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And for some — myself included — that simply, well, sucks; because along with the evolution, the cost of buying and maintaining one (servicing, petrol, road tax and insurance) has become expensive. A classic example is a fellow scribe who, having jumped from a humble Suzuki Ignis Sport - when his COE ended - to a Mark VI Golf GTI, ‘fainted and had to be revived with Axe oil rubbed into my nose’ (his exact words) the first time he pumped a full tank of petrol; the same thing happened when he did its second and third refuel. I’m equally sure most of you, who went through a similar jump, could associate with the similar scenario.My point is this: hot-hatches have grown in more ways than one.
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Flashback | Renault Clio R.S Sport

IN Renault, Clio, RenaultSport, R.S, Clio R.S, Sport, Wearnes Automotive

So the French is at it again giving us a playful little hatchback; but isn’t overly loud this time around


Adapted from its production sibling, the 911 GT3 R features the distinctive double-bubble roof, and the wheelbase which has been lengthened by 8.3 centimetres compared to the previous generation. This ensures a more balanced weight distribution and more predictable handling particularly in fast corners, in comparison to the previous GT3 R.
Motorsports

Lighter And Faster: The New 911 GT3 R

IN Porsche, 911, GT3, GT3 R, 911 GT3, 911 GT3 R, GT3 Cup, GT3 Class

Based on the new 911 GT3 RS production sports car, Porsche has designed a customer sport race car for GT3 category racing around the world: the 911 GT3 R.


Speaking about the record which he set, using the standard front-wheel-drive production estate with manual transmission and Performance Pack, Spanish racing driver and Seat brand ambassador Jordi Gené, said, “It was an indescribable feeling to get the best out of this car and to be the first to achieve this record.” The sports tourer benefits significantly from the Limited Front Slip Differential (VAQ) of the Seat Leon Cupra 280 and the six-speed manual gearbox.
Happenings

It's Official: Seat Has The Fastest Estate!

IN Seat, Leon, Leon ST, Cupra, Cupra 280, Seat Leon ST Cupra 280, Nurburgring, 'Ring.

The Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 lapped the Nurburgring in 7:58.12


The announcement comes amid media reports that said the two companies are exploring numerous projects. Among them would be an arrangement in which Toyota supplies Mazda with its hydrogen fuel cell system and plug-in hybrid technology, in exchange for receiving Mazda’s fuel-efficient Skyactiv gasoline and diesel engine technology.The latest move comes as global automakers increasingly pool resources on expensive green-car development. In hydrogen fuel cell technology, for example, Nissan has teamed with Ford and Daimler AG, while Honda is working with General Motors.
Happenings

Toyota And Mazda Form Partnership

IN Toyota, Mazda, Toyota Motor Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation

Long-term partnership signed to 'address cost and technical challenges'


Although they all come from different manufacturers, if you were to ever park them side by side, all share the similar body shape; gone are the days where large sedans like these look like bricks and are as exciting as a plastic ruler. Now, they all look shapelier with beautiful (woah I actually said that) lines and curves. In fact, calling them sophisticated isn’t wrong as well.
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Value Up | Peugeot 508 Allure

IN Peugeot, 508, Allure, Peugeot 508, Peugeot 508 Allure, What The Pug Say, AutoFrance

Peugeot’s 508 sedan gets some midlife update to keep it relevant — lets see whether this one will share the same success story as its predecessor


Which was why, historically speaking, Volvo’s XC90 was once the people’s champion; every family men and soccer mums loved it. It has the cabin space of a 5-room HDB flat, the pace of an executive sedan (you have the option of a 2.5-litre turbocharged and 4.4-litre V8) and best of all, an easy to drive demeanour. Volvo’s renowned safety and reliability summed up the package.
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Making Good Sense | BMW X5 xDrive35i

IN BMW, X5, SAV, SUV, XDrive35i, XDrive, Beemer, BMW Asia

The new X5 was introduced last year with a rather big V8 engine and that made its popularity limited, but now with a more sensible 3.0-litre engine will it be more appealing?


