Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Driving the BMW i8, the world's most advanced car
How does it work?
More than any other new vehicle, the BMW i8 requires this explanation up front — not just for the dull process of turning energy to motion, but for the whole enterprise of a $135,700 supercar designed for maximum eco appeal with styling from the 23rd century. And last week, I was among the first to find out.
In BMW engineer speak, the 2015 i8 is properly called a “plug-in electric hybrid sports car” — one with a 129-hp electric motor driving the front wheels and a turbocharged,1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 228 hp driving the rear axle. Since I last drove a prototype of the i8 in August, some fine-tuning of the all-important software and electrical power unit has been done by the Munich madhatters, but the i8 remains the giddy thrill and conversation piece it was then.
I can already sense the comments that 357 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque for a $137,000 car is, like, a complete rip-off, man. That someone can buy two Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s for the price, blow an i8 away when the light turns green, and put the rest in a bank account. I wish them peace and happiness with this, but pure speed isn’t the point of the i8, although it can hustle to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds or less when set up in Sport mode.
The i8 looks like no other car, and its complex drivetrain (with two transmissions, a lithium-ion battery pack and more software than the starship Enterprise) leaves us grasping for comparisons. Up in the hills and pushing it hard, the i8 did pretty damned well in upholding BMW’s ancient mantra of “ultimate driving machine.” As I rolled along around the wealthier provinces of Southern California, I eventually came to one that made some sense. In overall performance and feel, I kept coming up with the smaller and lighter 321-hp Porsche Cayman S — though the Cayman S is dynamically the superior car and rather dramatically less fuel efficient depending on how I drive it.
While the front e-motor gets a two-speed transmission – first gear good up to 75 miles per hour, second on up to the 155-mph maximum – the rear gas engine gets a six-speed automatic you can leave to shift by itself or which you can shift manually via the console lever (only in Sport) or by using the steering wheel paddles. Once I got all the various new drive rhythms of the i8 imbedded in my subconscious and inner ear, the play time up and down the gears was entertaining. Both the electro-mechanical steering and adaptive dampers of the suspension are outstanding.
But there were a couple of refinement issues for me (and for other testers) on these launch cars that caused healthy conversation. The first one was the less than seamless transitions when going from the 129-hp front-wheel-drive eDrive to the all-wheel-drive 357-hp parallel hybrid mode in either Comfort or Sport. There is a slight feel of driveline shunt every so often, and I mean slight, but enough of it to make me wrinkle my nose whenever it happens. Between the software, the central electric brain, and a secondary 15-hp e-motor attached to the rear engine to in part help with these transitions, every so often an order or two gets missed.
Then, when a wheel happens to leave the pavement over a bump while in motion in the all-wheel-drive parallel hybrid state, the brakes blip on the axle with the momentarily lifted wheel. The subsequent resumption of normal all-wheel motion after all rubber re-meets the road can be less than smooth. The BMW engineer in charge tells me that the near full arrest of rotation on the one axle is done as a safety measure, in order to protect the drivetrain against the possibility of the lifted wheel or wheels spinning freely and risking damage to the system, since there’s no mechanical link between front and rear. Again, this needs a little tweaking, and I was assured that the software changes will carry on once i8 deliveries begin.
In straightforward momentum and handling, the i8 takes your sports car thrills to a different level. One of the more serious bits to decide was what tires to use, since the i8 needs to be a thrilling driving machine and not an extremely suped-up Honda Insight. BMW i has elected to give journalists the wider and less tall optional set of 20-inch tires to test – 215/45 front and 235/40 rear. These Bridgestone Potenzas do a good job overall, even while promising less rolling resistance and, in theory, less lateral grip.
The logic in these skinny 20s is: what one loses in width of footprint, one gains in footprint length. Added assistance comes in no small part from a micro-managing stability control that is smooth in these conditions over good pavement. Any lateral slip movement is relatively neutral and what little controlled tail wag happens gets wrangled well without killing the fun. Weight distribution is 47 percent front and 53 percent rear, which also helps in keeping things handled even if grip limits are exceeded.
Another big helper dynamically is the low stance of the i8. The central rotational point of the is just 17.8 inches from the ground, the lowest of any BMW by a good bit. This and the natural ultra-stiffness of the underlying aluminum and carbon-composite body and chassis make for an extremely satisfying sports car in any pilot’s hands
I do enjoy the i8 design inside and out; the only exterior bit that might wear on the eyes after a while of looking at it being the very busy rear end fascia. It didn’t take long for it to seem like a scowling Transformer-bot staring at me. But go for the pricy Pure Impulse trim – sorry, world – and the darker exterior detailing takes some of the scowl away from the contrasting color scheme everyone was testing this day.
