CLOSE
Page 737

by -

The current generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W204) is quite rightly touted by enthusiasts as the best model in the nameplate’s history. This is probably the first C-Class that can take on the 3 Series without having to worry about a thrashing from Munich.

It was launched at a time when Mercedes was still smarting from criticism of rapidly declining build quality. Gone were bulletproof models such as the W124 E-Class and the W126 S-Class, and in came replacements which were, shall we say, engineered to a cost. Needless to say, they didn’t work very well.

Determined to silence its critics, Mercedes set about to restore its reputation of making the best engineered cars on the planet. The W204 marked the start of those efforts, and the results were clear. Although it still did not have the driving dynamics to match a BMW 3 Series, it felt well-screwed together and gave the impression that it would clock up the miles without falling to pieces.

When launched in Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, then known as Daimler-Chrysler Malaysia, brought us the C 200 Kompressor, and then followed up with the C 230 Avantgarde. Both these variants had carry over engines from the previous W203 C-Class.

Recently, however, the introduction of Charged Gasoline Injection (CGI) engines in the new W212 E-Class has paved the way for these new engines to go into the C as well. The C 230 has been officially discontinued, while the C 200 K is now in stock-clearing mode, as the C 200 CGI enters the market.

Replacing the C 230 Avantgarde

In the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia C-Class line-up, the C 250 CGI steps into the shoes of the outgoing C 230 Avantgarde. The asking price has dropped, and so has engine capacity. Crucially however, equipment levels have actually been maintained with the same Avantgarde trim carried over.

Although the C 250 wears the bigger badge, it is the C 230 that sported the bigger engine. Buyers of the C 250 will have to live with two cylinders and two transmissions ratios less than the C 230, which had a 2.5-litre V6 paired with a 7-speed auto gearbox.

However, thanks to the development of turbocharging and direct injection, it is the smaller 1.8-litre engine of the C 250 that produces the more impressive numbers. Power output is maintained from the C 230’s 204hp, now delivered at 5,500rpm.

However, the real eyebrow-raising figure is its torque output of 310Nm accessible anywhere between 2,000 and 4,300rpm. A further bonus is that official fuel consumption has been brought down to a modest 7.9 l/100km, along with road tax, from RM876.00 in the C 230 to a miserly RM278.40 in the C 250. On paper, comparisons favour the new model in every way.

Rubbing it in further is that despite having paid less, and will continue paying less, buyers of the C 250 will get as standard the Comand system in their cars, an option not available to the C 230. However, if you’re thinking of showing off to your C 230 friends how short-changed they are with their car, we suggest that you do not mention too much about this system.

When activated, the unit pops out from the dash in an elegant motion. Although well-engineered, the setup has an aftermarket look about it, and most disappointingly, the maps included in the built-in GPS does not seem to be of the latest issue. There were several occasions which I found roads which weren’t at all new, but were not programmed into its array of maps. This must be improved, and it cannot wait for the facelift.

The Test Car

When its keys was handed to us from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, our test car had clocked just over 6,300km in its odometer in the hands of various editors. Fit and finish of the various panels inside and outside were satisfactory. Control switches also had good tactile feel, although there were slight inconsistencies in certain panel gaps at the driver’s side.

MBM quotes a price of RM287,888.00 for the C 250 CGI kitted as per our test car for folks in the Peninsula. Our insurance calculator estimates an additional sum in the region of RM7,700 for a year’s worth of coverage.

On the road

Around town and slow-moving traffic, the C 250 potters around with minimum fuss. There is a hint of firmness in its ride, but not to a degree that you can’t live with. The overly-light steering at low speeds might be unsettling for drivers accustomed to more meaty steering feel.

Under light throttle, progress in the C 250 is best described as serene and civilized, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it is in anyway docile. It isn’t. The moment you flick your right foot and bury the throttle, you’ll simply be washed along your way by a tsunami of torque, catapulting the speedometer clockwise with unerring ease.

Merc’s refusal to equip any of its four-cylinder models with more than five gears in their transmissions makes for unfavourable comparisons with its rivals. However, thanks to the strong surge of torque on tap, any deficit in the real world is minimal, and was certainly no issue for me.

Along twisty back roads, the C 250 demonstrated a similarly impressive breadth of abilities. Pushed to its limits, the natural tendency of the chassis is to understeer, although easing off the throttle brings matters under control again. Owners with a more performance-oriented mindset might want to consider swapping higher-performance tyres for the comfort-oriented Michelin rubber. Its handling characteristics are predictable and beginner-friendly.

