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Mazda Philippines launches the All-New CX-3

Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country, has unveiled the latest addition to the Japanese brand’s new-generation vehicle lineup – the all-new Mazda CX-3.

This freestyle crossover vehicle provides a unique compact crossover driving experience to for young, forward-thinking individuals and families with the best of both form and function. It is the sixth model to showcase both the company’s striking KODO: Soul of Motion design language and the highly efficient and innovative SKYACTIV suite of body, chassis, suspension, engine and drivetrain technologies.

“The new CX-3 is one of the most highly anticipated vehicles we have ever unveiled in the Philippine market,” shares Steven Tan, President and CEO of Berjaya Auto Philippines. “Its stylish looks, unmatched performance and impeccable build quality make it a vehicle that only Mazda could have created. We are confident this crossover for the new generation will give its future owners an uncompromising and unfettered driving experience worthy of their active and expressive lifestyles.”

Bold, simple and vibrant expressions of movement characterize the new CX-3’s facade. Replete with striking details such as its aggressively raked A-pillar, the finely sculpted grill and LED lighting assemblies, short overhangs, a floating roof side line which is accentuated by the stylishly blacked out D-pillar, and 18-inch wheels in the top trim, the exterior is undeniably Mazda.

The new CX-3’s driver-oriented interior appropriately echoes its dynamic exterior. Similar to the high-end finish, and uncompromised build-quality, found in the rest of Mazda’s new-generation models, the new CX-3 does not scrimp when it comes to cabin amenities. Soft-to-the-touch panels with rich suede trimmings metallic and piano black accents line the cabin. A 7-inch touchscreen monitor housing the MZD- CONNECT infotainment system highlights the classy dash while the Active Driving Display HUD sits atop the meter cluster of the Sport and AWD Activ variants.

Leather seats with suede mid-sections and red accents add a touch of sportiness to an already dynamic design while a 7-speaker (with amplifier) BOSE entertainment system elevates listening pleasure for the driver and passenger alike. To accommodate long items at the back, a versatile rear seat layout which folds forward and up, opens up usable luggage space in the new CX-3.

A class-leading 2- liter SKYACTIV-G Gasoline Direct-injection engine rated at 148ps at 6,000 rpm and mated to a 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission. With a torque output of 192Nm coming in fully as low as 2,800 rpm, linear and powerful acceleration is guaranteed further ensuring an enjoyable experience behind the wheel.

For those who refuse to be constrained by the limits of the road, the high-end AWD Activ variant of the new CX-3 features Mazda’s very own i-ACTIV All Wheel Drive system. This is the first all-wheel drive system to be employed in the sub-compact crossover segment.

Mazda CX-3 units are all made in Japan. They are available in three variants:

FWD Pro – comes in Crystal White Pearl and Dynamic Blue – Php 1,280,000

FWD Sport with four colors – Crystal White Pearl, Soul Red, Jet Black and the trim-exclusive Titanium Flash – Php 1,380,000

Top-of-the-line AWD Activ which adds the Ceramic finish to its five- color palette – Php 1,480,000

It also comes with Mazda’s value laden YOJIN3 TOTAL CARE package that comes with Free Periodic Maintenance Service for three years (or 60,000- kilometers, whichever comes first), as well as free 3-year Emergency Roadside Assistance and New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for a period of three years or 100,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. For more information, please visit www.mazda.ph.

The official turnover of Volkswagen Passat to Makati Shangri-la

Makati Shangri-La Hotel formally received 31 units of the Passat limousines from Volkswagen Philippines during a ceremonial hand over last September 5, 2016.

The formal turnover marks the beginning of a partnership between Makati Shangri-La and Volkswagen Philippines, both of which carry the world’s most prestigious hotel and automotive brands that espouse style and sophistication for their respective markets. It also completes the total 80 Volkswagen units purchased by the hotel, including 40 units of the compact sedan Jetta, among others.

The Makati Shangri-La Hotel was recently voted as the “Best Business Hotel in Manila” by Business Traveller (Asia Pacific), a distinction it has held for seven consecutive years since 2009. The Shangri-La brand name is renowned globally for its rich tradition of innovation and personalized service from the heart. These remarkable standards inspired Shangri-La to select Volkswagen, which delivers the same promise that embodies the perfect combination.

