JAPAN’S NO.1 CAR MAGAZINE TURNS INTO SINGAPORE!
S$6.00 MARCH 2011
BEST SCOOP
BEST A-LIST
2011 AUTO RUMOURS THE FUTURE OF JAPANESE SPORTS CARS NEXT GENERATION NSX
CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 LEGACY EYESIGHT 4-DOOR SUBARU IMPREZA STI BEST SHOWDOWN
TOYOTA VS HONDA VS NISSAN GERMAN VS JAPANESE
The The
Race On BEST GOURMET
CAR CAFÉ:
THE GO-TO PLACE TO EAT AND TALK ABOUT COE PRICES
Serial Feature:
BEST WHIZBANGS
WHAT HAS YOUR
OS DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
HISTORY OF JAPANESE GT CARS VOL. 1
BEST RUNWAY
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ARTISTS WALKED INTO Free Gifts! A BAR...
W W W. B ES TCAR. S G
is
CONTENTS
TA B L E O F
目 次
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Best Car found out that Honda will come out strong in 2011~2012.
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ス ク ープ
BESTSCOOP 6
THE RACE IS ON
デ ビ ュ ー
BESTDEBUTANT 29
Best Car found out that Honda will come out strong in 2011~2012. 12
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THE FORGOTTEN FUTURE OF JAPANESE SPORTS CARS
Best Car remembers. 26
Japanese automakers have mounted several challenges against the European C-segment premium compacts, but they never really looked fully capable of upsetting the apple cart. Until now.
BEST GOSSIP!
The Best Car Scoop team met with Akira Endo, a notable figure in Japanese automobile circles, to compare notes from their sources, on upcoming launches and revamps.
NSX V10 REBORN
When Honda’s President Ito promised “A car that symbolises the future”, we recalled the defunct NSX and got to speculating.
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CT200H TAKES ON EUROPE’S PREMIUM COMPACTS
イベ ント
BESTEVENTS 34
JAPANESE STARS STEAL THE SHOW AT THE DETROIT AND GUANGZHOU MOTOR SHOWS
Best Car parts the curtains for a look behind the scenes.
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レ ポ ー ト
BESTREPORT-O! 41
CAR SPEAK
Carlingual is fluent in the language of stellar customer service. 42
BEST CAR’S EXPERTS ON SUZUKI SWIFT’S “NEVERENDING” DESIGN
Yoshio Maesawa and Soichi Shimizu agree that beauty does matter. 44
YARIS TO TAKE ON THE 2012 WRC
In 2012, Toyota will be making a comeback to the WRC stage with Yaris. 46
PRESENTING BEST CAR’S 2011 SUPER SCOOP SPECIAL
We peer into our crystal ball and predict the highs and lows of Japanese cars in 2011.
We Are Looking... If you have a story to tell, or would like to contribute to Best Car, drop us an email at bestcar@comm.com.sg.
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キ ー パ ー ソ ン
BESTA-LIST 81
EMAIL ME
Best Car speaks to John Ang, Head of Retail Chain, Stamford Tyres International, and learns a thing or two about customer communications. 対 決
BESTSHOWDOWN 50
THE BIG THREE FACE OFF!
Toyota versus Honda versus Nissan. 56
A COMPETITION BEYOND BORDERS
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BESTFEATURE 64
GT-R’S NEXT MOVE, VOLUME 2
In the February issue of Best Car, we put the question of GT-R’s development directly to Kazutoshi Mizuno, GT-R chief engineer and development manager. “Let us have a discussion with users to see what they have in mind concerning the future of GT-R,” he said. So we did. 69
THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE GT CARS, VOLUME 1
Best Car chronicles the evolution of Japanese GT cars, from their humble beginnings in the 1950s to their heyday in the 1970s.
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Terry Itoh checks out Subaru Legacy’s “Eyesight” function and test-drives the 4-door Subaru Impreza STI. ファン
BESTFANS 92
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ガ ジ ェ ッ ト： 車
BESTWHIZBANGS: CARS 94
フ ァッシ ョ ン
BESTRUNWAY 102
RHYTHM LAB
The guys at music label, 1OR8FACTION come upon Kizashi and Butter Factory 108
FOR HIM/FOR HER
A contemporary twist to classical menswear and an eclectic fusion of Eastern and Western fashion. グ ル メ
BESTGOURMET 110
WHERE CAR LOVERS MEET
With more than ample space to park your community of automotive enthusiasts, enjoy a cuppa with a hearty sandwich at Car Café.
