Clutch 23 March 2012

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Clutch TWITTER: @clutchmmail

MARCH 23, 2012 YO U R

B I - M O N T H LY

M OTO R I N G

G U I D E

WITH

YOU R

COPY

OF

feedback@mmail.com.my

Honda Jazz Hybrid Arrives At Just RM94,800.00 The Honda Jazz Hybrid has just arrived and it features the same 1.3-litre petrol engine used in the Insight.

It is assisted by an electric motor and putting its power down via a CVT automatic shifter to return a possible 21.3km/liter. This hybrid Jazz like the Insight is capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions. Wanted

to know and was afraid or shy to ask, here are some interesting Jazz hybrid facts.

Is the Jazz Hybrid body lighter or heavier than the standard petrol driven Jazz body?

Yes it is some 70 kilograms heavier. Only the rear suspension has been beefed a little to accommodate this additional weight.

Is the Jazz Hybrid more fuel

economical over the Insight?

Its fuel efficiency is about the same as the Insight. Fuel efficiency for this Jazz hybrid is at 21.3km/liter.

How much more fuel efficient is the Jazz hybrid?

Its 25 to 30% more fuel efficient over the current petrol driven Jazz.

Does high humidity affect the performance of the bat-

tery system?

No effect at all as the system has been tested in high humidity situations and there is also a small cooling system installed to ensure the battery stays cool and there is a cooling duct from the cabin to feed air conditioned air into the battery chamber.

If necessary, how fast (timeline) would it take a Honda authorized service center to

replace the hybrid battery system in the Jazz Hybrid?

About 2-3 hours and all 59 Honda dealers in Malaysia are able to maintain and replace the battery if necessary.

With the battery pack (IPU unit) sitting where is the spare tire going to be?

No spare tire is used with this Jazz hybrid and instead an emergency puncture kit is provided.

Who is the battery supplier?

The battery system comes from Sanyo.

Do I need to plug in my Jazz hybrid to charge up the battery?

No, the battery is charged while you drive it and all you need to do is to drive it like a regular car and enjoy the fuel savings.

II

FRIDAY 23 march 2012

CLUTCH

THE MALAY MAIL

genevamotorshownews

The 82nd Geneva Motor Show Highlights First came a 2 door up!, now here is the VW up! 4-door.

This is the latest Volkswagen small car to enter the global market. This version has identical engines (44 kW / 60 PS and 55 kW / 75 PS) and dimensions as the two-door cars. Look for its arrival in Malaysia.

There was also the unveiling of the new Volkswagen Polo BlueGT which combines superior dynamic performance with extreme fuelefficiency of almost a diesel with a petrol driven engine.

The technical highlight of this compact car is the ‘cylinder deactivation system’, which is being introduced for

combined fuel consumption of just 4.5 l/100 km/h using the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG). It still manages a top speed of 210 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds.

But the biggest noise at the VW stand was the GTI version of the latest Mk6 Golf cabriolet. This drop-top carries the classic VW Golf drop-top heritage which was last seen with the Mk3 Golf and it is the most powerful drop-top to have ever come from Volkswagen. It has an output of 207bhp/207lb ft. and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 7.3sec and it can continue on to hit a top speed of 147mph (146mph with DSG).

Then the next possible Tiguan model was shown as

the first time in a Volkswagen which is also known as active cylinder management or ACT. The torque-strong TSI develops a power output of 103 kW / 140 PS, yet has a

Volkswagen’s Cross Coupe Concept with a frugal new hybrid system. A new plug-in diesel-electric system provides this Cross Coupe with combined fuel consumption

By Daniel Fernandez danielfernandez@mmail.com.my

of just 131 mpg. It is partnered to a 187hp variant of Volkswagen's new 2.0-liter, four-cylinder common-rail diesel engine. It uses twin balance shafts and a couple of electric motors. A 9.8 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack placed in the central tunnel is driving the electric motors, which are built in house at Volkswagen's Braunschweig-based R&D center in Germany.

Jaguar @ Geneva

Jaguar introduced the XF Sportbrake, which is a sports wagon based on their sporting saloon. It extends the practicality and versatility of the saloon while retaining the core values of muscular and dramatic elegance. The XF Sportbrake is entirely new from the B-pillar backwards. The XF Sportbrake features a dynamic, broadshouldered stance, thanks to the conjunction of flowing back window graphic, estate roofline and rising waist. Is shares the same engines and offers equal performance. But will Malaysians warm up to a premium wagon? We think not as the German car manufacturers have failed to ignite any interest with their wagon offerings.