The Passat limousine was awarded the 2015 European Car of the Year and it was also recognized in the 2015 Geneva Motor Show for Best in Class Performance on interior and technology. The Passat, which bears a rich 42-year lineage, comes straight from Germany, with German-tuned driving dynamics and a responsive and efficient BlueMotion 2.0-liter TSI engine generating 220 PS, managed by the 6-speed dual-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission. The combination of power, fuel efficiency, and world-class German automotive engineering, design, and craftsmanship characteristic of every Volkswagen model make the Passat the ideal vehicle for business travellers who choose the Makati Shangri-La as their hotel, assuring them of premium comfort and convenience even during airport transfers.

The acquisition of the Passat and Jetta units was accomplished by Nissan Car Lease Philippines, whose motto, “Premium service for premium people,” aligns well with Shangri-La’s luxury hospitality, and highlights the mission and expertise of NCLP as a premium transport provider. For NCLP, this symbolic fleet of Volkswagen cars for Makati Shangri-La’s guests enhances its services portfolio, while at the same time highlights the hotel and automaker’s credo of putting “people first”.

NCLP is one of the best known car rental brands in the Philippines with over 24 years of unequalled premium service to its distinguished clientele.

For more details on the Passat and other Volkswagen models, visit http://www.volkswagen.com.ph, or drop by the dealership network located at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City; Quezon Avenue in Quezon City; Sheridan Street in Mandaluyong City; Molito Lifestyle Building in Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Dolores in San Fernando City, Pampanga; North Reclamation Area in Cebu City; SM in IloiIo City; and, Singcang in Bacolod City.

Nissan Philippines’ Top 20 of 2016 GT Academy will vie for the Final Six to compete in UK

Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) capped off its search for racing drivers last August 27 to 28, 2016 at the SM Aura activity center. The GT Academy final live event was the last chance for all aspiring participants to square off with the best racing times for a ticket to a professional racing career.

Adding excitement to the final recruitment day was the Nissan GT Academy Celebrity Challenge, where two of the country’s top young athletes went toe-to-toe against each other’s team in a battle of driving skills in the virtual pods.

Top-billed by Arnold Van Opstal as the team captain for Team Green, the former De La Salle University Green Archer big man led his teammates from the media Vince Pornelos (C! Magazine and Autoindustriya) and Chira Dela Cruz (Top Gear) to victory with a total time of 4:12.408 as they went up against former Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagle Von Pessumal and his media teammates Iñigo Roces (Manila Bulletin) and Aries Espinosa (Business World). Team Green’s Vince Pornelos was also named as the Celebrity Challenge’s Most Valuable Racer, with his time clocking in at 1:22.934.

The Top Twenty players on the leaderboards will vie for the Final Six slots on September 7 at the Glorietta Activity Center:

1. Kendrick D. Asensi
2. Francisco F. Adriano
3. Luis Antonio P. Moreno
4. Rodolfo D. Faustino
5. Gabriel N. Senires
6. Rabboni John C. Buenaventura
7. Timothy S. Melendrez
8. Rainier Martin D. Consulta
9. Elysse T. Menorca
10. Eduardo S. Suiza III
11. Kim Jiger A. Chong
12. Jan Millard U. Lacuna
13. Nowl Michael B. Pinili
14. Tristan Erickson G. Suante
15. King Judge David A. Chong
16. Mervin John D. Mallen
17. Richard Dean D. Jose
18. Wilfredo John D. Pacres
19. Carlo Adriano D. Acosta
20. Gether Angelo V. Quintos.

Pending final medical screenings and validation of the players’ performance and times logged, this list is still subject to change.

For more details on the Nissan GT Academy, visit www.nissan.ph/gtacademy and the Nissan Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NissanPhilippinesInc.