The slick front seats look the part, but could offer just a little bit more lower back support and side support during the most assertive driving moments. Sadly, the rear seats of this 2+2 sport coupe are utterly useless for anyone over horse-jockey tall – even more so than in a Porsche 911. Leg room is actually acceptable back there, but, if you want rear seating for average humans with heads, wait for the spider version of the i8 that’ll have those rear passengers singing the praises while catching flies in their teeth.
The roughly 6 cubic feet of luggage space in the rear is also tight, though two gym-style weekend bags could be wiggled in to fit. BMW i and Louis Vuitton have designed an optional carbon fiber themed custom set of luggage to look good and to fit into every nook and cranny perfectly. It was ultra sunny by the ocean and the large rear thermal glass could have been doing a better job; the hard plastic bits in back became scorching hot to the touch.
How green is it? It’s always tough to say, and EPA figures were yet to come at the time of this test, but the European numbers should theoretically translate into a hybrid-mode Eco Pro figure of around 35 miles per U.S. gallon. The lithium-ion battery pack that sits the length of the central tunnel through the passenger cabin has a 5.2 kWh useable capacity and can get a full recharge from the extra-cost wall box in as little as 1.5 hours, or up to 2.5 hours from a household outlet. Driven shrewdly under appropriate road conditions, the battery energy can be replenished while in motion in as little as ten minutes via the rear three-cylinder engine and/or while under lightest throttle in the flatlands. Full electric driving can power 22 miles when not exceeding 75 mph. So, your mpg figure will vary widely depending on how you drive and the topography in your area. Clever hyper-milers could easily reach 60 mpg or more — just don’t drive behind these folks if you are susceptible to road rage.
If it’s any indicator, my i8 managed to not only dramatically upstage a Bugatti Veyron parked along legendary Highway 1 in downtown Malibu, but did the same alongside a newly delivered Tornado Orange McLaren 650S spider. Who knows how many more heads will turn once the optional carbon composite wheelset, and laser headlights come online by the end of 2014? Not to mention the i8 spider — which should arrive just as the valets of high-end hotels tire of parking the i8 coupe out front. The new age of BMW supercars has arrived, and it works quite well.
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Be fair
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said the reason PAS was making the implementation of hudud an issue was because of the weaknesses displayed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The former prime minister said that PAS never played up the hudud issue when he was in office as the government then was strong.
"Maybe PAS thinks the current government needs support, because during my time, we held absolute power with the two-thirds majority," Dr Mahathir said today.
PAS is attempting to implement hudud in Kelantan because they want to be popular and win votes, Dr Mahathir said.
"PAS is doing this just to gain political mileage, it is not about Islam," he said.
"If PAS goes ahead with their plan to implement hudud in Kelantan, Muslims will call it ‘Islamic’ and support the party."
He said the hudud issue was simply about becoming popular because Malaysia was a democratic country, popularity will win a party votes.
Dr Mahathir said his stand on hudud had never changed, even though he was no longer in office.
"There is no justice if hudud is implemented because the hands of a Muslim thief are cut while a non-Muslim spends two months in prison.
"Is that justice? If it is not justice, then it is not Islamic," Dr Mahathir said.
He said he had written a letter to PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat with an explanation that was based on Islam.
"My letter was not based on any secular issues or anything else. It was simply based on Islam.
"The Quran stresses that when a punishment is meted out, it must be fair and just.
"In Malaysia, there will be no justice if hudud is implemented because it is only applicable to Muslims, and exempts non-Muslims."
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters at the Institute Diplomacy and Foreign Relations along Jalan Wisma Putra today.
He was officiating the launch of a book written by Malaysia's former permanent representative to the United Nations, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, entitled “A UN Chronicle”.
Ever since Kelantan Menteri Datuk Ahmad Yakob had announced a private member's bill which allowed the state to enforce shariah law, there was fierce opposition.
DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke urged PAS to leave Pakatan Rakyat if it goes through with its plans to enforce hudud in Kelantan.
Najib reportedly said that the time was not right for Malaysia to have hudud.
PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar had appealed to all parties to respect the democratic right of the Islamic party to present the private member's bill.
"Irrespective of whether other parties supported or opposed PAS's hudud plans, they should still respect the party's democratic right to raise the issue in Parliament," he said.
"If the democratic process is not in favour of PAS, we will abide and are prepared to accept whatever decision," Mahfuz said. – April 30, 2014.
