This is the new Naza Picanto, just launched by Naza Kia Sdn Bhd a few days ago at The Curve. Yes, this is the CKD Picanto that was previously called the Naza Suria, but now the Suria name has been dropped and replaced by the Kia name, though the Naza badge remains. The Suria name was probably inspired by the Picanto’s Korean market name, which is the Kia Morning.

The most obvious change is of course the aesthetic update to the latest look that has been available from Kia internationally. With the latest facelift in Korea, there were actually two different front ends available but Naza has picked the version with the rounded foglamps to sell here. There is another one with leaf-shaped look foglamps and funkier alloy wheels, probably some kind of special edition.

On the inside, the interior has been updated with orange backlighting for the controls and meter cluster. The meter cluster is complete with an RPM meter but there is no water temp meter. The head unit provided is a 1-DIN design with USB support so you can read your MP3 files off a USB thumbdrive and do away with carrying CDs in your Picanto. The 1.1 liter engine revs up to 6k RPM and puts out a peak of 64 PS at 5,500rpm and 96Nm of torque at 2,800rpm. I like the fact that peak torque is made under 3,000rpm, which is usually the point an automatic car would shift gears if driven gently. But in any case acceleration from 0 to 100km/h will take a long 15.1 seconds.

In terms of safety, the front passenger and driver get two airbags – one each. The airbags are only available on the more expensive EX model. None of the models have ABS. There are four 3-point belts and a lap belt for the rear center. Wheels are 14 inch steels for the LS and 15 inch alloys for the EX, wrapped with 165/60R14 and 175/50R15 tyres respectively. The EX goes for RM46,800 while the LS goes for RM44,500. If you are in the market for one I’d recommend you just go for the EX since you get alloys and two airbags for a premium of RM2,300.

Also note that the Picanto is basically the original car that the Hyundai i10 was based on, and the i10 is sold at a higher price of RM48,888 in Malaysia. But the i10 comes with ABS brakes and a 5-year warranty while from the Naza Kia website it appears the Picanto gets 2 years, though it looks like a (optional?) 2 year extended warranty program is also available. Also, the i10’s CKD packs come from India, while the Picanto’s CKD packs probably come from Korea.

Look after the jump for an E-Brochure and a gallery of the Picanto.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Thanks to reader awak for alerting me about a new update for the Naza Citra, or should we call it the Naza Citra 1.5 now since there is a Citra 2 Rondo and this particular version is an update to the Citra 1. The old second generation Kia Carens has been given a new breath of life by Naza Kia and is priced lower than the Citra 2 Rondo.

The new design is very curiously Saga-like with a blackened area between the upper and lower center grille on the front end, and the rear design features a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser-lookalike design.

A quick check on local classifieds sites already reveal many salesmen posting up entries and prices range between RM59,888 to RM65,888, making this one of the cheapest 2.0 liter MPVs around, though what you’ll be getting is a model that first debuted in 2002.

Look after the jump for more images of the new Citra facelift.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Reader acesDSI spotted this Kia Forte with JPJ plates roaming the streets of Batu 3 Shah Alam heading towards Section 20 Shah Alam. It looks like the good-looking Kia Forte is going to be launched soon, and sources in Naza say it’s most likely to be offered in CKD locally assembled form.

Although we cannot really see the badge on the car because of the resolution of the photos, the photographer said the car had Naza badges on, so maybe what we’re going to get is a Naza Forte instead of a Kia Forte.

Click for enlarged image

There are positive and negative points about that, firstly having a Naza badge on is likely to give the company more bargaining power with duties resulting in a lower price, which is ultimately beneficial for consumers if a simple badge swap (that could even be supplier by showrooms) will “fix” it. Secondly it will stop potential customers from waiting for Naza Kia to Naza-ize a Kia Forte in anticipation of further price drops.

If the Naza Forte is to become a proper bread and butter sedan for Naza Kia it has to replace the Spectra in the product range so expect it to come with a 1.6 liter engine, with larger engines reserved for the Kia Koup 2-door coupe which I tested in South Korea recently.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Group of Companies wants to move from being a family owned institution of management to that of an organization of 23 companies adhering to a multinational organization culture of focusing on improvements.

The latest in a series of steps taken is an effort to “upgrade” its human resources or staff – a signing with Motorola University, where 1,000 of the Naza Group’s employees will be trained and developed to improve their skills focusing on increasing productivity and revenue. The training will be provided by Motorola University based on programs that Motorola has developed on the way of becoming a Fortune 500 company.

Naza will offer these programs to employees of all 23 Naza companies under SM Faisal, which will include leadership development, lean manufacturing, customer driven total solutions and the Motorola Six Sigma Program series.

There are many big companies who are actually family-owned but are managed and run by trained professionals. One example very close to Naza is the BMW group, which has been majority (about 46%) owned by the Quandt family since the 50s. It is a proven formula that works.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Malaysian Reserve reports on its front page today that Naza and PSA Peugeot-Citroen are looking at introducing a 1.6 liter entry level car that will be sold in Malaysia and also assembled and exported from here to other ASEAN regions. This solidifies plans for Naza to turn Malaysia into Peugeot’s assembly hub for the region.