The Week In Review: 2 weeks worth of motoring news

This 2-weeks worth of motoring news were from August 13-27, 2016. Check out these latest news in the automotive industry:

1. 2016 Subaru Palm Challenge Manila Leg Winner

Subaru in the Philippines celebrated its 10th year anniversary in the country and held the 2016 Subaru Palm Challenge Manila leg at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City last August 13 and 14. Alex Neblasca won for the eighth time in Manila leg. He outlasted other participants with the record of 11 hours, 39 minutes & 40 seconds and won Php10,000, a Samsung Smart TV and an all expense paid trip to Singapore for the Asian Face Off in November.

2. MDPPA reports 42% y-o-y sales growth with first half of 2016

Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) recently held a media press conference to discuss the motorcycle industry’s sales figures, business plans and campaigns on road safety & anti-counterfeiting. A new sales benchmark with the first half of the year is a 42% year-on-year sales growth or 544,699 motorcycles units were sold. This figure is the combined sales of the members: Honda Philippines, Inc., Kawasaki Motors Philippines, Inc., Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc., Suzuki Philippines, Inc. and Kymco Philippines, Inc.

3. The New Peugeot 308

A media drive was recently held by Peugeot Philippines with the new Peugeot 308. It’s a 5-door hatchback that defines driving sensations with its sleek design, superb driving dynamics, and innovative technologies.

4. We can now achieve safer roads with Autokontrol Speed Limiters

A glimpse of the interview with Autokontrol who distributes Speed Limiters in the Philippines. Autokontrol speed limiters is a fly by wire trechnology that uses geotagging which can provide directions to the engine to travel at only specific speeds for specific areas making sure that when the trucks or buses enter a highly urbanized area they remain within safe speeds at all times.

5. Vios and Yaris are now equipped with All-New Dual VVT-i Engines

Toyota Motor Philippines officially introduced the new Toyota Vios and the new Toyota Yaris with new NR series dual VVT-I engines and CVT transmissions (automatic variants) in its 28th Anniversary celebration and mid-year thanksgiving. The new Yaris, has a new sportier look to its interior seat fabric and a new dark silver face display for the audio head unit while the new Vios now comes with new chrome trims for fog lamps of the G variant and it has two new colors: alumina jade metallic and blackish red mica.

6. Nissan Philippines’ Top 20 of 2016 GT Academy will vie for the Final Six to compete in UK

2016 Nissan GT Academy held the final live event in which was last chance for all aspiring participants to square off with the best racing times for a ticket to a professional racing career. To add excitement, there was a celebrity challenge where two of the country’s top young athletes, Arnold Van Opstal from DLSU and Von Pessumal from ADMU, battled each other to show their best driving skill in the virtual pods.

For more videos, kindly visit James Deakin’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/james.deakin

The New Peugeot 308

I’ve always been fascinated with everything French. To the cuisine, art, architecture, clothing and values—they all have something in common—Attention to detail that results to Elegance—which definitely makes a person’s senses ardent. This certain French carmaker exudes elegance in their vehicles and it’s none other than Peugeot.

We are privileged to have been invited by Peugeot Philippines to experience Peugeot 308 in a media drive recently held at the South. Started in the Alabang dealership, the group had an hour travel to Tagaytay, specifically in a fine dining place called The Domaine Restaurant. A challenge to the media was made by guessing what the food was, while blindfolded through one’s sense of smell.

Afterwards, a luxurious resort inspired by Swiss architecture welcomed the media with a picturesque landscape of pine trees, terrain and houses—it’s none other than the Crosswinds Tagaytay. It has one of the highest points in the place and has over 20,000 pine trees that gives off a luscious smell further adding the ambiance that soothe the senses.

Last activity was a coffee tasting and mixing in Cafe de Lipa, Batangas which is known for the Barako coffee. A little trivia: The first coffee in the Philippines was introduced in Lipa, Batangas by a Spanish Franciscan monk in 1740 and did you know that coffee is the most recognised scent in the world?

As you have observed, all the activities that Peugeot held were all about senses, because the Peugeot 308 is all about it.

The 308 is a 5-door hatchback that defines driving sensations with its sleek design, superb driving dynamics, and innovative technologies. The fascia gives a striking yet stunning look with “floating” front grille, a strong lighting signature on slim full LED headlamps and fog lamps. Yes, those headlamps that walks the talk and this continues on its side to its rear with the three Peugeot “claws” drawn by the rear LED lamps.

