S4M Issue 2: 2016 Online

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MPV
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COMPARO:
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INDIA, RUSSIA
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ISSUE 2, 2016
KDN PP15970/11/2012 (031150)
Join us on
ALL-NEW
The
Max Power
PERFORMANCE
INNOVATION
ENDURANCE
Max Torque
163ps 403Nm
2,000rpm
3,600rpm
First, we introduced you to the Mother Trucker. Now, meet its next-generation successor,
the All-New NP300 Navara. Featuring the Shift-On-The-Fly 4x4, you may take on any
terrain in total confidence and ultimate comfort with Zero Gravity Inspired Seats and
Rear Air Conditioning Vents.
Experience the superiority of the All-New NP300 Navara now at your nearest Nissan
showroom.
3-year/100,000km warranty,
whichever comes first.
Terms and conditions apply.
N
TI
1S
Hill Start
Assist (HSA)
Hill Descent
Control (HDC)
Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC)
7 Multimedia Navi
with Smartphone
Connectivity
Function**
4-Wheel
Active Brake
Limited Slip
ITS
S*
AS
CL
Multi-link Rear
Suspension
N
TI
1S
ITS
AS
CL
7-Speed Auto
Transmission with
Manual Mode
www.np300navara.com.my or call 1800 88 3838

2.5L VL Turbocharged 4WD | Max Power 190ps / 3,600rpm | Max Torque 450Nm / 2,000rpm
2.5L V, SE, E, S/C Turbocharged 4WD | Max Power 163ps / 3,600rpm | Max Torque 403Nm / 2,000rpm
*The 1st Japanese pickup with Multi-link Rear Suspension in Malaysia.
**Available as an option.
Actual car specifications may vary from model shown.
Terms and conditions apply.
Scan to watch
The Ultimate Escape
CONTENTS
www.s4m.com.my
OFF-ROAD
NEWS
AUDI Q2
SILK WAY RALLY
ISUZU PUCHONG
MAXUS G10 MPV
HONDA CR-V WEEKEND

ESCAPE
FORD RANGER DRIVE
SHEMUD 2015
RFC QUALIFIERS:
INDIA
RUSSIA
8
10
12
14
MOTORSHOW
37TH BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL
MOTORSHOW
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

JUNGLE JAM
20
DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON

22
PETRONAS DYNAMIC
XPERIENCE
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COMPARO
HONDA HR-V vs MAZDA CX-3
66
68
PRODUCT
FEATURE
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT
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CELEBS & CARS
SPECIAL FEATURE
LAND ROVER DEFENDER
FOR AN EVOLVING AUTOMOTIVE LIFESTYLE
CLUB SCENE
16
TECH & INNOVATION

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FOR EVOLVING AUTOMOTIVE LIFESTYLE

ISSUE 2 2016
EDITORIAL
DEFENDER TRIBUTE
AND MORE
YES, we did it. In the preceding
issue of S4M we bid a fond farewell

to the Land Rover Defender a
car which I have managed to
experience in its current, and final
mechanical set-up as production
ended earlier this year.
But a magazine like this
couldn't just give such a legend
of the off-roading world a few
paragraphs in an editorial and call
it a day, no sir.
In this issue we have 10
pages dedicated to the Defender,
including a story from managing
editor Yamin Vong about how
Land Rover stepped in to give him
a slightly more achievable version
of his own Unfinished Journey.
Weve said it before and well
say it again, if you were ever on the
fence or if owning a Defender has
always been a dream, get one now;
especially since JLRM only has
about 100 units left as of May Day.
This is a piece of history your
off-roading garage will be quite
empty without and who knows,
after youve passed it down a
couple of generations it may even
become worth a lot more than you
bought it for.
Another old-timer were
celebrating this time is the Toyota
Land Cruiser, for which in the
Club section youll find our story
on the Land Cruiser Jungle Jam
weekend getaway organised by the
Land Cruiser Fans Malaysia.
From the 40-Series to
the 100-Series, it was a heart
warming sight for writer Dinesh
Appavu who owns a rare
Ford Ranger 2.2 Wildtrak so we
assume he knows his 4x4s and
a welcome change from the many
new SUV and pick-up truck media
drives we attend.
Not complaining of course,
but when an event of such scale
is organised for the forefathers
of the trucks we drive now its a
nostalgic and humbling reminder
of what inspired the machines of
today. We hope you enjoy reading
about it as much as we enjoyed
attending it.
Safely does it
You can spot them a mile away

most of the time, with a huge gap
between them and the car in front
BY VISHAL BHASKARAN
and sometimes veering out of lane

only to swerve back in violently
every few seconds.
Are these drivers drunk?
No theyre not, theyre on their
phones. The effect, however, is
pretty much the same.
There was a time when the
biggest crime on the road was
talking on the phone while
driving. Of course, this was back
when Bluetooth connectivity
hadn't become mainstream so
you would have one hand on the
wheel while the other held the
phone to your ear.
Its a lot worse now. Texting
or browsing social media
applications while driving may
seem like small distractions but
a few seconds of looking at a
screen instead of looking ahead is
more than enough time to cause a
serious accident.
No reaction is a whole lot
worse than a delayed reaction.
So be conscientious, put your
phone away or mount it up if you
need Waze open. And as always,
drive safe and enjoy the S4M way
of life.
ISSUE 2 2016
LETTERS
BLUE POWER FOR

MALAYSIAN ISUZUS?
I CAME across an article on the D-Max and
MU-X available in Thailand and was surprised

to learn that they have 1.9-litre variants.
Will Malaysian motorists be offered this
engine choice soon?
KANDASAMY,
Damansara
Reply:
ACCORDING to Isuzu Malaysia there are no
immediate plans for this in the pipeline and the

company cannot reveal more than that, and we
can understand why.
The numbers for the new 1.9-litre Ddi Blue
Power mill are impressive, 16hp and 30Nm more
than the current 2.5-litre at 150hp and 350Nm
from an engine 600cc smaller and 20 percent
lighter, while being 19 percent more fuel efficient
to boot.
This new clean diesel engine, however,
would need to be fed equally clean diesel. If
Euro 5 diesel availability increases and Isuzu
Malaysia can make a case for this engine variant,
hopefully well get it too.
GO BIG OR
GO HOME
IM young (early 30s) and have
so far managed to make do with

several second-hand Malaysianmade salon cars that are somewhat
lacking, not because of their age.
Pick-up trucks have always
appealed to me and I have saved
RM40,000 for a down payment
plus whatever I can get from the
sale of my salon car.
Stories of driving across offbeaten tracks, up a mountain trail
and into the jungle appeal to me
though for now I would only be
able spare a few weekends for it.
What pick-up can I afford?
S.B. ESPECKERMAN,
Shah Alam
Reply:
WITH a downpayment of that
size, its safe to say most if not at

all pickup trucks available here are
within your reach as you havent
mentioned a budget. Honestly, we
would go big or go home with the
Ford Ranger Wildtrak at roughly
RM132,000. If you arent able
to spend many weekends in the
rough, the Ranger is the one you
want as it is the most car-like in

its segment. If you regularly go
off-road, we would recommend
either the D-Max or the soon-tobe-launched new Hilux, but if you
spend most of your time in the city
and you dont plan on entering
any off-road competitions with it
and only indulge in what seems
to be mild off-roading at best, the
Ranger is hard to beat. Also, there
are two big Ranger communities in
the form of the MFRC and FROC
if you feel inclined to join their
drives and expeditions. Happy
Trucking!
WRITE
TO
SUV.4X4.MPV
Write to us. We would love to listen to your

views and your complaints.
We are offering RM100 and a T-shirt for
the winning letter. Writers of other letters
published will get a T-shirt.
Editor
S4M Magazine
s4meditor@gmail.com

ISSUE 2 2016
NEWS / AUDI Q2
AUDI Q2:
MADE
FOR
THE
YOUNG
THE Audi Q2 SUV made its debut at the 86th
Geneva International Motor Show in March and

company executives have said that the car was built
with the young in mind.
We have developed the Q2 specifically for young
customers, said Audi AG chairman Professor Rupert
Stadler.
Despite its inclusion within the Q family, its looks
clearly distinguish it as a model with independence
and attitude, blending the technical expertise of
our brand with a high level of everyday utility and
emotional character.
First up, an octagonal Audi trademark Singleframe
grille with large air inlets forms the Q2s face.
The low roofline that flows and merges into the
C-pillars with colour offset blades further highlights
the sportiness of the Q2 with the rear of the vehicle
wrapping up in a dynamic manner with a long roof
spoiler and a sporty diffuser.
One major characteristic is that the drivers seat
position is sporty and low in relation to the steering
wheel, much like in an Audi sedan.
The Audi Q2 receives a standard MMI screen
that is positioned high on the instrument panel, and
together with the MMI navigation plus and MMI
touch, the user also gets a touchpad on the central
control element.
The free Audi MMI connect app enables online
media streaming and transfer of a calendar from a
smartphone to the MMI. The app for iOS operating
systems also comes with the myAudi destinations
function.
Apart from the optional Audi virtual cockpit and
the heads-up display, the driver assistance systems
for the all-new Q2 come from the full-size class,
including the Audi pre-sense front, which comes as
standard.
The system detects obstacles such as other
vehicles and pedestrians crossing in front of the
vehicle and, if necessary, it can initiate hard braking
to a standstill at low speeds.

ISSUE 2 2016
Looking good
the Audi Q2 is also a performer and you can choose from six
different engines to power this SUV.
Other safety features include adaptive cruise

control with Stop & Go function, traffic jam assist, the
lane-departure warning system Audi side assist, the
lane-keeping assistant Audi active lane assist, traffic
sign recognition and parking and rear cross-traffic
assist.
The Q2 will be sold with six different engines: A
1.0-litre three-cylinder TFSI (116hp), 1.4-litre fourcylinder TFSI (150hp), 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI
(190hp), 1.6-litre four-cylinder TDI (116hp) and
2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI (150hp and 190hp).
NEWS / SILK WAY RALLY
MOSCOW-BEIJING
HERE WE COME
Team Peugeot Totals 2008
DKRs to hit the 10,000-km trail
TEAM Peugeot Total, after its momentous Dakar
victory in January, is now preparing to take on the

legendary Moscow-to-Beijing Silk Way Rally on July
8-24.
Stephane Peterhansel-Jean Paul Cottret, Cyril
Despres-David Castera and Sbastien Loeb-Daniel
Elena will be the crews carrying Team Peugeot Totals
challenge.
Maxime Picat (Peugeot Brand CEO), Li Haigang
(Dongfeng Peugeot general manager), Mathieu
Vennin (Dongfeng Peugeot deputy general manager),
Bruno Famin (director of Peugeot Sport) and
Stphane Peterhansel announced Team Peugeot
Totals participation at the Beijing International
Automotive Exhibition on April 25.
Just under a year on from the China Silk Road
Rally which saw Peugeot claim a one-two finish
and following the 2016 Dakar Rally that was won by
Peterhansel-Cottret, Team Peugeot Total is preparing
for more cross-country rally action in China.
They will use the event to gain more cross-country
rally experience in extreme conditions.
Current Team Peugeot Total driver Carlos
Sainz won the event in its first two years. In 2011,
Peterhansel finished second.
10

ISSUE 2 2016
Following a two-year hiatus in 2014 and 2015, this

years Silk Way Rally will visit Russia, Kazakhstan
and China via a 10,000-km route featuring 4,500
competitive kilometres divided into 15 stages.
This is another extremely exciting event for us,
said Famin.
We have no prior competitive experience in either
Russia or Kazakhstan but we expect to find portions
in China that are similar to those we visited last year.
It promises to be an event that tests both our
human and sporting strengths to the absolute limit,
and we are delighted to be tackling the Silk Way Rally
for the first time.
We will approach this new challenge with all due
humility and respect. That said, following our Dakar
success earlier this year, it goes without saying that
our sights will be set on victory.
The three Peugeot 2008 DKRs entered for the
Silk Way Rally all contested the 2016 Dakar and will
incorporate several evolutions aimed at overcoming
issues that arose at the Dakar.
The major change and one of the most
challenging will be the integration of air
conditioning into the cars.
NEWS / SILK WAY RALLY
TECHNICAL DATA OF THE PEUGEOT 2008 DKR

2008 silhouette on a tubular chassis, rear-wheel
drive
3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine (DT20)
Power/torque: 350hp/800Nm
Six-speed sequential non-synchromesh gearbox
suspension travel: 450mm
Tyres: Michelin 37-inch (94cm) wheels
Peugeot Sport
director Bruno
Famin and the Dakar
crews who will now
feature in the 2016
Silk Way Rally.

