Thursday, July 22, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Court sent letter to NatAss to impound Mu Sochua’s salary in exchange for her jail time
Phnom Penh – A reliable source form the Phnom Penh municipal court indicated the court sent a letter to the National Assembly (NatAss) to impound SRP MP Mu Sochua’s salary, who lost her lawsuit case to Hun Xen, in lieu of jail time.
Nevertheless, CPP MP Cheam Yeap, the chairman of the economic and finance of the NatAss committee, declared that, up to now, he did not see any letter from the court yet.
Mrs. Mu Sochua told DAP news on Friday afternoon that she did not receive this information yet, but according to SRP officials, Mrs. Mu Sochua will receive this resolution to her case.
Mrs. Mu Sochua declined to comment at this time, explaining that she will wait until she receives this letter first.
Audi A8 L (2011)
The new Audi A8 is a concentrated high-tech package that confirms the Audi claim to technical leadership - "Vorsprung durch Technik". And now the brand is introducing the top version of its flagship model. The Audi A8 L W12 quattro, with a long wheelbase and a twelve-cylinder engine, sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. The Audi A8 L is being launched with a twelve-cylinder engine, but by the end of the year will be available with all the engines currently offered for the A8.
What's fascinating about the Audi A8 L is its supremely powerful presence; its design is clearly derived from the brand's genes and yet has undergone further refinement. The long wheelbase does not disturb its taut outlines, which remain as athletic as they are elegant.
With an overall length of 5,267 millimeters (17.28 ft), the new Audi A8 L is 130 mm (0.43 ft) longer than the regular version. The wheelbase has grown by the same amount, to 3,122 mm (10.24 ft). The width remains unchanged at 1,949 mm (6.39 ft); the height has increased by 2 mm (0.08 in) to 1,462 mm (4.8 ft). Audi's new top model is both longer and wider than its main long-wheelbase competitors.
The Audi A8 L has a body built from aluminum using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle and therefore weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel body. The ASF body structure is built up from cast elements, extruded sections and sheet aluminum, with integral B-posts made from form-hardened ultra-high strength steel. This body's tremendous rigidity is the key to the car's precise handling, low interior noise levels and high passive safety for the occupants in the event of an accident.
Among the high-end technologies featured on the A8 model line are the optional LED headlight units (standard on the Audi A8 L W12 quattro) with all lighting functions performed by LEDs. With this bright, high-efficiency light, Audi opens a new chapter in the history of automobile lighting technology.
Subtle visual details distinguish the Audi A8 L W12 quattro from the other cars in this model line. The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high-gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars. There are also chromed inserts of new design in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors. W12 badges are displayed on the single-frame grille and at the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper.
Abundant space: Rear-seat area
The full extra length of this sedan benefits rear-seat passengers. The back doors are longer, for even more convenient entry, and the space available inside can only be described as opulent. Rear passenger comfort can be enhanced even more if two separate power-adjustable seats are ordered. These can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. There is also a fully adjustable lumbar support. The front passenger's seat can also be moved from the rear if extra space is needed.
Between the individual rear seats that are standard equipment in the Audi A8 L W12 quattro a full-length console can be ordered as an optional extra; it extends back from the center tunnel to the rear shelf, and can be specified with integral items such as a folding table or a refrigerator. Separate controls for the rear air conditioning are also standard. The luxury four-zone automatic air conditioning is controlled by no fewer than 25 adjusting motors.
Another high-end feature of the long-wheelbase Audi A8 is the reclining seat behind the front passenger's seat. The angle of the seat cushion can also be adjusted. The occupant can be massaged by ten air-filled compartments; four programs can be selected at a remote control. The feet rest on a power-adjustable support at the base of the front passenger seat back. Heating, ventilation and the luxury head restraint are integral features of the reclining seat. A folding table, additional wood and leather trim, a refrigerator and a Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens are among the features that promote relaxed travel or alternatively concentrated work in this mobile lounge.
Fine materials: Interior design
The quality of workmanship in the Audi A8 L is simply first-class - from the restrained ambient lighting through the accurately fitted switches with their precise click action. Fascinating aspects of the car's interior are the slim, clear outlines and the stylish materials with their modern look.
Audi design selection brass beige carefully combines well-matched colors with individual materials and comfort-oriented equipment items. The roof-mounted grab handles and rear console have additional fine wood trim.
Valonea leather is tanned exclusively with plant extracts and is especially soft and able to "breathe" actively. Audi also supplies a loose cushion for rear-seat passengers' use. Like the head restraints and the selector lever for the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, it is trimmed with buckskin that is exceptionally soft and supple but also hard-wearing.
Another optional extra, the panoramic glass roof, has two glass panels that allow plenty of light to reach the car's interior. Both sections can be tilted up and the front one also opened extra-wide. Sun blinds are provided for both panels to keep out direct sunlight.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro: Splendor and efficiency
Twelve cylinders are the ultimate engine configuration, a tradition that still applies in the large luxury car class. The first-generation A8 was available with an engine of this type from 2001 on, and a developed version could be obtained from 2004 on in the following model. Audi's engineers have now thoroughly revised the W12. Its displacement has been increased, and gasoline direct injection boosts its output and its efficiency.
The 6.3 FSI engine has an output of 368 kW (500 hp) and delivers its peak torque of 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) at engine speeds at 3,250 rpm. It gives the long-wheelbase Audi A8 the kind of performance normally expected of a sports car: it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in only 4.9 seconds and effortlessly reaches its governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph).
A fascinating flow of power is available in every situation, but the fuel consumption too sets new standards: the EU cycle test result is only 12.0 liters per 100 kilometers (19.6 US mpg), a figure well below that of competitors' cars with V12 engines. The previous 6.0-liter engine, which had a power output of 331 kW (450 hp), recorded a fuel consumption of 13.6 l/100 km (17.3 US mpg) - the difference of 1.6 l/100 km is equivalent to a 12 percent improvement.
The engine is known as the W12 because of its unusual layout: it has four rows of three cylinders with a 15-degree included angle between the two offset rows of cylinders in each broad cylinder block. The V angle between the two blocks is 72 degrees. This layout makes the W12 engine exceptionally compact: only just over 50 centimeters (19.69 in) long and therefore distinctly shorter than a V8. Height and width are both in the region of 70 centimeters (27.56 in).
The W12, in its latest form with a displacement of 6,299 cc, is an undersquare design. Its bore and stroke are 86.0 and 90.4 millimeters (3.39 x 3.56 in) respectively. Compared with the previous version the engineers have enlarged the cylinder bore. The forged crankshaft has a 12-degree angle of crankpin offset, so that the mixture in the 12 cylinders is ignited at the ideal interval of 60 degrees. The engine therefore runs exceptionally smoothly, and the car's occupants are unlikely to sense any of this supreme power at work unless it is at high engine speeds and severe loads.
The W12 engine weighs only 247 kilograms (545 lb), an impressive value to which the crankcase makes a major contribution. This is a lightweight, high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy casting with a gray cast iron lower cross-member into which the bearing pedestals are embedded. The pistons are forged from a high-strength light alloy and have angled crowns because of their V position in the cylinder blocks.
Each of the W12 engine's aluminum cylinder heads contains two camshafts; these can be repositioned hydraulically by an amount equivalent to 52 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Altogether, the four camshafts operate 48 valves by way of low-friction roller cam followers, and are themselves driven by chains from an intermediate shaft.
For use in the long-wheelbase A8, Audi's engineers have converted the W12 engine to FSI gasoline direct injection. This involved considerable modifications to the cylinder heads. Fuel is injected into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 130 bar. A high 11.8:1 compression ratio boosts power output and efficiency. The inlet ports are specially shaped to impart swirl to the incoming airflow and make combustion more efficient.
The W12 engine's low fuel consumption compared with its competitors is to a large extent due to Audi's modular efficiency platform. These are used in the entire A8 model line. The crankshaft and timing chains have been intensively optimized to reduce friction, and a recuperation system recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the car is braked. The innovative thermal management system shuts down the coolant circuit for a time after the cold engine has been started. This warms up the engine oil more rapidly and shortens the operating period in which friction is still high.
Safe and sporty: Transmission
The transmission makes a major contribution to ensuring the high efficiency of the Audi A8 L. The eight-speed tiptronic shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high. Gear shifts are performed electronically ("shift by wire") from an elegant yacht-style selector lever or at steering wheel paddles.
