C-Class Coupé TV commercial “Ferry” – Mercedes-Benz original

 

Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud during the ribbon-cutting to officiate the opening of the new Telisai-Lumut Highway. Image courtesy of Hock Sim from Media Permata.

Did you know 21 motorists caught speeding yesterday on the new highway? Image courtesy of Ridhwan Kamarulzaman of The Brunei Times.

I commute to Seria/KB at least 2-3 times in a month and I’ve been eyeing on the much awaited highway, the Telisai-Lumut Highway and it was officially opened last Tuesday. The distance of the new highway is 18.6km and it took six years to complete and the idea is to shorten the distance between BSB and Kuala Belait. The usual path is the single land road from Telisai to Sg Liang and now there are two alternatives.

So how much did it cost? Supposedly $138 million but due to additional incurring costs, it ended up to $168 million as quoted by Simon Tsen Khjeng, Senior Engineer at Darussalam Enterprise (DARe). The six year project had geo-technical issues such as landslips due to soil composition.

There are definitely pros and cons with the newer highway. The obvious disadvantage is that the highway is five kilometres longer than the old route. But of course, the single land route will have more traffic congestion and the road is bumpy at certain points too.

Last night, it was my first time experiencing the highway and I actually thought it was a brilliant move. I saw two road kills (dogs) on my way back. I might have to say that those living in Lumut might find it tedious as they have make a longer U-turn than usual since my friend shared her view on the highway.

For now, let’s be appreciative of the Government’s effort to improve the safety and also road congestion especially for commuters. It’s sad to know that there was a self-accident incident yesterday on the highway but no casualty and the relevant authorities are investigating into the case. The Royal Brunei Police Force were also on task to remind motorists not to speed on the highway by setting up roadblocks and speed traps. So just a bit of warning and reminder to all the drivers out there. Safety is more important and Hari Raya is coming soon too 😀

Kudos to the stakeholders involved in this project.

The new highway. Click image to enlarge.

 

Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof (L), Shariah Advisory Body Chairman of BIBD and its subsidiaries handing over the Zakat mock cheque to Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman (R), the Minister of Religious Affairs, as the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs (2R) and BIBD Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer( 2L) looks on

BIBD yesterday performed its zakat obligations, the forth pillar of Islam, by handing over its Zakat on Business for the financial year 2015, along with the Zakat for customer deposits to the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB). The payment of zakat is also a method of wealth distribution to support the deserving as stipulated by Shariah.

BIBD today performed its zakat obligations, the forth pillar of Islam, by handing over its Zakat on Business for the financial year 2015, along with the Zakat for customer deposits to the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB). The payment of zakat is also a method of wealth distribution to support the deserving as stipulated by Shariah.

BIBD’s Zakat on Business for 2015 amounted to B$ 2,612,091.93, whilst Zakat for customer deposits for the period of 2015-2016 came in at B$ 369,573.93.

The Zakat were handed over by Yang Mulia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof, Shariah Advisory Body Chairman of BIBD and its subsidiaries, Permanent Secretary at The Ministry of Religious Affairs to Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs (MORA), in his capacity as MUIB President.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, along with BIBD Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yang Mulia Mubashar Khokhar, and other MORA and BIBD officials. The event took place at the office of the Minister of Religious Affairs in Berakas.

 

BIBD personnel during the “Majlis Khatam Al-Quran at Tarindak D’Seni yesterday

BIBD yesterday held their annual ‘Majlis Khatam Al-Quran & Majlis Bersungkai’ at the Tarindak D’Seni in the capital for some 250 personnel. Through their participation, the event served to bring BIBD management and staff closer.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah prior to the Khatam Al-Quran that was participated by more than fifty BIBD personnel, and ended with the breaking of fast.

The event is part of BIBD’s Ramadhan religious activities along with their recent annual charity drive “Sirah Amal” and Majlis Bertahlil at the Royal Mausoleum.

In attendance was BIBD Chairman and Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, along with members of the Board of Directors and Shariah Advisory Body, as well as BIBD management and staff.

 

One of the Set Meals we ordered recently

A popular franchise in the Philippines, Pancake House International has been in the Sultanate in just less than two years. Located next to the famous Thien-Thien branch in Kiulap, it’s strategically located at the corner of the building and it has an orange look/feel to it so it’s hard to miss from a distance.

With only less than a week left, why not try out their Ramadhan Combo promotion (Check out the poster). They come in three sets – Pancake Meal A, Pancake Meal B and Pancake Meal C.

