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This time however, the LC 500 finds itself in a slightly different world. By the time COE and a few options such as an alloy wheel or paint colour of your choice are added the new 992-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, you’d be knocking on the door of $700k. There is however, an even better reason to be considering this car, the LC 500 Convertible. If you want the purity of a naturally-aspirated V8 engine, this is the only game in town. To the uninitiated, this means that there’s less plumbing to get in the way of the exhaust noise to make its way out.
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A V8 to Savour | Lexus LC 500 Convertible

IN Lexus, LC, LC500, Lexus LC, Lexus LC500, Convertible, Lexus LC Convertible, Lexus LC500 Convertible, Borneo Motors

We may never get to hear a V8 unadulterated by turbochargers again. That alone is reason enough to buy this car while we still can.


It all began with conversation about how our friend's recently-acquired BMW 728i (E38) was an excellent mile muncher. Before we knew it, Google Maps was pulled out, and these words set us past the point of no return.
The Pit

Eh, let's drive to Bangkok

IN Road trip, Thailand, Bangkok, Cross-border, Bmw, E38, 7 series, 728i

Random dinnertime banter very quickly turned into a 3,700 kilometre roadtrip... in a classic German luxobarge.


It’s a brilliant masterstroke by the Japanese outfit because they’ve immediately made what would normally cost three to four times more, more easily accessible by the mass market.
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Quick spin | Suzuki Jimny 1.5

We spend a day with Suzuki’s popular Jimny and see what the fuss is all about.


As a result, it’s not surprising that we almost never get the chance to present to you, dear readers, the kind of daydream-inspiring metal that our UK counterparts regularly do; today is different, however. Apart from the VW Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R, no other cars can lay claim to being as indelible a part of the 21st Century hot hatch zeitgeist as the reincarnated Mini and the Renault Megane RS. The three generations of each have generally been fabulous even in standard form, but it’s their apex, most focused iterations that have most vividly captured the imagination - the John Cooper Works GPs in the British/German corner, and the R26.R and Trophy Rs in the French one.
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The Winners’ Circle | Mini JCW GP & Renault Mégane Trophy

IN MINI, JCW, JCW GP, MINI JCW, MINI JCW GP, Renault, Megane, RenaultSport, Renault Megane, Renault Megane RS, Megane RS

We round up two of the rarest hot hatch icons in Singapore - the MINI JCW GP and Renault Mégane Trophy - in search of the ultimate front-wheel drive thrills.


Besides all these options being a huge time-suck, the first two aren’t even possible during Phase 2 Heightened Alert. Neither is the free 3-in-1 Nescafe in the workshop waiting area. Furthermore, why risk exposure with the third option in a time when COVID-19 community cases are still being reported daily?
Happenings

SPC SpeedyCare collaborates with AutoApp for stay-at-home car maintenance

IN AutoApp, AutoApp SG, Car concierge

Customers can now use AutoApp to send their cars to a SpeedyCare Auto Service Centre without leaving their homes.


In the car world, examples that come to mind are the Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, or in years past, the Bugatti EB110 Supersport, Subaru WRX STI Spec-C, Mitsubishi Evolution VII, Lancia Delta Integrale, or Alfa Romeo SZ - all cars that are highly prized by collectors, yet you cannot call any of them “classically beautiful”. In the case of the M3 Competition Sedan and M4 Competition Coupé, their huge front grilles serve a functional purpose. The cooling requirements are substantial for a twin-turbo engine that makes 510hp and 650Nm of torque in any part of the world where temperatures can reach in excess of 50-degrees Celsius.
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M and Ms | BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition

IN BMW, M3, M4, BMW M3, BMW M4, Performance Motors Limited

The latest dynamic duo from the BMW M division arrive in Singapore to offer two distinct flavours of performance.


Joining the existing Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car and Mercedes-AMG C 63S Estate medical car, the pair from Gaydon will make their debut at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this Sunday. Aston Martin Vantage safety car It’s not easy staying in front of Lewis Hamilton on an F1 circuit, thus the Vantage safety car has been fettled with by the engineering team to improve track performance and lap times. Power is now up 25 bhp to 528 bhp, but torque remains unchanged at 685 Nm – although “sustained for longer” in this application. The transmission has also been improved, giving “a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts”.
Happenings

Safety in Numbers

IN F1, Formula One, Safety Car, Medical Car, Aston Martin, Aston Martin Vantage, Aston Martin DBX, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-AMG GTR, Mercedes-AMG C63S

For the first time in the history of Formula One, there’ll be two official Safety and Medical Cars – from both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG.


The 3 Series has long been a stalwart of the fiercely competitive compact executive sedan segment; with Singapore’s vehicle tax structure generating consistently healthy sales for its entry level models. Buyers are happy with a premium badge on the nose, for just a slight premium over alternative Asian makes.
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Less is More | BMW 318i Sport

IN BMW, BMW 3, BMW 3 Series, BMW 318i, Performance Motors Limited

With a willing engine, lively handling, and a good bit of kit, entry level doesn’t feel quite as such in the new BMW 318i.


