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The Nissan Grand Livina was introduced in Malaysia since 2007 and received a facelift on last year. This year, the Grand Livina gets more than just a facelift but vital improvements from AUTECH. If you never heard of it, AUTECH is a renowned pro tuner for Nissan cars from Japan.

Under the hood of the 2012 Nissan Grand Livina AUTECH retains the 1.8-litre MR18DE engine but now comes with a distinctive chrome front grille followed by a new front bumper with a chrome finish. The Nissan Grand Livina AUTECH now features 15-inch 6-spoke AUTECH alloy wheels. Their appearance is given more depth with the diamond-cut, gunmetal-textured finish on each spoke. The enhanced model also sports a new colour in bronze gold and V-Kool Solargard Armorcoat window tinting. An AUTECH emblem fitted at the tail gate completes the exterior changes.

Inside the car, the car offers the option of brown or black leather along with an integrated navigation and multimedia system featuring a 6-inch touch screen GPS navigator with reverse camera, DVD player, USB and Bluetooth connectivity as well as the optional choice of a 10.2” roof-mounted LCD monitor.

By the way, if you missed the article on our hands on review of the Nissan Grand Livina facelift? Please click here to read the article.

The launch of the new Nissan Grand Livina AUTECH is also in time for the ‘balik kampung’ season. Renowned for its sedan-like drivability, ride smoothness and handling while seating seven occupants comfortably; this is the perfect ride back to hometown for the holidays.

Commenting on the launch of the new variant, Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) enthused, “The innovative teams at AUTECH have not just gave the Grand Livina a facelift but elevated it to suit today’s drivers’ personality and lifestyle. And with Hari Raya around the corner, this is the ideal vehicle to travel back home safely in style.”

On-the-road prices for the new Nissan Grand Livina AUTECH start from RM105,800.00 (Peninsular Malaysia) and is available for viewing in all ETCM showrooms nationwide. And if you just can’t resist getting a hand on it, head to One Utama (Concourse, New Wing) on 11-15 July 2012 to secure yourself this exclusive AUTECH-tuned MPV.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Grand Livina AUTECH

The Nissan Grand Livina has been facelifted about a year ago, we have tested the Grand Livina 1.6 Tuned By Impul in manual transmission last year. About a month ago during a usual traffic jam session in Kuala Lumpur, the car beside my car was a Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 and because of that car, it triggered my curiosity about the ride of the Grand Livina 1.8 auto without the Impul sports suspension, 17-inch Impul wheels and Impul high flow sports exhaust muffler.

About two weeks ago, I managed to pick up the standard variant of Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 with only Impul body kit. Probably you have known that the facelift model now come with black colour interior which more contemporary in look and feel, which I am very happy with it. Please note that the car in the following photo gallery, it comes with a set of optional brown colour leather seats instead of the standard black colour fabric. Besides, the Grand Livina now come with wing mirror-mounted LED side indicators and redesigned front grilles. As usual, the 1.8 model come with fully chrome door handles and wood panels.

The Grand Livina 1.8 is pretty much similar to the Grand Livina 1.6 (manual) Tuned By Impul that we reviewed last year except the engine. Both come with white-faced instruments cluster which appeal to be sportier like the Honda Civic EG6/9 in the good old days. The audio headunit also comes with auxiliary input which compatible to all MP3 players in the market.

On the technical aspect, there is no change from the pre-facelift model on the engine and gearbox. For the 1.8 variant, it is using the same all-aluminium MR18DE 1.8-litre petrol engine that outputs 93kW/126ps @ 5,200rpm with max torque of 174Nm @ 4,800rpm. Frankly, the fuel efficiency of the Grand Livina 1.8 with 4-speed auto was not as great as the 1.6 with 5-speed manual that we tested previously especially driving in the city with traffic. However, I can feel the vehicle is more torquey and responsive though it is mated with auto transmission than the 1.6 manual. It will not have much performance concern for this car to ferry 7 passengers with its spacious yet practical design. The drivability of this car just like an ordinary sedan and the electric power steering (EPS) with 5.2m turning radius eases the driver to maneuvering the car in almost any road condition.

