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The CLA Shooting Brake (SB) is based on the exact same platform as the four other variants mentioned above. As such, engines, interior and driving feel would be extremely familiar to anybody who's driven any of the other cars.
Happenings

Rooftop launch for Mercedes' new CLA Shooting Brake

IN Mercedes Benz, CLA, Shooting Brake, Wagon, Launch

The latest result of Mercedes' genre-bending onslaught, the CLA Shooting Brake is targeted at the "discerning urbanite".


Noticeably from the third tankful onwards, the engine needed less effort to move off and I could shift up at 3,500 rpm instead — even with two additional passengers. On top of that while cruising along the expressway, the engine seem less coarse than before. As a whole, it definitely feels more effortless to drive now — something I highly appreciate, as this daily driver of mine is somewhat providing additional comfort to make driving a less tedious affair. Caltex definitely delivered what was said on their label with this one.
The Pit

The Caltex Techron — Burnpavement Reader Survey

IN Caltex, Chevron, Caltex petrols, Caltex Singapore, Techron, Techron fuels

We share our honest findings after several tanks full of Caltex Platinum 98 with Techron.


In fact, partner Liqui Moly Team Engstler will be running two cars at the eighth round of the Touringcar Racer International Series (TCR) at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (A). This will be the first competitive test for the car. “The newly created TCR category provides a promising platform for customer racing — on a national and international level. With exciting races, production-based technology and reasonable costs, it offers a new outlook for private racing teams,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito.
Motorsports

A Golf for the racetrack.

This TCR-ready (Touringcar Racer International Series) Golf concept is one mean wide-bodied hatchback on steroids.


New

Swag-on | Peugeot 308 SW 1.2 Allure

IN Peugeot, Pug, 308, 308 SW, 2015 Peugeot 308 SW, Wagon, Estate, Petrol, 308 Allure, What The Pug Say, 1.2 Turbo, Turbocharged

For those who need slightly more space and versatility over a hatchback or sedan, Peugeot’s solution here is worth a closer attention


That said, the Jetta is a major departure from its conservatively styled Bora (remember that one?). Walk around it, and you’ll notice how its sporty frontage is akin to a bull glaring fiercely, waiting to charge towards the matador with the VW emblem making itself known. Those new headlamps with LED daytime running light however, only come standard with this top-tier Highline version by the way. Also, Volkswagen redesigned the front bumper to improve the car's overall aerodynamics - thankfully, it still remains handsome…
New

Right Proportions | Volkswagen Jetta Highline

IN Volkswagen, VW, Jetta, Highline, Jetta Highline, Sedan, Veedub, Volkswagen Group Singapore

Can the latest facelift exercise make the Jetta any more desirable?


And for some — myself included — that simply, well, sucks; because along with the evolution, the cost of buying and maintaining one (servicing, petrol, road tax and insurance) has become expensive. A classic example is a fellow scribe who, having jumped from a humble Suzuki Ignis Sport - when his COE ended - to a Mark VI Golf GTI, ‘fainted and had to be revived with Axe oil rubbed into my nose’ (his exact words) the first time he pumped a full tank of petrol; the same thing happened when he did its second and third refuel. I’m equally sure most of you, who went through a similar jump, could associate with the similar scenario.My point is this: hot-hatches have grown in more ways than one.
New

Flashback | Renault Clio R.S Sport

IN Renault, Clio, RenaultSport, R.S, Clio R.S, Sport, Wearnes Automotive

So the French is at it again giving us a playful little hatchback; but isn’t overly loud this time around


Well there are other family hatchbacks available out there you can park your money at, namely the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Opel Astra, Renault Megane, Chevrolet Cruze, Toyota Auris and BMW 116i even. Heck if you want something unconventional, you could even consider the new 5-door Mini. But Singaporeans have spoken and their choice, it seems, is still the Golf; like how the Corolla Altis is the ultimate choice if you’re looking for a family sedan.
New

A Hole In One? | Peugeot 308 1.2 Allure

IN Peugeot, Pug, 308, 2015 Peugeot 308, Petrol, 308 Allure, What The Pug Say, 1.2 Turbo, Turbocharged

Peugeot’s Golf competitor arrives in its latest guise with one aim only — to take the crown as the best family hatchback


Developed by a small team of Ford Performance engineers in Europe and US, the new Focus RS is the third generation of Focus RS cars, following models launched in 2002 and 2009. It will be the 30th car to wear the legendary RS badge, following such technology trendsetters as the 16-valve 1970 Escort RS1600, the turbocharged Sierra RS Cosworth of 1985 (oh, and remember its radical aerodynamics?), and the four-wheel-drive 1992 Escort RS Cosworth. The all-new Focus RS is also the first ever RS model that will be sold around the world and produced for all markets at Ford’s Saarlouis, Germany, manufacturing plant beginning late this year.
Happenings

Ford's New Focus RS

IN Ford, Focus, RS, Ford Focus RS

Listen up all hot-hatch fans: Ford's all-wheel drive Focus RS all set to thrill!