Citroën @ Geneva

Making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Mo-

tor Show, the Citroën DS4 Racing Concept featured "100% Racing" attributes.

The chassis is 35 mm lower than the regular model and track is 55 mm wider at the front and 75 mm wider at the back. The concept car also sported an air diffuser, a front bumper panel, a lower-body belt line and wing extensions. Citroën Racing had tweaked the 1.6-litre turbo engine to develop 256 bhp, or 160 bhp per litre which is a current record for a series-production car. We look forward to Brooklands Motors introducing this hot coupe here to challenge the Scirocco and Megane.

Volvo At Geneva

Volvo showed an all new product in the V40. With a luxury look and feel, a highquality aura and meticu-

lous attention to detail this V40 comes with a new, fully graphic instrument cluster with personalised layout.

This Volvo V40 has driving SOUL as it boasts class-leading driving dynamics where the chassis is designed to offer the agile, connected experience that creates true driving pleasure which has been missing in past models. It will be offered in a variety of engines from the 1.6 T4 to the T5 with 254 hp and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

All engines will feature startstop and braking energy regeneration. As with all other Volvo’s, this V40 will feature class-leading safety and driver support package, including Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and several other new features like pedestrian airbag system. A 2012

ntroduction in Malaysia is planned.

Lamborghini @ Geneva

Lamborghini removed the roof of their Aventador as well as the front windshield and presented the Aventador ‘J’, It uses the same 6.5-liter V12 engine delivering 700 hp. The engine is mated to the same ISR transmission, while the permanent all-wheel drive and push-rod suspension combine this potent power with the utmost handling precision. As expected, due the fact that the car has no roof, no air conditioning and no navigation system the Aventador J is also lighter than the standard version. The seats are made of Forged Composite, with inserts of flexible carbon fiber fabrics: a result of an innova-

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012

tive Lamborghini patent.

The Aventador J features an even more amazing version of carbon fiber material found on the standard version. Dubbed “Carbonskin”, this material is made of woven carbon fibers soaked with a very special epoxy resin that stabilizes the fiber structure and keeps the material soft. The Aventador J also features a stylish rear view mirror, which is perched on an arm like a periscope, two safety bars behind the seats and two small wind deflectors that replace the front windshield. The front end is narrower than that of the stock Aventador and features a highly distinctive carbon fiber air scoop, with central fixing braces and upward tilting winglets on the outer edges. This car also features a special red color developed especially for this model, a highly intensive red

with a slight chrome effect.

MAZDA AT GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Mazda’s SKYACTIVE Technology made its debut with the CX-5 SUV. Arrival in Malaysia by June 2012. The CX-5 carries a 2,700 mm wheelbase, one of the segment's longest, thus providing a class-leading rear seat legroom of 997 mm. There is 500 litres of useable luggage space. The Mazda CX-5 will come with a new HMI system that improves safety by minimizing the driver's eye movement away from the road. It’s 5.8-inch colour touch screen monitor is positioned in the centre at the top of the dashboard showing data related to the infotainment system, audio, phone and navigation sys-

CLUTCH

tem. The SKYACTIV-G 2.0 petrol engine has the world highest compression ratio of 14.0:1, and their 4-2-1 exhaust system prevents knocking and provides abundant torque from low engine speeds, enabling acceleration that precisely matches the driver's intention. This engine achieve outstanding fuel economy, precise response, and a high-quality, linear and rewarding ride.

RANGE ROVER @ GENEVA

Land Rover unveiled the worlds 1st open top SUV, the Evoque convertible concept at Geneva. Land Rover used Geneva to evaluate the public’s response to the convertible before finalizing on

production. The Range Rover Evoque convertible will be sold with either 2 or 4 wheel drive and would be powered by both petrol and diesel engines. Should sell well here as the hardtop Evoque has already seen 1000 or more bookings in Malaysia.

option. This 2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster will be able to hit 100 km/h in just 4 seconds and has a top speed of 233 km/h. With a targeted weight of just under 1100 kg, this is one of the lightest six-cylinder roadsters on the market by some margin.

