Clutch 9 March 2012

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Top Down Excitement With

The New 911 All New Porsche 911 Cabriolet

PAGE I

Class Best Coupe

Value For Money

Hyundai Shows A Winning Elantra Coupe

Best Fuel Economy

VW Launches Luxury Sharan MPV  PAGEIV

 PAGEVII

Toyota Prius c Launched  PAGEVIII

II

FRIDAY 9 march 2012

CLUTCH

FIRSTGEAR

Porsche 911 Cabrio......Can it get any better?

By Daniel Fernandez danielfernandez@mmail.com.my

In the motoring business you do not need a large volume of sales to be successful. Instead you need quality desirable niche products just like what Porsche AG produces.

It remains the most successful sports car manufacturer in the world with huge profits and still they have not been sitting in their sports cars and laughing all the way to the Swiss bank, instead they have increased their attention on their product range and introduced a new 911 coupe recently. Months after that release in North America, we are test driving the 2012 911 cabriolet.

This 911's stunning elegance strikes you with its athletic looking shoulders running the length from the rear to the front like a beast ready to pounce its prey. The roof now retracts in just 13 seconds and can be worked while driving in speeds up to 50km/h.

The revised rear light cluster gives this new 911 an Aston Martin look. Another new innovation in the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is the fully integrated electric wind deflector.

Slip behind the wheel and into snug soft leather wrapped seat, you flick on the ignition

and the 400bhp 6-cylinder Boxer engine burbles to life.

This 3.8-liter VarioCam engine in the Carrera ‘S’ produces a torque of 440 Newton meters between 5600 rpm and launches you from 0 km/h to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds in the 7-speed PDK gearbox.

Things happen so quickly you are grateful for the rev limiter to keep your insanity in check.

The 911's cabrio’s road manners is managed by fully independent suspension, razorsharp rack & pinion steering and enormous tires to deliver a truly outstanding dynamic package, one that easily ranks with the best I have ever tested. There was no flex and twist over rough, broken pavement. In the extreme, this trait leads to predictable handling, particularly when pushing on through a fast, but bumpy switchback climbing a foggy mountain road. At all times this 911 Cabrio remained tight, flat and completely unflustered. Drive it hard along the tight curvaceous country roads and the shivers become reality as the hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand during wide-open throttle acceleration.

The tailpipes emit a delightful snarl and combined with the eye-popping looks, this 911 drop top forced many bystanders in small towns

along our route to drool, especially when running between 4000 rpm to the redline limit.

Our test unit was fitted with Porsche’s super slick PDK 7-speed gearbox. With manual override paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, we decided to drive it in manual mode. Floor it in first, shift into second, then get ready to shift again as the speedo blasts through 100 km/h as the engine nuzzles the rev limiter in a blink. It is a fast beast with only the wind and our nuts holding back a possible top speed drive all throughout the test drive.

On the wet route in the early part of the test, this 911 cabrio’s tail stepped in on a number of occasions without much drama as the PSM steeped in to ensure our safety. The large disc brakes bring this 911 cabrio to rest with eyeball popping urgency. Even after repeated high speed stops, there were no signs of fade.

Since its debut in 1963, the Porsche 911 has been a benchmark for many of its competitors and this cabrio will continue in that tradition.

It has a stunning style, is incredibly fast, handles superbly, built with inspiration and is destined to become a fast seller for Sime Darby Auto Performance Sdn. Bhd.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine Flat-6 Variocam Power 400bhp @ 7400 rpm Torque 440Nm @ 5600 rpm 0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds

Capacity 3800cc Top Speed 299km/h Price TBA

THE MALAY MAIL

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 9 march 2012

CLUTCH

III

FIRSTGEAR

Volvo takes away the ‘box’ and reveals a shooting brake wagon

By Daniel Fernandez danielfernandez@mmail.com.my

Has the appeal of station wagon in Malaysia gone? Well this is the question we needed to ask when we picked up the latest sports wagon from Volvo, the V60 T4. The Volvo V60 comes at a time when Malaysians are so taken by the ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’, SUV which in fact is a station wagon with a 4 wheel drive system and a higher driving position. Still, Volvo has had a dominant position in the wagon market since the early 1970’s, so why should this change?