Naza currently already exports the 206 to various countries including Nepal. It is in line with Peugeot’s international entry level car strategy for this to be some variation of the 206 and since we already have the 206 in 1.4 liter variety, perhaps the new compact car will be the 207 Sedan which is essentially a 206 sedan with 207 aesthetics. A 1.6 liter engine will be good news. Ideally it should be priced around the new Hyundai Accent’s level, but who knows. There is also a 307 Sedan that exists.

Look after the jump for more shots of the 207 Sedan.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Group’s SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin has revealed that Naza Kia, Naza Corporation and Nasim Peugeot will be unveiling a few new models this year, in addition to the CKD Peugeot 308 VTi and 308 Turbo and the CKD facelifted Peugeot 407 already launched this year.

There will be 2 new Naza-badged models, one new Kia-badged model and 3 new Peugeot models launched. The Kia-badged car is very likely to be the new Kia Forte (shown above, gallery after jump), which is said to be launched in Q2 this year. The two Naza-badged models will also be based on Kia models, they could be a new facelifted Naza Suria and an all-new monocoque Naza Sorento, based on the new facelifted Suria and the upcoming Kia XM Sorento.

A report by StarBiz claims 2 of the 3 new Peugeot models to be the Peugeot 3008 and the Peugeot 207. The 207 could be the real 207 or it could also be the 207 Compact (206+), a facelifted 206 with 207 looks, which would be a repalcement for the Naza 206 Bestari. The third model could be the Peugeot 308 CC 4-seater coupe-convertible unveiled recently, which would complete the current 308 VTi, 308 Turbo and 308 GT offerings.

Read the related links below to read our past coverage on all of these cars that are expected to hit our shores by the end of the year.

Related Posts:
Peugeot 3008 Crossover: details and photos
New Peugeot 206+ entry-level car for Europe (207 Compact)
Kia unveils Kia Picanto facelift
New Kia Sorento snapped without disguise
First photos of new Kia Forte sedan

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

SM Nasarudin handles Naza’s three official distributorships – Peugeot via Nasim Peugeot, Kia via Naza Kia and Naza Corporation’s own-brand products such as the Naza Forza. He is also the CEO of NZ Diners, the franchise holder of Bubba Gump Shrimp in Malaysia. Other Naza companies that fall under his jurisdiction include Naza Pan Asia (property investments), Naza Automotive Manufacturing, Naza Hotel Management, NZ Communcations (creative solutions), NZ Galaxy, Naza Academy, and Naza Defence. While Naza TTDI which has a flagship project in the Golden Triangle – Platinum Park is also managed by Nasarudin, their youngest brother SM Faliq is the new MD.

Related Posts:
SM Nasarudin appointed Naza Group CEO

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Need or want a 7-seater? Are you a government servant or an employee of a GLC? Can’t afford the monthly installments even if you stretch your payment period to the very long 9 year term? If you think 9 years was pushing it, wait until you see this. I do not recommend taking such insanely long loans for a rapidly depreciating item such as a car but there is such an option now anyway, if you want to put yourself in such a situation.

Naza Kia Sdn Bhd has teamed up with the Koperasi Pendidikan Usahawan Berhad and AmBank Berhad to offer a 12 year low interest rate loan for the Naza Citra RS and GS. Monthly installments can go as low as RM647. There is also a promotion now where you will get free 2 months installment, a free 2 year or 50,000km service maintenance package, and an extended 5 year or 125,000km warranty.

Call 1-800-888-542 to find out more. Those who want something newer can check out the Naza Citra II Rondo.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Kia Sdn Bhd has launched the new Naza Citra II Rondo in Malaysia. The Naza Citra II Rondo is essentially the Kia Rondo which is the replacement model for Carens that the Naza Citra is based on. The Citra will continue to be sold as a budget 7-seater SUV, and the new Naza Citra II Rondo will be positioned between the Citra and the Ria, bringing Naza Kia’s 7-seater offerings up to 3 models.

According to Naza Kia, the new Rondo is built on the D-segment new Kia Optima platform and also shares the Optima’s sweet new GEMA-based 2.0 liter DOHC CVVT engine producing 145 horsepower and 189Nm of torque, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual shifting. The GEMA engine is a joint project between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. The 4B11 in the Mitsubishi Lancer is also based on the GEMA family.

Like the Optima, the Rondo rides on MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup with coil springs at the rear. It also has anti-roll bars as standard for both the front and rear axles. It scored 5 stars on the NHTSA frontal crash ratings.

Two equipment levels are available – the Naza Citra II Rondo EX and the Naza Citra II Rondo EXS. The Naza Citra II Rondo EX features foglamps, six-jet windscreen washers, a trip computer, a 6 speaker sound system with a CD player, ABS brakes, dual SRS airbags, a manual climate control system, body-colored door handles, body-colored side moldings and black front grille crossbars packaged with 15-inch alloy wheels wrapped with Goodyear Eagle NCT5 tyres. The Rondo EXS carries over the features from the EX but adds an automatic climate control system, steering wheel audio, a roof rack and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Rondo’s front row features 1,043mm of headroom and 1,042mm of legroom while the second row (60:40 multifold split bench) offers 1,015mm of headroom and 975mm of legroom. The third row (50:50 split) is naturally less at 887mm of headroom and 800mm of legroom but Naza Kia says this is enough for an average-sized adult. It’s best to head to showrooms and try it for yourself.

