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Happenings

Maserati GranTurismo Goes Mentale!

IN Maserati, GranTurismo, MC, Stradale, GT4, Trofeo,

Inspired by Maserati's GT4 and Trofeo race cars, the GranTurismo MC Stradale is the maddest road-going Maser to date.

Now let's begin with the exterior. Shy, retiring types who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground should look elsewhere, for what we have here is a soft-roader that is very big, very bold and very, very in your face. The X6M is deeply aggressive from the front, with its big air intakes and angry-looking headlamps. With those bumps on the bonnet, subtlety does not figure greatly in the overall design philosophy of this SUV. From the side, it looks rough and tumble and you can know that BMW's designers subdued themselves to not go overboard with the bodywork. Details are definitely well planned, with each and every crease functional in reducing drag at high speeds. You then get a set of 20-inch M alloys, wrapped in grippy-but-stiff Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport rubbers (275/40 R-20 front, 313/35 R-20 rear) to complete the package.

New

To Infinity And Beyond...

IN BMW, X6, M

Who would be odd enough to come up with a performance SUV? Surprisingly, BMW - and here's their staggeringly out-of-this-world X6M.

No bigger than the average family sedan, it has 340hp from in-line 3.0L 6-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo and 450Nm of torque that can be increased to 500Nm with overboost. While it can do 0-100km/h in five seconds, BMW had to rein in this rocket's top speed at 250km/h. All that power is shifted through the six-speed manual gearbox for that purist feel. Inside, the 1-series M offers body-hugging sports seats in Boston leather as standard. Other than little hints of orange on the trim and M-logos, the cabin's shrouded in a sea of black in order not to distract the driver from the pleasure of driving, according to BMW. On the outside, it'll only be available in Alpine White, Sapphire Black and the exclusive Valencia Orange metallic.

Happenings

Bimmer's Baby M-onster Sighted!

IN BMW, M, 1 Series, Coupe

The latest entry into the M range has it's roots in the original E30 M3, according to BMW.

A vast array of personalisation options and accessories has been developed for the Ferrari FF. These include six model-specific exterior colours and sumptuous interior trim incorporating specially selected and treated aniline leather.

Happenings

Ferrari Reveals The Ferrari FF

IN Ferrari, FF, Four-seater, Four-wheel drive

Ferrari has revealed the first photographs of the new Ferrari FF, the company's most powerful, versatile four-seater ever, as well as its first ever four-wheel drive car.

Inspired from a high-performance sport bike. Veloster has distinctive black A-pillars that give the glass a motorcycle helmet visor appearance. In the front is an aggressive form of Hyundai's signature hexagonal front grille, hood scoop detailing, and unique Hyundai-signature LED position lights. Optional packages add a chrome grille surround, piano black highlights, fog lights, and a massive panoramic sunroof.

Happenings

Hyundai Reveals The Veloster CoupÃ©

IN Hyundai, Veloster, DCT

Hyundai introduced its cutting-edge Hyundai Veloster three-door coupe in a world debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show.

Modified

Singapore's Best VW Golf | Entry Eight (8)

IN VW, Volkswagen, Golf, GTI, R32, Entries, Singapore, GT, TSi

Our final entry is a unique Caractere kitted TSI with a pile of other expensive goodies that make it a one-of-a-kind Golf.

All selected participants will be receiving specialist hands-on training in fire safety and track recovery, while selected senior officials will be given attachment opportunities at overseas circuits to gain practical experience. This year, selected senior officials will be sent to Adelaide, Melbourne and Darwin in Australia as well as Sepang, Malaysia for training attachments.

Happenings

Singapore GP Opens Recruitment For Race Officials

IN Singapore, GP, F1, Night, Race, Officials, Recruitment

Here's your chance to be part of the world's first and only Formula One night race.

Happenings

Detroit Motor Show 2011

IN NAIAS, Detroit, Michigan, Motor, Show

A good sign of the recovering economy, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) features an impressive exhibitor's list.

It's odd that I should find myself worried about how you readers will take to that last sentence. We have come to a point in the motoring industry that performance car makers are doing away with manual gearboxes, and dual-clutch transmissions are everything - they're faster, easier to live with, and offer the best of both worlds. Which begs the question, which 'two worlds' are we talking about exactly? The world of expedient step-and-go driving? Maybe. The world of engaging and immense motoring fun? Not necessarily so.

Readers' Rides

Manic. Magical. Manual. | BMW M3 CoupÃ© (M)

IN BMW, M3, V8, CoupÃ©, Manual

A maniacally fast coupÃ© that handles magically with the joys of a good ol' manual gearbox. There, my review of the BMW M3 is pretty much done.

The test car that we have, happens to be the exact antithesis that the purists loathe. But just in case you're one of those touchy purists who is about to fly into a rage and smash your fist into your computer screen as you read this review, let me just tell you more about this car's saving grace. This pristine white E90 M3 is not just another one of those entry level M3s, but a car equipped with BMW's Competition Package option, which is a set of performance oriented enhancements to quench the enthusiast's yearning for the CSL to make its return. CSL by the way stands for Coupe, Sport, Lightweight, the very three alphabets that represent the purest driver and most track oriented cars BMW has to offer. And with the Competition Package, this E90 M3 is the closest one can get to a CSL, save the M3 GTS due to its price point in comparison.

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On Competing Terms | BMW M3 Competition Sedan

IN BMW, M3, V8, Competition, Sedan

With the BMW M3 Competition Package, this is possibly BMW's modern iteration of the CSL.

