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“LIKE” BEST CAR SINGAPORE ON FACEBOOK BY 30 SEPTEMBER AND STAND A CHANCE TO WIN AN ACZON MICROTRON MT SERIES AMPLIFIER AND I-FI COAXIAL SPEAKERS WORTH $1,000, COURTESY OF RAVE I.C.E. www.facebook.com/bestcar.sg
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ACZON MICROTRON MT2.50 • Power Output: 40 Watts x 2 Channels at 40HM • THD: 0.05% THD+N • Frequency Response at 1dB: 20Hz~40KHz
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W-613 6.5” COAXIAL • Peak Music Power: 120 Watts • Sensitivity: 88dB • Frequency: 60Hz~20kHz
CONTENTS
TA B L E O F
目 次
6
ス ク ープ
BESTSCOOP 6
BEST CAR’S 16 SECRETS
Japanese automakers prepare to shake up the market with the commercial releases of their best and brightest models!
レ ポ ー ト
BESTREPORT-O! 30
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イベ ント
SOUNDING OFF AT THE SASCA/ IASCA CAR AUDIO CARNIVAL 2011 At the SASCA/IASCA Car Audio Carnival, stellar sounds were combined with radical rides!
デ ビ ュ ー
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MAKING THE GRADE
Best Car grades the Presidents of Japan’s eight automakers.
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BESTDEBUTANT 26
BESTSHOWDOWN 44
HONDA’S PERFECT FITS
Honda welcomes the newest addition to the Fit family.
TITILLATING AND TRIUMPHANT RETURNS
Honda brushes the dust off its Type R series!
BESTEVENTS 22
NOT-SO-SWEET ANTICIPATION
Toyota and Subaru’s FT-86 will finally enter the market two years after its debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
対 決
HONDA THE DREAM MEISTER
The automaker finally revisits its sports car plans!
We Are Looking... If you have a story to tell, or would like to contribute to Best Car, drop us an email at bestcar@comm.com.sg.
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特 集
ガ ジ ェ ッ ト： 車
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BESTWHIZBANGS: CARS
BESTFEATURE THE TWO SIDES OF THE AUTOMOTIVE PYRAMID
Everything has a bright side and a dark side—cars are no different. 62
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MIMOTO’S AUTOMOTIVE SCRAPBOOK VOL. 4: TOYOTA MOTORSPORTS THROUGH THE AGES
Relive Toyota’s glory days on the circuit and rally track. キ ー パ ー ソ ン
BESTA-LIST 80
FUN CAR LABORATORY VOL. 10
Terry Itoh makes a celebrity of Nissan GT-R. 84
90
SUPER CARLIFE VOL. 8
CUSTOMISATION Á LA CARTE
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GOODYEAR’S TWIN EAGLES
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Goodyear introduces the latest additions to its Eagle F1 range.
“NIMS” TAKES THE STAGE
Nissan and Mitsubishi join hands in the quest for mutual automotive glory.
BESTWHIZBANGS: LIFESTYLE
Local customiser Aire Pro Designs take its artistic canvas to the streets and the racetrack.
REMEMBERING THE TITAN
The prolific Hiromu Naruse’s legacy lives on at the Nürburgring. 66
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93
PHILIPS TAKES THE WHEEL
Philips breaks into the automotive scene with innovative products that will awe all car aficionados. ファッシ ョ ン
BESTRUNWAY 96
HOT REELS
Films that pack a punch and tug at heartstrings. 105
HOT PLAYLIST
Feel-good tunes with an edge. ラ イ フ ス タ イル
BESTLIFESTYLE 106
REMEMBERING THE NEWSMAKERS
We skim through our past issues and bring you some of the models that made the headlines.
STANDING THE TEST OF TIME
Time may be fleeting, but these timepieces make marking it a pleasure.
INNER AND OUTER PERSPECTIVES
Get acquainted with one of the driving forces behind 988online.net. ギ フト
BESTGIFTS 108
FREEBIES R US
You Like, we give, you take.
Koji “Prince” Aoyama strikes in a Shelby Cobra.