Although the BMW 3 Series remains as the car with superior outright handling, it is the C-Class that has the better judged compromise between cornering supremacy and ride comfort. A 325i may roll less when turned, but it is the C 250 that sends less road shocks back to the cabin, and thus easier to live with.

Verdict

The ultimate appeal of the C 250 centres around the CGI engine’s ability to simultaneously deliver an excellent combination of performance, economy, and drive-ability. This all-rounded nature extends to the entire car, as it is not only a great drive, but also one that’s easy to live with as well.

Compared to the outgoing C 230 Avantgarde, the C 250 CGI can be regarded as the superior package in every way, and it has a lower price tag plus lower road tax to boot. Think of it this way, it pays the same amount in road tax (and possibly fuel bills) as a Honda Civic.


by -

Continental Sime Tyre Sdn Bhd (CST), having recently opened new BestDrive Continental Passenger Car & Light Truck (PLT) Centres in Klang and Sabah, has now followed up with its rapid expansion with the opening of a new centre in Malacca.

Opened in partnership with Chop Swee Hoe, the new outlet joins an existing network of 18 BestDrive PLT centres spread around the country. Like all BestDrive PLT centres, the Chop Swee Hoe outlet also markets Dunlop and Sime Tyres alongside Continental’s range of tyres.

Positioning itself as a premium outlet, Chop Swee Hoe’s premises provides the following complimentary services:
· Astro TV viewing
· Wi-Fi internet connectivity
· Drinks
· 10-point safety and maintenance check
· Service reminder
· Air-conditioned waiting room

Details of Chop Swee Hoe
Lot 1, Kawasan Perindustrian Ringan Malim Jaya,
Jalan IKS MJ1,
75250 Melaka
Tel: 06 337 4734
Fax: 06 337 4743

Pictures: Official CST release

1 of 4

by -

Fresh from organizing the Nissan Lightfoot Quest for owners of the Sylphy, Latio, and Grand Livina, the attentions of Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) now shifts towards those driving the Navara, Frontier, and X-Trail models.

From 11 to 13 June, 50 owners of the abovementioned Nissan 4×4 models will be headed to Awana Kijal Golf, Beach & Spa Resort, Kuala Terangganu to participate in the Nissan Jurassix Park 4×4 Adventure.

Now in its fifth edition, the Nissan Jurassix Park takes its participants and their cars off the beaten path into ruts, sands and rivers. While this may sound punishing for both driver and machine, it should be noted that this event is designed to cater for beginners and also for families.

Each car must have a minimum of two occupants (driver & co-driver), with the addition of a further two occupants available as a cost option. Professional help, courtesy of Future Oracle, organizer of the international-level Rainforest Challenge off-road event.

Besides the actual off-road challenges, family-oriented resort activities will also be held concurrently for family members of participants who do not wish to get all muddy and dirty.

It is recommended that participating cars be fitted with mud terrain specification tyres, and each participating car must undergo a free service check-up at authorized Tan Chong Expres Auto Servis Centres a week before the event before being allowed to participate.

ETCM charges a participation fee of RM250/person, which is inclusive of a 3 days 2 night stay at the Awana Kijal Resort during the duration of the event. Children between 4 and 12 years old are charged RM100/person.

For those of you keen to participate, here are the relevant contact details:
E-mail: crd@tanchong.com.my
Fax: 03 – 4047 8787
Tel: 03 – 4047 8788.

1 of 4

by -

Until recently, Honda fans in our country looking for an MPV, discounting parallel imports, were limited to just the Stream and the Odyssey. For the slightly less affluent supporters, neither of them are very affordable.

The slightly lower end of the MPV segment is dominated by the relative newcomers such as the Proton Exora and Perodua Alza alongside the more established Toyota Avanza and Nissan Grand Livina. Those with a family but insist on a Honda badge will have to make do with the City, Jazz, Civic, or pay more.

That situation is set to change, as the preposition of Honda MPV ownership has now been moved even closer to the masses, price-wise, with the Honda Freed. Developed based on underpinnings of the current Honda City and Honda Jazz, the Freed arrives in Malaysia fully imported from the PT Honda Prospect Motor plant near Jakarta, Indonesia.

Yes, the ‘fully-imported’ part of that statement ensures that the Freed is not going to be cheap, and it isn’t. Buying one will burn a six-figure hole in your bank account, and all for something that has the running gear of a RM80k car. From an engineer’s viewpoint, the sums just don’t add up.

