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For the longest time, the Volkswagen Golf has been the benchmark for hatchbacks, and if our impressive drive in the new Golf Mk8 was anything to go by, I’d say it still holds the crown, for now.
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Gloves off | BMW 1 Series 116i Luxury

Luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes have been criticised from time to time for ‘lowering’ their standards when making entry-level models. Is this one of them?


What, made by aliens, was it? Well, not the “little green men” sort of alien you’re thinking of (unless the workers in Honda’s Suzuka factory wear green coveralls), but fans of Doctor Who would certainly appreciate one of the Jazz’s best-loved qualities since its inception: its TARDIS-like ability to swallow up more stuff than its exterior dimensions would suggest.
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Going That Extra Mile | Honda Jazz Hybrid

IN Honda, Jazz, Hybrid, Jazz Hybrid, Honda Jazz, Honda Jazz Hybrid, Kah Motor

The Honda Jazz has always been an economical little car, but this new hybrid version is little short of miraculous.


This latest car that has gotten our blood pumping in a way that no other car has for a really long time is the Toyota GR Yaris. Depending on who you ask, you might get a different answer as to what makes it special.
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Instant Classic | Toyota GR Yaris

IN Toyota, Toyota GR, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Gazoo Racing, GR Yaris, Toyota GR Yaris

We’ve driven this much-lauded supermini, and the hype is real. Prepare to want one.


There’s plenty of apps out there that make our motoring life better, too. From the most common navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze, to the niche apps that connect to your dashcam, everyone has a go-to set of apps in their phone. Curious to see what everyone had, I peeked in the phones of the Burnpavement team. Though there were many commonalities, here’s five apps that we thought shouldn’t be missing from the phones of every driver. #1 | Parking.SG
The Pit

Five apps in our phones’ ‘Driving’ folder

IN Apps, Driving Apps, Apple iOS, Android OS

The phrase 'there’s an app for that' is truer now than ever, and apps in our motoring life are no exception. Here’s five driving-related apps we love!


But I’m guessing the RS6 caters to owners who would be in their late ’40s or mid to late ’50s. These guys have enough money to buy whatever they want, and probably already have (or had) whatever they fancied (think Ferrari 488, Porsche GT3 or McLaren 600LT), but want something that works daily that won’t give them a headache or a backache, yet makes a statement about their choice in cars.
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A Class Of Its Own | Audi RS6 Avant

What do you get when you’re fortunate enough to own a stable of supercars but need a practical daily driver that’s just as quick and ‘showy’? The Audi RS6, of course.


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.


Thanks to that, we’re massive fans of the Skoda Octavia. In fact, we liked it so much that we once had this 2006 Octavia wagon as the unofficial Burnpavement workhorse!
Happenings

5 Simply Clever things we love about the new Skoda Octavia

IN Skoda, Octavia, Combi, Skoda Octavia, Octavia Combi, Skoda Centre Singapore

The fourth-generation Skoda Octavia has just launched in Singapore with two flavours – liftback and wagon. Here’s five things we love about it!


With such a massive transformation, you’d expect this is an all-new car we’re talking about here. But no; the 2021 Lexus IS is technically still the same 3rd-generation model that debuted in 2013. The interior, for example, is almost unchanged, save for the infotainment system featuring new software, adopting Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, being moved 15cm closer to the driver, and most importantly, capable of touch operation.
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Old Dog, New Tricks | Lexus IS300 & IS300h

IN Lexus, IS, IS300, IS300h, Lexus IS, Lexus IS300, Lexus IS300h, Borneo Motors

Athletic, comfortable, and with looks to die for, the new Lexus IS is the small premium saloon of choice for the keen driver.


COVID restrictions meant we only had an hour with the car during the launch event of the new Mk8 Golf and Golf GTI (and that included time for photography as well), so we can’t give you much more than the most fleeting of first impressions. Oh, and conspiring against us further still was some truly appalling weather. But even so, there are signs that VW has turned up the aggression slightly in the Mk8 and made it a more willing entertainer than its forebears.
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FIRST DRIVE: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8

IN Volkswagen, Golf, GTI, Golf GTI, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Volkswagen Group Singapore

A brief taster of the new Golf GTI suggests that Volkswagen has injected a bit more sportiness back into the long-reigning hot hatch king.


In this latest eighth-generation model, the Golf’s tried-and-tested recipe been enhanced, refined, and modernised both inside and out. What’s new outside? The Golf’s exterior – though not always the most exciting – has always been pleasant and easily identifiable as a Golf. That hasn’t changed, with the signature chunky, forward-leaning C-pillar still present.
Happenings

Eight-gen Volkswagen Golf tees off in Singapore

IN Volkswagen, Golf, GTI, Golf GTI, Golf R, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Volkswagen Golf R

The latest iteration of Volkswagen’s iconic hot hatch is now in Singapore with more power and an all-new digitalised interior


What’s new underneath? Having debuted in Europe last year, the fourth-generation Audi A3 is finally in Singapore in both the Sedan and Sportback bodystyles. The latest A3 has been improved both inside and out, and is built on the new MQB Evo platform that that’s shared with the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf. It’ll be safe to expect the same sporty yet comfortable ride that the previous generation A3 was known for, but even that’s been made even better. The latest model gets a sophisticated new chassis, replacing the old model’s rear torsion beam suspension with a multi-link setup.
Happenings

We accidentally previewed the all-new Audi A3

IN Audi, A3, Audi A3, All-new A3, Premium Automobiles

The all-new Audi A3 has arrived in Singapore… and we managed to get a sneak preview! Here’s all that’s new and exciting about Audi’s latest offering in the compact segment.