• Naza Citra II Rondo EX – RM84,888
• Naza Citra II Rondo EXS – RM88,888

Look after the jump for more photos of the new Naza Citra II Rondo.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Corporation has introduced a premium version of the Naza 206 Bestari called the Naza 206 Premium. It’s priced at RM71,888.00, about RM3k more than the 206 Bestari’s RM68,877.80 price tag. For the additional RM3k, this is what you get:

• Leather on the steering wheel, interior and two-tone seats.
• 3 head restraints for the rear seat bench
• A 6-speaker audio system (additional 2 over the Bestari)
• Seat back pockets and Peugeot logo at the back of the front seats
• Only rear spoiler (you lose the full bodykit of the 206 Bestari)
• New design Peugeot-badged 14 inch alloy wheels
• 206 Premium badging, Peugeot sill plates, door visors, hood insulator
• Reverse sensors

The interior leather is done up in orange, meant to be the same colour as the dashboard lighting. With more Peugeot badges around the car including on the alloy wheels it should be cheaper and easier for you to Peugeotize this car, which is what most people do. You get a 5 year warranty with 3 years free service including parts and labour.

The 206 Premium comes in 4 colours – Quick Silver, Aegean Blue, Svelte Grey and Onyx Black. Look after the jump for photos of the rear and the interior.


Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

After completing his Business Economics degree from the University of Southern California in the US, he joined Naza Kia Sdn Bhd as a management trainee in 2005.

In 2006, he was appointed Naza Corporation Sdn Bhd head of operations, and took up CEO positions in three Naza companies this year – Nasim Sdn Bhd (Peugeot franchise), Naza Corporation Sdn Bhd, and NZ Diners Sdn Bhd (Naza’s first foray into the food business, Bubba Gump Shrimp).

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to Tan Sri’s family. Despite being the big man behind a large home-grown conglomerate that has provided many jobs, having met him briefly over dinner one day I found him to be very nice man and very down to earth.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Corporation Sdn Bhd is organizing a contest for buyers of the 2007 stock Naza Sutera where the buyers can win a Naza Sutera Sportivo.

As there will only be one winner for the car, those who buy a Sutera during the promotion period will also be able to bring home a 29 inch “Slim Fit” television set upon successful registration of their new car. This means all Sutera buyers will go home with a gift.

The promotion will be on from 14 March 2008 to 23 March 2008. 23 Naza Corporation dealers are participating in this promotion and interested buyers are advised to check out the nearest Naza Corporation dealer. Alternatively, interested customers may also call the Customer Careline at 03-2617 7777 for more information pertaining to this offer and the whereabouts of the participating dealers.

The selected dealers will also be having open houses for customers on the 14th to 16th March and 21st to 23rd March 2008 at their premises. All customers are invited to the open house.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza has updated the Naza 206 Bestari with a new bodykit including a rear roof spoiler, door visors, and a new exhaust tailpipe. The rear seat bench now includes head rests, something that was optional on the car when it was initially launched, even though product images showed that it had headrests.

The 3 year or 100,000km warranty package has been upped to 5 years now, and includes 3 years free maintenance. With the additional accessories and warranty, the price remains the same at RM68,888 for the 1.4 liter French-rebadge.

One more rear shot after the jump.

Related Posts:
Naza 206 Bestari in-depth specifications, photos and price
Naza 206 Bestari Test Drive Review


Click to enlarge

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Sorento (rebadged Kia Sorento) has been facelifted in Malaysia, and while we do not gain the new powerful VGT turbodiesel thats available in Europe, the 2.5 liter intercooled turbodiesel engine still remains one of the more powerful ones in the segment, producing 140 PS at 3,800rpm and 294Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. This is mated to a 5-speed (1 overdrive) automatic gearbox, with Active Torque Transfer between the front and rear wheels, high/low ratios, and a limited slip differential.

The facelifted Naza Sorento features a 3-bar chrome radiator grille and a new front bumper with circular fog lamps. The Sorento also gets new front headlamps with a blackened out design – these are of the projector type. It has 16 inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, and a new rear bumper.

Because of the new bumpers, the new Naza Sorento is 4,590mm long, 20mm longer than the pre-facelift Sorento. Ground clearance is 203mm, wheelbase is 2,710mm, track is 1,580mm for both front and rear, width is 1,865mm, and height is 1,730mm (1,810mm with roof rack). Exterior colours consist of a choice of 4 colours – Ebony Black, Sand Beige, Clear White and Clear Silver. All are two-tone matched with Pewter Gray.

The interior upholstery is grey with brown high gloss wood trim. Its too bad Naza Kia did not choose black for the interior as they did with the Kia Sportage – that would have given the interior a more upmarket feel, as it did with the Sportage. The interior instrument cluster is now brighter thanks to the use of LED lighting instead of the pre-facelift Sorento’s bulb lighting.

