The City Never Sleeps

For some , the best car is one that can take you from point A to point B reliably while being as economical as possible . For others, it's a practical car, on that is able to make manoeuvring and navigation a breeze so that you can concentrate on driving. We ask, is it too much to ask for both?

The Honda City E-promises to be the best all rounder as it combines ingenious technology bursting out of its seams with sleek and composed body contours. Powering the City E- is a 1.5L i-VTEC 117bhp engine which is not only fuel efficient, but thanks to Honda's performance-oriented VTEC technology, you can rest assured that the City's heart won't skip a beat.

As a means to reduce unnecessary shifting , the transmission has been equipped with a Shift Hold Control that makes sure that you have a smooth, relaxing  and efffortless drive despite sudden elevation changes.VSC or Vehicle Stability Assist will ensure that regardless of what obstacles mother nature may throw at you,you will be able to power out of any hair-raising situation and yet remain planted on the road and pointing in the right direction despite conventional wisdom saying  that it shouldn't.

A well engineered chassis and crumple zones have enabled the Honda City to achieve a 5-star rating in the ASEAN NCAP crash test, making if one of the safest cars in its segment. In a crash the front passenger and driver airbags deploy, inflating and deflating in a matter of milliseconds to cushion the occupants from the impact of a crash. Harmful UV rays and scorching afternoon heat are no sweat as solar tinted glass keeps the cabin nice and cool. It also doubles as a security measure as the tint film prevents the glass from shattering in an event of a crash or break-in.

What makes the City E+ a very practical urban cruiser is the addition of the built-in touchscreen navigation system and rear view camera. Turn-by-turn voice navigation ensures that you're always on the right road to your destination. The reverse camera will make parallel parking a pleasant affair as the guided sound and visual markers ensure that you get it right every time.

Besides comfortable black leather seats, Honda is also offering an accessories package worth RM500. With the package you get a rear spoiler, door visor , carpet mats, scuff plate and trunk tray.With all these attributes and features, the Honda City E+ is the best all rounder for your money. You can buy a car but why would you settle for less when you can have the best?

Subaru BRZ Breaks Cover In Malaysia

Over a year after the GT86 launch in Malaysia-finally its brother from another mother,the Subaru BRZ takes its stage in the malaysian market. As much as they are diffierentiated between the two-they are both on the basis, similar.In conjunction with the Super GT 2013 in Sepang, Motor Image Sdn Bhd- the dealer of Subaru cars in Malaysia launched the Subaru BRZ as an addition to their model line-up.

From a personal point of view, l always believe that the Subaru badge carries more presence than the 86. The name is derived from a royal bloodline of the legendary AE86, giving it a tough time to live up to its ancestor.With similar looks, similar engine and similar driving set-up...the Subaru BRZ is a fresher face in the automotive world.

The acronym BRZ stands for Boxer engine ,Rear-Wheel drive, Zenith, which embodies Subaru's passion and determination to design and develop an ultimate sports car that features their core technology, the Boxer engine.

The development of this car is a joint project between Subaru and Toyota Motor Corporation,centering the concept of "pure handling delight". It was specifically designed as a fun sports car that focuses on driving pleasure. The chassis was built with high- tensile steel to reduce weight, but at the same time endeavouring a more solid and precise constuction.

The BRZ is powered by a 2.0-litre Boxer engine, with 200ps and 205nm of torque at its disposal.In this day and age, that may not sound like much, but the car only weighs a featherlight 1.2 tonnes ( 1278kgs*). Due to its light construction, the Zerotohundred time is dealt in 7.6 seconds and all the way to a top speed of 143mph (231kmh).

At the same time, it features an advanced 'Vehicle Stability Control' system,which monitors the braking,steering and  cornering input to help the driver push the BRZ to it's limits, but not letting it get messy. Other creature comforts include keyless access with push start button,dual zone automatic air-conditioning and paddle shifters. Rest assured, due to its rarity, it'll quite easily turn heads on the streets.

The new Subaru BRZ is now available for booking- with prices starting at RM239,800. Seemingly a little steep, but we reckon for a whole load of rear-wheel drive fun,it'll open hearts easily.

Mac and Merc Boosted

POWER INCREASES ANNOUNCED FOR MP4-12C AND SLS

McLaren and Mercedes have both announced upgrades for their junior supercars, including power increases.

