Flashy compacts

Flashy compacts

The Chevrolet Cruze and Mazda 3 stand out in their class with all-new packages for 2011, distinct styling and lavish specs. So which is the way to go?

• Published: 1/08/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section:

One million baht C-segment family cars in the Toyota Corolla class are just like traditional home-cooked food, not the staple for the masses.

Apart from being some 300,000 baht dearer than their entry-level 1.6-litre siblings _ naturally more sensible options for the average Joe _ the range-topping 2.0-litre variants ask for nearly as much, their price tagged on baseline D-segment saloons like the Toyota Camry.
And for those still caught up in the SUV fad, a six-figure cheque can get you a Honda CR-V or, better even, a tax-privy Mitsubishi Pajero Sport with loads of metal and seven seats.
However, if you find big cars old-fashioned, then downsizing to C-segment saloons _ with generous spec and performance as those 2.0s are offering _ may sound a reasonable option.

You would even want to be a little more different from the crowd by settling for a five-door hatchback like the Mazda 3, or opt for the eco-friendly Toyota Prius hybrid, or Ford Focus diesel.
But how can one be different in a Mazda 3 or Chevrolet Cruze with traditional saloon body and petrol power?
That sounds like a small market which car companies won't necessarily deny, but the hard fact is that there are buyers in Thailand who still have traditional palates even when the 3 has a hatch option and Cruze a diesel alternative to choose from.
That's why Life has summoned the 3 and Cruze together on these pages this week. They are the freshest arrivals at the moment. Being all-new this year also means a lot to buyers who may want to deflect from the Honda and Toyota crowd.
It may also be coincidence that the 3 and Cruze both happen to have very distinctively styled exterior and interior designs. The Mazda sticks with its fluid and wavy theme, while the Optra-replacing Cruze goes bold with a prominent nose and chunky rear end.

The Cruze’s fascia is flashier, but there’s no faulting the Mazda’s.

This pair stands out even more in-class with their cabins. While the Cruze's looks flashier and more daring, the 3's is slightly more submissive.
But being meeker in appearance doesn't necessarily mean that there are no upsides. In fact, if you take usability into consideration, the Mazda's interior strikes a better balance between form and function.
And when it comes to perceived quality, the 3 takes the upperhand with its higher grade plastics _ at least from what you see or can feel with your fingers.
Since we're talking about range-toppers here, the amount of gadgets thrown into the cars help make them almost "complete" for a Thai C-segment saloon.
It's only the details that separate the two. While the 3 highlights sunroof, steering-mounted paddle-shifters and multi-function display, the Cruze goes for cruise control and side airbags for the front occupants instead.
The packages of both cars are relatively the same, if you don't delve into the exact specifications on paper.

The rear occupants, for instance, will find similar amounts of head and legroom (both have three three-point seatbelts, three head restraints and centre armrest with cupholders integrated into it).
Those backrests at the rear in both cars can also fold to accommodate larger things in the boot, but the Cruze seems capable of swallowing larger items with more ease.
The driving position in the Cruze is also airier than in the 3, which suffers from a too-protruding left footwell.
Even so, the feeling behind the wheel of the 3 exudes sportiness in a tidy manner; the Cruze tries a bit too hard to look distinctive with whacky lines and colours.
To traditionalists, comparing cars with different engine sizes may not seem fair outright. But the Cruze is only 66,000 baht cheaper and its engine is nearly as big and powerful as the 3 (apparently explaining the 3's loftier positioning in the segment).

On the move, those on-paper stats are seemingly confirmed. Under most circumstances, the 3's 147hp 2.0-litre engine feels punchier, more eager and more willing to rev _ if not great by class standards.
This obviously means that the Cruze is a very average performer in this segment. Against the 3, the Cruze's 141hp 1.8-litre motor feels lazier, lacks breath in the mid-ranges and wants to move the gear up rather than the tacho needle.
And despite having a six-speed automatic to its advantage over the 3's five-speeder, the Cruze isn't any economical. The difference in the manufacturers' claims seems to be credible enough after a spin with the two cars from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi (our figures were basically a notch lower than the claims).
By having better performance and economy at the same time, it could be said that the 3 has a better engineered drivetrain.
More differences emerge when you take the chassis into consideration. Although both cars have a tendency to highlight handling over ride comfort, the Cruze's steering and suspension appear more relaxed.

They are very similar to sit in the back.

Although the 3 evolved from the previous model with more comfort in mind, it still feels substantially sporty in the presence of the Cruze with a more precise rack and a dose more of grip.
But one letdown in the 3 is the low-profile tyres rimming the 17-inch wheels which make the ride noisy and harsh. Surprisingly, the Cruze also rides on the same running gear but doesn't seem to suffer its rival's ailments.
You could easily conclude the Cruze is for those needing comfort, or some virtues of D-segment cars when downsizing in the process. The 3, meanwhile, would attract sporty minds needing to stand out in a market filled with uninspiring cars to drive.
To put it in another way, the Chevy is more mature with its more restrained performance and relaxed driving manners, while the Mazda offers the more responsive drive for the younger set of buyers.
It would be very difficult for us to pick a winner, not because they are so similar to each other but for the fact that their execution is quite different.

Mazda has harsher ride.

American Apparel sued

Fashion news: American Apparel sued by investors, Karl in America and Elaine Benes: (apparent) style icon

By Peakadey | August 19th, 2010 | 12:18 pm

Camel is back? Get out!