The V60 has Volvo’s signa-

ture new look up front but the rear tail follows the successful design language of the XC60 SUV. The side view carries a shooting brake look and this alone stands to benefit Volvo at showroom level. It is a good looking station wagon.

The interior of the Volvo V60 sports wagon is still a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. The 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat make it possible to combine passengers and load in a remarkably flexible way. The load area has been designed for maximum utilisation of each available millimetre. The rear seat comes with integrated

child booster cushions in the two outer seats just like in the XC60 SUV. A very useful feature for families with young kids.

The T4 V60 engine is shared in the T4 S60 sedan.

Drive dynamics and performance impresses us with its power and handling from just a 1.6-litre turbo unit.

The 180 bhp engine offers maximum torque of 240 Nm from just 1500 rpm all the way up to 5000 rpm. This gives excellent lugging ability throughout the speed range.

The torque curve is relatively gentle, resulting in a particularly comfortable driving experience and this works in combination with Volvo's au-

EDITORIAL NOTE

tomatic six-speed Powershift transmission. Volvo chassis experts have chiseled out the driving experience in the new Volvo V60 with the same passion and uncompromising approach that characterised the development of the all-new S60 sedan. The result is an authentic sports wagon with driving properties that do the sporty lines full justice.

The new Volvo V60 also features City Safety as standard.

With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops - or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid

by Daniel Fernandez

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 4-cylinders 16V Turbo Power 180bhp @ 5700rpm Torque 240Nm @ 1600-5000rpm Capacity 1593cc Transmission 6-speed Powershift semi-auto

Top Speed 225km/h 0-100km/h: 9.2sces

Price RM230,290.00

low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 30 km/h.

With all the necessary and more safety features, space for the family in absolute comfort and an exciting drive dynamics, this could well be

|

Consultant Motoring Editor

Volvo’s best seller once they get enough families to take it for a test drive.

This is an authentic sports wagon with driving properties that do the sporty lines full justice

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 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 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.

Email us at clutcheditorial@gmail.com.

Please watch out for our next issue on the 23rd of March 2012

Joel Miranda

Jenilyn Alexia

General Manager

Executive

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

016-3620331 jenilyn@mmail.com.my

IV

CLUTCH

REVUP

Showing a wedge-like sport coupe silhouette with deeply This is the new Hyundai Elantra Coupe coming in 2013 to Malaysian Hyundai Sime Darby showrooms. It is a two-door model based on the popular Elantra sedan which will be launched in just weeks. The Hyundai Elantra Coupe takes the “Fluidic Sulpture” language to a new level showing a wedge-like sport coupe silhouette with deeply sculpted surfaces. Under the hood we find the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque that is used

in the multi-award winning sedan and mated to a slick shifting six-speed manual transmission. As expected, an automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control is available as an option. The six-speed automatic is 11 pounds lighter than Hyundai’s previous 5-speed. It is considerably simpler, having 62 fewer parts, for greater durability, lighter weight and lower cost.

The Elantra Coupe is expected to deliver class leading fuel economy of 29

mpg city, 40 mpg highway for the six-speed manual transmission, and 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway for the six-speed automatic transmission which has be rated as a global best in efficiency. This means that the 2013 Elantra Coupe will be capable to offer a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles. The Elantra Coupe rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 178.7 inches, 69.9-inch width, and 56.5 inch height for uncompromising best in

segment headroom.

The 2013 Elantra Coupe will offer seven exterior colors, three of which are unique from Elantra sedan color choices: Monaco White Black Noir Pearl and Volcanic Red. Moreover, two audio systems will be available: a standard 172-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with sixspeakers and iPod/USB/ auxiliary input jacks or an optional 360-watt system with external amplifier is optional with the SE Technology package. In addition, a touch-screen navigation is available on SE trim and features a high-resolution 7.0-inch screen and voice-activation by headliner-mounted microphone.

