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At the season-opening race, which was the 1000 Miles of Sebring, perfect team operations, exceptional driver consistency and smart tyre management delivered a one-two victory over a packed Hypercar field featuring other legendary endurance racing marques, such as Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, and Porsche.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López held the advantage in the drivers’ standings after their victory at Sebring in the #7 GR010 Hybrid. Reigning World Champions, and last year’s Le Mans winners, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa began their title defence with a close second-place finish.

After the unique challenges over the bumps in Sebring a month ago, Portimão marks the start of an important and intense European-based preparation period prior to the Le Mans 24 Hours, which includes the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps at the end of April.

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Toyota Gazoo Racing Prepares For Portimão Showdown

Toyota Gazoo Racing aims to maintain its dominant start to the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season when it competes in Europe for the first time this year, at the 6 Hours of Portimão.

It seems like the days of petrol are truly numbered. With pressure from government entities and eco-conscious institutions, we have started to see a massive shift within the car industry. A shift that abolishes fuel burners in favour of efficient alternative means.

No matter what option we pick, the outcome will eventually be the same. The internal combustion engine as we know it will cease to exist, being relegated to the pages of history as automakers make way for new, futuristic, and crucially more sustainable, electrified means of propulsion.

But, this doesn’t mean some automakers won’t go down without a fight. Maserati is one such automaker, and it is trying to keep internal combustion alive, albeit by downsizing. This would keep its cars within the acceptable ‘eco range’ of environmentalists, whilst maintaining its quintessential fuel-burning heart for the budding enthusiast.

One of these new recipes has made its way into the Ghibli GT, now rocking a 2-litre heartbeat. But, does the downsize in displacement compromise its Maserati roots?

Muscolare

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Maserati Ghibli GT - Beautifully Flawed

IN Maserati, Ghibli, GT, Mild-Hybrid, Beautifully, Flawed

Although the Maserati Ghibli GT has a downsized heart, it doesn’t compromise on fun and enjoyment.

When Porsche introduced the first-generation Panamera to the world back in 2009, the automotive press industry collectively gasped and recoiled at the way it looked in shock and horror. The backstory, allegedly, was that Porsche’s then head-honcho Dr Wendelin Wiedeking insisted that he had sufficient headroom in the back of the initially sleek and well-proportioned four-door luxury coupe, which on its face seemed a reasonable request since the Panamera was supposed to serve as a luxurious and sporty rival to the likes of BMW’s 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

However, Dr Wiedeking being taller than average, necessitated the roofline of the 970-chassis Panamera growing significantly in height, much to the chagrin of the project’s designers and engineers, and gave us the “Hunchback of Stuttgart” that “induced vomiting upon sight” and that “everyone loved to hate” – perhaps a little unfairly so since it reportedly drove, rode, handled and did the luxury bit brilliantly.

Fast forward to 2016 and the second-generation 971 chassis received a desperately-needed restyling which brought it much closer to the “four-door 911” look that was originally envisioned. Here is the Panamera Platinum Edition, and starting from just under half a million Singapore dollars before COE and options, its price-competitors include the BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo and Mercedes-Benz E53 AMG 4MATIC+ with both being more powerful than the Panamera Platinum.

However, power isn’t everything.

Outside

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Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition - Sportingly Luxurious

IN Porsche, Panamera Platinum

The Panamera Platinum may just surprise you with how it cossets and handles at the same time - give it a go!

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: The all-new BMW M2 may be positioned as the ‘baby’ M, the smaller, perhaps even lesser sibling to the M3 sedan and M4 coupe that it shoes its engine with. This M2 might be 50hp down from the Competition variants of the latter pair, but 460hp in a two-door coupe that’s barely larger than a MINI is certainly nothing to sniff at…

Put into context, the all-new BMW M2 makes more horsepower than the 996-generation Porsche 911 Turbo S from 2001 which, had all-wheel drive.

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2023 BMW M2 MAKES DRIVING FUN AGAIN

IN BMW, M2, G87

The all-new BMW M2 with a manual gearbox reminds us of what we’ll be missing while simultaneously showing us what to expect

If you happen to have a cool million dollars lying around, BMW now has a solution to spend it all in one go.

This is the BMW XM, and it’s a monstrous plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sport utility vehicle (SUV) that also comes with a monstrous price tag – S$1,003,888 to be exact. Thank god that price includes the certificate of entitlement (COE).