The crucial part of this car was the missing goodies from the Impul though it comes with Impul body kit. Without the Impul sport suspension and 17-inch Impul wheels with low profile tyres, eventually the ride is softer with more body roll even though it is improved. The standard 1.8 variant is fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels and wrapped with 185/65 R15 tyres. Most likely, the Grand Livina Tuned By Impul has previously spoilt me with its performance pack and drivability. Based on my experience and comparison on the same car, the handling of car is way better with 17-inch wheels and wider tyres. However, this is subjective to driver’s preference as my whole life has been living with cars that come with more solid suspension setup. That could be the reason why I never like the ride of the standard Toyota Camry at very beginning.

The noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) of the Grand Livina 1.8 Auto is considered fine at its class. Of course, without the high flow sport exhaust muffler the car is even quieter. However, I personally wish that this car will have an auto climate (instead of manual switches) and a built-in head unit with DVD playback and reverse camera. Overall, the Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 is still one of the reputable 7-seater MPV in terms of quality and pricing in Malaysia.

The Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 Auto is retailing at RM 98,815.30 on-the-road with insurance in Peninsular Malaysia. The car also comes with a standard 3-year or 100,000km warranty. If you are looking for a 7-seater compact MPV, why not check out the Grand Livina yourself before you decide.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 Auto Malaysia

Perodua just announced another variant of Perodua Alza, the Perodua Alza SR edition. It might sound like a sports edition, however in this case SR stands for Smart Ride.

Perodua define the Alza SR (Smart Ride) edition as a more affordable variant for fellow Malaysia. Priced between RM53,013.50 and RM56,513.50 on-the-road in Peninsular Malaysia.

 Perodua Managing Director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh mentioned that “Perodua customers  like the versatility and functionality that Alza offers and do not mind having less features available compared with the standard and other variants.”  However the key safety and aesthetics of the Perodua Alza will of course remain with the SR edition.

The most significant differences of the Perodua Alza SR would be the separate seats in the Auto Alza SR instead of the bench type seats and center mounted handbrakes.The new variant comes in 3 colours: Glittering Silver, Ivory White and a new colour, Mystical Purple. Perodua sold about 81,000 Alza to date, since its launch in November 2009. The Perodua Alza SR is available for viewing and booking at all its 178 showrooms nationwide from today onwards. 

The first generation of Nissan Grand Livina was introduced back in December 2007. Recently, this compact MPV get its mid-life facelift back in June 2011 by Edaran Tan Chong Motor in Malaysia. Following the arrival of the facelift model of new Nissan Grand Livina, the Impul team has given a makeover to further refine the new Grand Livina. This masterpiece was unveiled at the Super GT International Series 2011 in Malaysia.

We are fortunate to get our hands on the new Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul 1.6 manual for a weekend drive. I must say the new black colour interior and revised aero-kit from Impul have made the new Grand Livina as one of the best looking revision. After all, I am glad that Nissan had finally responded to the public favour by replacing the beige colour interior with black colour. Instead of a plain compact people mover, it is now much sportier and sleeker than before.

In this review, I will be mainly focus on the 1.6L manual version.

My first impression when I entered the car, I felt the new Grand Livina have totally changed my perception over it. Truthfully, I disliked cars with beige colour interior and thankfully this has been corrected with black colour. On the other hand, the background of the meter instruments is now in white colour instead of black. This applies across all current model of Grand Livina including the standard and Impul model. Don’t worry, your ordinary Grand Livina Tuned by Impul will not get signature from the founder of Impul – Kazuyoshi Hoshino on the dashboard.

I took the key and crack up the engine, the sporty exhaust note from the Impul Blast 2 exhaust muffler caught my attention. I move the car out from the car park and join the usual KL traffic jam, I am so surprise for such a compact MPV is so easy to drive and manoeuvring around the city, thanks to the Electric Power Steering (EPS). The minimum turning radius is 5.2m (curb-to-curb), which is similar to the Perodua Alza. The manual gearstick is smooth and solid throughout the gear shifting comparing to some of its rival.

After awhile of driving on the freeway, I can feel the suspension setup is slightly solid and the car handling is optimised with less body roll and pitch whenever I take corners and cruising at high speed. If there is a slalom competition for MPVs, I suppose this car is capable to find its position. 

Technically, the upgraded Impul suspension is fine-tuned with a 25mm lowered ride height compare to the standard model. This makes the car having the height of any normal passenger car, which provides easy access on getting in and out of a car. The car is fitted with Impul Aura SX-10 17” alloy wheels wrapped with 205 45 R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 Tyres. It does refine the limits and deliver more driving confidence to the driver. The Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul prove my erroneous that such a compact MPV can also be a driver’s car.