Interior legroom for the second row is now 890mm – 30mm more than the pre-facelift Sorento. Another new feature is dual zone climate control. There is a trip computer on the overhead console that shows a compass, distance to empty, average speed, elapsed drive time, and external temperature.

Kia Motors has retuned the Sorento’s suspension for better ride and handling. The front is an in-wheel type double wishbone suspension while the rear is a solid axle 5-link suspension with coil springs.

The front suspension now has larger bushes for improved ride, while the caster angle has been changed from 3.3″ to 3.89″ for improved straight line stability. The rear suspension has a longer lower arm length (now 655.1mm compared to pre-facelift 591.3mm) and adjusted angle to reduce the bouncy feeling associated with solid axle suspensions. Upper arm angle has also been adjusted for improved ride, and the upright shock absorber has been moved outside of the frame for improved ride.

Safety features include dual airbags and ABS. The new facelifted Sorento has a 5 star NHTSA NCAP rating, compared to the prefacelift Sorento’s 4 star rating. For the IIHS overall frontal test, the rating is now Good, compared to the prefacelift’s Acceptable grade. Euro NCAP test results revealed a 4 star score for both front and side impact.

The new facelifted Naza Sorento comes with a 5 year or 125,000km warranty, and a 2 year or 50,000km free service package, inclusive of lubricants and labour. Prices start at RM138,888 on the road.

More photos after the jump.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Sutera is now on sale in Singapore for S$41,999. The 1.1 liter compact car is known in Malaysia as the Naza Forza. It is distributed in Singapore by Nascar Pte Ltd, the official distributor of Naza in Singapore. Nascar Pte Ltd is a subsidiary of The J & J Royal Group Pte Ltd, which also distributes Perodua, and TD2000.

The Singaporean specifications list include 14 inch wheels, a 6 speaker sound system with a MP3/CD/AM/FM head unit, and fabric upholstery. It does not have the dual SRS airbags that we have in our market. It also does not have the alloy wheels and fog lamps shown in the photo above.

Its 1.1 liter DOHC engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with 64 horsepower and 88Nm of torque which peaks over 3,000 to 3,500rpm.

The first 50 customers will get a 42 inch LCD TV.

Related Posts:
Naza Forza 1.1 Manual Short Test Drive Report
2006 Naza Sutera 1.1 Manual

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Group already has a relationship with Automobiles Peugeot through Naza Corporation Sdn Bhd to assemble the Peugeot 206 here locally as the Naza 206 Bestari.

Expect the sexy looking Peugeot 407 to be assembled locally soon, which should put it in better reach for buyers looking at D-segment sedans and want to try something European. The 2.0 liter model currently sells for RM164,989.90 OTR with insurance. A drop to about RM130k to RM140k through local assembly is likely, and this is good news to me at least, because Naza has some surprisingly very decent local assembly build quality for its foreign brand cars, something I’ve personally observed with the new Kia Optima and the Naza Bestari.

Related Posts:
CCB discontinued Peugeot partnership in Malaysia

Source

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Forza is Naza’s latest foray into the high-volume A-segment market and they obviously hope to reverse their fortunes after the Naza Sutera failed to get into 5-digit sales after 18 months on the market. But what is it exactly?

First of all, it’s got an Italian name, unlike the rest of Naza’s offerings which have had specifically Malaysian names in the past. It’ll be launched today but Shannon Teoh was part of a media sneak to Port Dickson recently to find out exactly what sort of pizza Naza is baking with their latest car.

More after the jump, including the new price and warranty/service package.

Once you see it, it’ll definitely look familiar and Naza made no secret of the fact that the Naza Forza is basically a Sutera facelift. The highlighted exterior changes include an even weirder front signal lamp but better looking rear bumper, front and rear lamps.

Inside, the Naza Forza has a new colour scheme, meter panel and seat trim and the first technical change you’ll notice is a Blaupunkt CD/MP3 unit instead of the integrated audio on the Sutera. Simply put, it’s a better unit.

This is the first step in what Naza hopes will rebrand the sedate Naza Sutera into the funky Naza Forza. The new target market is a buyer who is young with a low-income, looking for a first car or a mature buyer getting a second car for the kids. Hence, Naza’s tagline, ‘the fun car for fun people’.

But sound system aside, it’s hard to get away from the thought that “it’s the same car.” And it is the same. Which unfortunately includes the same seating position which always leaves you either too close to the pedals or too far from the gearstick, the same shaky fitment and the same engine.

Which wasn’t bad at all for a 1,075cc unit. Mated to the 5-speed manual ‘box, it gave the same elasticity in torque as the Naza Sutera, with 88Nm coming in between 3,000-3,500rpm. The result was that 3rd gear was a comfortable ratio once above 20km/h, making this a very capable city car, what with its small dimensions (only 3,633mm long and 1,563mm wide not including wing mirrors – which are electrical but slightly wonky) and 50km/h is good enough to engage 5th, so you can cruise comfortably on the trunk roads too.

