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Pescao 55: The 1st MotoGP class rider from South East Asia

2018-02-22T00:10:00.000+08:00

Malaysia is in the news again, motorsport news that is. Hafizh Syahrin, better known to fans as “Pescao 55″, is set to become the first Malaysian and South East Asian rider to compete in the premier class MotoGP for the 2018 MotoGP season with satellite team Monster Yamaha Tech 3. The decision was made after Jonas Folger announce his withdrawal for the upcoming season. Folger missed the final four rounds of last season with severe fatigue issues and, despite reports of a promising recovery, suddenly withdrew from the 2018 season on the eve of pre-season testing in January.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team offered "Pescao 55" an opportunity to join their winter test program. After a very successful winter test in Buriram, Thailand, "Pescao 55" is set to become the team mate of Johann Zarco, two time Moto2 champion.

Hafizh will be riding the Yamaha YZR-M1, a highly competitive beast as proved by Johann Zarco in 2017 season. He posted a time just 1.7 seconds off the fastest lap time set by Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda Team.

“I’m really happy to announce that Hafizh Syahrin will be the second Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider alongside Johann Zarco," added team boss Herve Poncharal. "It’s been a tough time since we heard from Jonas Folger, that unfortunately he decided not to race in 2018 in order to look after his health and try to fully recover. It has been a long process to find somebody, who could be the one.

"In Sepang I met Razlan Razali, we were just chatting and now and then you have crazy ideas, which are sometimes the ones that bring the best result. I would like to thank Razlan Razali for his passion, his contagious energy and the involvement he has for MotoGP racing and for the sport in general, plus to support Hafizh Syahrin to climb the last step to the premier class.

FORD recalls several models due to multiple issues

2016-04-28T05:18:00.002+08:00

FORD motor company has issued a massive recalls that is going to affect some 202,000 vehicles from various models sold in the US including the F-150, Expedition, Mustang, and Lincoln Navigator. It is understood that the recalls is due to multiple issues affecting models built from 2011-2012 for an issue with the output speed sensor on the transmission’s lead frame. Under certain conditions, the gearbox could force a temporary downshift to first gear and the driver could experience a speed reduction that could cause the rear tires to slide or lock up, which can increase the risk of an accident. Three accidents were reported due to the issues but thankfully there have been no injuries nor fatalities.

Dealers will have to inspect the powertrain modules for diagnostic trouble codes linked to the issue. A software update to the powertrain control module is in development to prevent the gearbox from abruptly downshifting into first gear if no codes relating to the issue are found. Ford will also provide a one-time replacement for the transmission lead frame at no charge within 10 years or 150,000 miles from the start of the warranty. Dealers will replace the lead frame and perform a software update if a vehicle is found to have codes relating to the gearbox abruptly shifting to first gear.

FORD motor company has also issued a separate recall for 2014-2015 Ford Explorers and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles to replace suspensions links. In certain vehicles, the left and right rear suspension toe links could fracture because of poor weld quality and could result in rear suspension noise, difficulty steering, or loss of steering control. Ford is aware of one accident and one injury caused by the issue. Dealers will replace the left and right suspension toe links and align the right suspension free of charge.

The third recall affects around 2,600 2016 Ford Super Duty trucks, which need to have their tires checked and replaced due to possible damage from a conveyor belt during assembly. The damage to the sidewall could cause a rupture and result in a rapid loss of air in the tire.

FORD has also issued a separate recall for 2014-2015 Ford Explorers and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles to replace its suspensions links. In certain vehicles, the left and right rear suspension toe links could fracture because of poor weld quality and could result in rear suspension noise, difficulty steering, or loss of steering control. Ford is aware of one accident and one injury caused by the issue. Dealers will replace the left and right suspension toe links and align the right suspension free of charge.

BMW into autonomous car

2016-03-10T15:49:00.001+08:00

German automotive giant BMW has revealed its car of the future, named the BMW Vision Next 100 Concept.

The car was unveiled at a special event in Munich on Monday, and is the first of four concept cars for its four brands, BMW, Mini, Rolls and motorcycles, which are being released to mark the company's centenary.

