Digital and Real car culture of the 2020's, compressed in early 2000's format (At best)
Hello!
This blog is dedicated to my sharings about general life and others, a bit of a personal memorial of my (now) youth and what I've done, seen, experienced, enjoyed. Life is finite, experiences are finite, but archival can make that experience last, just a little longer.
If you're looking for any specific content (i.e specific cars, etc), please use the search function and use your PC's Ctrl + F Search function. Unfortunately due to Blogger's shortcomings, the website's search function is not intuitive, so the Ctrl + F function helps alot. Happy reading!
Oh, and please do refer to using the web / PC version, as the mobile implementation isn't well done. Thank you!
The Proton Satria GTi is one of Malaysia's few automotive hurrah's that are genuinely respected outside of its home market. In spite of its Japanese underpinnings and British-derived handling, it fulfills the Satria's conquest as a factory contender to the likes of equivalent hot hatches of its time, and to this day, still fulfills its purpose of a b-road knight.
Come 2020 and in Japan, appeared a little red example.
A little bit of a myth, the red Satria GTi would be spotted along the Chubu region, running the mountain roads and clocking times most couldn't hit at the time.
Since then, the little hatchback would vanish then re-emerge. Until it turned silver, and supposedly drove slower.
It did its respective rounds, showing up, not, and eventually it got replaced with a different example. Since then, it hasn't changed.
These days, it makes its infrequent appearances not being pushed to the limit, and sits next to cars as unique as it.
Back then, this was the only Proton GTi that most would ever see. These days, there exists a few more examples but they make their appearance in more local places to its place of creation.
I talk about this particular GTi because the person behind the wheel also originated from Celestar Islands. This was Celestar's tuning culture, brought into Japan for the forseeable future for the rest of the world to see.
Back in Celestar Islands, there are numerous but limited amounts of Satria GTi still on the road.
The original pool of Satria GTi's brought in by official importer Cycle & Carriage reduced from the original 75 units to approximately 54, with the 55th being written off a few years back in a rollover accident, parallel imported units not withstanding.
The total pool would be closer to 63 (as of 2021), including the elusive and exclusive R3 variant.
Unit CI-GT109H
The Proton Satria GTi is based on the 1991-1995 Mitsubishi Colt/Mirage, produced at the tail end of the Mirage's production in 1994. The GTi variant began production only in 1998.
Unit CI-GT109H
The body is effectively the same as the Mitsubishi Mirage, down to the body, interior and engine, but the GTi received a little more than a simple rebadge.
The hot Mirage Cyborg-R used a turbocharged 1.6 litre, but the Malaysian derived version uses the 1.8L 4G93T, without the turbo and a higher compression ratio to compensate for the lack of turbocharger. In "4G93P" form (P for Proton), the GTi made 138bhp, a far cry from the 4G93T that made 212bhp come 1995.
Unit CI-GT109H
Although it would never set the performance world on fire, it certainly set the Malaysian market ablaze. This was one of Malaysia's fastest domestic car at the time, a cheaper option over the other Japanese, Italian, European and French rivals. It may had Mitsubishi underpinnings, but the shape was still relevant in Malaysia's perspective, and the bodykit made the dull Satria stand out. Did Proton mention that Lotus had a hand in development?
Unit CI-SDM7816B
In Singapore, Cycle & Carriage brought in only 11 units, none of which survived the COE cull twenty years on.
Singapore Motoring magazine, August 1999. Photo Credit: Midnite Oil
Here in Celestar Islands, the GTi remains as a cult favorite by those who own or owned one. Many GTi's have seen local motorsports usage in Carpark rallies in the 2000's, and track use since its inception until now.
The elusive CI-SJA7129T
There even is 2 R3's, but photos of them remain scarce.
The original Crest Racing Proton Satria GTi's whereabouts remain unknown even today.
Crest Racing Proton Satria GTi
If you're looking to purchase one, units that were renewed COE in the 9th year of the decade when COE was cheap is will set you back about $40k. A bit steep in price, but not as pricey as other Japanese derived cars made in its time. Looking at you, Nissan Skyline.
Crest Racing Proton Satria GTi
This article is not based on any specific unit, but a homage to the ones whose owners have allowed me to place photos in this article.