Which is relevant since Naza thinks you might want to take this to balik kampung once in awhile. So it was a pleasant surprise to see the Naza Sutera hitting 170km/h on the highway with just 64hp – albeit downhill – but on my car, the area between 100-110 produced a juddering steering wheel.

The ride feels better than on the Sutera, if not the handling, as on some twisty trunk roads on the Sepang-Lukut trunk road, the only way it could keep up with a 206 Bestari filled with four passengers was to cut into the opposing lane.

There’s exciting and then there’s frightening. The skinny tyres on new six-spoke 14” rims can hardly keep itself planted on the road as the car leans out at corners although, I’m not sure if I could tell how far the tyres were giving way since the steering wasn’t exactly the most conversant on earth.

Yet despite this, the car feels better put together – better NVH for sure. Information on technical changes to the internal workings were not given to us, although the question was asked by yours truly.

Perhaps they just want to keep it simple, like how they’re naming the colours. No more two word names like Fusion Green and Onyx Black, the colour words have been dropped, leaving us with names like Amber, Satin and Atlantic, although the exception to the rule is Gun Metal, which is as expected a kind of grey.

But in fact, it just complicates things, because I’m sure that at the showroom, they’re just going to say green, or black or blue. But let’s give Naza the benefit of the doubt and say that they can pull off this rebranding exercise. Then at least, the choice of changing the marketing base colour from blue to, uhh, Fusion, at least gives the Naza Forza a sprightlier outlook. This shade of green, Naza claims, represents the young and growing consumer and also an environmentally conscious one, as they claim the Naza Forza is very fuel efficient. Once again, no technicals were given but on our roughly 200km drive, less than half the 40-litre tank was used, which is good given the pace we were driving at and the jams we had to contend with in KL and Lukut but still, not astounding.

Forza means forward but whether that’ll be the case for Naza depends on the pricing which should be released during the launch. As of now, the RM36,218 OTR figure for the Sutera is the mark to beat. If that price couldn’t sway customers then, it probably won’t now, despite overall improvements. It’s a lot to ask, but dipping below the RM35,000 mark will probably eat significantly into the Perodua Viva’s sales performance.

Story and photos by Shannon Teoh.

UPDATE: The new OTR price for the Naza Forza is RM37,999 OTR with insurance. It comes with a 3-year warranty along with 2 years of free service.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Corporation is currently having a year end promotion for its Naza Sutera and Naza 206 Bestari models. This promotion starts on the 8th of December 2007 and ends on the 31st of December 2007.

Buyers of the Naza 206 Bestari during the promotion period will get either a free 32 inch Plasma TV or an Acer Aspire 14.1 inch Centrino Duo notebook computer. The Naza 206 Bestari also comes with 5 years of warranty and 3 years of free service. This offer is valid for the first 100 customers only.

If you buy a Naza Sutera or a Naza Sutera Sportivo, you will get a 29 inch “slim fit” TV and a DVD player. This offer is valid while stocks last.

Related Posts:
Naza 206 Bestari Test Drive Review
2006 Naza Sutera 1.1 Manual

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza Suria is now available in 6 colours (Galaxy Black, Orange, Scarlet Red, Liquid Silver, Samba Green & Cobalt Blue), each with matching “Edisi Grafix” body stickers. Above is the Scarlet Red version.

UPDATE: These stickers are at no extra cost and is valid 31st December 2007. If you prefer a normal Suria without the stickers, it’s also available.

Have a look at the rest of the new colours and body stickers after the jump.


Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

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Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

We’ll be able to see a host of new locally assembled models from Naza this year, that will expand it’s current 6-model line-up to a 10-model line-up, beginning with a new SUV in May 2007. The Sorento has already been CKD-ed, so this new SUV is most likely the current Kia Sportage (shown above) being sold by Naza.

Naza’s current model line-up is a somewhat multi-national mix: four Korean cars (Suria, Citra, Sorento and Ria), a French car (206 Bestari) and a Chinese car (Sutera). It’s plant in Gurun is running at full capacity with double shifts because of strong demand. January saw 3,000 Naza cars sold, but this dropped to 1,000 in February for the same reasons as the overall industry drop.

The other 3 models to be launched other than the possible Sportage was said to be a locally assembled MPV, and two locally assembled saloons. Looking at the current model range and the range of Kia models to rebadge, I would say the MPV could either be a new Carens (Citra) or Carnival (Ria), while the two saloons could be two of these: Rio sedan, new Spectra (also known as Cerato) as well as the lovely new Kia Optima.

Photos of these possible models after the jump.

Source


Kia Carens / Naza Citra

Kia Carnival / Naza Ria

Kia Optima

Kia Rio Sedan

Kia Spectra Sedan

Kia Spectra5

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

The Naza 206 Bestari is now available in manual transmission, which should make the car abit more zippy due to less transmission losses, more gear ratios making them closer together as well as the enjoyment of shifting the gears yourself.

