10 August 2012

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AUGUST 10, 2012 YO U R

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We Drive The New 9th Generation HONDA Civic

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FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

CLUTCH

THE MALAY MAIL

TESTDRIVE Honda Civic Test Drive, 9 Generations Of Fun Review and Pictures by DANIEL FERNANDEZ

THE first ever Honda Civic arrived at our shores in the early 1970s as a small compact 3 door car. Over the last 8 generations it evolved in size, technology and drivetrain. Now the 9th generation Civic arrives with 3 powertrains to choose from and a new look that has already seen 2,800 plus customers in just 1 month from its launch. This is a true testament to the immense popularity of the Civic nameplate in Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia has brought in a 1.8-liter, 2-liter and an all new 1.5-liter Hybrid with prices starting from just RM119,980.

We have to say that the 1.5-liter Hybrid is our pick of the lot. This is a practical family sedan, with plenty of passenger space, decent cargo room, sensible interior, class best amenities and a very fuel efficient engine. On the 1.5L Hybrid test drive the new petrol engine worked its charm with good power delivery working well with the battery pack to provide responsive high speed highway power and good torque. The firm chassis provided a spirited drive. Handling was good and the steering feedback felt much better over the previous model. The new generation Lithium Ion battery pack is smaller, more powerful, lighter and sits behind the rear seats. This reduces cargo space in the boot.

Its 2-liter sibling is a totally different ‘animal’ to drive. The 2-liter offers the kind of power, performance and handling that will appeal to the driving enthusiast

This New Civic comes with a sharp looking design.

and not the typical buyer you will find in this segment. The hybrid Civic is more at home commuting to and fro work or picking up groceries than carving corners or in a traffic light sprint. The difference between the three models is down to consumer needs. The 2-liter feeds on high revs. The engine delivers a punch from low revs and makes a sporty noise all the way up the engine revolution.

The power delivery itself is very smooth and Honda purists will certainly not be disappointed.

Honda is the 1st manufacturer to have an ECO assist button on a petrol driven car. This allows drivers to get the best possible fuel consumption from their 2-liter Civic. The 1.8-liter is the middle child model that provides decent power and handling whilst returning good fuel economy.

This new Civic roofline is lower than the previous 8th generation Civic giving it a more streamlined profile for added fuel efficiency.

There is a flat under floor pan to aid in wind-flow and its nose and tail is more aerodynamic now

HONDA CIVIC 2-LITER SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: POWER: TORQUE:

4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC 155bhp @ 6500rpm 190Nm @ 4300rpm

CAPACITY: 1997cc TRANSMISSION: 5-speed semi-auto PRICE: RM136,980.00

HONDA CIVIC 1.8-LITER SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: POWER: TORQUE:

4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC 141bhp @ 6500rpm 174Nm @ 4300rpm

CAPACITY: 1798cc TRANSMISSION: 5-speed semi-auto PRICE: RM131,980.00

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: POWER: TORQUE:

for lower air flow drag. In cabin features come with keyless GO for the 2L and Hybrid Civic, start stop ignition an 8-way electric powered seat and a new updated in car entertainment system with a 5-inch information screen on the top center. The screen shows fuel efficiency, drive cycle and entertainment information. All functioning buttons sit on the left side on the steering wheel and is

easy to use. On the instrument panel, all Civic models get a colored display to show how fuel efficient the driver is behind the wheel. Colors blue, light blue and green for best efficiency teaches the driver how best to get fuel efficiency from the Civic on a daily drive.

