Search Results

Held from 16 — 19 September 2013, The Gillette ‘Great Face Race’ will take place at The Gillette F1
Grooming Pit Stop, The Plaza, VivoCity Level 1, from 10am — 10pm daily. Activities open to the public
over the four days include a Real Racing 3 game zone featuring the specially-designed Gillette McLaren MP4-12C, where racer wannabes can do their practice rounds; a Gillette experience zone; and photo opportunities with a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 replica car on display.

The Pit

Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes Partners With Gillette For 2013 Season

IN F1, Gillette, Vodafone, McLaren, Mercedes

In April 2013, Gillette teamed up with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to herald a new era in an exciting brand partnership.

The new Lexus ES model range will be re-introduced to the Singapore market after a seven-year hiatus. The ES, which previously made its reputation among Lexus Singapore owners as a popular mid-sized luxury sedan, will once again deliver exemplary comfort, contemporary luxury as well as dynamic composure and refinement in this new iteration of the model range. The return of the new ES will allow a new generation of drivers the opportunity to experience the sophistication and refinement of one of Lexus’ best-selling models of all time.

Happenings

Lexus To Launch New ES In Singapore

IN Lexus, ES, ES 250, Hybrid, Borneo Motors Singapore

Borneo Motors (Singapore) Pte Ltd has announced that the new, highly popular ES model range will be launched in Singapore in the last quarter (Q4) of 2013.

Working hard at appealing to the car’s intended target segment in a bid to cajole them to eschew their dowdy appearance of batik shirts, black man bags and thick gold chains, Mercedes-Benz has place great effort in making the new E-Class more stylish.

New

Like A Boss | Mercedes-Benz E200 Sedan

IN Mercedes-Benz, E-Class, E200, Sedan, Saloon

The perennial favourite of ‘towkays’ gets a makeover.

Launched to invited guests and the media at an event in Robertson Quay, the CLA200 will be available locally with either the AMG or Urban trim lines, the latter being the one you see in these pictures.

Happenings

Mercedes-Benz CLA launched in Singapore

IN Mercedes-Benz, CLA, Coupe, Launch

With its sleek new looks, Mercedes' much-anticipated new coupe emphasises bold style over conformity.

Apart from just renting out the supercars, the club also wants to be a platform that will allow its members to network and mingle, facilitating the social aspect of the club by organizing driving tours, trackdays and exclusive social gatherings.

Happenings

Rent-a-Supercars 'R Us

IN Gran Superdrive, Supercar, Rental, Club

Always wanted to drive a supercar but never had the means to own one? Well now you can, and it doesn’t involve a life of crime!

The Pit

Police Launches 2013 collection

IN Poice, Aviator, Shades, Lifestyle

Sin Kwang Optical has launched the 2013 Collection of sun glasses from Police.

On a separate note, the A250’s suspension system seems to have been set with the enthusiastic driver in mind. If you’re expecting C-Class level, the A250’s rather stiff setting might need some getting used to. It could just be yours truly, but when going over bumps, there’s that uncanny feeling the rear’s independent suspension has been mated to a stiffer pair of spring compared to the fronts.

New

A+ For Effort | Mercedes-Benz A250 Sport

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, A-Class, A250, A250 Sport, Sport

So the A250 Sport is marketed as the sportiest A-Class, with promising on-paper digits — but overcoming the looks, does it fall into hot-hatch territory?

With McLaren’s thirty years’ experience working with carbonfibre (first carbonfibre chassis in Formula One and first all carbon-bodied road car, the F1), it comes as no surprise that the P1 is entirely constructed from the black weave — right down to its central load-bearing structure, the MonoCage tub. And since carbonfibre is moulded, the body panels could be shaped in far more complex and extreme ways than if they were made of steel or aluminium. Indeed, it is a real treat to witness and examine the P1 in the flesh, where you can’t help but marvel at how sculpted the car looks. Pictures alone do not do it justice.

Happenings

McLaren P1 Makes Southeast Asian Debut

IN McLaren, P1, Wearnes, McLaren Automotive, Hypercar, F1

Singapore is the first stop for the P1 as it makes its way around the region

Then the flood came. And again. Suddenly, buying an SUV makes so much sense. Jokes aside, most SUV drivers made the decision to get one because of the simple fact that it provides the ability to look further ahead in congestions; a sense of security, in other words.

New

Practically Speaking | Hyundai Santa Fe GDI 2.4

IN Hyundai, Santa Fe, GDI, Komoco Motors, Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe returns with a classier and bolder look, showcasing the Korean’s new upmarket identity; question is, does it drive as good?

McLaren GT is to produce a new high performance variant of the 12C, named the 12C GT Sprint, designed to offer further enhanced handling through optimised aerodynamics and track focus. The track-only model signifies the continued development of the 12C model, and bridges the gap between the 12C, itself fully accomplished on both road and track, and the all-out racing 12C GT3 and 12C GT Can-Am Edition models. It has been designed and developed by McLaren GT, the race car building arm of the McLaren Group, and retains many of the unique systems from the 12C road car, on which it is based.

Motorsports

Tadaa... A Track Focused MP4-12C

IN MP4-12C, 12C GT Sprint, McLaren

Want a McLaren track car to join motor racing competitively? Well, the 12C GT Sprint is right up your alley

With that, the new Accord’s focus is definitely on comfort and refinement. Even though the overall dimensions have shrunk slightly compared to the old one (90 and 25mm shorter in length and wheelbase respectively), interior space is claimed to have grown, particularly in terms of legroom and boot space. The cabin features a full colour 8-in touchscreen display for the 16GB audio and navigation system, Bluetooth functions, and reverse camera. There is also an Active Noise Control system that emits background sounds at certain frequencies via the speakers to cancel out engine and road noise.

