Is there Nuzing like a Naza?
By John Weinthal
in Malaysia
I’ve been driving a car from a maker I’ll warrant 90 percent
of readers have never heard of. And not just driving, but
rather admiring.
It has been assembled in neighbouring Malaysia since last
April by another company you have possibly never heard of.
It is the Naza Sutera, from the Naza Corporation.
The 1.1 litre 65 bhp twin cam powered five door hatch was
styled by Pininfarina. Naza added some touches which work
rather well. The original was called the Hafei Lobo from
China.
Naza
Sutera
It’s no Lambo, not even a Corolla Altis, but in a country
where an auto only Altis 1.6 costs the equivalent of 954,000
baht, this new baby’s ask of 344,000 baht is very tempting,
especially considering its high equipment level.
The three cylinder 660cc Perodua Kancil – the Daihatsu Mira
as was - has been around since 1994 and now costs 234,000
baht in Peninsula Malaysia. However, do not think Kancil
when considering Sutera. It is larger, better equipped and
less expensive than Proton’s would-be-alternative Savvy. It
lies in size between the Perodua Kelissa and Malaysia’s
top-selling car of the past 12 months, the Perodua Myvi.
Naza Group began importing used and reconditioned cars in
1976. Today it assembles a wide range of Korean Kia models,
Mercedes Benz cars, the Sutera and the Peugeot 206, renamed
Naza Bestari but otherwise unchanged.
It became an official auto-assembler, under Malaysia’s
highly political (and advantageous to some) definitions, on
launching the Kia Spectra in 2001.
The group also represents fully imported (CBU) Mercedes, Kia
and Peugeot models plus Bentley, Ferrari and Maserati.
Should you miss the Bangkok Motor Show in March/April head
over to KL to see some 600-plus of the world’s grandest
marques and models under one roof - the incredible Naza
World!
Now, back to the Sutera. Naza struck a deal with the Chinese
whereby Naza has exclusive manufacturing and distribution
rights to all right hand drive territories. The first
shipment comprising 50 Naza Sutera and Bestari units left
Malaysia for Nepal on January 26. Naza Corp CEO SM Nasarudin
SM Nasimuddin said the next shipments would be to Bangladesh
next month with Pakistan, Mauritius, Madagascar and South
Africa next in his sights.
Thailand is also a target should the ongoing political
disputation between Malaysia and Thailand over vehicle
imports and exports be sorted.
Naza is also in talks with an unidentified Indian state on
its plans announced last April to open a manufacturing plant
in that country.
The company is completing another new plant at Bertam in
Malaysia and has plans to launch more new - so far
unidentified - models. Nasarudin said Naza intends to export
60 per cent of its output within four years. This year’s
figure will be about 5,000 he said.
OK, so what’s this Sutera like? In brief it represents
probably the best value wheels in Malaysia, for now and at
least until the new Kancil and Kelissa landings expected
during 2007.
It is economical, equipped beyond reasonable expectation,
efficient and a very easy drive. Of course it is no
tearaway, nor perhaps does it achieve Toyota, or even
Hyundai, quality levels. Yet!
Remember just 40 years ago a Corolla was a joke. Fifteen
years ago friends looked askance if you even considered a
Hyundai Excel. At worst, I would say we are talking Hyundai
of maybe seven years or so back - at worst.
That assessment comes after a week and some 500 km in a base
GS model which never put a wheel wrong or made any off-note
noises or rattles. Of course, as ever, we will have to await
proof of long term reliability and build quality, but the
omens are fine.
The overall theme of the car seems to be triangles. Funky
triangular signal lamps at the base of the A-pillar, the
door handle indents and rear brake lights.
Lasting memories include a bright spacious-looking interior,
fine output quality from a four speaker/two tweeter sound
system with MP3 compatible CD player and more than adequate
storage spaces - but, above all, was the Sutera’s amazing
ability to utilize the powerplant’s 88 Nm of torque which is
available between 2500-3000 rpm.
Naza
Sutera is no Lamborghini
Allied to spot-on gear ratios this car is fine in the
confines of a condo car park, the city crawl and within the
natural limits of 65 bhp, even cruising at up to around 110
kph. Gearchanging in all these situations is remarkably less
than is the norm with such small cars. Indeed another 10-20
kph is there if you must. I’d suggest you don’t.
Another pleasant surprise was the almost total absence of
wind roar or drumming even with the power front windows
open.
Remote central locking, five height-adjustable head
restraints, child-proof rear door locks, heated rear window
with wiper, split-fold rear seats and even the clear red-lit
instrument lighting and excellent front mounted map reading
lamp all add to the Sutera’s overall appeal.
A real positive in Malaysia, where safety seems to have
about as much sales appeal as in Thailand, the fitment of
two airbags in both GS and GSi models will be a big plus for
the educated few. ‘Tis a pity there is no ABS, but for
normal use the brakes are more than OK.
