Clutch 27April 2012

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Proton Prevé A Point to Prove

ITS name has been subject to some ridicule, but Proton’s latest effort with the Prevé is not something to be scoffed at. At risk of sounding like a broken record, Prevé promises to be the car that signals Proton’s coming of age. Calling it a world-beater is probably premature, but it is not an exaggeration to say that this is a car that stands a fair chance at competing in a global market.

There are some niggles here

and there, but the vast improvement from Proton’s existing portfolio of products, except probably the Inspira, is clear to see, and thanks to its pricing advantage, the Prevé may well be the best value buy at below RM75,000.

Can you name us one alternative at that price range that bundles in a turbocharged engine, paddle shifters, traction control, push-start button, and on-board Internet?

feedback@mmail.com.my

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FIRSTGEAR Proton Prevé, CAMPRO Specifications Engine 4-cylinder CAMPRO IAFM+ Displacement 1597cc Max engine power 80kW @ 5750rpm

Max engine torque 150Nm @ 4000rpm

Gearbox 6-speed auto CVT/5-speed manual

0-100km/h: 12.0secs Top speed : 180km/h Selling Price: From RM59,900 to RM62,900

Warranty: 5 Years or 150,000km (whichever come first)

Proton Prevé: A Point to Prove

By KON WAI LUEN

Not all of the above features are standard, of course. The Prevé is offered with a choice of two trim levels, and choosing one over the other also dictates your powertrain package.

The Executive trim will serve those with modest requirements, and the engine on offer is the venerable 1.6-litre Campro IAFM engine paired with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed CVT. Standard equipment in this guise includes ABS, EBD, dual airbags, front and rear fog lamps, steering wheel audio switches, LED position lamps, and in-car wi-fi.

However, if you want all of the kit that Proton has been advertising, namely stuff such as side airbags, auto headlights, cruise control, rain sensors and auto air-con, you will need to opt for the top-spec Premium

model, which is powered exclusively by the new turbocharged Campro CFE engine. Outputs are identical to the Exora Bold in which this engine debuted, but the Prevé gets a revised CVT transmission with seven pre-set ratios to satisfy those of you with needs to fiddle the gears.

Vehicle dynamics is the one area where the Prevé can claim to be a genuine class leader; its repertoire has a commendable balance between ride and handling. Stability at high speeds is impressive, and it tackles corners with great sharpness and composure. This competence comes without any sacrifice in comfort – the Prevé rides firmly but pliantly, its all-round independent suspension convincingly soaking up undulations of the road.

The area where the biggest stride was made is undoubtedly refinement, particularly in the CFE version. Previous itera-

commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

"The race represents a very big technical challenge…and we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience — right in

Proton Prevé, CFE Specifications Engine: 4-cylinder CAMPRO CFE Turbo Displacement: 1561cc Max engine power: 103kW @ 5000rpm

Max engine torque: 205Nm @ 2000-4000rpm

Gearbox: 7-speed ProTronic 0-100km/h: 9.6secs Top speed : 190km/h Selling Price: RM72,900 Warranty: 5 Years or 150,000km (whichever come first)

tions of the Campro engine, be it IAFM or CPS, do all their hard work at the top end. Although adequate in performance, they also kick up quite a ruckus when worked. The CFE, which delivers strong mid-range peak torque on a plateau, is pleasantly free of this vice, allowing quiet and dignified progress on the highways.

This heightened levels of en-

VW Golf24 To Race At The Nurburgring-Nordschleife This is the awesome looking Volkswagen Golf24 which will race at the Nurburgring-Nordschleife this upcoming June for the legendary 24-hour race.

It is powered by a 2.5 liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine with 440PS (324 kW) and 540Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters.

The power will be put on the road through all-wheel drive system. The last race in 2007 at the Nurburgring was with 300PS (221 kW) Golf, which came up 8th.

“With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful

Pictures by Proton Marketing

time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI,” commented Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

The 24-hour race at Nurburgring takes place between June 23 to June 26, 2012.

gine refinement come hand-inhand with significant improvement in the overall sound insulating package. Wind and road noise are admirably contained in all models tested, but as you would expect, commotion from the engine room can still be heard at higher speeds in the IAFM models.

Overall packaging of the vehicle is also praiseworthy.

There are plenty of useful storage spaces and hooks to keep loose items. Legroom and headroom of the rear passengers are well taken care of and, for a vehicle equipped with multi-link rear suspension, 508 litres of boot space is very impressive.