The concept car has two modes, called "Ease," an autonomous mode, and "Boost," when a person is driving it; the interior of the car changes according to which more it is being used in.

The Boost mode will enable the driver to tweak and play around with some setting. This will help "expands the driver’s range of perception and transforms him or her into the 'Ultimate Driver' – the best driver they can possibly be," BMW says.

The interior also has revolutionary "skin," or "alive geometry," scales which change color to alert the driver to incidents and objects ahead. The scales are also visible from the exterior of the car in the form of movable wheelhouse covers for optimal aerodynamics, the company explained.

In addition, the "heads-up display" projects signals and directional arrows on the windscreen, within the driver's field of vision.

Concept tires for autonomous car

2016-03-03T19:17:00.000+08:00

Goodyear has revealed two innovative new concept tires which the company claims will reshape the future for autonomous (self-driven) cars.

The first is the Goodyear IntelliGrip, designed to communicate with autonomous vehicle control systems, sensing road surface and weather conditions for improved driving safety and performance.

The second concept is even more eye-popping: the spherical-shaped Eagle-360.

The Eagle-360 was designed with key features of maneuverability, connectivity and bio-mimicry for autonomous mobility.

Both tires are designed with safety in mind, which according to recent studies, is a key concern among consumers around autonomous vehicles.

“By steadily reducing the driver interaction and intervention in self-driving vehicles, tires will play an even more important role as the primary link to the road,” said Joseph Zekoski, Goodyear’s senior vice president and chief technical officer.

“Goodyear’s concept tires play a dual role in that future both as creative platforms to push the boundaries of conventional thinking and testbeds for next-generation technologies.”

2016-03-03T18:44:00.002+08:00

Event : MUSC Drag Racing Malaysia Championship Road Tour 2016 (Sarawak Chapter)
Date : 11th, 12th & 13th of March 2016
Time : 08:00am to 01:00am
Venue : Matang Metro City, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Pada team2 drag racing yang bakal hadir menggegar MUSC Drag Race Kuching sila in-box kami dengan gambar-gambar menarik persediaan jentera2 drag anda. Start tuning & standby rolling..

Malaysian dragsters, come and join the fun. Test your machines and make your point as the KING of Malaysia.

Ferrari testing it HALO features

2016-03-03T18:23:00.002+08:00

In today's pre season F1 testing session in Barcelona, Ferrari is testing the latest safety feature in F1 called HALO.

Plans for higher-performance F1 cars and increased driver head protection starting from the 2017 season have taken a step forward with the agreement of a new proposal to increase downforce and tyre widths.

The FIA also plans to introduce new cockpit protection for next season. The ‘halo’ concept is described as “currently the preferred option”, though others are under discussion.

Ferrari is the first team to be seen testing this latest feature today.

F1 drivers dissatisfied with changes to qualifying

2016-03-03T14:08:00.001+08:00

Few days into the testing season, and the Formula One (F1) drivers are already lamenting abouth the changes to the qualifying format for the new F1 season. Just recently, news regarding the new Formula One qualifying changes has shaken up the media and has sparked mixed opinions from the viewers and drivers.

Bernie Ecclestone and the Federation Internationale de I’Autombile (FIA) have come up with a way to spice up the sport as last year’s atmosphere was completely bland and not at all to Bernie’s liking. Viewers too admitted that the sport has gotten quite boring therefore a change was proposed but not finalised.

The change is scheduled to take place at this year's Spanish Grand Prix in May should everything goes to plan but has it?

Despite the ability of the new format to add a little flare to the competition and increase marketability, the Formula One drivers have urged the FIA to not alter the current format as the changes might be a little too complicated for the viewers.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting met the drivers in the paddock at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona yesterday to open up a discussion regarding the latest implementation but to his notice, most of the drivers are seemingly unhappy with it.

The meeting included Force India’s Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, Haas’ Esteban Gutierrez and Romain Grosjean, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, Renault duo Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer, Torro Rosso’s Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr, Williams’ Felipa Massa and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

“We shared our thoughts with Charlie,” Sergio Perez told Sky Sports News. “We’re not very happy with the rules they want to implement. Let’s see if they can change it.”

