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In the car world, examples that come to mind are the Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, or in years past, the Bugatti EB110 Supersport, Subaru WRX STI Spec-C, Mitsubishi Evolution VII, Lancia Delta Integrale, or Alfa Romeo SZ - all cars that are highly prized by collectors, yet you cannot call any of them “classically beautiful”. In the case of the M3 Competition Sedan and M4 Competition Coupé, their huge front grilles serve a functional purpose. The cooling requirements are substantial for a twin-turbo engine that makes 510hp and 650Nm of torque in any part of the world where temperatures can reach in excess of 50-degrees Celsius.
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M and Ms | BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition

IN BMW, M3, M4, BMW M3, BMW M4, Performance Motors Limited

The latest dynamic duo from the BMW M division arrive in Singapore to offer two distinct flavours of performance.


Joining the existing Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car and Mercedes-AMG C 63S Estate medical car, the pair from Gaydon will make their debut at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this Sunday. Aston Martin Vantage safety car It’s not easy staying in front of Lewis Hamilton on an F1 circuit, thus the Vantage safety car has been fettled with by the engineering team to improve track performance and lap times. Power is now up 25 bhp to 528 bhp, but torque remains unchanged at 685 Nm – although “sustained for longer” in this application. The transmission has also been improved, giving “a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts”.
Happenings

Safety in Numbers

IN F1, Formula One, Safety Car, Medical Car, Aston Martin, Aston Martin Vantage, Aston Martin DBX, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-AMG GTR, Mercedes-AMG C63S

For the first time in the history of Formula One, there’ll be two official Safety and Medical Cars – from both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG.


The 3 Series has long been a stalwart of the fiercely competitive compact executive sedan segment; with Singapore’s vehicle tax structure generating consistently healthy sales for its entry level models. Buyers are happy with a premium badge on the nose, for just a slight premium over alternative Asian makes.
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Less is More | BMW 318i Sport

IN BMW, BMW 3, BMW 3 Series, BMW 318i, Performance Motors Limited

With a willing engine, lively handling, and a good bit of kit, entry level doesn’t feel quite as such in the new BMW 318i.


Gone is the dynamic ‘swoosh’ that ran down the side, with the new car sporting a cleaned side profile. There’s now a single straight line that connects the bonnet to the taillights, in contrast to the sloping roofline. The outgoing model’s coupe-inspired styling is now made even more coupe-like, with an increased rear windscreen rake. This results in a much more fastback-like side profile that mimics the Civic Hatchback. Interestingly, Honda claims that the steeper windscreen hasn’t adversely affected rear-seat space, perhaps thanks to the additional 20mm in wheelbase.
Happenings

New Honda HR-V (Vezel) Revealed

IN Honda, HR-V, Vezel, Honda HR-V, Honda Vezel, Kah Motor

The latest Honda HR-V has been completely redesigned, and gains Honda’s new e:HEV hybrid powertrain.


Inevitably, owners of the traditional 3-door MINIs will move on to other stages of life. This might necessitate un-fun stuff, like two extra doors and a full-sized cargo area. Sacrilegious it might be to the MINI purists, but there’s no denying that the Countryman filled a segment at its debut 10 years ago. Since then, the Countryman has seen a second-generation model launched, which moved it to the BMW UKL platform that’s shared with the BMW X1. Now though, it’s been facelifted with some choice design changes and nifty new tech inside.
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Smartened Up | MINI Countryman Cooper S

IN MINI, Countryman, Cooper S, MINI Countryman, Countryman Cooper S, MINI Countryman Cooper S, Eurokars Habitat

Subtle exterior design changes and modernised interior equipment make the MINI Countryman better than ever.


Back then, it arrived with a 1.0-lire turbocharged engine (amusingly named “Boosterjet”) that gave it an enthusiastic character and made it heaps of fun to drive, but with the revisions to Singapore’s Vehicle Emissions Scheme tax/rebate structure this year, that’s been swapped out for a hybrid model which falls into the maximum rebate tier for its green credentials.
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Toys and Joys | Suzuki Swift 1.2 Mild Hybrid

IN Suzuki, Swift, Hybrid, Suzuki Swift, Swift Hybrid, Champion Motors

The perenially popular Suzuki Swift gains a tiny bit of hybrid power, but it is the lively handling and generous safety equipment that will put the biggest smile on your face.


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.
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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.


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


No other single letter in the automotive industry packs as much history, success, passion, and performance as M, something that’s clearly evident in BMW’s own tagline: “M. The most powerful letter in the world.” Naturally, all BMW M models follow the company’s alphanumeric naming structure, which is brilliant in its logic and its simplicity. But for such special memorable vehicles, BMW M cars deserve to be known by more than just a number. The following M words best define the lineup of BMW M today: BMW M2 Competition - The Mischievous one
Happenings

M. The most powerful letter in the world

IN BMW, BMW M, Coupes, Sports sedans, M2, M3, M4, M5, M8

If you have a powerful and iconic reputation, you don’t need whole sentences to tell your story. Just one letter will do.


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?


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.


“Sportiness” may be one of the most overused marketing cliches in the automotive world, but given Toyota’s recent form with the GR Supra, GR Yaris, and LC500, we’ve got plenty to be optimistic about in the new IS. Stay tuned for our review coming soon.
Happenings

The sportier and sexier new Lexus IS launches in Singapore

IN Lexus, IS, Lexus IS, IS300, IS350, Sports sedans, Luxury sedans, Car launch, New cars

Aggressive new looks back up a more thrilling drive in the heavily updated Lexus IS; prices start from S$199k


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


Known internally as a Life Cycle Improvement (LCI), the G30 BMW 5 Series has received such a comprehensive list of updates that it is, for all intents and purposes, a new model. Similarly, the G32 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo has been simultaneously refreshed to provide customers with a longer, five-door alternative.
Happenings

Executive decisions: The New BMW 5 Series and BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo

IN BMW, New 5 Series, New 6 Series GT, 530i M Sport Edition, 630i Gran Turismo, M Sport, Digital Key, Executive cars

With both cars featuring a host of styling and technology updates, the only hard choice left is to decide between the new BMW 5 Series sedan or BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo fastback.


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.



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