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This isn’t an all-new car of course, nor is it even a facelift (that comes next year, when the Countryman gets new headlights and Union Jack-themed taillights just like the rest of the Mini range, as well as new digital displays). But though it looks no different, the 2020 Countryman JCW’s updates run far deeper than facelifts conventionally do. With 306hp and 450Nm now on tap, the new Countryman JCW has made gains of 75hp and 100Nm over the 2019 model - a full one-third more power and torque than before. That’s all courtesy of an updated version of the B48 2.0-litre turbo engine, which is now in the same spec as you’d find in the BMW M135i, M235i, and X2 M35i. As a result, the 0-100km/h time drops from 6.5 to 5.1 seconds, and it’s powerful enough flat-out to warrant a 250km/h electronic speed limiter. It’s rather a different beast to drive now, and finally feels special enough to justify its existence (and its price tag).
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Rally the Troops | Mini Countryman John Cooper Works

IN MINI, Countryman, JCW, John Cooper Works, MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works

The biggest and most expensive Mini you can buy gets a lot more power for 2020, finally giving it performance that’s worthy of the JCW name.


Happenings

The different flavours of BMW Luxury

IN BMW, GKL, GKL Range, BMW 7, 7 Series, BMW 8, 8 Series, BMW X7, X7, Luxury Cars

BMW Luxury motoring is defined in 3 different ways as shown by these flagship models.


But wafting comes at a cost (usually in excess of seven figures). To make it more accessible to the rich-but-not-as-rich businessmen, premium brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar have made it their life-long aim to produce flagship models that can emulate that smooth road-yacht feel.
New

Magic Carpet Ride | Audi A8 Mild Hybrid 3.0 TFSI

For the longest time, the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series have topped the luxury barge segment's market share. Can Audi's new A8 steal some sales with this new party trick?


Available at launch (and shown in these pictures) is the Morgan Plus Six, a 3.0-litre six-cylinder two-seater roadster with a starting price of S$415,888 without Certificate of Entitlement; NB Auto has confirmed that the Plus Six has cleared the Land Transport Authority’s homologation process.
Happenings

British sports car maker Morgan arrives in Singapore

IN Morgan, Singapore, Sports cars, New cars, Launch

355hp, S$415k (w/o COE) Morgan Plus Six heralds the 112-year old company’s first-ever official presence here; S$325k Plus Four to follow in Q2 2021.


What are your top 3 achievements in 2020? Our greatest achievement in 2020 was having BMW recognised in Singapore as the second top-selling car brand, and the best-selling among premium brands. In addition to moving up three positions, from 5th to 2nd, our market share increased to 9.8%, the highest market share of any BMW NSC worldwide.But that’s not all. We maintained segment leadership in the Philippines for the second year in a row, and also secured premium segment leadership in Indonesia after 15 years (as of YTD December 2020).Finally, sales in the region increased for both BMW and MINI brands across their model range. Our luxury models – 7 Series, 8 Series and X7 – increased by 15% and sales of BMW M and M Performance models increased by 14% in Singapore. Specifically, in the Philippines and Vietnam, luxury model sales increased by 63% and 48% respectively compared to 2019.  For MINI, we witnessed extremely strong growth compared to 2019 with our xEV models (+63%), Performance JCW models (+116%), and the new MINI Clubman (+74%).None of this would have been possible without the relentless ongoing support of our strong partners in all markets.
Happenings

“10 questions to…”

Challenges. Successes. Mr. Christopher Wehner, the Managing Director of BMW Group Asia shares how he has taken the BMW Group Asia region to new heights.