The center differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, divides the torque flow from the engine in a sporty manner, with 60 percent to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front in regular driving conditions. But if the situation changes, up to 60 percent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 percent to the rear. An optional sport differential splits the torque input actively between the left and right rear wheels.
Maximum precision: Chassis
Thanks to its advanced chassis design, the long-wheelbase Audi A8 brings together the silky, refined smoothness of a true luxury car and the handling of a sport sedan. The wheel control arms are made of aluminum. The front suspension uses five locating arms at each wheel; the controlled-track wishbone rear suspension ensures a supremely comfortable ride. The servotronic power steering system has a direct operating ratio and operates at high efficiency.
The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard equipment and is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system. With this system the driver can choose between four different operating settings of the engine, the eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the servotronic power steering, the optional sport differential and the Audi pre sense basic safety system. An additional module is the dynamic steering system, which varies its gear ratio steplessly according to road speed.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design reserved for this model, and size 255/45 tires. As an optional extra 20-inch wheels can be chosen, and even 21-inch wheels can be obtained from quattro GmbH.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro, the new top model, naturally has a high-performance brake system, with ventilated disks at all four wheels. The front disks are 400 mm (15.75 in) in diameter, with 356 mm (14.02 in) disks at the rear. To dissipate heat and reduce weight, stainless steel pins connect the steel friction rings with the aluminum disk centers. The calipers have a matt black paint finish.
Dynamic intelligence: Communication and assistance systems
This large sedan features an exemplary control concept. Although there are so many functions available, they can be selected in an easily understood, ergonomically correct way. Two large monitor screens, one on the instrument panel and one on the center console, acts as control centers and display their information as high-resolution 3D graphics.
The A8 has a pioneering innovation on board: the optional MMI navigation plus, which operates with the aid of a high-capacity hard disk, has a touch-sensitive control panel known as MMI touch. The driver inputs his or her navigation destination or a telephone number simply by writing the letters or numerals on the pad with a finger. Acoustic feedback makes this possible without taking one's eyes of the road.
The high-end navigation system cooperates with the assistance and safety systems in an innovative way. It registers the topography of the road in advance and makes this data available to the control units for the automatic transmission, headlights and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function. Thanks to their advanced intelligence, these systems can identify complex scenarios and offer the driver support in good time.
The adaptive cruise control system operates at any speed up to 250 km/h (155.34 mph) and responds even more flexibly and smoothly than before.
The Audi side assist system, which helps the driver to change lanes, and Audi lane assist which detects any departure from the chosen lane, also have new and additional performance features.
The night view assistant uses a thermal imaging camera to identify persons on the road ahead of the car. If it considers the situation to be potentially dangerous, the image of the person on the road is shown in red and a warning signal is heard. The Audi pre sense safety system is also closely linked to the assistance systems. It is available in several stages: the full version brakes the car automatically in order to minimize the consequences of a nose-to-tail collision.
In the multimedia area, Audi can also supply many attractive modules. These include a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with an output rating of more than 1,400 Watts and 19 speakers, and the Rear Seat Entertainment system. This has an MMI control panel on the console between the rear seats and provides access to all the infotainment functions on board this large luxury sedan.
The new Online services in cooperation with Google use the car phone to capture news and current information on the weather or points of interest (POI) from the Internet. Later this year an UMTS module will be available: this fast data link can supply images and information from Google Earth to the monitor screen and combine them with the navigation route. The driver can use all these services with his or her cell-phone contract.
What's fascinating about the Audi A8 L is its supremely powerful presence; its design is clearly derived from the brand's genes and yet has undergone further refinement. The long wheelbase does not disturb its taut outlines, which remain as athletic as they are elegant.
With an overall length of 5,267 millimeters (17.28 ft), the new Audi A8 L is 130 mm (0.43 ft) longer than the regular version. The wheelbase has grown by the same amount, to 3,122 mm (10.24 ft). The width remains unchanged at 1,949 mm (6.39 ft); the height has increased by 2 mm (0.08 in) to 1,462 mm (4.8 ft). Audi's new top model is both longer and wider than its main long-wheelbase competitors.
The Audi A8 L has a body built from aluminum using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle and therefore weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel body. The ASF body structure is built up from cast elements, extruded sections and sheet aluminum, with integral B-posts made from form-hardened ultra-high strength steel. This body's tremendous rigidity is the key to the car's precise handling, low interior noise levels and high passive safety for the occupants in the event of an accident.
Among the high-end technologies featured on the A8 model line are the optional LED headlight units (standard on the Audi A8 L W12 quattro) with all lighting functions performed by LEDs. With this bright, high-efficiency light, Audi opens a new chapter in the history of automobile lighting technology.
Subtle visual details distinguish the Audi A8 L W12 quattro from the other cars in this model line. The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high-gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars. There are also chromed inserts of new design in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors. W12 badges are displayed on the single-frame grille and at the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper.
Abundant space: Rear-seat area
The full extra length of this sedan benefits rear-seat passengers. The back doors are longer, for even more convenient entry, and the space available inside can only be described as opulent. Rear passenger comfort can be enhanced even more if two separate power-adjustable seats are ordered. These can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. There is also a fully adjustable lumbar support. The front passenger's seat can also be moved from the rear if extra space is needed.
Between the individual rear seats that are standard equipment in the Audi A8 L W12 quattro a full-length console can be ordered as an optional extra; it extends back from the center tunnel to the rear shelf, and can be specified with integral items such as a folding table or a refrigerator. Separate controls for the rear air conditioning are also standard. The luxury four-zone automatic air conditioning is controlled by no fewer than 25 adjusting motors.
Another high-end feature of the long-wheelbase Audi A8 is the reclining seat behind the front passenger's seat. The angle of the seat cushion can also be adjusted. The occupant can be massaged by ten air-filled compartments; four programs can be selected at a remote control. The feet rest on a power-adjustable support at the base of the front passenger seat back. Heating, ventilation and the luxury head restraint are integral features of the reclining seat. A folding table, additional wood and leather trim, a refrigerator and a Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens are among the features that promote relaxed travel or alternatively concentrated work in this mobile lounge.
Fine materials: Interior design
The quality of workmanship in the Audi A8 L is simply first-class - from the restrained ambient lighting through the accurately fitted switches with their precise click action. Fascinating aspects of the car's interior are the slim, clear outlines and the stylish materials with their modern look.
Audi design selection brass beige carefully combines well-matched colors with individual materials and comfort-oriented equipment items. The roof-mounted grab handles and rear console have additional fine wood trim.
Valonea leather is tanned exclusively with plant extracts and is especially soft and able to "breathe" actively. Audi also supplies a loose cushion for rear-seat passengers' use. Like the head restraints and the selector lever for the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, it is trimmed with buckskin that is exceptionally soft and supple but also hard-wearing.
Another optional extra, the panoramic glass roof, has two glass panels that allow plenty of light to reach the car's interior. Both sections can be tilted up and the front one also opened extra-wide. Sun blinds are provided for both panels to keep out direct sunlight.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro: Splendor and efficiency
Twelve cylinders are the ultimate engine configuration, a tradition that still applies in the large luxury car class. The first-generation A8 was available with an engine of this type from 2001 on, and a developed version could be obtained from 2004 on in the following model. Audi's engineers have now thoroughly revised the W12. Its displacement has been increased, and gasoline direct injection boosts its output and its efficiency.
The 6.3 FSI engine has an output of 368 kW (500 hp) and delivers its peak torque of 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) at engine speeds at 3,250 rpm. It gives the long-wheelbase Audi A8 the kind of performance normally expected of a sports car: it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in only 4.9 seconds and effortlessly reaches its governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph).
A fascinating flow of power is available in every situation, but the fuel consumption too sets new standards: the EU cycle test result is only 12.0 liters per 100 kilometers (19.6 US mpg), a figure well below that of competitors' cars with V12 engines. The previous 6.0-liter engine, which had a power output of 331 kW (450 hp), recorded a fuel consumption of 13.6 l/100 km (17.3 US mpg) - the difference of 1.6 l/100 km is equivalent to a 12 percent improvement.
The engine is known as the W12 because of its unusual layout: it has four rows of three cylinders with a 15-degree included angle between the two offset rows of cylinders in each broad cylinder block. The V angle between the two blocks is 72 degrees. This layout makes the W12 engine exceptionally compact: only just over 50 centimeters (19.69 in) long and therefore distinctly shorter than a V8. Height and width are both in the region of 70 centimeters (27.56 in).
