dM’s Top 5 for 2009
2009 proved to be a dark year for the Automotive Industry with an estimated drop of 26% in Total Industry Volume (TIV) which missed its forecast and by a drop of only 8%. Its initial TIV stood at 500,000 units, and the ramp up towards the end of this year proves only one thing, we do not count well. Ironically the automotive industry at the other side of the world as in Europe and America dived beyond 40 percent in the earlier part of this year. The winners for this year’s automotive retail segments are the sellers of higher priced vehicles, and the losers are the sellers of lower priced vehicles.
Malaysia’s automotive industry is a confusing one as it is filled with rebadged cars, protection on national cars, limited importation of foreign cars and spontaneous governing policies. We had a busy year in 2009, with many new car launches, and with it, the opportunity to drive some great cars. As usual, there were many great cars, each one having its own merits, each one good in its own way, in terms of space, practicality, fuel economy, etc, etc. Unfortunately, the choice for our top five favourites, and being performance driven, we naturally gravitate towards those cars that are built to please.
BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 is one of our favourites. Designed by two lovely ladies who know what men want, (backed up by a horde of BMW engineers who put in the mechanicals, of course), the Z4 is the perfect car for the one who has everything else, and needs a car to spend the weekend away from it all. With the Z4, you can let it all hang loose, drive topless ( with the convertible roof down, and not otherwise), feel the wind brushing through your hair, and with no one else other than your loved one beside you (it’s a strict two seater). The 3.0 litre straight six with twin turbochargers and a 7-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, together with three driving modes makes this car a real pleasure to drive. With 306 horses on tap, and 400Nm of torque, the Z4 is putty in the hands of a good driver. Besides, its sexy shape makes it a head turner wherever you go.
BMW 740 Li
If you like driving but have to put up an ‘executive’ demeanour, the BMW 740 Li is perfect. It is a luxury saloon, extra large and extra long to provide you with the executive space and the executive look necessary for your business purposes. If you have to suffer being driven around by a chauffer, at least you know that in the rear seat, it is luxuriously comfortable, with plenty of legroom, and space to lounge in. come the weekend, if you don’t own a Z4, you can still take the 740 Li out for a good shakedown and grow some little horns on the side of your head if you so wish, because the 740 Li is powered by the same engine as the Z4, and although it does not have as many bells and whistles attached, the 740 Li is surprisingly agile for its size. It will still do a zero to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds flat, and hit 250 km/h, more if you can figure out how to bypass the electronic speed limiter.
Porsche Panamera Turbo
Built as a 4-door, four-seater, the Porsche Panamera is Porsche’s attempt at tapping into the luxury saloon market. The only other 4-door Porsche model is the Cayenne, a sporty SUV which has been a runaway success for Porsche. What the designers have done is to put the Cayenne mechanicals into a saloon. It looks much like a stretched 911, except that the engine is at the front. It does not drive like the 911 though, but if you can imagine a Cayenne turbo that is lighter and sits lower on the ground, you can imagine what a monster the Panamera can be.
Volvo XC60
Developing a liking for the XC60 is a little out of character for us, being a habitual fast driver and liking performance cars, but the appeal of the XC60 for us is perhaps what the Volvo brand stands for. With more safety features and driving aids, both visual and audible, the XC60 is mooted as the safest car ever built by Volvo. It is no road burner, but for anyone who needs about 200km/h cruising speeds, the XC60 will do. It handles very well for a SUV, but most important of all, it is a cosy eggshell for precious cargo.
We also had the opportunity to drive the XC60 D5, the same vehicle as the standard XC60 in every way, except that the D5 has a 2.5 litre common rail diesel turbo engine; translated to every day language, this means ample power to move this 2.2 ton behemoth, fantastic fuel economy, and cleaner air. We are looking forward to the day that we also get clean diesel (Euro-4 and above) here.
Nissan 370Z
The Nissan 370Z is our current favourite, because this is the most recent drive in a performance car. This is the latest of the Nissan Z series which started with the 240Z some forty years ago. The 240Z still remains on our most wanted list, and we will pick one up without hesitation if we could find someone willing to sell it to us. Forty years down the road, the 370Z will still be sought after.
This is because the 370Z is all muscle, built solely to be driven, and driven fast, although it is docile enough to be used by your mother to go to market (provided she still remembers how to use a clutch and a stick shift). With 333 horses, 363Nm of torque, a manual gearbox, aluminium suspension and aluminium shock absorbers, huge multi-pot brake callipers with racing car-sized discs, the Nissan designers made the 370Z strictly for performance, sacrificing along the way, ride comfort, and even noise – it is the modern muscle car. What is particularly interesting about the 370Z is that it is priced relatively cheap for what it can do, and therefore it is an affordable source of brute power.