Of course, their best seller is the pancake itself. Why? It’s just fluffy and the condiment and syrup compliments well with the pancakes. You can try any other pancake but the quality of the pancakes here are of high quality. I do hope they still maintain it. Not to fret as they just don’t serve pancakes but other savoury dishes such as chicken, fish and rice too.

I would say it’s a pretty good deal from the Ramadhan Combo as there are set meals if you are tired of having buffets for Sungkai. So let me go through what are mentioned in the poster.

Pancake Meal A $23.50 (Ideal for 2 pax)
2 cups of rice, 2 pcs of Pan Chicken, 1pc Tinapa (I like the fish)
2 pcs of sunny side eggs, 1 House Spaghetti
2 pcs pancake (or 1 waffle) and 2 ice tea

Pancake Meal B $40 (Ideal for 4 pax)
4 cups of rice, 4pcs of Pan Chicken or Southern Maple Chicken
1 fish roll, 1 House Spaghetti, 2 pcs Tinapa
2pcs pancake (or 2 waffles), 2 ice tea

Pancake Meal C $58 (Ideal for 6 pax)
6 cups of rice, 6pcs of Pan Chicken or Southern Maple Chicken
2 fish rolls, 2 House Spaghetti, 3 pcs Tinapa
6 pcs pancake (or 3 waffles) and 6 ice teas

For bookings, you can call 223 5250

Pan Chicken

Southern Maple Chicken

House Spaghetti

Tinapa fish

Goes well with the dishes

mmmmmm pancakes

Five ain’t a crowd 😀

Pancake House International

 

Sheer attraction

The all-new C-Class heralds a new chapter in the Mercedes-Benz success story and sets new standards in the premium medium-size category. Thanks to an intelligent lightweight-design concept boasting weight savings of up to 100 kilograms, excellent aerodynamics and new economical engines, the C-Class establishes new efficiency benchmarks in its segment. A host of new assistance systems offers safety of the highest standard, while a new optional air-sprung suspension provides for exemplary ride and driving comfort as well as nimble and agile handling. In terms of appearance the new C-Class adopts a progressive approach with its clear yet emotional design and its high-class interior. Many other innovations and equipment features underscore the Saloon’s energising comfort and refined sportiness. In all, the high-class appeal of the new C-Class feels like an “upgrade to a higher class of vehicle”.

The new C-Class offers sensuous and clear design and a host of technical innovations as well as a comprehensive scope of standard equipment and exemplary emissions and fuel consumption figures. This all adds up to substantial added value and long-term savings on motor vehicle tax and at the filling station. . .

The C-Class has grown to take account of people’s increasing average height. With an 80-millimetre increase in the wheelbase (2840 millimetres) compared with the previous model, the vehicle is 95 millimetres longer (4686 milli­metres) and 40 millimetres wider (1810 millimetres). The result is a more spacious interior. At 480 litres the new C-Class also surpasses its predecessor in terms of boot capacity (in accordance with ISO 3832).

The C-Class has grown to take account of people’s increasing average height. With an 80-millimetre increase in the wheelbase (2840 millimetres) compared with the previous model, the vehicle is 95 millimetres longer (4686 milli­metres) and 40 millimetres wider (1810 millimetres). The result is a more spacious interior. At 480 litres the new C-Class also surpasses its predecessor in terms of boot capacity (in accordance with ISO 3832).

Sensuous clarity and purist forms

On a visual level, the new C-Class represents a bold departure from its predecessor. Its striking, dynamic design exudes sensuous clarity and arouses emotions. Modern aesthetics were the source of inspiration for the new Saloon’s sensuous lines and surfaces, whose harmony and dynamism directly touch everyone. The designers have created minimalist, purist forms for the C-Class which emphasise its intelligent technology and engineering. The clearly defined surfaces also deliberately display a degree of tension, lending them a modern and at the same time emotional character. Precise lines and sculptural surfaces create progressive light and shadow effects.

In the side view a long bonnet, a passenger compartment set well back and short overhangs define the C-Class’s classic, well-balanced Mercedes-Benz Saloon proportions.

There is a choice of two different fronts: sporty with a central star or – reserved solely for the EXCLUSIVE line – the classic Saloon radiator grille with the Mercedes star on the bonnet. This grille can close the louvres completely to optimise the Cd value, and with its overall appearance superbly emphasises the status of the refined Saloon.

The new C-Class comes with the “LED Intelligent Light System”. The characteristic of the headlights design lends the new C-Class its very own distinctive look in the dark, too. The rear lamp and brake light in the tail lamps feature LED technology with all headlamp versions.