ISSUE 2 2016
11
NEWS / NEW ISUZU SHOWROOM
ISUZU COMES TO PUCHONG

SV Prestige sets up second Isuzu 3S centre
ISUZU Malaysia officially opened the doors to its
Puchong 3S centre at the end of March, its 31st such

centre in the country.
The Puchong 3S centre is managed by SV Prestige
Sdn Bhd which has over 30 years of experience in the
automotive industry.
SV Prestige made its mark in the used car business
before becoming a dealer, setting up its first Isuzu 3S
centre in Balakong in 2014.
Within two years, it expanded its services in
Puchong to serve the customers in the vicinity.
In 2015, SV Prestige Auto received two awards for
stellar performance; one for Isuzu Forward Giga sales
target achievement and another for most improved
year-on-year sales for the Isuzu D-Max pickup truck.
Isuzu chief executive Kenji Matsuoka, speaking at
the opening of the Puchong centre, highlighted the
companys efforts and measures to provide better
support to increase customer satisfaction.
The after sales measures include assigning
dispatch engineers for field services, enforcing
streamlined policies for after sales processes, and
parts distribution and service training systems.
12

ISSUE 2 2016
Top: The latest Isuzu D-Max makes

a proud statement at the opening
of the Isuzu 3S centre in Puchong,
Petaling Jaya.
Above: Just a call away you can
easily make an appointment to
service your Isuzu vehicle.
Left: Kenji Matsuoka, Isuzus chief
executive in Malaysia, says the
Puchong 3S centre is part of the
companys efforts to serve Isuzu
owners.
NEWS / MAXUS G10 LAUNCHED
AFFORDABLE
ORIENTAL
10-SEATER
Chinas Maxus G10 MPV
priced less than RM140,000
FAMILY MPVs with a double-digit seating capacity,
such as the 11-seater Hyundai Grand Starex Royale,

are hard to come by, but late April Weststar Maxus
revealed its 10-seater people mover, the Weststar
Maxus G10.
The name says it all. The large MPV was designed
and made to be the ideal family transporter with
plenty of cabin space to accommodate up to 10
passengers and flexible seating.
The MPV has full leather seats, dual airbags,
ABS with electronic brake force distribution, reverse
camera with parking sensors, a keyless entry system,
among other safety features.
Powered by a 2.0-litre TGi engine with 225hp
of power and 345Nm of torque paired with a ZF
six-speed automatic transmission, the G10 is also
available in three colours: Champagne Gold, Blanc
White and Obsidian Black.
It is understood that Weststar Maxus is targeting
to sell at least 500 units of the G10 this year. So far
120 units have been booked.
Our sales target for the G10 this year is 500
units and we are confident that this model will be
the premium family choice in this sector, Weststar
Group managing director Tan Sri Syed Azman said at
14

ISSUE 2 2016
Weststar Group managing

director Tan Sri Syed
Azman said local assembly
of the G10 will begin
in September.
the launch.
It was revealed that CKD operations for the van
would begin as soon as September in Klang, as the
company has plans to export the G10 to the region by
next year, starting with Indonesia.
For now, the G10, brought into Malaysia from
China, are the Luxury 16-inch and Sport 18-inch
priced at RM135,825 and RM138,742 respectively
(OTR without insurance).
NEWS / 2017 VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK
VW LATEST
AMAROK REVEALED
S4M SNIPPETS
THE China-only Mazda

Koeru/CX-4 debuts at the
14th Beijing International
Automotive Exhibition (Auto
China 2016).
Amarok... in all its splendour.
ABT celebrates its 120th

birthday with a special
edition Volkswagen
Transporter T6 120. Hows
that for a team bus?
LINCOLN unveils the

Navigator Concept at NYIAS
2016, complete with gullwing
doors and not one but three
steps for the classiest of
ingress and egress.
THE enticing forbidden fruit
for the Malaysian pickup truck

customer, the Volkswagen Amarok
has been given a refresh for 2017
with the latest Volkswagen
design by the German automotive
manufacturer.
The exterior is more angular
and does away with some of the
rounded shapes and lines to match
the current VW familys folds-andedges design, while in an earlier
render the updated dash featuring
a more current infotainment
system.
Volkswagens Commercial
Vehicles division said in a

statement that the new face will
emphasis the powerful Amarok
look and that it will become
more attractive to former SUV
buyers thanks to the plush and
premium new interior.
The big news? VW has added a
new Euro 6-compliant 3.0-litre V6
TDI in 161hp, 202hp and 224hp
outputs with an impressive peak
twist of 550Nm from 1,500rpm
- an increase of 130Nm from the
2.0-litre TDI currently in use
which will soldier on as a base
offering.
UK-BASED Severn Valley

Motorsport (SVM) continues
shoving GT-R engines
into Nissans. Feast your
disbelieving eyes on the
concept-stage 800hp
Navara-R.

ISSUE 2 2016
15
MOTOR SHOW / 37th BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW
GEMS FROM
THE LAND
OF SMILES
BY ADELA MEGAN WILLY

THAILAND has been christened The
Land of Smiles for several reasons: the

friendliness, the kind gestures of the people
and, of course, the ready smiles that greet
you.
The extent to the truth in that it is
justifiable, and the recent line-up at the
ongoing 37th Bangkok International Motor
Show was capable of plastering a smile on
the face of yours truly although truth be
told, this years series lacked a few of the
bells and whistles that rendered last years
show more memorable.
Having said that, in typical fashion,
manufacturers rolled in some of their latest
products including a luxurious bespoke
model that was crafted using the elephant
(which is the symbol of the Thai nation) as a
source of design inspiration, existing models
which were given nips and tucks as well as
a concept model which looks every inch of a
machine seen in a science fiction film.
TOYOTA C-HR
A COLLEAGUE said, The C-HR is going to be
the next big thing and the HR-V is pissing in

its pants.
Boring name aside (C-HR is short for
Coupe High Ride), the crossover will be built
using the same platform as the ongoing Prius.
It will be available in Europe in two
variants: 1.8-litre hybrid which churns out
120hp and 1.2-litre turbocharged pumping out
133hp (paired either with a six-speed manual or
CVT).
ISUZU MU-X BLUE POWER
THE Isuzu MU-X Blue Power
SUV stormed into the show with

its brand-new 1.9-litre Ddi Blue
intercooler turbocharged diesel
engine.
Paired with a choice of a
six-speed manual or Rev-tronic
automatic transmission, the
powertrain, which replaces the
previous 2.5-litre diesel engine,
gives out about 148hp of power
and 350Nm of torque.
However, the 1.9L MU-X is
only available in the 4x2 variant.
Of course, 4x4 inclined
customers may opt for the rangetopping 3.0-litre MU-X, which
is equipped with reverse parking
camera, cruise control, an 8-inch
infotainment screen as well as
auto dimming.
16

ISSUE 2 2016
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
PREMIER CONCEPT
THE Trailblazer recently went
under the knife, resulting in a

few visual changes although its
engine line-up is expected to
remain unchanged: 2.5-litre and
2.8-litre Duramax diesel. It is
understood that certain Middle
Eastern markets could continue
to receive the Trailblazer with
the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine.
On the safety front, the bow
tie brand has equipped the
Trailblazer concept with traction
control, ABS with ESC and

brake assist, hill start assist, hill
descent control, front airbags as
well as engine drag control.
Chevrolet will be releasing
more details on its upcoming
SUV by the end of this year,
when the model is delivered to
showrooms worldwide.
Until then, there will be
seven colours to pick from:
Switchblade Silver, Royal Gray,
Blue Mountain, Auburn Brown,
Sizzle Red, Black Sapphire and
Summit White.
CHEVROLET COLORADO
XTREME CONCEPT
IF there is one thing that would
serve more purposes than a pickup line, it would be a pick-up

truck, really.
Making its debut at the 2016
Bangkok International Motor
Show, the Colorado Xtreme
concept is a mean looking, offroad ready matte orange machine
with accessories granted and
designed by Australian automaker
Holden.
With pronounced hood scoops
and a front end geared towards
ground clearance, the Colorado
impressed with the 18-inch,
all-terrain tyres and large fender
flares.
A custom bedliner receives
adjustable tie-down tracks, which
are extended to the lift gate and an
integrated spare wheel mount hold
tools.
It comes with a winch, bull bar,
off-road LED lights, skid plate,
roof rack and emergency retrieval
kit, among other equipment.
ISSUE 2 2016
17
BY ADELA MEGAN WILLY

THROW in the innovative X-mode traction system,
upgrade the suspension and enhance the looks and

you have a tastefully face-lifted Forester SUV.
The 2016 Subaru Forester was launched at the
37th Bangkok International Motor Show in March
and the compact crossover looks to be a winner.
What is Subaru significant to Malaysia is that
the 2.0i and 2.0i-P variants with boxer engines and
Lineartronic CVT are already being assembled at Tan
Chongs Segambut plant in Kuala Lumpur while the
extra powered 2.0 XT turbo will be imported from
Japan.
Subaru fans can now prepare the paperwork and
arrange for the finance to buy the Forester. Tan
Chong International who handle the Subaru brand in
Malaysia, decided on the pricing last month: the 2.0i,
2.0i-P and 2.0XT will cost RM144,160, RM153,700
FORESTER
WEARS IT
WELL
and RM210,940 respectively. The prices include GST

but not insurance.
The Foresters X-mode traction system increases
traction and control of the vehicle on harsh road
conditions: an all-wheel drive system, vehicle
dynamics control and hill descent control.
Among other upgrades and extras are an
improved suspension which has been tuned to further
refine the Foresters ride and handling while NVH
is improved with additional sound proofing, and the
usage of thicker glass on the cars windows
There is steering responsive headlights, brand
new grille, taillights and rims, enhanced cabin with a
premium head-unit and LCD cluster display.
The i-P and XT give access to their drivers and
passengers without using the key fob via a PIN code,
which when entered correctly will unlock the vehicles
doors.
SUBARU VIZIV FUTURE CONCEPT

THE Subaru Viziv - vision for innovation - Future
Concept in Bangkok was what it was all about: the

future.
Having come out with three earlier such concepts,
the AWD Viziv is fitted with next-generation
technologies and design solutions.
The Viziv is highly aware of its surroundings
thanks to a combination of advanced sensors and
systems.
With support from the GPS system and vehicle-toexternal communications, sensors allow for automated
highway driving and automated parking capabilities.
Hybrid power comes from a single electric motor
mounted concentrically on the rear axle and a nextgeneration downsized turbo engine.
18

ISSUE 2 2016
BREAK THROUGH
THE original . THE LUXURY.
NEW GRAND CHEROKEE
#LiveFree
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

Legends of their own accord, unrivalled in their class for grand performance, pure magnificence and sheer luxury.
Break Through with supreme capabilities and elegance.
3.6L V6 Engine with 8-Speed Automatic Transmission (AWD) Bi-Xenon Headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lamps
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Leather-trimmed Instrument Panel, Door Trim and Centre Armrest with Detailed Stitching** 20 Aluminium Wheels**
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A Member of
TECH AND INNOVATION / WORLDS FIRST ELECTRIC TURBO
ELECTRIFYING
Audis world-first electricpowered compressor sees
the SUVs V8 producing
an awesome 435hp and
900Nm of torque
20

ISSUE 2 2016
SQ7
TECH AND INNOVATION / WORLDS FIRST ELECTRIC TURBO
FOLLOWING the success of the
diesel Audi SQ5, the Ingolstadtbased company has just taken the
wraps off its all-new Audi SQ7
Not only do the figures make
it the most powerful diesel SUV
on the market, Audi can, with
the SQ7 capable of 435hp and a
psychotic 900Nm of torque from
its 4.0-litre V8 engine, lay claim to
being the first carmaker to employ
electrically-powered compressors
in a turbo engine.
The SQ7, the lightest contender
in its segment, has a supporting
48V sub-system for the turbos
which come into play in less than
250 milliseconds, making lag
virtually non-existent.
The advantages of having
turbos that dont suffocate exhaust
flow are thus: an estimated NEDC
(new European driving cycle) fuel
consumption of just 7.4L/100km
and CO2 emissions of 194g/km
while 0-100km/h is done in a
mere 4.8s on to a top speed of
250km/h.
Audi offers the SQ7 TDI with
an optional driving dynamics
package that offers three
technology modules: sport
differential, electro-mechanical
active roll stabilisation and allwheel steering.
The electro-mechanical active
body roll stabilisation uses a
compact electric motor with a
three-stage planetary gearbox
separating the two halves of the
stabiliser.
On an uneven road surface,
they are actively de-coupled from
one another, resulting in improved
ride comfort, according to the
German carmaker.
During sporty driving, the
tubes are interconnected and
twisted against each other. That
significantly reduces body roll, ie
the lean of the car.
Together with the
transmission, the electric motors
produce anything up to 1,200 Nm
(885.1 lbft) of torque. The effect
is taut, sporty handling the car
leans less at the bends and the
tendency to under-steer is further
reduced.
The front and rear stabilisers
can be adjusted independently of
each other, offering high levels of
steering precision and the agility
of the car.
With all-wheel steering, the
rear wheels turn in by as much
as five degrees, making parking
easier. The more direct frontaxle steering ratio of the SQ7
TDI improves the handling
characteristics. Depending on the
situation, the rear wheels steer
opposite or in the same direction
as the front wheels, improving
dynamics and stability.
The SQ7 TDI with a V8 TDI
engine achieves the consumption
figures of a six-cylinder, said Dr
Stefan Knirsch, member of the
board of management of Audi AG
for technical development.
The new technology
solution of the electric powered
compressor in the SQ7 TDI is
a world first in the competitive
environment, with which
Audi once again underscores
its Vorsprung durch Technik
(progress through technology)
claim.
ISSUE 2 2016
21
SPECIAL FEATURE / LAND ROVER DEFENDER
22

ISSUE 2 2016
THE
UNFINISHED
JOURNEY
In second gear low range and with diffs locked my
Landy easily conquered the hill in Mersing, and we
settled down for the night to appreciate the Milky Way

ISSUE 2 2016
23
BY YAMIN VONG
LATE last year, three Land Rover
enthusiasts were invited to a

meeting at the Land Rover office in
Petaling Jaya.
Intriguing because its
not often that LR Malaysia
invites enthusiasts for meetings
in corporate offices: Landy
enthusiasts usually meet LR
24

ISSUE 2 2016
managers at off-road or other

outdoor functions. And those are
not frequent occasions.
On top of that, we were going
to have a conference call with Land
Rover managers in Singapore
really very high-tech and
unfamiliar territory for our Land
Rover Owners Malaysia (LROM)
president Rate de Silva.
He would rather lead an
expedition of Land Rovers through

the blazing hot sun and 95 per
cent humidity through the equator
city of Pontianak, Kalimantan
(Indonesian Borneo).
It was 10am and the conference
call connection was established.
We started talking.
Brenda Chow, representing
Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific in
Singapore, said the Jaguar Land
Rover group had embarked on a

project to communicate the end
of the production run of the Land
Rover Defender in December
2015.
It was going to be called the
Unfinished Journey and the
regional campaign would engage
with people who had experiences
of unfinished journeys to share,
Land Rover enthusiasts and
adventurers alike.
As a journalist, 4x4 enthusiast
and one of the founders of LROM,
I was among those from Malaysia
invited to share the off-road
expeditions I would like to do.
My wife, later that night,
thought that it sounded all very
bucket list-ish.
The top guests of the
teleconference were de Silva and
Above, left: Heading for the hill in

Mersing the three-Defender convoy.
Top: Neel and his men record Grey
Tans story of his Unfinished Journey
atop a hill in Mersing.
Bottom: The writer and his S4M
Defender lead the way.

