Asia Klasika 2014 - South East Asia's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance...

Words & Images By Brennell Christian Tan

The evolution of cars is never ending, every now and then the world welcomes a ground breaking car that exceeds in both performance and design as well. Asia Klasika 2014 is a classic car event held to celebrate and remember the great cars in the past and to showcase cars of timeless quality to enthusiasts. Held in Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside Hotel, with beautiful scenery consisting of clear blue lakes and beautiful greenery which surrounds the area. For those interested to see more, the event will be held from the 31st October till the 2nd of November.

The Classics... Masterpieces Of The Past...

All across Malaysia and and from other countries, a wide variety of cars  have come together in this prestigious event, Asia Klasika Motor Festival 2014. From classy British convertibles to gorgeous Italian gran tourers, this is an amazing event for enthusiasts who admire classics such as the Jaguar E-Type or the Alfa Romeo Montreal.... Let the show begin...

Italian Passion...

1981 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer 512i

Long ago, Enzo Ferrari head of Ferrari at the time, stubbornly refused to approve the production of a mid-engined car long after Ferrari introduced mid-engined race cars at the time. Ferrari's engineers managed to persuade Enzo to approve the production of a low volume production marque of Ferrari, titled Dino. The Dino cars built, received positive critics due to it's well balanced mid-engined layout. Soon after, Enzo approved the production of the Berlinetta Boxer. 

One of the breathtaking cars on display at the event is the 1981 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer 512i or Ferrari BB for short. Powered by a mid mounted 4.9 litre flat-12, the Ferrari BB 512i was the most commercially successful model due to its fuel injected flat-12 engine as opposed to the previous years 4.4 litre flat-12 which used carburettors. The 4.9 litre engine produces 360 horsepower and 333 foot pounds of torque and will rocket the car to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds all the way to a top speed of 303km/h. 

100 Years Of Italian Fabulousness... Maserati

This year Maserati celebrates its 100th anniversary. Numbers like that come around very often so Naza Italia Sdn Bhd, the authorised dealer of Maserati in Malaysia has brought along a few models to celebrate Maserati's 100th anniversary with a few models like the 1969 Maserati Ghibli and a few other modern day sports cars. 

1969 Maserati Ghibli

The all new Ghibli launched this year in Malaysia was built to compete among the likes of the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. However, few remember the original Maserati Ghibli.... A gorgeous gran tourer, the Maserati Ghibli had a characteristic shark like nose, pop-up headlights along with alloy wheels and a luxurious leather interior. One of the unusual characteristics of the car is their twin 50 litre fuel tanks built in due to its high fuel consumption.  

However, the Ghibli in the image show isn't the normal variant, it is the Ghibli SS, which is more powerful. Under the bonnet is a 4.9 litre V8 producing 335 horsepower compared to the usual 310 horsepower. 0 to 100km/h is completed 6.8 seconds leading on to a top speed of 248 km/h. There were two choices of transmissions offered which was either a three-speed automatic or a five speed manual.

2014 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS & Gran Turismo Sport

At the Naza Italia showcase area were a couple of modern day sports cars as well. The Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS is a four door, foor seater sports car, that's capable of transporting four people with comfort and luxury thats second to none, whilst still being capable of sporty and athletic driving. Under the bonnet lies a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 which produces 523 horsepower and 524 foot pounds of torque at max. TopGear UK host and driving enthusiast Jeremy Clarkson once said the previous Quattroporte Sport was a great car and I have no doubt on the new car being as good as or even better than the previous model.

Another modern sports car on display is the Maserati Gran Turismo Sport. A naturally aspirated 4.7 litre V8 which produces 460 horsepower and 384 foot pounds of torque sends power to the rear wheels through a ZF sourced, 6 speed automatic transmission or available as an option is a six speed sequential manual gearbox. 0 to 100 km/h takes 4.7 seconds and the top speed is 301km/h. 

1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal

At the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, the unveiling of the Alfa Romeo Montreal attracted much attention and admirers. Bertone had designed a beautiful but yet distinctive 2+2 coupe with more than enough power on tap to keep the driver entertained.  The Montreal had unique front headlamps with grilles that retracted when the lights were switched on. 

