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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.

So what's stopping us from buying a diesel? Other than the prohibitively high and punitive road tax targeted at private diesel car owners, there's still a perception that diesel cars have high pollution levels and don't perform as well as petrol powered vehicles. However with modern day technology that can be found in the cars featured below, one would have to think otherwise. Here's a selection of nine cars that'll change your mind about diesel cars, complete with horsepower and torque ratings.

Happenings

Driving Towards A Low CO2 Singapore

IN Diesel, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen

Fear this, hybrids and electric cars... modern diesel technology may have pipped you in being the answer to a greener future.

The power delivery in sport mode can be a little sudden. It accelerates normally, followed by a surge when the turbo kicks in. We do love the explosive acceleration but in heavy traffic, it's a bit hard to drive smoothly unless you leave it in Normal, or Eco mode which has the least throttle responsiveness, but delivers the smoothest drive.

New

Can You Dig It? | Nissan Juke DIG-T

IN Nissan, Juke, DIG-T, Turbo, Crossover

Striking, bold and curvaceous, Nissan has been brave with the Juke. But is it naughty enough? We drive it to find out.

Happenings

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2010

Despite a year's delay, the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010 boasts record-breaking visitor numbers.

The Pit

Monthly Giveaways! January 2011

IN X-mini, Speakers, Capsule

Our first giveaway for 2011! Win yourself a special edition X-mini speaker courtesy of Xmi Pte Ltd!

Modified

Singapore's Best VW Golf | Entry Seven (7)

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

This fully decked-out ABT GTi Mk6 has a clean but aggressive demeanor. Complimenting its handsome looks is a brawny ABT-tuned engine to match.

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.

New

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!

Modified

Singapore's Best VW Golf | Entry Six (6)

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

This contrasty white Mk5 GTi on glossy black rims packs a Stage 2 punch and whole list of go-fast mods.

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!

However, if there’s any comment to be made on the exterior of the new fifth generation Polo, it does come with some lineage pretensions, its silhouette resembling a Golf from afar. It sports the same chunky dimensions as its older sibling with the same staid looking roof line. Product differentiation wise, there are still some elements that separate the Polo from the Golf such as the rear lights and a sportier looking front bumper.

New

That's A Mint Car! | Volkswagen Polo Sport

IN VW, Volkswagen, Polo, 1.2, TSI

A new engine offering petrol performance with diesel economy, does it even exist? Look no further than this sporty little Polo 1.2 TSI.

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.

New

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.

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.

Modified

Singapore's Best VW Golf | Entry Five (5)

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

This Mk 6 GTi may look like it just rolled out of the showroom, but it's the attention to detail paid to what's beneath the skin that matters.

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...

After a highly successful first season, the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship will begin as it did in 2010, in Abu Dhabi at the end of March. As well as the event in the United Arab Emirates, the events in Algarve, Silverstone, Navarra, Paul Ricard and San Luis are all carried over from the inaugural season. The four new tracks on the 2011 calendar include Zolder (Belgium), Sachsenring (Germany) and Curitiba (Brazil), with the GT1 World Championship heading into new territory in September with a race in China, at the Ordos International Circuit.

Motorsports

China And Russia Added To The FIA GT Championships for 2011

IN China, Russia, FIA, GT1, GT3

The 2011 calendars for the FIA GT1 World and GT3 European Championships have been announced by the FIA World Motor Sport Council with two new events in key markets for luxury and sports car manufactur

The Pit

Monthly Giveaways! December 2010

IN Hobby East, Slot car, Ninco

Win for yourself and three friends a full-day slot car track pass courtesy of Hobby East! All you have to do is tag yourself to the product image on our Facebook page!