This new Civic comes in Alabaster Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic

4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC+IMA 110bhp @ 5500rpm 172Nm @ 1000-3500rpm

and Taffeta White. The Hybrid variant comes in Frosty White Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and Taffeta White. The 1.8L sells for RM131,980 and the 2.0L Navi for RM136,980. The Civic Hybrid is selling at RM119,980. All prices are on the road price including insurance. Honda Malaysia is introducing a new and attractive after-service package:

CAPACITY: 1497cc TRANSMISSION: CVT auto PRICE: RM119,980.00

1. 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage* 2. 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage* for IMA battery 3. Extension of preventive maintenance interval from 5,000km to 10,000km 4. Free labour service up to 6 visits for every alternate paid service until 100,000km *terms and conditions apply

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

CLUTCH

III

TESTDRIVE

Between a rock and a great wall Don’t let the ‘Made in China’ tag fool you; the Haval H5 is a formidable road faring machine Review by RICHARD AUGUSTIN Pictures by DSF

THERE’S always been a stigma about anything that’s made in China, even more so in the motoring sector. We’ve seen cars and brands launched here but for the vast majority, we have all but dismissed them as sub-par products that lack driveability, quality and performance. Essentially, everything everyone said about Korean cars up to a few years ago. You got to wonder if we’ll be seeing the same turnaround from Chinese car companies like GWM (Great Wall Motor).

One of the bigger vehicle manufacturers in China, GWM boasts a history rooted in building military vehicles. For the past few years though, GWM has slowly but surely made inroads as a vi-

able and respected car brand in China and in some large part the rest of the world as well especially after the recent 2012 Dakar Rally where they finished sixth.

Now, GWM, via local distributors Green Oranges Sdn Bhd, have landed on our shores and they’ve given us the Haval H5.

The five-seater medium sized SUV is the first of two models introduced here (the other being the Wingle flatbed pick-up) and overall, it’s a pretty decent looking car with above average performance.

For starters, the mid-sized SUV looks like to have design cues borrowed from the Mazda CX-7 and the Nissan X-Trail. It is rather obvious but it looks commanding enough and it will draw stares mostly from curious onlookers wondering about the badge up front. It’s not ugly or loud, which

is a definite plus point.

Inside, there’s ample room and the dash layout is practical and effective with easy-to-read and reach controls and dials on the centre console. Build quality is fair with a mix of plastics and it sports creature comforts such as audio and cruise controls on the steering and a full colour touch screen LCD audio unit with DVD/ USB/Bluetooth compatibility on the centre dash. There’s also a tyre pressure monitoring system that’s displayed on the rear view mirror and a rear vision camera which is useful when backing into tight corners.

Under the hood, the Haval H5 is powered by a decent 2.0L High Pressure Common Rail direct injection diesel engine, which offers 148 horses along with 310Nm of torque. The power plant is matted to a 5-speed automatic trans-

mission (with Shiftronic). Pick-up wise, the Haval does suffer from turbo lag especially in the lower gears and does require a heavy foot in order to get going. But it moves along quite nicely once it’s allowed to stretch its legs. For more utilitarian needs the Haval can switch from 2WD to AWD on the fly.

Handling is more than adequate with the front Double

Wishbone Torsion Bar and rear Five-Link coils providing just the right amount of firmness for regular road use without the ‘bounce’ despite its higher stance. It also soaks up bumps and potholes comfortably, which are qualities often demanded of SUVs. In the features department, the standard kit list of the Haval includes dual airbags, ABS, EBD, Traction Control, leather seats

and auto air-conditioning. Not too shabby really for an SUV with a RM120,000 sticker. Granted though that may be the case, customers will still need some convincing that the Haval is worth its asking price. However the 5-year warranty (or 150k km), 5-years free maintenance and 5-years auto assist, should go some ways in allaying any lingering fears or doubts somewhat.

GWM HAVAL H5 SPECIFICATIONS 2.0VGT High Pressure Common Rail Diesel TRANSMISSION 5-Speed Automatic with Shiftronic CAPACITY: 1996cc POWER: 148hp @ 4,000 rpm TORQUE: 310Nm @ 1,800-2,800 rpm TOP SPEED: 160 km/h

ENGINE:

FUEL CONSUMPTION (COMBINED): PRICE:

6.8 L/100 km RM120,015.30

IV

CLUTCH

MOVINGFORWARD

1985-Hyundai enters America HYUNDAI’S first automotive export came in 1976, just nine years into its existence. Among the earliest recipients of Hyundai vehicles were emerging markets such as Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Egypt. It wasn’t long before European exports commenced, and in 1983, Canadian consumers received their introduction to the brand.

