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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.


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.


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?


“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


As we approach one of the most impactful evolutions of the automotive landscape, where electric cars will slowly-but-surely be a mainstay, BMW has made its mark with the all-new, all-electric iX SAV.
Happenings

A first look into BMW’s future

BMW reveals new iX at their NEXTGen world premiere.


Maybe it’s the fact that you turn in on and there is no audible sound that tells you it’s started. That silence is evident throughout the drive and there is no corresponding increase in audible intensity even if you’re speeding past other road users at high speed. Or perhaps it’s the clinical interior that’s full of buttons and touchscreens, much like a smart phone, that really removes the whole ‘car’ experience.
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Electronic Audi | Audi e-tron 55 Quattro

Audi’s first all-electric car to be offered here in Singapore is one of the easiest cars to get acquainted with driving an electric car.


This service, which has been described as a sort of Netflix for cars, allows users to get behind the wheel of a BMW without the heavy commitment of a purchase or lease; the service may be used for periods as short as a week or a month at a time.
Happenings

COVID-19: BMW offers discounted car subscription for healthcare workers in Singapore

IN Covid-19, Circuit breaker, BMW, Singapore, Local news

Frontline healthcare workers can enjoy safer, private mobility with Access by BMW, from $50 per day


For an ‘entry-level’ compact SUV, the Arena boasts driver assistance features (like adaptive cruise control and front assist), drive mode selection, paddle-shifters and a full suite of in-car media abilities like Apple CarPlay and androidauto which can be controlled via a large touchscreen panel. It even has wireless phone charging!
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A week with the SEAT Arona FR

In a small city-nation like Singapore, a compact SUV like the SEAT Arona is pretty much all you need.


The BMW badge is composed of 4 blue and white quadrants symbolising the Bavarian Free State. Indulging in symbolic interpretations, we are thrilled that BMW will be introducing a new model every quarter (quadrant) in 2020.
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The BMW cast for 2020

IN BMW, M8, Competition, Coupé, 2 series, GranCoupé, X5, X6, X3, M2CS, 5 series, 4 series, 6 series, GT

We gaze into the BMW crystal ball for their spectacular lineup next year.


Not likely to breathe Singapore air is Ford's 280 bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost ST wagon. Similar to Volkswagen's Golf R Variant, this is a go-fast estate for dads who need more space. The new Focus has opted for a more
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Swag-ons!

We pick some of the most desirable wagons currently being produced around the world.


But let’s assess the way it looks first. It has strong hints of the model (991) it replaces, although subtle changes to the bumper and (add-on) the LED matrix headlamps help to refresh the front-end a bit. The main changes are at the rear though.
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Get What You Pay For | Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

IN Porsche, Singapore, 911, 922, C4S, Stuttgart Auto, Eurokars

The ultimate GT sports car grows up a little bit more.


The latest Avante is available in three trim levels — there’s the base Avante for budget-conscious consumers, the mid-range Avante S which we reviewed earlier, and the top-tier Avante Elite, which is what we’ve got here.
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Everyday Luxury | Hyundai Avante Elite

IN Hyundai, Avante, Avante Elite, Hyundai Singapore, Komoco, Komoco Motors

Want to be thrifty, yet crave some luxury? Hyundai’s got you sorted.


On that note, you might've noticed that the Avante and Elantra nameplates have taken turns being on Hyundai’s Singapore-market compact sedans throughout the generations, beginning with the fourth-generation model launched in 2007.
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Financial Prudence | Hyundai Avante S

IN Hyundai, Avante, Avante S, Hyundai Singapore, Komoco, Komoco Motors

Hyundai's best-selling compact sedan gets updated


The Ferrari Styling Centre, under the direction of Flavio Manzoni, and the engineering and aerodynamics team worked with the client, who himself comes from a family of long-time Ferrari collectors.
Happenings

One-off Wonder | Ferrari P80/C

Based on a 488 GT3, this track-only creation might hold elements of Ferraris to come.


From the time it was first introduced here some four years ago, the Volkswagen Golf Variant was always only available in R-Line form. Perhaps the sporty trim was specced to help alleviate the age-old perception that estate cars look like hearses? I would never know.
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Sports-wagen | Volkswagen Golf Variant R-Line

I've said it before - I love wagons! Now one of my favourites just got prettier.


If you find the new Passat to be rather stiff and boxy looking, you might actually like the Superb instead. Strong crease lines add a sharper profile and chunkier cues give the Superb a more muscular shape compared to the Passat’s ‘flat’ look.
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Simply Superb | Skoda Superb 2.0 TSI Laurin & Klement

The flagship model from the Volkswagen-owned Czech brand lives up to its name once again.


Happenings

McLaren’s 600LT Arrives In Singapore

IN McLaren, McLaren Automotive, 600LT, McLaren 600LT, Longtail, Singapore, McLaren Automotive Asia Pte Ltd, McLaren Singapore, 2018

The fourth McLaren to carry the ‘Longtail’ name, you can have one for less than SGD$820k


Happenings

Actor Mark Wahlberg Opens Chevrolet Dealership

IN Mark Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio, Chevrolet, Chevy, 2018

The actor, who is also a self-confessed car fan, has now added a car dealership into his business portfolio


Development of the car included significant CFD simulation to optimize the ALA performance, with the exceptional downforce requiring an entire rework of the Aventador’s active and passive dynamic systems to exploit the car’s physical boundaries. Developing ALA strategies for the Aventador SVJ through both static and dynamic virtual simulations, a virtual attempt at the Nürburgring Nordschleife already returned a better lap time than the Lamborghini Huracán Performante.
Happenings

A new Lamborghini takes the Nürburgring lap record

IN Lamborghini, Aventador, SVJ, Aventador SVJ, Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, Nürburgring Nordschleife, Lamborghini Research and Development, Pirelli, 2018

Something no one saw coming, the Aventador ‘SVJ’ laps the ‘Ring in... lets just say it's fast



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