Today I shall get down-to-earth, back-to-basics with this car review. No other car epitomize this better than Perodua Viva Elite. It is by no means bargain-basement cheap, considering that Perodua is considered a national car maker and is afforded tariff exemption, special tax incentives et al.


Not paying much attention to this Perodua model initially, I was surprised at how decent this rebadged Daihatsu Charade (of previous generation) can be. Things that matter like ABS, twin SRS airbags are there. Even the wing mirrors are electrically foldfable. Hear this UMW Toyota: (well, they are of the same core business group anyway), where's the electric folding mirror action for the RM175k Toyota Prius?

Then there's also adjustable seatbelt anchorage points on the B-Pillars. Similar items in Toyota Avanza and even Nissan Grand Livina? No.

Though the seats are not the last word in comfort - its flanks support and backrest are a little thin/stingy but the thigh supports are surprisingly adequate (at least for my short stature) i.e. ant-posterior length-wise up to the mark. Once again, even the ever popular (D-segment!) Toyota Camry is a little shortchanged here. Serious.

Drive wise, there is nothing much to complain about. It's sprightly enough, light footed and willing on the move. There's even 4 -speed auto now, versus the Kancil 850 EZ which my better half owned 8 years ago. Idling vibrations is still noticeable, even though idling engine speed is pretty high at 1000rpm. The instruments panel are simple, clean and easily legible. something that the other 'major' national carmaker needs to learn for its Neo model or even its new Evora...er, I meant Exora.

The chassis gets a tad floaty as you breach our national highway speed limit but I guess flogging it to, say 130 km/h is much akin to wearing your Croc sandals to do snorkeling.

Funnily, the alloy wheels managed to look like wheel caps, which is something rather 'bizarre' considering that some good wheel caps can mimic otherwise these days!
In contention for a NST-Maybank COTY award 2009, whether the Viva Elite will present better value than the Hyundai i10 remains with the end-user. While the little Hyundai does handle better and has a better interior, the Viva's trump cards are its features.

At the end of the day, most motorists at this entry-level budget segment will likely emphasise on Viva's resale value in the future as a key consideration factor in their purchase.
Or perhaps another choice may be the newly relaunched, facelifted and renamed Naza (Kia) Picanto?

In case the BMW X6 just doesn't make the cut for you, Status Design, a Moscow-based tuning shop, has launched a new kit package for the Bavarian crossover that bundles aero mods with performance upgrades.


The exterior aero package includes a body kit with side skirts, carbon fiber roof spoiler, front bumper with LED daytime running lights, carbon trim on the window surrounds, mirror covers and dual-kidney grille, and a new rear bumper that makes room for a pair of dual tail pipes and a carbon fiber diffuser. A set of 22-inch alloy wheels from Hartge complete the crossover's looks.


The Russian tuner also gives the X6's 3.0-liter straight-six turbo more grunt by modifying the vehicle's ECU and adding a sport exhaust system and sport air filter. These upgrades help lift output by 74HP for a total of 380-horsepower.
Status Design did not release pricing on the BMW X6 package, but if you're interested, you can visit their site by clicking the link below.

Source: Status Design

BMW 5 Series GT

The braintrust at BMW believes they have the answer for customers who want the everyday versatility of an SUV combined with the luxury of an executive sedan – and that answer is the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.

By Mark Hacking, Spartanburg, South Carolina

In a sneak peak held at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, in the US of A, journalists had the chance to see the new five-door in person and go for a ride around a test track – albeit not at the controls.
This is an interesting approach to introducing a new car and the same tack that Porsche took in giving writers a first taste of the Panamera earlier this year. Travel thousands of kilometres to be chauffeured around in the back of a new German luxury car? Why not?

There’s method to this apparent madness, though; with both the Panamera and the 5 Series GT, the respective manufacturers are keen to position their cars as viable luxury “four-door coupes” for the whole family with plenty of head- and legroom in all seating positions.
Here, then, are the first impressions from this back-seat driver.