Perjanjian komersial RM6.4 bilion
BARACK Obama sambil diperhatikan oleh Najib Tun Razak berucap pada majlis pemeteraian perjanjian komersial antara syarikat Malaysia dan AS bernilai RM6.4 bilion di Kuala Lumpur, semalam. - BERNAMA
Obama dalam ucapan ringkasnya mengalu-alukan kerjasama antara pihak swasta Malaysia dan AS yang pastinya bakal mewujudkan lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan dan peluang ekonomi kepada kedua-dua negara.
"Semalam, kita bersetuju bagi perkongsian komprehensif baharu antara Malaysia dan AS, dan berusaha untuk mengembangkan ekonomi kita.
"AS sudah menjadi pelabur asing terbesar di Malaysia dan Malaysia adalah pelabur yang paling pesat berkembang di Amerika Syarikat," katanya.
Presiden AS itu berkata, mengenai masa depan, kedua-dua negara boleh mengharapkan pertumbuhan dan kemakmuran yang lebih baik lagi.
"Ini memerlukan komitmen dan peningkatan usaha, lebih bersaing, melabur lebih lagi, bukan sahaja di negara lain tetapi di seluruh rantau ini.
"Kita perlu melakukan lebih lagi untuk menggalakkan lebih banyak perdagangan dan ini termasuk mengurangkan beberapa halangan sedia ada bagi perdagangan dan pelaburan, menyokong perkongsian, eksport dan pekerjaan," katanya.
Syarikat-syarikat terbabit ialah GE Aviation dengan Kumpulan AirAsia untuk pembelian enjin 80E1 untuk 25 pesawat baharu Airbus A330-300 milik AirAsia X bernilai lebih AS$1.5 bilion (RM4.8 bilion).
Syarikat kedua ialah Kumpulan Sime Darby untuk mengambil alih 30 peratus kepentingan bernilai AS$30 juta (RM96 juta) dalam firma bioteknologi Verdezyne yang berpangkalan di San Diego, California.
Yang ketiga ialah perkongsian antara Ambank dan Metlife, yang telah melabur hampir AS$249 juta (RM812 juta) untuk membeli kepntingan dalam AmLife dan AmTakaful, sekali gus pelaburan pertama firma AS dalam pasaran takaful Malaysia.
Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140429/dn_01/Perjanjian-komersial-RM64-bilion#ixzz30IXz1q5O
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd
Ali
FILE - In this April 28, 1967 file photo, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali is escorted from the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Houston by Lt. Col. J. Edwin McKee, commandant of the station, after Ali refused Army induction. Ali says he was a conscientious objector who would not serve in the Army of a country that treated members of his race as second-class citizens. (AP Photo)
such a year
*ffuh* berhabuk. hm as experiences gained throughout the year, one by one, we evaluate. which and how. saya budak masih belajar. masih remaja. jiwa meng-explore sangat kuat. takkan kubazirkan masa yang dikurniakan untuk benda sia-sia. inshaaAllah segala impian yang dicitakan akan kugapai kelak. masalah dan konflik akan kuselesaikan dengan segera. tanggungjawab dan amanah akan kupegang dan kulaksanakan sebaik mungkin. apa2 pun semuanya back to Him. Pengubat hati.
Kerajaan setuju untuk menyumbangkan dana sebanyak RM500 juta
PUTRAJAYA 29 April - Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mengumumkan kerajaan bersetuju menyalurkan RM500 juta secara berperingkat bagi penubuhan Dana Pendidikan MARA bernilai RM1 bilion.
Baki RM500 juta pula akan disediakan oleh Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
Untuk penubuhan dana pendidikan berkenaan, Pelaburan MARA Bhd (anak syarikat Mara) telah diberikan kepercayaan untuk menguruskannya, kata Muhyiddin ketika berucap pada majlis penjenamaan semula identiti korporat Pelaburan MARA Bhd dan pelancaran PMB Tijari Bhd di sini hari ini. - BERNAMA
Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140429/dn_42/Kerajaan-setuju-salur-RM500-juta-Dana-Pendidikan-Mara#ixzz30IKExuB0
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd
Baki RM500 juta pula akan disediakan oleh Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).
Untuk penubuhan dana pendidikan berkenaan, Pelaburan MARA Bhd (anak syarikat Mara) telah diberikan kepercayaan untuk menguruskannya, kata Muhyiddin ketika berucap pada majlis penjenamaan semula identiti korporat Pelaburan MARA Bhd dan pelancaran PMB Tijari Bhd di sini hari ini. - BERNAMA
Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Dalam_Negeri/20140429/dn_42/Kerajaan-setuju-salur-RM500-juta-Dana-Pendidikan-Mara#ixzz30IKExuB0
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd
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