After years of under-delivered promises, Proton can ill-afford to make a failure out

of the Prevé. It is not a flawless product, but it certainly is a competitive one, and there are plenty of good points on which to sell this car, namely its superlative handling and superb value for money. Many Malaysians have sworn off Protons due to bad experience; the Prevé represents the most convincing effort to turn that sentiment around.

Audi R8 Cup Racing Starts In China Asia’s eagerly-anticipated new international racing series, the Audi R8 LMS Cup, will debut with a double-header at the Shanghai International Circuit at the end of this month (April 28th and 29th).

The 16-strong line-up includes former Formula 1 driver Alex Yoong of Malaysia and single seater star Marchy Lee of Hong Kong.

The Cup receives an extra bolt of star power in the form of special guest driver Aaron Kwok.

The highly-acclaimed Hong Kong artiste, who is known to millions as an actor and singer, is equally committed to his craft at the wheel, and is a respected and accomplished racing driver.

Audi chose China to debut its first one-makes cup at the brand has delivered some 300.000 vehicles in 2011 thus making China the biggest market for Audi worldwide.

After its debut in Shanghai the series will travel to Zhuhai, Ordos in Inner Mongolia,

returning to Zhuhai and then Shanghai. Three titles will be up for grabs in 2012: The Audi R8 LMS Cup overall title, a category for amateur drivers, and one for teams, with each round points-scoring. Audi R8 LMS Cup Official Website at: www. audir8lmscup.com

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WORLDOFHYUNDAI NEXT Generation Hyundai Santa Fe Revealed HYUNDAI MOTOR is aiming to sell 152,000 units of its revamped sleek-looking Santa Fe sport utility vehicles globally this year. Santa Fe is Hyundai’s sole model to be launched globally this year.

Hyundai, the world’s No.5 auto group is targeting sales of 385,000 Santa Fe’s in 2013.

“We are confident about positioning Santa Fe as premium model both at home and in the overseas markets,” Hyundai chief executive Kim Choong-ho told reporters after the company unveiled the new-look model recently. “It

boasts very competitive fu mileage of 17 km per litre a a bold design.”

The third generation Santa Fe is the first upgra in seven years and complet Hyundai’s attempt to int duce a new design dubb “fluidic sculpture” to its e tensive product lineups a distinctive Hyundai look breakaway from the previo quiet and simple design.

The design concept, whi features arched lines from t front-centre of the car to t end, was first introduced its flagship Sonata mid-siz

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HYUNDAIINFRONT sedan in 2009, and is also applied to the Elantra compact and Azera large-sized sedan.

The design improvements are cited as one of the key contributors to increased sales, but critics say Hyundai’s aggressive design push has split customers and risks driving away as many as it attracts — not a recipe for big volume sales.

Hyundai said pre-orders for the model have topped 15,000 in South Korea. It aims to sell 42,000 domestically and 110,000 in the overseas market this year.

Rhys Millen Racing Renews Partnership With Hyundai’s Genesis Sport Coupe Hyundai Motor America recently announced its continued partnership with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to compete in the 2012 Formula Drift series.

Hyundai will be lead sponsor of the RMR Genesis Coupe driven by former Formula Drift champion and acclaimed stunt driver, Rhys Millen. This 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is significantly refreshed for the 2013 model year, with aggressive powertrain and styling enhancements sure to appeal to purist, rear-drive sport coupe buyers. The Formula Drift competitive car has been extensively drift-prepared by RMR, making more than 600 horsepower to create the extreme drift angles and blinding smoke both fans and judges love to see. This race-prepared powertrain is further evidence of the engineering durability of core Hyundai production engine components used, including engine block, heads, and more.

“Formula Drift is the best race-fan oriented example of extreme car-control driving.

It’s also the best competitive arena for us to highlight the rear-drive power and handling finesse of the new Genesis Coupe,” explains Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor America.

“It’s thrilling when a driver of Rhys Millen’s calibre combines tire-smoking power with surgical drifting precision” The refreshed 2013 Genesis Coupe with direct injection and twin-scroll turbocharger technology leverages the proven performance of Hyundai’s reardrive coupe, making it a perfect choice for anyone interested in competitive driving events said the 2005 Formula Drift Champion. Millen will be the exclusive driver for the entire Formula Drift season, chal-

lenging the field with strong potential for the 2012 championship. The RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe will make its competitive debut at the first event of the 2012 Formula Drift series, April 6th and 7th in Long Beach, California.

