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Good that the public transport is being made more extensive, but takes long long time for these tunnels to get built. SINGAPORE: Singapore will have two new MRT lines, while three existing lines will be extended. These will double the rail network stretch to 360 kilometres, compared with the current 178 kilometres. By then, eight in 10 households will have a train station within a 10-minute walk, compared with about six in 10 currently. These plans for the rail network followed a review of the Land Transport Master Plan by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew announced the new developments when he visited Chinatown Station of the Downtown Line on Thursday. The new lines are the Cross Island Line (CRL) and Jurong Region Line (JRL). The CRL will run from Jurong Industrial Estate and pass through areas such as West Coast, Bukit Timah, Ang Mo Kio, Punggol and Pasir Ris before ending in Changi. The 50-kilometre line, which is expected to be completed by 2030, will be connected to all existing lines. It is expected to relieve the load of the existing East-West and North-East lines and shorten journey times significantly. For example, it takes about 40 minutes to get from Punggol to Pasir Ris by bus. With the CRL, it will take 10 to 15 minutes. The other new line -- Jurong Region Line -- will be completed in 2025. The 20-kilometre line will pass through areas such as Jurong West, Jurong Industrial District, West Coast, Choa Chu Kang and potential new developments in Tengah. Those travelling from the North to Jurong, like students of Nanyang Technological University, can skip Jurong East Station on the East-West Line. Three existing lines -- the Circle Line (CCL), Downtown Line (DTL) and North-East Line (NEL) -- will be extended. The CCL will be four kilometres longer -- to close the link between HarbourFront and Marina Bay stations and save commuters the hassle of making multiple transfers. The extension, which will also pass through Keppel, is expected to be completed by 2025. The DTL will be two kilometres longer by 2025 -- to run through the East Coast area. It will be connected to the East West Line and the Eastern Region Line, which will be ready by 2020, so that commuters can transfer between the Downtown Line and Eastern Region Line in the east. As for the NEL, two kilometres will be added by 2030 -- in tandem with new developments in Punggol -- to serve Punggol North, including the new Punggol Downtown. The LTA is also exploring the possibility of an additional station between Sembawang and Yishun stations on the North-South Line, in anticipation of future developments in the area.

Marvel Studios’ Phase Four of its Marvel Cinematic Universe will include 10 movies and Disney + series when it launches next year, with 2021 looking especially crowded. President Kevin Feige appeared at San Diego Comic-Con for Marvel’s 90-minute appearance in Hall H, where he gave a pretty lengthy update on Phase 4. The Phase Four slate that Marvel unveiled includes the following: Black Widow (May 1st, 2020), Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020), The Eternals (November 6th, 2020), Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (February 12, 2021), WandaVision (Spring 2021), Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (May 7th, 2021), Loki (Spring 2021), What If...?(Summer 2021), Hawkeye (Fall 2021), and Thor: Love and Thunder (November 5th, 2021). Feige made a surprise announcement at the end saying that he didn’t have time to address where the Fantastic Four or X-Men would end up in the franchise, but that one additional project will be Blade, which will feature Mahershala Ali. The next phase includes a mix of sequels, like Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness — to be directed by Scott Derrickson, which is described as the MCU’s first horror film, Thor: Love and Thunder, the fourth movie in the franchise, to be directed by Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. Unlike the last several Marvel movies, however, Natalie Portman will play Thor this time around. There’s at least one prequel, too — Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson in the titular role, one that she has been fighting to have for years. Rachel Weisz, Florence Pugh, and David Harbour will also star. Other film projects will feature several new heroes: The Eternals and Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. Like Guardians of the Galaxy, neither Shang-Chi or The Eternals are household names — but it looks as though Marvel Studios is hoping that they’ll have wide, mainstream appeal. The Eternals centers on a group of beings known as Eternals who use their advanced skills to protect humans in the future. The comic book series, created by legendary creator Jack Kirby was, “one of many many many things that we are actively beginning to have creative discussions about,” Feige previously told Slash Film. Feige also confirmed that the movie will star Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie. Shang-Chi will focus on the titular character, Shang-Chi, who devotes his entire life to bringing down his father’s criminal empire. Feige confirmed at Comic-Con that The Mandarin, the villain who was supposed to appear in Iron Man 3 but ultimately did not, will appear for real this time in Shang-Chi. Marvel is working with director Destin Daniel Cretton on the project, best known for his critically acclaimed film Short Term 12. Simu Liu, best known for his work on Canadian comedy series, Kim’s Convenience, is set to play Shang-Chi. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t just movies anymore — Disney’s forthcoming streaming service, Disney+, will feature several ongoing projects, like Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, Loki, Hawkeye, and What If...?. Feige and his team went into some more detail about a couple of shows, including Loki. The show will follow the character after he escaped with the Tesseract in 2012 — something that only happened thanks to Avengers: Endgame. The version of Loki played by Hiddleston appears to be one that didn’t experience the events of several films, like Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. The show will premiere on Disney+ in spring 2021. Unlike the existing entries in the MCU, where there was a major divide between the film and television properties, it looks as though the stories will fit together closely, with projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier picking up after Avengers: Endgame, Hawkeye exploring some of the character’s time as Ronin, and with the events in WandaVision leading right into Doctor Strange 2. Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger previously said the MCU films and Disney+ series would intertwine, and now we know how that looks. There’s a good chance other characters from all of the aforementioned series and films could intertwine in some way, too. That will also extend to the Disney + show What If...?, a non-canon, animated series that presents alternate takes on the existing MCU, like what if Loki had found the hammer of Thor? The panel revealed that numerous MCU actors will reprise their roles for these alternate takes. The Phase 4 slate answers the immediate question about what comes after the franchise that culminated with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-man: Far From Home. Expect more information next month at Disney’s D23 conference.