ISSUE 2 2016
25
High and clear

Grey Tan helped us in a spot of star gazing that clear night in Mersing.
Alyna Tai, LROMs honorary

secretary.
A very practical man, de Silva
said he had many journeys that he
would like to finish and asked if
JLR would pay for them to make it
happen.
Atek, as de Silva is familiarly
known, is highly demanded as
a field mechanic and technical
manager for overland and off-road
expeditions.
He has been all over the
continents of the world on
months-long 4x4 overland
expeditions organised by
Malaysians such as Thomas Foo of
Global Explorers.
I also had my own list of 4x4
adventures I would like to do with
my Defender. Top on the wish list
was a 4x4 journey to India via the
Imphal-Ledo road that General
Joe Stilwell bulldozed through
Burma and India in World War II.
This road had been closed off
26

ISSUE 2 2016
to all foreigners since the end

of World War II and Burmas
(Myanmar) independence.
Myanmar is now opening its
doors.
After about 30 minutes, the
teleconference was over and it
was a bit of an anti-climax. The
president, especially, because
the LR managers from Singapore
didnt even consider sponsoring
one last Defender bash somewhere
in the world.
Over the past two months,
however, the subject of Unfinished
Journeys kept popping up.
Defender production at Solihull
was stretched to January where
a grand total of 2,016,933 units
were finally built while the two
millionth Defender, built in late
December, was auctioned off for
400,000 for charity.
In the meantime, the Land
Rover regional campaign began
early this year with a 90-second
sponsored video popping up on

websites.
The black and white grainy
video was produced from
footage taken by the Oxford and
Cambridge teams that had driven
LR Series 1s from London to
Singapore in 1957.
On March 11, the phone rang
and a sweet voice identifying
herself as Amanda Lim from Y&R
Advertising in Singapore asked if
I would be interested to use my
Defender to help a young inventor
from Singapore to finish his
Unfinished Journey.
It would be a three-day trip
with a video crew to record the
Unfinished Journey and I
was welcome to invite another
Defender team.
Adrihazim Jimbo Rashid
and James Chee, both Defender
enthusiasts, happily volunteered
without too many questions.
So we met Grey Tan and the
video crew in Kuala Lumpur on

March 16.
Tan, a young graduate of
National University of Singapore
(NUS) with a team of two of his
varsity mates had developed the
worlds smallest night astronomy
consumer camera. It was Mersing
where it had all begun.
When I was in school, we
made a field trip to Malaysia and
that night in Mersing, I saw for the
first time of my life the awesome
display of stars in the night, said
Tan.
I was astounded by the sight
of the Milky Way, visible with the
naked eye, and nebulas and star
clusters through the telescope.
As a Singaporean, Tan grew
up in an urban environment and
grew up playing video games
like Starcraft and wondered
what would it be like to meet
civilisations from other worlds.
I was in Mass
Communications and New Media
but the university was flexible
enough to allow me to take an
astronomy module to find out
more about this almost forgotten
interest.
I created TinyMOS to bring
these sights to the world through
an easy to use astronomy camera. I
hope to find out more about these
places through my own eyes.
Tan also took part in Land
Rovers Unfinished Journey
regional campaign.
To cut a long story short, we
were in Mersing and spent the first
night star gazing.
On the second day, we did
some exploring of the coast and
planned the location of the second
nights star gazing.
Then we saw in front of us, a
big red hill rising out of the flat
land and dominating the skyline.
Soon we were at the base of the

hill. There was a dirt track leading
up and it was too steep to drive up.
Production director Neel didnt
even want to think about going up.
To me, as a Land Rover
enthusiast, if theres a hill with a
track, lets try it.
With Tan, who was my codriver, I engaged low 2nd gear
gear, locked the diff and started up
the tractor track.
The Landy could do it because
steep as the track was, the ground
was dry and there was good
traction.
The video crew at the foot of
the hill were awestruck by the
goat-like ability of the Defender
twin cab 2.2 Puma engine to
clamber up the red hill.
When we saw the view, we
knew that we had found the
perfect place for the approaching
nights star gazing.
STAR GAZING WITH TINY 1

THE Milky Way to me was until
recently the Mars chocolate bar that I

particularly enjoy.
But thanks to Grey Tan of
Singapore, the inventor of Tiny 1, the
extraordinary portable astronomy and
travel camera, I got acquainted with
the real deal Milky Way, the galaxy
that contains our Solar System.
It was the first time that I was able
to view part of the Milky Ways band
of stars in the night sky from horizon
to high in the sky over Mersing.
Although there are between 100400 billion stars in the Milky Way,
we can only see about 2,500 from any
point from Earth.
The Milky Way may have up to
400 billion stars but when you look up
into the night sky, the most you can
see from any one point on the globe
is about 2,500. My star count over
Mersing didnt go past 100.
It was on Sept 21 last year that
TinyMOS, a Singapore-based start-up,
unveiled the Tiny1.
The camera features advanced
built-in imaging automation (such as
pre-sets for Milky Way and Northern
Lights).
Tiny1 uses
the latest MOS
semiconductors
rather than
CCD arrays of
current digital
cameras to
detect extremely dim lights, allowing
the camera to capture images of the
Milky Way and star groups barely
visible to our naked eyes at night,
within a short exposure time of about
30 seconds.
It is also capable of capturing
time-lapse videos of the night skies at a
resolution of 2.5K.
The palm-sized camera uses patent
pending, state-of-the-art calibration
techniques to automatically process
the captured images, stacking them to
reduce noise in low light environments
in half the time of traditional cameras.
For star gazers whove so far been
led by the blind, the Tiny1s Point-tothe-Stars feature combines up-to-date
star charts with the cameras live
preview to help the user locate the
celestial objects they wish to capture.
For more information, visit www.
TinyMOS.com

ISSUE 2 2016
27
END
OF
THE LINE
We knew this day would come, and

at last, it has: The last Defender
number 2,016,933 has rolled off
the production line at Solihull.
BBC journalist Matthew Phenix in Solihull,

Jan 29, 2016
FROM start to finish, the Land Rover Defender has
only known one home: Solihull.

And now, 33 years since production began, seven
hundred employees past and present assembled to
welcome the final unit to ever wear the nameplate
with this iconic design.
The beautiful short-wheelbase 90 Heritage soft
top wearing the same paint tone and soft top colour
combination as the very first Series I Land Rover
(seen here), however, will not be sold. A place in the
Jaguar Land Rover Collection has been reserved for
it.
Speaking at the event at the Solihull plant in
England, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth said:
The Series Land Rover, now Defender, is the origin
of our legendary capability, a vehicle that makes
28

ISSUE 2 2016
the world a better place, often in some of the most

extreme circumstances.
There will always be a special place in our hearts
for the Defender among all our employees, but this
is not the end. We have a glorious past to champion,
and a wonderful future to look forward to.
The world has changed dramatically in the last
68 years, but this vehicle has remained a constant
something no other vehicle can claim.
The last of the current Defender models
embraces the vehicles simplicity, honesty and
charm it represents its Series Land Rover
heritage.
Of course no mention of Defender production
would be complete without some imagery of its
forefather, the Series Land Rover.
The 100,000th Land Rover in 1954

with Arthur Goddard, the boss
man of Land Rovers engineering
development from 1947 to 1957.
MALAYSIAS
OWN SERIES
ADVENTURE
A YEARLY affair, the Series
Drive organised by the Land

Rover Owners Malaysia (LROM)
Club last year on May Day was an
especially sentimental one as it
coincided with the winding down
of ethe Defender assembly.
From the Jaguar Land
Rover showroom in Jalan Ipoh,
Kuala Lumpur to Batu Rakit,
Terengganu, some of the oldest
Landies in the country turned up
for the 500-km journey.
LROM president Rate de Silva
put it best, Since its a Series
event, we know when we will start,
but the arrival time at destination

is not so certain.
Not that series Landies are
likely to fall apart at the drop of a
hat of course, but any journey in
a car built before Malaysia even
achieved independence 58 years
ago should be undertaken with
some trepidation.
They made it in 13 hours by the
way with nothing more serious to
report than some flat tyres and a
loose radiator, joined at Gambang
by two cars all the way from
Singapore.

ISSUE 2 2016
29
SPECIAL EDITIONS
SIR PAULS CUSTOM ORDER
HOW can you possibly show off all the different
military and rescue services that a vehicle has served

on one car?
The answer is this: British designer Sir Pauls
Smith one-off multi-coloured creation.
At first glance it may look like a low budget repair
job where any available body panel was slapped on

no matter the colour, but the 27 different colours
were specifically chosen by Smith to cover not only
the various hues of the British Armed Forces but
of the countryside where most Defenders could be
found, indeed their natural habitat.
MALAYSIAN FLAVOUR
JAGUAR Land Rover Malaysia put
together its own limited run Defender

towards the end of last year, which it later
displayed at the premiere of the latest
James Bond flick, Spectre.
Menacing in Santorini Black with
matching wheels, the Land Rover
Defender Limited Edition came with
exclusive add-ons including a chequered
plate set, roof rack, snorkel air intake,
side protection runners, A-frame
protection bar, quad spotlights, rear step
bumper assembly, off-road tyres, and a
9.5cti Warn electric winch.
The package cost RM65,388 at launch
and could be specified when buying a
double cab Defender new or retrofitted on
existing units.
30

ISSUE 2 2016
THE SOLIHULL TRIO

OF course, what could be better than the creative
output of Gerry McGovern and the rest of the Land

Rover design people.
Not one but three Defenders were rolled out by
the company to signal the end of the model line: the
Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography.
Limited to 400 units in its home market, the Land
Rover Defender Heritage was available in three-door
and five-door body styles in Grasmere Green with
matching wheels, together with an Alaska White Roof
and silver front bumpers.
Heritage style badges and logos adorn it along
with special Land Rover Defender Heritage Edition
decal stickers (HUE 166) as a tribute to the first preproduction Series 1.
On the inside, aluminium and leather is the order of
the day except for the cloth seats and rubber mats, the
latter sporting Heritage logos.
A more rugged option was the 600-unit Adventure
edition, equipped with under body protection, off-road
tyres, a ref rack, a snorkel and a rear access ladder. You
could choose between grey, white or orange which all
came with gloss black trim such as the grille, bonnet,
rear door and roof.
The interior, however, is quite at odds with its
tough exterior, sporting Windsor Leather upholstery.
The third, released as the flagship of the special
editions, is the three-door Autobiography limited to 80
units. This, and the three-door Adventure, received a
28hp increase in power and 40Nm more twist to 148hp
and 400Nm.
Think of the Autobiography as the Adventure
spec and then some, with two-tone paintjobs, 16-inch
rollers, privacy glass, and Autobiography badging.
Full Windsor Leather comes as standard of course
with aluminium trim and spun metal discs in the cup
holders.
ISSUE 2 2016
31
FEATURE / LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT
AN EAST COAST
JAUNT IN A
DISCO SPORT
On the highway or byway,
the drive Subang to
Marang and back was a breeze
BY KAILASH M
THE Land Rover Discovery Sport
is a still a rare sight on Malaysian

roads, so when a pair of them are
clearing traffic in the fast lane of
the East Coast Expressway you
are bound to pay attention.
The one you see here is
the subject of this issues long
distance test, from the Subang
Airport in Selangor to the coastal
beauty of Marang, Terengganu,
while the other belonged to a
friend.
Despite appearing quite small
for a seven-seater SUV, we can
say with proper certainty five
hours and about 450km on the
road is no joke that an adult can
sit in the third row of the Disco
Sport in surprising comfort.
This was not done just for the
sake of testing, but two young
children requiring the outer Isofix
mounts in the second row meant
that there was no choice but for
someone to climb into the back.
The journey to Marang was
uneventful but aurally sweet
thanks to the Meridien sound
system broken up only by a
petrol pit stop, we clambered
over all manner of loose rocks
and gravel to set the Disco Sport
against the gorgeous coastline of
Marang to take a few shots.
Going home to KL, however,
was an entirely different story.
The Karak highway was a car
park in which, according to Waze,
we would spend the rest of the
32