The W12, in its latest form with a displacement of 6,299 cc, is an undersquare design. Its bore and stroke are 86.0 and 90.4 millimeters (3.39 x 3.56 in) respectively. Compared with the previous version the engineers have enlarged the cylinder bore. The forged crankshaft has a 12-degree angle of crankpin offset, so that the mixture in the 12 cylinders is ignited at the ideal interval of 60 degrees. The engine therefore runs exceptionally smoothly, and the car's occupants are unlikely to sense any of this supreme power at work unless it is at high engine speeds and severe loads.
The W12 engine weighs only 247 kilograms (545 lb), an impressive value to which the crankcase makes a major contribution. This is a lightweight, high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy casting with a gray cast iron lower cross-member into which the bearing pedestals are embedded. The pistons are forged from a high-strength light alloy and have angled crowns because of their V position in the cylinder blocks.
Each of the W12 engine's aluminum cylinder heads contains two camshafts; these can be repositioned hydraulically by an amount equivalent to 52 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Altogether, the four camshafts operate 48 valves by way of low-friction roller cam followers, and are themselves driven by chains from an intermediate shaft.
For use in the long-wheelbase A8, Audi's engineers have converted the W12 engine to FSI gasoline direct injection. This involved considerable modifications to the cylinder heads. Fuel is injected into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 130 bar. A high 11.8:1 compression ratio boosts power output and efficiency. The inlet ports are specially shaped to impart swirl to the incoming airflow and make combustion more efficient.
The W12 engine's low fuel consumption compared with its competitors is to a large extent due to Audi's modular efficiency platform. These are used in the entire A8 model line. The crankshaft and timing chains have been intensively optimized to reduce friction, and a recuperation system recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the car is braked. The innovative thermal management system shuts down the coolant circuit for a time after the cold engine has been started. This warms up the engine oil more rapidly and shortens the operating period in which friction is still high.
Safe and sporty: Transmission
The transmission makes a major contribution to ensuring the high efficiency of the Audi A8 L. The eight-speed tiptronic shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high. Gear shifts are performed electronically ("shift by wire") from an elegant yacht-style selector lever or at steering wheel paddles.
The center differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, divides the torque flow from the engine in a sporty manner, with 60 percent to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front in regular driving conditions. But if the situation changes, up to 60 percent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 percent to the rear. An optional sport differential splits the torque input actively between the left and right rear wheels.
Maximum precision: Chassis
Thanks to its advanced chassis design, the long-wheelbase Audi A8 brings together the silky, refined smoothness of a true luxury car and the handling of a sport sedan. The wheel control arms are made of aluminum. The front suspension uses five locating arms at each wheel; the controlled-track wishbone rear suspension ensures a supremely comfortable ride. The servotronic power steering system has a direct operating ratio and operates at high efficiency.
The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard equipment and is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system. With this system the driver can choose between four different operating settings of the engine, the eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the servotronic power steering, the optional sport differential and the Audi pre sense basic safety system. An additional module is the dynamic steering system, which varies its gear ratio steplessly according to road speed.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design reserved for this model, and size 255/45 tires. As an optional extra 20-inch wheels can be chosen, and even 21-inch wheels can be obtained from quattro GmbH.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro, the new top model, naturally has a high-performance brake system, with ventilated disks at all four wheels. The front disks are 400 mm (15.75 in) in diameter, with 356 mm (14.02 in) disks at the rear. To dissipate heat and reduce weight, stainless steel pins connect the steel friction rings with the aluminum disk centers. The calipers have a matt black paint finish.
Dynamic intelligence: Communication and assistance systems
This large sedan features an exemplary control concept. Although there are so many functions available, they can be selected in an easily understood, ergonomically correct way. Two large monitor screens, one on the instrument panel and one on the center console, acts as control centers and display their information as high-resolution 3D graphics.
The A8 has a pioneering innovation on board: the optional MMI navigation plus, which operates with the aid of a high-capacity hard disk, has a touch-sensitive control panel known as MMI touch. The driver inputs his or her navigation destination or a telephone number simply by writing the letters or numerals on the pad with a finger. Acoustic feedback makes this possible without taking one's eyes of the road.
The high-end navigation system cooperates with the assistance and safety systems in an innovative way. It registers the topography of the road in advance and makes this data available to the control units for the automatic transmission, headlights and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function. Thanks to their advanced intelligence, these systems can identify complex scenarios and offer the driver support in good time.
The adaptive cruise control system operates at any speed up to 250 km/h (155.34 mph) and responds even more flexibly and smoothly than before.
The Audi side assist system, which helps the driver to change lanes, and Audi lane assist which detects any departure from the chosen lane, also have new and additional performance features.
The night view assistant uses a thermal imaging camera to identify persons on the road ahead of the car. If it considers the situation to be potentially dangerous, the image of the person on the road is shown in red and a warning signal is heard. The Audi pre sense safety system is also closely linked to the assistance systems. It is available in several stages: the full version brakes the car automatically in order to minimize the consequences of a nose-to-tail collision.
In the multimedia area, Audi can also supply many attractive modules. These include a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with an output rating of more than 1,400 Watts and 19 speakers, and the Rear Seat Entertainment system. This has an MMI control panel on the console between the rear seats and provides access to all the infotainment functions on board this large luxury sedan.
The new Online services in cooperation with Google use the car phone to capture news and current information on the weather or points of interest (POI) from the Internet. Later this year an UMTS module will be available: this fast data link can supply images and information from Google Earth to the monitor screen and combine them with the navigation route. The driver can use all these services with his or her cell-phone contract.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Cambodia hosts large-scale peacekeeping drill
Indonesian soldiers parade during the multi-national exercise Angkor sentinel 2010 at Kampong Speu province, some 60 kilometers west of Phnom Penh on July 17, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) and United Nations resident coordinator Douglas Broderick (L) look a photo exhibition during the multi-national exercise Angkor sentinel 2010 at Kampong Speu province, some 60 kilometers west of Phnom Penh on July 17, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) looks at demining equipments during the multi-national exercise Angkor sentinel 2010 at Kampong Speu province, some 60 kilometers west of Phnom Penh on July 17, 2010. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
KAMPONG SPEU, Saturday 17 July 2010 (AFP) - Cambodia opened its first ever large-scale international peacekeeping training exercise with a ceremony Saturday at a military base south of the capital.
Over 700 military personnel from 23 countries will participate in two weeks of field training during the "Angkor Sentinel" exercise, focusing on developing nations' contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.
"From a country that used to receive blue hat soldiers to help keep peace, Cambodia has become a country that sends blue hat soldiers to help keep peace in other nations," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said, referring to UN troop uniforms.
Cambodia was the focus of a UN peacekeeping mission in the early 1990s to help end decades of civil war, but has recently deployed troops to work as UN peacekeepers in Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic.
But the exercise, co-sponsored by the US Army, has been criticised by New York-based Human Rights Watch for using the grounds of the Cambodian military's ACO Tank Unit, which has been accused of being involved in illegal landgrabs.
"For the Pentagon and State Department to permit abusive Cambodian military units to host a high-profile regional peacekeeping exercise is outrageous," said Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, in a statement.
"The US undermines its protests against the Cambodian government for rampant rights abuses like forced evictions when it showers international attention and funds on military units involved in grabbing land and other human rights violations," he added.
The "Angkor Sentinel" is part of the 2010 Global Peace Operations Initiative, a US effort to help train peacekeepers around the world.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
CAMBODIA: Sand dredging prompts fishermen’s protests
Fishermen report a drop in the number of fish in the area
(Photo: Brendan Brady/IRIN)
Dredgers remove 25,000 metric tonnes of Cambodian sand each day
(Photo: Brendan Brady/IRIN)
KOH KONG, 15 July 2010 (IRIN) - Fish are the primary source of income for residents of this sleepy, rustic border town in southwestern Cambodia, but when the area’s sand dredging vessels prowl the waters to plough up the riverbed, the fish all but disappear.
“When they were dredging a lot, we stopped bothering to even go out since it was not possible to catch anything,” Dol Sareem, a 60-year-old fisherman, told IRIN. “In those months, we caught half as much fish.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen banned sand exports in May 2009, yet sand mining continues in Koh Kong Province - the epicentre of the country’s corrupt dredging industry - enriching local elites and leaving fishermen to suffer, said international watchdog Global Witness.
There has been a lull in the sand operations since April, but local fishermen including Dol Sareem, who lives in Koh Kong’s main fishing community of dilapidated wooden homes with corrugated tin roofs, became so distressed by the impact of sand dredging that they joined several hundred people to protest in front of the provincial government office last December.