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H
Unit CI-GT109H and Unit CI-SA5714K
Unit CI-SBA842H
Unit CI-SDA765Z
Unit CI-SDA765Z
Unit CI-SDA765Z
Unit CI-SDA765Z
Unit CI-SDA765Z
Unit CI-PPP8474P
Unit CI-PPP8474P
Unit CI-SDM6731L
Unit CI-SDM6731L
Unit CI-SDH851C
Unit CI-SGR77P
Although I do own an example, its still in the shops, and I don't have any recent photos of it, so a dedicated article will exist for that car. For now, happy scouting for your dream car!
I think it would be safe to say that majority of Singaporeans have yet to see the Japanese supercar of the 1990's; The Honda NSX.
SG Archives is a new label that I wanted to do for quite a long time but never had the platform to do so. With that out of the way, allow me to fill in on information I could find.
The Honda NSX (Or Acura NSX in a few markets, namely the US market) was a supercar produced in the start of the 90's and lasted in its iconic shape until 2005.
The iconic shape would in my opinion fall under the first generation including both the pre and facelift models, so the NA1 and NA2.
Most people recognize the pop-up headlight NSX to be the NA1, whilst the NA2 is the model that inherits the iconic shape of the NA1 but ditches the pop-ups in favor of fixed headlights.
This is true, however some pop-up light NSX's are also labeled as NA2's, which would generally be the Type-S trim and American Zanardi Edition of NSX.
The Type S, released in 1997 and spanned a production date until 2001, according to the web, is a Japanese-market only stripped down version of the standard NSX, meant to be a middle-point between the regular NSX and the race-oriented NSX-R.
The Type S and trims beyond such as the Type S-Zero received the facelift engine (C32B), giving the featherweight version a displacement and power bump over the original C30A 3.0L V6. Out went the original 5-speed and in came the C32B's 6-speed manual transmission.
Included was a MOMO steering wheel different from those of the run-of-the-mill NSX, BBS lightweight wheels made of aluminium, titanium shift knob, lightweight components such as a spoiler to shed weight, Recaro bucket seats, a meshed engine cover and improvement in suspension components to offer a better driving experience.
The Type-S could be interpreted as the "best of all worlds" or ultimate trim, which as an ultimate spec, would understandably be top dollar for entry. The Type-S became the most expensive model during its production, and offered extra options to improve its livability. Some of these items did balloon the weight back, but these were no-less an option that Type-S buyers had the opportunity to add to their cars to better the practicality of the car.
All of these improvements resulted in a NSX 45 kilograms lighter (1320KG) than the standard coupe NSX, a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.4s and nothing else I could find that cemented this NSX's status as a "best" NSX. There are best motoring videos that showcase the better Type S-Zero's performance against other rivals.
Most sources point the total production units at 209 units, so this makes finding a Type S in the wild extremely unlikely. In the American market, the equivalent Zanardi Edition was limited at 51 units. The Type S-Zero is even rarer, with total production being recorded at a low 20 units.
In Singapore, as of June 2023, only five first generation Honda NSX's remain registered. Only one of these units was a factory manual, with the rest being automatic. However, at least one has been converted to a manual transmission.
The most recent NSX to have "fallen" was a NA2 facelift NSX, having being exported in the 2010's and information on it is scarce, so I wouldn't be able to find information on what exact specification it may have been.
On 1 July 2023, Lazada Singapore hosted its Lazgarage Carnival, which hosted booths selling car products and others. Featured either openly or discreetly would be one of these extremely rare Type-S NSX's as a display.
Although this is not as special as finding one out of the blue, this was still a chance to find a variant of an already elusive car that very few would be able to find casually.
Photos by FD. Equipment: Sony a6400
Representation of the factory mesh engine cover that the Type S received.
Route KS DK Titanium exhaust
Close-up photo of the Type-S badge for those who need a reference photo for modeling purposes
This particular unit has seen track time, and is not factory stock. I cannot say for sure on the exact specifications, but the unit does sport aftermarket wheels and an exhaust system at least.
The NSX is an icon not just for a country, but for an entire era of motor production, where the Japanese clawed their way to contesting with the Germans and Italians in luxury, sales and most importantly, pace.
To those who hope to own one of these majestic beasts, I wish you nothing but the best in securing one for yourself and enjoying it until the end of time.
Photos taken by FD. Equipment: Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
Little magazine cover I made, trying to use real cars. Enjoy if its your thing!