The car we’re testing here is a face-lifted RS5. Mostly the same as the outgoing model, the front of the car sports the most distinctive tweaks. To give the updated car a fresher face, Audi has opted for perpendicular diamond-shaped black side grilles that house the fog lamps. Along with a minor redesign on the headlamp LEDs, these side intakes make the face a bit more aggressive.
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Safe House | Audi RS5 Sportback 2.9 TFSI

Fast and kinda furious, the face-lifted RS5 is still quick and sensible. But are fast Audis getting too efficient for their own good?


Of course, not everything was perfect over the last half-century. After the sublime near-perfection of the ’90s E39 generation came a couple of stumbles: the ’00s E60 with its maddeningly perplexing early iDrive system and controversial “Dame Edna” styling (though the passage of time has been kind to it), followed by the slightly bloated – aesthetically and dynamically – F10 from the early 2010s.
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Old Faithful | BMW 530i M Sport

IN BMW, BMW 5, BMW 5 Series, Performance Motors Limited

Want a large luxury sedan that can do it all? The cleverer and ostensibly greener facelifted BMW 5 Series takes some beating.


Is there more power? Many changes have been made to make the GR 86 same but better. For starters, the new 2.4-litre lump makes 35 bhp more than the outgoing 2.0-litre, now producing 232 bhp and 250 Nm. As in the new BRZ, peak torque in the GR 86 is available from a much more usable 3,700rpm.
Happenings

Toyobaru Toyota Twin Revealed

IN Toyota, GR86, Toyota GR86, Toyota GR, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyobaru, Borneo Motors

Toyota's refreshed rear-drive coupe has launched, with the same 2.4-litre flat-4 as its related Subaru twin – but a few minor differences.


Reflecting on my situation, I’ve narrowed down my choice to a compact car that is friendlier to my pockets. The good thing about the current crop of compact cars is (a) they’re zippy, (b) spacious inside, and (c) economical; with smaller engine capacity, that means significantly lower fuel bills plus cheaper road tax and insurance premiums. Voila!
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Good Things Are In Small Packages | Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line

IN Volkswagen, T-Cross, R-Line, VW, Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line, Compact SUV, SUV, Sports Utility Vehicle, City Car

If, like me, you’re looking for a compact car to replace your current ‘oversized’ one, you should probably read this


Designed from the ground up in partnership with HWA AG – the same people who helped in the construction of the CLK GTR road car – the Huayra R features a new chassis, powertrain and aerodynamic package. At the heart of it all is the new bespoke V12 powerplant, producing 838 bhp at 8250 rpm and 750 Nm of torque between 5500-8300 rpm. It’s the most powerful naturally-aspirated V12 Pagani has ever utilised, with 99 bhp and 40 Nm more than the Zonda R. Best of all, these lofty figures are delivered by a featherweight package that weighs just 198 kg.
Happenings

A Huayra for the track

IN Pagani, Huayra, Pagani Huayra, Pagani Huayra R

Pagani releases a track-only, naturally-aspirated V12 Huayra – the 838 bhp Huayra R.


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.


So kudos to the SEAT/Cupra dealer here in Singapore, they managed to bring it in rather quickly. But what exactly are the differences and how ‘new’ is the new one?
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Elegant Aggression | Cupra Ateca

IN CUPRA, CUPRA Ateca, Vertex Euro Motors

In less than a year, Cupra has updated and brought onto our shores the face-lifted model already!


The car we have here today is no RS model though. In fact, it’s the base model engine spec available for the A4 Avant. This 2.0-litre turbocharged estate pushes out a decent 148 hp and 270 Nm of torque and is the only model available for the A4 Avant.
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A Worthy Wagon | Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI

As much space as a mid-sized SUV, with the driving dynamics of a sporty sedan. There’s lots to like about Audi’s new wagon.


Oh no, why that nose again? Well, if you really don’t like it, look elsewhere. But to us, the new grille is starting to look rather decent. It’s unmistakably a BMW and forms a large part of the 4 Series’ identity. See it in real life, who nose, it might grow on you.
Happenings

Six questions answered about The New BMW 4 Series Convertible

With a new, lower-slung silhouette, 50:50 weight distribution and a soft top that’s 40% lighter than the outgoing model, the new 4 Series Convertible looks set to drive as well as it looks.



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