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Was at IMM yesterday after visiting my ancesters graves at CCK. I chance upon a road show by Fiat, displaying various models of its vehicles. I was quite impress with the Fiat Panorama, 1400cc 5 seaters on display. It has a high head room for any tall adults of over 6 feet. When I come onto the next vehicle on display, I was taken a back by what I see. It was the same model as earlier (Fiat Panorama, 1.4) but it is a 7 seaters. I am just wondering, how on earth a 1400cc car seat 7 adults and with power to move? While standing there and looking at other models (spend almost 1 & 1/2 hour there), I notice that there are numbers of sales for this 7 seaters, Panorama. Any MCF members who owns this 7 seaters, Panorama care to share on the performance and fc of the vehicle. Your imput is very much appreciated. Also whilst looking at other models, one that also catches my eye is the Fiat Grande Punto, 1.4 Coupe Dynamic Skydome at $69,900/-. A 2 door coupe with sun-roof over the front and rear seat. Well, it doesn't suit me anymore (family man) but if I am young and single, I would consider getting one. The road show runs until Sunday. All models comes with a package monthly installment of $488/- (10 years loan). Cheers.

Five years? MM Lee's estimate was optimistic WITH reference to last Friday's column, 'Welcome to scary Singapore, land of four million smiles', I could not help but disagree with Ms Lynn Lee. It is na�ve to assume that all human beings can be trusted to do the right thing, and that we should appeal to the public by their conscience and sense of fairness. While it is ideal to strive towards a kinder and gentler society, Singaporeans must be made to realise the world is actually very brutal. Why is Singapore schizophrenic? To me, it is both a modern-day wonder and an insane attempt to push the boundary of human sociology, political science and human ingenuity. With a population of 4.6 million and no natural resources, Singapore is like a 3,000m-tall giant inverted pyramid balancing precariously on a ridiculously small footprint of less than 700 sq km. To further create instability and complexity, the population is a mixture of races, religions and cultures due to its historical immigrant origins. In some ways, Singapore's few short decades of peace may bring hope to a millennium of violence in Jerusalem. On the contrary, I feel Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew is very optimistic when he said recently that Singapore can be unscrambled in just five years. With modern telecommunications and banking infrastructure, trillions of dollars can be transferred out of Singapore in an instant if the current leaders and their policies change overnight. Singapore's economy can become an empty shell within weeks. The grim reality is that global financial investors would have no qualms in rendering us incapacitated in this fiercely competitive world. In many ways, Singapore is a failure due to its own success. Thanks to its ability to provide housing, work opportunities and good economic growth year after year in a First World environment, it is no wonder that most Singaporeans, especially those born after 1965, have bred a false sense of security, thinking modern Singapore is a creation by mother nature. Recently, opposition politician Tan Lead Shake made headlines after a tragic event in his family. But what chills the bones is the fact that in the past three elections, an average of more than 20 per cent of the electorate voted for him or anyone else who stood for election with little consideration of his credentials or abilities. Will Singapore last as long as the 3,000-year-old Great Pyramids of Giza? Very unlikely, when civilisations in history last an average of less than 500 years. But the real answer lies not just in our children but in the choice we make now to ensure a better future for them now. Syu Ying Kwok http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Sto...ory_255634.html anyone still credits the states times with credibility or objectivity? slipper man may not be top political material, but is that what the media should be discussing when he has just experienced a tragic loss? the ST editors must be choking on lightning cum..

Last week, I saw on news that Malaysia may reduce the toll charge to help people cope with inflation. This week: Five new ERP gantries to go up in S'pore River area Ministry says retailers should not worry. -ST Maria Almenoar Sun, May 11, 2008 The Straits Times WHEN an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) cordon went up around the Orchard Road area in 2005, there were concerns not just from motorists but from retailers as well. These businesses were worried that the move would drive customers away. The Government's counter: The measures were necessary to keep up the buzz of the area as traffic had slowed down to 15kmh on Orchard Road. Not everyone was convinced, but the gantries went up and ERP hours were extended to Saturdays and for an hour more on weekdays. The aim: To discourage motorists from using the shopping belt as a way of getting to other destinations, such as Marina Bay and Suntec City. Three years on, a study has shown that vehicles have indeed been able to move along faster. Traffic speeds went up to 25kmh and have since stabilised at an average of 23kmh; the volume of traffic has shrunk by 20 per cent. And the retailers have stopped complaining - shoppers are still making their way to the strip. Orchard Road Business Association spokesman Stephen Goh noted that the cordon had noticeably reduced the amount of pass-through traffic on weekday afternoons. 'The overall effect is something positive because what we are left with are the 'real shoppers', not people just using the road to get elsewhere.'