ISSUE 2 2016
SPECIFICATIONS OF THE
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY SPORT
Engine: 2.0-litre Si4 petrol
Gearbox: Nine-speed
automatic with paddle-shift
manual override
Max power: 238hp at
5,800rpm
Max torque: 340Nm at
1,750rpm
Safety features: Seven
airbags, Isofix anchor points,
seat belt warning, ABS with
EBD and emergency brake
assist, traction control,
dynamic and roll stability
control, hill-start assist
Price: RM420,000 GST
inclusive, w/o road tax,
registration and insurance
night if we were to use it to get
home. The only other alternative
at this point was to take the
Genting Sempah road and bypass
Karak to come out the other side
at Batu Caves.
Now for the uninitiated,
the Genting Sempah road is
perilously narrow and full of some
of the sharpest mountain hairpin
turns you can find in the country.
More than anything else, with two
children in the car you hope that
it will see you safely out the other
side.
We needn't have worried at all,
grip and composure is fantastic
which meant that everyone in the

second row and aft were cocooned
against the slightly frantic pace of
wanting to get back onto well-lit
and populated roads.
Our only gripes after the
weekend lie with the pricing and
the high fuel consumption, on
average we did no better than
11km/litre.
Still, if you don't mind filling
up relatively often, the Disco
Sport is a worthy premium
adventure machine which can
handle just about anything and
proves you don't have to look like
an MPV to seat seven with ease.
FEATURE / LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT
Idylic east coast...

easily accessible by the Land
Rover Disco Sport.
Little Zharif was either asleep or

hard at work on his iPad every
time we checked.
ISSUE 2 2016
33
COMPARO / HONDA HR-V V MAZDA CX-3
T
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A
P
COM
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E
I
R
R
CA
T
U
O
K
C
KNO
s
enthusiast say
lo
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th
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fo
ich?
mily, one
One for the faAN WILLY. But which is wh
arom
ADELA MEG
d Durrani Sh
ril Hafiz an
Photos by Haz
34

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ISSUE 2 2016
35
THERE are a few reasons why
women prefer SUVs to other

vehicles, and they can be quite
fussy when it comes to making
their choice.
The one main consideration
that many would have in deciding
on which car to buy is the wellbeing of the family.
Now, as swanky as they can
be, two-seater sports cars wont
do justice to such a plan and
hatchbacks are unlikely to offer
much help either, given the fact
that kids will go through rapid
growth spurts and, eventually,
these cars wont be able to
accommodate as many full-grown
adults as their owners might have
thought.
As for us ladies especially, we
prefer cars that offer large hip
room as well as a broader, higher
front vantage point. Then again,
remember the adage women

are complicated: we can rarely
decide between a bigger SUV and a
slightly smaller compact SUV.
The Honda HR-V and the
Mazda CX-3 were among the most
eagerly anticipated small SUVs in
2015.
In the blue corner, the HR-V
satisfies those who want to keep
to their budgets whereas in the
red corner, the newly launched
CX-3 offers the right dose of
driving excitement and its suite of
automotive features which drives
techy up a few notches given the
class it sits in.
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR
The HR-Vs sporty silhouette is

nicely highlighted with distinctive
running lines and ample use of
curves. And in saying so, it is
almost difficult to tell that it is
legitimately a budget buy just

by judging how it presents itself
externally.
We tested the V variant of the
HR-V which carries a price tag of
RM121,500, a car valued lower
than the price threshold of some
others in the same category.
That being said, the HR-V
is not synonymous to the term
luxurious, given its limited in-car
features, but its not exactly a bad
thing.
With a neatly built centre
console, a straightforward
instrument panel and an air
conditioner touch controller that
are simple to operate, the HR-V
without a doubt caters to the laidback of us ladies.
Passenger room, on the other
hand, comes nowhere close to
tight.
Then theres the CX-3
(top) The design of the HR-Vs cabin is decent

when compared to that of the CX-3, which
is more upmarket, but surprisingly, more
spacious in the front and back.
(bottom) The only complaint we have when it
comes to the CX-3 is its crampiness.
36

ISSUE 2 2016
which costs slightly more than

RM135,000. Theres a more than
10 grand cost difference between
it and the HR-V, but consider the
features that it comes with. Two
areas to pay compliments to are
the Kodo design philosophy and
SkyActiv engine.
The beautifully sculpted
exterior design of the CX-3 is what
makes it stand out, especially in
the eyes of a female beholder,
and the design language has been
inherited by its other siblings.
The dash is pretty neat and
clean with a heads-up display unit.
Though we found the floating MZD
Connect infotainment system to
be useable within a hassling reach,
life can be made easier by using
the navigation knob placed next to
the handbrake.
Leather suede has been
splashed all across its cabin with
high-quality stitching on the

upholstery and its one of the
things that breathe new life into
the CX-3.
There are two sides to the
compact coin in this case, and the
CX-3 comes with limited cabin
space. This advantage becomes
more apparent once you get into
the back seating area due to its low
roofline.
But thats easily forgiven if
youre not one to travel long
distances or constantly have fullsize adults in tow, and especially
given the cars interior wow
factors.
DRIVABILITY
Mechanising the HR-V is a

1.8-litre i-VTEC SOHC engine
connected to a CVT gearbox.
Dont get your hopes up too high
though if sporty is what youre
Identical, yet so unidentical.

ISSUE 2 2016
37
aiming for, but with output and

torque figures of 140hp and
172Nm individually, the HR-V has
adequate power for daily driving
duties.
Because the CVT technology
possesses no fixed gear ratios, this
compromises the exciting factor of
the HR-V, by just a small pinch we
must say. However, in exchange,
youll gain good fuel economy like
we did at 7.4L/100km.
The CX-3s 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G
engine tailed on a Skyactiv-drive
six-speed automatic transmission
which powers this compact carrier
is proof that some of the best
things in life do in fact come in
small packages. We drove the
CX-3 on surburban highways
and found that it provides a well
balanced, more personal driving
experience.
Steering is light but precise,
and when travelling in clear traffic,
the CX-3 feels nimble. Ecstasy is
well replaced with a street-legal
Sport mode which increases the
cars throttle response and brings
cruising fun to a greater height.
The fuel consumption figure we
clocked in by the end of the test
drive was 9.5l/100km.

SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY
Whether single or married with

children, women would pay for
reliable safety solutions. And if
speed is nowhere on the top of
your shopping list and you know
for sure that safety doesnt just
stop at seatbelts, then scrutinise
the features and technology that
both these carriers have to offer.
The HR-V V variant featured
comes with six airbags (front, side
and side curtains) while the lowerspec S and E models only come
with two. The automatic brake
hold and electric parking brake
functions come as standard across
the HR-V line-up. The same goes
for the vehicle stability assist and
hill start assist features as well as
Isofix fittings which can be found
in all trims.
Heres the thing, though. The
CX-3 is missing the Isofix anchor
points otherwise it could have
been one of the best examples of a
modern compact SUV.
That aside, it is equipped with
six airbags, a heads up display
which projects real-time speed
In the battle of the compact SUVs, the CX-3 put the HR-V
to shame with its better-equipped front cabin space.
38

ISSUE 2 2016
data at eye level, the i-Stop which

automatically powers off the
engine when the car comes to
a halt after braking therefore
saving fuel as well as the
commander control knob for
easier access to the LCD display.
VERDICT
Its a tough call. On one hand, the

depressing present-day economic
situation is taking a heavy toll on
car buyers and the HR-V promises
an option that has a drive-andgo attitude and gives you most of
what you and your family need at
a reasonable price for a vehicle of
its kind.
On the other hand, the CX-3
managed to prove that modesty
has never felt and looked so good,
and when you couple that with
superb driveability, its only a
matter of time until you put pen to
the dotted lines on the sales-andpurchase agreement.
Our take? Well, life is too
short to fret over family planning.
With or without Isofix points and
as long as our savings account
permits it, wed pick the Mazda
CX-3 any given day.
MAZDA CX-3
Engine: 1,998cc Skyactiv-G
in-line four cylinder petrol
Max power: 146hp @
6,000rpm
Max torque: 192Nm @
4,000rpm
Transmission: Skyactiv-Drive
six-speed automatic
Safety features: Six airbags,
ABS with EBD, BA, DSC,
TCS, hill launch assist,
emergency stop signal
Price: RM135,143 OTR plus
GST and insurance
HONDA HR-V 1.8-LITRE V
Engine: 1,799cc four-cylinder
SOHC i-VTEC
Max power: 140hp @
6,5000rpm
Max torque: 172Nm @
4,300rpm
Transmission: Continuous
variable transmission
vehicle stability assist, ABS,
EBD, BA, automatic brake
hold
Price: RM121,500 OTR plus
GST and insurance

ISSUE 2 2016
39
TEST DRIVE / BMW 220i GRAND TOURER
FOR THE BMW

FANBOY WITH
A FAMILY
Photos by Vishal Bhaskaran
THERE are front-wheel drive cars
roaming the streets with BMW

badges, this everyone knows. The 2
Series Active Tourer was the first,
now this 2 Series Gran Tourer, and
the next-generation 1 Series will
follow.
What the market wants the
market receives of course, but no
customer survey or research team
ever told BMW that it must retain
the Hoffmeister kink - the window
line rise at the C-pillar - under all
circumstance.
Again, nothing wrong with a
(front wheel drive) FWD BMW but
there is everything wrong with a
FWD BMW sporting this famous
design feature to show where the
power was being sent to: the rear.
40

ISSUE 2 2016
More storage options than usually

found in other BMWs; overall
quality is, as expected, high.
Regardless of purists baying for

blood or not, they are here and will
very likely stay. In a FWD car, there
are significant improvements to
interior volume and fuel efficiency
and thus the case makes itself for
cars with less dynamic intent.
Direct rivals Mercedes-Benz has
the B-Class while Audi has said it
will never put the four rings on a
family mover but as weve learned
quite quickly in the automotive
industry, never say never.
So what does only the second
ever BMW to offer three rows
besides an X5 have to offer? A lot
more than you would think.
Cabin
As you would expect, its all Munich

on the inside. Angled dash and
iDrive, the centre stack can be

accused of sporting safe and boring
design but as with every BMW,
switchgear is solid in feel and,
crucially, sound in ergonomics.
Of all the times we lament on
BMW seeming to make little effort
to differentiate its cars in the cabin,
however, making the interior feel
special is not really a priority in a
car such as this. Function rules over
form in an MPV anytime.
Overall visibility is good as
an MPV should offer, with super
thin A-pillars made possible by a
floating vertical strip holding the
rear view mirrors.
Through the iDrive you can
select from a few liftgate opening
heights, perfect for indoor garages
with low ceilings.
The second row is foldable

from the trunk as well, eliminating
repeated trips back and forth
to load in long or bulky items
helped further by the absence of a
boot lip and an impressive 1,820
litres of space.
There are quite a number of
storage solutions to be found here
too, hooks and small cubby holes in
easy to reach places, giving the 220i
GT fairly high overall usefulness.
Performance
It should come as no surprise that

this is one of the best handling
4WD MPVs this writer has ever got
his hands on. MacPherson struts at
the front, a multi-link setup at the
rear and liberal use of lightweight
aluminium in its construction all
Not the best BMW side profile, see

the US market Kia Sedona for how to
absolutely nail the typical MPV shape.
Rear bench not the most well padded but support is adequate.
Isofix mounts in outer seats.
ISSUE 2 2016
41
contribute to this.
And then, as it sometimes does,
fate stepped in with an element
of tantalising danger during the
test drive period. On a dark night
on the Federal Highway to Klang,
we had to make a last second lane
change when a temporary barrier
got knocked into the middle of the
road.
The way the BMW 220i GT kept
maintained a steady run despite
a vicious yank at the wheel would
more likely provoke a do that
again, daddy from the tyke in the
back than to scare him.
More than adequately
powerful in lone 220i spec BMW
TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre for the
win and returning decent fuel
economy too, the 2 GT suffers
from virtually nothing of the long
list of dynamic maladies typically
plaguing MPVs.
No excess body roll, no boat-
like handling and no excess wind

noise caused by an ungainly blocky
shape.
Yes, we are aware this isnt one
of BMWs finer designs, but at least
its aerodynamic and sort of sleek
without compromising too much
on cabin space.
Verdict
There arent many of these around,

the reason for which a little more
complicated than just restrictive
pricing.
The most popular luxury
MPVs in the country werent even
brought in officially until very
recently and people still preferred
their friendly grey importer to
authorised dealers. The Toyota
Alphard/Vellfire twins do so well
because they sit on a very delicate
line, you can be chauffeured in
them or you can happily stuff your
brood in the vast cabin and take the
wheel yourself.
The 2 Series Active Tourer,
as good as it is, just isnt a car to
be driven in, nowhere near the
conveyance of an executive.
With a RM280,000 budget for
a family mover, you wont want to
sit in the rear of it and be driven
around and you wouldnt to have
such luxurious surfaces smudged,
dirtied or damaged by little hands.
Essentially, relevance to the
Malaysian market is the issue here,
not competence.
The 2 Series Gran Tourer is a
good MPV, just not the sort anyone
here might be looking for especially
when there are other capable
models, European to boot, costing
a lot less. Do any of them drive this
well though? Well maybe just one,
in hushed tones they call it the Ford
S-Max
Kick-activated tailgate
opens into about
1,820 litres with the
rear two rows down.
Distinct BMW
detailing not
compromised.
192hp from the
TwinPower Turbo
ensure brisk progress.
L-shaped taillights.
Experience Control
sits innocuously
behind the gear lever.
42

