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The JPJ (Road Transport Department) has again issued a warning to the public about scammers who are offering forged driving licences through online channels. While the illegal practice is not something new, it remains prevalent, especially on social media.

The warning on the forged driving licences – also called ‘lesen terbang’ (flying licence) – was given by the JPJ’s Deputy Director (Management), M. Janagarajan, in Kota Bharu recently. He said that the scam is widespread and appealed to the public to be cautious and obtain their driving licences using only the correct and legitimate procedures.

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Rear spoilers, large and small, mounted at the back of cars has been a common sight for decades. While some spoilers or ‘wings’ are more for looks than offering any real benefit, those that are installed as original equipment have usually been carefully shaped to contribute to aerodynamic efficiency and performance at high speeds.

Such aerodynamic aids were already used in racing cars but Porsche was the first company to install a rear spoiler on a production model – the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 of 1972. Back then, ‘spoiler’ may have been relatively unknown so the marketing people at the sportscar company came up with a nickname that was perhaps a bit funny but it stuck: ducktail. It was so called because its shape somewhat resembled the tail of a duck although ‘Entenburzel’ was how the Germans referred to it in their language.

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Motorists travelling along the North-South Expressway between Kuala Kangsar and Ipoh are advised that the left lane at the Meru tunnel will be temporarily closed at night. This closure will be from tomorrow (Tuesday, February 7) until Thursday February 16, 2023 for pavement rehabilitation work.

The temporary closure will be activated in stages at the Meru tunnel between KM 260.30 and KM262.05 between 9 pm and 12 noon daily. During this period, the contra flow will be activated in a staggered procedure depending on the traffic situation to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

PLUS advises motorists who are heading south to plan their journey and they can do so with the PLUS app which will give them an idea of traffic conditions along their route. When passing through the affected area, they should adhere to traffic signs and follow any instructions given by PLUS personnel.

The latest traffic information can be obtained from calling the PLUSLine at 1-800-88-0000.

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Giotto Bizzarrini’s name may not be as prominent as that of other Italian automotive engineers but he nevertheless remains an iconic name in Italian automotive history. After working at Alfa Romeo for 3 years, he joined Ferrari in 1957. He was influential in the development of models such as the 250 GT, 250 TR Testa Rossa, 250GT SWB and 3-litre Testa Rossa V12 engine, with the 250 GTO and original V12 engine being his most famous efforts.

In 1964, he founded his own company with the intention of producing specialised high-performance sports and racing cars. However, after 140 cars, the company could no longer continue and became dormant in 1969. 51 years later, in 2020, Pegasus Brands acquired the right to the Bizzarrini name and planned to use it for a new generation of cars for collectors and enthusiasts.

The Bizzarrini brand was reintroduced to the world with the 5300 GT Corsa Revival early in 2022. This was the first model to bear the Bizzarrini name since the GT Strada 4.1 concept of 2005. A total of 24 cars will be built at Bizzarrini’s own facility in the UK, each an authentic contemporary interpretation of the 1965 class-winner at Le Mans.

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Motoring along highways is generally safe as the roads are usually in good condition and there are a few lanes so that overtaking can be done safely. The traffic flow is also safely separated on two sides, reducing dangers of collision.

However, accidents can still occur and sometimes with tragic outcomes. According to a Bernama report, a couple were killed and their 3 children injured when their vehicle crashed at KM274 of the East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2) near the Cheneh toll plaza exit at around 4 pm yesterday. The family, who reside in Kejang, Selangor, was said to be travelling to Kg. Gelugor, Kerteh, Terengganu after dropping one of their sons off in Kuantan.

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As the teams begin their phased unveiling of the new cars for the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship, the FIA has also confirmed that 6 manufacturers have registered as Power Unit Suppliers for the 2026 – 2030 seasons of the championship.

The manufacturers that will supply the F1 power units are Alpine Racing, Audi, Ferrari, Honda Racing Corporation, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and Red Bull Ford. It’s interesting that Honda has signed up to be an engine manufacturer after 2025 when Red Bull Racing, which will use its engines until then, will switch to a new power unit jointly developed with Ford (and so will Scuderia AlphaTauri).

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Bird dropping falling from the sky are not an unusual occurrence and while they will dirty your car, they don’t cause permanent damage (unless you don’t wash the deposits off). But hard objects will cause dents and could even injure somebody or cause an accident. Fortunately, such incidents don’t happen often but there was such a case recently and it was even recorded on video and began circulating on social media.

The video of 1 minute and 43 seconds uploaded by Tik Tok user, Syrupboy1, was taken in the Kampung Baru area of Kuala Lumpur. It showed a young person throwing a bottle from the balcony of what was believed to be a high-rise residential unit. It was clear that there was a busy highway with lots of cars.

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Ford has announced its return to Formula 1 after 22 years away from the sport. Despite having been absent from F1 since 2004, Ford remains the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history with 10 Constructors’ championships and 13 Drivers’ championships. Between 1967 and 2004, the carmaker provided engines to no less than 67 teams.

It was present in F1 up to 2004, with its last entry being with the Jaguar team (acquired from former F1 driver Jackie Stewart) as the British carmaker was then owned by Ford. The extremely high (and rising) cost of participating in F1 was given as the reason Ford withdrew and sold its team to Red Bull (the energy drinks company) for US$1 at the end of the 2004 season.

Drawing the carmaker back to the sport it dominated in the late 1960s and 1970s is the increasing interest in key markets around the world, including the USA. Furthermore, the FIA and F1 have a commitment to sustainability with increased use of electric power as well as sustainable fuels.

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Proton has started off 2023 with a strong surge in sales, having its best start to a year since 2013. With 11,681 units (including export sales) delivered in January, the increase in sales compared to the same month a year ago was 162.3%. With the market size for January estimated to be 51,000 units, Proton’s share would be 22.9%, an improvement of more than 12% compared to January 2022.

The strong performance is due to greater supply of vehicles from the two factories in contrast to the reduced output that the carmaker experienced last year due to flood-related supply issues. At the end of 2021 and early 2022, there was very severe flooding in some areas of Selangor which affected the operations of some of Proton’s suppliers.

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It is with sadness that we report that Datuk Aishah Sheikh Ahmad, President of the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), passed away earlier today. She had performed her umrah and was due to return to Malaysia from Jeddah tomorrow.

Datuk Aishah was one of the longest-serving people in the Malaysian auto industry which she spent her entire working life in. She entered the industry in the mid-1970s after graduating from MARA, starting off as an executive trainee at the Inchcape Motor Group. She moved through the group in various roles in marketing and was the first woman to attain the position of Group Marketing Services Manager in the late 1970s.

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