It is interesting to know that many Malaysian claim they are hardcore car lovers, but cringe at thought of buying or driving a manual transmission.

Unless its’s a twin-clutch gear box,most automatic transmission systems sap power and the most frustrating part is that you do not have full control of the car.

So when we were told the test drive unit of the Fiat Bravo GT auto was ready to pick-up,we were sort of a bit reluctant to try it.

The manual Bravo GT is a handler and we love the car. The manual tranny suits the small turbocharged engine well as we can keep the engine boiling within its short powerband. An automatic gearbox will definitely kill it.

Apparently,we were wrong.The Bravo GT is not really an auto – it has six speed Duo logic Sequential gearbox which is basically an automated manual gearbox.Think of AMT in the Savvy or Selespeed in the Alfa Romeo and you should get an idea.

As with all the automated manual gearboxes, there is an auto function that allows the computer to shift the gears automatically,but it will never be as smooth as proper automatic with a torque converter.

The robotized clutch will need some time to cut the rev and shift,and this will cause a bit of jerky motion.to reduce this, learn when the computer will shift and you can lift off the accelerator a bit.

The plus point of this gearbox is that when you put in full manual ,you get to shift it quicker than normal gearbox. A sequential system, you either tug or push the lever to shift.

The 1.4 Litre turbocharged engine is quick,but the power tapers off quickly after 5,500rpm. Thankfully, the turbo spools rapidly from low engine speeds and this helps.

Fuel consumption is also on the plus side, averaging around 8.5 litres for every 100km. Of course this can go up if you are heavyfooted driver.

The interior is basically the same as the manual version, and the highlight of the cabin is the Blue & Me Bluetooth system that you can connect to your handphone.

Some of the smart features are onboard memory for your phonebook and the call ID system. You can even get the system to read your SMS.

The Microsoft Windows based audio systems is average.we don’t know who supplies it but it comes with built in sub woofer in the boot and the sound quality is very good.

Space wise, the car feels big in every direction, except those who have long legs will suffer if they sit at the back.

Carbon-look dashboard, Alfa esque meter pods and amazing detailing,the Fiat Barvo GT has an interior that one enjoys visually.

As for the driving part, we certainly had more fun in this Bravo than manual version.

On straight road, get the turbo to charge you forward and when a turn comes, jab on the brakes ( brake feel is also above par ) and push the lever up to shift down.

The computer kicks down the gears quickly, accompanied with a terrific engine dound thst only the Italians know how to produce.

Around town, using the stick manually is the preferred choice. It is best to leave the auto mode when you are stuck in a crawl or on the highway.

For those who remember the previous bravo, this one offers a good example of how advanced the Chrysler owner ( Fiat has confirmed buying over the American company ) is now while still retaining its sporty spirit.

Media= New Sunday times

Date = 17 may 2009

Section = Cars,Bikes & Trucks