The chassis and suspension was based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the powerplant was based on the same V8 engine in the Alfa Romeo T33 Stradale with the engine block being bored-out to enlarge its displacement from 2 litres to 2.6 litres. Output of the 2.6 litre V8 engine is 200 horsepower and 173 foot pounds of torque. The drivetrain consists of a five-speed manual transmission sourced from ZF connected to a limited slip differential which resulted in the Montreal being a superb drivers car with quick acceleration.  0 to 100km/h is reached in 7.4 seconds and then leading to a top speed of 220km/h.

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTC

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTC was the cabriolet version of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT with a similar chassis minus the hardtop roof. Despite the absence of the fixed roof and it's pillers, the rigidity of the body shell is not compromised due to reinforcements to several crucial points on the chassis.

From its very limited production from 1964 to 1966, only 1000 were ever made. A 1570cc four cylinder engine powered the rear wheels of the car. The engine produced 121 horsepower and 111 foot pounds of torque. 0 to 100km/h took place in a stately 10.7 seconds and off to a top speed of 180km/h. 

Elegant British Class...

1948 Jaguar XK120

Pre-world war II, the SS Jaguar 100, blew away the audience with its amazing handling and stunning looks, its successor is the Jaguar XK120, the birth of Jaguar's splendid XK series... The XK120 was launched in 1948 and received great critical acclaim. It's fabulous design along exceptional performance with a top speed of 220km/h sealing its reputation as the worlds fastest production car at the time.

A 3.4 litre straight six powered the rear wheels of the car. The chassis material was ash wood with a hand built aluminium body. However, due to excessive demand in 1949, steel pressed bodies replaced the aluminium body shells. 0 to 100 km/h took 10 seconds and the straight-six produced 160 horsepower. However, in the United States the engine output was bumped up to 210 horsepower. Over 12000 units were built making this aone of the great British automobile success stories.

1964 Jaguar E-Type

The SS Jaguar 100 and the Jaguar XK120 brought fame, fortune and glory to the Jaguar name, promoting British elegance and superb performance. As the saying goes, 'third times the charm'... With the launch of the 1961 E-Type, Jaguar had hit the lottery. Crowds of people were lining up for this extremely desirable work of art and it was widely regarded by many as the most breathtaking car ever made. Enzo Ferrari himself quoted about the E-Type saying, "The most beautiful car ever made".

In the image shown is the model with the 4.2 straight-six producing 265 horsepower. 0 to 100km/h is dispatched in 7 seconds and soon after a top speed of  241km/h will be reached. Every E-Type variant featured independent coil spring rear suspension with torsion beam front ends. Present at all four corners of the car were disc brakes and all were power assisted.

Morgan 4/4

The Morgan 4/4 was Morgan's first car with 4 wheels. Morgan's were always built using traditional methods, aluminium body shells were built over ash frames. Compared to the previous model the 4-4, it looks rather similar but it's underpinnings were all new.

The traditional independent front suspension with sliding pillars and coiled springs was replaced with a solid axle with leaf springs in the back. a 1.2 litre side valve engine was utilised which produces 40 horsepower. The powerplant is connected to a three speed gearbox and hydraulic drum brakes were present on all four corners.

The Other Brits...

Also present at the event are a few flawless classics from MG. A couple of MG cabriolet's were spotted on display. Also spotted at the event was a gorgeous looking grey Aston Martin Vantage V8.

The All American V8's...

1968 Chevrolet Impala

A 5.7 litre V8 is what powers the rear wheels of this classic American icon. It's such an icon that the brothers Dean & Sam Winchester in the TV series "Supernatural" uses this car. Old school American classic, the Impala had a very striking and rugged look in my opinion with a dash of intimidation, especially if you hear it's 5.7 litre or as the Americans call it a 350 cubic inch V8 revving is heart out.

The 5.7 litre V8 produces 250 horsepower and 365 foot pounds of torque. The power plant is connected to a choice of transmissions, ranging from a two speed and three speed automatic or a three speed or four speed manual transmission. The fastest 0 to 100km/h took place in 9.5 seconds whilst equipped with the 4 speed manual gearbox.

The Ford Mustang... Celebrating 50 Years Of American Muscle...

A muscle car icon, the legendary Ford Mustang has been with us since 1964 and has been redefining the muscle car segment ever since. Driven by superstars like Steve McQueen in the 1968 movie Bullitt and Sean Connery in the 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever, upon launch the Ford Mustang was an instant classic... 

