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A mismatch though it may be, the engine is still a great unit. It produces just 94bhp, which admittedly isn’t fantastic, but makes up with 230Nm of torque. That’s more pulling power than some NA 2.4-litre engines! An even bigger selling point though, is its cleanliness — just 99g/km of CO2. Perhaps this why only this engine is being imported here — it gets the maximum $20,000 CEVS rebate, a useful saving in Singapore’s problematic car market. And naturally, being a diesel, fuel consumption is excellent too; I managed just under 17km/l over 370km of not-particularly-economic driving.
New

Call Of The Jungle… | Peugeot 208 e-HDi

IN Peugeot, 208, 1.6 e-HDi, Diesel

… The urban one, that is. Peugeot’s latest baby has landed and, curiously for this end of the market, it’s a diesel!


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


With that, say hello to the new C4 Picasso. Previewed earlier this year in Geneva by the Technospace concept, the production version doesn’t look like it’s changed one bit, save for the non-body coloured rims. According to Citroen, the egg-shaped cab-forward shell (geddit? Shell? Egg? Never mind) is 40mm shorter than the old car, yet has a 55mm longer wheelbase for added legroom. The new Picasso has also shed 140kg in the quest for lower CO2 emissions.
Happenings

Art For All The Family

IN Citroen, C4, Picasso, MPV

MPVs don’t usually have a right to look stylish, but Citroen clearly disagrees.


Happenings

Mercedes' New AMG is a 'CLA45' Act!

IN Mercedes, Benz, CLA45, CLA, AMG, Coupe

The CLA gets a powerful 4 cylinder engine and all wheel drive to turn it into a mad, track munching beast.


GM hasn’t announced prices yet but has said that the Z/28 will be more expensive than the ZL1. My opinion? Get one, rip out the rear seats, install a half-cage and straight-through exhaust, then store it at the upcoming Iskandar race track in Johor and you’d have the most badass brute on the track.
Happenings

Return Of A Legend

IN Chevrolet, Chevy, Camaro, GM, Z/28, V8, LS7, Trackday, Muscle

Due to its large size and heavy gross weight, the current Camaro has always been seen as more of a cruiser than a bruiser. Until now.


Already distinctive and rather good to look at, the new 3 Series is made even more desirable with this aggressive bodykit. While the stock 3 has design cues that resemble the bigger 5 Series, the added M kit seems to lend well to help the 316i carve its own identity, which is definitely a good thing.
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Less Can Be More | BMW 316i M Sport

IN BMW, 3 Series, 316i, 335i, M-Sport

Last to the 3 Series family, the 316i may pack the least power, but it's so affable, it may just leave its middle siblings neglected by the crowd.


Enter the new Forester XT. With a 2-litre ‘Direct Injection Turbo’ flat-four putting out 240 bhp and 350 Nm, the car will sprint to 100 in 7.5s and top out at 221 km/h. And, this being a crossover, the long-travel suspension should be able to soak up the bumps quite decently. The perfect replacement for newly minted dads needing something more family-friendly than their hopped-up WRXes?
Happenings

A Real Trailblazer

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

No, not that honking great GM SUV; Subaru’s latest offering has the pace to be a real scorcher.


As before, two engine options will be available, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK gearboxes. The base Cayman has a 2.7-litre flat 6 with 275 bhp, while the S shares its 3.4-litre engine with the 991 Carrera, albeit in a different state of tune, producing 325 bhp. Thanks to stop-start and direct injection, Porsche claims a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency, bringing the figures to 7.9km/l and 8.4km/l for the base and S models.
Happenings

Arrival Of The New Cayman

IN Porsche, Cayman, S, PDK, Boxster, Coupe

Evolution is once again the name of the game at Porsche, with the launch of the 2nd-gen Cayman and Cayman S.


No need to hunt for a parking lot or wonder where to go, the Basement 2 car park is dedicated to receive you. Just pull up at the service reception bay and a service advisor will attend to you promptly. He will then run through the areas that your car will be worked on for the day, and proceed to give you a cost estimate.
Happenings

Audi Service Excellence 'Test Driven'

IN Audi, Audi Centre, Aftersales, Service, Premium Auto

They could have sent out a press release saying that they've got a great aftersales service program. But Audi went one better and invited us to experience it for ourselves.