“It has improved since they have not been dredging these last few months but it’s still not like before,” he said.
Fishermen operating along the nearby River Kampot were less restrained in expressing their frustration. In February, they destroyed dredging equipment which they believed was responsible for the collapse of a riverbank.
Law not enforced
Dredging extracts sand below the sea floor, disturbing marine life and, more significantly, the spawning grounds that replenish it.
Dredgers remove 25,000 tons of sand each day from the Cambodian seas to export primarily to Singapore, where it is used for land reclamation, according to a Global Witness report in May.
The group valued a year’s worth of Cambodian sand at US$250 million on the Singapore market.
The report, entitled Shifting Sands, said the industry lacks transparency and government regulation, and could severely damage marine ecosytems essential to the livelihoods of many fishing communities.
“Companies operating in the sand sector as well as Cambodia’s regulatory agencies are ignoring environmental and social safeguards, and international industry best practices,” the report said.
The Cambodian government rejects the report’s findings. Cambodia’s embassy in London released a statement calling Global Witness an “international troublemaker” and describing its report as “malicious and misleading”.
The response by government officials closer to the ground, however, has been contradictory.
Pech Siyon, Koh Kong’s director of the Department of Industry, Energy and Mines, told local media he expected the main dredging company, LYP - named after Ly Yong Phat, the senator with the ruling party who is identified by Global Witness as the leading figure in the industry - would resume export operations in the near future.
Cambodia targeted
Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have placed restrictions on sand exports because of the environmental destruction it causes.
As a result, Global Witness says, Singapore has turned to Cambodia, where laws are lax.
According to Chourn Bunnara, who is based on the Cambodian coast with the NGO Fisheries Action Coalition Team, fishing communities have been largely powerless to raise concerns with the government about dredging vessels violating the ban.
Cambodia drafts law to combat acid attack scourge
Phnom Penh - Throwing acid is a cruelly effective way of dealing with rivals in love and even business in Cambodia. To date, it is a crime that has often gone unpunished.
That is set to change with the expected passage this year of a law to tackle the issue. But no matter how soon it arrives, it would come too late for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people.
Among them is 34-year-old Sarun, a former security guard at a Phnom Penh hotel who this year was doused with acid, leaving terrible scars on his face, neck and right arm.
Since then, he has been living at the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity, the country's only facility for acid victims, where along with a dozen other patients, he gets free medical treatment.
Ziad Samman, the charity's coordinator, said acid is widely used in Cambodia on rubber plantations as well as in small industries and even at home.
Acid is also cheap and easily available. And anecdotal evidence showed that many people do not regard throwing acid as a crime.
"And that's why changing perceptions is also very important, and that will take time," Samman said.
Sieng Lapresse is an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Interior and is the person tasked with drafting the law to combat acid attacks.
Leafing through an Acid Survivors Charity report containing graphic images of injuries to men, women and even children, his disgust at the crime was clear.
"We cannot allow this kind of weapon to go around and keep destroying the lives of our people and especially society itself," he said.
Sieng Lapresse explained the law's wide remit, a key aspect of which is ensuring that those who sell acid are licensed and sell responsibly. Another is legislating stiff penalties for those who use acid to settle disputes.
"We are looking for at least 10 years - maybe [using] a couple of drops and it scratches a little bit - to life in prison," Sieng Lapresse said.
He said he believes the punishments in the legislation ought to have a deterrent effect and said the government is insistent that people stop throwing acid.
"[We are] dead serious," he said. "This cannot go on. We will not allow this horrible weapon to kill our society and our own people."
It is a sentiment clearly shared by those at the charity's compound outside Phnom Penh. Speaking on the veranda, his face and right arm terribly scarred, Sarun said the law could not come soon enough.
"The new law is very significant for Cambodian society because it targets those people who want to throw acid," said Sarun, who did not want his full name used and was reluctant to discuss the motive behind his attack.
"I really want the government to enforce this law strongly against people who throw acid because it causes so much suffering," he said.
The suffering of individual survivors like Sarun is immense, butthe true number of victims is unknown. The charity has recorded 16 victims of acid attacks this year but said it believes the true figure is far higher.
Ziad Samman said Sarun's case highlights a common misconception that most acid attack victims are women. In fact, around half of the 260 survivors the charity has dealt with over the years are men.
Another misconception is that acid attacks are the result of jealousies and affairs.
Samman said half are the result of disputes and a further quarter are simply accidents. Proper labelling of acid containers could easily cut the number of injured.
One aspect the law is unlikely to change is impunity enjoyed by the powerful. But it should raise awareness that throwing acid is an unacceptable way to deal with disputes even if it will have come too late for the men, women and children at the charity, or CASC.
Asked what his future holds, Sarun said it was too early to say. Right now, he needs more operations on top of the three he has already had.
"But if I get well, I would like CASC to find me a job," he said. "Until that happens, I don't think about it. I have to wait until I get better."
That is set to change with the expected passage this year of a law to tackle the issue. But no matter how soon it arrives, it would come too late for hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people.
Among them is 34-year-old Sarun, a former security guard at a Phnom Penh hotel who this year was doused with acid, leaving terrible scars on his face, neck and right arm.
Since then, he has been living at the Cambodian Acid Survivors Charity, the country's only facility for acid victims, where along with a dozen other patients, he gets free medical treatment.
Ziad Samman, the charity's coordinator, said acid is widely used in Cambodia on rubber plantations as well as in small industries and even at home.
Acid is also cheap and easily available. And anecdotal evidence showed that many people do not regard throwing acid as a crime.
"And that's why changing perceptions is also very important, and that will take time," Samman said.
Sieng Lapresse is an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Interior and is the person tasked with drafting the law to combat acid attacks.
Leafing through an Acid Survivors Charity report containing graphic images of injuries to men, women and even children, his disgust at the crime was clear.
"We cannot allow this kind of weapon to go around and keep destroying the lives of our people and especially society itself," he said.
Sieng Lapresse explained the law's wide remit, a key aspect of which is ensuring that those who sell acid are licensed and sell responsibly. Another is legislating stiff penalties for those who use acid to settle disputes.
"We are looking for at least 10 years - maybe [using] a couple of drops and it scratches a little bit - to life in prison," Sieng Lapresse said.
He said he believes the punishments in the legislation ought to have a deterrent effect and said the government is insistent that people stop throwing acid.
"[We are] dead serious," he said. "This cannot go on. We will not allow this horrible weapon to kill our society and our own people."
It is a sentiment clearly shared by those at the charity's compound outside Phnom Penh. Speaking on the veranda, his face and right arm terribly scarred, Sarun said the law could not come soon enough.
"The new law is very significant for Cambodian society because it targets those people who want to throw acid," said Sarun, who did not want his full name used and was reluctant to discuss the motive behind his attack.
"I really want the government to enforce this law strongly against people who throw acid because it causes so much suffering," he said.
The suffering of individual survivors like Sarun is immense, butthe true number of victims is unknown. The charity has recorded 16 victims of acid attacks this year but said it believes the true figure is far higher.
Ziad Samman said Sarun's case highlights a common misconception that most acid attack victims are women. In fact, around half of the 260 survivors the charity has dealt with over the years are men.
Another misconception is that acid attacks are the result of jealousies and affairs.
Samman said half are the result of disputes and a further quarter are simply accidents. Proper labelling of acid containers could easily cut the number of injured.
One aspect the law is unlikely to change is impunity enjoyed by the powerful. But it should raise awareness that throwing acid is an unacceptable way to deal with disputes even if it will have come too late for the men, women and children at the charity, or CASC.
Asked what his future holds, Sarun said it was too early to say. Right now, he needs more operations on top of the three he has already had.
"But if I get well, I would like CASC to find me a job," he said. "Until that happens, I don't think about it. I have to wait until I get better."
Mu Sochua still refuses to pay compensation to Hun Xen
Phnom Penh – On Thursday morning, Kampot SRP MP Mu Sochua declared that she is maintaining her stance of not paying compensation to Hun Xen.
Mrs. Mu Sochua said during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Phnom Penh that she would rather go to jail than paying 8 million riels in compensation to Hun Xen and 8.5 million riels in fine to the state treasury.
She claimed that the reason she refused to pay anything is because Cambodia’s judicial system is unfair and biased toward Hun Xen.
Sok Roeun, the deputy prosecutor of the Phnom Penh municipal court, said that the ultimatum for Mrs. Mu Sochua to pay her fine and compensation will end on 16 July 2010.
