2008 Lancer

"* * * * *" That's the sound of me holding my breath when I saw photos of the new Mitsubishi Lancer. I must say, Mitsubishi has really outdone itself this time. Compared to the its predecessor, the Lancer boast a wider track and longer wheelbase, benefiting passenger space and driving characteristics. The new Lancer was launched in the US in March 2007 and is expected to be launched (rumour has it) in Malaysia before the end of the year...

At the heart of the Lancer is Mitsubishi's new 4B11 engine MIVEC engine. Engine choices are simple - a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 152 horsepower matched to five-speed manual or continuously-variable (CVT) transmissions (operated by paddle-shift Sportronic). Reading the reviews, some writers opined that the stick shift should have been built with a 'short shift', such as the Honda Civic SI. Regardless, I've always been a fan of Mitsubishi cars and technology and is not ashamed to say that I'm partial towards Mitsubishi compared to other Japanese makes. Not even the new Civic impress me as much as the new Lancer. What's amazing is that the price tag is slightly above $14,000 in the US.

This is one sharp-looking sedan. The most daring design element is the front end, with its frowning grille and sharp headlights tucked underneath an angled hood.

Around back, the taillights slant inward, toward the license plate, but also protrude out from the car's body not flush like most vehicles, just at the top of the taillight.

The Lancer comes in 3 models, the base-model called the DE - Lancer entry-level model with all the necessary features, the Lancer ES - a more properly equipped version with 16" alloy rims and keyless entry and the Lancer GTS - comes with 18" alloy rims, keyless entry, satellite tacking and immobilising system, front strut bar, body kit and racing-tuned suspension. The ES and GTS models comes with a multi-information display (US specs only though...). That's a lot of detail for a company's entry-level vehicle.

If you're keen, check out Mitsubishi USA's website here. But hold your breath. I suspect the Lancer will be landing on our shores sooner that you can say "Vroomm"...

One Sweet Ride

Inspired by the Evo X, 152bhp, 2.0-litre Mivec engine, Paddle-shift Sportronic, 7-airbag safety systems, 0-60mph in 7.7 secs.

Coming soon to a Mitsubishi dealer near you (fingers crossed)

next post...or two...watch out for it...need to do some research...:)

New Link - My Flickr Page - Photos

Hey all, I added a new category "My Photos" and a new link under there, "Peter's Flickr Page".

Decided to put it up after having opened a Flickr account. Since I got my DSLR, figured it would be worthwhile putting some of my work on the net for comments for pointers' sake. So, please feel free to pen a few words when you get on my Flickr page. Still need a whole lot of practise with the camera.

As you may agree, the journey into beauty is from the eye of the beholder. Some of the shots are as how I see things, without much cognitive thought into its composition. A moment passed is a moment captured. Only here, I do it with a single-lens reflex.

My Counsin's Wedding Dinner

June 10th. My counsin Stanley Wong (referredd by the rest of us as "Chee Seng") hosted a Ipoh-style wedding dinner at the Pusing Public Restaurant on Jalan Veerasamy, complete with a compliment of Hokkien-singing kareoke aunties and kau-foos (uncles). My counsin is married to Rachel Cheong (my family's name's sake).

Being the only one with a DSLR, I took my chance to step in as the official-unofficial camera guy. I'm beginning to enjoy being a menace with my lens. :)

After years of not seing my relatives, times like these certainly make trips like last Sunday's worth it. Always enjoy the catching up sessions with my counsins. Just look at Chee Keong's (Chee Seng's elder brother) daughter, Mun Yee. Such a bundle of joy. My, that makes me her "low piu koh"!!! , and she'll probably start calling me when she learns to speak. Chee Keong has a 7 year old son who is already calling me that! Geeez!

At times like this, my mind is jostled by the thought of wether this KL boy is growing old. Feels like it especially when my counsins are getting married one by one...hehe. Everytime I'm confronted with the usual question of "when is it your turn?", my well-rehearsed answer would be, "I'm married to the job", shrugging them off later with a laugh and promptly changing the subject.

No night is complete without having the groom joining his inebriated classmates on stage to do their tipsy version of "Pang Yow" (cantonese for "friends").

The drive back from Ipoh took a little longer than usual. Reckoned it was the last day of the school holidays...it was bumper to bumper just after Lembah Beringin.

Chee Seng and wife has gone to Phuket for their honeymoon. I look forward to catching up with him when he comes back.

Well, my heartiest congratulations to the happy couple and my uncle and aunt ('ku cheong' Wong Yew Man and 'tai ku', Cheong Yoke Kam).

Transform and Roll Out!!

Then and now...
Remember when we got off school and looked forward to the 5pm cartoons on national television? No doubt, one of our favourites was The Transformers.

The battle of good versus evil rages on to the 21st century. The mechanical characters which we were so familiar with during the early 80s are back, this time with the full compliment of CGI augmentation. Check out the new Optimus Prime and Megatron, the respective leaders of the Autobots and the Decepticons.

Due for release on 28.6.2007, this Michael Bay direction is set to bring out old memories of 30 foot mechas stomping around with their ability to transform into cool vehicles and battemodes. From the 80s, the Transformers saga have lived on in various incarnations and alternate universes, but this movie is bound to bring home the old "transform and roll out" memories of the yesteryears.

Star Trek XI Update

The word is out. Star Trek XI will be out in Christmas 2008. JJ Abrams, producer and director of the 11th installment of the Trek movie franchise.

Since the story is written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (credit given to them for Mission Impossible :III), I reckon this latest installment will not be a dissapointment. In MI3, these 2 were teamed up with Abrams and for Trek XI, are the movie's executive producers.

From what I know, this movie will centre around the beginning of the United Federation of Planets and probably the inception of Starfleet. It's supposed to be a "reimaging" of the franchise as opposed to a prequel. The focus will be the crossing of paths of James T. Kirk (supposed to be played by Matt Damon) and Spock, probably two young cadets in the academy. I don't know if the USS Enterprise have been built (or may be in spacedock amidst her shakedown cruise) in this time frame, but hopefully, Kirk's Kobayashi Maru simulation is featured in this movie.

Undoubtedly, this film will give new perspective on the classic storyline and the begginings of the famous 5-year mission of the galant crew of NCC-1701.

Live long and prosper.