1971 Mustang Mach 1

The Mustang Mach 1 in the performance oriented option package originally introduced in August 1968 for the 1969 model year. This model is known as the 1971 - 1972 Mustang Coupe, powered by a 7.0 litre (429 cubic inches) V8 producing 375 horsepower and 450 foot pounds of torque. 0 to 100km/h comes about in 6.4 seconds.

Following tradition, the Mustang has a rather simple suspension set-up, consisting of a live rear axle and leaf springs in the rear, mostly reused parts form the Ford Falcon. Handling was not the best due to its rear suspension set up but its speed and acceleration was excetptional...

So there was another Mustang Mach 1.... Equipped with a Nitrous Oxide System (NOS)

Upon walking in to the Ford showcase area, I had noticed two Mustang Mach 1's. Both the cars look almost similar and so with my curiosity I asked the Ford staff if there was any difference. He then brought me over to the rear of the car and opened the trunk. To my surprise, a Nitrous Oxide canister was hiding in the trunk. The system is able to massively boost the power output of the engine, unfortunately the specific output of the engine was not quoted.

The Heart Of A Lion... The Shelby 1000

Shelby American International has been producing high performance variants of the Ford Mustang since 1965, producing great cars like the Shelby Mustang GT350 or the 1968 Cobra GT500. So the presence of the Shelby 1000 at this event was surprising. As the name hints, the supercharged 5.4 litre V8 producing 1000 horsepower and 750 foot pounds of torque. It's engine is so loud that it vibrates everything in the surrounding area and hurts your ears when revved. 0 to 100km.h takes about three seconds and it's top speed will breach the 200mp/h mark or 320 km/h. 

Sneak Peek: Shelby GT500E "Eleanor"

Hiding under the sheets at the Ford showcase area was the legendary GT500 "Eleanor" from the blockbuster movie 'Gone In Sixty Seconds'. Unfortunately, the night before the event while being delivered to the venue, the transmission subframe was ripped off due to the undercarriage hitting the ramp too hard. Therefore, I did not manage to get a look at the legendary car. It is important to note however this is the only right-hand drive of only two models signed and authorised by Carroll Shelby.

2008 Dodge Ram 5500

Also spotted was a Dodge Ram 5500. In the US, this pick-up truck is widely used for heavy lifting. Under the hood is a 6.7 litre diesel inline six producing 305 horsepower and 610 foot pounds of torque. A Ferrari F12 Berlinetta produces 509 foot pounds of torque and this truck produces a 101 more foot pounds of torque, which is to say, more than enough to haul a trailer... 

Classique Concours d'Elegance...

Car enthusiasts would appreciate this event and the selection of rare cars present at the event along with a couple of motorcycles as well. It's an opportunity for those who are massively interested in classic cars with a great history and an interesting story behind it, for instance the Shelby GT500E which is the only right hand drive model built of a total two signed and authorised by Carroll Shelby. Timeless elegance, stunning design and rarity all representing a certain golden era during the evolution of the automobile.... 

Gallery...

1981 Ferrari Boxer Berlinetta 512i 

1969 Maserati Ghibli

2014 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS

2014 Maserati Gran Turismo Sport

1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTC

1948 Jaguar XK120

1964 Jaguar E-Type

1955 Morgan 4/4

MG Classics

2007 Aston Martin Vantage V8

1968 Chevrolet Impala

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Equipped With Nitrous Oxide System

2013 Shelby Mustang 1000

Dodge Ram 5500

Aftermarket Mods: Autofuture Design Sdn Bhd Product Demonstration

Words & Images By Brennell Christian Tan



New Parts Equipped & Modifications - Demo Vehicle: Porsche 911 Carrera S (997)

Rims - 20" BBS CH-R

Tyres - Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Suspension System:
- Bilstein B8 (Tested on Nurburgring Nordschleife)
- H&R Springs
- H&R Anti Sway Bar

Body & Aesthetics - 

TechArt Full Body Kit :
- Air Intake Grille
- Side Skirts
- Rear Spoiler
- Front Bumper
- Rear Bumper
- Quad Exhaust System

On Track..

In a previous article posted (http://automobilesatitsbest.blogspot.com/2014/08/aftermarket-mods-autofuture-design.html) I had paid a visit to Autofuture Design Sdn Bhd, a retailer of aftermarket parts and modifications. As added information, Autofuture Design is a representitive of BBS, Kelleners Sport, Carlsson and Bilstein as their sole distributor in Malaysia.