Happenings

Latest Honda Accord Launched In Singapore

IN Honda, Accord, Launch, Kah Motors

The 9th generation of the Accord aims to bring a touch of luxury to the large sedan class.

Like previous versions, the vRS will be available in both petrol and diesel form, and gets identical mechanicals to the current Golf, which means either the 220 bhp, 350 Nm 2.0-litre TSI from the GTI, or the 184 bhp, 380 Nm 2.0-litre TDI from the GTD. To give an idea of how the Fastest Octavia Ever performs, the TSI version equipped with a 6-speed manual will do 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds and will top out at 248km/h. Stop-start, Brake Energy Regeneration and the optional 6-speed DSG gearbox should help fulfill Skoda’s claims of a 19% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to the old models.

Happenings

Czech-mate

IN Skoda, Octavia, VRS, Hot hatch, Wagon, Estate

With a new Golf out, comes a new Octavia. And as predictable as the GTI version is for the Golf, so too is the vRS for Skoda, in both hatch and estate form.

Then again, it doesn’t necessarily have to out-drag the competition, because Kia is pitching the GT as a brisk all-rounder designed for “everyday usability and civility, not a track special” (although its chassis was developed at the Nurburgring). So even though it gets re-tuned springs and dampers, a thicker rear anti-roll bar and larger brakes, its multi-link suspension should ensure a tolerable ride.

Happenings

Still Very Reasonably Priced

IN Kia, Hot hatch, Ceed, GT, Cee'd

The name is still ridiculous, but this hot hatch looks set to be a credible and value-packed alternative in the market.

The natural trade-off though, is in its ability to carve a corner. Despite how tall the Forester is, body roll is less prevalent than expected, no doubt thanks to the Boxer drivetrain’s low centre of gravity, but unless you really enjoy feeling a car at its limit no matter how easily reached it is (which I do), there’s not much reward to be gained from hustling it. The tyres are designed for low rolling resistance and hence give up very easily, running out of grip at even moderate speeds, while the electric steering, though light and easy to twirl at parking speeds, has a vague, non-linear response during the first few degrees of lock. On initial turn-in the steering feels overly light but after that it firms up, with nice weighting and progression through the rest of the turn.

New

The Family Rocketship | Subaru Forester 2.0XT

IN Subaru, Forester, XT, Turbo, X-mode, AWD, Review

With the next generation of WRXes and STIs still at least a year or two away, it’s up to the 4th-generation Forester to uphold the turbocharged mantle in the Subaru stable.

Other than the obvious, what makes the 4 Series different from its 4-door 3 Series sibling? Not much. The cabin is pretty much the same as the 3 Series, with slightly less room and 1 less seat.

Happenings

4 Is The New 3 (Coupe)

IN BMW, 4-series, Coupe, New,

BMW ditches classical 3 series nameplate in favour of the 4 series nameplate for their new compact luxury coupe.

Pricing for the Wraith starts from $1,258,888 without COE, before options. First deliveries to local customers are expected to commence in the last quarter of 2013.

Happenings

Don’t Be Spooked…

IN Rolls-Royce, British, V12, Wraith, Luxury, Coupe, Rolls

For decades the Rolls-Royce name has been a byword for luxury, opulence and comfort. With the new Wraith, the British marque is gunning for sportiness too.

What makes it even more significant locally is that the E-class is the bread-and-butter of a range that’s topping the charts of a shrinking new car market. That success isn’t likely to stop soon, based on what we’ve seen of this new, facelifted version.

Happenings

E Stands For Evolution

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, E-class, Wagon, Launch, E200, E250

It's a strange country we live in, where Mercedes is the best-selling brand, ahead of all the ordinary car makers. And this, the E-class is its most important model.

Let’s talk about the exterior. Visually, the car looks pretty much the same as the standard E class. But squint a bit harder, and you will notice that the car is slightly longer, gaining 140 mm of rear legroom. To make sitting in the rear even more comfortable, the front passenger seat can be electronically adjusted from the rear passenger area. Currently, the car is confined to China only. Various trim levels are available. The launch car shown at the show is called the Sport Sedan version and has been fitted with a more aggressive looking front end with a big three pointed star on the grille. If you want something classier, you may opt for the Sedan trim, which ditches the large grille-mounted badge for one standing on the bonnet. The low-beam headlamps are LEDs as standard.

Happenings

Mercedes stretches the E for China

Revised long wheel base E-class launched at Shanghai Auto Show

New

The Baby Benz Grows Up | Mercedes-Benz A200 Urban

IN Mercedes-Benz, A200, A Class, Hatch-back

Mercedes-Benz calls it the “rebel” of the family. Like most rebels, they may have some traits that you'll admire about them, but most prove to be very hard to live with.

Alas, BMW hasn’t made any mention of engine options or vehicle dynamics or anything at all to do with actual driving — the X4 is for now still officially a Concept, intended to show how the production version will look. Looking at the X3 though, engine options should be carried over directly. That means the turbocharged four and six cylinders as found in the xDrive20i, 28i, and 35i.

Happenings

First reveal of BMW X4

IN BMW, X4, SAC, Concept, Shanghai, SUV

BMW lifts the wraps off its new ‘SAC’ ahead of its premiere at the Shanghai motor show