“For the fans it can be very complicated to understand. It’s complicated for us already, so for the fans it will just make things more and more complicated.”

The lack of communication between the drivers and the upper hands is quite an exasperating issue within the industry and Perez admits that he is grateful for Whiting’s intentions to consult the drivers.

“Charlie has been really good to get us involved in these changes. He wants to definitely hear more of our impression, so that’s definitely good.”

Magnussen too agreed with Perez as ‘going into a season not knowing how the qualifying format worked’ would not be an ideal scenario.

Fastest GTR in the world.

2016-03-03T13:49:00.001+08:00

This has got to be the fastest GTR in the world at the moment. Just look at the launch.

iPad Pro coming to stores this week!

2015-11-09T23:27:00.001+08:00

Sources close to Apple revealed that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be available for purchase in 40 country’s starting on this Wednesday, November 11. It will first be available online with retail stores getting the device later in the week.

The supplementary Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard is also said to be available on that very same day.

Price will starts at $799 for the base model, which ships with 32GB of internal memory. For $1079 buyers can opt for the model that rocks both WiFi and cellular connectivity and 128GB of memory.

This new iPad isn’t just a larger screen. This behemoth sports a beautiful high-def 12.9″ screen with enough screen real estate to allow split, “full-screen” multitasking. The multi-touch screen is powered by a next-generation A9X chip that’s 1.8x faster than the A8 before it. The tablet features 10-hour battery life, 8MP iSight camera, Touch ID and four speaker audio.

Qatari Sheikh causes mayhem and wrecked his Ferrari

2015-09-19T04:02:00.004+08:00

A family of the Qatari royal family believed to be Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al Thani causes mayhem and totaled his yellow LaFerrari. He was captured on a video speeding through the Dodge neighbourhood in Beverly Hills avoiding a few cars in the way..

Al Thani is a member of Qatar’s royal family and a well-known figure in the international racing community. On Thursday police finally confirmed it was his yellow LaFerrari seen blasting through the neighborhood last week.

US ordered 500,000 VW and AUDI to be re-called

2015-09-19T03:49:00.001+08:00

The US government on Friday told car manufacturer Volkswagen to recall almost 500,000 cars after it was discovered the German brand had fitted its vehicles with special technology that can beat environmental tests for reducing smog, according to a new report.

The recall, imposed after an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency, is expected to affect all models fitted with four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi cars that were manufactured between 2009 and 2015.

The cars' altered emissions control computer, known as a “defeat device,” is designed to switch on when the vehicle is undergoing testing by environmental officials, and turn off when the car is being used normally by its owner. The upshot? The car actually pollutes far more heavily than is reported by Volkswagen, according to the EPA.

“Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean air standards is illegal and a threat to public health,” Cynthia Giles, the EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance, told the New York Times. “Working closely with the California Air Resources Board, EPA is committed to making sure that all automakers play by the same rules. EPA will continue to investigate these very serious violations.”

Computer software inside the defeat device is able to hide the cars’ output of the pollutant nitrogen oxide, which the EPA cites as the leading cause of health problems such as asthma and other respiratory issues.

California has also issued a notice of violation to the company on top of the federal government’s complaint.

The allegations against VW will affect 482,000 diesel cars sold in the U.S. since 2009. Among the models recalled are the Volkswagen Passat (model years 2014 and 2015), Volkswagen Jetta (model years 2009-15), Volkswagen Golf (model years 2009–15) and Audi A3 (model years 2009–15).

Crucial Personal Information Released by hackers

2015-08-19T16:36:00.002+08:00

In a serious news for concern, the Hackers that stole private customer information from the cheating/dating site AshleyMadison.com just released almost 10 gigabytes of user information from the July security breach.

The data dump includes customer log-ins, "credit card and other payment transaction details” for some of the site’s 40 million users, reports said.

Among some of the details released, a sampling of what some Ashley Madison users were looking for. One user said, “looking for someone who isn’t happy at home or just bored and looking for some excitement.”

