TOP 5 JUNIOR HOT HATCHES YOU CAN BUY BRAND NEW IN MALAYSIA (2015)

Welcome back! This is the first posting after the 2015 Id Fitr celebrations in Malaysia. I'm technically still on vacation but I think it has been a while since we had a 100%  Motoring-Malaysia posting instead of just the news. Well, I suppose there was that 'Spotted For Sale' Alfa 4C, but of course, the more the better. So now's the time for us to state THE BEST JUNIOR HOT HATCH IN MALAYSIA that you can buy right now (July 2015 that is). According to Yours Truly here of course. This is because I have driven them all nd I do believe that it is my duty to tell you guys about it.

Number #5 - Volkswagen Polo GTI

The 2012 Suzuki Swift Sport Is Finally Revealed

Suzuki has finally revealed the new Suzuki Swift Sport. Based on the recently launched new Swift launched early this year it should be equipped with the same 50mm longer wheelbase and lots more size and space. And we in Malaysia haven't even received the new bread and butter Swift to date. The reason we are not getting a new Swift when Singapore has already got the latest Swift models is that we assemble out Swifts locally. I suppose CKD packs of the current Swift have not run out to make it economically feasible for them to bring in the latest model. Boo Hoo to Suzuki Malaysia.

Anyway, aside from the small rant above the new Swift Sport should be going on sale sometime next year. If it is brought here we should get the 5 door version instead of the one pictured above which is certainly a Euro only variant as even the Japanese got the 5 door version of the previous Swift Sport.

It will get a revised 1.6liter DOHC engine that'll put out 134hp instead of 125hp. It also gets 160Nm instead of 148Nm torque. I suppose this is to offset the slight gain in size (and bulk) of the new car. It also gets a 6 speed gearbox  and 17 inch alloys too. I suppose the alloy wheel upgrade is necessary considering the car is slightly larger now.

Whatever the case is I hope that it'll handle like the earlier car, which was bloody good (aside from having a slightly tallish sitting position which is actually typical in all modern superminis). I rate that car as one of the best affordable drives around. You can click here to go to read about what I thought of the soon to be replaced Suzy Swift Sport.

Suzuki Swift S-Concept showcases the upcoming Swift Sport

The car above is the Suzuki Swift S Concept which was recently shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. This is how the upcoming Suzuki Swift Sport will look like. As some of you readers know, the Swift Sport is my favourite affordable supermini. I totally adore this little car because of its agility, handling and its honest to goodness nature. Not to mention if you love trail braking into a corner this is the car for you. The tail swings round to 'meet' you where you want it to.

 In the article I stated that if it ain't broke, why fix it. This sums up what Suzuki has done to the Swift. A little stretch, a little pull, a little nip here and some added girth there but it still looks pretty much like the earlier car.

Click here to read more about the S Concept

Driven: Automotive Bliss and the 2008 Suzuki Swift Sport

Automotive bliss can mean a lot of things. One of it could be waking up early on a Sunday morning, taking that sports car of yours for a drive to nowhere and feeling great about yourself. It can also mean the satisfaction of fixing something small yet the pleasure, or pain, derived from it is immense. Bliss is a nice word to describe a feeling that someone who feels naively feels satisfied or truly happy when the actual situation isn’t so impressive.

Imagine this, your sister in law’s Proton Wira decides to not start when your wife, kid and sister in law decide to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You being all dressed up in your sports Rolex, Italian loafers, nice Audi T shirt and blue jeans ready to hop into your Subaru Impreza decide to help change the battery under the sweltering sun. It’s an automotive moment there folks, getting his hands dirty fixing a run of the mill Proton and enjoying that moment of pain and suffering yet accomplishing something. The car started, everyone was happy and could go wherever they wanted to.