Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 5, 2016.

 

As part of the many activities held during the Naza Merdeka Auto Fair 2016, Naza-Brabus, the exclusive sole distributor of Brabus-tuned cars and Brabus performance parts in Malaysia, has taken the opportunity to showcase its Startech Refinement programme with the local debut of the Range Rover Evoque Startech. 

 Startech, a Brabus Group company, refines the new Range Rover Evoque model with a sporty-elegant design programme. The product line-up includes custom tailored 21-inch forged wheels, a ride height kit that lowers it by 35mm, a sport exhaust system and high-class interior options. Additional innovative products such as engine tuning are currently under development. 

For the three-door and five-door Evoque, the Startech designers have developed a styling programme designed predominantly for on-road operation. It lends the newcomer an even more car-like character. All body components are manufactured in original equipment manufacturer quality from high-grade Pur-R-Rim plastics. 

For this purpose, the new fascia was shaped for the front and rear that replaces the production bumpers in their entirety. The nose of the crossover receives a more dynamic profile with the striking air inlets and the front spoiler that seems to “float” in the Startech fascia. The shape was fine-tuned in the wind tunnel to further reduce lift on the front axle, which benefits directional stability at high speeds. 

The new Startech rear fascia impresses with more than just an integrated diffuser: the new rear fascia also features distinctive Startech tailpipes that can be combined with the production exhaust or with the Startech stainless steel rear muffler. 

The Startech rear wing rounds out the markedly sporty appearance of the refined Range Rover Evoque and furthermore minimises lift on the rear axle at high speed. 

Since the Startech Refinement design programme for the new small Range Rover is intended predominantly for on-road use, the Startech suspension engineers have developed three-piece wheels with a diameter of 21 inches. The Monostar R wheels in size 9Jx21 are especially light and yet extremely tough thanks to the use of high-tech forging technology in their production. The five-spoke design also sets itself apart with its unusual black-painted wheel spider with polished contours. These exclusive wheels are mounted with high-performance street tires in size 265/40 R 21. 

Alternatively Startech will in the future equip Evoque with one-piece, cast Monostar R wheels in sizes 9Jx20 or 9Jx22. The Startech sport springs are specifically calibrated for use with sporty low-profile tires and the production shocks. They are available for all Evoque models with front-wheel or all-wheel drive and lower the SUV by some 35mm. The lowered centre of gravity gives the vehicle safer and more dynamic handling. 

The Startech performance kit for the 2.0-litre SI4 gasoline engine that normally produces 240hp/176.6 kW is already in the final stages of development. Further tuning kits will follow. 

Another focus of the Startech Refinement programme for this and other models is on the interior. The programme comprises attractive accessories such as an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and aluminium pedals, foot rest and shifter. 

Startech also fulfils any special request for custom interiors in its upholstery shop. The finest leather and Alcantara can be transformed into a tasteful cockpit in any desired colour and with any upholstery design. The resulting overall ambiance is either extremely luxurious or markedly sporty depending on customer preference. The perfect complements are wood or carbon-fibre trim sets in any desired colour and with a wide variety of surface finishes. 

Naza-Brabus is the only authorised European customiser and tuner for Range Rover in Malaysia.

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