ISSUE 2 2016
BMW 220I GRAN TOURER
Engine: BMW TwinPower
Turbo 2.0-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed
automatic
Max power: 192hp at
4,700rpm
1,250-4,600rpm
Fuel consumption
(combined): 6.2L/100km
(claimed)
ABS with dynamic braking
control, dynamic stability
control, Isofix child seat
mounts for second-row
outer seats
Price: RM279,800 OTR
without insurance, BMW
five-year unlimited mileage
warranty and free service as
standard
TEST DRIVE / LEXUS LX570
IN THE LAP OF
LEXUS LUXURY
Large and loud at first, the flagship
SUV of the Lexus range turns out
to be a gentle giant, writes
DINESH APPAVU
Photos by Dinesh Appavu
44

ISSUE 2 2016

ISSUE 2 2016
45
NOBODY really needs a 5.7-litre
V8 uber-luxury SUV that fuses

the royal suite of the Burj alArab with a drivetrain made for
Armageddon. But that is precisely
what opulence is all about.
It is all about what you want,
not what you need.
For 2016, Lexus pimped up
the LX570 with its new design
language that includes the biggest
take on its distinctive spindle
grille that is as intimidating as it
is blatant. The look might not be
everyones cup of green tea but
this city block on wheels has an
abundance of presence.
It measures in at just over
five metres long with height and
width registering at 1,865mm and
1,980mm respectively. This thing
would easily hide a pick-up truck
parked behind it.
It was not a simple add a
crease here and throw LEDs in the
lights revision for the LX570, the
only exterior panels that carried
over unchanged was the roof and
doors.
Luxury has, unnoticeably,
seamlessly been amalgamated

with performance in the premium
SUV segment and while a gazillion
horsepower in a family-mover is
not unwelcome, the focal point has
to be luxury and comfort.
Lexus is the last bastion of
premium carmakers that still
stresses a firm emphasis on the
former and if there is anyone out
there that still knows how to make
old school luxury, it is Lexus
Take the extensive equipment
list for starters; keyless entry and
push-button start, quad-zone
climate control with ventilation
for all three rows, easy entry
air suspension, heated and
ventilated front seats with drivers
side memory function, heated
and vented second row seats
and electric steering column
adjustment with heated steering
wheel.
Then there is a fridge (yes, you
read that right), LED headlights
with auto high beam, auto wipers,
electric sliding second row seats,
electric semi-folding third row
seats, powered tailgate, 21-
The creases and odd lines can take some

getting used to but the LX570 will always
stand out in a sea of large premium SUVs.
46

ISSUE 2 2016
inch wheels, a 19-speaker Mark

Levinson sound system and a
12-inch media screen with GPS
navigation.
Fret not, your hard-earned
money (a cool RM900,000 of it)
gets you a ton of safety equipment
as well. Ten airbags with threepoint seatbelts for all eight seats,
surround-view camera, front
and rear parking sensors, lane
departure warning, blind spot
warning, rear cross-traffic alert
and cruise control.
Suffice to say, the interior is
an over-indulgence of pampering
and grandeur. Fortunately, the
outside dimensions translate into
a spacious cabin that should have
its own postal code with buckets
of head, shoulder, knees and toe
room as well as whatever else
appendage that would require
space.
Even the third row has decent
space for full-sized adults over
a long trip but three would be a
squeeze, regardless of what Lexus
would want you to believe. All
three rows get their own air-
Top: The interior is typical Japanese with an overload of buttons

and plush materials.
Centre: Individual screens for the rear occupants and loads of
legroom makes this the most coveted row among the three.
Bottom: Japanese V8s are a rarity and Lexus should have tossed out
the hideous plastic cover that hides this beauty.
conditioning vents.
Sliding the second row seats
can be done electronically;
unnecessary but once you become
accustomed to it you are left
wondering how you lived your life
thus far without it.
However, access to the third
row is done via folding the second
row forward manually and with
the heating/ventilation elements
inside it can be a little laborious to
fold it back.
Another cool but completely
unnecessary feature is the semielectronically folding third row.
At the touch of a button, you can
raise or lower the bench part but
you still need to manually raise or
lower the backrest.
The effort seems half-hearted,
of which it applies to the middle
row as well. Yes it might have been
easier to make it electronically
slide but the real demanding task
of folding it for third row access is
where the effort should have gone
to uncomplicated things.
Nonetheless, the interior is
impressive and a welcoming place
to be in.
Exquisite soft leather or
wood trim adorns every surface
with the typical Japanese mass
of buttons dotting the dash and
centre console. A new 12.3-inch
central media screen integrates all
the necessary information display
but operating it is hampered by
the exasperating toggle control
system appears to be designed
to intentionally select the wrong
options.
If you guessed that something
about the size of a nuclear bunker
would weigh around the same as
well, you would be right. Weighing
in at 2,645kg, it requires some
serious heft to roll.
The lazy 5.7-litre V8 blends in
with the subdued excessiveness of
the Lexus easily. It packs 362hp
and a healthy 530Nm of torque
that runs to all four wheels via a
revised and refined eight-speed
automatic.
Japanese V8 engines are
traditionally very lazy nature in
revving but the low-end torque
that is synonymous with the
engine configuration is what
counts and it can make for some
brisk acceleration.
ISSUE 2 2016
47
Left: Fold up the third row with a touch

of a button and you could fit quite a few
things in there.
Top: The split tailgate is unique and the
bottom half makes a great bench.
However, it is best to abstain

from such behaviour unless your
family owns a petrol station. We
recorded 5.4km/l (yes, you read
that right, again) with a fair split
of highway and city driving. These
fuel figures are hard to justify,
except maybe on the Airbus A380
so make no mistake when we say
this is one ridiculously thirsty
beast.
Paddle shifters complement
the transmission well but the gears
have a mind of its own, especially
in town, so it is best to just leave
the shifting to the electronics.
There are a few drive modes
but the ones to point out here is
astonishingly the Sport and Sport+
mode.
The reason behind it is simple.
The LX570, for all its luxurious,
is still a body-on-frame build.
Coupled with the air suspension,
the ride is synonymous with a
barge, albeit a luxo-barge.
In Normal or Comfort, the
LX570 is simply all over the place.
It wallows and fumbles at just a
slight hint of a curvature or bump.
The undulations on highways with
a slight waviness is annoying to
the driver but passengers will be
most likely be fast asleep, cosseted
in all that comfort, to notice.
With Sport or Sport+ selected,
the thing pitches and squats less.
Body roll is reduced significantly
as well with no compromise on
the ride comfort for occupants. If
you are a passenger in this thing,
the outside world would seem to
48

ISSUE 2 2016
cease to exist for the duration of

the drive.
If there was one thing to
nitpick on, it would be the braking
performance. The blame falls
squarely on the massive mass
and hard braking should best be
left for emergencies and for those
without weak hearts.
Being based on the legendary
Toyota Land Cruiser, all the offroad gear and capabilities are
carried over. Proper low-range
gearing, Crawl Control and air
suspension give the LX570 all
the control, traction and ground
clearance it would need.
The multi-view camera can
see over crests and will only be
operable with Crawl Control
activated. Furthermore, the Turn
Assist locks the inside wheels and
only powers the outside wheels
to reduce the turning radius, a
godsend in something this vast.
At the end of the day though,
the LX570 begs the question of
does it still have a place in a lineup of modern premium SUVs? We
think it absolutely does.
While the majority of its
competitors have opted to
combine luxury and performance,
Lexus has steadfastly focussed on
comfort and luxury.
Not everyone wants a rocketfast large SUV. In fact, most would
prefer pure, unadulterated luxury
in this segment and the LX570 can
call itself the king of that country.
Verdict:
LEXUS LX570
Engine: 5,663cc, 32V DOHC
V8, dual VVT-i
Max power: 362hp @
5,600rpm
Max torque: 530Nm @
3,200rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed
automatic
Safety features: Ten airbags,
three-point seatbelts allaround, ABS, EBD, BA,
VSC, TC, HSA, Isofix
anchorage points,
surround-view camera,
front and rear parking
sensors, lane departure
warning, blind spot
warning, rear cross-traffic
alert.
Price: RM923,961 OTR
w/o insurance
TEST DRIVE / TOYOTA AVANZA 1.5S
WHO YOU
CALLING
ERRAND
BOY?
Avanzas new powertrain reinstates its

relevance among affordable MPVs
BY KHAILASH M.
THE Avanza was, and has always
been, unapologetically basic;

accommodating seven people in
adequate comfort with just enough
power to get it going and being
used primarily for the school run or
trips to the supermarket.
This new one is much the same
as its predecessor; itself on the
market for a fairly long eight years,
but a big change has gone on under
the hood.
Across the range the Avanza
now has Dual VVT-i timing control
on both intake and exhaust valves
of its NR-series engines, claimed
to deliver better performance at
lower noise levels while returning
increased fuel efficiency.
On the inside, there is nothing
that doesnt absolutely need to be
there, the dashboard especially is a
lesson in functional simplicity.
Spacious and completely devoid
of anything not strictly needed for
driver and passenger, there isnt
even a leather option for the seats
even in this range-topper.
You can, however, spec some
pretty serious head units. There is
a DVD-AVN 7-inch touchscreen
50

ISSUE 2 2016
which has voice recognition, WiFi,

Internet browsing and guide lines
for the reverse camera but we
would go for the 6.1-inch DVDAVX instead which packs all the
necessary inputs without those
superfluous luxuries.
This Dual VVT-i business seems
to have had a positive effect on fuel
consumption, as it should given
that now small capacity turbos
are easily doing 15km/litre on
combined duty. In our four days
with this test unit we managed a
decent 12.4km/litre, despite being
rear-wheel drive.
So why bother with an Avanza?
Reputation. If this Avanza is
anything like the old one you can
bet on it surviving the test of time
and years of hard use and abuse.
A difficult assertion to make
considering the limitations of a
test drive period as opposed to
living with a car for a few years of
course, but from the Unser to the
airport-taxi favourite Innova and
this, the hardy Toyota MPVs are
no-nonsense and built to last.
Consider this, with most cars
that sport the Toyota badge,
consistency is usually why you put
your money down in the first place.
Photos by Asyikin Md Isa
TOYOTA AVANZA 1.5S
Engine: 2NR-VE 1.5-litre
chain drive in-line four
cylinder with Dual VVT-i
Transmission: Four-speed
automatic
Max power: 103hp at
6,000rpm
4,200rpm
Fuel consumption
(combined): 12.4km/litre (as
tested)
Safety features: ABS with
EBD, dual front airbags,
GOA body, Isofix child seat
mounts
Price: RM80,810 OTR
with insurance
OFF-ROAD / WEEKEND ESCAPADE
52

ISSUE 2 2016
SAFE N
SMOOTH
IN A
HONDA
CR-V
Compact Japanese SUV
takes to the highways
and byways as the urban
family escapes hectic
Kuala Lumpur.
BY AMIRUL HAZMI
HONDA Malaysia statistics show
that its CR-Vs are usually used
by young urban families who
spend their weekend going on
adventurous escapades.
Accordingly, the company
organised a short CR-V escape
from the city in January and
I, being young, to the trip that
included stopping at several
interesting spots in Perak.
We moved in a convoy of four
media CR-Vs, one lead CR-V, two
HR-Vs (lead and sweeper), and
a Civic and a Jazz for Hondas
PR team. After the flag-off at the
Honda Malaysia office in Kuala
Lumpur, our convoy headed north
to Perak via the North-South
Expressway.
After the driver change at
Slim River RSA (rest and service
area), I got my hands on a 2.0-litre
CR-V. The convoy cruised within
the speed limit, so the car felt
relaxed, and the engine noise was
controlled when accelerating from
50 km/h to 110 km/h.
We exited the highway at
Gopeng to head to the first
destination, the Ulu River Lodge.
We saw several artistically built
village houses and drove on to
some mild off-road of sand and
gravel to the lodge which is nearby
Gopeng. The CR-Vs suspension
absorbed the undulation well and
any sleeping kids behind would
have remained asleep until we
reached our destination.
After we had our lunch at the
Ulu River Lodge, we managed
to see how the CR-V stacked up
against its competitors, the Mazda
CX-5 and Nissan X-Trail, from
the perspective of a young urban
family.
Reading 589 litres of boot
space in the brochure could not
easily give the idea of how big
the space is. The spaciousness is
obvious when it is loaded with few
bags, suitcases, baby stroller and
picnic basket.
The Honda CR-V certainly has
more space than the other two
SUVs and the baggage does not
block the rear-quarter window.
And the lower rear bumper of the
Photos by Honda
ISSUE 2 2016
53
Wish you were here Team Honda and Team Media come
together.
Top right: With adequate ground clearance and incisive power,
the CR-V easily tackles the slight off-road.
Right: Wet and heart-pounding... rafting down Sungai Gerong
near Gopeng.
CR-V, compared to the other two,

made it convenient to load and
unload the boot.
Besides being the easiest to fold
down the second row seats only
one lever pull the Honda CR-V is
also the most powerful among the
three, its 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine
produces 187hp compared to
168hp and 184hp by the engines of
the X-Trail and CX-5 respectively.
Enough with the quick analysis,
and now it was time for some
family activity: pottery class or
white water rafting. Well, not
being the artistic type, we chose
white water rafting in Sungai
Gerong, near Kampung Gunung
Mesah Hilir.
As this was the first white
water rafting for the most of
us, including myself, the safety
briefing brought some anxiety,
having been told the worst that
could happen to us. But that adds
up some thrill, right?
After we got ourselves right and
ready with all the gear helmet,
life jacket and paddle we went
to the starting point with the
group of three rafts (each raft with
four or five rafters including one
instructor).
At the start-to-get-wet
introductory activity, we were
54