Hyundai Sime Darby will launch this car in Malaysia as the mid-segment coupe market is growing and with so little competitors it will be a runaway success.

The Hyundai Elantra Coupe takes the “Fluidic Sulpture” language to a new level

FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

V

REVUP

sculpted surfaces Another award for the all new Hyundai Elantra Sedan

The Hyundai Elantra, winner of the 2012 North American Car of The Year, topped the list of “Best Car Under $20,000” by AOL Autos. Elantra’s unmatched fuel economy and innovative styling helped beat out its competitors Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze.

“Elantra comes with a 1.8-li-

ter four-cylinder engine producing 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque. All told, the engine gives Elantra more power and better fuel efficiency than competitors like the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla,” said the AOL Autos staff. “Elantra is the best total package and best sedan pound for pound, dollar for

dollar under $20,000.”

“AOL Autos is committed to providing consumers with best-in-class reviews to help them make informed purchasing decisions, and we are proud to name the Hyundai Elantra the ‘Best Car Under $20,000,’” said David Kiley, editor-in-chief, AOL Autos.

The 2012 Elantra excels in terms of design and fuel

economy, but it also delivers excellent value with a combination of advanced safety features, exceptional interior room equal to that of a midsize sedan and an efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.

All of these features, plus Hyundai’s industry-leading warranty, amount to an outstanding vehicle that is also an exceptional value.

VI

FRIDAY 9 march 2012

CLUTCH

THE MALAY MAIL

testdrive

Renault hot hatch driven

By Daniel Fernandez danielfernandez@mmail.com.my

A quick look at this Clio and you will hard pressed to find anything new about it. So we asked for the keys and a few days to find out what gives this Clio the right to use the name ‘CUP 200’. Like the Megane RS CUP 250, this Cup version of the Clio will appeal to connoisseurs who are passionate about their driving. Equipped with the ‘Cup’ chassis, it is 36kg lighter than New Renault Clio RS (‘Sport’ chassis). Renault Sport engineers have reworked and re-engineered

the Clio to be a track ready beast. The reworked gearbox, seat frames and wheels gives this Clio Cup version a best weight-to-power ratio of its class (6kg/hp).

Styling changes start with a more athletic front with an F1-type aerodynamic splitter and a generously-sized, lowpositioned air intake to cool the naturally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine good for 203hp.

At the rear, twin exhaust tailpipes have been incorporated into the diffuser. New 17-inch aluminium alloy rims hide the Brembo brake callipers that deliver powerful, durable stopping power. The Clio RS’s grip and cornering

potential have been upgraded, with the front and rear tracks widened by 48mm and 50mm respectively. The wheelbase has been extended by 10mm to 2,585mm for greater stability.

So does it entertain the driver? This Renault Clio RS is powered by the same normally-aspirated 2.0 16V engine with a specific power output of more than 100hp/ litre with torque upped 20 per cent thanks to a new cylinder head, continuously variable intake valve timing and fine-tuning of the engine mapping. The first, second and third gear ratios have all been shortened for

punchier acceleration using a manual six-speed gearbox. The maximum torque of 215Nm at 5,400rpm is easily enjoyed from 2nd to 4th gear as the Clio RS accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 225kph. At city speeds its docile and easy to manage with a firm clutch and slick gear change. Find an open highway and this Clio will provide a rock solid high speed drive, but find an old state JKR maintained road and it will show you its superb handling. You feel the road and the corners at every second you stay behind the wheel and this Clio RS

will provide you a smile each and every time you try and abuse it. Yes, abusing it is easily done as it is designed for hard driving abuse and real driving pleasure. This is the last of the normal aspirated hot hatches that we will enjoy as all the other hot hatches have gone for one form of charging (turbo and super) or another to keep emissions low and fuel economy reasonable.

This Renault Clio RS has a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating and twin rear ISOFIX points. Only 666 units made for the global market, so rest assured it will be a classic.