LOTUS AT THE GENEVA

PORSCHE @ GENEVA

MOTOR SHOW

Porsche showed their 3rd generation of the Boxster roadster at Geneva and with a desire to set record sales and surpass the success of the 2nd generation Boxster. The revamped Boxster has greater horsepower, a retractable spoiler, and cleaner engines. Porsche is

Lotus presented the 2013 Exige S Roadster powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 345 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and mated to a standard 6-speed manual gearbox while the Serial Precision Shift automated gearbox is available as an

III

looking to boost the appeal of the Boxster to buyers who have moved to the Z4 and SLK. They delivered a record 140,000 vehicles this year.

This combination of reduced weight and enhanced power cuts the acceleration time to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour by a tenth of a second to as low as 5.5 seconds. Launch in Malaysia is very soon.

PICTURES BY DANIEL FERNANDEZ

EDITORIAL NOTE

by Daniel Fernandez

|

Consultant Motoring Editor

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 6th of April 2012.

IV

CLUTCH

WORLDOFHYUNDAI

This is Hyundai’s future technology inside and out At the recent Geneva International Motor Show, Hyundai unveiled the i-oniq which is best regarded as a canvas for Hyundai to show its future technologies off rather than a car with a chance of ever being built. At just over 14.4 feet long, the eye-catching

scissor-door concept is a range-extended EV that can travel almost 75 miles purely on electric charge. Also the 1.0-liter petrol engine is able to kick in some extra power and keep the car moving should the battery deplete.

Polished aluminum and

wood accent the interior which serves as a showcase for the brand’s bold touch screen use and placement. The design features a floating instrument cluster and a motion-control touch screen mounted in the steering wheel. The car also takes an unusual approach to making the rear seats accessible: the back support portion of the driver and passenger seats rotate inward instead of folding down.

The i-oniq is powered by a lithium-ion-battery 107-horsepower electric motor with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that acts as a generator. In battery mode, the i-oniq is said to have a range of 75 miles, but with the generator the total range is increased to 435 miles.The concept represents the evolution of Hyun-

dai’s “fluidic sculpture” design. The familiar hexagonal grille is present, but the fascia surrounding it has softened.

The steeply-raked windshield is there, but the character lines have been toned down.

Muscular front fenders seem to borrow from Infiniti’s design language, and we suppose that’s no coincidence. While Hyundai’s designers call the i-oniq a “sports hatch yet it somehow manages to look like both a sport coupe and a three-quarter-scale shooting brake at the same time. The design is innovative.

This is Hyundai’s answer to the future of motoring........a small capacity petrol engine working with an electric motor to maximise every ounce of petrol in the fuel tank

FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

V

HYUNDAIATGENEVA Hyundai Shows A Winning i30 This is the all new Hyundai i30 which should see a launch in Malaysia. Designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the Hyundai i30 is the latest model from Hyundai to be developed specifically for the European market. The original i30 heralded a new era for Hyundai when it was launched and the new-generation model will play a major role in further raising brand awareness.

The all-new Hyundai i30 is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor — generating sportier exterior proportions without compromising interior functionality. Overall length is increased by 20 mm (to 4,300 mm), width is enlarged by 5 mm (to 1,780 mm) and height has been reduced by 10 mm (to 1,470 mm). The 2,650 mm wheelbase, one of the longest in the C-segment, is carried over from the original i30 model. It offers buyers

a line-up of four engines with five power outputs from 90 to 128 PS, with six-speed transmission for every model, plus CO2 emissions starting below 100 g/km.

Under its Blue Drive subbrand, Hyundai is continuing to develop its clean diesel technologies. The new 1.6-litre diesel unit, featuring Intelligent Stop & Go technologies,

delivers an impressive power to efficiency ratio, providing an output of 128ps and emissions of just 100 g/km. This will make this model one of the most efficient vehicles in the Csegment.

The Hyundai i30 is the latest expression of Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design ethos. This visual philosophy utilises flowing lines to give a constantly impactful three-dimensional presence to Hyundai vehicles.

Look out for a 2012 launch in Malaysia.

people and players to realise their ambitions to become game-changers of the future.

Football fans and followers of Hyundai will be invited to participate in the initiative, reflecting Hyundai’s commitment to always engaging in a way that reflects the spirit of the game — through openness and inclusion. By entering the dedicated application on Hyundai’s global

Facebook page — www.facebook.com/Hyundaiworldwide — fans can ‘like’ their favourite Team Hyundai player.