Peugeot308 2 — An intuitive and refined interior complements the elegance of its exterior.

A cabin concept that enhances driving sensations called i-Cockpit® features a compact steering wheel, a head-up display and a 9.7-inch touchscreen interface that brings together the vehicle’s various controls in an intuitive layout. Refined in a way that only the key interface buttons are visible, the touchscreen is an integrated high-tech panel, and the volume controls reflect its high-end character.

The instrument panels has a high quality craftsmanship using satin chrome, gloss black finishers, and finely-chiseled needles that reflect the careful attention to detail. Hence, experience comfortability and versatility with a well-appointed cabin and a generous boot size. The seating trims come in a variety of options, ranging from fabric to mistral leather. Standard to all variants is a dual-zone climate control system.

All variants of the Peugeot 308 being offered locally are powered by an award-winning 1.6 THP petrol or Blue HDi diesel engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Blue HDi technology involves a three-stage process wherein exhaust gasses are treated to reduce harmful emissions. This innovation conforms with Euro 6 regulations, making the Peugeot 308 one of the very few vehicles in the Philippines that is Euro 6-compliant.

Elegance meets safety. The new 308 features 6 airbags, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Stability Program, Electric Power Steering, Hill Assist and Electric Parking Brake.

The Peugeot 308 proves itself as a French vehicle because of the attention to every detail. This classy vehicle is available in four variants and in all dealerships nationwide:

1.6 L 5-door Hatchback Petrol in Allure trim – Php 1,490,000

1.6 L 5-door Hatchback Diesel in GT Line trim – Php 1,890,000

1.6 L 5-door Station Wagon Diesel in Allure trim – Php 1,740,000

1.6 L 5-door Station Wagon Diesel in GT Line trim – Php 1,890,000

The Hatchback variant has a boot volume of 385 liters and can be further expanded through the foldable rear seats while Station Wagon has a a longer wheelbase and a larger luggage compartment. It has a boot volume of 613 liters with the rear seats in position and easily expands to a generous 1,274 liters with the Magic Flat feature of the rear seats.

Base model is Allure Trim while GT line adds an assertive sports styling with 18-inch Diamante alloy wheels, twin exhaust pipes, aluminum pedals, steel door sills, and leather upholstery with vibrant red stitching.

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The Peugeot 308 was awarded Most Beautiful Interior Design at the 29th International Automobile Festival in 2013 and European Car of the Year in 2014.

“Bringing the multi-awarded Peugeot 308 to the Philippines was always part of our strategy,” said Glen Dasig, President of Peugeot Philippines. “It embodies everything we stand for as a company, with the striking design, uncompromised quality and driving capabilities that truly ignite your senses. We believe the Peugeot 308 is a strong offering for our growing market.”

For full specifications, click here. For more information about Peugeot in the Philippines, kindly visit http://www.peugeot.ph or their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PeugeotPhilippines.

Photos by Paolo Lesaca

This Weekend: Final live event of 2016 Nissan GT Academy with Arnold Van Opstal & Von Pessumal

“We are urging everyone who is serious about accelerating their chances of becoming a professional racer to join us in our last Live Event for this season. By competing in this event, they can have a chance of getting into the Top 20.”
— SJ Huh, NPI’s General Manager for Marketing

Aspiring race car drivers, mark those words of Mr. Huh. Gear up and head to the SM Aura Activity Center at Taguig City as Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) holds the 2016 GT Academy Final Live event this weekend. (August 27-28, 2016)

The event will be the last chance for all aspiring participants to square off with the best racing times for a ticket to a professional racing career.

“The second season of the Nissan GT Academy continues to grow, with over 21,000 participants that registered this year,” said SJ Huh, NPI’s General Manager for Marketing. “With 15 Live Events held in 7 key cities in Metro Manila and provincial areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, we at Nissan have given more Filipino gamers access in realizing their dreams of making it as a racing driver. By giving Filipinos easier access to racing through the Nissan GT Academy, we are helping steer the development of motor sports in the country.”