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ese an ers p Ja mak ake sh to au re to t with rke al pa pre e ma erci ir m e th up e com of th test s th ase righ rele and b ls! st de be mo
MAZDA EUNOS ROADSTER Mazda astounded the automotive market when it announced the arrival of its SKYACTIV-equipped Demio on 9 June—it arrived in showrooms on 30 June. Its main attraction is its unbelievable fuel economy, which is comparable to a hybrid vehicle. Demio’s body, transmission and suspension have also been developed using Mazda’s newest breakthrough. Mazda’s next SKYACTIV car will probably be the next Roadster, which will debut in 2013. Like Demio, its body will employ the very best of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology—not only that, its SKYACTIV chassis will also be more lightweight. It will therefore be much lighter— while the current Roadster weighs 1100kg, its successor will weigh
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SECRET
S
just 1000kg. This is in line with the development team’s plan to ensure that the fourth generation Roadster will come in at 1000kg or less. Also, though Roadster’s seats will be similar to Demio’s, they will be made from new lightweight materials. Additionally, Roadster’s lightweight frame will enable Mazda to install a smaller engine, which in turn will improve fuel efficiency by 10 percent and will enable a 30 percent
The mass-produced Demio arrived in showrooms on 30 June with a new 1296cc SKYACTIV engine—it generates 84bhp. The integration of the Mirror Cycle raises its compression ratio to 14:1 and it can clock up to 30km/ℓ. 1.5ℓ and 2ℓ variants will also be available.
スク ープ opers to take a different approach. Nevertheless, this new system will no doubt reduce fuel consumption during start-up and acceleration and a smaller motor with lithium-ion batteries may also decrease its price tag. Another sports model to watch for is Nissan’s Fairlady Z, which is going for a revamp in 2013. It will be a hybrid and will supposedly share Fuga’s VQ35 engine. But whereas Fuga sports a naturallyaspirated (NA) 3.5ℓ engine, Fairlady Z’s will be upgraded to allow it to clock 19km/ℓ, which is identical to Roadster.
RX-8’s successor—aptly called “RX-9”—will be a hybrid equipped with motor assist; it will increase fuel savings by 30 percent.
Nissan 370Z is currently being tested with Fuga’s hybrid system. It will clock 19km/ℓ, and will have twice Fuga’s power.
improvement by 2015. The new Roadster will not be equipped with Demio’s 1.3ℓ SKYACTIV engine but may share Axela and CX-5’s 1.5ℓ or 2ℓ engines. Nevertheless, its fuel consumption rate will be 15 percent better compared to the current model and a 30 percent overall improvement is anticipated. Whereas the current Roadster clocks 13.5km/ℓ, its successor will achieve 18.5km/ℓ—a 5km/ℓ enhancement. What is more, its increasingly compact body and Idling Stop will make the new Roadster worthy of the title,
“The 21st Century’s Lightweight Sports Car”. But the next Roadster is not Mazda’s only attraction. It might be joined by the highly anticipated RX-9—RX-8’s successor—that will supposedly have a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy. It goes without saying that it will sport Mazda’s newest rotary engine—initial speculations also claim that it would be powered by hydrogen technology. That said, recent breakthroughs in turbocharger and electric motor research might prompt devel-
Not only will the new Roadster be equipped with a SKYACTIV frame, but its cabin will also be fitted with new and lightweight materials. This it will weigh 1000kg or less.
MAZDA EUNOS ROADSTER
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BEST DEBUTANT デ ビ ュ ー
明かされたニュービートのこれから......
HONDA THE DREAM MEISTER
Honda’s President, Takanobu Ito, breaks his silence about the automaker’s new Beat!
It
is rare for an automaker’s President to disclose the details of a new model prior to its launch. But recent disclosures suggest the tides are turning: Daihatsu’s President, Koichi Ina, revealed the fuel consumption rate of the automaker’s newest light vehicle, e:S. Honda’s former President, Takeo Fukui, also announced the development of NSX’s successor well in advance. Now, Fukui’s successor, Takanobu Ito continues the legacy. Everything began on 23 June at the Annual General Meeting of Honda’s shareholders. Unexpectedly, Ito came forward during the Q and A session and announced that the automaker was in the midst of developing its next lightweight sports car to meet the demands of fans. This immediately caused a stir among the shareholders and the media. Speculations about Honda’s next sports model have been
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circulating for some time. In fact, an article in Best Car Japan’s 26 January 2010 issue reported that Honda would definitely have a sports model in its light vehicle line-up. So here we are. Honda’s engineers had been pushing for the approval of their sports car plans, but these only received the thumbs-up after
Honda unveiled its OSM (Open Study Model) concept at the 2008 London Auto Show, while the Hybrid Sports Concept was released at last year’s Geneva Auto Show. This is just like Honda.