Check this out.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1245933/1/.html Seems about the same as last round - can anybody update how many were available in the last bidding? 410 COEs for Cat A (small cars), 363 for Cat B (big cars) 462 for Cat D (motorcycles). Cat E (open), 256 COEs will be available, while Cat C (goods vehicles and buses) will have 193 COEs.

Mercedes-Benz plans on introducing a new set of modifications for their line of cars. The MercedesSport program will first be available on the E-Class Cabrio, Coupe, Estate, and Saloon once the aero kit is unveiled in Geneva next week. Amongst the available options are new 18-inch light alloys in glossy black and silver. A new front apron, front spoiler, and matching side skirts are available as well as roof and decklid spoilers. The new rear apron looks like it includes a cosmetic diffuser. These items are "add ons," and not a replacement to the original body parts. Sports brakes with grey calipers and a stiffer, sportier suspension are also options. The new suspension includes short springs that drop the car by 15mm. A perforated leather, four-spoke steering wheel, paddleshifters, and stainless steel pedals and entry sills are all optional upgrades.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr..._honda_nsx.html another hybrid

Recent news from Fiat Spa..................Fiat Multiair Technology Announced - More Power, Less Fuel, Less Emissions. Check out here: Fiat Multiair Technology {qoute} With tougher emission standards on the horizon and consumers demanding even more fuel efficient models, Fiat has unveiled their new MultiAir petrol engine. The company considers the new powertrain to be one of the greatest advances in petrol engine design in recent years as the MultiAir offers more power, reduced fuel consumption, and lower exhaust emissions compared to conventional petrol engines. Given the company's history of using technological breakthroughs to improve both performance and efficiency in diesel engines, Fiat took a similar approach when developing the new MultiAir engine. In a conventional engine about 10% of the input energy is wasted in the process of pumping the air charge from a lower intake pressure to the atmospheric exhaust pressure. Fiat originally began looking into the possibility of reducing the wasted energy back in the 1980's but was only recently able to develop a new system that uses direct air charge metering at the cylinder inlet while maintaining a constant natural upstream pressure. The new system is extremely technical but in essence it works by a having a series of solenoid valves being turned on and off by the rotation of the camshaft. When the solenoid valves are activated, several different scenarios occur to optimize power and fuel usage. (A full overview of the how the system works is available in the press release) Among the many benefits of the new MultiAir engine is up to a 10% increase in power thanks to a performance-oriented mechanical camshaft profile, a revised intake valve closing system which improves low RPM torque by up to 15%, and a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions because of the elimination of pumping losses. More important is the fact that the new MultiAir engine can achieve up to an overall 25% increase in fuel economy compared to conventional naturally aspirated engines with the same level of performance. In the future, MultiAir technology could see its introduction on Fiat's diesel engines as it promises to offer up to a 60% reduction in NOx emissions and up to 40% reduction of CO2 emissions during cold starts and engine warm-up. {unquote} Enjoy the video clip.