The 2013-spec MP4-12C sees its output boosted by 24bhp to 616bhp, with existing cars getting the same upgrade as a sofware update. Together with some gearbox tweaks, it's enough to trim 0.1sec from the official 0-12mph time - which falls to 8.8sec. Well, every little helps. Other tweaks include more engine noise in the cabin and proper release buttons for the upward-hinging doors in place of the previous touch sensors, which often failed to work. Another useful option is a vehicle lift function to help clear speed-bumps. The basic price rises from £168,500 to £176,000.

Meanwhile, Mercedes has revealed a 'GT' pack for the SLS coupe, with power increased by 20bhp(rising to 583bhp) and with the gearbox reprogrammed to deliver faster shifts. Together they're said to cut the 0-62mph time by a tenth of a second, dropping it to 3.7sec. The GT also gets revised suspension, which offers only the firmer 'Sport' and 'Sport Plus' settings and scraps the 'Comfort' mode of the standard SLS. Prices haven't been announced yet but the GT will be certain to carry a supplement over the standard SLS coupe.

Nissan 370Z Nismo

The 370Z NISMO is not ,as Nissan would have you believe, an entirely new addition to Nismo's portfolio.It has existed in the US since the regular 370Z was introduced in 2009, in coupe and manual-only specification. As with the standard manuals, the Nismo features rev-shift, the heel-and-toe-aping system that helps to smooth the Z's downshifts; because of the rather weighty springing of the gearshift it self, it's not too difficult to look clumsy.

That has always been part of the 370Z's appeal, though: feeling rather old-school and demanding in an all-too-easy new-school world.Nismo's target customers may come from gaming , but the Z is no uninvolving, digital experience.lts small 16bhp boost over the standard 370Z comes courtesy of cheat codes in the ECU, though, the only physical change being a freer-breathing exhaust. Those two pipes get a 10mm increase in diameter but still aren't intense enough to drown out the noisy V6.

The interior gets a sizeable shot of kit, with sat-nav and a reversing camera included in the no-options Nismo.Its status as the sporting flagship is highlighted inside in red, with Nismo badges, and leather and Alcantara are liberally smattered around the tough interior.There's a numbered plaque, too.

Outside, that red highlighting theme continues.The Nismo wears a body kit that aids high-speed stability by smoothing airflow around and underneath its body.lt is difficult to miss, adding a big boot-mounted spoiler and some width to cover those wider rear wheels ( the rears are half an inch wider) , while a protruding front splitter and rear diffuser add 150mm to the Nismo's length.

It's what's underneath that matters,though, and Nismo has added five body struts to increase rigidity.Suspention changes to the US model have been developed by Nismo's Japanese engineers with input from the Nissan Technical Centre Europe. The spring rates have risen by 14 per cent at the front , and damper rates are 23 per cent stiffer at the front and 41 per cent at thew rear. Despite the greater focus,it's not overly troubled by poor surfaces, and its composure and control impress.

The drivetrain reamains diminant.The small increase in power barely makes any difference in reality.It feels slightly more eager at highter revs, but the engine's ever-present sound and vibrations are much the same as you'll find in non-Nismo versions.So, too,is the Z's ability to oversteer, which it will do on demand . The steering feels slightly quicker, but the brakes get the biggest boost, with a confidence-inspiring shorter pedal movement and brake fluid and hoses borrowed from the GT-R.

The Nismo offers a faster, more composed 370Z drive. However, £26,995 and provides much the same thrills, if a lot less equipment.Price-wise, the Nismo is getting into Cayman territory, and although the Porsche is outgunned on performance and kit, the Nissan is outpointed on the road.

• Price:  £36,995
• 0-100km/h: 5.2sec
• Top speed: 250km/h
• Economy: 9.4km/L (combined,est)
• Co2: 248g/km (est)
• Kerb Weight: 1535kg
• Engine: V6,3696cc,petrol
• Installation: Front,longitudinal,RWD
• Power: 339bhp at 7400rpm
• Torque: 373Nm at 5200rpm
• Gearbox: 6-spd manual
• Fuel Tank: 72litres
• Boot: 235litres
• Wheels: 9.5Jx19in (f),10.5Jx19in (r)
• Types: 245/40 R19(f),285/35 R19 (r)