Spyshots: 2011 Acura TL

Our team of spy photographers were never big fans of Acura’s chrome-face so, when they heard that the TL model is about to have its nose reworked, they were more than happy to hunt the test vehicle down and shoot it for us.So here it is: the 2011 model year Acura TL. Yes, we know, the vehicle is still wearing a ton of camo, but we just couldn’t take it off. You have to understand that this was due to some sort of human rights for cars. But let's move to the description of the vehicle.

The “Power Plenum” grille used by the saloon isn’t expected to be blown into hyperspace altogether, but will however be toned down. Judging by the aforementioned ton of camo on the car’s front fascia, we expect it to come with multiple exterior changes, with the most refreshed area being the lower one.

As you can see, the test car is using measurement instrumentation. This means that the upcoming facelift will bring changes under the hood. This would make sense: as the TL was introduced to the market for the 2009 model year, the future refresh would come as a mid-cycle facelift, with this type of tech changes being expected.

One of the potential changes is the ditching of the five speed automatic gearbox for a new six speed one.

We have to take a good look at the changes suffered by the Acura TL’s front end, because these are likely to spread to the entire line-up of the automotive producer. -autoevolution.

Citroën target iPod generation

Citroën plans to broaden the reach and appeal of its cars by launching a new product family for the ‘iPod generation’.

It would be the fourth Citroën product family sitting alongside DS, the regular Citroën brand and the Picasso MPV family.

PSA Peugeot-Citroën design boss Jean-Pierre Ploué has told Autocar that the firm — flush with a successful DS launch that has encouraged it to raise sales projections for the DS3 — will use this autumn’s Paris motor show to introduce the new sub-brand.

Industry watchers have predicted that Citroën is preparing to launch a budget model line, but Ploué denied the suggestion.

“This is a brand defined not by price, but by simplicity and ingenuity of design,” said Ploué. “It’s our family of cars for those who value design purity above all else: for the iPod generation.

“I cannot reveal its name yet,” Ploué continued, “but this brand will cause a lot of shock and surprise at Paris, I promise you. It’s a real departure for us – a break from tradition.”

Ploué references Citroën’s iconic 2CV as the inspiration for its new model family, “not for the appearance of the car, but for its innovative spirit”.

But the real inspiration for the new brand is the C-Cactus concept from the 2007 Frankfurt show.

A 4.2m-long compact family hatch memorable for its unconventional cabin design, innovative packaging and simplified features, the C-Cactus was deemed “too challenging” to be put into production as a Citroën earlier this year. But as a member of this all-new sub-brand, it seems, it could make the showroom.

“The C3 Picasso would also be a model for the new sub-brand, if we were making it today,” Ploué said. “It’s a youthful, innovative, efficient and simple design.”

Ploué also defined this new sub-brand as a contrast to Citroën’s DS brand. “DS is all about ‘Frenchness’, sculpture and sophistication, while the new brand is the antithesis of that,” he said. “It appeals through its stark, pared-down simplicity, to a different, younger customer than DS.”

One of the first models to be brought out under Citroën’s new brand is likely to be a compact supermini, partly to fill the void left by the deletion of the C2.

“We’re not planning on replacing the C2 as a Citroën, but under the new brand we could use the opportunity to do something much more interesting,” Ploué said.-autocar.

JPJ akan mulakan operasi cermin gelap besar-besaran

Awas! Petang tadi seramai 37 kakitangan JPJ Shah Alam telah dikenakan saman semasa keluar pejabat kerana cermin kereta tidak mematuhi arahan pemasangan cermin gelap. Terdapat juga pelanggan JPJ yang berurusan di situ turut dikenakan tindakan. Tahniah kepada JPJ, kerana ini menjadi contoh kepada jabatan lain supaya bertindak keatas kakitangan kita sendiri sebelum bertindak keatas orang lain. Kepada exorian yang cermin kereta exoranya dilekatkan dengan filem penapis cahaya, pastikan anda mematuhi peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh JPJ kerana dendanya agak tinggi. JPJ mempunyai alat yang boleh digunakan pada waktu siang & malam. Berikut adalah peraturan & kadar denda yang perlu dibayar oleh exorian yang masih berdegil.