Recently, I was invited by Allan Tan, the general manager of Autofuture Design to a track day event organised by 9tro Malaysia to showcase their products. Their selected show or demo car was a Porsche 911 Carrera S (997) equipped with the Porsche Sport Chrono Pack along with the modifications seen above.



The venue selected for the event was the legendary Sepang F1 circuit. A track with 15 corners, complete with long fast bends and sharp turns that will push the car along with its modifications to its limit. On slow and bends bends like turn 1 and turn 2, that's where the adaptive Bilstein B8 suspension set up along with H&R anti sway bars and springs are pushed to their limit. Though the suspension is capable of handling the tightest hairpin turns, with a touch of a button, the suspension setting changes from sport mode to comfort and offers a smooth and comfy ride.

The Porsche 911 Carrera S was equipped with lightweight 20 inch aluminium BBS CH-R rims wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres which offer cornering grip that's second to none. Do bear in mind, Michelin produces tyres specifically for the all new Porsche 918 hypercar, then you'd understand why these tyres were chosen for the demo.


The full TechArt body kit for the Porsche 911 Carrera S (997) equipped not only improves its aesthetics but also delivers improved levels of downforce. In the image shown, the motorised rear spoiler has been replaced with a permanent rear spoiler which massively improves downforce on the rear wheels. The quad exhaust system by TechArt, enables the car to breath better and in my opinion delivers a better sounding exhaust note compared to the stock exhaust system.

Overall, the performance and aesthetics of the car has drastically improved with the new parts equipped. The car with its new suspension set up along with grippier tyres enables the car to corner flat without a hint of oversteer or understeer, body roll itself is out of the equation. Through, long fast bends, the car with its bodykit corners fast without drama with outstanding levels of control and downforce. All the parts and modifications were done and provided by Autofuture Design Sdn Bhd, with impressive results and maximised performance.


Should you be interested in aftermarket parts and require more information,
Please contact:

Allan Tan,
General Manager of Autofuture Design Sdn Bhd

Walkaround Snapshots Of The 911 Carrera S (997) Equipped With Parts And Modifications Stated

Nissan Roadshow @ Paradigm Mall - 29th September To 5th October

Words & Images By Brennell Christian Tan


Firstly, I apologise for the late update on my blog as I had my finals to deal with. So, I have now returned with several upcoming articles, so stay tuned...

Nissan Roadshow @ Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Recently, Nissan Malaysia has launched several new models. To showcase these refreshed and updated models, Nissan has decided not to only showcase their vehicles in showrooms, (where everyone has to go through the hassle to get to) but in the mall where everyone already is. 

Bigger, Bolder & Better? The Redesigned Nissan Teana Walkaround... 

To date, the D-segment market of cars has been very aggressive catering to the introduction of many competitors such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and joining the club is the new Nissan Teana. Bigger, bolder & better, the new Nissan Teana has been radically redesigned with an all new engine option and bigger dimensions overall.

Replacing the previous 2.5 litre V6 is an all new 2.5 litre inline-four. Despite the loss of 9 horsepower dropping to 173 hp, the torque has jumped up by 6 newton metres with a total output of 234 nm. Fuel efficiency has improved massively as well, gaining 2.8 litres per kilometre more as compared to 10.5 kilometres per litre previously. Design wise, the new Teana has grown slightly the new model is 5 mm longer, 35 mm wider and 5 mm taller along with a reduced kerb weight ranging from 1447kg - 1517kg as compared to 1455kg - 1540kg previously. 

Interior wise, in comparison to the previous generation the new Teana boasts a more modern look. Previously, the dashboard used to be trimmed with wood grain as opposed to the new Teana which has soft touch materials along with silver and piano black trimmings giving a modern looking interior. Features such as bluetooth, rear view camera, iPod compatibility as well USB connectivity are standard across the top two of three trimlevel variants as compared to previously where by all were optional equipment. 

Smooth As Silk? The Refreshishly New Nissan Sylphy

Sylphy comes from the word Sylph, which according to dictionary.com means a graceful woman or lady... Nissan might have used the word in relation to the design of the car, which to me looks very attractive. Let's start in the engine bay, with this new Sylphy the previous 2.0 litre mill has been replaced with an all new twin-CVTC 1.8 litre engine producing 131 horsepower at 6000rpm and 174 newton metres of torque at 3600rpm. Compared to the previous engine, the new 1.8 litre engine produces 2 horsepower less and 17 newton metres of torque less while fuel efficiency is quoted at 15.6km per litre.
Exterior design, to my opinion looks good. The Nissan Sylphy in the image shown is equipped with the IMPUL Aerokit which comprises of the aggressive body kit and a rear spoiler. The IMPUL Aura SX-20 rims shown in the picture is a separate package all together costing RM4500 and performance enhancing Continental Premium Contact 2 tyres along with stiffer sport suspension are also a different package priced at RM1800 and RM1000 respectively. The body kit enhances the aesthetics of the car and presents a sportier and aggressive look.

