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And on top of that, it has a maximum speed of 80 km/h; adequate for our roads that has a maximum speed limit of 70 km/h, and 90 km/h on all expressways anyway.

Happenings

Renault Twizy Arrives, LTA Undecided

IN Renault, Twizy, Renault Twizy, Renault Sport Technology, Wearnes Automotive, LTA

So the electric Twizy is here and local Renault distributor, Wearnes Automotive, is eager to launch it - problem is, they could not…

In our test though, we left it on the dashboard to charge. With just over an hour of direct sun, we could easily fully charge our iPhone 5. That's almost as fast as plugging it into the wall! It's versatile at the same time and can be charged via the sun, wall or USB connector.

The Pit

Sun Power | mPowerpad 2

IN Solar power, Charger, IPhone, IPad, MPowerpad 2, Thirdwave power

In a recent drive up to Malaysia, we brought along a rather interesting gadget to aid our multiple-phone charging woes. A solar-powered charger that worked remarkably well!

BP: Some people have said that the best racing drivers didn’t pass their driving tests on the first try - Jenson Button for example. How many attempts did you take to obtain your driver’s licence?
Alain: I did the test when I was 18 years old, the normal age at the time, and passed on the first try. (chuckles)

BP: What was your first car, and what’s your preference for your road cars you drive?

Alain: I never liked driving sports cars. When you’re driving in Formula 1 you want something a little more comfortable. The first car I bought was an Opel Kadett GT/E, which was a rally car. Unfortunately, that was the only car I had an accident with. I was going quite slow to be honest, but it was on gravel, and my friend and I ended up going 30m down the (side of a) hill. I’d only had the car three weeks, so that was quite a bad experience!

BP: I understand that your son is currently a test driver for Lotus. How is he going with that? With Kimi moving to Ferrari, might there be a spot for him next year?

Alain: It is never impossible, because he has done a good job in the last two years, and spent a lot of time on the simulator. But being a development driver, he is very focused, and it is a different way of working and it is very good for the team. Being a race driver is going to be another different thing, with qualifying one lap or doing the start, (or) even if he races in endurance or other types of races. So it is two different things and I realised it and he knows it himself that it will be difficult for him to be chosen by the team but you never know.

BP: All the best for that!

Motorsports

A Meeting With The Professor

IN Renault, Alain Prost, Prost, Wearnes,

Racing drivers live and breathe motorsports throughout their careers, but have you ever wondered what happens when they stop?

The emotional design of the BMW i8 Concept, which is on display in Singapore, ensures its qualities are clear for all to see. Its dynamic proportions give the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of surging forward before it even turns a wheel and lend visual form to its extraordinary performance. The sophisticated concept behind the upward-swiveling doors fixed to the A-pillars underlines the car’s sporting capability and opens up access to the front and rear seats at the same time.

A series of air inlets allow the air to flow through and around the vehicle to optimum effect, ensuring extremely low drag. They also add visual emphasis to these advanced aerodynamics. Airflow plays an extremely important role at the rear of the vehicle as well. Intakes behind the passenger cell and at the rear provide a cooling flow of air through the engine compartment, while outlets in the rear diffuser and the flow of air around the rear wheels ensure the car is extremely efficient in terms of lift and down force at both axles.

The BMW i8, meanwhile, is designed from the outset as a plug-in hybrid sports car, with the emphasis on agile performance and outstanding efficiency. Pairing an exceptionally lightweight, aerodynamically optimized body with cutting-edge BMW eDrive technology, a compact, highly turbocharged 1.5-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and intelligent energy management, the BMW i8 marks the next stage in the evolution of the Efficient Dynamics strategy. It can operate solely on electric power, which means zero tailpipe emissions, and offers the dynamic performance of a sports car, with an expected 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds. The BMW i8’s 231 hp petrol engine sends its power to the rear wheels, while the 131 hp electric motor powers the front wheels.

Happenings

All-electric BMW i3 Makes South East Asia Preview

IN BMW, I3, I8, Electric, Hybrid

BMW Asia recently showcased the production-ready all-electric BMW i3 and the BMW i8 Concept sports car at the BMW i: The Future of Mobility, Singapore Showcase 2013.

With McLaren’s thirty years’ experience working with carbonfibre (first carbonfibre chassis in Formula One and first all carbon-bodied road car, the F1), it comes as no surprise that the P1 is entirely constructed from the black weave — right down to its central load-bearing structure, the MonoCage tub. And since carbonfibre is moulded, the body panels could be shaped in far more complex and extreme ways than if they were made of steel or aluminium. Indeed, it is a real treat to witness and examine the P1 in the flesh, where you can’t help but marvel at how sculpted the car looks. Pictures alone do not do it justice.

Happenings

McLaren P1 Makes Southeast Asian Debut

IN McLaren, P1, Wearnes, McLaren Automotive, Hypercar, F1

Singapore is the first stop for the P1 as it makes its way around the region

Guest-of-Honour Mr Jose Raymond, Executive Director of Singapore Environment Council, who officiated the send-off, said:

Motorsports

Flying Our Flag At The Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2013

IN Singapore, ITE, NTU, Ngee Ann polytechnic, Shell, Eco Marathon, Green, Sustainable, Energy

The future looks green as students from tertiary institutions compete for Eco-glory.

The whole 'alternative-fuelled cars' fever is pretty much still going on, and if there’s one car company that you have to thank for it all, well, it has to be Toyota. They may not be the first to mass-produce hybrid cars, but they definitely did a good job at commercialising this concept and also making it the way forward.