the recent Japanese earthquake. While one would expect that the automaker would devote most of its efforts into completely resuming its operations after the disaster, the confirmation of its new sports model—which will reportedly succeed Beat—indicates that the car will play a major role in Honda’s revival. Though shareholders may have some concerns, the news was met with shock by Honda’s fans. At the moment, concrete details about the Beat’s successor have yet to be disclosed but Ito’s statement
has spurned some speculations. The first question concerns its size— while Ito announced that it would be a lightweight sports car, other sources suspect that it might be closer to a light vehicle. The second question concerns the layout of its powertrain, with one group anticipating an FF model, and another expecting a new midship car. The final query deals with logistics, such as when the car will be released and how much it will cost. It may take some time before these questions can be answered, but suffice to say that Honda lovers and petrolheads are hanging on to Honda’s every word.
HONDA CLAIMS THAT THE RUMOURED FF BEAT SUCCESSOR WOULD BE AN AFFORDABLE CAR THAT IS ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE—IT MAY EVEN BE TURBOCHARGED, LIKE DAIHATSU’S COPEN. IT MAY ALSO HAVE A METAL ROOF.
One-and-a-half years ago, speculation was rife that the successor to the midship Beat was on its way. It was suspected to be smaller and lighter than the original, and enthusiasts expected it to be a midship.
THE CASE FOR FF When Best Car Japan reported on the Beat’s successor in early 2010, the piece relied upon the information available at the time. At the end of 2008, former President Fukui disclosed that Honda was working on a brand new light vehicle platform, which would debut in a sports model similar to Beat—fans were thus excited by the possibility of a revival. A year later, a Honda insider said that a new light vehicle similar to Daihatsu’s Tanto would be launched in 2011 to compete with Suzuki and Daihatsu in the light vehicle arena. While these plans have been slightly delayed because of the earthquake, Honda will supposedly launch several new light vehicles by the end of the year. Now let us return to Beat’s successor. As early as 2008, President Fukui mentioned that it would be included in Honda’s production schedule, and in 2009, a new platform was designed. Afterwards, the concept was unveiled, and the current President, Takanobu Ito, gave approval to proceed. One of the most contentious arguments about the Beat successor concerns its powertrain. Many enthusiasts fully expect it to have the midship layout, like the original Beat. However, it is more likely that it will be an FF car, like most of the models in Honda’s upcoming light vehicle line-up. The FF layout has several advantages. First, it will allow Honda to completely revamp Beat’s current 658cc inline-3 SOHC P07A engine—
S E PT E M B E R 2 0 1 1
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BEST SHOWDOWN 対 決
FIT HY BRID VERSUS FIT SH UT HYBRI TLE D
実は中身が違います。 乗り心地も静粛性もグッと進化!
HONDA’S PERFECT FITS Honda welcomes the newest addition to the Fit family.
Honda Fit Shuttle faced much adversity before its 16 June launch. Originally scheduled to debut on 17 March, the earthquake in Eastern Japan had the automaker racing to move the car’s production from its Sayama Factory to Suzuka. It was an inspired move on Honda’s part, one that would have been impos-
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sible had it been any other time in its history. Now that Fit Shuttle has finally arrived, the automaker can pat itself on the back for a job well done. At the first glance, it is clear that Fit Shuttle is a larger and more spacious version of the innovative Fit, which has quickly become the benchmark of all compact cars. In
TEXT • NAOYA SUZUKI
HONDA FIT SHUTTLE PRICE LIST Variant Transmission Drive Layout 15C CVT FF 5-AT 4WD 15X CVT FF 5-AT 4WD Hybrid-C CVT FF Hybrid Hybrid Smart Selection Navi Premium Selection
Price* ¥1.6 million ¥1.8 million ¥1.7 million ¥1.8 million ¥1.8 million ¥1.9 million ¥1.9 million ¥2.3 million
THE BESTSELLING HONDA FIT NOW COMES IN WAGON VARIANTS— CAN THEY TRIUMPH AMIDST THE DECREASING DEMAND FOR WAGONS? WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FIT HYBRID AND FIT SHUTTLE HYBRID.
fact, Fit’s influence has spurned a new automotive trend, one where size is limited in the pursuit of improved fuel efficiency. Currently, the dominant belief is that only users who require a greater seating capacity and expansive space would purchase a van—such as Honda’s own Stepwagon—while other consumers would be more than happy
Though Fit Shuttle shares Fit Hybrid’s 2500mm wheel base, it is 510mm longer overall. Also, its 496ℓ cargo capacity is much larger compared to Fit Hybrid’s 341ℓ trunk.
* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships.
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BEST FEATURE 特 集
GRMNスポーツハイブリッドコンセプト
REMEMBERING
THE TITAN The prolific Hiromu Naruse’s legacy lives on at the Nürburgring.
In
the state of RhinelandPalatinate, Germany, about 60km south of Cologne, there is a small town called Nürburg. Any motorsports enthusiast knows that this quaint town is the home of the Nürburging, the internationally renowned circuit that is the pride of Germany. Widely considered as the world’s most demanding racecourse, many automakers perform their cars’ final test on this circuit, as well as their final tuning
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processes and time trials. This year, the Nürburgring 24 Hours Race was held from 24~26 June, and fans flocked to the picturesque Nürburg to revel in the proceedings. However, one new concept car was revealed a day before the race began—and that was none other than the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II.
REMEMBERING HIROMU NARUSE On 23 June 2010, Toyota’s top test driver, Hiromu Naruse, passed away in a collision
during a test on the suburban roads close to the Nürburgring. Apart from being a test driver, Naruse was also the force behind Toyota’s GRMN project and had always dreamed of developing a hybrid sports car. He spearheaded the development of the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept—which is inspired by Toyota’s MR2 Spyder (called “MRS” in Japan)—with the aim of developing an enjoyable and valuable hybrid car. After his untimely death, the project was temporarily put on hold.
The first GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept was exhibited at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. The midship powertrain and extended wheel base made it stable without compromising performance—it is also fun to drive.
Given this history, announcing the new GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept at the Nürburging had a special meaning for the GAZOO Racing Team. It could be their way of paying homage to Naruse’s memory and of showing him how far the team has gone in upholding his vision.
PRESENTING THE NEW GRMN SPORTS HYBRID CONCEPT II The first GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept prototype was developed in 2005. Toyota mounted a hybrid
system on its MR2 and brought the car to the Nürburging to be tested. In fact, special testing sessions were conducted specifically for the media and press representatives. However, after Naruse’s passing, the project was suspended. In 2009, Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, became increasingly interested in the GRMN Racing initiative and ordered that the development of the Sports Hybrid Concept be resumed. The GRMN—short for “GAZOO Racing tuned by Meister of Nürburgring”—brand aims to
The latest GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept is inspired by Toyota MR2, with some enhancements. It is 455mm longer, 195mm wider and 35mm lower than MR2, with a wheel base that is 195mm longer. It is also larger than Mazda Roadster and is shorter but wider than Lexus IS C.
promote the joy of driving, and it provided Toyota with three concept cars that were unveiled at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon. One of these was the original GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept. Some time ago, we received information that the second GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept would debut at this year’s Tokyo Auto Show and that it was now based on Lexus IS C. However, the plan was cancelled before the show because the prototype was not yet ready. Finally, the GRMN Sports
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BEST A–LIST キーパーソン
毒蛇が の 説 伝 の ’60年代 量ボディ 軽 J 活 現代に復 を生み出 ー ワ パ コ +爆発的 ンの猛毒 ジ ン エ す7ℓ に、王子 ン ョ シ ンビネー ロj もメロメ
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ce ji “Prin o K , h . t on Cobra y This m lb e h in a S strikes
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VOL. 8
ny motorsports aficionado will know that the Shelby Cobra gets its name from the legendary American racer, Carroll Shelby. It was a particularly imposing presence on the 1960s circuit, with its glamorous roadster body and unbelievable performance. This time, Koji “Prince” Aoyama takes the wheel of an authentic Shelby Cobra CSX 4000, one that has been certified by Carroll Shelby himself. Our day began at Shelby Asia, the official Japanese dealer for Shelby Asia, Ltd, at Yokohama City. Asked whether he had previously driven a Cobra, Aoyama replied, “I’d wanted to, but I’d never really had the chance—this is ironic, since I’ve driven so many colourful cars. I’m glad that my chance to test a Cobra has finally arrived!”