Pentagon first public photo of its 6th gen invisible fighter. DOD spokesman did not provide any further detail about who is the contractor nor the test pilot's name. Rumour claims it is designed to counter China's first stealth fighter, the J20, which pictures was apparently leaked in Dec 2010.

Kinda sad for those affected ones. Xmas round the corner and CNY is not even near to hear this kind of news from the nation papers. Dec 10, 2010 S'PORE MOTOR INDUSTRY Letting go of staff By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent For Toyota agent Borneo Motors, the largest distributor here, another round of retrenchment could be around the corner. More than 100 employees have already been let go in two earlier rounds of staff cuts. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA IN WHAT could be a sign of things to come, motor group Cycle & Carriage will let its 20-strong Mitsubishi sales force and administrative support team go after Chinese New Year. The group, which retrenched a number of other employees earlier this year, will be farming out its Mitsubishi franchise to a sub-dealer.

Nissan has seen fit to release a few, spare details on the upcoming 2012 GT-R model. But it's one of the main items Nissan enthusiasts would like to know about. Namely, the GT-R's 0 to 100 km/h sprint time. Nissan tested the GT-R's time on the Sendai Hi-land Race Way in Japan a couple of weeks ago in the middle of November and the car returned a pretty impressive result. Standing start to 100 km/h clocked in at a flat 3.0 seconds. The Japanese automaker conducted the sprint test twice, once at an outside temperature of 14.9

Over the next three years, Ferrari will introduce a new 458 Spider, Ferrari Enzo "special series", and four other new models. The cars have been announced by Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at a press conference earlier today. The 458 drop-top and an all-new 612 Scaglietti with a V12 engine are scheduled for next year. Referred to internally as the F151, the 612 Scaglietti may also be shown off as a hybrid model. Marchionne also announced a "new special series Enzo" would join the all-new 599 GTB Fiorano (a.k.a. the F152) on the 2012 marketplace. This will be followed up with a significant California Facelift, or as it is called inside the company, the "California M." Also due for 2013 is a suped-up 458 Scuderia. Look for both Ferrari and Maserati to make each of their models rather distinct, practically creating sub-brands within the two companies. Sister automaker Maserati is also expected to release two new models, slotted below the GranTurismo, before 2015.