Interior design is slightly dull in my opinion but the soft touch materials on the dash board feels good to the touch. The gear shifter could use a better look but then again its not too bad. Passengers would be relieved to know that rear-seat air conditioning is available on the higher trimlevel variant. Leather upholstery again is only available on the higher trimlevel variant along with all the other goodies such as dual-zone climate control, push start and so on. 

Elegently Simple & Practical... The All New Nissan Almera

Built for daily commute, the new Nissan Almera is very affordable for many. With prices ranging from RM 66,827 to RM 79,827, the Almera is well within the price budget of many out there, while still offering practicality and comfort. With not much to highlight from the engine and performance of the car, lets start with the interior... Equipped with barely basic features such as fabric upholstery, automatic air conditioning along with trunk illumination only being offered on the high trimlevel variant, it's easy to suspect why this car is so affordable. Then again, the purpose of this car isn't for luxury, its for daily commuting with loads of practicality and spaciousness. My only dislike on the interior is the look of the gear shift, it looks very outdated and looks too unsophisticated despite having a good CVT transmission. 

Nissan claim that this new Almera has a class leading interior cabin space, in my opinion it's quite spacious and suited for Nissan's targeted market of families with children. On the exterior, personally I think Nissan could have done better, the car looks too bland and too dull, with fog lamps and door pillar garnish only on the high trimlevel variants, its not hard to see why the cars aesthetics isn't it's plus point. However, IMPUL does offer modifications such as a complete aerokit (which comprises of body kit and spoiler) along with offerings such as a sportier suspension system and Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres to enhance grip and handling. 

In the engine bay, there's not much to talk about.... A 1.6 litre engine producing 102 horsepower and 139 newton metres of torque lies under the hood. Paired to a superbly engineered CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), the Almera reaches a 100 km/h in about 10 seconds or so. 

All these features and specs, may not look very impressive, then again Nissan's pricing strategy should be understood by many. The aim of this car is to provide a practical and comfortable car well within the price budget of many, whilst still offering outstanding Japanese reliability which is exactly why you may see many Almera's on the road. 

Eco-Friendly Family.... The All New Nissan Serena S-Hybrid

A family will not be complete without an MPV, with this concept in mind Nissan has launched the rather affordable Serena S-Hybrid which is priced at RM149,515 is Malaysia's first hybrid MPV which provides outstanding comfort for 5-7 people whilst avoiding a hefty fuel consumption. Given that the targeted market are families with children, lets start with the interior. Practicality shines in the new Serena, with features such as cup holders scattered all over the cabin, storage compartments under seats, multiple seat configurations and the additional boot compartment. Upholstery is fabric, and with a family with children in the back seat you'd be thankful it wasn't leather. Ease of access in to the third row seats is complemented by the so called "Easy Entry Mode", enabling the second row to split apart, giving passengers easier entrance or exit into the third row.

Performance figures aren't great despite its deceptively low kerb weight at 1660kg, but powertrain sophistication is impressive in contrast to other vehicles in the same price range. Under the bonnet lies a 2.0 litre DOHC direct injected powerplant with twin CVTC producing 147 horsepower along with 210 newton metres of torque. The S-Hybrid system consists of an electric motor and a 200A/1.8kW battery providing a torque output of 54 newton metres. The powerplant is connected to an Xtronic CVT transmission and fuel efficiency is at a quoted 15.2 kilometres per litre. 

In my opinion, the new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid provides superb value for money that's bar none. Although, it's looks may not appeal to everyone, usability, practicality, efficiency and reliability are the key traits of this car. Therefore, the new Serena S-Hybrid would be the best choice, first choice and only choice for those looking for a versatile MPV.  

Conclusions... Innovation That Excites?

From shifting the future to Innovation that excites... With the tech game already in hand, Nissan should revise the appearance and aesthetics of their passenger cars. Let's look forward to not only brilliant technology and innovation that excites but a look and aesthetic concept that can also excite.