Click to enlarge
DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (soon to be Mercedes-Benz Malaysia), gave the media, and some rubber-necking commuters from Glenmarie to Cameron Highlands, a chance to get acquainted with the new C-Class, set to fill many an upcoming taukeh’s driveway from November onwards.
Shannon Teoh was there to fiddle with the Bluetooth Telephony. More after the jump. Click here to read the rest of W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Short Test Drive
Earlier this year, Suzuki did the done thing and finally CKD-ed their entry-level model. When I drove it in CBU form, it was pretty fun. Slightly nasty with its slapped together interior and screamy engine noise… but fun.
The thing is, nothing much has changed except that the ride in the rear has been improved somewhat. Oh, and the small matter of price, of course. This used to cost RM87,279 after the NAP hit CBU units hard. With its previous price coming in at RM79,800, it was clear that Suzuki Malaysia had to do something about it.
Shannon Teoh discovered what’s new (or not) with the Suzuki Swift during a short media drive to the assembly plant in Pekan some months back. Details after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Locally assembled Suzuki Swift test drive
There are a few cars that one would look forward to getting into in order to experience something because it has a certain reputation surrounding it. You have the BMW 3-Series with the expectations of its fantastic 50:50 weight balance, or the Mercedes Benz S-Class because it is seen as the pinnacle of comfort at under a million ringgit. The Ford Focus is one of those cars that you approach with anticipation.
Read the rest of the write-up after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Ford Focus 2.0S First Impression Test Drive
Click to enlarge
I dont care what a certain very prominent member of the motoring journalist fraternity thinks – the Volkswagen R32 is not available in Malaysia. Youre looking at the hottest hatch in the Malaysian car market – the BMW 130i M Sport.
Even judging it by horsepower alone, it makes the most – 265 horsepower at 6,600rpm and 315Nm of torque at 2,750rpm. Thats a good 65 more than the only other proper hot hatch sold here – the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Its also much more pricier at RM329,800 – an amount that could snag you an entry-level BMW 5-series if you top it up a little more, or perhaps the 325i M Sport. But the 3-series would be a locally assembled unit – this baby comes in fully imported.
Read my full test drive report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of BMW 130i M Sport Test Drive Review
The Ssangyong Actyon Sports SUT is a pick-up truck that stands out among it’s competitors, and I’m not just talking about its somewhat unorthodox looks which resembles a shark with a gaping mouth, especially in white. But if you’re willing to put it’s looks aside and are interested to know more about the features and capabilities of the Ssangyong Actyon, look after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Ssangyong Actyon Sports Pick-Up Truck Test Drive
The new face lifted BMW X3 is essentially a jacked up 3-Series station wagon with BMWs xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Bear in mind, not even the latest 3-Series even – just like how BMW dipped into the E39 parts bin when designing most of the previous generation X5, the BMW X3 takes most of its stuff from the E46 BMW 330xi.
Read my full test drive review after the jump. Click here to read the rest of 2007 BMW X3 2.5si Facelift Test Drive Review
There was a time when it was easy to tell supercars from all the rest, but then certain things happened. For one, power outputs kept on increasing while the cars got more liveable and less mental, leading to the creation of the somewhat ridiculous category of ‘hypercar, to house such varied contenders as the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Zonda. Whats next, ‘megacar? ‘Gigacar? ‘Best-to-the-power-of-infinity-car?
It doesnt help that firms like BMW make cars like the M5, a sedan which in its current incarnation has a gargantuan 500bhp, a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and a delimited top speed scarier than 300 km/h. So whats a supercar anymore? Auto publications inevitably compare the M5 to similarly-powered Italian thoroughbreds like the Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430, often with favourable results. Its much cheaper, resoundingly more practical and almost as fast, but inevitably held back by being heavier and having to accommodate all that luggage and human space.
So, youd think that it would be a sure-fire exercise in supercar-making to take the M5s magnificent engine and put it into something lower, lighter and stiffer like, say, a 6-Series, right? The BMW M6 has to be a supercar. Or does it?
Jeremy Mahadevan finds out after the jump. Click here to read the rest of BMW M6 Test Drive on the Isle of Man
After missing the media test drive held somewhere in the East Coast of Malaysia, I finally managed to get a hold of the new 2007 Honda CR-V so I can report my findings to the ever eager and critical readers of this blog. Read my findings after the jump. Click here to read the rest of 2007 Honda CR-V Test Drive Report
A few weeks back, lucky NST journalist Shannon Teoh took the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 out for a test drive review, and I got to have a taste of the car as well as be the photographer for the test drive. I can’t say much about the car as I only got to drive it a little around Cyberjaya and back to NST in Bangsar, but it’s safe to say it was everything I expected it to be and more.
I found myself saying under my breath, “I can’t believe this is 6th gear” – and the reason for it being said under my breath was because I did not want to interrupt the moments where I was feeling that amazing amount of torque – all 400Nm of it.
That is the same amount of torque as the new E92 BMW M3. While the Evo 9 introduces MIVEC variable valve timing to the venerable 4G63 series and is supposed to smoothen out the torque curve and increase low-end power, there is still a mad surge of power and the intoxicating sound of a large turbine spinning furiously when you enter the boost range which begins a tad below 4,000rpm.
It was very hard to believe that this is a performance car, as the Lancer Evolution 9 had everything you need to be a practical family sedan – 5 seats, 4 doors, a nice big boot. What else could you ask for? However, it was hard justifying the thought of me ever buying one if I could afford it, as for a sedan that costs a tad over RM280,000, the interior sure did not feel premium.
For example, even the air conditioning was a manual knob controlled unit, and the audio system was very basic. Plus, just try maneuvering the Evo 9 in tight parking spaces. You’ll discover that for some reason the car has a really bad turning circle, ensuring that multiple three point turns will be one of your most frequent maneuvers in this car.
But then again, that’s just me. I am very particular about my car interior ambiance, and the Evo 9 is just not for me. It might be the car for you though, if you had RM284,872 to plonk down for one of the most exciting cars you can buy on Malaysian roads. BTW, there is no standard warranty for this car – a 1-year warranty is optional!
For now, have a look at more photos after the jump. You can click most of the images in this post to view an enlarged version. Click here to read the rest of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 Short Write-up
In Malaysia, we get the Kia Rio5 5-door hatchback as the Kia Rio, offered as a CBU unit from Korea. Powered by a 1.4 liter engine, the proposition that the car offers you seems to be a small get-around designed to be small enough to be easy to park, as well as having a frugal engine that won’t hurt your wallet.
Read my test drive report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Kia Rio 1.4 Test Drive Report