Pemasangan cermin gelap

Kaedah 5 (1) dan Kaedah 5 (3),Kaedah-Kaedah Kenderaan Motor (Larangan Mengenai Jenis-Jenis Kaca Tertentu) Pindaan 2000, menetapkan cermin cermin depan hendaklah telus cahaya tidak kurang 70%, manakala cermin belakang dan tepi hendaklah telus cahaya tidak kurang dari 50%.

Pengecualian khas pemasangan cermin gelap

Pemasangan kaca gelap diberikan kepada orang-orang tertentu sahaja seperti di bawah kaedah 11(a) dan 11(b),Kaedah-Kaedah Kenderaan Motor (Larangan Mengenai Jenis-Jenis Kaca Tertentu) 1991. Mana-mana orang yang tidak termasuk dalam kaedah 11(a) dan 11(b) yang menghadapi masalah kesihatan kulit terdedah atau dengan ancaman keselamatan boleh memohon pengecualian khas untuk pemasangan khas untuk pemasangan cermin gelap.

Pemilik atau pemandu kenderaan yang tidak mematuhi kaedah ini akan dikenakan denda :-

1. Tidak melebihi RM 500.00 atau penjara tidak melebihi 2 minggu untuk kesalahan pertama;dan
2. Tidak melebihi RM 1000.00 atau penjara tidak melebihi satu bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali bagi kesalahan berikutnya.

Cara-cara memohon

Permohonan hendaklah dibuat menggunakan  Borang CG1 yang boleh didapati daripada Ibu Pejabat JPJ di Putrajaya. Semua permohonan perlu disertakan dengan dokumen-dokumen berikut :-

1. Salinan kad pengenalan yang telah disahkan.
2. Surat pengesahan daripada Pegawai Perubatan Kerajaan termasuk rekod-rekod Perubatan yang terkini.
3. Bagi permohonan untuk tujuan keselamatan,sertakan dokumen-dokumen sokongan.

Kelulusan

Semua permohonan akan dipertimbangkan dan akan dikemukakan kepada Ketua Pengarah Pengangkutan Jalan untuk persetujuan. Selepas itu akan dibawa kepada Y.B. Menteri Pengangkutan untuk kelulusan.

Tempoh

Tempoh kelulusan penggunaan cermin gelap adalah satu tahun sahaja dan perlu diperbaharui.

Pembaharuan

Permohonan memperbaharui kelulusan cermin gelap hendaklah dibuat tiga (3) bulan sebelum tamat tempoh kelulusan dengan menyertakan dokumen berikut :

1.  Borang CG1 yang telah diisi dengan lengkap.
2. Salinan kad pengenalan yang telah disahkan.
3. Surat pengesahan daripada Pegawai Perubatan Kerajaan seta rekod-rekod Perubatan yang terkini. Salinan Surat Kelulusan Y.B Menteri Pengangkutan.
4. Salinan Kad Pendaftaran Kenderaan

Jam GPS versi 1920an & 1930an

Gambar di atas adalah jam GPS manual yang dibuat pada tahun 1920an. Ia tidak menggunakan signal satelit tapi ia menggunakan jari tangan kita untuk menggerakkan peta tersebut. Walaupun ia di buat pada tahun 1920an, ia adalah satu idea yang hebat untuk tahun tersebut. Manakala gambar di bawah pula adalah satu lagi peta yang dilekatkan di dashboard kereta pada tahun 1930an. Berfungsi secara manual & memerlukan kerja yang lebih sedikit untuk menukar peta.

2011 Nissan Quest Photos Surface Ahead of November Debut

Following the launch of several of its Japanese competitors' minivans, Nissan has released images of its completely redone 2011 Quest minivan in advance of its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Though the images make it tough to get the smaller details, what we can see is a vehicle that apes the squared-off Nissan Forum concept car of 2008. The exterior is a marked departure from the rounded body of the last Quest, with a high beltline and what appears to be a pretty long wheelbase. Inside, Nissan moved the gauge cluster back where it belongs -- leaving behind memories of the center-mounted controls of the last-gen Quest -- and added Nissan/Infiniti's familiar infotainment system.

We're still waiting on information regarding powertrain options, but we know Nissan has a plentiful supply of engines to compete against the new 2011 Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey.

Though our first glimpse of the Quest came at the New York Auto Show last spring, we haven't received much in the way of updates until now. The Quest bowed out of the market for 2010, for a variety of reasons, but we're interested to see how it will play against the new Sienna and Odyssey.-trucktrend.