Another user was checking for someone “who wants to feel sexy and hot.”

The site, which claims to be “the most famous name in infidelity and married dating,” was planning a $200 million IPO later this year when the breach took place.

Avid Life Media, the company that owns AshleyMadison.com, released this statement shortly after the initial breach on July 20.

“We have explained the fraud, deceit, and stupidity of ALM [Avid Life Media] and their members. Now everyone gets to see their data,” the hackers said, according to Wired.

It was thought that the hackers could turn the data dump into a huge payday, under the right circumstances.

A woman who claimed to have once worked for the hookup site explained what it was like working there, at one point calling it “one of the best companies” she’s been part of, but nothing that there were “many sites dedicated to bringing us down,” and saying the company would “receive death threats constantly.”

Mercedes rivalry heats up as Rosberg closes in on Hamilton

2015-06-22T00:19:00.003+08:00

Nico Rosberg closed the gap on Mercedes team-mate and Formula 1 world championship leader Lewis Hamilton to 10 points with a dominant victory in the Austrian Grand Prix.

The German dived down the inside of pole-sitter Hamilton at Turn 1 to snatch the lead and despite suffering tyre vibrations in the closing stages he held on to take his third win of the year.

Hamilton, who had five seconds added to his race time for crossing the white line at the pitlane exit, finished second with Williams's Felipe Massa scoring his first podium of the year in third after Sebastian Vettel was delayed at his pitstop.

Austrian GP : Two Former World Champions escape catastrophic crash

2015-06-22T00:09:00.001+08:00

Fernando Alonso described his rather early Austrian Grand Prix crash with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen as "scary" and "strange" after his McLaren Formula 1 car ended up perched on Kimi's Ferarri.

Raikkonen seems to have lost control under acceleration out of Turn 2 on the first lap of the Red Bull Ring race and collected Alonso, resulting both cars being pushed into the barriers.

"I was in the wrong place," said Alonso.

"It was a very strange incident because he lost the car in fifth gear or something like that.

"Obviously it was quite scary.

"Kimi started with the prime [soft] tyre and had a lot of wheelspin out of Turn 2.

"The car was moving left, right, left, right, with a lot of wheelspin.

"We were overtaking him left and right - all the cars - and then he lost the car on the left and I was on the left at that point and we crashed.

"I could not see anything because with the seat position I was looking only at the sky and then I looked in the mirror and when I stopped I saw the car under my car.

"I jumped quickly and checked that he was OK."

Both drivers escaped without injuries in the accident but paid precautionary visits to the medical centre. The incident will be investigated by the stewards.

Raikkonen was left puzzled by the crash."I got some wheelspin and then went left, which was unusual so it's hard to say [what happened]," he said.

Alonso's team-mate Jenson Button had been right behind the collision and said it was frightening to watch.

"It looked like Kimi tried to get on the power - there's very low grip there - lost the rear and went one way and tried to correct and went the other way," he said.

Apple discontinues selling the original ipad mini

2015-06-21T13:21:00.003+08:00

Apple’s original iPad mini, the only non-Retina iPad still on sale, was quietly removed from Apple’s online store last night, as noted by 9to5Mac. Comparing the iPad section of the store between this morning and yesterday reveals that the first-gen iPad mini has been dropped from the comparison chart, too, leaving the iPad mini 2 and 3, as well as the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 as the current tablet options available to purchase new.

End-of-life for the original iPad mini doesn’t come as a surprise – the device was first released in 2012, and still used the original iPad resolution of 1024×768. It was the first 7.9-inch iPad created by Apple, and while it represented a denser display resolution than had been available on the 9.7-inch iPad with the same number of pixels, it didn’t qualify for Apple’s high-density ‘Retina’ display designation.

Sying on 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee “Trackhawk”

2015-06-21T13:10:00.000+08:00

Rumours is spreading fast about a supposed 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee “Trackhawk” with the 707 horsepower Hellcat engine, AWD, and a ZF 8-speed automatic is really actually definitely on its way to production.

An unnamed sources say it’s called “Project K” at Jeep HQ and its supercharged 6.2 Hemi V8 will get it from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 200 MPH. Judging from the figure provided, it going to be one hell of an awesome truck.