This then, has the all-singing, all-dancing full-blooded AMG powerplant for the family of Mercedes cars that bear the letter ‘A’; A-Class, CLA and GLA. The 45 series of AMG cars is the entry point to what some might consider as a ‘proper’ AMG as the engines come from a “one-man, one-engine” production line where the finished power unit bears a plaque with the name and signature of the technician who put the mechanical masterpiece together. My compliments then, to Alexander Kasarez who built a fine motor for our test car. In this instance however, it is technically a “one-woman, one-engine” production. Here’s to Girl Power!
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Sense of Occassion | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupé

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, CLA, CLA 45S, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S

The most powerful 2.0-litre car you can buy adds a touch of practicality to make it a more useable daily proposition.


However if you really want the full warp drive experience, there’s a sequence of setting the car up first: put it in Sport Plus Mode, hold the brake firmly with your left foot, and nail the accelerator to the carpet with your right foot until “Launch Control Activated” shows up in the driver’s display. This then sets the electric motors to unleash a maximum combined total of 571hp and 650Nm of torque when the brake pedal is released. The rest of the time, the Taycan 4S’ power output reverts to a more sustainable 490hp.
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The Future Is... Here? | Porsche Taycan 4S

IN Porsche, Taycan, Taycan 4S, Porsche Taycan, Porsche Taycan 4S

Much has been said about the higher-end Taycan Turbo and Turbo S. This entry point to an all-electric Porsche however is probably the best real world option.


That’s where the S60 T8 R-Design comes in. It’s the most powerful Volvo you can buy today, with the sort of on-paper figures that might give warm sports saloons like the Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43 a right old scare: 402hp, 640Nm of torque and 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Except, the S60 doesn’t follow your traditional sports saloon recipe. It’s a plug-in hybrid you see, which means a twin-charged 315hp 2.0-litre engine driving the front wheels, and an 87hp electric motor powering the rears. And that, I’m afraid, is the S60’s undoing as a performance car.
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Plugged In | Volvo S60 T8 R-Design

IN Volvo, S60, Volvo S60, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, PHEV

402hp makes the new S60 T8 plug-in hybrid the most powerful Volvo ever sold in Singapore. But is that enough to make it compelling for keen drivers?


For the brand typically associated with fictional super-spy James Bond, a large, high-riding SUV seems a bit out of character – or is it? With the DBX, Aston Martin aims to combine the versatility expected of a luxury SUV, with sports car levels of dynamic performance. As it is, 70 percent of Aston Martin customers already own an SUV (or three); it thus makes sense that the company simply take the final step of converting their existing SUV to a DBX. It also serves as an excellent proposition for existing owners who love to drive their Vantage or DB11, but occasionally prefer being driven.
Happenings

The Aston Martin DBX arrives in Singapore

IN Aston Martin, DBX, Aston Martin DBX, Aston Martin Singapore, Aston Martin Lagonda Singapore

Want something sportier than a Cullinan or Bentayga? Great news – order books for the DBX are now open!`


Enter the range-topping 1.5 Luxe e:HEV model, which features a 1.5-litre engine mated to a hybrid powertrain for a mix of fuel economy and effortless acceleration. Newly developed for the Jazz, this e:HEV system combines a petrol engine with two powerful drive motors; however, unlike a typical hybrid vehicle, the engine and electric motor operate independently.
Happenings

The all-new Honda Jazz arrives in Singapore

IN Honda, Jazz, Honda Jazz, Kah Motor

Honda’s most-loved little hatchback gets revamped and electrified


This is precisely what a sporty coupe should be. If it doesn’t excite, set tongues wagging or get fingers pointing, what’s the point? Enthusiasts of all ages can name any number of BMW coupes that made cars and driving exciting for them. The iconic cars inspire even until this day. So what does the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe have in common with some of its best-known predecessors? 328 – The Original
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The FANTASTIC 4: Iconic BMW coupes that shaped the brand

IN BMW, BMW 4, BMW 4 Series, BMW Coupes

Over the decades, BMW has produced some truly inspiring coupes. How does the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe build on the legacy of its forebears?


