Essential Motoring 101

In the latest Google’s Zeitgist (the spirit of the times, in German) for the year 2008, the Perodua Nautica scored tops in popular searches in Malaysia. The Nautica is a locally-produced short wheelbase SUV (compared to the Toyota Rush) and has emerged as the outright winner among all car model searches by Malaysians. It even overtook the searches of five other foreign car models in terms of popular searches.

A rising star on the Internet, it seemed

Here are the rest of the list of the top car model searches in Google by Malaysians:

1. Perodua Nautica
2. Toyota Rush
3. Proton MPV
4. Proton BLM
5. Honda City
6. Proton Saga
7. Grand Livina
8. Honda Accord
9. Myvi
10. Honda Civic

Well, how on Earth does the Nautica be the fastest rising car model search of our countrymen? What attributes of the SUV that Malaysian netizens crave of?

Based on an offical road test by Perodua on the Nautica 4×4 SUV, the vehicle would be quite a buy with its refined engine and styling but doesn’t seem to be the ideal choice of SUV in Malaysia, as propagated by the manufacturer, with a blaringly obvious reason - pricing.

At RM89,900 for a Malaysian-made SUV, it would be too high a price to pay. If one would be observant on local tarmacs, the Nautica is almost non-existent. Since it’s launch in May this year, it is disappointing to say that I have seen only about four units of it while driving.

Besides price, I dont see why the Nautica doesn’t sell as good as its older sibling, the Kembara, as the car could take its beating on local roads which is endless with potholes and floods.

Ironically, it’s not so ideal after all

Next year would see a slump in vehicle sales in Malaysia and Perodua have planned out a reduction in output of their best-selling Myvi. I wonder how does it fair for the Nautica, considering the current fact of its rare existence?