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.

Subaru Forester

Subarural.Now there's an ad tagline we could poke a bit of fun at. But doesn't it just sum up the Subaru Forester perfectly? This has never been an SUV for an urban clientele, and so Subaru dismisses the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 as potential rivals. The Nissan X-Trail and the Land Rover Freelander,though? Now you're talking.

But, up until now, the Forester occupied a curious hinterland, not quite big enough to be a full family SUV, still carrying the connotations of wet sheepdog, manure and bleak hills. This one ,15mm wider,35mm longer and a fraction taller,changes things. Or it might do if it looked better.

But the large glasshouse means that visibility is excellent, and although the cabin design is plain,it's now better organised,although the materials ought to be better when the base model is £24,995. Too much scatchy,brittle,grey stuff in here. Insert a family, and it'll soon look battered, which l suppose is fine, because few cars suit battered better than Subaru. This is not a precious car, but a big , useful, hard-wearing one. Rear-seat space is almost excessive, the 505-litre boot is bountiful but the electric tailgate fitted to top-spec models is a waste of time. Too slow,too out of keeping with the rest of the car.

There are three engine options. lgonore the naturally aspirated flat-four 2.0-litre petrol- you won't give it another thought once you learn there's a brand new 237bhp turbo version with direct injection and 258lb ft. l wish l could tell you it's the one to have, that it tears around like a rabid sheepdog and channels the now defunct lmpreza WRX, but it just doesn't. The engine is charisma-free and the only options is a CVT (CVT!) gearbox. It's OK in manual mode, and has a reasonable turn of speed, but that's about it. lt's not feisty enough to make the most of what is a decent chassis.

So, you'll have the diesel, and that's fine.Sensible.lt promises 49.6mpg and 10.2 secs to 62mph, and that's pretty good. And, as l hinted above, it drives very well. The structure is stiff, rattles are absent and the body control is excellent. Once in a corner, there's a nice edge to the grip as the weight gets settled in the right place and the types hold a line convincingly. lt's unexpectedly enjoyable, but the chief impression you take away is of an honest, if somewhat plain, family SUV. Subareliable. Can't see it catching on.

Subaru Forester (A box with a boxer in it)

SUBARU'S HERITAGE IN Britain is indelibly linked to McRae, Burns and Mica Blue 555-sponsed Imprezas charging through the dank and muddy forest of Wales. But a lack of demand linked to high ownership costs and the unfavourable rate of the Yen means the iconic WRX STi rally replica is no longer sold in the UK. And nor is any other Impreza for that matter.

So with UK sales down 23% in 2012, Subaru is focusing on the ever-growing SUV market - and tasked with leading the transfromation is the fourth-gen Forester. It must appeal to both Subaru's traditional rural audience, and target the swarm of chic that gathers outside suburban schools each weekday.

Will cosmetic-caked mothers be impressed?Probably not. The Subaru name doesn't carry nearly enough cacher, and the styling doesn't have the flair that's made Sportage customers overlook the Kia badge. That, plus the fact the Forester's rather plain cabin is a conglomerate of black plastics of varying degrees of quality, and the sole diesel engine isn't offered with an auto 'box.

It means 50% of sales will be one of the two petrol engines, either a naturally aspirated 148bhp 2.0-litre flat-four, or a 237bhp turbo version of the engine from the BRZ sports car. But before you get too excited, the Forester Turbo (boringly Badged Forester XT) is available only with 'Lineartronic' CVT transmission. And if you don't want the six-speed manual that's standard with the base petrol, then it's CVT for you too.

If you can shift gears yourself then stick with the world's only 'boxer' diesel, which, despite permanent four-wheel drive, returns a good-for -the-class 156kg/km and will easily achieve 40mpg. The downside is some old-school clatter when cold, a powerband narrower than UKIP policy, and sub-Kuga refinement.

But it's a bragain? Afraid not. You can have a diesel Forester X with a five-year warranty for a fiver under £25k, and another two grand gets you the XC with heated front seats, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera, but that's no match for the Koreans.

The Forester is decent to drive though, with light and accurate steering, a nicely mechanical gearshift that apes the BRZ, plus good body control matched to compliant ride. And as with Forester of yore, there's an endearing honesty to it. Forget the stylised sloping rooflines and thick rear pillars of rivals - the Forester's boxy body and upright shape results in an unusually light, airy and spacious interior. This is how 4x4s once were, before we all had 'lifestyles'.

So, at CAR we like the new Forester. Yet, in a market that's grown eightfold since the first Forester back in '97, the trad approach means it's destined to be niche. Farming folk can rest easy.