Priced at RM112,980 on-the-road including insurance, the Freed is marginally dearer than the Jazz (RM110k), but eye-wateringly more costly than Nissan’s hugely successful Grand Livina, which goes for RM97k in its most expensive level of trim, and that’s with a 1.8-litre engine. The Freed makes do with the same 1.5-litre engine as the City and Jazz.

This is a massive price discrepancy, and certain justification is needed in order to be able to convince the masses to plonk their hard earned cash into the product. The solution: market it as a compact premium MPV, or was it premium compact MPV?

But in what way is the Freed premium? It is compact for sure, as its foot print (4,215mm x 1,700mm) is actually smaller than the City (4,395mm x 1,715mm), but how premium is it? Where does its premium values lie?

To allow us to fully explore that question, Honda recently got members of the media together for a drive run of the Freed from KL to Penang and back. The drive route was carefully planned to give a good mixture of highway, city, and trunk route driving to give the journalists as good a feel as possible of the Freed’s abilities.

As usual with media drives, the realities of logistics dictate a need for us to take turns serving as driver and passengers. My turn behind the wheel on the first day was almost exclusively along trunk routes, which allowed me to put the Freed’s handling competencies to the test. It was only the next day on the return journey that I managed to drive the Freed on the highway.

On our legendary winding backroads, the Freed demonstrated handling abilities beyond my expectations. Although the electric power steering felt a little dead in feedback, it pointed the Freed to my selected cornering lines with satisfying accuracy. Grip was well maintained, and body roll was kept well in check.

The flip side of that handling prowess was a firm ride. It’s nothing that you can’t live with, but for a vehicle with family orientations, the setting chosen by Honda was a surprise. The Honda engineer who went with us on the trip maintained that his team felt this was the setting that gave the best compromise between ride and handling.

The 1,497cc SOHC i-VTEC engine under the Freed’s hood is plucked straight from the City and Jazz, but tweaked slightly to better haul the Freed’s 1,355kg kerb weight (roughly 200kg more than the City & Jazz). In this application, the figures read 117hp @ 6,600rpm and 146Nm @ 4,800rpm.

Despite the adjustments, the engine felt strained whenever the need to gun it arose. To be fair, the hectic schedule of a two-day media test drive meant that the convoy needed to maintain a brisk pace all the way in order not to fall behind schedule. Suffice to say, the Freed won’t be getting you anywhere in a hurry, but for a leisurely drive, we don’t foresee a problem.

Noise intrusion is also well-suppressed, and certainly much better than the City, Jazz, and as far as I can recall, even the Civic. Wind noises only come into the picture once your speedometer steps into radar gun beeping territory.

In its B-segment models such as the Jazz and the previous generation City, Honda has demonstrated its unquestionable talents in interior packaging. Nobody packs spacious and well-thought interiors into compact dimensions quite like Honda, and the Freed sees a continuation of that prowess.

Although some cabin pieces were made of less than impressive hard plastics, the design concept of the cabin suits folks who place a high value on ambiance. The two-tiered dashboard looks properly futuristic and concept-car-ish. The powered rear sliding doors and middle row captain’s chairs add to the futuristic theme.

In truth, neither of those features have any practical use that we can see, though we did find them very likable. One notable weakness of the interior is the lack of armrests or upper grab handles for the captain’s chair passengers on the side of the chair facing the door. Over long distances, the arm by the door’s side can get pretty restless.

So, is the Freed a worthy buy? It depends on the angle from which you look at. This car has the same mechanical underpinnings as the Honda City, so if you look at it from that respect, you’re not likely to see a bargain here.

Where the Freed excels is its interior layout, as Honda pulls off another masterstroke in internal space management that it so ably demonstrated before. The key selling point of the Freed is not mechanical, but rather conceptual. It’s a lesson in packaging, but at RM113k a pop, it’s quite an expensive idea!



by -

UMW Toyota Motor, the official distributor of Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, has announced a recall or ‘Special Service Campaign’ for the current version the LS 460L and LS 460 Sport launched in Malaysia in January 2010.

With only less than 10 units involved, UMWT, through Lexus Malaysia, has contacted the affected owners to notify them of the problem, which affects the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) system.