You can get one at Naza showrooms for RM63,888, about RM5,000 less than the automatic variant, however with this manual version the ABS has also been removed. However, the twin SRS airbags for the front remain. Surveys show customers in this price range value Dual Airbags first, Reverse Sensors and Vehicle Security as priorities.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza has exported it’s first batch of Naza Sutera and Naza 206 Bestari cars destined for the international market on the 26th of January 2007. A small shipment ceremony was conducted at Port klang. The first batch is destined for Nepal, for it’s Nepalese dealer Alpine Motors Co., Ltd, of which has it’s own finance company, Union Finance Ltd, which leases and provides loan facilities through Union Money Transfer Co. Ltd. Alpine Motors, which will have 2 showrooms in Nepal and is also the first automotive retailer in Nepal to have credit card facilities.

Like Alpine Motors, all Nazas distributors will undergo training programmes for both Sales & Service in Malaysia at Nazas training facilities in Gurun. There is a comprehensive aftersales support system in place, including warranty & spare parts backup. The Sutera and 206 Bestari is also destined for Bangladesh, Mauritius, Pakistan, Nepal & Madagascar.

According to Tan Sri Nasimuddin, due to production constraints and local demand, the first phase of Naza’s exports will be to smaller markets like Bangladesh, Mauritius, Pakistan, Nepal & Madagascar. Export efforts will be stepped up once Naza’s Bertam Plant is completed in 2008 with the introduction of new models.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Wheels Sdn Bhd and Nasim Sdn Bhd, both companies under the Naza Group unveiled the Mazda 3 1.6 (A) sedan Naza Edition and the limited edition Peugeot 206XT 1.6 (A) Naza Edition imported direct from France. The cars are done up by NZ Galaxy Sdn Bhd, a company that envisions to provide personalize vehicles for the masses at affordable prices, from what I see, something like a car styling company.

The Mazda 3 1.6 (A) sedan Naza Edition goes for RM113,993 and comes with a NZ Galaxy bodykit, rims, a leather interior, tinted glass, rear tail finisher, special emblem and global positioning system with Malaysian and Singaporean maps. As for the Peugeot 206XT 1.6 (A) Naza Edition, it too has a new bodykit, a leather interior, crystal clear head lights, tail pipe finisher and the GPS system. Only 10 cars are available for sale at RM85,000.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza Kia and Naza Automotive Manufacturing has donated RM500,000 in cash and in kind to the Johor flood relief centres. They also sent a relief team consisting of Naza staff and it’s panel of doctors, including one who had helped in the tsunami relief efforts in Aceh.

In addition, the employees of the Naza Group of Companies will embark on a donation drive to collect necessary items, including clothing, food, and other essential items for the flood victims. Naza will also deploy their staff to help in the relief efforts in Johor to facilitate distribution of these items.

Pretty nice of Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin to help, pity the people in Johor. While some wail over the loss or devaluation of their submerged cars, others have lost everything they have, save for the cloth on their backs.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Naza has submitted it’s proposal and presented it to the relevant officials on Thursday last week, and it will be considered together with other proposals from local firms like the Mofaz group and DRB-HICOM. DRB-HICOM took a different approach to it’s proposal, with what I perceive as a two prong attack – number one – it says it can help Proton, we’ve read about that before.

Number two – it says it has no choice but to win the bid because if it doesn’t, DRB-HICOM might potentially tumble down into financial trouble. “We then have to crack our heads (to find a way) to move forward. If we cannot go into the auto industry (in a big way) we would have to move into other areas. But, with 60% of our group revenue coming from the auto sector, we need to take over Proton and protect our current business,” said the groups automotive and component division Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Omar. Since the government has a 39% stake in DRB-HICOM, the group’s performance is of concern as it is also a government investment like Proton.

However, The Edge cited unnamed sources that the government is committed to putting priority on foreign firms rather than local firms, as foreign firms could offer more to Proton. The Prime Minister rebutted this rumour yesterday, saying all proposals would be properly considered and evaluated before a decision is made.

Related Posts:
DRB-HICOM explains 32.9% stake proposal rationale
Volkswagen conducting due diligence audit on Proton?
JMEPA: The reason Volkswagen wants Proton?

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Also, if you decide to buy any of these cars before the 31st of December 2006, you’ll get an accessory package worth up to RM2,000.

For the Naza Bestari, the accessory package includes tinting, rear headrests, hood insulation and others. Not sure about the other cars except for the gold tint.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

[ LATEST UPDATE: Naza has updated the Naza 206 Bestari for the 2008 model year. Click the link for more information! ]

Finally after a long wait, the press fleet for the Naza 206 Bestari is ready and I managed to get a hold of one unit to write a test drive report. The Naza 206 Bestari, codenamed the NX-02 is basically a locally assembled rebadged version of the Peugeot 206, in fact the Peugeot lion badge is still displayed proudly on the rear hatch. Look after the jump for what I think about the Naza 206 Bestari.

For one, this is basically the cheapest continental car you can buy first hand, though not the cheapest car with a continental feel. Some of you might be able to guess which cars provide a conti feel at an even cheaper price. Naza’s Gurun plant has successfully preserved the continental feel, goes to show having a different badge on the front and rear doesn’t mean the car is any different.