The company launched the Excel, its first vehicle in the United States, in February 1986, but it spent the previous year laying extensive groundwork, setting up Hyundai Motor America and the Hyundai American Training Center, Inc. both based in California with a combined workforce of 231 employees.

Seizing on a gaping void left by manufacturers moving their products upmarket, the US$4,995 Excel sub-compact sold in droves, with 100,000 units already finding American homes after just seven months

in the market. Hyundai closed 1986 with a total of 168,882 sales, averaging 1,431 units per dealer. Sales soared even higher in 1987, with 263,310 units sold.

Sustaining that glut of early sales was a modest network of 31 dealers, and as a clear measure of Hyundai’s growth over the years, the company today boasts 600 dealerships throughout the United States. By 1988, there was already a need to expand its aftersales reach, and for that purpose, two parts distribution centres were opened in California and Illnois at a total cost of approximately US$38 million.

The following year, a finance arm, Hyundai Motor Finance Company, was set up at a capital investment of US$15 million with 22 employees, and in 1990, Hyundai Motor America moved in to its new North American headquarters based on an 18acre site built at a cost of US$18 million. Headcount at this point

in time had increased to 400 employees. The same year, a US$12.2 million port facility was built in Portland, Oregon, to facilitate the handling of incoming cars from Korea.

With its footing firmly entrenched in the American market, Hyundai invested heavily in building customer confidence through aggressive warranty and maintenance packages. It introduced the Hyundai Protection Plan in 1994 to help customers guard against repair costs at the conclusion of the vehicle’s warranty period.

In 1998, Hyundai launched the highly comprehensive Hyundai Advantage warranty programme that gave a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-tobumper coverage, and 5-year unlimited roadside assistance. The resultant improvement in customer satisfaction levels were clearly measured by J.D. Power,

who reported a 49-point surge in its Initial Quality Survey in 1996, and a 28-point improvement in the Customer Satisfaction Index in 1998.

As the new millennium dawned, Hyundai’s progress was unstoppable. In 1999, the company enjoyed a stunning 82% growth in sales, and in 2000, it overtook Mazda as the fifth biggest-selling Asian brand in the US. It is worth noting that Hyundai today is not just a giant among Asians, having progressed to being the world’s fourth biggest automobile manufacturer.

The continued growth of sales made a sound business case for the setting up of a US-based manufacturing facility, and in 2002, groundwork was laid for the US$1.1 billion Hyundai Manufacturing Alabama plant that began operations in 2005 with a workforce of 2,300 employees.

The plant was expanded in 2008 at a cost of US$270 million to in-

corporate an engine plant offering an additional 200 jobs.

The company invested just as heavily in the development of cars in America. A US$30 million R&D centre opened in Irvine, California with 100 designers, engineers, model makers, and technicians in 2003, and in 2005, a new US$11 million vehicle testing facility opened in California City with eight different driving courses to comprehensively test vehicles.

The American market will continue to play an important role in Hyundai’s future plans, but it is important to note how the company’s success in the competitive and demanding American market was achieved with no small degree of hard work, perseverance, and determination. The company’s extreme willingness to invest in customer confidence is now being rightly rewarded not just in America, but the world over.

FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

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HYUNDAIGLOBAL

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FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

TESTDRIVE

10 reasons To Buy The NEW Ssangyong SUV Review and Pictures by DANIEL FERNANDEZ

THE Actyon SUV is the latest fully imported 4x4 SUV from Ssangyong at a hard to resist selling price of just RM128,888.

It comes with a full manufacturers 3 years warranty and world class design. Here are 10 reasons why you should buy this very attractive looking SUV. With segment-leading interior space and a high level of standard equipment, this all new Actyon SUV is a game-changer for Ssangyong.

1. Legendary Italian designer Giugiaro penned its design which gives it a very European look from all sides.

2. This Actyon SUV is powered by a class leading fuel efficient 2.0 litre common-rail turbo diesel engine, putting out 175 PS and 360 Nm of torque from 2000 rpm. These figures are pretty solid when compared to other SUV models on the market, so power and pick up is no real issue.