Gone is the dynamic ‘swoosh’ that ran down the side, with the new car sporting a cleaned side profile. There’s now a single straight line that connects the bonnet to the taillights, in contrast to the sloping roofline. The outgoing model’s coupe-inspired styling is now made even more coupe-like, with an increased rear windscreen rake. This results in a much more fastback-like side profile that mimics the Civic Hatchback. Interestingly, Honda claims that the steeper windscreen hasn’t adversely affected rear-seat space, perhaps thanks to the additional 20mm in wheelbase.
Happenings

New Honda HR-V (Vezel) Revealed

IN Honda, HR-V, Vezel, Honda HR-V, Honda Vezel, Kah Motor

The latest Honda HR-V has been completely redesigned, and gains Honda’s new e:HEV hybrid powertrain.


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.


Happenings

The Ultimate R̶o̶a̶d̶ Track Car: The GMA T.50s Niki Lauda

IN GMA, Gordon Murray Automotive, Gordon Murray, T50, T50s, GMA T50, GMA T50s

725 hp of power, 485 Nm of torque, an 852kg kerb weight, and 1.5 tons of downforce – the ultimate road car is now a track car with zero compromise.


But wafting comes at a cost (usually in excess of seven figures). To make it more accessible to the rich-but-not-as-rich businessmen, premium brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar have made it their life-long aim to produce flagship models that can emulate that smooth road-yacht feel.
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Magic Carpet Ride | Audi A8 Mild Hybrid 3.0 TFSI

For the longest time, the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series have topped the luxury barge segment's market share. Can Audi's new A8 steal some sales with this new party trick?


This then, has the all-singing, all-dancing full-blooded AMG powerplant for the family of Mercedes cars that bear the letter ‘A’; A-Class, CLA and GLA. The 45 series of AMG cars is the entry point to what some might consider as a ‘proper’ AMG as the engines come from a “one-man, one-engine” production line where the finished power unit bears a plaque with the name and signature of the technician who put the mechanical masterpiece together. My compliments then, to Alexander Kasarez who built a fine motor for our test car. In this instance however, it is technically a “one-woman, one-engine” production. Here’s to Girl Power!
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Sense of Occassion | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupé

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, CLA, CLA 45S, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S

The most powerful 2.0-litre car you can buy adds a touch of practicality to make it a more useable daily proposition.


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?


More uncanny than that though, is how the car flows down any given road, the tyres always keyed into the surface, rising and falling perfectly along every bump or undulation. The XE gives a feeling of connection with the road yet never discomfort, the ride being supple and refined despite wearing large 19-inch rims. It’s a real triumph of chassis and suspension tuning, a stark contrast to the similarly athletic but frustratingly brittle-riding BMW 3 Series.
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A Sporting Tradition | Jaguar XE R-Dynamic P250

IN Jaguar, Jaguar XE, Sports sedans, Luxury sedans, New cars, Reviews

The Jaguar XE used to bring deft dynamics to the premium saloon class, but little else besides; has a facelift changed things?


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The Perfect Urban Sedan | Honda City RS

There’s never been a better time to consider the all-new Honda City; here are five excellent reasons why.


Similarly, when it comes to tyres, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a brand that was completely new to me. Davanti, is a relatively new UK-based tyre company which designs and develops its products in Great Britain.
The Pit

Silent Screamer | Davanti DX640 Tyre Review

Psst! Want to know the best-kept secret in Ultra High-Performance tyres? Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the Davanti DX640.


“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


With the exposure brought by professional drivers around the world blurring the line between racing in the real and virtual worlds, it’s clear that sim racing is here to stay, and we hope, expand further in 2021 to offer more aspiring racers an alternative path into a racing cockpit.
Happenings

From couch to cockpit: why sim racing isn’t child’s play

IN Porsche, Sim racing, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, E-sports, Gaming, Simulators

Growing manufacturer support highlights how much sim racing has grown in 2020, with Porsche Asia Pacific recently concluding its first eSports racing tournament.


Since getting the RE004s fitted, I’ve covered just over 2,000km with them. In this short time, the improvements over the RE003 have shone through clearly – handling and steering response in the dry is markedly better. Through both sharp corners and long sweepers, the RE004s don’t understeer and push out quite as much as the RE003s, and they respond well to mid-corner corrections.
The Pit

Tyre Review: Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE004

IN Bridgestone Tyre Sales Singapore, Bridgestone, Potenza, Potenza Adrenalin, Potenza RE004, RE004, Performance Tyre, Street Performance Tyre, Tyre, New Tyre

Have no fear, Bridgestone’s new working class hero is here!



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