Adding excitement to the final recruitment is the Nissan GT Academy Celebrity Challenge, where two of the country’s top young athletes go toe-to-toe against each other’s team in a battle of driving skills in the virtual pods.

Top-billed by Arnold Van Opstal as the team captain for Team Green, the former De La Salle University Green Archer big man will be leading members of the media as they go up against former Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagle Von Pessumal and his team of media practitioners.

For more details on the Nissan GT Academy, visit www.nissan.ph/gtacademy and the Nissan Philippines Facebook page. Official website of Nissan Philippines: www.nissan.ph.

2016 Subaru Palm Challenge Manila Leg Winner

As Subaru in the Philippines celebrated its 10th year anniversary in the country, Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIPI) held the 2016 Subaru Palm Challenge Manila leg at Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City last August 13 and 14.

The first day of the Manila leg (August 13) was the Palm Challenge Collegiate Edition in which five universities joined: University of Asia and the Pacific, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, University of the Philippines and Southville International School and Colleges. The winner of the collegiate edition was Ulrich San Andres from Southville with the time 1:28:14. His school received Php 30,000 for the school’s organization or purchase of sports equipment and he won an iPad mini.

The second day, August 14, was the actual Palm Challenge in which Alex Neblasca won for the eighth time in Manila leg. He outlasted other participants with the record of 11 hours, 39 minutes & 40 seconds and won Php10,000, a Samsung Smart TV and an all expense paid trip to Singapore for the Asian Face Off in November. The runners-up at the Manila leg are Carlo Talahis, Mark Joseph Trinos, Juntie Torres, Ronald De Ocampo, Filmark Bernante, Juan Furiscal Jr. and Crescenciano Litan. The challenge will take the top 8 from Manila, 1 from Cebu and 1 from Davao.

Aside from the Palm Challenge, Subaru has displayed the Forester, XV, WRX STi, and Levorg. There were also a test drive for Subaru Forester and simulation driving.

The Subaru Palm Challenge Cebu Leg will be on September 3 at Ayala Center Cebu and the Davao Leg will be on September 24 at SM Lanang Premiere. To register for the provincial legs, go to Subaru Cebu and Subaru Davao.

For more information, kindly visit www.subarupalmchallengeph.com/2016 or call Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIPI) office at (02) 727-8333 or (02) 727-3687.

Video: Paolo Lesaca

The Week in Review: Visiting the manufacturing plant of the Chevrolet Sail

On the very day that the Chevrolet Sail went on sale last month, Chevrolet Philippines invited members of the automotive and tech press to visit their Sail manufacturing facility in China to ensure that everything was, well, sailing smoothly, or more importantly, to show us that not only are their cars world-class, but definitely more pun in the Philippines.

While the Sail arrives as a completely new model in the Philippines, it is now on its 3rd generation in China and is only the second Chinese-designed, engineered, built and manufactured model to be exported to other markets under the American brand.

Introduced to the Chinese market 16 years ago, the Sail nameplate has sold more than 230,000 units in markets around the world and now plans to take on the heavy-hitters in the Philippines, like the Vios and Mirage G4, by offering a level of equipment seldom (if ever) seen in this segment––like a radar-sweep instrument cluster, 3-D weaved speaker covers, sculpted seats, a dual-mode sunroof and high-tech entertainment features, including smartphone display mirroring with natural voice recognition.

Based on a new-generation small car architecture, the Sail was developed by more than 2,000 experienced engineers in GM’s SAIC-GM joint venture, in accordance with GM’s global product development procedures, earning itself a total of 59 patents for technologies in its chassis, powertrain, exterior, interior, electronics and assembly and a first place ranking in the J.D. Power China Survey in the premium small car segment in 2015.

It was also the second in sales volume in the small car segment in China last year and finished first in the compact segment in the J.D. Power 2016 China New-Vehicle Intender Study (NVIS), which was released on May 23.

But impressive as that is, I don’t drive a patent or a study to work, which is why I like to physically see where my cars are built. And after 3 delayed flights, we eventually got what we came for.

As we entered GM’s SAIC-GM Dong Yue Motors sprawling facility in Yantai, China, I felt like I needed to advance my watch by about 20 or 30 years. It was so SIM city. I almost half expected to look up and find out we were in a glass enclosure in a lobby of a building. Or part of the Lego movie.