ISSUE 2 2016
asked to do body rafting sessions

and try to float ourselves on the
surface. After the instructors were
convinced that all of us got wet
enough, only then did we start to
navigate the raft down the river.
We passed through 11 rapids
with different names, elevation
change and structures before
reaching to the finishing point.
The rafting session turned
out to be better than expected.
According to one of the
instructors, visitors who like to
experience faster rafting can come
from September to November as
the water level is higher and the
river flows faster.
I got behind the wheel of the
2.4-litre L CR-V from Gopeng to
Ipoh, and the power difference
from the 2.0-litre could be felt,
especially during slow speed
through the mild off-road terrain
where sufficient torque is needed
to propel an SUV with family
members in it.
During the short highway
drive and into Ipoh city, Hondas
LaneWatch feature helped in
ensuring proper view of the blind
spot on the left of the vehicle. We
checked in at Weil Hotel in Ipoh
at around 7pm and re-joined the
other group that took the pottery
class.
On the second day, the convoy
headed to Tanjung Tualang for a
quick photo shoot. We passed by
several buffaloes placidly chewing
the cud in the simmering heat of
the El Nino weather.
Despite the glaring heat of the
sun we stopped near a pond and
piled out to take some photos of
the CR-Vs in a scenic setting.
We then stopped at the well
known Sri Tanjung Tualang
restaurant, one of the few halal
seafood restaurants in the town,
for a nice lunch. Our convoy
confidently departed for KL after
lunch, confident in the knowledge
that the CR-Vs would give us a
pleasant drive.
Our journey to Ipoh and back,
in the 2.0-litre or 2.5-litre CRV, was rather smooth and well
air-conditioned with all the safety
devices and aids for both highways
and trunk roads, and especially
to cope some wild driving locals,
and old-timers who placidly pull
out from some side roads onto the
trunk road in front of us on several
occasions.
Special OFFER*
Shock Absorbers &
Suspension Systems
for Korean SUV/MPVS
*while stocks last
FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT WOON OF E-2000 PRODUCTS S/B AT +60122877903
OFF-ROAD / FORD RANGER DRIVE
RANGERS AND RIVERS

Ford 4x4 shows its mettle at the Tamparuli off-road course
BY DINESH APPAVU
THAT the Ford Ranger has been a
game-changer would be somewhat

of an understatement.
While the rest of its class
were aiming for more robust
and hardwearing performance,
Ford took a different approach
by targeting the lifestyle aspect
of ownership and it paid off
handsomely.
Pick-up trucks have always
had a cool factor associated with
them. Perhaps it could be traced
back to mans affinity for heavyduty equipment. Nonetheless,
reality often ignores the idealistic
56

ISSUE 2 2016
script that we have carefully

penned and throws it aside to be
replaced with the harsh realities of
a suitable daily driver for city life.
So the Ford engineers put on
their thinking caps and gave us the
Ranger that looked and performed
like a pick-up whenever required
yet felt very much like a regular
passenger sedan from behind the
wheel and inside the cabin.
It had features that blew the
pick-up segment out of the water:
interior refinement that was on par
with passenger sedans and safety
kit that was unheard of even in
premium vehicles that cost more
than twice as much.
The range topping Ranger

Wildtrak has six airbags, active
cruise control, autonomous
braking and lane-keeping assist.
Stability control is standard
throughout the range, even in the
entry-level XL trim.
Simply put, the Ranger is the
best pick-up for urban dwellers
that wanted a truck to cater more
for their active lifestyle and less for
off-roading. Plus, even if looks are
subjective, we think the Ranger is
the handsomest pick-up out there
and that certainly boosts its appeal
to the target demographic.
Ford did not neglect the
Rangers off-roading capabilities.
The company of Ford Ranger

4x4 machines ford the river,
travel across a rough patch
and check into camp. And
if it was not enough for the
day, a bunch of guys embark
on some white water rafting.
While it may be easier to spot a

Japanese pick-up being dragged
through tough terrain, the Ranger
is every bit as capable as its peers
when the going gets tough.
To demonstrate that the Ranger
is still a robust and capable pickup at its core, Sime Darby Auto
Connexion, the official distributor
for the Ford marque in Malaysia,
put together a drive through some
topography that would certainly be
something most casual off-roaders
would not challenge in bone-stock
pick-ups.
However, the Rangers prepared
for the excursion: in showroom
condition!

ISSUE 2 2016
57
Hi there! The happy Ranger family on a dry riverbed.
Furthermore, we would not be

attempting this in the peninsula.
Instead, this would go down in the
land of pick-ups; East Malaysia.
Well, just outside of Kota Kinabalu
to be precise.
The Tamparuli off-road course
was definitely not to be taken
lightly. Stream crossings, though
shallow, could still result in being
stuck or undercarriage damage
due to the protruding rocks. We
had to cross three of them, and a
river. Due to the drought though,
the river had almost dried up and
was nowhere near the Rangers
proven 800mm water-wading
depth capability.
Steep ascents and descents,
of course, were also thrown in
with angles that would have all
the occupants hands on the grab
handles most of the time.
Modern pick-ups combine
refinement and robustness well
but the Ranger turns it up a notch.
The drive to the location was
the perfect proving grounds for
the Rangers excellent on-road
refinement.
The Sync 2 infotainment
system and car-like cabin could
almost have us thinking we were in
a sedan with only the ride height
giving it away.
The active cruise control
maintained a safe distance from
the vehicle in front while the lanekeeping assist ensured the truck
never left its lane with steering
corrections to keep it within the
lines.
58

ISSUE 2 2016
It should be mentioned that

the Sync 2 system and eight-inch
screen as well as the active safety
kit are reserved for the Wildtrak
but rest assured the refined ride
and interior are shared by the
entire range.
With the refinement proven,
the robustness was next up to be
tested.
The course called for the use of
low gearing and four-wheel drive
or 4L on the dial that you find
in most pick-ups. This of course
disabled the stability control but
the hill descent control (HDC)
would come into play.
Tamparuli was a clear

demonstration of why
the Ranger is one of the
most popular pick-ups
in the country today.
In simple terms, the HDC
functions are similar to cruise
control except that it helps
descend slopes, taking the throttle
and braking out of the equation to
allow the drive complete focus on
the steering.
However, given that a harsh
drought had befallen the land,
the path was dry enough for us to
attempt it without HDC as there
was sufficient grip.
Some minor enhancements
with the recent facelift gave it

some extra punch under the hood.
The regular XL and XLT
Rangers were more than up to the
task of tackling the terrain. Power
from the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel
mills measured in at 158hp and
385Nm of torque, proving to be
more than needed for the job.
For those that need a heftier
punch, the 3.2-litre Wildtrak
or XLT is just what the doctor
ordered. Five cylinders of turbodiesel power delivers197hp and
470Nm of torque.
A switch to electric power
steering was also a major change
with the facelift and, together
with improving fuel economy, it
provided more consistent steering
with reduced play for precise
input.
Steering feedback has also not
been neglected and the excellent
tuning has resulted in a light
steering wheel that requires less
effort but still manages to provide
generous amounts of feedback and
preciseness.
Some of the paths put the
Rangers articulation to the test
and the suspension passed with
flying colours. Even inside the
cabin, the shocks and bumps were
isolated fairly well for a ride that
did not lead to sore backs the next
day.
If anything, the Tamparuli
trek was a clear demonstration of
why the Ranger is one of the most
popular pick-ups in the country
right now.
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OFF-ROAD / SHEMUD 2015
BABES IN
THE MUD
These gals prefer winch, 4x4 and
mud to the mundane iron, brush
and pan
Photos by Robb Pritchard
60

ISSUE 2 2016
BY ROBB PRITCHARD
WE all have an idea about the
All in a days excitement

inching through the mud, fording a fast river and
monkeying about between the tyre and body.
definition of extreme off-roading

but imagine a place where the mud
actually wants to swallow you,
the air tries to smother you, the
sky wants to drown you and the
vegetation tries its best to impale
you.
Then imagine sending your
wife or girlfriend off to race in
a seriously tough event in this
environment.
Welcome to the dripping
jungles of Johor, Malaysia, the
setting for Shemud, the worlds
first all-girl extreme 4x4 challenge.
In the summer an open
invitation was sent out to fearless
females the world over and a few
of the most intrepid took up the
offer with teams from Italy, Czech
Republic and Romania flying
in to take on the locals in the
inhospitable, sweltering forest for
a week in November 2015.
Shipping out cars to compete
on the other side of the world
is out of the question for most
people so the organiser of the
event, Nurin from Red Adventures,
arranged the most extreme fleet of
rental cars this side of the Ultra4
spec class.
Stripped out and jacked up
Land Cruisers and Suzukis on
Simex tyres were the order of the
day but seeing as none of the girls
had ever driven anything like them
before, the learning curve was a
steep one.
But to be eased into their very
new situation the first days action
was a series of spectator friendly
prologue special stages, a little
easier than the horrors waiting in
the wild jungle.
They still had to get used to
fiddly brakes and competition
speed winches though, known out
here as God winches. A PTO is fed
into a car differential to drag the
trucks out of the mud at speeds
so fast theyd scare even seasoned
winch-challenge competitors.
Despite the 35 temperature
and near 100 percent humidity
being a world away from the
Romanian winter, thanks to quick
thinking and good teamwork into
ISSUE 2 2016
61
an early lead was the Bucharest

team of Bubu Tudoriou and codriver Georgetta Petrescu.
Georgetta is more used to
enduro biking in the Carpathians
than 4x4s in the rainforest but ran
about in the mud with the winch
rope so well that she eventually
won the prize for best co-driver.
And as an indication of how ready
for anything she is, she got the
invitation to go to Malaysia on a
62

ISSUE 2 2016
Tinder date!
But then it was time for the
convoy to head to the real jungle.
Nurin had found a spot that with a
view over the landscape, pools to
swim in and a waterfall as near
perfect as it could get.
The sounds of the jungle was
complemented by the familiar
metal-on-metal percussion of car
repairs.
Short but very technical and
intense, the stages were similar in

layout to the Rainforest Challenge
(RFC) and thats because the sheer
severity of the terrain means its
almost impossible to make longer
sections with multiple obstacles.
A stage can be just 50m long but
just like the RFC there were always
crews who couldnt get through
within the 15-minute time limit.
Winching up steep banks,
splashing through dense
More mud, streaming down the river,

getting ready to winch, now what? and
getting down in a huddle over the next
route.
undergrowth and dropping down

into deep gullies, through hanging
vines and spiky bushes the 19
stages were very hard and tested
team work to the maximum.
Bubu and Georgetta scored
consistently well to keep the lead
into the 4th and last day but Giulia
Maroni from Italy was getting used
to the car and conditions and was
catching up in 2nd, ahead of the
enthusiastic local crews.

It was all to play for on the
final day and the morning started
with Bubu making hard contact
with a tree which broke the winch,
a serious issue in these muddy
tests.
The owner of the car managed
to thread the rope of the second
winch through to the front so that
they could keep going but with an
engine that kept cutting out and

brakes that were getting softer and
softer more points were lost.
Having more problems than
most and dealing with them so
well that she won the coveted
Tough Girl award was Sharisa
Haris.
The car broke in the prologue,
and kept on breaking for the rest
of the week, so from never fixing

ISSUE 2 2016
63
Wet and so happy, now, where are we?
anything before, she learned

to repair the starter motor,
compressor, alternator, radiator,
flat tyres, etc while covered in mud
and against the clock.
The biggest issue was finding
clean enough water to fill the
constantly overheating engine
and all done with a nastily torn
fingernail.
Shemud is not only a
competition; its an event to get to
know other competitors from all
around the world where you can
change ideas, skills, experiences,
etc, says Nurin.
So, to the girls out there, 4x4s
are not only for men. Dare to
challenge yourself to play in the
mud. Trust me, its worth trying
and youre not going to regret it.
With all their problems on
the last day the Romanians
dropped to 4th which was a big
64

ISSUE 2 2016
disappointment, but with the

podium so tantalisingly within
reach for so long that they are
already planning their comeback
in 2016.
It was the one of the best
experience in my life, says Bubu.
Even from the start when we got a
Toyota to drive. Fortunately it had
a ladder to help me get in.
The camp was great organised,
we had everything we needed;

jungle kitchen, jungle bathroom,
jungle beds, jungle everything with
a beautiful view.
Overall, the competition was
really well organised so Georgetta
and I really encourage Nurin and
her team to organise Shemud
again next year, and the next year,
and the next.
Teams, the camp, the food, the
Safe in base camp, still muddy, muddy, and all

clean, all pretty and with the silverware.
weather, the experience, it was all

just perfect. So what if off-road is
usually only a sport for men? We
have demonstrated that we are
capable, we overcame everything
that was thrown at us.
Iron, brush and pan? No
thanks! Winch, 4x4 and mud!
Giulia, driving cautiously and
well, kept scoring good points and
with the Romanians woes went on
to take the win.
We did our best from the first
day and gradually we were able to
realise our dream. Id already been
to Malaysia several times to follow
the RFC and have always been
fascinated by life in the jungle, so
when I got the chance to play a

leading role in a race like this in
the jungle, the answer could only
be positive.
The first challenge was with
ourselves, as Barbara my codriver had never participated in
an off-road race before, but with
determination and strength of
spirit we did well from Day 1.
The spirit of competition kept
our level of adrenaline up for all
five days of the race and we had a
lot of fun. Competing against girls
of other nationalities was exciting
and so was being so involved in a
world that is usually reserved for
men.
Life at the camp, the jungle,

our new and old friends, made
this unforgettable adventure, so
we look forward to returning next
year.
Such was the success of the
inaugural event that plans for
2016 are already well advanced
with the second event scheduled
for August, with the possibility
of Shemud South America taking
place in Ecuador.
Nurin would like to thank
Johor Tourism Department,
Malaysian Youth Council, Police,
Sutera Mall, Kluang 4x4 and
Rentas 4x4.