Renault Clio RS200 CUP SPECIFICATIONS Engine 4-cylinders 16V normal aspirated

Power 203bhp @ 7100rpm Torque 215Nm @ 5400rpm Capacity 1997cc Transmission 6-speed manual Top Speed 225km/h 0-100km/h: 6.9sces

Price RM197,000.00

Despite the explosive acceleration and 225km/h top speed, fuel consumption in combined cycle is just at 8.2-litres per 100 kilometers

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 9 MARCH 2012

CLUTCH

VII

justlaunched

Volkswagen Sharan enters the Malaysian luxury MPV segment The luxury MPV segment in Malaysia is currently dominated by reconditioned Japanese MPV’s that offers a lot of metal ‘only’ with no after sales, service and warranty. Now Volkswagen Malaysia has launched their globally successful Sharan luxury MPV which comes with a 5-year warranty and a strong after sales network with 18 nationwide outlets.

The Sharan is equipped with a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG). This allows the 1,838kg MPV to deliver 200PS at 5,100rpm and a maximum torque of 280Nm that kicks in between 1,700 and 5,000rpm.

The torque band is wide and

ensures this 7-seater MPV hits 100kph in just 8.3 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 218kph. With a full tank capacity of 70 litres, the Sharan returns an efficient 8.5 litres/100km on a combined cycle.

The Sharan boasts a 5-star Euro NCAP rating with a long list of safety features like Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), 9 airbags - including one knee airbag on the driver’s side and the curtain airbag system for all rows of seats. There are also side airbags for front and second row passengers. To accommodate bigger families, the new Sharan comes with one integrated child seat on

the left side on the second row including belt tensioners for the outer seats of the second row, in addition to the ISOFIX anchorage points. Other innovative safety features include the Anti-Slip Regulator (ASR), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Engine Drag Torque Control (EDTC), Trailer Roll Stabilisation Program (TRSP).

Luxury features include, remote operated electric sliding side doors, touch-screen satellite navigation, panoramic electric tilt/slide sunroof, Park Assist parallel parking assistance, 3-zone air-conditioning system, ‘Lane Assist’ lane departure warning, 30GB DVD drive and auto headlight activation with daytime running lights.

VW luxury MPV with electric sliding doors and lots of interior room

The Sharan is available in 6 shades of colours – Candy White, Toffee Brown, Reflex Silver, Night Blue, Indium Grey and Deep Black. This Sharan is priced at RM245,888 for the standard option and RM269,888 for the Tech Package (includes adaptive chassis control DCC, DYNAUDIO contour 300-Watt 8 speaker premium sound system, ‘Keyless Access’ keyless locking and starting system and the ‘Lane Assist’ lane departure warning system). For more information, please log on to www.volkswagen.com.my.

Land Rover Malaysia opens NEW flagship facility in PJ Land Rover has moved its flagship 3S centre to a more premium and modern facility at Jalan 219 along the Federal Highway. The 44,000 square feet facility, costs some RM2.5 million and sports the latest Land Rover corporate identity.

This follows the overwhelm-

ing response to the multipleaward winning Range Rover Evoque.

According to Land Rover Malaysia MD, En Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, the company has received approximately 1,000 orders for the Range Rover Evoque since the model’s eye-catch-

ing pre-launch campaign kicked off in May 2011.

This makes Land Rover Malaysia’s campaign the most successful in Asia as it was the first market to hit the Principal’s pre-launch booking target and growth has been consistent from there onwards. The Range Rover

Prominently located new 3S centre with updated Corporate Identity and Premium facilities to reflect development of Land Rover/Range Rover brand

Evoque is now Land Rover Malaysia’s best-selling model in the country.

In conjunction with the official opening of the new facility, Land Rover Malaysia has also launched an innovative “Service While You Sleep” service that enables owners to come in after work and

leave their vehicles overnight for routine service and collect them the next morning. This reflects the company’s philosophy of coming up with new innovative products and services which are tailored to the needs of the customer.