The power steering is light but not very communicative, the
gearchange is woolly and the car can feel somewhat floaty on
open freeways above around 90kph.
So that’s it. Nothing exotic, little excitement but a jolly
easy drive and thoroughly ownable first (or last) car.
I will await the new Kelissa before deciding, but there’s
every chance a Sutera could land in our condo parking space
in the next few months.
Kimi a car breaker?
In the ‘off season’ there are always all
sorts of rumors flying around the world’s media. Take the
one about car-breaker Kimi. “‘Ferrari will need a tank for
Kimi” was reported in the German publication Bild.
Raikkonen
smiling at Ferrari
“Former Mercedes engine expert Mario Illien has taken a
swipe at Kimi Raikkonen, blaming the Finn’s driving style
for his many retirements during his time with McLaren.
“According to Illien, Raikkonen is so hard on his cars that
his new team, Ferrari, will have to build a tank if they
hope to see the Finn finish Grands Prix.
“Ferrari must build Kimi a ‘Panzer’ (a German tank), if they
want the title with him,” the Swiss told the Bild newspaper.
“No other driver goes so hard on the equipment, no one bangs
it so hard lap after lap into the kerb.”
However, a few days later, the same F1 source reported,
“Illien denies Kimi ‘tank’ comments.”
“Sports Bild quoted Mario Illien as saying Kimi Raikkonen
would need a Ferrari to build a ‘tank’ for the Finn to
become World Champion, but Illien has since denied making
these claims.
“The Swiss engineer worked with Raikkonen as his Ilmor
engine company produced engines for McLaren Mercedes-Benz.
“In an interview with autosport.com, Illien denied the
veracity of these reports. I haven’t spoken to anybody in
the last few months about Formula One and gave no
interviews. He always gave the maximum in the car and he was
a guy who you know would take things to the limit. I see
that as a good thing.”
So what do you believe? Anything you like. This is a
typical; ‘beat-up’ item, used to fill the pages. Like I just
have!
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I mentioned that Clyde Cassady in the US built a
very special pick-up. I asked what was it? It was a
Rolls-Royce!
So to this week. What did a Chrysler Town and Country, and
an MGTC have in common? Hint, think bodywork.
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
Natter Nosh and Noggin
The monthly car enthusiasts meeting will
be at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park
development. The car (and bike) enthusiasts meet on the
second Monday of the month, so this time it is Monday
(February 12) at Jameson’s at 7 p.m. This is a totally
informal meeting of like minded souls to discuss their pet
motoring (and motorcycling) loves and hates. Bring along any
magazines, photos of old vehicles, old girlfriends or the
latest Lamborghini Murcielago for us all to drive.
The ‘Hatchet Man’
approach to profitability
Autonews in the US reports that Ford is
considering paying bonuses to managers for 2006, despite
record losses and massive job cuts, a step expected to be
opposed by Ford’s unionized factory workers.
Ford reported a record loss of $US 12.7 billion for 2006
(yes, you read that right, twelve point seven billion),
during which its US sales fell eight percent and it
announced plans to close 16 plants and cut over 40,000 jobs
in a bid to restore profitability to its North American
operations by 2009.
From the UAW (United Auto Workers) union’s point of view,
paying a bonus to managers who have overseen the biggest
loss in the entire history of Ford, this is a real smack in
the mouth with a cold trout.
David Gregory, a labor relations expert at St John’s
University School of Law, said Ford could raise tensions
with the UAW if it opted to pay management bonuses for 2006.
“It would be like paying a bonus to the captain of the
Titanic and saying, Just get us past that iceberg,” he said.
Brian Quantz, vice president of UAW Local 900, which
represents workers at Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant, said
bonuses would be “a stupid thing to do. I would say 90
percent of the workers would not like it. Personally, I
think it’s stupid for Ford to be talking about this.”
Ford, like other US automakers, is getting ready to
negotiate a new contract with the United Auto Workers union
this year and is expected to seek major concessions from
hourly workers.
Analysts and union officials said a decision to grant
bonuses to white collar workers could raise the heat in
upcoming contract talks, expected to begin in earnest this
summer.
However, the blue collar workers are not the only ones under
the hatchet man’s eye. Ford is also planning to cut 14,000
white collar workers - almost 40 percent of its non-union
staff - and some analysts question whether the company will
retain enough middle managers it needs to implement the much
vaunted restructuring plan.
New CEO at Ford, Alan Mulally, recruited late last year from
Boeing to head the Ford operation, said the automaker needed
to make sure it was paying competitive wages. “At the end of
the day, everything about our performance going forward is
going to be dependent on having a skilled and motivated
team,” he said.
When standing on his huge salary and wielding a rather large
hatchet, it would seem rather absurd of Mulally to expect
the remaining workers to have much motivation. A factory
floor optimist is one who brings his lunch to work, it would
seem.