According to the statement issued by UMWT, “The VGRS system may exhibit a temporary steering wheel off-centre condition after driving away quickly from a very tight turn where the steering was at full lock position. The steering wheel off-centre position will automatically be corrected in approximately five seconds by the VGRS system as the vehicle is driven. The driver may notice the system auto correcting as the steering wheel slowly moves to the centre position while driving straight during the VGRS correction. Due to the specific driving circumstances, this condition will not occur during normal driving such as changing lanes or turning at intersections.”

Pending the arrival of new replacement parts, Lexus Malaysia will begin contacting customers to arrange appointments to rectify the problem. Estimated time needed for the job is one hour.

Currently undelivered units of the LS 460 will also undergo the relevant fixes before being delivered to their respective customers.

1 of 1

by -

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd has introduced a new variant of the i10 with the all-aluminium 1.25-litre Kappa motor stepping in to take the place of the 1.1-lite Epsilon sitting in the engine room.

Mounted at a tilted angle, the Kappa engine runs on a timing chain, with a single accessories drive belt without a tensioner mechanism. Hyundai claims that this setup results in a quieter engine and lower maintenance costs, with replacement not necessary until 160,000km.

A highly advanced powerplant, it features an offset-mounted crankshaft, reverse intake and exhaust manifolds, long-reach spark plugs, and beehive valve springs all said to contribute towards reduced fuel consumption.

The lightweight pistons of the engine are based on those used in the V8 Tau engine used in Hyundai’s flagship models such as the Genesis and the Equus. Further reduction of weight is then achieved with the use of plastic for the intake manifold and engine valve cover. As before, the engine is paired to a conventional 4-speed automatic transmission.

Carried over from the i10 1.1 is the electric power steering system, said to be maintenance free as well. Most of us motoring journalists tend to cringe at the omission of the traditional hydraulic power steering setup, but the fact is that an electrical system reduces power consumption, and Hyundai’s reasonings in using this setup is clear.

Externally, changes made to the i10 1.25 include a redesigned rear spoiler, new alloy wheels and minor revisions to the bumpers. New colours on offer include Crystal White, Deep Ocean Blue and Oyster Grey.

In terms of safety, the i10 is equipped with vented discs up front, with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) included as an option. Dual airbags are standard fare, with side-impact beams offering protection against T-bone collisions.

Offered with a 5-year/300,000km warranty, the new i10 1.25 is priced at RM49,688 (OTR) for the standard spec and RM52,688 (OTR) for the high spec in the Peninsula. It is currently available for viewing at all HSDM showrooms nationwide.

In conjunction with the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, HSDM will be marketing 200 units of the i10 FIFA World Cup Edition each marked with special World Cup decals. Additionally, buyers of this special World Cup Edition will also be getting a free 42″ plasma TV.

Pictures: Official HSDM release.

1 of 1

by -

The Sarawak leg of Shell 1 Litre Challenge East Malaysia came to a conclusion last weekend, with George A.W. Chapman being named state champion after beating eight other finalists.

The eight drivers had earlier survived an elimination round after passing an interview on the first day of the challenge. They then return on the following day, each given a unit of the Perodua Myvi 1.3(A) and were instructed to drive along a pre-determined route, and have their fuel consumption measured at the end.

For his troubles, Chapman have pocketed a handsome cash prize of RM3,000 after clocking a mileage of 25.3 km/l. Behind him, Chen Kee Keong and Ong Chung Siang clocked 24.1 km/l and 22.56 km/l respectively. They pick up a cash prize of RM500 each.

Each of the trio stands a chance to lock horns with three other finalists from the upcoming Sabah leg in the national level finals for a chance to take home a hefty RM45,000 cash prize, on top of RM5,000 worth of free petrol.

The winner of the East Malaysia final will also represent Malaysia alongside Peninsula winner Jason Lai at the ‘Asia’s Smartest Driver’ challenge to be held at the Shell Eco Marathon.

“Shell has over 100 years of experience in developing the technology and services that make us a leading provider of innovative and new fuels today. We believe that not all fuels are the same and as issues of fuel costs and the environmental impact of motoring begin to increasingly affect our lifestyle, it is important for our customers to be well informed and to make smart fuel choices. Since we first introduced Shell FuelSave here in March this year, the support from our friends from Sarawak has indeed been encouraging. It signifies how many people are interested in becoming a more fuel efficient driver,” said Mr Leslie Ng, National Retail Sales Manager, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd.

“Passionate about helping the world’s motorists get the most out of every drop, we want to use the expertise inside Shell to help drivers become expert fuel-savers themselves. The 1 Litre Challenge reflects this and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to educate motoring communities to be more fuel efficient and savvy.”