He added that the court will take legal measures if Mrs. Mu Sochua still opposes the payment as ordered by the court.
Nevertheless, Sok Roeun did not yet show what these measures would be, and he said that by tomorrow, everybody will know what the measures will be.
The dispute between Hun Xen and Mrs. Mu Sochua took place in 2009 when Mrs. Mu Sochua sued Hun Xen of defaming her. On 02 July 2010, the Supreme Court decided that Mrs. Mu Sochua lost her case to Hun Xen.
In the past, both the Phnom Penh municipal court and the Appeal court have decided that Mrs. Mu Sochua lost her case to Hun Xen as well. The court ordered her to pay 16 million riels: 8 million in compensation to Hun Xen and 8 million in fine to the state treasury.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
BMW X3 (2011)
In 2004 BMW X3 introduced a new concept to the market: the small, premium Sports Activity Vehicle with all-road capability and unparalleled driving dynamics. This first generation BMW X3 became a best seller in the BMW line…both in the United States and in Europe. Through its lifecycle, over 600,000 original X3s have been sold worldwide with 150,000 sold in the USA. Subsequently, several competitors have entered the now hotly-contested segment.
The new second generation BMW X3 builds on the success of the original by developing its core competencies while adding new technology to establish new benchmarks for agility, efficiency and comfort. The new BMW X3 will be produced in an expansion of the BMW Spartanburg, South Carolina plant and is expected to arrive in US BMW Centers by the end of 2010.
Design: Exterior
The design of the new BMW X3 conveys elegance, agility and ruggedness. Up front, the forward-slanting BMW kidney grille and large headlight assembly combine with a powerful-looking front apron and hood boasting six contour lines sweeping down to meet at the kidney grill, giving the BMW X3 a bold presence. The twin round headlights combined with the round fog lamps form the triangular light pattern that is characteristic of BMW SAV design. The upper edge of the headlight assembly sports an accentuating chrome trim, creating the focused design typical of BMW vehicles. BMW's signature "Corona Rings" are again illuminated to function as the daytime running lights. When equipped with the optional Xenon headlights, the Corona Rings and daytime running lights are illuminated by bright white LEDs.
The profile of the new BMW X3 is also characterized by a unique interpretation of typical BMW X design features. Powerfully flared wheel arches and the short front and rear overhangs emphasize the robust character of a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle. The dynamic appearance of the silhouette is accentuated by three characteristic lines. The new BMW X3's brand-typical upper contour line at door handle level rises steeply at first within the front wheel arch area, then flows gently to the rear. Two additional subtle lines follow this contour line above the wheel arches.
The rear is characterized by horizontal lines, underlining the new BMW X3's robust character. Precise lines and expressively modeled surfaces create attractive light and shadow effects. The taillights, which are located far to the outside, have a distinctive T-shape that is characteristic of the BMW X3. LED light bars create a distinctive BMW night-time design signature.
Dimensionally, compared to its predecessor the new X3 is a half-inch (12mm) taller, 3.36-inches (83mm) longer, 1.1-inches (28mm) wider, and features a half-inch (12mm) more ground clearance. It rides on a wheelbase which is 0.6-inches (15mm) longer, at 110.6 inches (2810mm).
Interior: First-class ambience, intelligent functionality.
A generous and versatile spatial concept, high-grade materials and a characteristic three-dimensional surface design provide the interior of the new BMW X3 with a modern, premium ambience and intelligent functionality. The horizontal lines of the instrument panel accentuate the width of the interior. The driver orientated cockpit, a hallmark of BMW design, is emphasized by the asymmetrically designed center console. The Central Display of the optional navigation system with fourth generation BMW iDrive is harmoniously integrated into the instrument panel. The system features in 8.8-inch high-resolution trans-reflective screen that is the largest on-board monitor in its vehicle segment. Throughout the vehicle, new BMW X3 has a large number of storage compartments, trays and cup holders.
The raised seating position facilitates egress and ingress, while providing outstanding outward visibility. The three rear seats offer outstanding comfort for travelling long distances and significantly more leg and elbow room than its predecessor. With EU-measured cargo volume between 19 and 56.6 cu.ft. (550 and 1,600 liters), the luggage compartment of the new BMW X3 is the largest in its segment. At the same time, the versatility with which available space can be adapted to suit each personal requirement is also unrivalled. The rear seat backrests can be split at a ratio 60 : 40 and can be folded down either individually or together. The optional rear seats with ski pass-through has three segments of 40 : 20 : 40 can be folded down individually or in combination making it possible to adapt the luggage compartment in varying degrees according to need.
The BMW X3 xDrive28i: 6-cylinder power for the entry model.
For the US, the entry-level BMW X3 xDrive28i will feature BMW's award-winning magnesium/aluminum 3.0-liter inline-6. In 2006 and 2007, the "N52" was awarded the distinction of being one of Wards 10 Best Engines of the Year. Its magnesium/aluminum construction, Valvetronic variable valve lift and Double-VANOS are features found only on BMW engines, and it is currently the lightest six cylinder engine for its size class in the world. The N52 in the BMW X3 is rated at 240 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque between 2,600 and 3,000 rpm.
That's good enough to accelerate from 0 - 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. That's nearly a half-second quicker than the previous BMW X3 xDrive30i equipped with an automatic transmission.
The BMW X3 xDrive35i: Class leading performance and efficiency.
The new top model BMW X3 xDrive35i features BMW's newest turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 "N55" engine combining direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbo technology and Valvetronic. The N55 engine develops a maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200-5,000 rpm. Redline is 7,000 rpm.
This engine enables the BMW X3 xDrive35i to sprint from 0 to 60mph in just 5.5 seconds (preliminary). Top speed is electronically limited to 150mph when fitted with the optional Sport Package.
Both the BMW X3 xDrive28i and the X3 xDrive35i will offer not only the most dynamic driving characteristics in their categories, but also by far the most favorable fuel consumption and emission levels within their class. EPA fuel efficiency estimates will be provided closer to the on-sale date in the United States.
Playing a supporting role: The innovative new 8-speed automatic transmission.
Like many new BMW models, the new BMW X3 features an 8-speed automatic transmission which brings smooth shifting, sportiness and efficiency to new levels of perfection. Compared to the exemplary 6-speed automatic offered previously, the 8-speed has "taller" cruising gears that make a significant contribution to reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as quietness. Its wider spread of ratios from lowest to highest gear enhances acceleration and response across the range of driving speeds. The revolutionary design even allows for direct shifts from 8th gear to 2nd gear for maximum acceleration.
This new automatic's attributes have been achieved via an innovative concept that provides the two additional ratios (7 and 8) with no increase in bulk or weight. In a ground-breaking arrangement, four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs are controlled in a way that no more than two of the five clutch packs are freewheeling at any given time. The modest increase in the number of mechanical elements allows the new transmission to achieve unusually high efficiency. The so-called "gearing efficiency" is higher than 98% in all eight gears. . In 6th, gearing efficiency is at its optimum because that is a direct drive. Combine this with reduced friction and the ability to keep the torque converter "locked up" more of the total driving time, and the transmission becomes very much a part of the overall BMW EfficientDynamics concept.
Two additional gears mean threefold progress: quicker shifts, greater smoothness, enhanced efficiency.
The wider spread of ratios allows the engine to run at lower speeds, often in the "tallest" gear, 8th. Yet even with this wider spread, the steps between adjacent gears are reduced; in turn this means a stronger, smoother flow of power during acceleration.
Faster shifts are a further benefit because only one clutch pack is disengaged to shift up or down by one or two gears. On the other hand, downshifting more than two gears is accomplished as a direct shift. For example, a downshift from 8th to 2nd gear is made with only one clutch pack disengagement, and thus occurs without stepping down through the intermediate gears. So, at one instant the driver can be enjoying the quiet, fuel-efficient low rpm of 8th gear, and in the next instant getting maximum acceleration.
New suspension, xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, and made-to-measure dynamics.
The new BMW X3 features standard xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. Now in its third generation, BMW xDrive has been revised to incorporate even more flexibility, quicker response and improved handling characteristics. The new system marks a significant evolution in xDrive capabilities, which has always depended upon a networking of Dynamic Stability Control and the xDrive system. With the overall Integrated Chassis Management system, all three control circuits work in parallel. This refined interaction achieves even quicker reactions to changing driving conditions and enhances xDrive's already outstanding handling dynamics.
