Naza Forza

‘Forza’ is a popular Italian word which is often used as a cheer to inspire sportsmen, sort of like ‘Charge’ or ‘Go’. Because it is an emotional term, it has also been chosen by Ferrari for its magazine and by Microsoft for a motorsports simulator. Now Naza Corporation has also chosen it as the new name for the upgraded Sutera. In the words of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, Chairman and CEO of the Naza Group, the name suggests ‘a forward move by Naza after the Sutera’.

Officially launched this morning, the Forza is a renamed Sutera, the first entry-level hatchback which Naza introduced less than a year ago. However, it is more than a mere name-change as there are said to be a significant number of changes made to the car. It’s no secret that the Sutera was a model cloned from the Lobo developed by Hafei, a manufacturer in China. Relying on parts from Hafei initially, Naza found that the quality of the imported parts was not high enough and paid a lot of attention to customer feedback and was pro-active in replacing those parts which were not up the standard. This was only a short-term situation as the objective from the start was to localise as many parts as possible and with the Forza, up to 73% of the car is now from Malaysian suppliers.

Additionally, as a demonstration of its confidence in the higher quality of the car, Naza is offering a 3-year warranty along with 2 years of free servicing at authorised Naza service centres.

The overall shape of the Forza is the same as the Sutera, retaining the sharp angles that were penned by Italy’s Pininfarina (which is also the studio responsible for the designs of Ferraris). The obvious changes on the exterior are new headlamps, larger rear lamps, repositioning of the reversing lights to the bumper, and a new 6-spoke design for the 14-inch alloy rims which are shod with 165/55 tyres.

Instrument panel and centre section have been changed for the Forza (Sutera shown on the right)

Inside, the Forza gets a new Blaupunkt audio system which is MP3-compatible and delivers music through six speakers. The instrument panel has also been revised a bit to improve clarity while the fabric trim and colour themes have also been changed to give a sportier ambience. Convenience features include front power windows, electrically-adjustable door mirrors and central locking.

The technical changes are not specified by Naza although it is said that ‘the engineers have ensured that the car has key improvements to provide the keen driver with an enjoyable time behind the wheel’. Presumably, these improvements have been made after reviewing feedback from many of the 6,000 Sutera customers.

For those who may have forgotten the under-bonnet specifications of the car, it has a 1075 cc 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve petrol engine with EFI. The power output is 48 kW/65.2 bhp at 57000 rpm and 88 Nm of torque at between 3000 and 3500 rpm. Only a 5-speed manual transmission is available.

Safety features are praiseworthy for a car of this price class with dual front airbags as standard and a laminated windscreen which will not shatter into a million pieces when hit by a stone ( a crack may form in some cases). Front and rear occupants get seatbelts with the outer two at the rear having the 3-point inertia-reel type. For parents’ peace of mind, the Forza can be turned into a ‘2-door car’ by activating the childproof rear door locks which prevent the doors from being opened from the inside even when they are not locked.

Priced at RM37,999, inclusive of insurance, the Forza has a choice of six body colours – Fusion (a lime green colour), Amber, Gun Metal, Atlantic, Onyx and Satin. A Sportivo version is also available for RM42,288 and this comes with a bodykit, 15-inch wheels, an entertainment system, leather upholstery as well as other accessories.

Rear end has new tail lights with reversing lighta moved to bumper level (Sutera on the right)