Safety gear

By The Nation
Published on May 14, 2008

GM offers hands-free kits to Colorado pickup buyers

Chevrolet is quickly responding to the new Land Transport Department Bill prohibiting mobile-phone use while driving by offering Bluetooth hands-free kits for Colorado pickup truck

buyers until May 31.

The kit, worth Bt4,800, incorporated into a special replacement rear-view mirror, can communicate directly with any mobile phone with Bluetooth capability, General Motors Southeast Asia Operations board member Chartchai Suwanasevok said.

"When installed, it permits two-way conversations through a speaker and a microphone embedded in the rear-view mirror.

Restoring heritage

Thailand's biggest vintage car contest to kick off next week

The Vintage Car Club of Thailand and the Royal Paragon Hall will spend over Bt10 million to organise the 32nd Vintage Car Concours at the Royal Paragon Hall from May 21 to 25.

The event is the biggest vintage car contest in Thailand putting on show more than 180 rare vintage cars, classic cars and vintage motorcycles, altogether worth Bt360 million. In addition, a large number of miniature replica models will also be exhibited.

Vintage Car Club of Thailand president Kwanchai Paphatphong said: "The Vintage Car Concours has been held consecutively for the 32nd year and this is the first time that the Club will hand out 'Glossy Heritage Awards' with the slogan 'The Honour of Vintage Car, the Pride of Restoration Work' to restore and maintain vintage cars so that they become precious national heritage."

Top honour

BMW powers to glory at international engine awards

German auto-maker BMW has won six category wins at the annual International Engine of the Year awards held at the Engine Expo 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The company also won the "International Engine of the Year 2008" for its twin-turbo 3-litre engine, the company said.

The powerful BMW unit uses turbocharging to achieve high power output from smaller-displacement engines that use less fuel and produce less CO2.

Another BMW class winner was its 2-litre twinturbo diesel unit, which consumes only 5.2-litres per 100 kilometres while delivering a maximum output of 204hp. It won the "Best New Engine of the Year" award.