New

The Electric Co | Audi A1 e-tron

IN Audi, A1, E-tron, Audi A1 e-tron, A1 e-tron, Ingolstadt, Audi Future Lab, Audi TSC

Audi let us briefly sample their innovative electric A1

Thanks to its lightweight construction (composite body panels on top of a tubular spaceframe chassis), the Twin’Run weighs just 950kg, and can hit 100km/h in 4.5s before topping out at 250km/h. The car sits on 18-in wheels, with double wishbone suspension and Ohlins shock absorbers all around.

Happenings

Run For Miles

IN Renault, TwinRun, Concept, V6, Race

This is the French at their loony best, stuffing a big V6 into the rear of a tiny car. And what did they do with it after that? Thrash it round a track, of course!

When coupled together, the total output is good for producing upwards of 900 bhp and 900Nm of torque, while emitting less than 200g/km of CO2. The electric motor is not only for boosting power though, the car can be driven as a pure EV. That said, the range is not exactly what you would call ‘adequate’, but the 9.6 km range would probably be enough for one to drive to the nearby shops and back. The 96kg battery can be charged either the engine or by a plug-in charger, which will take it from empty to full in two hours.

Happenings

Production McLaren P1 All Set To Show!

IN McLaren Singapore, McLaren Automotive, Singapore, P1

McLaren’s halo car is set to be a tough competitor to its Ferrari rival. Watch out Maranello!

Aside from the ActiveHybrid badges, it's pretty much the same on the outside, what you get on a regular 3 Series sedan is what you'll find on the AH3. Our test car did come with some silver aluminum inserts and trimmings, the signature kidney grille for example, has its slats finished in silver instead of chrome. Another quick way to differentiate the AH3 from the regular 3 Series is to look at the wheels (provided they aren't spinning). The rotor-styled wheels are unique to the AH3, and along with its bigger brethren, the AH5 and AH7, complete the range of propeller-design wheels on the ActiveHybrid series.

New

Mean & Green | BMW ActiveHybrid 3

IN BMW, 3 Series, Performance Motors, Hybrid, Active Hybrid, 3

How do we save the world without any super powers? BMW has the answer. Packing 335 bhp and 450 Nm, the ActiveHybrid 3 is both mean and green!

In Singapore, with a dominant market share, Borneo Motors is currently the leader in hybrids, offering the widest range of hybrid models in various segments. The Prius C, being the leader in the hybrid segment, topping the charts with 33.6% market share since its launch in Feb 2012 and has grown the segment.

Happenings

Toyota Reveals Line-Up For 2013

IN Toyota, Borneo Motors, 86, RAV4, CEVS, Auris, Yaris, Avanza

Toyota shares with us their host of new exciting models and wallet-friendly cars for the year ahead.

The Audi A6 hybrid can drive at up to 100 km/h purely on electric power and has a range of three kilometers at a constant 60 km/h. It can also drive using the combustion engine alone or in hybrid mode.

Happenings

Audi Launches New A6 Hybrid With A Special Preview Of The A1 e-tron

IN Audi, A6, Hybrid, E-tron

Efficiency of a four-cylinder engine with the performance of a V6? That's what the Audi A6 hybrid offers. Combining the best of both worlds in efficiency and power.

Renault has focused on training its network, sales staff, technicians and repairers with the aim of offering customers seamless service. It even conducted a 1 million kilometer reliability test, which reaped success. Electric vehicles were first tested in 'The Sims 3' virtual community before being put through real-world trials involving more than 400 EVs and a panel of users.

Happenings

Wearnes Automotive Launches Renault's Zero Emission Cars

IN Renault, Wearnes Automotive, Zero Emission, Z.E, Fluence, Renault Fluence Z.E

An initiative to make electric cars more accessible to local motorists, two Renault models are now available for booking

Being an Infiniti, there is never any shortage of acceleration when it is needed. The 3.5-litre petrol V6 delivers 360 hp, backed up by 350 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. The electric motor is rated at 67 HP (50 kW) and provides high torque from zero rpm, peaking at 270 Nm at just 1,770 rpm, ensuring dynamic performance from standstill.

New

Infiniti's M35h Hybrid - Zero To Hero In 5.5 Seconds

IN Infiniti, M35, M35h, Hybrid, Infiniti M35h Hybrid, Infiniti Singapore, Wearnes Automotive

Infiniti's first hybrid to use a new-generation Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid technology; one electric motor with twin-clutch system to deliver linear performance and consistent rear-drive handling

Incorporating a full-width, aerodynamic spoiler for improved high speed stability, the lower bumper’s flared extremities house deeply rebated fog lamps. Both upper and lower grilles feature a sporting, F SPORT-specific mesh design.

Happenings

Face-lifted Lexus RX Range With F Sport Package To Arrive In Q2

IN Lexus, RX, F Sport, Borneo Motors

Making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on 6 March 2012, the face-lifted RX range, consisting of the RX 270, RX 350 and RX Hybrid, is set to arrive in Singapore in Q2 this year.

Happenings

Porsche Launches Turbo S And Hybrid Models for Its Panamera

IN Porsche, Panamera, Stuttgart Auto, Turbo S, Hybrid

Stuttgart Auto, distributors of Porsche in Singapore launched two new Porsche Panamera variants, the Panamera S Hybrid and the Panamera Turbo S at the Pavilion at Customs House yesterday.

“This vehicle will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It’s a revolution in automotive design,” stressed Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board responsible for Development. The application of this new CFRP technology allows a weight reduction, compared to a conventional electric car, of between 250 and 350 kilos, and that means more dynamic handling coupled with a greater range. The BMW i3 does the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in less than eight seconds, while a high-speed charger achieves an 80% battery charge in just an hour.

Happenings

BMW Group presents mobility of the future

IN BMW, BMW Group, I3, I8, Electric, Mobility, Concept

BMW Group showcases its visions of future mobility in the shape of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept studies, due to be launched as the BMW i3 in 2013 and the BMW i8 in 2014.