Modified

Singapore's Best | Mitsubishi Evo

IN Competition, Mitsubishi, Evo, Cycle & Carriage, Singapore

The results are out! Eight awesome Evos slug it out and open themselves up for scrutiny under the eyes of our judges and 7000++ Burnpavement.com readers! Here are the top three Evos in Singapore!

They not only anchored a quirky 1.3L engine in its bay, the car gulps on petrol like how a deprived Asiatic elephant does to a river. You have little time to realize that you are coughing up nearly two dollars for every six kilometres, and you are rivaling in proximity to that black Chrysler cab.

Classics

Rotary Heaven | Mazda RX-7 FD3S & FC3S

IN Mazda, RX-7, FD3S, FC3S, Rotary, 1.3, RX-8, Efini

Our freelance writer laments at the practicality of RX-7s of old, but celebrates the fact that they were never made for that anyway!

Happenings

Peugeot RCZ Roars Into Town

IN Peugeot, RCZ, CoupÃ©

The voluptuous RCZ, first seen in concept form back in 2007, has landed on our shores. Just as gorgeous in the flesh as it appeared on paper, it looks set to be the next big thing!

Build quality and design aside, how does the car fare in performance? Using the very same engine found in the 308 hatch back and SW, the 308CC’s 1.6-litre turbo charged engine paired with a responsive and smooth shifting slush box churns out 156 horses and 240 Nm worth of torque and performs ably, going from zero to 100 in 9.5 seconds, which is a reasonable time for its class. The car however should not be misconstrued as an all out performance car as it is more of a boulevard cruiser than a tarmac bruiser. In terms of handling, the 308CC feels like a relatively large sedan that needs to be eased around bends. The steering is a tad light weight but offers decent feedback which is perfect when driving at low speeds, but should you prod the accelerator hard, the drive becomes less confidence inspiring, which is why you should never thrown it round a corner. But on the daily get go, the 308CC does offers a pliant and comfortable ride, with its suspension taking the road irregularities well in its stride. Scuttle shake however is still existent, but that is just a typical trait found in convertibles.

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Gallic Sun Kiss | Peugeot 308CC

IN Peugeot, Coupe, Cabriolet, 308, CC

Pioneering the art of folding roofs since 1930s, Peugeot has never lost its desire to give drivers the libertÃ© to drive in either the coupÃ© or cabriolet configuration.

Under the bonnet, the performance of the 2.0-litre 16V turbo engine has been enhanced with an optimised electronic engine control system. Despite regulatory restrictions, the MÃ©gane Renaultsport N4's engine puts out 265hp and torque of 470 Nm. It is linked to a five-speed H-pattern gearbox, developed specifically for this purpose. On the strength of its experience in the field, Renault Sport Technologies has sought to design an innovative, reliable and high-performance package that also takes on board the notion of cost control at every stage of development. The intention is to make Renault MÃ©gane RS N4 accessible to all drivers, and be both easy to handle and economical to run. Like all of the vehicles in its rally range, MÃ©gane Renaultsport N4 is to be sold by Renault Sport Technologies in the form of a kit comprising all the specific parts.

Motorsports

Renault Megane RS N4

IN Renault, Megane, RS, N4

Noted for its striking design and having won acclaim for its chassis and engine, Renault's MÃ©gane RS is now to give rise to a rally car, the N4, intended for private teams and drivers.

The wheel wells in the arched fenders are prominently flared - another quote from the design language of the Sport Quattro. The same applies to the distinctive air outlet on the right side of the hood, which allows the five-cylinder engine to breathe more freely.

Happenings

Audi Quattro Concept

IN Audi, Quattro, Concept

Not exactly breaking news, but Audi's Quattro concept still sets our hearts racing every time we set our eyes on it. Let's hope the future gets here fast.

Happenings

Rotora Brakes Launch At AutoVox

IN Rotora, Brakes, AutoVox, Singapore, Ceramic

AutoVox, regional distributor for Rotora launched their hottest range of brakes systems at the AutoVox showroom. Guests were the first in the world to be privy to Rotora's lightweight ceramic rotors.

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Innocent By Association | BRABUS B20

IN BRABUS, Mercedes-Benz, B20, Singapore, Black, AutoVox, First Automobile Premium

The three-pointed star has always been a typical 'big boss' car. It is almost impossible to shake that image off, unless you're clearly too young to be one, but then you're likely to be "his son".

The 2.5-litre V6 unit is unchanged and pushes out a healthy 205bhp from its 24-valve Dual VVTi set-up. It is a quiet and smooth powerplant and dispatches the century sprint in a rather quick 8.4 seconds. Yet somehow, the car seems to lack the 'oomph' the figures suggest. It could be partly due to the overall (excellent) refinement that masks the speed.

New

Same But Better! | Lexus IS 250

IN Lexus, IS 250, Face-lift, V6

This is the newly restyled Lexus IS 250. Not much has changed you say? Well, you couldn't be more right, and wrong.

Instead, it was Keiichi Tsuchiya, the Japanese Drift King who took it sideways around the corners and popularized it with such reverberating fanaticism which transformed the fortunes of what was once an underground sport. Drifting in modern days has become a worldwide culture. Without Tsuchiya, Takumi might be transporting his tofu in a Nissan Silvia S15. But what is so special about these automotive antiques?

Classics

Riders On The Storm | Toyota Trueno And Levin

IN Toyota, Trueno, Levin, AE86, Hachiroku

Riders on the storm, riders on the storm, into this house we're born, into this world we're thrown...