Totally weird if it were a city, but this is just how you want your manufacturing facilities to be––clean, boring, efficient, structured, predictable and totally devoid of any personality or character. We save those things for the design and marketing team. Here, it’s nothing but the facts, ma’am. Nothing but the facts.

It would take a few days to completely cover the entire facility, but it only takes you a few minutes to see just how serious Chevrolet’s plan of becoming a dominant player in this market really is. Resting on something about the size of BGC, the plant has adopted many of the same advanced global processes and technologies as GM’s other 170 plants in about 30 countries around the world.

I’ve had the chance to visit several of them, including Thailand and Brazil, and this one is by far the most advanced. It is 91% automated for a start, and it has the perhaps the most lean, efficient and flexible global processes in any automotive plant––regardless of brand.

“Ensuring that each vehicle we build is of even higher quality than its predecessor is a key to our success,” said GM China and SAIC-GM Manufacturing Manager Paul Buetow. “To provide consistent quality to our customers around the world, every product must meet GM’s global engineering and quality standards before the start of production. The Sail 3 fully complies with the G0 global vehicle durability test standard for emerging markets.”

The Sail then went through almost 3 million km of road tests, about 2.32 million km of regular durability tests, 350,000 km of powertrain durability tests, 640,000 km of exhaust durability tests and 480,000km of simulated road tests in 67 different driving conditions and is now offered in the Philippines in three variants, including a choice of 1.3L VVT or 1.5L DVVT engines, and a five-speed automated manual transmission starting at 688,888.

Wonder how the hybrid technology of the Porsche LMP1 race car works?

The Le Mans Prototype Porsche 919 Hybrid had its only 2016 appearance in Germany. At the six-hour race at the Nürburgring, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the series’ leader fought for points for its title defense. At the same time its mission is the technology of future sports cars.

With the 919 Hybrid, Porsche has developed a new field of technology at racing speed. For the “Mission E”, a fully electric road-going concept sports car unveiled in 2015, the designers adopted the 800-Volt technology from the prototype racer. Porsche has exhausted all possibilities in designing the two-time Le Mans winner – especially in terms of the drive concept. It consists of the two-liter, V4 turbocharged petrol engine, the most efficient combustion motor that Porsche has built up to now, and two different energy recovery systems.

During braking, a generator at the front axle converts the car’s kinetic energy into electrical energy. In the split exhaust system, one turbine drives the turbocharger while another converts surplus energy into electrical energy. The braking energy contributes 60 per cent, with the remaining 40 per cent coming from exhaust gas. The recuperated electrical energy is stored temporarily in a lithium-ion battery and feeds an electric motor on demand.

“On demand” means: the driver wants to accelerate and calls up the energy at the press of a button. In accordance with the latest regulation changes, the power from the combustion engine is just under 500 HP (368 kW), and the output from the electric motor is well over 400 HP (294 kW).

The use and interplay of these two energy sources require a sophisticated strategy.

In every braking phase, energy is won – that is, recuperated. On the Nürburgring’s 5.148-kilometre Grand Prix circuit this happens 17 times per lap, before every corner. The amount of recovered energy depends on the severity of the braking maneuver, or in other words, the speed at which the driver arrives at the corner and how tight it is. Braking and recuperation last until the apex of every corner, the driver then accelerates again. In this moment, the aim is to utilize as much energy as possible. Hence, the driver steps on the throttle pedal using fuel energy, and also “boosts” electrical energy from the battery.

While the combustion engine drives the rear axle, the electric motor takes care of the front axle. The 919 catapults out of the corner without any loss of traction using all-wheel drive – and in the process recuperates energy again because on the straights the extra turbine in the ex-haust tract is hard at work. At constantly high engine speeds, the pressure in the exhaust system increases rapidly and drives the second turbine connected directly to an electric generator.

Both energy sources, however, are limited by the regulations: a driver may not use more than 1.8-litres of fuel per lap and no more than 1.3 kilowatt hours of electricity. He must calculate this carefully so that at the end of the lap he has used exactly this amount – no more, no less. He who uses more is penalized. He who uses less, loses perfor-mance. He must stop “boosting” and lift his foot off the throttle at exactly the right moment.