For every ‘like’, Hyundai will donate €1, and the company is targeting a total donation of €250.000. Further details of this and other activities to be run by the company will be announced ahead of the UEFA EURO 2012TMtournament.

Hyundai Reveals ‘Team Hyundai Hyundai Motor Company, UEFA EURO 2012TM top partner, has announced Team Hyundai. Comprising five of the best-known players in Europe — all of them top-class internationals — Team Hyundai will act as ambassadors for the brand in Hyundai’s communications activities around what will be this year’s biggest footballing event.

Iker Casillas (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Giuseppe Rossi (Italy), Karim Benzema (France) and Daniel Sturridge (England) will fulfil their roles as ambassadors through a series of marketing activities as part of Hyundai’s promotions and campaigns for UEFA EURO 2012TM. Team Hyundai will be a constant reminder to fans of the excitement, dynamism and passion

that football inspires. Each of the Team Hyundai members has made it to the top through determination and continuous improvement, corresponding closely with Hyundai’s achievements in the European car market.

Further to the Team Hyundai announcement, Hyundai will also launch a new charitable initiative, with the company once again supporting young

VI

FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2012

VII

VIII CLUTCH

FRIDAY 23 march 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

TESTDRIVE

SPECIFICATIONS Engine: 4-cylinder VVT-i Displacement: 1496cc Max engine power: 74PS @ 4800rpm Max engine torque: 111Nm @ 4400rpm Gearbox: E-CVT auto Max motor output: 61PS Max motor torque: 169Nm Total system output: 101PS Top speed : 170km/h Price: From RM97,000.00

Ninety Seven and A Half Reasons To Buy 1

By Aswan Yap

The Toyota Prius C is an entry level hybrid, using a 1.5 litre petrol engine with a 45 kilowatt motor and a continuously variable transmission (gearbox). The engine and electric motor work in tandem to produce a combined power output of 101 PS. If this setup seems familiar, it’s the same as the one used on the second generation Prius, although the electric motor in the Prius C is slightly smaller than in the Prius. Like the Prius, the Prius C has an EV (Electric Vehicle) mode which allows you to run on battery alone unless you require heavy acceleration or exceed a certain speed.

In normal operation, the Prius C uses the motor as much as it possibly can for starting off, and if the driver requires more acceleration the engine will start up and begin to provide power. This means two things: smooth, quiet takeoffs, and a large increase in fuel efficiency as the engine is required less often. The battery is charged via regenerative braking,

which is where the efficiency is improved.

One of the features in the Prius C that filtered down from the Prius is the multi functional display screen located in the middle of the dashboard. This screen offers you information that will help to optimize your driving style for efficiency- there are screens that display your 5 minute fuel consumption figures, ECO Score and the flow of energy.

The ride is as to be expected of a passenger car: smooth and compliant, soaking up most of the imperfections in the road without protest. When cornering, the car remains relatively flat and neutral, only understeering if you enter the corner with far too much speed. Even so, there is a large margin for error as the tyres will let you know when you approach the absolute limit. Oversteer is possible, but you have to be quite brutal with the car, something I suspect most owners won’t do.

Despite this, the Prius C is not without its flaws. The most noticeable will only be apparent when you’re stuck in a jam for an extended peri-

od of time: if the battery runs too low such that it cannot power your auxiliary systems (air conditioning, electronics and the like), the engine will fire up to charge the battery.

While this sounds like low key operation, the engine idles at quite a high rpm, resulting in a bit of noise and vibration. Of course, once the battery has sufficient charge the engine will automatically cut off, but the whole process seems unnecessarily disruptive. In addition to this, the interior plastics feel as if they were picked by multiple designers with the combination of light and dark, and the odd blue strips in the interior make the car feel oddly quirky.

Do you save any fuel at the end of the day? Absolutely.

Even when driven hard over the course of a weekend, the Prius C managed to pull off 14.4 kilometres per litre (a little under 7-litres per 100 kilometres). I’m sure with a more conservative right foot and driving style, it is possible to reach much higher fuel efficiency figures, but it’s a far sight better than what I can get with my daily driver. Buy with confidence.

PICTURES BY Daniel Fernandez

This is the PRIUS c. It is Toyota's most fuel efficient car in its lineup. using just the EV (electric drive) mode on short journeys is possible allowing for maximum fuel savings. Comes with class best passenger safety and comfort features like keyless entry and push button ignition