High-class interior with fine details

The Mercedes-Benz designers have styled the interior on a level which is rarely encountered even in higher vehicle categories. This applies to the carefully chosen high-class materials and their pleasant touch and feel as well as to the precision of the finely crafted details. But also equally to a new design idiom which perfectly combines sensuousness and clarity with dynamic sportiness, and thus contributes to the high-class appeal of the interior.

The driver and front passenger enjoy a great deal of space and luxury in an unobtrusive, modern style on board the new C-Class. This gives rise to a feel-good atmosphere which is new to this category of vehicle – settling into your seat in the C-Class is akin to the uplifting feeling of being upgraded from economy to business class on an airliner.

The interior design demonstrates a bold new approach by Mercedes-Benz. Here the designers combine in accomplished style the architecture of the Mercedes-Benz sports cars with a totally new centre console featuring sporty flowing lines. In vehicles with automatic transmission, a large one-piece centre console panel performs an elegant sweep from the centre air vents to the armrest. These seamless, clear-cut lines create a sense of open space and convey a thrillingly purist and modern feel.

On vehicles with manual transmission, the centre console is slightly steeper and features two separate trim elements in order to create ample space for ergonomic operation of the shift lever.

A centrally positioned free-standing central display is the main eye-catching feature across the centre console – with a screen diagonal of 17.78 centimetres (7 inches), or 21.33 centimetres (8.4 inches) if COMAND Online is specified.

Five round air vents lend the instrument panel a sporty touch. With their metallic cool-touch effect they create a tangible contrast to the warm look of the other materials – such as the wood in the centre console or the ARTICO man-made leather on the instrument panel. The “upgrade” feel duly continues with the controls. All switches have a high-quality, three-dimensional design befitting a luxury vehicle and benefit from a clear layout.

The innovative touchpad developed by Mercedes-Benz in the handrest above the controller on the centre tunnel marks a further evolutionary step. As on a smartphone, this provides for very simple and intuitive operation of all the head-unit functions using finger gestures.

The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting – in any language supported by Audio 20 or COMAND Online. The user receives clear tactile feedback when operating the touchpad’s control surface, which is highly conducive to genuine intuitive use.

A head-up display is also new to the C-Class. Like in a fighter jet, it displays important information directly in the driver’s field of vision on the front windscreen, thus providing for clear legibility and less distraction from the road ahead. The system provides information on speed, posted speed limits, navigation instructions and messages from the DISTRONIC system.

Three different design and equipment lines for the exterior and interior each offer further scope for individualisation in addition to the standard equipment and appointments. The AVANTGARDE line showcases the C-Class as a sporty Saloon, the EXCLUSIVE line places the emphasis on an elevated status and modern luxury while the AMG Line lends the C-Class a decidedly sporty appearance.

The body-in-white of the new C-Class provides an innovative basis for reduced weight, outstanding rigidity, including load introduction rigidity for excellent handling, combined with optimum noise and vibration characteristics and a high level of crash safety. Thanks to intelligent and innovative lightweight construction, the aluminium hybrid body is around 70 kg lighter than a conventional steel body. The vehicle’s overall weight is even reduced by up to 100 kilograms. As such, the new C-Class leads the “lightweight rankings” in its segment. This spawns numerous benefits: the lightweight construction of the new C-Class cuts fuel consumption by up to 20 percent without any loss of performance, while at the same time enabling a lower centre of gravity, which in turn gives rise to the vehicle’s noticeably sporty and agile handling.

Mercedes-Benz achieves this technological leap in lightweight construction by various measures, including a completely new design and an unusually high aluminium content for a vehicle built in large-scale series production. Compared with the successful predecessor, the aluminium content has increased from less than 10 percent to almost 50 percent.

In keeping with Mercedes-Benz traditions, the body shell is designed for exemplary crash safety. The Saloon not only meets all current national and international laws, but also all rating requirements as well as the more stringent internal Mercedes-Benz safety requirements, which are based on what actually happens in real-life accidents.

A high-strength passenger safety cell forms the core of this concept. It is surrounded by specifically computed and field-tested deformation zones, which ensure maximum safety for the occupants by virtue of optimised force paths and a combination of die-cast aluminium components and ultra-high-strength materials. An outer skin consisting almost completely of aluminium provides a protective shell for the body structure.

Four-cylinder petrol engines with power outputs ranging from 115 to 180 kW (156 to 245 hp) will also be available. These include the C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Edition special model, which qualifies for efficiency class A. A six-cylinder petrol engine rated at 245 kW (333 hp) will follow in due course.