Converted to the 13.629-kilometre lap of Le Mans, which is the scale model for the regulations, the amount of electrical energy allowed is 2.22 kilowatt hours. This corresponds to eight mega-joules – and that is the highest energy class stipulated in the regulations. Porsche was the first and in 2015 the only manufacturer that dared to push the limits so far. In 2016 Toyota is also competing in the eight megajoule class. Audi uses six megajoules. The WEC regulations almost completely balance these differences.

For the concept choice for the Porsche 919 Hybrid a very close look at the individual alternatives was taken. There was no question that Porsche would use the braking energy at the front axle as this means a huge amount of energy from areas already partially developed combined with massive progress. For the second system brake energy recuperation at the rear axle or through utilizing exhaust gas were considered. Two aspects pointed in favor of the exhaust solution: Firstly weight, and then efficiency. With brake energy recovery, the system has to recuperate energy within a very short space of time, which means coping with a lot of energy, but at the expense of weight. The acceleration phases, however, are much longer than the braking phases, which allow a longer period of recuperation and make the system lighter. Plus with the combustion engine the 919 already has a drive system on the rear axle. Even more power at the rear would have generated more inefficient wheel spin. Moreover, this leads to heavy tire wear.

Arguably Porsche’s bravest decision for the hybrid system of the 919 was opting for 800 Volts. Establishing the voltage level is a fundamental decision in electric drive systems. It influences all else – the battery design, electronics design, e-motor design and charging technology. Porsche pushed this as far as possible.

It was difficult to find components for this high voltage, particularly a suitable storage medium. Flywheel generator, supercapacitors or battery? Porsche chose a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, with hundreds of individual cells, each enclosed in its own cylindrical metal capsule – seven centimeters high and 1.8 centimeters in diameter.

In both a road and racing car, power density and energy density must be balanced. The higher the power density of a cell, the faster energy can be recharged and released. The other parameter, energy density, determines the amount of energy that can be stored. In racing, the cells – figuratively speaking – must have a huge opening. Because as soon as the driver brakes, a massive energy hit comes in, and when he boosts it must leave at exactly the same speed. An everyday comparison: If an empty lithium-ion battery in a smartphone had the same power density as the 919, it would be completely recharged within a lot less than a single second. The downside: A brief chat and it would be empty again. So that the smartphone lasts for days, the energy density has priority, and that means storage capacity.

Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche Team 1: Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley, Mark Webber, Porsche Team 2: Marc Lieb, Romain Dumas, Neel Jani (l-r)

In an electric car for everyday use, storage capacity translates into range. In this regard, the requirements of the racing car and a road-going electric car therefore are different. But with the 919 Porsche has advanced into regions of hybrid management that were previously unimaginable. The 919 served as the testing lab for the voltage level of future hybrid systems. Important basic knowledge was dis-covered during the LMP1 programme. Such as cooling for the energy storage (battery) and the electric motor, the connection technology for extreme high voltage as well as the battery management and the systems’ design. From this experience, the col-leagues in production development gained important expertise for the four-door concept car Mission E with 800-Volt technology. From this concept car a series product will appear by the end of the decade to become the first purely electric driven Porsche.

The LMP1 Twitter channel @Porsche_Team provides the latest information, photos and video clips live from the race tracks.

#JDWeekInReview: Opening Private Subdivisions to Traffic

On the first senate hearing on the granting of emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to solve the traffic crisis in the metro last August 10, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suggested to open up private subdivisions and use its roads.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said that there are too many vehicles plying Metro Manila and it gets congested which is why he’s rooting for this solution of private subdivisions. He emphasized that this idea won’t affect the safety of the people living in the private villages and it won’t be a 24-hour open road for motorists but these private roads would only be used for certain times, such as during peak hours.

But according to MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos, there is this one word that could really help decongest Manila traffic:

D I S C I P L I N E

“It’s really discipline, (we could help decongest the traffic) maybe around 40%.“, said Atty. Carlos.