will handle better than it should, despite it beng quite tall and narrow... Navigating the twisty city streets with this thing should be that much exciting (if only other people weren't staring all the time) ...

The perfect urban-mobility device...? Maybe... if it weren't priced to compete with a Kancil... Other than the Twizy being a tad bit on the expensive side, I'm smitten... :)

There remains one thing, though... Should I charge my phone first, or the Twizy?

Expected to be available in Europe come end 2011. Actual Twizy may vary from pictures shown.

Because fun doesn't necessarily mean V12;

Sorry

Nobody noticed where the 'because' of the previous post has gone, which once and for all proves my personal theory that even though the Axiom only has 22 followers (thanks, number 22) :), *cue sarcasm* this blog is packed full of invisible stalkers... I'm watching you people >_<

Honestly, I forgot the previous because. Well here it is;

-Because imy;-

Because I really do;

Viva Italia..!! ; Fiat's TwinAir & Ferrari's 458 V8

LESS IS MORE: FIAT'S TWO-CYLINDER MARVEL DOMINATES INTERNATIONAL ENGINE OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2011!

Fiat's diminutive 875cc, two-cylinder is judged to be world's finest engine by a jury of 76 international motoring journalists

Downsized, economical internal combustion engines more popular and 'greener' than hybrid and electrical powertrains

Ferrari contributes to the Italian domination: Fiat and Ferrari take home 6 of the 12 Awards!

The results of the 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards have today been announced at Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany. The global jury, consisting of some of the world's most respected and popular motoring journalists, voted Fiat's innovative and diminutive 875cc two-cylinder TwinAir the greatest automotive engine available today! The tiny turbocharged engine impressed judges with its extremely low emissions, high fuel economy and impressive power of 85bhp. The unit can be found powering Fiat's hugely fashionable '500' model.

Dean Slavnich, editor of Engine Technology International and co-chairman of the International Engine of the Year Awards, says: "Fiat has now produced one of the all-time great engines. Who would have thought that a two-cylinder unit could have won the International Engine of the Year title when we launched the Awards in 1999? Its triumph is a clear signal that less is more: people want low-emission, fuel-efficient yet powerful engines, and just two cylinders certainly seems to provide a comprehensive solution!"

Indeed, the TwinAir engine not only managed to scoop the overall International Engine of the Year title, but it was also victorious in the Best New Engine, Best Sub 1-litre, and Best Green Engine categories, even beating zero-emission pure electric vehicle engines from Nissan and Mitsubishi in the latter category.

Joining Fiat in its success was compatriot and stablemate Ferrari, the judges finding it hard not to be impressed by the Italian car maker's mighty new 570bhp, 4.5-litre V8 engine as featured in the 458 Italia. This wonderful and potent powerplant scooped both 'Best Performance Engine' and 'Above 4-litre' category trophies.

But it was not just the Italian manufacturers who tasted success: BMW is always dominant in the Awards and 2011 has been no exception. The German marque bagged four category wins, including the '3-litre to 4-litre' category for its 4-litre V8 found in the M3; the '2.5-litre to 3-litre' category for its 3-litre DI Twin Turbo fitted across much of its range; the '1.8-litre to 2-litre' category for its 2-litre Twin Turbo diesel engine found in the 123d and X1; and the '1.4-litre to 1.8-litre' category for its 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine co-developed with PSA Peugeot Citroën, which also scooped the same Award.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen's 1.4-litre TSI Twincharger engine, which won the overall International Engine of the Year title in both 2009 and 2010, once again defended its crown in the '1-litre to 1.4-litre' category.

-Taken from http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/18/fiat-and-ferrari-dominate-2011-international-engine-of-the-year/

Happy Teacher's Day..!!

Suddenly I miss the teacher's day assemblies at school...

Just a simple wish for all the teachers out there... especially from SK Hj. Md. Shariff (double 'r' or double 'f' , I forgot) :D, SK Tmn. Uda, Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, and also to dear lecturers in UTP... and let's throw in tadika KEMAS as well... easily the best kindergarten in the whole wide world... :)

& how can I forget Cu, Abg. Wan, n Kak Liza.. ?? :) Mak as well... :D

Special mention would be Cikgu Rozaini, probably my only teacher who drops by this pathetic blog, and probably one of the coolest teachers alive today... :) You can drop by his Biology site anytime you like... :)

Happy teacher's day, from an admittedly lazy student, forever learning... :)

Because teachers set the course of history;

Going Places

Santorini is the last of the Cyclades islands to the South. The closests islands are Ios, Folegandros, Sikinos to the North, Anafi and Amorgos to the East and Crete to the South.

It is referred to as one island, but actually it is a complex of five islands. Santorini (Thira) is the main island and around it Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient Stroggili) and the two volcanic islands Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.

It was one island named Stroggili (circle in Greek) until about 1645 BC, when the volcano in the middle of the island erupted and Caldera was created. The two volcanic islands appeared much later from various eruptions starting from 157 BC until the last one in the 20th century (1950).

Many reasons made this island famous worldwide and more or less we all have seen a picture of it (it was that picture the travel agency used for Greece). There is a talk about the connection between Thira and mythical Atlantis. Also Jules Verne made Santorini famous with its books "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and "The mysterious island" where captain Nemo and his crew watch the volcano eruption. He was one of the visitors and scientists that came to Thira during the eruptions of 1866 - 1870 and wrote the well known book just after it. It is realy the mysterious island, the volcano rules, the caldera view is the most breathtaking one on the planet!

If you are after the caldera view have a look at Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Megalochori and Akrotiri.

For the best beaches check Perissa, Kamari, Perivolos, Vlihada and Red beach.

The unique caldera, the energy and the beauty of the island are the most important reasons for being ranked as the top island in Europe and one of the once in a life time must see destinations of the world.

Someday... maybe :) God-willing...

Because to travel is to appreciate God's bountiful grace...

The Longest Because

Happy Mother's Day..!

& happy exploring new things abroad...

Because this blog pretty much keeps my emotional quotient in check, and even though I may walk around with an expressionless face (this is me being my usual quiet self), I'm always thankful for every moment that you're around to pinch me (cut it out), ask me 'boleh buat dak exam?', tell me about blue ocean strategy, talk about Kenichi Ohmae, tease me about buying a Cayenne and a Panamera, take the ERL to KL, walk around KLCC and buy books at Kinokuniya, and even brisk-walk around the neighbourhood... :)

Strings of Thought

What if, just what if, there is a will, but still no way?

Because everybody deserves an opportunity;