Sarawak’s 1 Litre Challenge State Winner George A W Chapman was thrilled to have clocked the most kilometres at the challenge, “This experience has been an enriching one. Not only have I truly experienced the effectiveness of adopting FuelSave tips as well as using the right fuel. I also now know how far 1 litre of fuel can take me.”

The Sabah leg of the Shell challenge is set to take place on 23 May at the Kotobu Shell Station, Jalan Putatan, Kota Kinabalu.

1 of 2

by -

The Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) programme, which started in 2001, has just launched its tenth campaign with 88 students, teachers and principals from the eight invited schools gathered at a two-day workshop held at the Concorde Hotel in Shah Alam.

Part of three key pillars in UMW Toyota Motor’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the TEY programme aims to reach out and empower members of the younger generation with knowledge of environmental issues. It is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and is conducted over a six month period in the participating schools.

Commenting on this year’s championship, Mr Kuah Kock Heng, President, UMW Toyota Motor said, “We are very thrilled to host this year’s programme, which is known as the Toyota Eco Youth 2010 – Battle of the Eco Champions.”

“For the first time, we will bring together winning schools of the previous Toyota Eco Youth programmes to pit their knowledge on environmental issues and creative skills to develop an effective and sustainable method to solve environmental issues identified at their respective schools,” said Mr Kuah.

The eight schools battling it out this year are all past champions of the TEY challenge. They are SMK Labuan, Pulau Labuan; SMK Sanzac, Sabah; SMK Dato’ Panglima Abdullah, Sabah; SMK Abi, Perlis; SMK Iskandar Shah, Malacca; SMK Seri Muda, Penang; SMK Seri Kenangan, Johor and SMK Dato’ Onn, Penang.

The schools will be scored in various aspects, with an on-site judging of their work to take place in the third month of the programme. Progress of the schools’ respective programmes must be updated on a mandatory website, which also forms part of the evaluation criteria.

A final presentation is scheduled to take place during the Toyota Eco Youth Convention and Exhibition in October. The winning school of this year’s challenge will walk away with RM7,000 worth of prizes.

1 of 1

by -

Tomorrow onwards, Proton will be putting a new enhanced version of the Gen.2 into its showrooms throughout the country. As before, the Gen.2 will continue to be offered in two trim levels – Medium-Line and High-Line.

Revisions are primarily cosmetic, with the black-painted roof the most obvious among them. Buyers opting for the High-Line need not pay extra money for them, as Proton has kept the price tag for both the manual and auto High-Line versions unchanged.

The lower-spec Medium-Line, which is only available with automatic transmission, is not only priced RM1,500 cheaper, but also gets its 110hp Campro IAFM lump upgraded to the 125hp CPS version as per High-Line spec. You will, however, have to make do without leather seats, multi-function steering wheel, fog lights and the body-kit.

According to Proton MD Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, the company is only aiming for modest sales of 300 units of the Gen.2 per month.

“Pushing ahead and in conjunction with PROTON’s 25th anniversary, consumers can look forward to an exciting year filled with various programmes. These include a competition, a television programme and even a nationwide tour, to bring PROTON closer to the people,” he said.

The Gen.2 made its debut in February 2004, with the world’s first test drive report published here at Autoworld. A significantly improved facelift model was introduced in March 2008, which saw the introduction of IAFM and CPS versions of the Campro engine into the Gen.2.

OTR with InsuranceÂ


Pictures: Official Proton release

by -

Round 3 of the 2010 Yamaha SL Cup Malaysia Series is set to take place this weekend at the Speedway PLUS Circuit with early championship leader James Pull looking to build on his good early performances and stretch his lead on top of the championship table.

Pull, 10, got his season off to a blistering start by storming to a double victory in Round 1 of the series. After two rounds of two races each, Pull now shares top spot of the championship standings with team mate Daim Hishammudin at 62 points each.

Speaking of his chances for the weekend, Pull said, “We are almost halfway through the Series and I have had a fairly strong start. I would like to build on this lead and maintain it for the rest of the Series.”

“In addition, I’ve had some training recently with former multiple kart racing champion Richard Bradley who has helped me a lot with my race craft. I’m feeling confident and I look forward to a good weekend,” Pull added.


1 of 2
Prev1...1,000736737738...1,042Next Page 737 of 1,042
-->

NEW CAR LAUNCHES

TEST DRIVES & REVIEWS

Automotive News