It’s also reported that the 6.4 liter Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee SRT is not only sticking around too, but it’s getting an outboost boost to 490 horsepower.

Takata aibag issue claims new fatality

2015-06-21T12:43:00.004+08:00

WASHINGTON-- Honda Motor Co. confirmed an eighth fatal victim of a ruptured Takata Corp. airbag inflator after completing the investigation of a September crash in Los Angeles.

Jewel Brangman was driving a 2001 Honda Civic she had rented in August when the accident occurred. Of the eight deaths in Honda vehicles, seven were in the U.S.

Eleven different manufacturers, under pressure from U.S. regulators, are recalling cars to fix Takata-made inflators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been trying to speed the pace of repairs for a lingering defect that's now estimated to affect about 34 million airbag inflators.

Automakers and regulators have had trouble reaching every owner because the defect dates back years and many of the cars have changed hands.

Company records show the owners of the car Brangman was driving had never repaired its airbags, even though the vehicle had been recalled multiple times.

NHTSA investigators have also concluded the Los Angeles fatality was likely to have been caused by a Takata airbag inflator, the agency said Friday.

"This latest confirmed case underscores the necessity of NHTSA's actions to ensure that every American vehicle has safe air bags," Mark Rosekind, the agency's administrator, said in a statement. "The fact that this was a rental vehicle that had not been remedied is more evidence for why we are seeking authority to prohibit sale or rental of any vehicle with an open safety recall."

Eccentric Styling Updates for 2016 Corvette

2015-04-27T23:43:00.000+08:00

Chevrolet is undergoing some major updates in the shape of the entire Corvette lineup with new color options, style elements and technology. Two new paint finishes, Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat and Long Beach Read Metallic have been added to the car’s palette, while a new graphics kit can be had that leaves a section of the hood unpainted to show off the carbon-fiber weave underneath. New standard wheels have been fitted to every Stingray, while the Z06 has a new Blade wheel design option.

The new eccentric design packages that outfit the entire car with a cohesive theme are now available on 3LZ Corvette models equipped with Magnetic Ride Control, which can now be had without ordering the entire Z51 performance package. Buyers can now get the Spice Red package, the Jet Black Suede package or the Twilight Blue design package.

On the technology side of things, a new front-facing parking camera can now be ordered on 2LZ or 3LZ trim cars. As well, a “power-cinching” hatch or trunk lid has been added to make sure the rear cargo hold closes tightly.

Moving inside, the Stingray receives a new flat-bottom steering wheel, new two-tone GT seats and your choice of red or yellow contrast stitching (on 3LT models). Inside the Z06, a new Brownstone interior color is available on 3LZ models.

Pricing for the 2016 Corvette and its new options has not been released yet.

Ford Racing to offer Tuning Tools for EcoBoost

2015-01-02T19:06:00.001+08:00

With Ford’s turbocharged EcoBoost engines now installed in their performance models like the Focus and Fiesta ST hot hatches and the new 2015 Mustang, there has been lots of talk about the performance tuning potential of these new four-cylinder powertrains. Ford Racing is getting in on the action by announcing its plans for factory tuning kits and engine calibrations for EcoBoost engines in 2015.

These Ford Racing performance modifications focus on recalibrating the engine computer for higher performance. Currently, a ProCal diagnostic tool is available for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in the Ford Focus ST and the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine in the Ford Fiesta ST. The programming device costs $595 and plugs into the car’s diagnostic connector to control things like throttle response, idle speed, turbo waste gate control, and spark timing.

The owners can program in their own settings and tunes to modulate these various factors for increased performance, going beyond the restrictions of the stock computer settings. Ford Racing does give owners recommended limits so that they don't exceed the capabilities of the engine. Ford also offers its own tuning programs, one of which is said to result in an increase of 90 lb-ft of torque for the Focus ST engine which makes 270 lb-ft when stock. Unlike other aftermarket tuning tools, the Ford Racing ProCal does not void the car’s factory warranty.