In addition to Formula Drift, Hyundai and RMR continue to join forces in the thrilling new motorsport of rallycross, challenging the best from Ford, Subaru, Dodge and Citroen in the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship Series. RMR has extensively fine-tuned the RMR Veloster rallycross car with insights gained from an exciting rookie season in 2011. The RMR Veloster rallycross season kicks off in Las Vegas on April 21.

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TEST TESTDRIVE

MitsubishiTritonVGT

Pictures by YKF

Smoothest pickup now the most powerful SPECIFICATIONS

By KON WAI LUEN

ENGINE:

Inline-4, DOHC, 16V, Turbocharged

AMONGST its competitors in the pick-up market, the Mitsubishi Triton has always been noted for its exceptional refinement. Main seller of the Triton range has been the 2.5-litre turbodiesel variant with 136PS and 314Nm on tap, which is not exactly poor. There was also a more powerful 3.2-litre model on top of the pile, but that variant has since been replaced with the new 2.5-litre VGT model tested here. The VGT acronym stands for Variable Geometry Turbo, and that little contraption ensures that the new flagship model gets an appropriate boost in its outputs.

Its figures compare well with bigger capacity engines, including the old 3.2 that it replaces.

Full power of 178PS surpasses everyone in the competition, and it will take the all-new Ford Ranger T6 3.2 Wildtrak

EDITORIAL NOTE

CAPACITY:

2,477cc

TRANSMISSION: 5 A/T, Easy Select 4WD MAX POWER:

178PS @ 4,000rpm

MAX TORQUE:

350Nm

SUSPENSION:

Double Wishbone

@ 1,800 - 3,400rpm / Leaf Springs

BRAKES:

Vent Disc / Drum

PRICE:

RM105,997.10 with Insurance

before that figure is eventually eclipsed. A few trucks can shade the VGT’s 350Nm torque output, but most of them have peaky torque curves as opposed to Mitsubishi’s beefier plateau that spreads from 1,800 to 3,500rpm.

Suitably enhanced along with the engine is the automatic

gearbox, which now gets a fifth ratio to improve high speed refinement and economy. The transmission is paired to Mitsubishi’s Easy Select 4WD system that allows shift-on-the-fly at speeds up to 100kph. For reasons of durability (and possibly cost), Mitsubishi has stuck with a mechanical shift lever to

took it off the beaten track into the palm oil plantations of Kuching, Sarawak. Whilst not exactly hard core off-roading, the Triton was able to comfortably soak up the poor surfaces thrown at it and maintain impressive composure without the need to even engage 4WD modes.

facilitate shifting between 2WD and 4WD modes.

Years of rallying experience has allowed Mitsubishi to build up substantial expertise in making vehicles that can mix it with the best of them off-road.

This expertise is evident in the Triton, which felt appropriately tough and rugged when we

by Daniel Fernandez

|

Consultant Motoring Editor

The Triton’s impressive blend of on-road refinement and offroad ruggedness is extremely admirable. The new engine further adds to the appeal by delivering performance comparable to the 3.2, but with road tax and fuel bills not far off the 2.5’s. Purchase price is naturally closer to the former, at RM105,997. It will not appeal to those seeking a workhorse, but for the lifestyle buyer, the case is compelling.

ADVERTISING SALES

A motoring pullout is a common feature with most newspapers… but Clutch will be different. How different? Well just like the rest of the all new The Malay Mail, Clutch will be informative and true to its editorial integrity. Clutch will be a bi-monthly (every other Friday of the month) motoring pullout that will give straight-to-the-point car reviews and relevant motoring information for the Malaysian car enthusiast in a

Joel Miranda

Jenilyn Alexia

simple language. We will not confuse you or ‘smoke screen’ you with technical terms and instead offer our views on each and every test drive. In this first issue, we at Clutch hope that the car reviews presented will be

General Manager

Executive

able to move you to personally take a test drive of the cars reviewed at the nearest showrooms and see for yourself what we experience in each and every test drive. Your feedback is needed for us to improve in every area.

012-2337394 joel.miranda@redberry.com.my

016-3620331 jenilyn@mmail.com.my

Email us at clutcheditorial@gmail.com.

Please watch out for our next issue on the 11th of May 2012.

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