Occupying a total area of 6,668 square meters, the seven storey facility will be offered as a one-stop shop option for customers to view the different range of passenger and commercial vehicles distributed by Tan Chong. The new S$40 million multi-brand showroom began construction in September 2012 and is part of the company's effort to centralise and consolidate its operations. Nissan customers can also expect work bay facilities for their car servicing needs in the new showroom. At the same time, Subaru customers can expect a bigger and better showroom twice the size of the previous facility and a new STI corner where visitors can purchase premium STI merchandise.
Happenings

Tan Chong Opens New Showroom, Launches New Legacy

IN Tan Chong International Limited, Tan Chong, Nissan, Subaru, Showroom, Leng Kee Road

Built at a cost of $40 million, it offers a one-stop shop for Subaru and Nissan customers


As I walked to our 4C test car, I couldn’t help but wish they had given us one painted in red. The white paint on our car swallowed up all the curves and didn’t do it justice. The 4C’s shape was refined over many hours in the wind tunnel so that it works aerodynamically to provide negative lift at speed and a low Cd of 0.35.
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Alfa Romeo 4C | Good to be back.

IN Alfa, Alfa Romeo, Singapore, 4C, Turbocharged

With the 4C, Alfa is bent on reminding car enthusiasts that they can still make a car that’s sexy and good to drive.


The new S$1.3 million circuit features a 545-metre long track with 11 turns, consisting of a combination of sweeping corners, a hairpin and a chicane near the end of the lap. The 8-metre wide track, currently the widest in Singapore, even has multiple overtaking points that makes for an amazingly fun and safe circuit.
Motorsports

New Karting Track Opening Soon!

IN The Karting Arena, Bukit Timah, Karting, Go-kart, Turf City, Fun karting

Another avenue for karting fans, this time located strategically in Bukit Timah


We start off with one of the cars most eagerly anticipated by the average enthusiast, something that mere mortals can actually afford - the new Honda Civic Type R. When the previous-generation FD and FN Civic Type Rs ended production in 2011 due to tightening emissions regulations, we weren't sure if we'd see another zingy, righ-revving Honda Type R again. Sadly, we won't. But luckily, instead of throwing in the towel, Honda has adapted with the times, and decided to turbocharge the Civic Type R, making it cleaner and meaner in the process. How much meaner exactly? Well, how does outputs of 306 bhp and 400 Nm @ 2500 rpm, a top speed of 270 km/h, 0-100 km/h in 5.7s and Nurburgring FWD record time of 7m 50.6s sound to you? Certainly puts the 'hot' in hot hatch for us!
Happenings

Highlights of the Geneva Motor Show 2015 (Part 1)

IN Geneva, Motor, Show, 2015, Geneva Motorshow,

Well, it's that time of the year again when major car companies pull out all the stops and bring their A-game to Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show. This is our two-part special


This free service compares hundreds of insurance policies in seconds, and users can look forward to a transparent and unbiased comparison of prices and coverage amidst other policy features in just a few seconds. “GoBear’s goal is to make complex insurance products easy to understand, and accessible to all Singaporeans. We want to empower today’s users to make well-informed decisions 24/7, be it from their mobile, tablet or desktop,” says Andre Hesselink, Chief Executive Officer.
Happenings

A New Convenient Avenue For Your Insurance Needs

IN GoBear, Car, Travel, Insurance, Insurance premium, Car insurance, Travel insurance

GoBear makes comparing insurance premium a hassle-free affair


Customers can pick up parcels from the POPStations located at Caltex Holland, Caltex Serangoon Avenue, Caltex Balestier, Caltex Beach Road or Caltex Bukit Batok 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For greater convenience and speedier retrieval, customers can download the POPStation Mobile App. One of features that the POPStation mobile app offers is the “air unlock” which allows consumers to pick up their parcels even quicker when they are within close proximity to the POPStation by swiping on their smart gadgets. The POPStation mobile app also allows consumers to track their POPStation parcels, receive alerts, manage their accounts or get information on the POPStation locations etc. Consumers can download the POPStation mobile app from the Apple Store; an android version will be rolled out soon.
Happenings

Pump And Pick At Caltex

IN Caltex, Techron, SingPost, POPStation, POPStation Mobile App

Pick up your parcels from POPStations at Caltex stations


With that, I’m off to pay for my speeding ticket; the other thing M3 owners are too familiar with. This here encourages you to drive fast and it’s bloody hard to resist…
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Speed, You Know What I Mean | BMW M3

IN BMW, M, M3, Sedan, BMW M3, Munich Automobile

BMW’s M3 might have drawn some flak for going the force-fed route initially, but after spending time with it (and slapped with a speeding ticket), there’s so much to love…


That is until Porsche pulls the same stunt with their Panamerarara though...
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Utter Genius | Jaguar XJ i4 2.0

IN Jaguar, XJ, I4, 2.0-litre, Jaguar XJ i4 2.0-litre, Jag, Wearnes Automotive

Jaguar strapped in a 2.0-litre engine into their XJ — first question asked by most was, “can the car even move?”


