Lexus GS350-250 - Luxurious Comfort with Old School Styling

Lexus has been described by BMW as a real contender for the luxury car segment. That was indeed high praise. With quality and design that rivalled leading European marques, it was not surprising for Lexus to be viewed as such.

Today, Lexus continues to produce high quality luxury cars that are remarkable, such that no one would ever doubt the status of its owner as a high income earner with a taste for high quality, if we see a Lexus like the GS350/250 driving by.

But then, one can't help but ask, "Can't he or she do better?" This is not simply a question of affordability. People who are rich enough to buy a Lexus can buy just about any other luxury make.

It's a question of contemporary design. Compared to other makes/models in its class, the Lexus GS350/250 is a little behind or "old school" - save for the Autobot-looking front bonnet and grills.

Of course, there is really nothing wrong with old-school, unless you put the Lexus GS350/250 side-by-side with, for example, the new Mazda 6.

Then again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Someone who prefers the Lexus GS350/250 would probably think that the new Mazda 6's Shinari Design is a little too funky.

Personally, I prefer the new Mazda 6, but I've always been a Mazda fan. So, I'm a little biased...

Hyundai Elantra - Just Gets Better with Time

When I first saw the concept car for Hyundai's Elantra, I almost regretted buying the Kia Forte. As much as I love my Forte to bits, I must admit, the Elantra looks better.

And the thing is, the more I look at the Elantra, the better it seems to look - like it grows on you.

Also called the Avante, the new Elantra looks good in all colours, and despite its mid-range price bracket, the car looks grand.

Just buy and drive. No need to put in bigger rims or tyres. No need to add more bling.

Just buy and drive - proudly.

Thumbs up to Hyundai for getting things right with the Elantra.

New Kia Forte - Leading by Design

Kia makes good cars, but for the longest time, it lagged behind its competitors because of its "so-so" Korean design approach.

Then, it decided to do something radical. It hired Audi's former Chief Designer to design a new Kia that would take the world by storm.

Out came the Kia Forte, the first ever Kia designed to compete against European marquees in terms of good looks but still carry a price tag of an average Korean car.

The result was instant success worldwide.

2013 is just around the corner. What has Kia done for the Forte? Make it look even better but without detracting from the current Forte, such that Forte owners old and new can still take pride the good looks of their favourite Kia.

Well done, again, Kia. Well done, indeed.

New Malaysian Traffic Laws by Decree of the Stupid

By Decree of the Stupid, the following are new traffic laws in force in Malaysia.

1. Slow drivers are to drive on the fast lane at all cost. While it is not a legal obligation for slow drivers to cause traffic congestion on the fast lane, it is highly encouraged.

2. Slow drivers on the fast lane are to drive even more slowly if there is an accident on the road. This is to allow other drivers to have a good look at the accident, especially if it is on the opposite side of the road. While it is not a legal obligation to cause accidents, slow drivers are encouraged to brake erratically while others are watching a road accident, so as to cause other accidents.

3. Slow drivers are to remain oblivious to fast drivers who need to overtake on the fast lane, especially those fast drivers who "flash" slow drivers using the high-beam.

4. Slow drivers are to leave just enough gap between them and other cars on the middle or slow lane, so as to entice fast drivers to overtake from the left, but slow drivers are to accelerate just then to close the gap, denying fast drivers the ability to actually overtake.

5. Slow drivers are to drive on both the fast and middle/slow lane when a fast driver approaches from behind. This is to give the illusion that the slow driver is about to give way, but without actually doing so. At the same time, by driving on both the fast and middle/slow lanes, the slow driver is to prevent the fast driver from overtaking.

6. Both slow and fast drivers are prohibited from using the indicator lights when switching lanes or turning.

7. Fast drivers are prohibited from overtaking slow drivers, unless they do so from the left. Fast drivers on the fast lane are encouraged to high-beam slow drivers, but must not expect slow drivers to give way.

8. Fast drivers are to weave in and out of traffic, and are prohibited from using indicator lights while doing so. Fast drivers are encouraged to overtake using the emergency lane.