Ford Racing is also working on a similar product for the 2015 Ford Mustang’s available 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which makes 310 hp and 320 lb-ft from the factory. Look for this diagnostic tool to be available sometime in 2015.

Stevie G Quitting Anfield.

2015-01-02T18:38:00.001+08:00

Liverpool captain, and a living playing legend Steven Gerrard announced that he will leave the club he has played for throughout his career in a bid to move to a foreign team at the end of the season, the English Premier League club said on Friday.

Gerrard, 34, has made a total of 695 appearances and scored 180 goals for Liverpool after joining the club as an eight-year-old schoolboy.

"Although I can't confirm at this stage where that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that means I won't be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool -- that is something I could never contemplate," he added.

Gerrard is out of contract at the end of the season and the English media speculated that he could move to North America to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS).

He has been at the heart of the Liverpool team for the past decade and showed his enduring value to the club when he scored both penalties in a 2-2 draw with Leicester City on Thursday.

His greatest moment in a Liverpool shirt was when he helped to inspire their dramatic comeback win over AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005.

However, he suffered disappointment last May when Liverpool missed out on the Premier League title. They faltered late in the campaign when they appeared poised to become English champions for the first time since 1990.

"My decision is completely based on my wish to experience something different in my career and life and I also want to make sure that I have no regrets when my playing career is eventually over," added Gerrard.

Apple Ppay set to come and conquer the mobile payment world

2014-10-14T14:43:00.000+08:00

Apple is said to be gearing its employees on how Apple Pay payments infrastruckture will work as it is nearing its launch. Apple Pay is Apple's first attempt into the emerging world of mobile payments. By using an iPhone 6 enabled with near-field communications, or NFC, and your stored credit or debit card information, you'll be able to pay for items with your phone at any store or merchant that supports the technology. Apple Pay is already supported by more 220,000 retailers, according to Apple.

Users can set up Apple Pay through the Passbook app either during the initial iOS 8 setup or via a new Settings section called Passbook & Apple Pay. You can add your credit or debit card details to Passbook through your iTunes account or by scanning in the information using your phone's camera. It is predicted that you'd be able to store up to eight credit and/or debit cards inside your passbook.

Together, Passbook and Apple Pay will be able to keep track of your purchases and other information. You'll be able to view your recent transactions, see your credit card number and unique device account number and contact your bank directly. The service will also offer a quick way to download an accompanying App Store app and give you an option to receive push notifications.

And here's one handy option. If your credit card expires, you don't need to update it on your phone. The card will automatically get updated through your credit card company, and you'll even be told via a push notification that it's been updated, according to the training material.

But what about security? Receipts for any items you buy via Apple Pay will not show your contact details or credit card number but only the last four digits of your iPhone's unique Apple Pay ID. As described by Apple, the Apple Pay ID is a number unique to your device that is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in a dedicated chip on your iPhone.

And where do you turn if you run into trouble paying for a product through Apple ID? Well, it depends on the problem. You can first head over to your local Apple Store where employees can use special software to see if the issue is with the hardware. If not, you'll likely need to to contact your bank or credit card issuer to see if the problem rests on that side of the fence.

Volvo release triple turbo engine

2014-10-07T23:48:00.000+08:00

The Volvo’s Drive-E engine family is already using forced induction in interesting ways, like the four-cylinder engine that’s turbocharged and supercharged, but the company is going one further with a new concept engine that uses three turbochargers to make more than 200 hp per liter.

This High Performance Drive-E concept engine starts with the same 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder that powers many current Volvo models, but adds three turbochargers: YES. youread that right, it comes with three turbochargers :two conventional units that are fed by an electric turbocharger. Essentially, the compressed air from the electric turbocharger is used to spool up the two parallel turbocharger units, which then feed the cylinders for greater power output. Volvo says this system eliminates turbo lag compared to traditional turbochargers that are spooled from the engine's exhaust.

Because of this, the triple-turbo Drive-E engine makes up to 450 hp, giving this engine a specific output of 225 hp per liter. That’s significantly higher than the turbocharged and supercharged T6 Drive-E engine that makes 302 hp in the S60 and XC60 models.