Based on the spec sheet, I found that the engine delivers the same power as the pre-facelift model. This 1.6-litre all-aluminium alloy engine (HR16DE) is an inline-4 DOHC 16v engine with drive-by-wire technology that churning 105PS @ 5,200rpm with a torque of 150Nm @ 4,400rpm. This car is unquestionably compatible with RON95 unleaded fuel since the compression ratio of the engine is only 9.8:1.

Don’t misjudge the Nissan Grand Livina by its size and engine capacity. The car is practically responsive at its class but I found that the gear ratio of the manual transmission is refined to its purpose as MPVs, which you won’t feel the car is dragging or struggle to move. It may be due to the improvement by the Impul Blast 2 exhaust muffler. However, the consequences lead to higher engine RPMs when cruising at high-speed. The engine RPM runs at 3,000 delivers speed not more than 100km/h (approximately 98km/h) on 5th gear. On the fuel consumption, we are able to clock it average 11.5km per litre for city driving, which I think is pretty standard for 1.6 engines similar to my previous ride – Proton Waja 1.6 manual. But I know it can be better with more discipline driving behaviour.

For safety purpose, all Grand Livina is fitted with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BA) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). The braking pedal is easy to step on (thanks to the brake assist system) and it does help me to stop effectively and safely during my test (with the EBD and ABS). There are two SRS Airbags for frontal collisions: driver and front passenger.

With all the goodies from Impul, this model is offered at a cost of only RM 10,700.00 extra (including 1.6 M/T, 1,6 A/T and 1.8 A/T) above the standard Grand Livina. The new Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul comes with a 3-year or 100,000km warranty as well. According to ETCM, the new Impul performance parts will also be available for existing Nissan Grand Livina owners to purchase and upgrade.

^ Impul side sticker is not included

In conclusion, I think this Grand Livina Tuned by Impul is definitely a practical car for individual that is seeking for a combination of sportier ride as well as practicality. The driving experience is effortless just like any ordinary sedan. The overall ride comfort and control is possibly one of the best on its class.  If you were to ask me, I will recommend this car to the folks despite of budget that are out there considering a Perodua Alza, Proton Exora, Toyota Avanza or even a Toyota Innova.

Price of Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul in Peninsular Malaysia (Private Individual)
• 1.6 M/T – RM 97,500.00
• 1.6 A/T – RM 100,500.00
• 1.8 A/T – RM 109,500.00

These four colours are exclusive only to the Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul
• Tungsten Silver
• Sapphire Black
• Brilliant White
• Twilight Grey

Pros:-
• Better handling and control
• Black colour interior just simply BETTER!!
• Redesigned Impul aerodynamic kit makes the car looks much SUPERIOR!!
• Practical compact MPVs with 7 seats

Cons:-
• The Impul Blast 2 exhaust muffler can be a little loud for some individual
• Basic with no fancy features like auto wiper sensor, auto headlamp sensor and auto climate control

Impul Tune-up Pack (Summary)
- Impul Sports Suspension System with a 25mm Lowered Ride Height*
- Impul Aura SX-10 17” Alloy Wheels Wrapped with Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 Tyres (previously on Dunlop Formula D 01)**
- Impul Blast 2 Stainless Steel Exhaust Muffler*
- Impul Aerokit (front spoilers, side skirts, rear spoilers and rear wing spoiler) and New Front Grille with New Impul Logo*

* The aerokit, suspension, exhaust muffler are licensed by Impul to be manufactured in Malaysia.
** Impul Aura SX-10 alloy wheels are imported directly from Japan 

Photo Gallery: 2011 Nissan Grand Livina Facelift Malaysia

For the purpose of boosting the car sales in Malaysia which decline on last month, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) announced to offer a special low interest hire purchase packages from 8^th July 2011 till 31^st August 2011. Throughout this promotion period, Nissan customers who purchase a Nissan Grand Livina, Sylphy or Navara Pickup Truck (for private registration only, valid for both Peninsular and East Malaysia) will enjoy a special low interest rate starting from 0.88% per annum.

The details are as below:-

We are always committed in providing our customers with innovative, valuable, rewarding promotions such as our ongoing test drive and win a Nissan’ and special low interest hire purchase packages that exceed their expectations, said Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of ETCM.

If you are currently eyeing on any Nissan models, probably now is the best time to buy one to spoil yourself.