ISSUE 2 2016
65
OFF-ROAD / RFC QUALIFIERS INDIA
TEJINDER TAKES PUNJAB,

JEGAT BAGS BANGALORE
RFC hots up ahead

of India finale in Goa
A well prepared mean
machine, total coordination
between the winchman
and driver will win the day.
BY LUIS J.A. WEE

LOCAL lad Tejinder Pal Singh of
Gerrari Off-roaders Chandigarh

emerged as the winner of the
inaugural Force Gurkha RFC
North India held in Chandigarh,
Punjab on Jan 16-17.
Jegat Nanjapa, a nine-time
winner in Indian Rally Riders
championships, took the RFC
South India title in Bangalore
after two days of hot action on Jan
23-24.
Both Tejinder and Jegat won
a free automatic entry to the
66

ISSUE 2 2016
Winners at the podium Chandigarh champions Tejinder Pal Singh (centre)

and Harpreet Singh (right) with RFC India representative Ashish Gupta .
OFF-ROAD / RFC QUALIFIERS INDIA
Force Gurkha RFC India 2016 in

Goa on July 22-29 which allows
a maximum of 25 teams across
the nation to compete for the
RFC India title. The winner here
earns a ticket the big RFC event in
Malaysia at the end of the year.
With the Chak De Phatte
battle-cry of the Sikh warriors,
the 10 teams in the Chandigarh
fray were well prepared and their
machines up to the task as they
lined up to handle the five Special
Stages (SS) that demanded the
best of off-roading and recovery
skills.
David Metcalfe, or Mean Mr
Metcalfe as he is popularly known
in the RFC circles, designed the
track in Chandigarh with the
Cougar Motorsport team, and it
didnt come easy for Tejinder and
the rest of the field.
With Harpreet Singh as codriver, Tejinder scored 462 points
out of the maximum 500 in their
Mahindra CJ3B.
Gurpratap Singh (Maneet
Sandhu) and Sanbir Dhaliwal
(Gunbir Dhaliwal), both from

Gerrari Off-roaders Chandigarh,
finished second and the third with
350 and 315 points respectively.
They showed great
determination and passion and
we are sure the experience will
live with them for years to come,
said Ashish Gupta, RFC India
representative from Cougar
Motorsports.
In Bangalore, veteran rallyist
Jegat with co-driver Chethan of
V5 Off-roaders of Coorg took the
bull by the horns and plunged
directly into the six extremely
tough SS in style, winning 525 out
of the maximum 600 points ahead
of the others.
Like in Chandigarh, the
Bangalore track was the devilishly
handiwork Mean Metcalfe and
it demanded the best of the 11
teams that saw action in this South
Indian challenge where the driving
and vehicle recovery skills were
tested under extreme off-road
conditions.
This is a superb experience,
completely new to us, but we kept

pushing ourselves and our trusted
machine on and on, said Jegat.
They made us push our vehicle
to its limit and also made us realise
that a lot of upgrade is required on
our Jeep to make it ready for Goa.
I am also going to work on my
physical fitness over the next few
months to be completely ready for
the competition ahead."
Ashish, who is Cougar
Motorsport founder and director,
said, These qualifying rounds
in the Punjab (North) and at
Bangalore (South) augur well for
our Indian aficionados of the RFC.
These two regions have the
most geared up and prepared 4x4
off-roaders for extreme races in
India.
Ashish said with the
overwhelming response received
from participants and spectators
of the North and South India
Chapters, the objective of taking
the RFC to various regions of India
was successfully achieved.
Winners at the podium

Bangalore champions Jegat
Nanjapa and Chethan lifting the
trophy with Ashish.
Extreme articulation control
at the Bangalore RFC.
Top Three in Chandigarh: 1 Tejinder Pal

Singh-Harpreet Singh (Mahindra CJ3B),
2 Gurpratap Singh-Maneet Sandhu (Mahindra
Thar D1),
3 Sanbir Dhaliwal-Gunbir Dhaliwal (Maruti
Gypsy).
Spirit of RFC award: Bijender Singh-Gajender
Singh (Mahindra CJ3B).
Top Three in Bangalore: 1 Jegat NanjapaChethan (V5 Offroaders of Coorg),

2 Dr Chaitanya Challa-Syed Taj (Charminar
Off-road Adventure Club,Hyderabad);
3 Pradeep Kumar-Prithviraj AC (Bangalore Offroaders Development Association);
Spirit of RFC award: Madhusudhan ReddyRamesh (Bangalore Off-roaders Development
Association).
ISSUE 2 2016
67
OFF-ROAD / RFC RUSSIAN SPRING 2016 QUALIFIER
Extreme slush
is there any hope for
this Pro X machine?
S
L
E
V
E
R
VLADIMIR
G
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I
R
P
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IN THE IC
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Man from Mo
BY YURI YASHIN
JUST a week before April 9, snow
blanketed much of Puskinsky

district, Moscow region, the venue
of the 2016 RFC Russian Spring
qualifier.
Spring is supposed to
have arrived in the Northern
Hemisphere, but then, Russia is no
ordinary nation; this is the land of
the infamous winter, where the
frozen world can still stubbornly
refuse to give way just yet, unlike
many nations in Western Europe.
This biggest country in the
world is a tough land comprising
of tough people accustomed
to severe weather and ground
conditions.
Bring on the wind and snow
then, quipped Yuriy Selifonov, the
event director of RFC West Russia
68

ISSUE 2 2016
(Pro-X chief), the show will go

on.
This Spring Edition show
time is part of the Russian RFC
Global Series, held at X-Arena
for the fourth consecutive year
since 2013. The fun-filled actionpacked Prologue SS style of
the RFC is most suited at this
spectator-friendly outdoor venue,
easily accessible by road from the
capital city.
By D-Day, Father Winter finally
relented to the Spring Queen.
However, the thaw with cold slush
mixing with pieces of melted ice
everywhere, further increased the
difficulty level up several notches,
to the already well designed 13 SS
a la RFC format.
But for battle ready
participants, it was straight into
action with no hesitation, no
snow
questions and no excuses. They

got down, got dirty, got wet and
got into the thick of the action as
if it was summer time! Such is the
spirit of get up and get going of
our weather-toughen and fully
prepared Russian off-roaders.
Forty-five off-road 4x4 race
teams registered for the starting
line in four categories: Super Light
(SUV), Light (standard), Medium
(upgraded/modified 4WD) and
Hard (extreme modified Proto).
Among the contenders vying
for the podium and prize of
mother event RFC to be held
in Malaysia in November were
seasoned Russian off-road
champions, Cup winners, seasoned
off-roaders, master of sports
as well as the novices (the new
blood).
The event was flagged off with
OFF-ROAD / RFC RUSSIAN SPRING 2016 QUALIFIER
driver
d the co- is
n
a
d
u
m
tery
elp h
Slush, waalancing act to h situation.
b
y
doing a gotiate this trick
driver ne
RFC WEST RUSSIA SPRING 2016 RESULTS

(all Rusian entries)
Light: 1 Team 117 Molchanov Mihail-Morkovkin Andry (UAZ) 1,195 pts, 2 Team 100 Izotov Igor-Izotov Nikita (Suzuki Samurai) 1,176, 3
Team 105 Ezhov Andrey-Saburov Evgeny
(Suzuki Jimny) 1,099.
Medium: 1 Team 152 Schekin AlexanderSchekin Yuri (Toyota LC70) 1,249, 2 Team 139
Protopopov Alexey-Smirnov Anton (Land Rover
Defender) 1,196, 3 Team 124 Pozdnyakov
Aleksander-Pavlovich Nikolay (Daihatsu Rocky)
1,005.
Hard: 1 Team 120 Shiman Vladimir-Vorobiev
Pavel (Proto) 1,215, 2 Team 144 Beknev
Anton-Borisov Vladislav (Land Rover Defender)
1,185, 3 Team 115 Karaev Andrey-Popov
Alexey (Chevrolet Geo Tracker) 657.
the traditional massed start of

all participating teams driving
round the circuit. Vladimor
Okonesshikov and Anton Beknev
who earned their rights of entry
to the mother event, the RFC
Final last year, showed off their
badge of honour skills with
some spectacular twists and turns
through the undulating, uphill/
downhill slippery tracks to the
delight of the weekend spectator
crowds.
The stages are well simulated
driving and recovery exercises
resembling those found in the
mother event RFC in Malaysia,
said a smiling Alexey Menshenin,
the course master.
There were deep ruts,
ravines, steep uphill, downhill,
water crossing, constructing and
crossing log bridges as well as
changing co-drivers in some SS,
and now with the melting snow, it
was even better.
Additionally, they also had to
drive across vertically piled up
tractor wheels and did the slalom
test manoeuvering skills. Nothing

comes easy in RFC format, but
here, at X-Arena, the men, women
and machines had to overcome all
these SS in cold liquid mud and icy
conditions of a Russian spring.
For those competing in the
standard vehicles (winches and
mud tyres not allowed), nothing
comes easy at all. Driving through
slopes, mud, orienteering in
the forest drive and test of
car knowledge were all made
additionally difficult under such
slushy conditions
It was also a time to show
off the hardware driven by the
contenders, from the heavy-duty
upgraded and modified to RFC
specifications to the standard
class and SUV such as the Russian
UAZ/Niva, Suzuki Samurai/
Jimny, Land Rover Defender/
Discovery/Freelander, Jeep
Cherokee, Toyota Land Cruiser,
Nissan Terrano, Great Wall Deer,
Mitsubishi Outlander/L-200,
Honda CR-V and Chevrolet
Captiva.
All the SS were carefully

prepared and designed to RFC
Global Series standards by the
resident RFC Representative
(Project Russian Off-Road-Pro-X),
the promoter/organiser of the
western region of Russia from
Kaliningrad to Lake Baikal.
With such professionalism
and commitment since 2013, it
was no surprise that the foundercreator of RFC Global Series, Luis
J.A. Wee, extended the rights
agreement with Pro-X chairman
Yuriy Selifonov for the next five
years, to the delight of VTB 24
(banking group), the main sponsor
of RFC West Russia series.
# Spasibo! Special thanks to
VTB 24 (banking group), X-Arena
(venue host), "RoverLand"
(Terrafirma) and Master Pull,
General Information Partner
"Auto 24" TV channel, Auto.Mail.
ru, Polny Privod 44, OffroadClub.ru web portals (social
media), fans, doctors, medic crew,
marshals (komisars), competitor
teams and their supporters.
ISSUE 2 2016
69
CLUB SCENE / LAND CRUISER JUNGLE JAM
CRUISING TO JUNGLE
ADVENTURES
Land Cruiser Central chapter community
gets down and dirty with their rides
Photos by Dinesh Appavu and Toyota Land Cruiser Fans Malaysia Facebook community
BY DINESH APPAVU
BORNE from agricultural roots
back in the 1950s as the Japanese

answer to the venerable Jeep
Willy, the Toyota Land Cruiser has
since evolved into a sophisticated
and luxurious yet exceptional offroader.
Along the way it has gathered
a cult following for its durability,
robustness and capabilities.
Unlike the machine that the
group is centred around however,
the Land Cruiser Fans Malaysia
is a relatively young assembly
that just got rolling last year with
getting owners together and taking
70

ISSUE 2 2016
their machines off road.

Starting with a central chapter,
the group has since been reaching
out to owners beyond the Klang
Valley and will be launching its
northern chapter in October 2016
and the southern and eastern
chapters in March 2017.
A gathering will be held in
conjunction with the launch of
each chapter and in addition
there will be a City Jam for the
southern chapter in March 2017
and a Beach Jam in October
2017 for the eastern chapter
The culmination of these
efforts will be the Land Cruiser
National Jamboree that is targeted
for August 2018.