The 1.4 liter Peugeot TU3 engine making 75 horsepower and 120Nm of torque mated to a 4-speed Porsche Tiptronic gearbox feels underpowered for a car of this kerb weight. You slowly build up the revs and wait for the engine to enter it’s powerband, but you wait and wait and the RPM needle hits the redline, and you wonder when did peak torque kick in? Because you didn’t feel anything. As the engine approaches redline, there is some slight metallic vibration to be heard from the front. Also, I think the gearing isn’t quite suitable, as the Skoda Fabia 1.4 had similiar power to weight ratios but didn’t feel as sluggy as the Naza 206 Bestari.

The gearbox also behaves differently to what you might expect with an automatic gearbox, it is not very willing to downshift even when you floor the pedal, instead forcing you to use Tiptronic manual mode and downshift manually. Apparently this is a common behaviour with French gearboxes, they all behave this way. Anyone with experience with another French automatic car care to share their experience? The gearbox is definitely intelligent though, it doesn’t upshift when you release the pedal while going downhill, instead keeping the revs high on a lower gear to take advantage of engine braking.

There are two other modes, one is a sports mode which shifts at a higher point as well as keeps to lower gears, refraining from upshifting when you ease on the pedal. The other mode is winter mode, which starts the car from second gear to prevent torque slip on slippery surfaces, though with an engine like this I’m not sure if winter mode is required!

Despite the mediocre engine performance, the comfort level and road holding of the Peugeot 206-based Naza 206 Bestari was really good, perhaps one of the best in car’s in it’s class. Very comfy and sufficiently damped over uneven road surfaces. Interior comfort is also good despite the smallness of everything which I will talk about later – the seats are semi-bucket-like in shape, cushioning you well. Being an old school supermini design like the Fabia, i.e.: it sits low, none of that high seating position crap which I really really don’t like, despite it allowing greater interior room. A lower stance coupled with lower center of gravity gives you greater confidence in driving the car.

Now that you know how the car’s engine and gearbox combination performs, I think we can all agree on the fact that this car was designed to take you from A to B with minimum fuss, offering nothing else. So let’s cover the practicalities.

The car looks small for the inside, so naturally the inside is kind of small too, unlike the Myvi which somehow manages to suprise everyone with it’s feel of spaciousness on the interior. The front seats are nice and snug fabric seats. Egronomics are okay, the gear levers are easy to reach, you’d think this are part of the basics in interior design but trust me some manufacturers manage to screw up at this! Power window buttons for the front windows are located on the center console, but the rear power window controls are positioned behind, making it a little awkward for you to control, but I suppose it’s a requirement to position it there for the rear passengers to reach them as well. Steering wheel audio controls aren’t exactly on the steering, but on a separate stalk below the wiper control on the right. You can control radio channels/CD track selection and audio volume from the stalk.

The rear seats can only fit two medium height adults comfortably, or kids. When someone like me (182cm tall) gets into the driver’s seat, you’ll have to push the driver’s seat quite far behind, basically destroying any chance of anyone but a child sitting behind the driver’s seat. As one passenger commented, “Gosh, this is like a two door car with four doors.” There are no rear headrests included in the standard package but they can be purchased as an option.

Audio system is satisfactory, it has decent treble and so-so bass, and is built into the dashboard design. The CD player tends to skip often over bumps and potholes, a problem I never had with my super cheap Pioneer CD player on my Satria. The audio system LCD display is multi-functional, being able to show information like specifically which door is open, external temperature, time, etc.

A neat feature of the audio system is RDS, which allows for the audio system to automatically adjusts the frequency of the radio station you’re listening to as you travel across the country. I’m sure you’ve noticed some CD players have the ability to display the station title. When you travel from KL to the south, the frequencies for the stations change. RDS scans for the new frequency with the same station name and automatically switches frequencies to the new station, not requiring you to fumble about trying to find out where’d you favorite station go.

Build quality of the interior was very decent, however I am abit concerned over this squeaking rattling noise which surfaced on day 2 of my test drive whenever the car went over even the slightest uneven surface. Sounds like the dreaded Proton rear hatch squeak. Whatever it is, I hope that if one gets this problem with his or her car and takes it back to Naza to rectify, the service personnel had better know how to fix it or risk Naza’s reputation going into the drain together with Proton. No one has perfect QC, the difference is how you fix the problem and how you treat the customer!

Other items to take note of include a follow me home function. When the car is turned off, flick the headlamp high beam feature once and the headlamps will stay on for a period of about 15 seconds or so, allowing it to illuminate your path or drive way. This is a safety feature. You also get adjustable headlamps from controls within the car, as well as an engine oil level indicator. Spare tyre is mounted under the car instead of under the boot mat, which could be tricky in situations where you have to access it. The fog lamp in the lower center of the rear bumper is spring loaded so it can withstand a few kisses to your Bestari’s butt. Yes, it is a fog lamp, not just a red reflector.

The air intake vent on the hood is not for cold air intake to the engine as most would think at first glance, but it’s actually a filtered air intake for the air conditioning system. This provides filtered air to the cabin, perfect for Malaysia’s annual smog season courtesy of our friends in Indonesia.

All in all, I think it’s an okay buy for anyone who wants something slightly different, for anyone who wants a feel of driving a continental car, basically those who can afford it as I think RM68,888 is abit too expensive for what it is. Also, the engine is way too underpowered for anyone who likes driving.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Full list after the jump, as well as more photos of the car.