Volvo is not giving any details about potential production applications of this new technology, but does say that it is planning to work with suppliers including AVL, Denso, and Volvo Polestar for potential racing applications going forward. We would not be surprised to see this triple-turbo engine in a future high-performance Volvo model, possibly the S90 sedan that’s set to debut in 2016 as a 2017 model.

Stay tuned for more news about Volvo’s Drive-E engine family and this new turbocharger technology.

Jules Bianchi is "critical but in stable" condition

2014-10-07T23:21:00.000+08:00

The 25-year-old Frenchman had surgery on a severe head injury having ploughed into the back of the tractor which was rescuing the Sauber of Sutil, who had spun off the Suzuka circuit on the previous lap.
The brain surgeon who advised Michael Schumacher's treatment, Frenchman Gerard Saillant, has flown out to Japan to join the team caring for Bianchi.

A Marussia statement issued on Monday said: 'Following the accident involving Jules Bianchi during yesterday's 2014 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, the Marussia F1 Team would like to acknowledge the huge outpouring of support and affection for Jules and the Team at this very difficult time.

'With regard to the communication of information concerning Jules' medical condition, we will respect, and be guided by, the wishes of the Bianchi family. Together with Jules' care, they will remain our highest priority.

The following statement is provided by the family of Jules Bianchi, in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center, and is distributed on their behalf by the Marussia F1 Team.

“This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us. We would like to express our sincere appreciation.

Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident.

We are also grateful for the presence of Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, and Professor Alessandro Frati, Neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari. They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules’ treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family. Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues.

The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate.”

A 2000hp diesel monster gave away during dyno run

2014-10-07T04:34:00.003+08:00

A massive 2000 hp diesel monster exploded in a spectacular fashion during a dyno run. This video went viral a few months back.

Spamming conquers iMessage system

2014-08-21T17:20:00.004+08:00

The iMessage system that was introduced by Apple is a great way to send texts from one apple device to another without ever the paying fees to your mobile carrier. But over the past year, it has evolve into something of a nuisance. The iMessage has been polluted by spam message. It’s a cheap and easy way for luxury goods spammers to get their junk messages front-and-center on your phone.

A year ago, Tom Landesman—who works for security and anti-spam company Cloudmark—had never seen an iMessage spam. But he and his company now say that, thanks to one particularly aggressive campaign from a junk mailer, it accounts for more than 30 percent of all mobile spam messages.

These kinds of spam campaigns come and go. Cloudmark spotted its first one late last year, when the scammers were flogging imitation designer handbags. Lately, the spammers have been pushing deals on knock-off Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses.

Apple’s iMessage system spans across the iPad, iPhone, and Apple’s laptop and desktop systems. That fusion of the desktop and mobile world makes it particularly easy for scammers to write a Mac OS script that can send messages to all types of devices just as fast as Apple will allow. “It’s almost like a spammer’s dream,” says Landesman. “With four lines of code, using Apple scripts, you can tell your Mac machine to send message to whoever they want.”

Most of the time, the spammer will need a phone number to deliver the iMessage spam, but if you’ve added your email address to iMessage, the spammers can get you using that address too. (On your phone, you can see which addresses and phone numbers are associated with your iMessage account by visiting: Settings –> Messages –> Send and Receive)

Apple’s desktop client instantly tells you whether or not the number you’ve entered is registered with the iMessage network, so scammers could use this feature to generate a list of verified iMessages users. As an added bonus, iMessage notifies the scammer whether the message they’ve sent out has been read or not.

It’s very easy for spammers to register an iMessage account. All you need is an email address. We’ve seen spam sent from accounts registered to Microsoft’s hotmail.com system and to Chinese webmail providers such as Yeah.net. “In 10 minutes, if you have a whole bunch of accounts, you’d be able to send a huge volume of messages,” Landesman says.

Because the spam is all traveling on Apple’s network, your mobile carrier can’t do anything about it. That makes the clean-up job an Apple problem. Reached Monday, an Apple spokeswoman didn’t have any immediate comment for this story. But the company has taken some steps.