BEST WHIZBANGS > CARS ガ ジ ェット：車
TEXT AND PHOTOS • CHERYL TAY
Local customiser Aire Pro Designs take its artistic canvas to the streets and the racetrack.
t
e t r a C a l á
he customisation of a helmet or car is not uncommon but I have never fully understood the rationale behind it. That is, until I delivered my own helmet to custom painters Dylan Liang, Shane Chia and Warren Lim at Aire Pro Designs. When I dropped off the helmet, it looked just like any other mass-produced accessory: a plain white accessory identical to hundreds—perhaps even thousands—of others worldwide. But when I returned to collect it, I was awestruck by the magic Liang, Chia and Lim had worked on it. Not only had its sentimental value increased exponentially, it was also genuinely rewarding and satisfying to decorate a commercial object with a theme of my own choosing. Customised helmets serve a greater purpose on the circuit. A team of racers often wear identical accessories so that they can be easily distinguished during the race. For instance, during the extremely high-speed races of Formula One, each driver is only recognisable through his team’s colours. Aire Pro Designs was founded in 2007 when local custom painters Liang, Chia and Lim saw the potential for customisation in the Singapore market. None of the three came from artistic backgrounds: Chia was a personal trainer, Lim was an F&B manager and Liang was a captain in the Army. Yet their belief in the strength of their craft prodded them to start Aire Pro Designs to prove that the local customisation industry is able to reach the international standard.
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BEST WHIZBANGS > LIFESTYLE ガ ジ ェット：ラ イ フ ス タ イ ル
E M I
g n i d Stan
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TISSOT PRS 516 CHRONO AUTO VALJOUX
ALFRED DUNHILL CLASSIC WATCH
BREITLING BLACKBIRD RED STRIKE LIMITED EDITION
In the 1960s, Tissot’s PRS 516 was already a favourite on and off the circuit. Its award-winning advertising campaign featured the watch wrapped around a racer’s gloved wrist. The PRS 516’s current incarnation pays tribute to the brand’s commitment to motorsports through its sophisticated Valjoux chronograph movement and retro-modern design. The high-tech dials include sub counters that are reminiscent of the steering wheels of racing cars. The motoring connection is also pronounced in the 45mm case’s inner detailing, which resembles tyre treads.
The reason why classics occupy a privileged place in their fields is that their features possess an elusive timelessness—Alfred Dunhill’s Classic Watch is an excellent example. An 896-dato Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre is housed in an elegantly simple but resolutely masculine stainless steel case. The faceted hands compliment the silvered guillouché dial, and the second sub counter is located at six o’clock. The Classic Watch is available with either a stainless steel case with a black alligator or full stainless steel strap, or with a pink gold case with a matt black alligator or pink gold strap.
Sporting the trademark black Blackbird dial, the Breitling Blackbird Red Strike retains the aggressiveness that it is known for—with the addition of powerful red accents. Its self-winding Calibre 44 chronograph movement is COSCA-certified like the rest of Breitling’s timepieces, and it is water-resistant to 300 metres. The red-lined dial is equally attractive in either a full-polished or satin-brushed finish case, and with a racketed bi-directional rotating bezel. Production has been limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide.
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TAG HEUER CARRERA HERITAGE 2011 marks Tag Heuer’s “Mastering Speed for 150 Years” celebration, as well as the the fourth year of the Singapore Prix. The watchmaker commemorates these special occasions with its limited edition Carrera Heritage Calibre 16 Automatic Chronograph. Connoting passion, innovation and heroism in Spanish, the Carrera series was first launched by Jack Heuer to pay homage to the Carrera Pana-americana Mexico, one of the world’s most challenging races. Limited to 250 pieces, the Carrera Heritage is inspired by the prototype of the 1945 Carrera, and with its Calibre 16 movement, resembles a fine vintage chronograph. Meticulous care was taken in reproducing the original Carrera’s pushbutton, crown, index designs and hand shape. The sleek “flinqué” textured black dial sports three sub counters, protruding polished silver Arabic numerals and a coloured Tag Heuer logo. The 41mm polished steel case and steel fixed bezel look exquisite on any wrist. But what truly sets the Carrera Heritage apart are the green chronograph second hand and green sub counters, as well as the green stitching lining the black alligator strap. “The Carrera Heritage characterises the long-standing foundation of Tag Heuer’s watchmaking know-how, with its motor racing heritage, making it an ideal choice to commemorate 150 years of Mastering Speed and the exhilarating fourth Singapore Grand Prix,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of Tag Heuer.
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