Nautica is the name of new Perodua SUV

Nautica is the name of the new Perodua SUV which will be launched in May. Orders will be accepted from May 10 for the 1.5-litre model which will have full-time 4WD and automatic transmission.

Suzuki SX4

The cross-over concept is a fairly recent one, having appeared during this decade. It’s essentially an ‘evolution’ of the SUV bodystyle, merging the best features of the SUV with the MPV and stationwagon – while offering a comfortable ride and sedan-like handling. The emergence of this new genre of bodystyles was probably in response to changing lifestyles where outdoor activities are more common and therefore there has been a need for a versatile vehicle. The traditional bodystyles like the stationwagon and MPV are, well, traditional and to appeal to the new generation of consumers, a ‘cross-over’ has been created.

The Suzuki SX4 is such a vehicle and takes the best of Suzuki’s DNA from its compact cars like the Swift and mixes it with the small SUV heritage that the company is also known for. An Italian studio was brought in to collaborate on the styling which was important since the SX4 is a major model for Suzuki in Europe to the extent that they are even building it there (in Hungary).

For the SX4, a new platform was developed and this is an evolution of the one used for the Swift. The suspension – comprising MacPherson struts in front and a rear torsion beam – was thoroughly tested in Europe to give the SX4 handling dynamics that European drivers would like. Thus it is said to offer crisp and responsive handling without compromising comfort. Incidentally, the SX4 is the model which Suzuki will use to compete in the World Rally Championship starting with the 2008 season.

As can be seen, the SX4 sits up high 175 mm off the ground, allowing it to travel over rough terrain without scraping its underside. Large 16-inch wheels contribute to the generous ground clearance and the tracks are also wide for stability, important as the vehicle is on the tall side.

The SX4 is available with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains but for now, Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) is importing only the 2WD variant from Japan in CBU form. According to SMA CEO Bastamam Hamzah, demand for the SX4 is great and Suzuki Japan is not ready to offer the 4WD variant in Malaysia. “It is being looked at and when the time is right and more importantly, production can be allocated for Malaysia, then we will of course add it to the line-up,” he said.

The front wheels get 102 bhp/140 Nm from the 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol engine via a 4-speed automatic transmission. The engine, which is a milder version of that used in the Swift Sport, is a long-stroker so torque should be stronger and with variable valve timing on the intake side, there is no compromise on either end of the rev range.

The cabin of the SX4 bears the hallmarks of Suzuki cars and there is a certain familiarity in the layout and touchpoints of the dashboard. Clean and functional would best describe the dashboard which includes a tripcomputer (to tell the fuel consumption) tucked into a recess in the centre section. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has control switches to operate the audio system which is MP3/WMA compatible.

The 2500 mm wheelbase and 1755 mm wide body promises spacious and comfortable accommodation for five. Depending on what has to be carried, the rear backrests which are divided in a 60:40 ratio can be folded down, extending the cargo floor area and increase cargo volume. According to the German VDA method of measurement, the cargo volume can go up to 1045 litres, 3.8 times the volume available when both backrests are up.

As for safety, Suzuki has made sure it’s as safe as possible and apart from the strong, rigid body, there is also ABS + EBD and Brake Assist. Two airbags are standard for the front and needless to say, all five occupants have seatbelts.

For a CBU import from Japan, the asking price of RM89,973 (RM94,377 with glass tinting and leather upholstery) is attractive and should draw some people away from recent new models in the same price range. However, SMA is not aiming for big numbers yet and expects to sell 50 units a month.

Encik Bastamam said that local assembly is also being studied and SMA’s parent company, DRB-HICOM is certainly keen to see more models assembled at its Pekan, Pahang, plant which has advanced manufacturing equipment and is so far only doing the Swift. However, it is possible that the 5-door SX4 might not be the one assembled as there is also a 4-door sedan variant and Malaysia being a sedan market, it would make more sense to assemble that variant.

New cars raising new gas mileage levels

Source : the STAR online

New vehicles are expected to set records for average gas mileage in 2007, driven by improved technology and demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, the US government reported.

Vehicles from the 2007 model year are projected to average 26.4 miles per gallon overall (11.2km per litre; 1 US gallon being equal to 3.79l), a gain of 1mpg over the previous year and above the previous record of 26.2mpg in 1987.

The increases are attributed to higher demand for hybrids and more fuel-efficient vehicles with gas prices hovering around US$3 for much of the year.

Sales of hybrid vehicles and small cars are expected to set new sales records this year despite a sluggish US auto market. Sales of pickup trucks and SUVs have largely declined due to high gasoline prices and the slump in the homebuilding industry.

Honda Motor Co was estimated to lead the way, averaging 39.9mpg for its imported vehicles and 33.7mpg for vehicles built in the United States. Toyota Motor Corp is second with 38.5mpg for imported vehicles and 31.7mpg for cars and trucks produced in North America.

David Friedman, a researcher with the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the estimates for Toyota discouraging. Toyota's domestic vehicles are projected to fall 3mpg in 2007 and the Japanese company is the only large automaker expected to decline in truck fuel economy.

"At the same time Toyota's producing ads with hybrids driving through green fields, it's making less fuel-efficient vehicles," Friedman said.

Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said the automaker did not have an immediate comment.

The data, based on a Transportation Department analysis of sales estimates released earlier this month, was first reported in last Friday's editions of the Detroit Free Press. The projections will be updated once automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration receive sales data for 2007 vehicles.

The difference in mileage between continents comes from the different models that are produced at each location.

Detroit-based automakers are all projected to make progress. General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co improved to 29.6mpg and 28.8mpg, respectively, in domestic production.

DaimlerChrysler AG also showed gains. The automaker, which sold an 80.1% stake in Chrysler - now called Chrysler LLC - to Cerberus Capital Management LP, climbed about 3mpg to 28.6mpg in its domestic production.

Nissan Motor Co's domestically-produced vehicles averaged 33.4mpg while its imported vehicles were estimated at 25.9mpg.

Overall, passenger cars are expected to average 31mpg, an increase of 1.2mpg, while pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans are expected to increase to 22.9mpg, up 0.7mpg from 2006.

Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said the data reflected the industry's push to develop more fuel-efficient models, but much of the progress was dependent upon what consumers buy.

"While we're pleased that fuel economy has increased, we also are well aware that shifts in the marketplace could very easily negate those gains," he said.

In June, the Senate approved legislation requiring the auto industry to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and negotiators in the House and Senate are expected to consider the upgrades.

Under the Senate bill, the industry would need to meet fuel economy requirements of 35mpg by 2020, up from the current standards of 27.5mpg for cars and 22.2mpg for SUVs and pickup trucks.

Automakers have pushed more modest standards, contending the Senate bill would be extremely costly and limit the consumer's choice of vehicles. - AP