THE GREEN PULSE
Best Car speaks with I M Ho, the regional distributor for Nanopulser, an eco-friendly battery solution, which promises to change the way we view and use our vehicle battery.
BEST PLAYLIST
The spotlight shines upon local R&B crooner, Dawn Jay.
MOTORING RAP SHEET
Marco “Tinker” Chan speaks with Best Car about the joys of motoring.
HOT REELS
We take a trip across movie genres and bring you the season’s freshest flicks.
HKS PREMIUM DAY
FUN CAR LABORATORY, VOLUME 4
PLATFORMERS
More than meets the eye.
Cheryl Tay’s debut column!
Best Car takes the best Japanese autos and pits them against their German counterparts in a battle of performance and style. 特 集
BESTWHIZBANGS: LIFESTYLE
SUPER CARLIFE, VOLUME 2
Koji “Prince” Aoyama assesses the powerful Chevrolet Corvette ZR1! 87
ガ ジ ェ ッ ト：ラ イ フ ス タ イ ル
ギ フト
BESTGIFTS 112
FREEBIES R US
You Like, we give, you take.
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BEST SCOOP
The The
Race isis On Best Car found out that Honda will come out strong in 2011~2012.
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スク ープ Honda’s TS-1X was exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and its sharp design was modelled on CR-Z’s.
In
Honda President Takanobu Ito’s company New Year address, he revealed the automaker’s twin strategies for the year: the revival of its sports models, and the development of its hybrid technologies. He acknowledged the ballooning trend of environment-friendly vehicles in the recent years, and he hinted at the steadily growing importance of enjoyable driving. He expressed his hope that 2011 would be the year when Honda satisfies enthusiasts’ expectations for a revolutionary—and fun—car. Honda fans were excited when the news of an NSX successor came out last year. New information reveals that it will have a 3.5 ℓ V6 hybrid engine and a plug-in battery. What is more, it will be the face of Honda’s next generation of hybrids, which aim for greater fuel efficiency. This new lineup is set to rival the impressive fuel consumptions of Toyota’s hybrids. But for now, these are speculations. Honda promised to release concrete information within the year. Suffice to say that the automaker has many more exciting secrets to reveal, and Best Car takes you behind the scenes see what tricks it has up its sleeve.
The naturally-aspirated (NA) variants of CR-Z and Beat are classified as lightweight sports models.
Civic Si Concept Honda’s new Civic Coupe—launching as “Si” in the North American market—and a 4-door variant debuted at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show. It is a shame that it will no longer be retailed in Japan.
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BEST SCOOP
Compared to Super GT machine, the front grille image has totally changed—the market model has a large radiator and a good-looking airintake grille.
NSX V10
T
here is no doubt that the NSX V10 is still in the pipeline. It should have been launched in 2010 but for the Lehman Brothers’ shenanigans and the suspension of the development, which was announced on 17 December 2008. Prior notice to those involved in the development was made only one day earlier, which shows how abrupt the suspension was. It was a pity as development was coming along smoothly and got to a point where an impressive CG was produced. According to it, the large opening of the radiator grille allowed for a raised front-fender, and the side panel is quite fetching. We would even go as far as to
REBORN When Honda’s president Takeshi Ito promised “A car that symbolises the future”, we recalled the defunct NSX and got to speculating.
The engine will be a 5ℓ 90-degree V10, capable of churning out 550hp/56.0kgm. According to eyewitnesses at Nürburgring, it is even faster than Nissan’s GT-R!
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スク ープ say that it has better styling compared to LFA. We were also told that the V10 was to be a 4WD which utlises SH-AWD, which is specially tuned as a drive system for sports cars. As a result, the front bonnet is slightly higher. The body size is 4500mm (overall length) x 1900mm (overall width) x 1200mm (overall height), which is quite similar to LFA (overall length: 4505mm. Overall width: 1895mm. Overall height: 1220mm.) That said, the focus is on the engine, 5ℓ V10 which is installed at a bank of 90 degrees. The V10 harnesses a 4-wheel multi-link suspension The bore and stroke will be 90mm
x 80mm, which is considered a short stroke type, but it delivers maximum power of 550hp and 110hp. Five months before suspension of development was announced, the V10 underwent tests at the Nürburgring, and clocked a speed faster than GT-R! And now, there is a surge of interest in the car slated to be the successor of NSX. We certainly think so. According to Honda’s president Takashi Ito’s announcement, it will be working on the successor, and it will be, ““More than a sports car, we are making something that will symbolise the future.”