The new car features subtle but key differences to refine yet further the overall package. At the front, a new lower apron with larger air intakes and a horizontal bar combines with reshaped BMW kidney grilles and new headlamps that feature LED daytime driving lights as standard on all models. For the first time, full LED headlamps with low and main beam have been added to the options list, with Adaptive LED headlamps a further option. These follow the path of the road ahead, and also adapt their beam according to the type of road and conditions at any given moment. At the rear, new tail lamps with a familiar BMW ‘L’ shape design adopt striking LED technology.
Happenings

New 1 Series for 2015

IN BMW, 1 Series, 2015 1 Series, 1, 118i, 120i, M135i, 116d, 118d, 120d, 125d

BMW's successful hatchback receives a more stylish exterior and new engines


This thing is fast, fast and fast everywhere it goes and better still, you don’t have to give the accelerator a full-on stomp just to catapult you to the next junction. But if you were to work that right foot, just get ready to see yourself pushed hard into the seat as your eyeballs go backwards, see your own brains, and then go back into its original position; at the same time, enjoy the sight of lesser hatches and so-called performance sedans trying very, very hard to catch up. There’s just so much go in this car, ‘aggressive’ would be an understatement; perhaps the word aggressivestest would be more apt…
New

Who Cares What This Is | Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG

IN Mercedes-Benz, GLA, GLA45 AMG, Mercedes, Cycle & Carriage Industries

The niche segment filler from Mercedes gets hyper this time around but the question now is, who would want one?


So enter the new Renault Captur, the latest mini-SUV-crossover to hit the block after the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008.
Happenings

Captur-ing Attention

IN Renault, Captur, SUV, Launch

No longer content with offering just your run-of-the-mill hatchbacks and sedans, Renault is now looking for new niches to fill.


After all, the Golf is no lightweight considering its 1,184 kg kerbweight; and (on paper) it can only whip out some 104 bhp and 175 Nm (available from as low as 1,550 rpm, though) of torque. Last but not least, 10.2 seconds is needed to get from 0 to 100 km/h.
New

The Singapore Car | Volkswagen Golf 1.2 TSI

IN Volkswagen, Golf, 1.2 TSI, VW, 1.2, Turbocharged, DSG

A full-sized hatchback with a small engine equates to a money-saving proposition — exactly what every Singaporean driver desired…


Recently, BMW Asia invited Burnpavement to sample the new MINIs first hand on a specially designed course: Zouk’s car park area. Knowing it was all loose gravel, I anticipated lots of slippin’ and sliding’ the entire day…
Happenings

The MINI Urban Trail

IN MINI, Cooper, Cooper S, Countryman, MINI Urban Trail, BMW Asia, Eurokars Habitat

MINI lets us have a go at the new generation Cooper and Cooper S — does it still possess the fun factor, or has it grown up into something else?


The 5-door Hatch will be launched in the UK this September. Expect this model to reach Singapore by the end of this year or the early part of 2015. While there has been no indication of local prices, we reckon it would be priced between S$140,000 to S$190,000 with COE for the four different engine variants.
Happenings

A MINI With Five Doors, Anyone?

IN MINI, Mini, MINI UK, MINI Cooper, Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper D, Cooper SD, Five-door hatchback, 5-doors

Nope, your eyes are not kidding. Just months after launching the new MINI Hatch, MINI has expanded its model range with the addition of an entirely new body variant: the MINI 5-door Hatch.


That said, the anchors are always up to the task but somehow there is that noticeable dive when you give the brake pedal a hard, hard stomp to avoid that idiot who just changed lanes without checking his blindspot.
New

All Aboard | BMW 528i GT

IN BMW, GT, 5 Series GT, 528i, 528i GT, Beemer, Gran Turismo

The entry-level (take a deep breath) ‘5 Series on 7 Series platform’ hatchback has been in our market, quietly, for quite some time — do you know about it?


Which makes it a little bit of a problem for BMW. Because a product like this is so out-of-the-box, not everyone would want to embrace it wholeheartedly. Trust us, we’ve done our questionnaire and not many would like to sign up for this Bavarian hot-hatch. After all, us hot-hatch fans grew up with front-wheel drive, manual transmission type. So a wholeheartedly complete hot-hatch should remain that way; Renault’s Megane RS is the finest example.
New

Director's Cut | BMW M135i

IN BMW, M, BMW M, BMW Asia, M, M135i, BMW M135i

We've driven the M135i last year and it even made it to Burnpavement’s ‘Surprises of 2013’ list; this time, we sample a kitted M135i. Sound the alarm...


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What The Pug Say | Peugeot 2008 e-HDi

IN Peugeot, 2008, E-HDi, Peugeot 2008, AutoFrance

A jacked-up 208 with extra cabin space; sounds like an interesting proposition doesn’t it? Oh, and it’s a diesel too…


And I am not exaggerating. Really. Just how on earth did Audi manage to come up with this scheme? By planting a highly tuned 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder lump under the bonnet, and then pair it to a 6-speed S-tronic ‘box. The rest, as they would say, is history: 276 bhp at your disposal and then 380 Nm available from as low as 1,800 rpm. Jaw-dropping stuff.
New

The Super Hatch For The Super Man | Audi S3 Sportback

IN Audi, S3, Hot-hatch, Hatchback, Audi S3 Sportback, Sportback, A3

If you’re the sort who moves around a whole lot but do not possess the super power of the man with the red cape (and underwear outside), then read this


Oh yes, Mercedes’s A-Class; now how could we ever forget about it?
New

Star Light, Star Bright | Mercedes-Benz A220 CDI

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, A-Class, A220, CDI, A220 CDI, Diesel

A diesel-powered Mercedes mini might not sound compelling enough for the masses, but in a twist, the A220 CDI does have it’s own set of surprises; dieselphobes, read this…


Looks wise, the V40 R-Design is truly an exciting car that screams
New

Designed By A Rebel | Volvo V40 T4 R-Design

IN Volvo, V40, R-Design

Volvo’s answer to Audi’s S-line and BMW's M Sport turns the nondescript V40 into an able performer with the looks to boot.



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