In speaking about this new shape of car, BMW referred to research that indicated a wagon could never be considered a true luxury ride because the back seat passengers are, in effect, always sitting right in front of the cargo area.
Being a big fan of wagons, particularly those of the Germanic variety, I’d never considered this point at all.
When you stop to think about it, this makes some sense; in a sedan, all the passengers can be separated from their gear in a quiet and comfortable cabin, not so in a wagon or hatchback.

Based on the platform of the new 7 Series, the 5 Series GT offers more room than a standard 5 Series, a higher seat height (close to two inches higher than the 7), greater interior volume overall (including headroom comparable to an X5), adjustable rear seats and the added functionality of a dual-mode rear tailgate that operates as a boot or a hatch.
If the pre-production models we saw are any measuring stick, BMW also plans to load up the GT with some serious luxury amenities.
There will be two different interior configurations distinguished by the backseat layout. The base GT will come with a 40-20-40-split rear bench that can hold three passengers and fold flat to accommodate more gear.

There will also be an optional “luxury seating package” with power-operated flat-folding 2+2 seats. In both configurations, the rear seats can be moved forward and aft, while the angle of the seatbacks can also be adjusted.
Other interesting aspects of the interior include the tremendous glass area. The 5 Series GT features very large and frameless door windows that give the cabin a light and airy feel.
This characteristic is promoted even further with the optional panoramic moonroof that consumes a massive 55 per cent of the roof surface area.

Of course, being a BMW, this new model will definitely not be all show and no go. In most markets, the first model released will be the 550i GT, which will be powered by the twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8. This engine produces 300kW of power, 609Nm of torque and promises to propel the 550i GT from a standing start to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds.
This engine will be paired with a brand new eight-speed automatic transmission, cop that Lexus, for improved efficiency during those blasts along the autobahn.
The driver will have the choice of three dynamic settings, normal, sport and sport plus, that control the car’s shift characteristics, throttle response, level of steering assist and traction control.

Another unique development for the 5 Series GT is the inclusion of a brake energy regeneration system.
Similar in approach to technology used with hybrid cars, this system uses an electronic clutch to engage or disengage the alternator as needed.
Under deceleration or braking, the alternator gets charged; when freewheeling, the alternator is disengaged, so it draws less power from the engine, thereby improving engine efficiency. The 5 Series GT is also equipped with a more powerful battery that needs charging less frequently.

While I’m not 100 per cent convinced that I want a four-door coupe over a sedan or a wagon, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo does represent an interesting third choice.
In person, the car is far less awkward looking than pictures would indicate and the passenger cabin is certainly a step up from the regular 5 Series.
While pricing has not been released, the 5 Series GT will be more expensive than a comparably equipped 5 Series sedan, so only time will tell if this new shape resonates enough to demand such a premium.

he lucrative new four-door coupe genre among the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and Lamborghini Estoque, BMW has unveiled its new 5-Series Gran Turismo concept.

Based on the next-generation 5 Series, the new GT model – or Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) as BMW like to call it – will compliment the existing sedan and touring variants in the range.
Like all of the four-door coupes which are set to hit the market, luxury rather than practicality is key, with the 5 Series PAS boasting only four individual sports seats.

In order to accomodate its passengers in comfort, the concept is larger than the standard 5 Series in all dimensions – measuring nearly 5 metres long, 1.9 metres wide, 1.56 metres high and using a limo-like wheelbase of just over 3.0 metres.
Any feeling of claustrophobia for rear seat passengers has been eliminated by including pillarless doors and a panorama glass roof, reportedly offering the same legroom as the 7 Series and the headroom of the X5 SUV.

 uggage capacity can increase from 430-litres to 570-litres as the rear seats move forward by up to 10 centimertres while still offering the same legroom as a standard 5-series, or can be folded away altogether for 1650 litres of space.
Boot access is imrpoved by using a two-piece tailgate system similar to the design found in the Skoda Superb.

While no mechanical details have yet been released, the new 5 Series PAS will make its official debut at the Geneva motor show with a production model slated to appear at this year’s Frankfurt motor show.