What exactly does President Ito mean by “A car that symbolises the future”? He was personally involved in the employment of an alloy body for NSX, so we know his expectations are high. However, according to our sources, Honda will very soon announce that the cars in their stable will all feature hybrid systems; smaller cars will have IMA and the rest will have a 2-motor hybrid. The 2-motor hybrid is a Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) that can be charged using ordinary household 100V power supply, combined with Atkinson Cycle 2ℓ iVTEC engine, installed since 20 December last year. Testing is underway in Saitama Prefecture.
It has been 2 years since President Ito made the announcement on production suspension of NSX. Best Car has managed to obtain part of the last specifications, and would like to re-ignite talks about NSX V10, and focus on the new model. Inspire Plug-in Hybrid** Inline-4 cylinder, 2ℓ Atkinson Cycle i-VTEC engine 2-motor system (drive & reproduce, power generation) 6kWh Lithium battery by Blue Energy Transmission: ECVT Motor max power: 25km (JC08-Mode) Inspire PHV that has started verification tests, and scheduled to be launched in 2012. ** Specifications of available models may vary. For more information, please contact the relevant dealerships.
EV Max speed: 100km/h Electrical charge time: 100V-less than 4 hrs; 200V-less than 1.5hrs
BEST EVENTS イベ ント
JAPANESE STARS STEAL THE SHOW AT THE DETROIT AND GUANGZHOU MOTOR SHOWS… Best Car parts the curtains for a look behind the scenes.
Wish-class Hybrid If “
“
FT-CH’s fuel tank is the same size as Wish’s (42ℓ), one can drive from Tokyo to Kagoshima, at the southern tip of Kyushu Island, without re-fueling, and with some fuel to spare. Taking Prius as an example, which actual fuel consumption is 70 percent, we are looking at an impressive 30.0km/ℓ. After 1200km from Tokyo, it will be at the edge of Fukuoka. Such a dream car will debut within this year. FT-CH, which was first announced at the Detroit Motor Show last year, is almost ready to premiere as a retail model. It is a Wish-class hybrid—truly a dream car. It is not actually Wish per se—the car’s name
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and design are different. In Europe, it will be launched as Yaris (European moniker for Wish) Hybrid. In Japan, it is still anyone’s guess if it will appear as a special hybrid model distinct from Wish. Well, Toyota’s strategy is—as kids say nowadays— “complicated.” The hybrid system installed is Prius’ 1.5ℓ engine and motor. As body sizes go, it should have a smaller capacity engine installed, but Toyota does not want to take any chances—only tried and tested technology will be utilised. The hybrid system will not be used in its current form though. In order to make it lighter and more fuelefficient, it will be an improved compact system with customised tuning.
As a result, production costs have also been reduced, which means that consumers can look forward to lower prices! It may even be cheaper than Fit Hybrid base grade’s ¥1.6 million* with superior fuel-consumption figures to boot! And despite being a compact, it sits four adults comfortably, and far as performance goes, nobody will flinch if it is referred to as a fast car. Internal documents even revealed that it constantly clocks rates above 30.0km/ℓ: this will be a serious blow to rivals. When this car hits the market—in October for Japan—we fully expect the fuel-consumption levels of the current compact class to become history.
Expected Specifications of Toyota Compact Hybrid** Overall length
3800mm
Overall width
1690mm
Overall height
1500mm
Wheel base
2500mm
Engine
INZ-FXE inline-4 DOHC+ Motor
Total displacement 1496cc Maximum power
76hp/5000rpm (Motor 68hp)
Maximum torque
11.7kgm/4000rpm (Motor 40.8kgm)
Price*
¥1.5~1.7 million
* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships. ** Specifications of available models may vary. For more information, please contact the relevant dealerships.
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BEST REPORT – O! レ ポ ー ト
Presenting Best Car’s
2011 Best Car peers into its crystal ball and predicts the highs and lows of Japanese cars in 2011.
L
ast year, Japanese automakers enjoyed higher sales of compacts and hybrids thanks to a series of ECO-tax rebates and subsidies instituted by the Japanese government. However, this increase stagnated in October. Come 2011, and automakers are pulling all the stops to develop improved versions of
Super Scoop Special
their models to boost sales. Best Car has compiled a list of Japanese cars that have undergone improvements from 2008 to 2010. The list is further subdivided into model types: sport, ECO, minivans, SUVs, compacts, sedans, station wagons, and light vehicles. That way, it is easier to see the trend in the enhancements to each
classification. Though automakers will be taking a break from complete makeovers in 2011, they more than compensate with the amount of feature additions, minor changes, and new models. With a staggering 40 models to choose from, this year looks like an exciting one for petrol heads.