Finally the gods of fashion and trends have turned their heads to the goddess of New York in the ’90s: Elaine Benes. The New York Times has recently dug deeper into the Seinfeld leading lady’s style signatures: floral skirts, blazers and jumpsuits, and found them all trolling about downtown Manhattan. [New York Times]
The contestants of the upcoming cycle of America’s Next Top Model (we’ve lost count of what season they’re on) have been revealed. It’s a choice between a non-existent waist, a lesbian Hooters waitress and a 21-year-old mother and 11 others. Should be entertaining. [Racked and Jezebel]
Karl Lagerfeld will be in New York on the first day of Fashion Week, receiving Couture Council’s special Fashion Visionary Award at Avery Fisher Hall on September 10th. [Daily Front Row]
How do you feel about man-cleavage? Man-veage? [Daily Mail]
Betsey Johnson is collaborating with Tweezerman for a collection of three tweezers embellished with a Betsey-esque print. [WWD]
Swarovski has just announced which designers, from the upcoming fashion weeks, will receive their sparkling seal of approval – and support. Erdem, Giles, Prabal Gurung, Mark Fast and Henry Holland are a few of the 13 who will collaborating with Swarovski. [Vogue UK]
British fashion business billionaire Philip Green has just found himself in a bit of controversy surrounding his tax habits. The Topshop owner and financial adviser to British PM handed ownership over to his Monaco-dwelling wife who’s been eschewing tax payments. [Vogue UK]
Another day, another woe for American Apparel. Now the chain is being sued by its investors, claiming they were misled by Dov Charney and that he mismanaged the company. [Jezebel]

Tom Ford and Olivier Theyskens to show

Fashion news: Tom Ford and Olivier Theyskens to show at NYFW, Heidi Klum for New Balance, and Lagerfeld cancels Lagerfeld show

By Peakadey | September 7th, 2010 | 11:26 am

Photography by Peter Stigter

It’s Christmas in September: Tom Ford and Olivier Theyskens will preview their womenswear collections–Theyskens is designing a line for Theory–during New York Fashion Week.
Karl Lagerfeld won’t show his Lagerfeld line in Paris. He’s working on a new “masstige” label that will sell online.
One hundred designers, including Alexander Wang, Narciso Rodriguez and Jeremy Laing, shared their Spring 2011 inspirations using one image and one word.
While Valentino has stepped down from his eponymous label you can still get a taste of the last emperor at the newly opened Valentino Garavani Archives in Paris. The archives include sketches, photographs and a rotating selection of dresses.
Model and Project Runway host Heidi Klum will be launching her own clothing line with New Balance. The sportswear line will be available on Amazon.com.
Lane Crawford is celebrating its 160th anniversary with a collaborative project. 160 fashion personalities including Anna Dello Russo, Simon Doonan and Kate Lanphear will customize a classic Burberry trenchcoat which will be auctioned off for charity.
Is Max Azria the new LVMH? The Tunisian designer and  a private investor have purchased Karstadt, a German chain of department stores.
Karl Lagerfeld has sketched a number of the 2010 World Cup’s standout players–and himself–for the football-fashion magazine SEPP.
Bookmarc, Marc Jacobs‘s bookstore, is now open. [Racked]
Natalia Vodianova has been cast as the leading lady in the movie Belle de Signeur alongside Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. The movie will hit theatres in 2012.
The many hats of Victoria Beckham: the former Spice Girl has added ‘director’ to her resumé launched her first fashion film. Called Dresses the film gives an intimate look into her Fall/Winter 2010 collection.

Man's fashion

They said/We said: The dish on Proenza Schouler’s expected new investors

By Peakadey | July 28th, 2011 | 4:00 pm

Photography by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Speculation surrounding a change in Proenza Schouler’s investors has been circulating for quite some time now. That change seems to have been confirmed yesterday by Cathy Horyn of The New York Times. According to the writer, the label’s current backer, the private equity firm Permira (also the primary owner of Valentino), will be selling its shares in the label as early as Friday.
The 45-per-cent stake will reportedly be transferred over to a group of New York investors including Andrew Rosen, CEO of Theory and Helmut Lang. Designers and founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez will likely hold onto their control over the other 55 per cent of the company.
While we’re excited to see what Rosen’s plans are for the brand, we’re hoping that too much doesn’t change. New investors can often demand a lot of designers, but that won’t necessarily be the case with Proenza Schouler. McCollough and Hernadez’s It-girl aesthetic seems in keeping with Rosen’s previous ventures (think Olivier Theyskens at Theory). What we are hoping for is the production of more accessories, which seems inevitable with the success of the PS1 bag.

WHAT THEY SAID…

Cathy Horyn: “Although the designers have presented a more coherent vision in recent years and in 2009 introduced a successful handbag style (the P.S. 1) that expanded their reach into the lucrative accessories market, there are still a number of product categories that could be developed, like jeans. Accessories can also be beefed up with more leather goods, including shoes, and eyewear.” [The New York Times]
Kerry Pieri, StyleCaster: “In other words, this sale, which is rumored to go through as early as Friday, would mean more money for Proenza Schouler and more Proenza Schouler for us. Win, win.” [StyleCaster]
Charlotte Cowles, The Cut: “Given the success of Rosen’s investments in Helmut Lang and Olivier Theyskens, not to mention how long people have been banging on about how great this Proenza deal should be, the acquisition seems like a win for all parties involved.” [The Cut]
WHAT WE SAID…

Sarah Casselman, senior editor: “I’m happy that the boys, likely, will still control 55 per cent of the label—would hate to see PS go the way of Roland Mouret and lose the rights to design under their own name. Think I had something else to add here but it’s slipped my mind; news that David Beckham is launching an underwear line for H&M will do that to a girl.”