Developed by a small team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and US, the new Focus RS is the third generation of Focus RS cars, following models launched in 2002 and 2009. It will be the 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, following such technology trendsetters as the 16-valve 1970 Escort RS1600, the turbocharged Sierra RS Cosworth of 1985 (oh, and remember its radical aerodynamics?), and the four-wheel-drive 1992 Escort RS Cosworth. The all-new Focus RS is also the first ever RS model that will be sold around the world and produced for all markets at Ford’s Saarlouis, Germany, manufacturing plant beginning late this year.
Happenings

Ford's New Focus RS

IN Ford, Focus, RS, Ford Focus RS

Listen up all hot-hatch fans: Ford's all-wheel drive Focus RS all set to thrill!


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The Topless King | Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.4 TFSI

IN Audi, A3, Cabriolet, Convertible, TFSI, Audi Centre Singapore, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles

The new Audi A3 Cabriolet has grown and is more ‘BMW 120i Convertible’ than ‘Golf Cabriolet’. But is it good enough to be the king of the compact drop-tops?


As testing continues, the McLaren P1 GTR looks set to be one of the fastest to ever wear the famous McLaren ‘speed mark’. Through significant weight-saving measures and track-optimisation of the petrol-electric powertrain, McLaren P1 GTR will boast a power-to-weight ratio increase in excess of 10 percent over the road-going model, to more than 690 bhp per tonne.
Happenings

McLaren's P1 GTR To Debut At Geneva

IN McLaren, P1, GTR, McLaren P1, McLaren Technology Centre, Woking

An excess of 690 bhp per tonne power-to-weight ratio achieved through motorsport derived weight saving and powertrain optimisation


The latest version of the 4.4-litre engine at the heart of the X6 xDrive50i increases the predecessor model’s maximum output by 10 percent, to 450 bhp (+43 bhp), yet posts a 22 percent drop in average fuel consumption. The engine’s suite of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology now welcomes Valvetronic variable valve timing alongside its two turbochargers and High Precision Direct Petrol Injection, endowing the eight-cylinder engine with improved responsiveness and pulling power and also giving it extra efficiency.
Happenings

New X6 Arrives In Singapore

IN BMW, X6, XDrive50i, XDrive35i, XDrive30d, BMW X6, BMW Asia, Performance Motors

Second generation controversial X6 gets a new mature face and a host of improvements


Aston Martin Racing competes at the highest level of GT racing, including a works team in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Nurburgring 24 Hours; and works-supported entries in Blancpain GT Series and other major GT races. With its full range of GT racing cars ranging from the V8 Vantage GT4 — its entry-level race car aimed at those starting out in a GT career — through to the V12 Vantage GT3 and the V8 Vantage GTE, there is a clear progression path for drivers of any age looking to begin or develop their racing career.To apply for a place in the Evolution Academy, or to receive more information, contact Andrew Williamson on +44 (0)1295 754276, awilliamson@astonmartinracing.com or Warren Jones on +44 (0)1295 754165, wjones@astonmartinracing.com
Motorsports

Want To Be An Aston Martin Racer?

IN Aston Martin, Aston Martin Racing, Racing, Evolution Academy, Works Driver

Aston Martin Racing is launching a young driver programme, the Evolution Academy, which offers a coveted 2016 Aston Martin Racing works driver contract to the most successful participant of the season


And for the lucky ones who are fortunate enough to be able to afford one, they would surely attest to the car’s reliability; this is on top of just how lovely this German coupe is to drive, be it on a wide and open stretch or tight, twisty roads. Due to those traits, the 911 had also been awarded countless of times.Even for yours truly here, the Porsche 911 is a dream car for him. In fact, being able to experience the 996 and 991 generation 911 models before this was a great privilege; so much so, the day to strike it big at the local lottery is being highly anticipated.
Happenings

The Porsche 911 Experience

IN Porsche, 911, 991, GT3, Turbo, Turbo S, 911 GT3, 911 Turbo S, Carrera, Carrera 4S Cabriolet, Porsche Centre Singapore

We drove some of Porsche’s finest around the Sepang International Circuit, after months of admiring it from photos



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