3. The diesel engine manages well with Euro2M fuel and power delivery is very progres-

sive and smooth.

4. The Actyon SUV comes with a 6-speed conventional automatic transmission with the option to shift sequentially.

5. The Actyon SUV cabin if fitted with automatic climate control, a trip computer, autodimming rear view mirror, Bluetooth connectivity and a six-speaker audio system with USB/aux inputs and iPod compatibility.

6. The flat-floored boot is generously sized, and incorporates under-floor storage bins.

7. All doors have integral storage bins and bottle holders, while shopping bag hooks are fitted to each front seat backrest.

8. It comes with All Wheel Drive system to ensure even power delivery and great handling in the wet.

9. The power steering in the AWD model is electric instead of hydraulic, helping to combat the lower fuel efficiency of an AWD system thus giving this Actyon class best fuel efficiency.

10. Safety features are class best with 2-airbags (driver and front passenger, three-point

SSANGYONG ACTYON SUV 4WD SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: CAPACITY: MAX POWER: MAX TORQUE:

Common-Rail Turbo Diesel 1998cc 175hp @ 4000rpm 360Nm @ 2000-3000rpm

seatbelts on all seats, antiwhiplash front headrests, ISOFIX for rear seats, ABS, EBD, stability control and traction control are standard.

Its good looks well thought

TOP SPEED: 200km/h as tested 0-100KM/H: NA TRANSMISSION: 6-speed Auto PRICE: RM128,888.00

off interior and hard to ignore selling price should have many more SUV buyers visiting Ssangyong showrooms nationwide to get their hands on a unit.

THE MALAY MAIL

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

CLUTCH

VII

TESTDRIVE

Trucks of tomorrow Isuzu reveals the future behind commercial vehicle production and manufacturing Review and Pictures by RICHARD AUGUSTIN

COMMERCIAL truck giant and manufacturer Isuzu recently showcased the many facets of their production, development and vehicle testing divisions in Japan. An initiative made possible by Isuzu Malaysia, selected members of the media and guests were given exclusive behind the scenes access at Isuzu’s main commercial vehicle production facility in Fujisawa, Yokohama.

The Fujisawa plant remains the cornerstone of Isuzu’s core business of building and developing commercial vehicles. Established in 1961, the Fujisawa plant boasts an area size of over 1,000,000 SQ/M with over 7000 employees, all of whom contribute to the building and assembly of light, medium and heavy duty trucks. At present the Fujisawa plant rolls out over 12,000 units

of H/D Trucks (C&E Series), M/D Trucks (F-Series), L/D Trucks (NSeries) for Isuzu.

Production facilities aside, the Fujisawa plant tour also revealed Isuzu’s advancement in creating and developing next generation of Eco-friendly and fuel efficient trucks. Purpose built to lower CO2 emissions and to promote optimum fuel efficiency and long term cost reduction, Isuzu is spearheading the production of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) trucks as well as Diesel Hybrids in the commercial vehicle sector.

The tour also showcased Isuzu’s Plug-In Hybrid concept which works on a part electric vehicle, part hybrid concept for maximum fuel efficiency, as well as the T-Next, which stands as the brand’s visionary idea for a truck of the future.

But CNG vehicles, Hybrids and Concepts aside, Isuzu is steadfast in developing and promoting optimum fuel efficiency pres-

ently in the commercial sector, which we found out first hand at Isuzu’s vehicle testing facility in WAcom in Mukkawa, Hokkaido.

Utilising an Isuzu GIGA truck outfitted with Isuzu’s patented MIMAMORI System, we were given an insight on how the GSM based communication module can be used to maximise fuel efficiency which results in lower fuel and operating costs.

An add-on feature, the device records data based on driving and engine operation, fuel consumption, vehicle speed, acceleration and deceleration.

The data is then transmitted to a centre, which monitors and relays back information to the transport operators, who will then help identify and communicate the various changes that need to be made in terms of driving techniques in order to maximise fuel efficiency.

