Strict implementation ensures success

The success of the twin measures to improve the traffic flow along EDSA would depend largely on how strict the enforcers will implement the underlying rules and regulations that govern the traffic experiment.

In theory the combined "exclusive bus lane" and the new "bus dispatching system" looks very viable, however if private vehicles would still invade the exclusive bus lanes, if buses would still wantonly overtake each other and in the process invade the private cars lanes and if the 30-second load and unload rule would not be followed, then this experiment is doomed from the start.

GM Unleashes Three Remarkable Models

In an encouraging display of unflinching confidence in the country’s economic health despite recent disrupting events, General Motors, the world’s biggest automaker through its domestic subsidiary, General Motors Automobiles Philippines (GMPh), launched last Wednesday, August 13 an array of new Chevrolet models set to make their own marks in the local automotive market’s passenger car sector.

"The introduction of three passenger cars puts Chevrolet in the lead and communicates that we are offering more style and more features then competitive vehicles in its class," said Mr. James Lim, the very friendly and soft-spoken president and general manager of GMPh.

The event, which had in attendance no less than GM’s executive director for Asean operations, Mr. William S. Botwick, together with the motoring media and GM dealers and friends was held at the Glorietta Activity Center, now turning out to be a favorite launching venue for new vehicle models in the market considering its built-in exposure to mallers.

While busily going around making sure all the motoring journalists and other guests present were well taken care of, GMPh’s recently promoted sales and marketing director Mr. Nicky Mariano confidently said, "We have a steady and strong following of the Chevrolet vehicles among our customers, as confirmed by the number of pleased Venture, Tahoe and Suburban owners and we feel this is the right time to introduce these new vehicles to address the ever dynamic needs of the market."

Among the newly launched car models was the Chevrolet Aveo, which is presented as nimble but powerful with a 1.5 liter SOHC engine that accelerates to a maximum of 170 km/hr and takes only 11.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/hr. The Aveo, a 5-door hatchback, is supposed to have a lot of storage and cargo options with a rear seat that folds and flips forward thus creating a spacious cargo area. It comes in manual transmission that’s priced at P575,000.00 while the automatic is at P615,000.00.

Also unveiled was the new Chevrolet Zafira, one of the most sought-after family wagons, which has been refurbished with new features that are supposed to combine van-like interior space and extreme versatility with compact car agility. The Zafira’s 1.8 liter, 16 valve, 125 horsepower engine takes it from a standstill to 100km/hr in only 14.0 seconds with a top speed of 175 km/hr. For safety, the Chevrolet Zafira, which comes only with automatic transmission, has GM’s patented Pedal Release System that detaches pedals in the case of collisions together with twin full-size airbags and ABS. It has an introductory price of P1,090,000.00.

And on center stage is the Chevrolet Optra, a 1.6 liter sedan, which has a manual variant that boasts of a fuel consumption that gives 14.08 km per liter and only takes 12.4 seconds from standstill to 100 km/hr while the automatic can make you travel 12.34 km on a liter of gasoline and can reach from 0 to 100 km/hr. in 14.3 seconds. For safety the Optra comes with the Bosch 4-sensor, 4-channel ABS system with EBD (Electronic Break-Force Distribution) and for optimum breaking force, the vehicle is equipped with 9-inch tandem boosters enabling superior heat dissipation. In one of the tests made, the Optra can come to a complete stop within 42 meters from a speed of 100 km/hr. Introductory prices are P675,000.00 for the manual and P715,000.00 for the automatic.

You’ll have to go to your nearest AutoWorld showroom for an up close look at these new market offerings.

Congratulations to General Motors Automobile Philippines!

From Honda — The Most Amazing Human Creation

The Philippine media was invited to the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Inter-Continental to meet the first walking humanoid robot dubbed ASIMO or Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, Honda’s latest and most significant advancement in the pursuit of creative mobility.

After 14 years of painstaking research and development, seven experimental models and three prototype models, ASIMO was born, representing the revolutionary feat in the field of robotics only Honda was able to achieve.

ASIMO is designed as a people-friendly robot that can walk forward and backward, turn while walking, and climb and descend stairs, change the pace of his stride without stopping, all while maintaining a remarkable sense of grace and balance. ASIMO can walk at a speed equivalent to human’s leisurely pace of 1.6 kilometers per hour (1 mile/hr).

ASIMO also has two arms and hands enabling him to perform tasks such as switching lights on and off, move objects, open and close doors and the like.

ASIMO’s graceful stride is a result of a new walking technology, Intelligent Real-Time Flexible Walking or i-WALK, considered a huge leap forward in the development of humanoids robots. When a human walks straight ahead and suddenly turns, before the turn they shift their center of gravity. i-WALK features a predicted movement control that allows ASIMO to predict his next movement in real time and shift center of gravity in anticipation.

ASIMO may have a variety of uses in people’s daily lives, such as bringing medicine to a sick person or carrying objects up a flight of stairs. Currently, ASIMO functions as a tour guide in museums and as a greeter in high tech companies in Japan. However, in the future, ASIMO may act as friendly helper at home, providing assistance to those who lack full mobility. ASIMO might also perform tasks that are dangerous for humans, like fighting fires or handling toxic wastes, immensely improving life in a human society.

Together with some top-notched motoring journalists we made a short TV feature of ASIMO displaying his high-tech antics together with a short informal Q&A with one of the humanoid’s handlers from Honda to get some insights into its creation. We shall be showing them in some up and coming episodes of the TV shows Motoring Today and Auto Focus.

Pit Lane Notes

Though three weeks without Formula 1 Grand Prix are extremely hard to sit through if you’re a true-blue racing fan like myself, the F1 grapevine is so exciting that it can sometimes stand for itself.

For the BMW-Williams fans that have eagerly been awaiting the results of Ralf Schumacher’s appeal for the incident that occurred in Germany a couple of weeks ago, well, your chap has made racing history because yesterday was the first time that FIA International Court of Appeals proceedings has been televised. A press release regarding the FIA’s decision will be discharged today.

Rumor has it that Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya has already signed a secret contract with McLaren for a seat in the 2005 season. Although Montoya has been very vocal about the fact that he has been talking to various teams about possibly signing with them the year his contract expires, he has never confirmed reports about signing with any particular team. David Coulthard already said that he is very confident about the fact that he WILL, without a doubt, still be a McLaren driver by 2004. But with the recent developments, I guess 2005 is still questionable for the Scott. Kimi Raikkonen already said that he doesn’t care who his teammate will be because regardless of whom the other McLaren driver will be, he’ll still drive with the same passion and intensity that has endeared him to countless racing enthusiasts.

Male F1 fanatics who are starting to get tired of seeing testosterone-powered drivers on the grid could possibly be in for a real treat within the next couple of years. Niki Lauda, formerly of Jaguar, is very excited about a very skilled, young Swiss female driver named Natacha Gachnang and has vowed to personally take care of her career. The 16-year old has been described as one who could sometimes be too aggressive. In a sport that is no doubt dominated by men, fresh faces like Natacha’s could certainly add to the already growing number of fans. A dash of estrogen certainly couldn’t hurt Formula 1 racing.

Happy Motoring!!!

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