Also The Nissan Teana In 4-pot

I thought I had resigned myself to just judging some cars for a highly notable publication's "Car of the Year (COTY) 2011 Awards" and not writing much reviews about them. Humbly, I do admit my lack of energy in penning a few paragraphs and to followers (if any few left) of my blog, my sincere apologies. Largely due to my clinical plus other domestic commitments et al. Also the Nissan Teana in 4-pot, 2.0-litre form that I sampled more than a few weekends ago didn't seem to excite my senses very much. Imagine my awakening today when I stumbled upon my friend's blog - a hugely popular one - which featured the MMC (minimal model change) - that's facelift to you and me - new Honda Accord. I am not here to criticise the mid-cycle refreshed Honda. After all, I was quite a Honda fan owning the last-generation 2.0 Accord for a brief spell.

Well, let's just say that I am re-energised to share with you my brief flirtation with the latest D-segment offering from Nissan in Malaysia, after reading the post by another esteemed "colleague" on the new Accord. In a nutshell the new Teana is huge, soft-riding, comfy and looks the part of a towkay (big-boss) saloon. BMW 5-series. The way I look at it, it's for fans of Camry's soft plush damping who don't want a Toyota and couldn't stand Accord's harder riding suspension settings. And a Mazda won't cut it because they don't want a brand that makes the world's sole rotary-powered sportscar. Despite its bulk and size, the Teana's brakes are good and reassuring. Its interior looks and feel Infiniti-esque, though I suspect the V6s versions with more cow-leather plastered interiors and some steering control button/switches splattering would make this executive sedan feel decidedly more upmarket. It's so silent on the move that it makes you wonder whether there are low-pressure-near-vacuum-stretches on highway - almost devoid of wind noise - when you are doing, say 160 km/h. So there you have it, another popular D-segment sedan for you to consider in Malaysia, apart from the perennial favourites of Camrys or Accords. Oh by the way, has Honda Malaysia solved the Accords (and likely Civics) brake judder issues due to premature-warping of front rotors? I hope these huge Nissans don't have such quality issues, not when it comes to brakes. Admittedly, the Teana could do better with its instruments detailing though, because this isn't a Sunny, Latio or Sylphy for that matter. The rear end detailing, however - no need to buy Eagle-Eyes brand Taiwan-made aftermarket LED rear lights - is great though. In my strictly personal and humble opinion, the clean-design execution by Nissan here even leaves the new Mercedes-Benz W212 E-class' arse for dead. You can't win (or have) 'em all I suppose.

Daimler now has its own battery manufacturing capacity for state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries at Deutsche Accumotive. These batteries can be produced to conform to any type of hybrid or electric drive system, whether for passenger cars or commercial vehicles. The targeted use of lightweight engineering can help to considerably reduce the fuel consumption of automobiles. Here too, Mercedes engineers are taking a holistic approach and using all available means to make Mercedes-Benz vehicles lighter, and thus even more economical and efficient. The brand is using every opportunity to reduce the weight of all components — from engines and transmissions to the vehicle interiors and electrical systems. Special attention is given to the automobile body, which accounts for most of a vehicle’s weight. Most body shells in the past were made of steel. However, as early as the 1970s Mercedes-Benz became one of the first automakers to use aluminum in a production vehicle — in this case the SL series.

The new SLS AMG is equipped with a fully aluminum body, and thus points the way forward for future model series. Today, however, extensive use of lightweight engineering is not limited to Mercedes sports cars; it is also found in the brand’s sedans. In fact, Mercedes-Benz is now one of the biggest users of aluminum among automakers. At the same time, though, the brand intentionally avoids focusing on one specific material. Instead, it relies on a mixture of high-strength steels, light metals, and plastics. The doors, hood, trunk lid, and fenders of the new CLS are all made of aluminum. This has led to a weight reduction of 24 kilograms just for the doors, which are also frameless. The front end of the CLS consists of an aluminum-plastic material mix. Furthermore, Mercedes engineers are increasingly working with so-called composites — carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, known as FRP for short. Mercedes-Benz demonstrated its expertise in this field ten years ago in the form of a complete vehicle — the SLR.