PREDICTION 1: COMPACT SPORTS MODELS WILL APPEAR IN LATE 2011.
The development of sports models has not been prolific: the last fully customised model was Nissan Fairlady Z back in 2008. But 2011 is expected to be a good year for sports models, specifically those of up to 2ℓ capacities. Among these is Toyota’s FR Sport FT-86, which debuted at the 2010 Tokyo Motor Show in prototype form. Its commercial variant is to be mass-produced by 2012 and will belong to the compact sports category. Nissan refuses to be upstaged, and will release its 1.2ℓ March with improved power and higher fuel efficiency. The automaker’s Tiida Turbo, equipped with a compact version of Juke’s 1.6ℓ turbo engine, will also launch this year. Finally, Subaru Impreza will be released in both regular and sport variants, and will retain its conventional 4WD layout.
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FT-86 will officially launch in late 2011, and will retail in May or June 2012.
Like Juke GT, the new Tiida Latio will sport a 1.6ℓ direct injection engine. It will retail in 2012.
PREDICTION 2:
Wish Hybrid is reasonably priced at ¥1.6 million*.
THE ECO SEGMENT WILL DOMINATE THE JAPANESE AUTO MARKET.
The present year is likely to witness a surge in the popularity of ECO cars, a classification that includes hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs), and models running on clean diesel engines. The concern here is not so much on design than on environment-friendly technology. Noteworthy inclusions are the Nissan Demio compact, Subaru Impreza hatchback, and Mazda CX-5 SUV. Of the three classifications under the ECO segment, we expect hybrids to be the main event. For instance, though Nissan has not released a hybrid since it launched Tino, it may develop a hybrid with the FF layout. Honda will install hybrid systems in Freed and Freed Spike, and will launch a 1.5ℓ Insight with luxury specifications. Also, the 2011 Feed will feature an enhanced braking system, which includes the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and brake assist (BA). Finally, the automaker is in the midst of finalising the development of its Fit-class EV. Meanwhile, Toyota will release the Alpha variant of its popular Prius, which will sport three rows of seats and will likely sell fast.
Freed and Freed Spike are popular hybrid models.
The practicality and spaciousness of the Fitbased hybrid wagon will surely contribute to its popularity.
The similarly renowned Camry, Oris, and RAV4 will also receive hybrid systems. But the automaker’s most anticipated offering is its Wish-class hybrid, a compact that will debut in October. Its fuel efficiency is targeted at 44km/ℓ, and its expected price is ¥1.5 million*. Small wonder it is likely to become the hybrid of the next generation, or at least be a contender for the title of Car-of-the-Year. Toyota’s first commercial plug-in hybrid
The hybrid Corolla will be equipped with a 1.5ℓ engine and an electric motor.
(PHV), Prius PHV, will finally retail in November this year. Its expected fuel efficiency ranges from 50~60km/ℓ, and its predicted price ranges from ¥2.7~3 million*. The future of hybrids—and the ECO segment—surely looks bright. (Models with clean diesel engines are also expected to make a splash, particularly Subaru’s Legacy and Mitsubishi’s iMiEV, whose price was cut by ¥510,000*.)
PREDICTION 3: MINIVANS AND SUVS WILL BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY.
Toyota Alphard Hybrid will overtake its competitor, Nissan Elgrand.
Mazda CX-5 impresses with its SKYACTIV engine.
The highly anticipated Prius α (Alpha) will launch in April 2011 and will seat seven passengers.
* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships.
The integration of minivans and SUVs into the ECO segment appears even more pronounced in our list—the minivan column is empty, while there are only two models classified as SUVs. This indicates a steady move toward the emergence of more fuel-efficient passenger vehicles. Minivans that can now be classified as belonging to the ECO segment include Nissan Serena, Toyota Alphard, Vellfire, and Prius Alpha, and Honda Fit Break and Freed Hybrid. In fact, Toyota’s Estima Hybrid is expected to launch in 2012. On the SUV side, Mazda CX-5 falls under the category of super-ECO SUV, and closely resembles its brother, CR-V.