In an actual test on the WAcom track, we immediately noticed the positive impact the MIMAM-

ORI system had. With a first run used to map out our driving performance, the system immediately identified and pin pointed errors with our drive style. Based on the reports and advice generated by the MIMAMORI system, we immediately noticed a stark increase in fuel efficiency. No, surprise then that fleets currently utilising this system have recorded a massive 30% reduction in fuel costs.

In addition to providing driving and fuel efficiency reports, the GPS system is also optimised to deliver control location alerts, which helps prevent thefts and unscheduled stops, in-vehicle alerts for speeding and harsh acceleration, message delivery for communication purposes, maintenance notification, antitheft alert and auto vehicle positioning. The MIMAMORI is currently being used in Japan and Thailand with Indonesia, Singapore and the UK expected to come online within a year.

ISUZU shows us its 'might' with trucks and just trucks

VIII CLUTCH

FRIDAY 10 AUGUST 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

TESTDRIVE

VW E-Bugster Speedster Concept THE Beetle! — it is the successor to an automotive icon. The new car is considered the sportiest Beetle ever. Now Volkswagen has shown, in an Asian premiere at 2012 Auto China in Beijing, how this sportiness can also be transferred to a Beetle with pure electric drive. The Volkswagen E-Bugster was specially designed for this mission: a two-seat Beetle speedster, 85 kW in power, 0 to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds, with zero emissions yet the sharpest of proportions.

The central electric module of the Volkswagen E-Bugster has an innovative design; it weighs just 80 kg.

The energy for powering the electric motor is stored in a lithium-ion battery whose modules are housed in a space-saving location behind the front seats. The battery’s energy capacity of 28.3 kWh enables a range of at least 180 km in the urban world.

And even in an enormous country like China, for the majority of commuters this is sufficient to drive to their workplaces and return home.

Since the Volkswagen has a quick charging function, the battery can be ‘refuelled’ within 35 minutes at suitable charging stations. At home, the battery of the VW E-Bugster can also be charged from a conventional electric outlet. The interface for the charge cable is located behind the normal ‘fuel door’ near the C-pillar.

Thanks to a new Combined Charging System, the Volkswagen E-Bugster can be ‘filled up’ flexibly via one interface using any available charging modalities.

Nissan Pathfinder Comes Of Age Nissan has just unleashed the all-new 2013 Pathfinder SUV, a complete makeover featuring a sleek, aerodynamically styled exterior, a premium interior, class-exclusive user-friendly technology and a new unibody platform and advanced drivetrain that helps it achieve best-in-class fuel economy while maintaining class-lead towing and offpavement capabilities.

The all-new vehicle design sheds 500 pounds of mass compared to the outgoing model yet maintains the Nissan Pathfinder’s SUVruggedness while delivering up to 26 miles per gallon on the highway. With its blend of capability, including classleading standard towing ca-

EDITORIAL NOTE

by Daniel Fernandez

|

pacity of 5000 pounds, and modern amenities, such as a class-exclusive Around View™ Monitor, the 2013 Pathfinder is the next-generation SUV. Nissan Pathfinder’s all-new interior design features versatile and comfortable seating as well as premium materials and advanced technology.

The vehicle seats seven passengers comfortably, and is best-in-class in terms of front headroom, front leg room and overall passenger volume. Additionally, Pathfinder is now the only vehicle in the segment with a 3rd row seat recline.

The new Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display, located in the center of the instrument display between the tachometer

Consultant Motoring Editor

and speedometer, features a 4-inch color display that is customizable, easy-to-use and integrates key information right in front of the driver. A separate touch-screen monitor, mounted in the middle of the instrument panel, provides intuitive interaction and control of the available navigation system and other vehicle systems and settings.

All 2013 Pathfinders come equipped with an advanced 260-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine matched with a next-generation Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission). It is also the only vehicle in class with selectable 2WD, Auto or 4WD modes for the available intuitive ALL-MODE 4x4-i system.

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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

Joel Miranda

Lim Ee Mae

in a 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. We at Clutch hope that the car reviews presented will be able to

General Manager

Manager

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

012-2073241 eemae@mmail.com.my

Email us at clutcheditorial@gmail.com.

Please watch out for our next issue on the 24th of August 2012.