Saab has announced UK prices for the upcoming new 9-5 model. Prices begin at

McLaren has revealed the MP4-12C supercar to the media today and we have a lot of the official details. The two-seat MP4-12C has a 3.8-litre twin turbo petrol engine developed in collaboration with Ricardo. Maximum power output is a blazing 441 kW (592 bhp / 600 PS) developed at 7,000 rpm. The engine can rev all the way up to a dizzy 8,500 rpm. Its peak torque rivals some of the most powerful turbo diesels out there at 599 Nm (442 lb-ft) from 3,000 rpm. Apparently 479 Nm (353 lb-ft) of that is already available from 2,000 rpm. Performance figures are not available yet but expect 0 - 100 km/h figures in the very low 3s and a top speed well over 300 km/h (186 mph). Torque goes to the rear axle through a 7-speed double clutch gearbox prompted by F1-style aluminium rockers situated behind the steering wheel. It offers a choice of Normal, Sport and Track driving modes. There's also two configurations namely H and P. H refers to handling and changes things like steering weight, suspension stiffness and stability control. Choosing P mode alters throttle response, gearshift times and engine sounds. Because the car is so compact (4507mm long, 1908mm wide, 1199mm high and with a wheelbase of 2670mm) and thanks to a carbon composite monocoque, plus a claimed dry weight of less than 1,300kg (2,866 lbs), certain advantages are there for the taking. The main one is of course better performance, but there is also the small matter of C02 emissions. McLaren Automotive reports a figure of under 300g/km, significantly lower than its key rivals, the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Inside the latest gadgets and goodies can be found, including a 7-inch touch screen and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Toyota announced facelift Camry in Detriot Autoshow: -Exterior looks very similar to the existing JDM Camry -Major change including new 2.5l engine and 6-speed automatic - not sure will BM bring in this configuration http://wot.motortrend.com/6415201/auto-new...2010/index.html "Letting a car sit on the vine without any changes for a long time is no way to maintain a sales crown so for 2010, Toyota is giving the Camry -- America's best selling car for the last seven years -- a minor maker over. The seventh-generation midsize sedan heads into its fourth model year with minor changes to its sheetmetal, a new four-cylinder engine, and several new features. The cosmetic changes to the exterior consist of a new grille and front bumper, a larger lower intake, larger headlights and restyled tail lights. Every trim of the car gets new rolling stock as well. Base and LE models receive new wheelcovers, XLE models get new ten-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels and SE models get new 17-inch alloys. The Camry Hybrid receives its own grille and bumper along with a wider lower intake, restyled fog lights and 16-inch alloy wheels. For four-cylinder models, the 158-hp 2.4L unit makes way for a 2.5L mill that makes 169 hp in base, LE, and XLE models and 179 hp in the sport-oriented SE trim. Gone too are the five-speed manual and automatic, replaced with six-speed versions. Toyota did not say how the new engine affects the four-cylinder Camry's fuel economy and the 268-hp V-6 is unchanged. Toyota finishes up the changes to the 2010 Camry with the addition of several features including stability and traction control and auto up/down power windows on all four doors as standard on all trims, an optional audio system for base and LE models that adds a USB port, Bluetooth, integrated satellite radio, and MP3/streaming music capability. The Camry Hybrid receives a new gauge cluster and cloth seating surfaces made of a fabric called Fraichir, a combination of silk protein and synthetic fiber. Pricing will not be announced until closer to the car's March on-sale date."

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/8...ith_QWERTY_.php http://conversations.nokia.com/home/2008/1...mobilekind.html N79 features: Tri-band HSDPA/quad-band GSM Sliding QWERTY keypad and touchscreen display 3.5-inch TFT (16:9 widescreen); 640 x 360 pixels 32GB onboard memory + microSD card slot Series60 5th Edition 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics MPEG-4 VGA video recording at 30fps Multiple music, video and image formats supported 802.11b/g; USB; Bluetooth with A2DP; GPS with A-GPS 3.5mm audio jack 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9mm; 150g Availability: Worldwide, first half of 2009; 550 euros (before tax, subsidies)