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スーパー
VOL.2
CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1 84
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Carlife Koji “Prince” Aoyama assesses the powerful Chevrolet Corvette ZR1!
The long-nose and short deck reflects a classical style, but it looks smart. It is 70mm wider than a normal Corvette—appealing stuff.
I
bought a Corvette when I got my driver’s license at 18. As far as style goes, it has not changed much. The ZR1, however, has ducts here and there, and the carbon parts are not too obvious. This results in a much smarter and better “feel”. Aoyama tried the current sixth generation Corvette once, when his brother bought it. “It was a straight-line only car”. According to the Aoyama brothers, this ZR1 is different from a run-of-the-mill Corvette, and at ¥14.9 million* aficionados should give it a shot. “This one is good! It has a supercharger, and can generate 647hp. That is more than enough. Once you press the pedal, the sound will change, but the feeling is great. Sound is important, and the feeling is good. That is the sound I like,” said Aoyama. “The transmission connection is also superb, the shift feeling too—it is easy to control.” “They managed to limit the height of ZR1’s engine, allowing them to install a traditional OHV. But the added supercharger makes it generate 647hp/83.5kgm, and that is more than enough.The handling is good, although we mainly tested it on city roads. Previous Corvette models tended to feel lost when it rained, but this ZR1 remains solidly
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1 1 The 6.2ℓ V8 OHV engine is assembled part by part by GM Performance Centre. 2 The front rips, side steps and other aero-parts are made of carbon. The roof is lined with carbon too, and efforts had been made to improve its power performance. 3 Optional chrome wheels (¥262,500*) can be installed. The tyre size: front 285/30ZR19, rear 335/25ZR20. The brake disc is also made of carbon. 4 Part of the hood is transparent to showcase the powerful engine beneath.
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* Prices are only indicative of the Japanese automotive market. For local pricing, please contact the relevant dealerships.
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BEST WHIZBANGS > LIFESTYLE ガ ジ ェット：ラ イ フ ス タ イ ル
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
TEXT • MARIEL WONG
Within the bellies of our mobile gadgetries lie the foundations of its existence- the OS, aka Operating System that defines one’s user experience. Whether it be Google’s Android 2.3, Windows Mobile 7, Apple’s 4 iOS, RIM’s Blackberry 6, or Nokia’s Symbian^3; one question remains clear. What can each platform offer to oust out the competition?
Windows Mobile 7 OS The latest Windows Mobile 7 OS features a fluid “Metro” interface, push notification services and a wellcrafted tile-like UI. Both local and online content can be directly uploaded through this “hub” for quick networking functionalities and allows for multiplayer gaming through its integrated Xbox Live app. On the flip side, the lack of true multi-tasking capabilities and the inability to directly port 6.x apps had us scratching our heads. Next?
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Sweet-to othed— With saccha rine-lac ed nam sakes su ech as É clairs a Gingerb nd reads, th is Drone was wo rth a se cond lo ok…
Google’s Android OS
Nokia Symbian^3 OS Nokia has always proven its strength in versatility from its formative user-interface to multi-touch interactivity. Yet, the arrival of the Symbian^3 OS, a multi-application user-interface system, left much to be desired. Reliable, yes; but in terms of design, Symbian’s UI looks outdated where when compared with other platforms, lacks a refined sense of interactivity. Still, built with an open source code, the Symbian ^3 remains an App developers dream.
Highly intuitive, the Android OS (2.3 Gingerbread) runs on an open source system and offers highlycustomisable tasking. Features such as weather feeds, live RSS and icons can all be preset according to its user’s preferences. Yet, this might risk exposure to hackers and render securitylocks ineffective; otherwise, its user-friendliness makes this Android shine amongst its competitors.
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SUZUKI KISASHI • CHAMPION MOTORS PTE LTD PHOTOGRAPHY • KENNETH CHOO PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSITANT • KOH ZHI YONG FASHION STYLIST • KOVIT ANG STYLIST’S ASSISTANT • JUN HONG HAIR & MAKE UP • DANELLE LOH
Kwizyne Rapper
PRINTED TEE • EVISU DENIM • G-STAR RAW MID–HIGH SNEAKERS • PUMA
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Monkey King Rapper ZIPPER JACKET • PUMA BY HUSSEIN CHALAYAN DENIM • G-STAR RAW FEIYUE SNEAKERS • LEFTFOOT
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Juke Mouse Pad Up for grabs: 5!