BMW xDrive is unique in design and construction. In normal conditions, driving torque is always transmitted to the rear wheels, and most of the time to all four wheels. Normal torque split is 40% front/60% rear. The portion of torque transmitted to the front wheels is controlled by a multi-disc clutch that can be fully open (100% to the rear), fully engaged or at any level of partial engagement in between. The torque split between rear and front wheels is thus steplessly variable. Engagement pressure on the multi-disc clutch is directed by an electronic control system in response to actual road and driving conditions. This gives xDrive a dynamic ability that is unparalleled by other all-wheel drive systems.
The new BMW X3 also features completely redeveloped suspension technology. The combination of a double-joint spring-strut suspension at the front and a multi-link rear suspension provides the foundation for agility and driving comfort. The standard Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering contributes to the BMW X3's precise handling.
The BMW X3's optional Electronic Damping Control adjusts the shock absorbers to any level of firmness, quickly adapting to road conditions and the driver's demands.. Suspension control is always optimum for current road conditions, vehicle speed, and load. The shocks default to the softest appropriate setting for the vehicle's speed, and when the vehicle encounters an irregular road surface, they adjust instantaneously to control ride motions, preserve ride comfort, and maintain adhesion to the road. The system is so fast that even at highway speeds the system can sense a pothole at a front wheel and adjust rear-wheel damping before it reaches the same pothole. The Electronic Damping Control option includes a new Performance Control feature on the BMW X3. Performance Control helps the X3 maintain a neutral handling character by adjusting the xDrive torque split to 20% front/80% rear in steady state cornering. Performance Control can also apply the inside rear brake while also applying a little more power to the outside wheel (to compensate for the additional drag of the brake) in order to help rotate the vehicle.
Adjacent to the E-Shift lever on the BMW X3's center console is the optional Driving Dynamics Control selector (included with EDC). DDC provides three settings that tailor vehicle characteristics to different drivers, one driver's different moods, driving conditions - or all of the above. The settings are Normal, Sport and Sport Plus; the following vehicle-dynamics parameters are affected:
* Shock-absorber firmness (within the Electronic Damping Control system)
* Engine throttle response
* Transmission shift characteristics
* Power-steering assist level
* Dynamic Stability Control mode
The BMW X3's driving dynamics can be widely controlled by these different calibrations of so many elements. In addition, when equipped with the Navigation system, the driver may use iDrive to custom-tailor the Sport setting.
Just ahead of the Driving Dynamics Control switch is the Dynamic Stability Control switch for BMW's all-encompassing stability- and traction-control system. A brief push on this button switches the system to Dynamic Traction Control, in which DSC's intervention threshold is raised; one effect of this setting is improved traction in deep snow. A long push on the same button de-activates DSC altogether, though the anti-lock braking and anti-rollover functions always remain active.
An extensive range of standard and optional BMW ConnectedDrive functions.
BMW ConnectedDrive comprises all offers and technologies which connect our vehicles, drivers and passengers, and the outside world. ConnectedDrive is comprised of three main pillars: Convenience, Infotainment, and Safety. Each of these three pillars operates and interacts seamlessly with iDrive and other onboard controls to create a unique and unmatched experience for both the driver and passengers.
The new second generation BMW X3 builds on the success of the original by developing its core competencies while adding new technology to establish new benchmarks for agility, efficiency and comfort. The new BMW X3 will be produced in an expansion of the BMW Spartanburg, South Carolina plant and is expected to arrive in US BMW Centers by the end of 2010.
Design: Exterior
The design of the new BMW X3 conveys elegance, agility and ruggedness. Up front, the forward-slanting BMW kidney grille and large headlight assembly combine with a powerful-looking front apron and hood boasting six contour lines sweeping down to meet at the kidney grill, giving the BMW X3 a bold presence. The twin round headlights combined with the round fog lamps form the triangular light pattern that is characteristic of BMW SAV design. The upper edge of the headlight assembly sports an accentuating chrome trim, creating the focused design typical of BMW vehicles. BMW's signature "Corona Rings" are again illuminated to function as the daytime running lights. When equipped with the optional Xenon headlights, the Corona Rings and daytime running lights are illuminated by bright white LEDs.
The profile of the new BMW X3 is also characterized by a unique interpretation of typical BMW X design features. Powerfully flared wheel arches and the short front and rear overhangs emphasize the robust character of a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle. The dynamic appearance of the silhouette is accentuated by three characteristic lines. The new BMW X3's brand-typical upper contour line at door handle level rises steeply at first within the front wheel arch area, then flows gently to the rear. Two additional subtle lines follow this contour line above the wheel arches.
The rear is characterized by horizontal lines, underlining the new BMW X3's robust character. Precise lines and expressively modeled surfaces create attractive light and shadow effects. The taillights, which are located far to the outside, have a distinctive T-shape that is characteristic of the BMW X3. LED light bars create a distinctive BMW night-time design signature.
Dimensionally, compared to its predecessor the new X3 is a half-inch (12mm) taller, 3.36-inches (83mm) longer, 1.1-inches (28mm) wider, and features a half-inch (12mm) more ground clearance. It rides on a wheelbase which is 0.6-inches (15mm) longer, at 110.6 inches (2810mm).
Interior: First-class ambience, intelligent functionality.
A generous and versatile spatial concept, high-grade materials and a characteristic three-dimensional surface design provide the interior of the new BMW X3 with a modern, premium ambience and intelligent functionality. The horizontal lines of the instrument panel accentuate the width of the interior. The driver orientated cockpit, a hallmark of BMW design, is emphasized by the asymmetrically designed center console. The Central Display of the optional navigation system with fourth generation BMW iDrive is harmoniously integrated into the instrument panel. The system features in 8.8-inch high-resolution trans-reflective screen that is the largest on-board monitor in its vehicle segment. Throughout the vehicle, new BMW X3 has a large number of storage compartments, trays and cup holders.
The raised seating position facilitates egress and ingress, while providing outstanding outward visibility. The three rear seats offer outstanding comfort for travelling long distances and significantly more leg and elbow room than its predecessor. With EU-measured cargo volume between 19 and 56.6 cu.ft. (550 and 1,600 liters), the luggage compartment of the new BMW X3 is the largest in its segment. At the same time, the versatility with which available space can be adapted to suit each personal requirement is also unrivalled. The rear seat backrests can be split at a ratio 60 : 40 and can be folded down either individually or together. The optional rear seats with ski pass-through has three segments of 40 : 20 : 40 can be folded down individually or in combination making it possible to adapt the luggage compartment in varying degrees according to need.
The BMW X3 xDrive28i: 6-cylinder power for the entry model.
For the US, the entry-level BMW X3 xDrive28i will feature BMW's award-winning magnesium/aluminum 3.0-liter inline-6. In 2006 and 2007, the "N52" was awarded the distinction of being one of Wards 10 Best Engines of the Year. Its magnesium/aluminum construction, Valvetronic variable valve lift and Double-VANOS are features found only on BMW engines, and it is currently the lightest six cylinder engine for its size class in the world. The N52 in the BMW X3 is rated at 240 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque between 2,600 and 3,000 rpm.
That's good enough to accelerate from 0 - 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. That's nearly a half-second quicker than the previous BMW X3 xDrive30i equipped with an automatic transmission.
The BMW X3 xDrive35i: Class leading performance and efficiency.
The new top model BMW X3 xDrive35i features BMW's newest turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 "N55" engine combining direct fuel injection, twin-scroll turbo technology and Valvetronic. The N55 engine develops a maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200-5,000 rpm. Redline is 7,000 rpm.
This engine enables the BMW X3 xDrive35i to sprint from 0 to 60mph in just 5.5 seconds (preliminary). Top speed is electronically limited to 150mph when fitted with the optional Sport Package.
Both the BMW X3 xDrive28i and the X3 xDrive35i will offer not only the most dynamic driving characteristics in their categories, but also by far the most favorable fuel consumption and emission levels within their class. EPA fuel efficiency estimates will be provided closer to the on-sale date in the United States.
Playing a supporting role: The innovative new 8-speed automatic transmission.
Like many new BMW models, the new BMW X3 features an 8-speed automatic transmission which brings smooth shifting, sportiness and efficiency to new levels of perfection. Compared to the exemplary 6-speed automatic offered previously, the 8-speed has "taller" cruising gears that make a significant contribution to reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as quietness. Its wider spread of ratios from lowest to highest gear enhances acceleration and response across the range of driving speeds. The revolutionary design even allows for direct shifts from 8th gear to 2nd gear for maximum acceleration.