The BlueDIRECT four-cylinder petrol engines of the C-Class combine spontaneous response and exemplary power delivery with high efficiency and best-in-class emissions. To this end, Mercedes-Benz has transferred the BlueDIRECT technology from the V6 and V8 engines to the four-cylinder engine. The direct injection system with spray-guided combustion, first introduced into passenger-car series production by Mercedes-Benz, employs an electronically controlled precision multiple injection process. The third-generation direct injection technology is complemented by “fast multiple ignition”.

Suspension – sporty yet comfortable

The suspension on the new C-Class is a totally new development. It provides for nimble and agile handling that makes driving a great pleasure on winding roads while also offering the highest standard of ride comfort in the segment.

A newly designed 4-link front axle plays a major part in the agile handling characteristics. Thanks to the 4-link principle, the wheel suspension is fully decoupled from the spring strut. The resultant favourable axle kinematics allow more grip and higher cornering forces. As a result, the suspension responds more sensitively to steering movements and allows a sporty, agile driving style. An optimised multi-link independent rear suspension with 5links ensures unsurpassed wheel location qualities and supreme straight-line stability.

The new C-Class Saloon is fitted as standard with a steel suspension. Three DIRECT CONTROL suspensions with selective damping system are available in conjunction with this suspension:

• a comfort suspension

• a comfortable Avantgarde suspension lowered by 15 millimetres

• a sports suspension lowered by 15 millimetres

Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive: the intelligent car

It is the declared aim of Mercedes-Benz to make the highest standard of safety available to everyone. To this end, the new C-Class incorporates almost all of the new assistance systems with a host of enhanced functions which celebrated their world premiere in the S-Class and E-Class. The assistance systems enhance both comfort and safety. Mercedes-Benz calls this Intelligent Drive.

The new C-Class offers numerous innovative safety and assistance systems. It is equipped as standard with ATTENTION ASSIST, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and fatigue. On motorways the COMAND Online navigation function offers nearby break options as stopovers, providing the system has been specified in the vehicle. The ATTENTION ASSIST function offers an adjustable level of sensitivity and can inform drivers in a separate view in the instrument cluster about their level of drowsiness and how long they have been driving since their last break.

In addition to Adaptive Brake Assist, which offers protection from collisions from speeds as low as 7 km/h, standard-fit COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS also features an additional function: when the risk of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 200 km/h, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles. The system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles at a speed of up to 50 km/h, and is able to prevent rear-end collisions at up to 40 km/h.

In addition, new assistance systems and existing assistance systems with significantly enhanced functions from the new S-Class and E-Class are also optionally available, combining data from various sensor technologies as part of the Intelligent Drive concept to substantially enhance comfort and safety:

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and integrated Stop&Go Pilot is a semi-autonomous Stop-and-Go assist system, which in addition to using the lane markings is able to follow the vehicle ahead at speeds below 60 km/h, thus providing a safe and convenient means of following the flow of traffic.

BAS PLUS Brake Assist can now also detect crossing traffic and boost the braking force if the driver fails to apply the brakes sufficiently; the PRE-SAFE® Brake can detect stationary vehicles and even pedestrians, brake autonomously if the driver fails to react and thus prevent accidents at speeds of up 50 km/h and mitigate the severity of collisions at speeds of up to 72 km/h. In flowing traffic the PRE-SAFE® Brake provides assistance according to the same mode of operation throughout the speed range from 7 to 200 km/h.

Enhanced Active Lane Keeping Assist can now also prevent the vehicle from unintentionally drifting out of lane by applying the brakes on one side when the lane markings are broken and there is a risk of collision, e.g. as a result of vehicles overtaking at high speed, parallel traffic or even oncoming traffic.

The numerous assistance systems also include

• Active Parking Assist, which enables automated parking with active steering and brake intervention in both parallel and end-on parking spaces,

• a 360° camera, which is able to show the vehicle and its surroundings from various perspectives, including a virtual bird’s-eye view,

• Traffic Sign Assist with wrong-way warning function, which warns of speed limits and alerts the driver to no-overtaking zones and no-entry signs, as well as

• Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus, which allows the high-beam headlamps to be kept on permanently without dazzling traffic by masking out other vehicles in the light cone of the high-beam headlamps.

Air conditioning: signals from space

Mercedes-Benz has systematically advanced and substantially improved the air conditioning system in the new C-Class. This applies in particular to the control quality, performance, efficiency and air quality. The new C-Class is also the only vehicle in the segment to offer tunnel detection via satellite navigation. It uses map data from the navigation system and the GPS location data to close the air-recirculation flap automatically when the vehicle enters a tunnel, subsequently re-opening it when the vehicle emerges from the tunnel.

Another highlight contributing to a feel-good atmosphere is the AIR-BALANCE package with active fragrancing, air ionisation and more efficient filtration than is available on the base model.