New Naza 206 Bestari

The 206 has already been on Malaysian roads since 2000 so it is a familiar model although there was curiosity as to whether Naza would make any major changes to the appearance. The good news is that the design, done by Peugeot's own stylists rather than Pininfarina (which has done many models for Peugeot), was so 'perfect' that it was not touched and if you were to remove the Naza badges at the front and rear and on the wheels, you would not be able to tell the difference at all. Naza makes no secret about the origins of the Bestari as a badge on the left side of the rear hatch says 'ENGINEERED BY PEUGEOT'. Only a handful of Malaysians would make an issue of Naza doing what can be described as 'cloning' (although it is actually doing more than just switching badges) while the majority of the buying public will be happy to get a car with competent engineering and design by a leading carmaker… at an affordable price which we have been told is RM68,888. Designing a good car takes a lot of experience and money (Peugeot spent 6.3 billion francs to develop the 206) and if it is possible to use that design, why not use it and give customers a properly-developed product rather than one which spoils their ownership experience? This 206 project is believed to be a one-off project with Peugeot and does not necessarily mean there will be other Peugeot models being 'Naza-fied'. C & C Automobiles, a subsidiary of Cycle & Carriage Bintang, is still the franchise holder and as mentioned by their MD recently, they too are looking at assembly of some models in future. And then there is also talk of Proton having some sort of tie-up with Peugeot... It's been 8 years since the 206 was originally introduced and there is already the 207. However, Peugeot executives stressed that the 207 is not the natural successor to the 206, which is the company's best-selling model. The 206 is still in production in a few countries besides France and is expected to continue as a model in the Peugeot line-up for some time yet. It's interesting that Naza continues to introduce hatchback models when this bodystyle has never been very popular among Malaysian buyers. However, they have done some market studies and see that after the 3-box sedan, 5-door hatchbacks are the second most popular bodystyle, especially among younger buyers who see it as a sporty sort of car. As mentioned earlier, the exterior has not been touched by Naza and from all angles, the Bestari is certainly a good-looking car (in any of the six colours available). The front end is particular is striking with the uniquely-shaped headlamps and the looks have often been described as 'feline'. Though hatchbacks are often 'bulbous' in profile, the Bestari's shape is well proportioned and can even be said to be 'fluid'. A notable feature is its glazed area - among the largest in its class ar 2.96 square metres, of which 1.2 sq. metres alone is the windscreen. The interior is also pretty much the same as the 206 with a European ambience and the sort of efficient packaging that European hatchbacks have long been praised for. The dashboard has French flair to its design with some nice ideas here and there. A recess at the top of the centre area houses the clock which also displays the date (a rare feature); in some versions, this area displays route navigation instructions. The interior designers made full use of the large body to maximise cabin space. Included in the main development focus was the provision of plenty of storage space and in achieving this, some clever ideas have been used. Many recesses have been provided in the glovebox lid for keeping smaller objects such as parking tickets, coins, toll cards, all of which are frequently needed in today's motoring conditions. Unfortunately, the storage area inside the passenger's seat is not offered (it was in earlier versions of the 206) - this was a feature whereby the seat could be lifted up and small items stored under the cushion. Like all hatchbacks, there is versatility in the seating layout to allow either more cargo or more people to be carried. The rear backrests can be folded flat to extend boot length. As with most European cars, the rear seats flip up and forward so that the backrests lie perfectly flat.

BMW 6 series It's back! v8 : 333hp : 2005 Fascinating design, thrilling technical features, athletic top-of-the-range performance – precisely these are the ingredients offering four passengers unlimited driving pleasure with only the sky above: Introducing the new 6 Series Convertible, BMW has created a dream car in both its looks and technical highlights. I test drove this car. It was like silk. Though it felt long, it was quite responside. It feels great and very smooth. The rear seats are TINY, but if you need them in a pinch, you know they're there. Not good for very big people. The 6 Series Coupé, stands out through its sheer presence and elegant lines.