Combine that brief with Tilke's characteristic safety features and tarmac run-off areas (less exciting for professional racing, much safer and friendlier for trackdays), and everyone's a winner. As a car enthusiast in Singapore caged by endless rules and taxes, this news comes at a perfect time to give us hope and take our minds off the recent ridiculous trends in our car industry. If you'll excuse me, I've now got to start saving for my own trackday monster...
Happenings

FASTrack Iskandar Appoints Hermann Tilke As Track Designer

IN FASTrack, Iskandar, Johor, Malaysia, Track, Racetrack, Motorsports, Trackday

Motorsports fans and petrolheads rejoice. After news of the Changi Motorsposrts Hub's demise left car enthusiasts disappointed, there now seems to be hope for the local motorsports fraternity.


The Cascada looks to be a serious contender to some of its more established German rivals. Cheaper, more practical and with arguably better looks than an A5 Cabrio, GM has an ambitious target in its sights. Sure, with an A5, you can brag to all your friends that you have an Audi, and granted, the Vauxhall/Opel Badge is not as desirable as an Audi one. But which do you prefer? A large, well made, good looking and practical car with some extra cash left over from the purchase of the car or a slightly smaller, well made Audi, with nothing left in your pocket? The choice is yours.
Happenings

Topless Vauxhall Unveiled!

IN Opel, Vauxhall, GM, Cascada, Convertible, Cabriolet

Vauxhall builds Astra and Insignia-based 4 seater convertible.


Now, I can bet with you that Lamborghini would like to be known as the manufacturer that makes wild supercars again. At the Geneva Motor Show, they made sure that that nickname stuck by launching the Lamborghini Veneno. Underneath the radically styled carbonfibre body, lie the chassis and the running gear of the Aventador.
Happenings

Ultra Rare Aventador-Based Supercar Launched!

IN Lamborghini, Veneno, Anniversary, V12, Geneva

Lamborghini builds the insane Veneno to celebrate its 50th anniversary.


Happenings

Beetle: Now With Added Poke

IN VW, Volkswagen, Beetle, TSI

VW Singapore bolsters the Beetle range with a more powerful 1.4 TSI twincharged engine that packs 160 bhp.


The 3.8-litre V8 engine, although smaller than the previous flagship's 4.7-litre, is built to deliver 18% more power and 39% more torque, while having a 20% reduction in emissions. 530 bhp is available if you're gunning it all the way to 6800 rpm, but a hefty 650 Nm of torque starts to warm you up from as low as 2000rpm. Oh, and this can be overboosted to 710 Nm from 2250 rpm, enabling the car to hit 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds!
Happenings

Private Preview Of The All New Maserati Quattroporte

IN Maserati, Quattroporte, V8, V6, Sedan, Twin turbo

Maserati's all new Quattroporte received a warm welcome by the media recently at a private preview held by Hong Seh Motors, distributors for the italian marque.


The new Mazda 6 has adopted the 'KODO — Soul of Motion' design theme the most. Inspired by the movements of the cheetah in the wild, the new model features the signature wing grille, the new family face of Mazda. Headlamps incorporate LEDs and a new halo ring light, while linking the face to the side character lines and onwards to the signature tail lights.
Happenings

Mazda Launches The New Sexy 6!

IN Mazda, 6, SkyActiv

The Mazda TAKERI and SHINARI (sounds like sushi) concept cars were great. The actual car while not as wild, is certainly a worthy interpretation. But will it sell as well as its predecessors?


The difference is not only cosmetic. The new DB9 gets more poke too. That said, this is no Vanquish; the new DB9 is heavier than the Carbon-Bodied Vanquish. Anyways, back to the topic. The new DB9 is powered by Aston Martin's trademark 6.0-liter V12.
Happenings

Aston Martin Facelifts The DB9

IN Aston Martin, DB9

The DB9 is the latest Aston to receive a facelift. So how did its little surgery turn out?


Stomp on the pedal from standstill and the new GTI will accelerate to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 246 km/h. The GTI Performance will edge ahead a little at 250 km/h and 6.4 seconds for the sprint to 100 km/h.
Happenings

New Volkswagen Golf GTI To Grace Geneva Motor Show

IN Volkswagen, Golf, GTI, Geneva Motor Show

Following the news on Volkswagen's GTD diesel hot-hatch, their iconic GTI has officially been announced and will make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show.


Ok, so we've driven it on curvy italian sweepers, but how does it fare on our local roads. We grab the keys to a Golf Sport which packs 140 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The 1.4 TSI turbocharged engine will enable the Golf Sport to hit 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds from standstill, and onto an impressive 212 km/h, where roads allow.
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Hole-In-One | Volkswagen Golf Sport 1.4 TSI

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, Golf, 1.4 TSI, TDI, DSG, Mk 7, 7, 1.6 TDI

Volkswagen scores a hole-in-one with the new Golf. We drive it, only to find out that it has just bagged the coveted Car of the Year award. We couldn't agree with the judges more.



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