Hyundai unveils new HCD8 Sports Tourer Concept Vehicle Hyundai USA has issued the following press release: Hyundai today unveiled the newest concept vehicle from the Hyundai Kia Design and Technical Center, the stylish and functional HCD8 sports tourer. The HDC8 is the newest concept vehicle from the Hyundai Kia Design and Technical Center Design studio and is the first concept vehicle to come from Hyundai's new $30 million Design and Technical Center in Irvine, Calif. "The Hyundai HCD8 sports tourer was designed to address the sporty car market and still meet the values and needs of today's consumer," said Joel Piaskowski, Chief Designer at the Hyundai Kia Design and Technical Center. The design team used marketing research from Hyundai Motor America to design a sporty vehicle that offers more flexibility, more usable space and easier access for passengers and cargo. "The HCD8 is designed to be a high-performance daily driver," Piaskowski added. "We also stayed true to core Hyundai asset of making it a good value - the HCD8 offers more value within its market segment," he added. The HCD8 showcases the professional design capabilities of Hyundai's state-of-the-art, world-class design studio in Irvine, California. STYLE "The HCD8 is a conceptual design model used to evaluate the design, package and proportion of the next generation sports coupe," said Chris Zarlenga, Design Manager on the HCD8 project. "The HCD8 has graceful, flowing lines. The surfaces of the vehicle have the volume and shape to retain some classicism of a sports car. We also worked with surfaces and lines that stir the inner emotions of passion, romance and performance. We arranged the graphic components to signal strength, attitude and power," Zarlenga added. Highlighting the exciting design elements is the Ballistic Yellow tri-color paint from Nippon. The body color is complemented with anthracite color ground effects trim and road wheels. The exterior trim is polished nickel. The interior is finished with two-tone Vapor Gray leather seating surfaces accented by wood flooring and wood and aluminum accented steering wheel rim and shift lever knob. The aluminum trim is accented with a nickel finish. "We wanted to contrast the rich, luxurious interior against the Ballistic Yellow exterior," said Zarlenga. ARCHITECHURE "The HCD8 pushes the architecture and package to the limit," Zarlenga said. "This provides a new and exciting proportion that can accommodate the needs of the concept," he explained. "To increase accessibility to the rear seat we lengthened the door apertures and by increasing the height of the rear profile and optimizing storage space, we were also able to add interior utility." The designers also stretched the Day Light Opening (DLO -- a designer's term for the side glass) for increased side and rear visibility. They also increased the wheelbase by 100mm (in the dash-to-axle dimension) to achieve classic sports car proportion. Overall, the styling combines soft flowing surfaces with crisp, taut lines. PERFORMANCE The HCD8 with its supercharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, 6-speed manual transaxle and tuned dual exhaust provides performance to match its styling. For real world driving, the driver can adjust the ride height a total of four inches through the air suspension. The vehicle can sit low for high-speed touring or can be raised to handle inclement weather, avoid parking wheel stops, handle a car wash or any other situation where additional ground clearance is needed. The HCD8 also features state-of-art lighting. The LPI-supplied optics use Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology from Osram Opto Semiconductor to illustrate how future automotive lighting systems will work. The LED lights burn brighter, and are more energy efficient than current lighting systems. In addition, they are expected to last for the life of the vehicle. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED lighting performance does not deteriorate during its life. HYUNDAI BRAND VALUES "Hyundai is about being bold and different in an automotive market that is not usually willing to take risks. Determination is also a core Hyundai corporate value," Piaskowski said. "The company has, in just 18 years, become the fourth largest import brand in the U.S." "Hyundai's dramatic growth has been fueled by being bold and different while offering customers greater value at a lower price point. Now we are taking that to a new design level," he said. "The HCD8 represents what a next-generation sports car from Hyundai could be, It is bold and different. It crosses boundaries within its intended price point and market segment. It offers the consumer an alternative to the expected." The HCD8 also illustrates the development of Hyundai's visual character. "We view the HCD8 as an instrument to design exploration and design development, Zarlenga explained. "The design team examined Hyundai's design portfolio for a brand building opportunity. They used the face of the Elantra, the grace of the Sonata and the stance of the Tiburon as inspiration. The high quality interior design of Hyundai's current production vehicles was also an influence." Over the years the face of the Elantra has evolved to be more dramatic, yet still retains the 'furled brow' look of the headlamps. The graceful lines and surfaces of the Sonata have been elongated and exploited to promote a sense of beauty and power. With the Tiburon, the stance has been stretched and widened to add to its overall road presence. All of these Hyundai style attributes were catalysts in the design development of the HCD8. MARKETING "In the U.S., the sporty coupe segment is viewed as a flat or even a declining market" Piaskowski observed. "For this segment to grow, the vehicles must evolve to meet the needs of consumers. Their diverse lifestyles require vehicles with increased accessibility, more functionality and more cargo volume. The HCD8 is designed to appeal to 'youthful minded professionals' who want a great looking, high performance sports coupe with added the added functionality they need," he said. "We used the findings from HMA Marketing and Product Planning studies and incorporated them into the HCD8 sports tourer. This vehicle could be a first-time purchase or an addition to a fleet of household vehicles. Our consumer target is someone who is youthful minded and passionate about their cars and their driving experience," he said. **************