9. Fast drivers are prohibited from following slow drivers in a queue and, must, instead, cut queue at all available points. Use of indicator lights when cutting queue is also prohibited.

10. Fast drivers are prohibited from slowing down when overtaking slow drivers, so as to shock slow drivers when fast drivers zoom pass. This shock is a necessary thrill for slow drivers who cannot drive fast.

Drivers who do not observe these Decrees by the Stupid are to be punished by all stupid drivers on the road, both slow and fast, by any means available.

Nissan Almera - What the Heck's Got Into Nissan?

Nissan makes great cars. They're extremely reliable and trendy, generally speaking.

The Nissan GTR is one of the best super cars around, followed by the 370Z, etc.

Then there's the ever popular Nissan Grand Livina and its derivative, the X-Gear, and the superbly powerful Navara SUT (or sports utility truck).

And then there are Nissan's silly looking cars, which I don't get (or understand). I mean, why? Why have these silly looking cars when they go against Nissan own styling trend that could easily stand up to other leading marques?

Check out the latest addition to Nissan's long line of silly design cars - the new Almera. One look and you know this car is meant to appeal to the Toyota Vios fan, but it doesn't even come close to the Vios' cute appeal.

If, by definition, cute means "ugly in a nice way", then the Almera is extremely ugly with just a dash of nice - not much or rather, it has too little of "nice".

To put it differently, labelling the Almera "cute" would be too generous a description.

It does have its winning points though. The Almera's cabin space is larger than the Vios', albeit the Almera remains a baseline-class or B-class car like the Vios. This means that there's quite a bit more legroom for rear passenger comfort, which one usually finds in compact-class or C-class cars.

The Almera's boot space is also on the larger side, which is good for mega-store grocery shopping and holidaying with the family, albeit the car's practical boot space is not all that bigger than the Vios'.

The engine is pretty standard, but it has been configured, not for power like the Vios, but for best fuel economy, which is reportedly 14.9KM per litre of RON95 fuel. Of course, the downside to this is that the Almera would feel rather sluggish, like the Sentra.

In short, the Almera would probably sell like the silly looking Silphy and Latio. But I seriously doubt that it would win over significant market share from Toyota just because it tries very hard to appeal to Vios-loving car owners.

By the way, the new Almera is actually the latest variant of the Sentra, but it's not called Sentra probably because Nissan Malaysia wants to keep selling the Sentra.

VW Jetta - An Odd Little Magnificent Car

The new VW Jetta is not a compact or C-class car, although it looks almost big enough to be one. It's a people's car that is supposed to compete against the likes of Japanese and Korean sub-compact or B-class (baseline-class) cars of the likes of Toyota Vios and its ilk.

But this makes the Jetta extremely odd, because it is not within the price range of a Vios and performs way better too. Yet, it's not a C-class car.

Priced around RM150,000++ with insurance and road tax, the Jetta comes with a 1.4L dual turbo engine that can churn upwards of 150BHp, but without leather seats. At this price range, it competes directly against E-class cars like the hugely popular Toyota Camry, Mazda 6, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.

So, one can hardly consider the Jetta a B-class car. If anything, it is a sports enthusiast's car because - wowiee! - the Jetta can really fly.

In short, the Jetta is truly an odd little magnificent car.

Mazda SHINARI Concept - New Mazda 6

If you think the new Volvo S60 is beautiful, then check out the Mazda SHINARI Concept car, which is rumoured to be the template for the upcoming new Mazda 6. It's far more beautiful and stylistic.

In anticipation of the launch of the new Mazda 6, Bermaz is clearing stock of the outgoing Mazda 6 with a RM20,000 discount promotion. According to one of the sales persons who has seen the new Mazda 6, the new version has smaller headlights and sleeker looking front (pretty much like the SHINARI Concept).

Price? Don't know yet.

But for those who want to see what the new Mazda 6 could look like, check out the similarities between the SHINARI Concept and the new CX5.