More uncanny than that though, is how the car flows down any given road, the tyres always keyed into the surface, rising and falling perfectly along every bump or undulation. The XE gives a feeling of connection with the road yet never discomfort, the ride being supple and refined despite wearing large 19-inch rims. It’s a real triumph of chassis and suspension tuning, a stark contrast to the similarly athletic but frustratingly brittle-riding BMW 3 Series.
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A Sporting Tradition | Jaguar XE R-Dynamic P250

IN Jaguar, Jaguar XE, Sports sedans, Luxury sedans, New cars, Reviews

The Jaguar XE used to bring deft dynamics to the premium saloon class, but little else besides; has a facelift changed things?


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The Perfect Urban Sedan | Honda City RS

There’s never been a better time to consider the all-new Honda City; here are five excellent reasons why.


Similarly, when it comes to tyres, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a brand that was completely new to me. Davanti, is a relatively new UK-based tyre company which designs and develops its products in Great Britain.
The Pit

Silent Screamer | Davanti DX640 Tyre Review

Psst! Want to know the best-kept secret in Ultra High-Performance tyres? Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the Davanti DX640.


The Bentayga Speed gets several exterior styling cues to hint at its performance credentials, including dark-tinted grilles, headlights, taillights and wheels. More obvious tell-tale signs of the 626 bhp that lurk beneath the bonnet are the body-coloured side skirts, larger rear spoiler, and large oval tailpipes.
Happenings

Nip, tuck, and electrification: the new Bentley Bentayga

IN Bentley, SUV, Bentayga, New cars, Car launch

Bentley’s first model under their Beyond100 plan is the extensively redesigned Bentayga luxo-SUV


With the exposure brought by professional drivers around the world blurring the line between racing in the real and virtual worlds, it’s clear that sim racing is here to stay, and we hope, expand further in 2021 to offer more aspiring racers an alternative path into a racing cockpit.
Happenings

From couch to cockpit: why sim racing isn’t child’s play

IN Porsche, Sim racing, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, E-sports, Gaming, Simulators

Growing manufacturer support highlights how much sim racing has grown in 2020, with Porsche Asia Pacific recently concluding its first eSports racing tournament.


The Lamborghini Huracan STO though, isn’t one of those. Standing for “Super Trofeo Omologato” (which translates to Super Trophy Homologation), the STO is the most extreme road-going Huracan ever, and is derived from the tech and philosophy of Lamborghini’s factory race cars, the Huracan Super Trofeo and the Huracan GT3.
Happenings

The Lamborghini Huracan STO is the wildest “Baby Bull” yet

IN Lamborghini, Huracan, Supercars, New

Wild new aero tweaks, weight reduction and chassis changes are inspired by the Huracan Super Trofeo and GT3 cars.


Much to the disappointment of the former group, the second-generation Subaru BRZ broke cover this week with an engine that didn’t feature forced induction. Despite the absence of a turbocharger, however, the new BRZ still offers a power bump over its predecessor.
Happenings

Consistency is key for the new BRZ

IN Subaru, BRZ, Subaru BRZ, Subaru Asia, Toyobaru

Subaru sticks to the purist’s formula for the second-generation BRZ – a naturally aspirated engine, a manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive.


All that said however, if you miss out on an opportunity to acquire your very own special edition MINI, fret not. Personalisation is at the core of the MINI spirit, and there are still hundreds of combinations of paint, wheel, upholstery, trim, and accessory options to ensure that no two MINIs are ever identical.
Happenings

Here’s why a MINI Special Edition could be the special addition to your motoring life

IN MINI, Cooper, Countryman, Clubman, Convertible, Hatchback, Cooper S, Special ediitons, Limited editions, Eurokars, Singapore

MINIs are all about that feel-good factor, and what could feel better than knowing you’re driving a real rarity on the roads?


As we approach one of the most impactful evolutions of the automotive landscape, where electric cars will slowly-but-surely be a mainstay, BMW has made its mark with the all-new, all-electric iX SAV.
Happenings

A first look into BMW’s future

BMW reveals new iX at their NEXTGen world premiere.



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