Congress, critical of tax breaks, lays into oil execs Lawmakers criticize industry for taking tax breaks amid record-high prices while underinvesting in renewable resources. Markey concluded the hearing with what sounded like warning - urging the oil companies to invest in renewables and do something to lower the price of gas before what he promised would be several more congressional hearings. "To the extent that you don't have to take all of this as profit and you can lower your prices, I urge you to do so," he said. "My grandfather always said, you should try to start from where you know you'll end up." http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/01/news/compa...sion=2008040115

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/flo...0,7879522.story Five young men who were speeding down a runway next to a private Marion County fly-in community were killed after their BMW became airborne and smashed into an oak tree. The accident was on a runway adjacent to the Jumbolair Aviation Estates, a gated community where movie star John Travolta lives. Marion County Fire Rescue responded to the area of 1400 N.E. 95th St near the town of Anthony at approximately 3:50 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found that the 2008 BMW's wreckage by a large oak tree. Cpt. Joel Matthias, a spokesman for Marion County Fire Rescue, said that the car's five occupants were killed on impact. Three of the men were ejected from the luxury car. The Florida Highway Patrol identified the car's occupants as Joshua D. Ammirato, 18, James D. Hime, 19, Isaac J Rubin 20,, Jacob J Casey, 19, and Dustin J. Dawe, 19. Although it appeared that Ammirato was driving the car, Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol said that FHP is still determining the position of the car's other occupants. Matthais said that, while the accident was still under investigation, it appeared that the car was driving on the runway and hit the jet blast diversion ramp - a large mound of dirt and a retaining wall at the end of the runway. The car became airborne and traveled about 200 feet, before striking the tree.Matthais said that there is an 80-foot drop between the end of the runway and the ground below. Burroughs said that the BMW struck the tree approximately 15 feet above the ground. Although FHP has yet to determine how fast the car was travelling, it hit the tree with tremendous force. "Portions of the vehicle were actualy embedded into the oak tree," he said. The car was registered to Santo G. Ammirato, who was not one of the vehicle's occupants. Burroughs said that it did not appear that any of the victims lived in Jumbolair. According to Burroughs, area residents said that they didn't think the runway had become a local hotspot for joy rides. "The local residents did say that it uncommon for drag racing or any event like that to take place on the airstrip," he said. "We do not have any idea what they were doing out there."

Lai liao loh, going to start soon...Hi 5! BETTER THINK THRICE BEFORE BUYING THAT SET OF WHEELS!! They are mainly in the heart of residential areas. By Christopher Tan MOTORISTS can expect to pay more over the next few months to use the roads when five new ERP gantries are up, many in the heart of residential areas. The gantries are in Upper Bukit Timah Road (outside Hume Park), Toa Payoh Lorong 6, Upper Boon Keng Road, Kallang Bahru Road and Geylang Bahru Road. All except the ones in Toa Payoh Lorong 6 and Geylang Bahru Road have been completed. The Land Transport Authority has not announced when these new gantries will be switched on, but already residents are concerned why their neighbourhoods are targetted. Commenting on the gantry outside Hume Park, Bukit Timah resident Mr Burven Lee, 43, said: 'The road here does get jammed up. But will a gantry solve the problem?' 'My feeling is that it will just redistribute traffic around,' the director of a statutory board added. Toa Payoh resident 68-year-old retiree Tony Chan wanted to know why the gantry at Toa Payoh Lorong 6 is sited near the entrance to the residential area. The LTA spokesman explained that the location of the gantry is unlikely to affect residents as it charges motorists entering into Toa Payoh from Braddell Road who add on to the traffic in the area. He added that if gantries were at exit points, more Toa Payoh residents would be affected. Also it would plug a gap in series of gantries forming an outer cordon around the city. The new gantries are part of the LTA's plans to have an 'outer cordon' to control traffic going into the city.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_194130.html They are mainly in the heart of residential areas. By Christopher Tan MOTORISTS can expect to pay more over the next few months to use the roads when five new ERP gantries are up, many in the heart of residential areas. The gantries are in Upper Bukit Timah Road (outside Hume Park), Toa Payoh Lorong 6, Upper Boon Keng Road, Kallang Bahru Road and Geylang Bahru Road.

Yes, kids: it's another Mini!!! http://autostate.blogspot.com/2007/07/2008-mini-clubman.html Official details and photos of new five-door 2008 Mini Clubman.

This should spice up the hatchback scene soon... http://www.leftlanenews.com/mitsubishi-to-...ck-in-2008.html

Aveo - Best-In-Class Five-Star Frontal Crash Safety Rating You can drive with confidence knowing that Aveo 4 and 5 door are the only cars in their class to earn the highest frontal crash safety rating - 5 stars for both driver and front passenger. Based on U.S. goverment rating , Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ( NHTSA ) New Car Assessment Program ( NSAP )

Although recent changes mean that the latest Civic models already have a more sporty and distinctive look for 2004, the Civic 5 door Study Model is designed to emphasise those characteristics still further. Dominating its appearance is an aggressively styled bumper section incorporating carbonfinish trim across the base of the air scoop, together with a grille finished in black chrome and a black inner headlamp housing complementing the overall effect. The theme continues rearwards: over-fenders and 18 inch alloys, together with side skirts featuring carbon trim along their length, add to the sharp, muscular stance. The body restyle is finished off with a revised rear bumper complete with carbon trim and a chrome exhaust pipe finisher. In keeping with the exterior, the Civic Study Model

Minus the overdone masking tape, here's some pics of the next 5-series. Note the 7-series style boot and make your call.... Hope the grille mesh that looks like garden fencing doesn't make it, tho'.....

Ford wants to change the face of the family sedan with its new Five Hundred model. The automaker gave the media a preview of the new car at the 2002 New York Auto Show, and claims the Five Hundred will offer incomparable passenger roominess, a tall seating position, sophisticated styling, and command of the road. "The Five Hundred is the result of asking questions about the family sedan that no one thought to ask," Chris Theodore, Ford