This new automatic's attributes have been achieved via an innovative concept that provides the two additional ratios (7 and 8) with no increase in bulk or weight. In a ground-breaking arrangement, four planetary gearsets and five clutch packs are controlled in a way that no more than two of the five clutch packs are freewheeling at any given time. The modest increase in the number of mechanical elements allows the new transmission to achieve unusually high efficiency. The so-called "gearing efficiency" is higher than 98% in all eight gears. . In 6th, gearing efficiency is at its optimum because that is a direct drive. Combine this with reduced friction and the ability to keep the torque converter "locked up" more of the total driving time, and the transmission becomes very much a part of the overall BMW EfficientDynamics concept.
Two additional gears mean threefold progress: quicker shifts, greater smoothness, enhanced efficiency.
The wider spread of ratios allows the engine to run at lower speeds, often in the "tallest" gear, 8th. Yet even with this wider spread, the steps between adjacent gears are reduced; in turn this means a stronger, smoother flow of power during acceleration.
Faster shifts are a further benefit because only one clutch pack is disengaged to shift up or down by one or two gears. On the other hand, downshifting more than two gears is accomplished as a direct shift. For example, a downshift from 8th to 2nd gear is made with only one clutch pack disengagement, and thus occurs without stepping down through the intermediate gears. So, at one instant the driver can be enjoying the quiet, fuel-efficient low rpm of 8th gear, and in the next instant getting maximum acceleration.
New suspension, xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, and made-to-measure dynamics.
The new BMW X3 features standard xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. Now in its third generation, BMW xDrive has been revised to incorporate even more flexibility, quicker response and improved handling characteristics. The new system marks a significant evolution in xDrive capabilities, which has always depended upon a networking of Dynamic Stability Control and the xDrive system. With the overall Integrated Chassis Management system, all three control circuits work in parallel. This refined interaction achieves even quicker reactions to changing driving conditions and enhances xDrive's already outstanding handling dynamics.
BMW xDrive is unique in design and construction. In normal conditions, driving torque is always transmitted to the rear wheels, and most of the time to all four wheels. Normal torque split is 40% front/60% rear. The portion of torque transmitted to the front wheels is controlled by a multi-disc clutch that can be fully open (100% to the rear), fully engaged or at any level of partial engagement in between. The torque split between rear and front wheels is thus steplessly variable. Engagement pressure on the multi-disc clutch is directed by an electronic control system in response to actual road and driving conditions. This gives xDrive a dynamic ability that is unparalleled by other all-wheel drive systems.
The new BMW X3 also features completely redeveloped suspension technology. The combination of a double-joint spring-strut suspension at the front and a multi-link rear suspension provides the foundation for agility and driving comfort. The standard Servotronic speed-sensitive power steering contributes to the BMW X3's precise handling.
The BMW X3's optional Electronic Damping Control adjusts the shock absorbers to any level of firmness, quickly adapting to road conditions and the driver's demands.. Suspension control is always optimum for current road conditions, vehicle speed, and load. The shocks default to the softest appropriate setting for the vehicle's speed, and when the vehicle encounters an irregular road surface, they adjust instantaneously to control ride motions, preserve ride comfort, and maintain adhesion to the road. The system is so fast that even at highway speeds the system can sense a pothole at a front wheel and adjust rear-wheel damping before it reaches the same pothole. The Electronic Damping Control option includes a new Performance Control feature on the BMW X3. Performance Control helps the X3 maintain a neutral handling character by adjusting the xDrive torque split to 20% front/80% rear in steady state cornering. Performance Control can also apply the inside rear brake while also applying a little more power to the outside wheel (to compensate for the additional drag of the brake) in order to help rotate the vehicle.
Adjacent to the E-Shift lever on the BMW X3's center console is the optional Driving Dynamics Control selector (included with EDC). DDC provides three settings that tailor vehicle characteristics to different drivers, one driver's different moods, driving conditions - or all of the above. The settings are Normal, Sport and Sport Plus; the following vehicle-dynamics parameters are affected:
* Shock-absorber firmness (within the Electronic Damping Control system)
* Engine throttle response
* Transmission shift characteristics
* Power-steering assist level
* Dynamic Stability Control mode
The BMW X3's driving dynamics can be widely controlled by these different calibrations of so many elements. In addition, when equipped with the Navigation system, the driver may use iDrive to custom-tailor the Sport setting.
Just ahead of the Driving Dynamics Control switch is the Dynamic Stability Control switch for BMW's all-encompassing stability- and traction-control system. A brief push on this button switches the system to Dynamic Traction Control, in which DSC's intervention threshold is raised; one effect of this setting is improved traction in deep snow. A long push on the same button de-activates DSC altogether, though the anti-lock braking and anti-rollover functions always remain active.
An extensive range of standard and optional BMW ConnectedDrive functions.
BMW ConnectedDrive comprises all offers and technologies which connect our vehicles, drivers and passengers, and the outside world. ConnectedDrive is comprised of three main pillars: Convenience, Infotainment, and Safety. Each of these three pillars operates and interacts seamlessly with iDrive and other onboard controls to create a unique and unmatched experience for both the driver and passengers.
Car pictures and wallpapers - NetCarShow.com Main » Ferrari » Ferrari 458 Challenge (2011) Ferrari 458 Challenge wallpaper
The Ferrari 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting, a traditional event that brings together the representatives of Ferrari's international sales network.
The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series.
Coming just a few months after the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the Ferrari 458 Italia on which it is based, the Ferrari 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.
The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The Ferrari 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari's track-only cars.
Significant work has also gone into cutting the car's weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari's engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.
The new Ferrari 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19" racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari's extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations - low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.
Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations - wet and dry - have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari's extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.
The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.
In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the Ferrari 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car's lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1'16.5". Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates - up to 1.6G.
With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world's leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari's one-make championship.
The new berlinetta, which will flank the F430 Challenge in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season, is the fifth model used by Ferrari in its one-make championship which, next year, will be extended to include a new Asia-Pacific series.
Coming just a few months after the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling of the Ferrari 458 Italia on which it is based, the Ferrari 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use.
The direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. That said, modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. The Ferrari 458 Challenge is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version, a first for Ferrari's track-only cars.
Significant work has also gone into cutting the car's weight. This focused on both the exterior and interior with Ferrari's engineers concentrating in particular on reducing the thickness of the bodyshell panels and on using lightweight materials, such as carbon-fibre and Lexan.
The new Ferrari 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19" racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round. It is also equipped with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes which debuted on the 599XX, Ferrari's extreme experimental laboratory car, and which are integrated with an ABS system that features two configurations - low grip and high performance for dry surfaces.
Another first for a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. Developed in-house by Ferrari, the F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations - wet and dry - have been developed for this application, with control logic and strategies derived from Ferrari's extensive racing experience in the F1 and GT championships. The F1-Trac is completely integrated with the E-Diff to guarantee maximum acceleration out of corners.
The required ABS, F1-Trac and E-Diff calibration settings are selected via the manettino on the steering wheel, the first time this solution has been adopted on a model developed for the Ferrari Challenge series. The driver can thus either chose from the WET or DRY configurations. In high grip conditions it is also possible to select CT-OFF to de-activate the F1-Trac traction control.
In the course of the intensive development sessions involved in honing the Ferrari 458 Challenge for the track, the engineers also managed to improve the car's lap time at Fiorano by two seconds over that of its predecessor, resulting in a new record of just 1'16.5". Equally impressive is the amount of lateral grip the new car generates - up to 1.6G.
With the new 458 Challenge, Ferrari is offering its sportier clients - professional and gentlemen drivers alike - a car that is extremely responsive, with great performance and superb handling. This mid-rear V8-engined berlinetta will allow Ferrari Challenge participants to enjoy to the full the exhilarating cut and thrust of the race weekends on the world's leading circuits, as well as the passion that has always been an integral part of Ferrari's one-make championship.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Peacekeeping Exercises Open Amid Concerns
Multiple peacekeeping exercises that include troops from 26 countries began today and will carry through the end of the month. (Photo: AP)“This is the first time in the history of the Cambodian military that we have hosted multi-national exercise training.”Cambodia opened a massive peacekeeping exercise Tuesday that is supported by the US. But Human Rights Watch says the choice of Cambodia for the operation, Angkor Sentinel, undermines US human rights diplomacy.
Multiple peacekeeping exercises that include troops from 26 countries began today and will carry through the end of the month as part of a global peacekeeping initiative supported by the US.