“We are making it extreme-

ly convenient for our customers as their vehicles can be serviced during the evening down-time and ready for use the next day,” said Hazem.

For more information on Land Rover Malaysia and its products and services, please visit www.landrovermalaysia.com.my.

VIII CLUTCH

FRIDAY 9 march 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

Justlaunched

Toyota PRIUS c launched at a hard to resist price UMW Toyota Motor has just given the Malaysian hybrid car market a boost with the introduction of the PRIUS c at a starting price of RM 97,000 (on the road price with insurance). It comes with a 3 year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first). 5 colours will be made available for this fully imported hybrid hatchback and sales are already moving ahead of initial expectations as you read this.

The all new compact PRIUS c has hybrid system with a 1.5L engine in a new fun package with superb fuel economy and affordable price for the young technology image professionals. The PRIUS c also comes with EV (Electric Vehicle) mode and its new key features are eco fun design which includes 7-airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC) and smart entry & start system.

UMW Toyota also introduced

the new, improved PRIUS at the same time. It comes in 4 colors and is priced at RM 139,900 for the PRIUS Standard and RM 145,500 for the PRIUS Luxury variant (on the road price with insurance).

The new improved PRIUS offers 2 variants (PRIUS 1.8 and PRIUS 1.8 Luxury). New key features of the new improved PRIUS are exterior design which expresses excellent aerodynamic performance and functional beauty, addi-

tional premium features such as LED headlamps, daytime running lights, JBL premium audio with reverse camera and leather seats. The new improved PRIUS and all new PRIUS c are available at selected Toyota Showrooms in Peninsular Malaysia right now.

This all new PRIUS c will be a fun to drive compact hybrid with a truly modern design

Revised BMW Z4 now in Malaysia from RM358,800 The roadster segment in Malaysia gets heated up with a revised Z4 attacking the sales of the all new Mercedes SLK. BMW Malaysia has just unveiled this Z4 last week at an asking price from RM358,000.00. Two version were launched. The twolitre turbo engines of both variants come with twin-scroll turbocharging, VALVETRONIC variable valve control and Double-Vanos variable camshaft control, equating to outputs of 135 kW/ 184 hp and 270 Nm’s of Torque in the BMW Z4 sDrive20i and 180 kW/ 245 hp and 350 Nm’s of Torque in the BMW Z4 sDrive28i M Sport. The BMW Z4 sDrive20i will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds whilst the new BMW Z4 sDrive28i M Sport is able to do so in a quick 5.7 seconds giving the all new Mercedes SLK worrying run.

This new BMW four-cylinder engines help to minimise fuel consumption as well as engine noise. In terms of efficiency, both models consume a total of 6.8 liters per 100 kilometer. Both the variants also feature BMW’s revolutionary 8-speed automatic

All new BMW M5 for RM898,800.00

transmission with paddles on the sport steering wheel. BMW showrooms nationwide are ready for your purchase.

The retail prices (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair) for the new BMW Z4: •BMW Z4 sDrive20i: RM 358,800 •BMW Z4 sDrive28i M Sports: RM 488,800

The all new BMW M5 arrives to maintain its crown as the best sports sedan in the market.

With a new engine and drive dynamics engineered to provide an even more rewarding driving experience. This 5th generation BMW M5 is powered by a new high-revving 4.4 litre V8 engine with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology including two TwinScroll turbochargers, a single exhaust manifold serving each cylinder bank, BMW’s High Precision Injection direct injection system, VALVETRONIC infinitely variable inlet valve lift control and Double-Vanos variable camshaft control.

Superior revving ability, incredible pulling power, an aggressively precise engine sound and remarkable efficiency are the hallmarks of the new engine — the most powerful engine available from the BMW M GmbH range with a whopping output of 560bhp, a 10 per cent improvement over the previous edition’s hefty V10 engine. Maximum torque has also been raised by 30 per cent giving the new BMW M5 a staggering 680Nm’s of torque which allows the car to hit the 0-100 km/h mark in 4.3 seconds. Visit a showroom to experience it for yourself.