External Enhancements

Front Bumper Body Colour	Adoption of Sparkling Black X28 Body Colour Finished
Rear Bumper Body Colour	Adoption of Sparkling Black X28 Body Colour Finished
Full Door Handle (Fr & RR Doors)	Adoption of Sparkling Black X28 Body Colour Finished
Door Molding ( FR & RR – LH/RH)	Adoption of Sparkling Black X28 Body Colour Finished
Body Kits – Side Skirts	Side Skirts – Body Colour Finished with Exclusive Naza Sportivo Emblem
Body Kits – Front Skirts	Front Skirt – Body Colour Finished with Exclusive Naza Sportivo Emblem
Body Kits – Side Skirts	Side Skirts – Body Colour Finished with Exclusive Naza Sportivo Emblem
Body Kits – Rear Skirts	Rear Skirt – Body Colour Finished with Exclusive Naza Sportivo Emblem
Rear Spoiler	Simple Roof Spoiler without lights
Headlights	Titanium Twin Halo Angel Eye ‘M Series’ Headlights
Rear Lamps	Titanium LED ‘M Series’ Rear Lamps
Side Repeaters	LED Side Repeaters
Door Mirror Side Turn Lamp	Clear LED Lights Cluster and Body Colour Finished
Fuel Lid Cover	Aluminium Sport Cover with Allan Key Finished
Back Warning Sensor (BWS)	Independent Type with Two Sensor Eyes and Buzzer Function
Hood Insulator	Sound Proof – Standard Sportivo
Alloy Wheel	Introduce of 16″ Inch Sport Rims with Exclusive Naza Sportivo Centre Cap.
Tire	205/45/R16 Tires (Goodyear)
Exhausts	Dual Exhaust Muffler
Sportivo Emblem	Exclusive Sportivo Emblem – Injection Type (ABS Material)

Internal Enhancements

Seat Trim Cover	2 Toned Colour Leather Trimmed Cover with Perforation Insert and Naza Sportivo Emblem
Steering Wheel Cover	Adoption of Leather Trimmed with Sports Stitching and Perforation Insert.
Door Trim Ornament	Adoption of Leather Trimmed Insert
Pedal, Acceleration	Introduce of MOMO Grand Prix – Black
Gear Shift Knob	Introduce of MOMO Combat EVO – Chrome Finished
Parking Brake Handle	Adoption of Leather Trimmed Insert
Floor Carpet Mats	Black Velour Floor Mats with Exclusive Sportivo Emblem
Centre Cluster Panel	Cubic Printing – SV Series Carbon Fiber
Grab Handles	Cubic Printing – SV Series Carbon Fiber
Air Cond Outlets (RH, LH & Centre)	Cubic Printing – SV Series Carbon Fiber
Centre Console Switches Holder	Cubic Printing – SV Series Carbon Fiber
Bezel, Inner Door Opener	Cubic Printing – SV Series Carbon Fiber
Rear Headrest	Additional 3 Rear Headrest.
Navigation System (Compasseo 600)	Portable Navigation Device 3.5 ” Touch Screen Display Integrated Plug and Drive GPS Device. Slim and Light Design, Easy to Transfer from Car to Car, Maps of Malaysia & Singapore. Precise Voice Guidance and 2D/3D Map Viewer, Photo Viewer, USB Cable Port, 2D/3D Map Viewer, Rechargeable via a Computer or a Car Cigarette Lighter Socket.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.

Want to know what exactly you’ll be getting with the extra RM2,890 you’ll be paying for a Naza Sutera Sportivo over the high spec Naza Sutera GSi model? A list of changes as well as more photos of the car is available after the jump.

Additional features over the GSi trim:

• 15 inch Sportivo wheels with 175/50/R15 tyres, GSi has 14 inch.
• MOMO Pit Stop Gear Knob and Parking Brake
• Light Beige Protein Leather Trim for Gear and Parking Brake.
• MOMO R3000 Silver Pedals.
• 3-spoke MOMO Trek R350 steering wheel, without airbag!
• Passenger airbag has also been removed.
• Sportivo emblems.
• Smoked lense cover for rear combination lamps.
• Clear lense signal lamps.
• Carbon Fibre Design Meter Cluster.
• Carbon Fibre Design Center Cluster Panel.
• Carbon Fibre Design Door Trim and Arm Rest.
• Carbon Fibre Design Inner Door Bezel.
• Aluminium Finished Door Scuff Plate Garnish With Sportivo Emblem.
• Sportivo Floor Matt.
• Single DIN Sony Xplod MP3 CD player w/remote control
• 4 higher grade speakers on front doors and C-pillar
• Sportivo SV1-Spec Spec Sports Seats with Leather Trims Kit.
• Dual muffler design.
• PU front and rear lips and side skirts.
• Fiberglass roof spoiler.
• Dual pitch horn.
• Gold dust NAZA tinting.
• Antirust.
• Dual eye reverse sensor.

© 2009 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 22 Nov 09 16:24:59 +0800.