“For the Pentagon and State Department to permit abusive Cambodian military units to host a high-profile regional peacekeeping exercise is outrageous,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “The United States undermines its protests against the Cambodian government for rampant rights abuses like forced evictions when it showers international attention and funds on military units involved in grabbing land and other human rights violations.”
However, Cambodian military officials welcomed the exercises, which will include more than 1,000 troops from countries as diverse as China, India, the US, Tonga and Brunei and are aimed at improving the abilities of those countries to conduct UN operations together.
“This is the first time in the history of the Cambodian military that we have hosted multi-national exercise training,” said Nem Sowath, a three-star general and chairman of the exchange subcommittee.
The training will include command post exercises at a hotel in Phnom Penh followed by field training exercises in Kampong Speu province.
Preah Vihear Listing Setback Played Down
Thai black-clad soldiers playing cards inside Cambodia's Wat Keo Sekha Kiri Svarak PagodaThe Region 2 Army has asserted that the registration of the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site will not affect the Thai- Cambodian border dispute and insisted that the situation in the area remains normal.
Region 2 Army Commander Lieutenant General Wewalit Jormsamrit said that the Thai-Cambodian border situation remains unchanged in light of the World Heritage Committee's consideration to name the Preah Vihear Temple as a Cambodia's World Heritage site on July 25.
He believes Cambodia will stand by its demand but must take into consideration the arguments that the Thai government submitted to the World Heritage Committee.
One of the demands made by Thailand is that no structure be allowed within the ten-kilometer radius of the temple grounds.
Nonetheless, Cambodia has relocated its local community within the ten-kilometer radius with the exception of the community market.
Regarding Cambodia's campaign against Thailand's involvement in the Preah Vihear dispute, the Region 2 Army commander said Cambodia has the right to do so as long as it does not violate Thailand's territorial rights or bilateral relations between the two nations.
Wewalit added that no additional forces were required since local border officials from both countries are in good terms.
Meanwhile, about 50 Ubon Ratchathani University students marched around the university grounds in a campaign to protect 1.8 million rai of land in eight eastern and northeastern provinces that Cambodia is claiming to be its soil, using the French territorial map.
Region 2 Army Commander Lieutenant General Wewalit Jormsamrit said that the Thai-Cambodian border situation remains unchanged in light of the World Heritage Committee's consideration to name the Preah Vihear Temple as a Cambodia's World Heritage site on July 25.
He believes Cambodia will stand by its demand but must take into consideration the arguments that the Thai government submitted to the World Heritage Committee.
One of the demands made by Thailand is that no structure be allowed within the ten-kilometer radius of the temple grounds.
Nonetheless, Cambodia has relocated its local community within the ten-kilometer radius with the exception of the community market.
Regarding Cambodia's campaign against Thailand's involvement in the Preah Vihear dispute, the Region 2 Army commander said Cambodia has the right to do so as long as it does not violate Thailand's territorial rights or bilateral relations between the two nations.
Wewalit added that no additional forces were required since local border officials from both countries are in good terms.
Meanwhile, about 50 Ubon Ratchathani University students marched around the university grounds in a campaign to protect 1.8 million rai of land in eight eastern and northeastern provinces that Cambodia is claiming to be its soil, using the French territorial map.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Le Boker Palace
: Le Boker Palace Hotel & Casino (now) ::
From Phonm Penh we took off South to the river side town of Kampot. Famous for Pepper in bygone Colonial days and for its proximity to the old beach side seafood town of Kep (as well as being a Khmer Rouge stronghold). Today its a sleepy town with plenty of colonial buildings making wandering around enjoyable and a smattering of ex-pat run riverside eateries. We used it as a base to venture to the fantastic old hill station in Boker National Park.
Abandoned by the French in 1922 and originally built as a spectacular (and much cooler than the lowlands) hilltop Hotel and Casino complex complete with shops, post office, Church and Royal apartments, today the station is a ghost town. Only a new ranger station has any manned presence.
:: Le Boker Palace Hotel & Casino (then) ::
At 3000ft above the surrounding coast, the climb up to the top is an adventure unto itself. The single lane road which once was tarmaced, has now been destroyed by the weather and overgrown by the jungle. Remember this is a jungle that hides tigers and elephants !. The 32km's of winding rubble is all the more enjoyable from the back of a pick-up. Every corner brings a duck, a weave or a hold on tight, as we bump over another small canyon. Two full hours after entering the gate, we arrive at the top. Battered and bruised the journey has been for something.
:: I wasn't joking ::
Ironically due to the vertical drop from the top to the sea below, rising hot air normally creates so much mist you can't see your nose, but the day we chose was perfect. Clear blue sky, mist rolling up onto the plateau and a view that ranks with the best we have seen out over Phu Quoc island and the coast below.
:: Outstanding View ::
The buildings themselves are in varied states of collapse. The Church and the Casino Hotel are in the best condition for exploring. The Casino - known in its heyday as Le Boker Palace can be explored from top to bottom. From the kitchens, through the grand ballroom to the suites and outdoor dining areas above, while although small by current comparison you can switch your minds eye to see grandeur all around. The mist and empty halls make for an eerie atmosphere, it is said this is a haunted place. The King even went so far as to build a new casino 100m away as he thought the gamblers who took the shortcut down to the sea after losing too much cursed the original casino.
:: The Grand Ballroom ::
Even in the day with a made road the journey up here would have been tough in the vehicles of the time. Guests would have stayed here for a week at a time, enjoying the coolness, view and facilities.
:: The Post Office ::
The view from the top is phenomenal. 180 degrees of almost sheer drop to the sea coast 3000ft below.
:: A fair drop-off ::After the great fun at the top, a reality check, another 2 hour bone-crunching ride to the bottom makes this a long, tiring but extraordinarily interesting and enjoyable expedition.
From Kampot we caught a share taxi around to Sihanoukville the evolving tourist friendly coastal town. Plenty of guesthouses and BBQ's on the sand make this a pleasant place to hang out for a few days. After our fill of barbied barracuda and local Angkor we braved a back to back bus journey from here , through Phnom Penh through to Siem Reap....a place deserving of its own blog...due to some old temples around there. Stay Tuned.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Cambodian Newspaper Claims Thailand is Planning Protest at Preah Vihear Temple
Cambodian newspaper has claimed that Thailand is recruiting about 5,000 people to conduct a protest at Preah Vihear Temple on the 2nd-year anniversary of the temple's application to be one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.It has been reported by Kampuchea Thmey, a Cambodian newspaper, that Thailand is recruiting about 5,000 people to conduct a protest at Preah Vihear Temple.
According to the newspaper, the source of the report was a commanding officer within the Thai armed forces.
As a result, the Cambodian military has stepped up security along the border.
It should be noted that the story was circulated the day before the 2nd-year anniversary of the Cambodian government's attempt to register the disputed temple as one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.
General Jia Dara, a Cambodian commander responsible for security at the Preah Vihear Temple area, said in an interview that he has issued a warning to the Thai government that Cambodia will not allow any type of provocation, and its armed forces have been ordered to protect its sovereignty at all costs.
At the same time, Brigadier General Yim Pim, a Cambodian army commander, has boasted that the armed forces are fully capable of repelling any invasion.
Cambodia is planning a celebration of the 2nd-anniversary of the temple's UNESCO World Heritage registration on July 15th.
Cambodia Behind Region in Investment
Cambodians cross the Tonle Sap river by ferry along a Chinese-funded bridge under construction at Prek Kdam village. (Photo: AP)
Cambodia has improved its investment environment, “but we have to fix other problems.”
While Cambodia has adopted a competitive investment strategy, it lags behind Asia-Pacific countries in terms of investment facilities and other factors, the World Bank reported Wednesday.
Cambodia is one of the more open countries to foreign investment, but its roads, ports and other infrastructure are not developed, according to the “Investing Across Borders” annual report.
“It’s a showcase to attract more foreign direct investment,” said Ngoun Meng Tech, secretary general of Chamber of Commerce of Cambodia.
Cambodia’s economy has struggled since the 2009 recession, and foreign investment has fallen from $1.2 billion in the first six months of 2009 to $1.1 billion for the same period this year. Experts say the country must now find ways to compete in a different global economy.
In Cambodia, it takes 86 days and 10 procedures to open a business, compared to other East Asia-Pacific countries, where the average is 68 days and 11 procedures, the World Bank reported.
Cambodia has improved its investment environment, “but we have to fix other problems,” said Ros Khemara, a member of the Cambodian Economic Association.
The World Bank also noted that Cambodia does well in the time it takes to lease land, but lags behind the region in the availability of land information.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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