Recently though, the group
held its first activity or jam the
Central Chapter Jungle Jam at
the Alam Liar Park in Jelebu,
Negri Sembilan.
We expected about 50 vehicles
and 150 people from the Kuala
Lumpur, Selangor and Negri
Sembilan but we were pleasantly
surprised when 80 vehicles and
300 people turned up, said Amir
Lagong from the Land Cruiser
Fans Malaysia group.
The extras came from as far
as Johor, Malacca, Penang, Perak
and Pahang.
Various models from the 40
series to the 100 series were seen

at Alam Liar Park.
To encourage owners of various
of Land Cruiser models to join this
programme, the organisers saw
to it that the route and off-road
sector were suitable for everyone
and every vehicle present.
There were no major obstacles
in the way, save for a river crossing
before the campsite, said Amir.
The park is a complete
space with all the basic facilities
maintained by the Forestry
Department. Because of some road
construction, the park could only
be reached by 4x4 vehicles. We
also passed through some Orang
Asli villages before arriving the

campsite.
With an overnight stay
scheduled, there was plenty of
time for a host of activities. A
car boot sales was the highlight,
offering everyone there a chance to
grab some much needed and hard
to acquire parts for their vehicles.
Additionally, one of the main
sponsors for the event, Xtrek 4x4
Accessories, held a demonstration
of their Lokka automatic
differential locker.
In addition to prizes, pride
was at stake with a technical
skills challenge held that put man
and machine through a series of
Main: Some of the 80 Land

Cruisers that turned up at Alam
Liar Park in Jelebu over the
weekend.
Top right: Things were more fun
when there were food involved
Below: Starting them young
what this was all about in the
technical skills challenge.

ISSUE 2 2016
71
obstacles. A barbeque dinner was

hosted and lucky draws held to
bring the night to an end.
So, if you own a Land Cruiser
and want to be a part of these
activities, how do you go about it?
We definitely prefer
Land Cruisers in its original
specifications and appearance as
therein lies the value and purpose
of the Land Cruiser. However,

totally modified Land Cruisers are
welcome as well, especially if they
have been modified for hardcore
off-roading or competitions.
In short, we accept all specs
of Land Cruisers to join so long
as they enjoy their vehicles in the
environment it was designed for.
Land Cruiser Fans Malaysia

would like to thank the sponsors
for its first Jam: Xtrek 4x4
Accessories, Malaysian 4Wheelers,
AD Time, Mitra Niaga, MHZ
EcoVenture, Malaysian Caravan,
E Forms Solution, Sincro Auto,
Art Click Studio, K.O.T. and Negri
Sembilan Forestry Department.
Get in touch with Toyota Land
Cruiser Fans Malaysia via its
Facebook page.
The car boot sale offered some

new equipment for sale.
Prizes were given out for the

technical skills challenge.
Land Cruisers cruising.
72

ISSUE 2 2016
The winner of
The Beauty
category.
The FJ40
one of the most iconic Land Cruiser designs.
BY AMIRUL HAZMI
FROM the Sahara to African wildlife safaris, from
the dunes of Dubai to the deepest rainforests, the

Toyota Land Cruiser stands alone as the most longlasting, reliable and nearly unbreakable vehicle.
The BJ25 was Japan's answer to the American
Jeep and the British Land Rover.
In 1941, the Japanese government told Toyota
to produce a light truck for Japan's military and
in 1942, Toyota came up with the AK10 prototype,
powered by a 2,259cc, four-cylinder Type C engine
with a three-speed manual transmission and twospeed transfer gearbox.
POST WORLD WAR II
Then in 1951, by the time the United States started

placing orders for the FJ to assist in the Korean War,
the FJ had grown into the sturdy 4x4 we know and
still love today.
With the introduction of the second-generation
20 Series vehicle, the original concepts debut had
evolved from military machine to civilian utility
vehicle.
With changes like rounded bodywork, integrated
headlights and a more spacious cabin, the new car
looks far more civilised.
The FJ40 model made legends out of the FJ and
the F petrol engine: The BJ unique engine is diesel.
Produced from 1960 to 1984, one of the key features
of the FJ40 is its folding jump seats behind the
front two seats, making it easy to squeeze in more
passengers or cargo.
FROM MILITARY
TO CIVILIAN DUTY
RECREATED FOR RECREATION
While Toyotas design department concentrated

primarily on styling cars, the Land Cruisers
appearance had been left at the mercy of engineers.
Once it was noticed that buyers were looking for
a four-wheel drive vehicle for recreational use and
with enough space for an entire family, the design
teams were diverted to the J4s drive train and
tasked with creating a spacious, enclosed variant
that was capable of comfortably cruising at 80mph
(130km/h) yet losing none of the base vehicles offroad ability.
Starting from the J60, J70and J80 to the J100,
the Land Cruiser name is synonymous with the
luxury SUV segment since.
One of the significant changes is the move from
solid to independent suspension. According to
Toyota engineers, the progression was inevitable
for a 21st Century vehicle whose image was that of a
technology carrier.
And in that respect, the 100 was replete with
innovations such as hydro-pneumatic suspension
with adjustable ride height, multi-stage shock
absorber settings, electronic brake-force
distribution, traction and stability controls.
No longer do you have to manhandle the Land
Cruiser across country as the current models are
now much more liveable, but that does not say that
the Land Cruiser had gone soft.
The current Land Cruiser can probably head
off into uncharted territory with greater strength,
durability and reliability than ever before.

ISSUE 2 2016
73
CELEBRITY RIDES / DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON
DWAYNE
JOHNSON
HE IS THE
ONLY ROCK
YOU NEED
Dwayne Douglas Johnson

Date of birth: May 2, 1972
Place: Hayward, California
Marital status: In a relationship
(was married but divorced Dany Garcia in 2007)
Children: 2
74

ISSUE 2 2016
Be humble, be
hungry, and always be
the hardest
worker in the room
Dwayne The Rock Johnson
CELEBRITY RIDES / DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON
BY FARAH SAM
HE took a deep breath. He heard the crowd chanting
his name. He knuckled up, buckled up. He walked out

to the cheering crowd, on a mission.
He grabbed the microphone from the emcee and
acknowledged the crowd: Do you smell what The
Rock is cooking?
He channelled his iconic move: the eyebrow
raise. The crowd went wild. He went on to kick some
backsides.
Ah, the good old days.
When I was a kid I used to watch WWF (now
WWE) with my parents (parenting done right, guys)
and I was sort of a fan of The Rock.
As I grew older I made a more mature move
and spent more time watching National
Geographic instead. Did you know that cats and owls
could be best friends? Fascinating.
But The Rock still held my fascination.
Dwayne The Rock Johnsons father and
grandfather were professional wrestlers. In other
words, he was born and raised to be a badass.
A real right badass he turned out to be.
The Rock had 17 championship reigns in WWE,
10 as world champion, Triple Crown Champion, and
won the 2000 Royal Rumble among others, making
him one of the most successful and famous wrestlers
in WWE history.
Before wrestling, he was a college American

football player.
However, while still known for being a
professional wrestler, he ventured into acting on the
big screen.
His first movie, 2002s The Scorpion King where
he played the lead was a box-office hit. That launched
his acting career and he went on to star in Doom,
Tooth Fairy, Pain & Gain and Hercules among
others. While currently starring in a new hit HBO
comedy series Ballers, he will reprise his role as Luke
Hobbs in the never-ending Fast & Furious series.
Dont be fooled by his physique and toned muscles
that give him a gangster look. According to fans, and
as seen on his social media presence, hes a nice and
sweet human being. No wonder fans adore him.
Once he gave his housekeeper Esperanza a Ford
Edge Limited as a thank you present for taking care
of his home for 10 years. He also gave his mum a
Cadillac Escalade for Christmas a few years ago.
The Rock is known to visit sick fans at hospitals.
He founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation,
a charity working with at-risk and terminally ill
children.
A regular at the gym, The Rock is an advocate of a
healthy lifestyle and the never-say-die-attitude.
A big man with big heart, he is.
Dwayne Johnson drives a Ford F-150 truck that he
adores and has nicknamed it The Black Gorilla.
Its a black Ford F150. Ford tough all

the way. Ive got a black gorilla that
womps and stomps candy asses all
over the place thats it. It is a badass.
FIVE FUN FACTS

1. The Rock cant fit in most supercars because hes just too big. Pickup trucks are cooler, anyway.
The Black Gorilla. Later gifted this truck to his uncle

who supported him during his wrestling days. Good
thing he can always afford to buy another one.
SPECIFICATIONS OF
FORD F-150
Engine: V-63.5-litre Ti-VCT
Maximum horsepower: 282
@ 6,250rpm
Maximum torque: 253 @
4,250rpm
2. On May 21, 2015, he set a Guinness World Record for most selfies in
three minutes, taking 105 with fans
during the premiere of San Andreas
in London. Because why not.
3. He starts his workouts as early as
4am.
4. The Rock has dual citizenship:
American and Canadian.
5. Hes one of the most influential
celebrities online.

ISSUE 2 2016
75
PRODUCT / PETRONAS DYNAMIC XPERIENCE
DAKAR
TESTED
DIESEL
A NEW diesel formulation
mandates a drive, so we believe.

The first two instalments of
Petronas Dynamic Xperience
for its new Euro 2M Dynamic
Diesel took place in Kota Kinabalu
in December last year and in
Miri this past January, and we
hopped on board for Round 3:
Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Jara,
Terengganu with a stop in Maran,
Pahang on the way back.
The participating 4x4 convoy
was a variety of pick-up trucks
new and old including the Toyota
Hilux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi
Triton and Nissan Navara driven
by owners, car dealers and service
centre representatives.
The media cars were the
all-new Nissan Navara NP300,
launched late last year.
A highway drive on the Karak
Highway is not the best proving
ground for pick-up trucks, hence
the Maran stop where an offroad segment at the Jerangkang
Waterfalls was in store.
As far as off-roading goes, this
was an amateur stage which even
a previous-generation Triton Lite
managed to conquer save for a
water crossing. Nevertheless, the
size of the convoy made for an
enjoyable time through the trail.
Petronas continuously
highlights the link between its
mass market fuels and those it
uses in motorsport. Marketing
benefits aside, there is no denying
it knows winning formulations.
The Mercedes AMG Petronas
Formula One Team has had two
successive winning seasons while
the Petronas-Iveco De Rooy team,
more relevant to this diesel drive,
76

ISSUE 2 2016
Its a slick and smooth

Malaysian journey for
a motley crew of 4x4
machines lubricated
by Petronas Euro 2M
Dynamic Diesel
claimed top honours in the truck

category at the Dakar Rally 2016.
While the latter demands the
highest performance out of the
diesel it uses in the five commonrail direct-injected Powerstar
trucks it fielded this year, Petronas
highlighted that the main attribute
it was aiming for in its Euro 2M
Dynamic Diesel was fuel efficiency.
Petronas fuel engineer
Mohamad Hafiz Abd Aziz states
fuel efficiency is now one to two
percent better than the previous
formulation.
With three core attributes
engine cleaning through injector
deposit removal, power restoration
and protection, and improved
combustion Hafiz believes
that Petronas Dynamic Diesel is
the best Euro 2 diesel that the
Malaysian consumer can get not
only for their commercial vehicles
but their passenger cars too.
Where this gets interesting
is when Hafiz explains that this
same formulation is applicable to
any grade of diesel fuel, including
Petronas own Euro 5 diesel
already available in Johor which
the brand is planning to roll out
in the Klang Valley in the second
quarter of the year.
Why else fill up at Petronas?
Hafizs claims have been
validated in laboratory conditions
where Petronas Dynamic
Diesel recorded the best power
restoration in a diesel engine
among Malaysian diesel fuels.
And bear in mind that the
Petronas station coverage is more
than 1,000 stations nationwide.
BY VISHAL BHASKARAN
PRODUCT / PETRONAS DYNAMIC XPERIENCE
The writer (pic, centre right) gives his verdict of the Petronas Dynamic
Xperience that took the convoy of 4x4 machines into some off-road
stretches after the Karak Highway.

ISSUE 2 2016
77
NEXT ISSUE / DIARY
NEXT ISSUE
THE IDEAL FAMILY MOVER
Q FOR GREATNESS
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
AUDI Q7 3.0 TFSI
DIARY
AUTOFEST KUALA
LUMPUR 2016
Date: May 13-15, 2016
MY AUTO FEST 2016

Date: May 20-22
Venue: Mines International Exhibition
& Convention Centre
ART OF SPEED 2016

Date: May 28-29, 2016
Organiser: Red Jacket Events
Organiser: Malaysian Automotive

Association (MAA)
Remarks: Autofest KL 2016 is a

showcase event for up to 1000
reconditioned and pre-owned cars
and bikes as well as accessories and
other automotive related products
at promotional prices. Financial
institutions, government agencies
(PDRM, JPJ, DBKL etc), insurance
and warranty companies will also be
in attendance.
For more information head over
to the AUTOFEST Kuala Lumpur
2016 Facebook page.
Remarks: Major car companies

such as Honda, Toyota, Proton, Kia
and many others are topping the list
of participants of the first My Auto
Fest sales carnival. These companies
will be offering special deals and
discounts for car buyers specially
for the upcoming Hari Raya festive
season.
For more information, contact
MAA at 03-7843 9947 or Jaswir
Kaur at 012-2654502 or visit www.
facebook.com/myautofest2016.
Organiser: Art of Speed Malaysia
Venue: MATRADE Exhibition and

Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur
78

ISSUE 1 2016
Venue: MAEPS Serdang
Remarks: Founded in 2012, this 5th

annual affair is Malaysias biggest
indoor custom car and motorcycle
show featuring local and foreign
companies and individuals like
legendary skateboarder Steve
Caballero, ATR Choppers USAs
Jason Webber, Shige Suganuma
and Wildman from Mooneyes
Japan, and many more.
For more information, contact:
MizzDeni at +6019 373 6798 call
hotline: +6019 373 6798 or email:
art.of.speed.my@gmail.com

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BLUE POWER FOR

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so far managed to make do with

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want as it is the most car-like in

Write to us. We would love to listen to your

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