Making a statement

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This is the all-new million-dollar BMW XM

IN BMW, XM, BMW XM, Launch, Singapore, Million Dollar

The BMW XM is not just an ordinary luxury SUV; it’s a statement piece.

Though ingress and egress wasn’t exactly a cinch, I’m happy to report that it is rather easily doable without having to worry about throwing one’s back out, which is more than can be said about some other low-slung sporty/sports sedans and coupes.

At over half a million dollars before COE, the 911 Carrera finds itself going up against the likes of the BMW M3 and M4, an historic rivalry that still continues to this day. From a practicality standpoint, the Bimmers naturally have the upper hand, but they’re both sedan-based and taller, whereas the Porsche is ground-up a lower-slung sports coupe.

Outside

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Porsche 911 Carrera - Base Isn’t <i>Just</i> Base

IN Porsche, 911 Carrera, 992

The 992 Generation of the 911 Carrera shows why it is still THE daily-drivable premium sports coupe.

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SPOTV kickstarts 2023 MotoGPTM Season with free trial on SPOTV NOW

IN SPOTV, 2023 MotoGPTM, Season, Free trial, SPOTV NOW

Sports fans in Southeast Asia are in for a treat as leading sports entertainment platform, SPOTV, kicks off the new MotoGPTM season this week.

Guess who's back, back again. Maserati is finally back on track, after the MC12 left the tarmac back in the early 2000s.

Autodromo Varano de’ Melegari was the setting for the car's track debut high-performance GT2, the car that epitomises the House of the Trident’s return to racing.

The shakedown at the Parma circuit is the precursor to a series of events marking the run-up to the official unveiling of the car at the end of June in Belgium, at the 24 Hours of Spa.

Happenings

Maserati back in competition in the GT Championship

IN Maserati, Competition, GT, Championship

Maserati is back in contention for the GT championship, rocking up in the new GT2.

And Toyota will be bringing the heat as well, rocking up with its 2023-specification GR010 Hybrid, an evolution of the hypercar that won 10 of the 12 races it participated in since its 2021 debut.

Pre-season testing showed good promise as well, with tweaks to optimise reliability and drivability as well as reducing overall weight.

Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López will team up for their fifth consecutive season, at the wheel of the #7 GR010 Hybrid. In the #8 sister car, Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa will aim to repeat their world title and Le Mans wins from 2022.

Happenings

Toyota Gazoo Racing set for Sebring showdown

IN Toyota, Gazoo Racing, Set, Sebring, Showdown

Toyota Gazoo Racing is now defending its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles, starting with an exhilirating 1000 Miles of Sebring.

This is a tried and tested formula from Mercedes - take a loud boisterous engine, throw it into one of their cars, and magic happens. In the past, this would have meant a guzzling V8 or V12, with lots of other performance trinkets that turn their cars into undercover street weapons.

However, due to tighter emission standards and the quest for cleaner cars, Mercedes has replaced this formula with smaller displacements. The new Mercedes CLS 53 for example now comes with a smaller turbocharged inline-6 banger.

It still retains its four-wheel drive system and other performance parts, but is it enough to still be worthy of its AMG title?

Downsized engine, upsized fun

Happenings

Mercedes CLS 53 - Regal Rowdiness

IN Mercedes, CLS 53, Regal, Rowdiness

Want something that can pounce on most supercars on the road, and wake up the entire neighbourhood, whilst still looking discreet? Let me introduce you to the Mercedes CLS 53.

Formula 1 is back after the winter break, and this season promises more action and close fights. Aston Martin, aside from their new signing with Fernando Alonso, will be showcasing its ultra-luxury SUV, the DBX707, as the official FIA Medical Car for Formula 1.

The DBX707 is the no-compromise, fully loaded variant of the DBX, and has received significant engine, transmission, suspension, and brake upgrades. These upgrades make it the (at the time of writing) the most powerful SUV on the planet.

Happenings

Aston Martin unleashes the DBX707 For the Formula 1 2023 Season

IN Aston Martin, DBX707, Formula 1, 2023

Aston Martin DBX707, the world’s most powerful luxury SUV, is the new Official FIA Medical Car of Formula 1.

Sixty years ago, in a desolate area that was open countryside, construction of the Automobili Lamborghini factory began. The company was established on May 6, 1963, and Ferruccio Lamborghini’s lifelong dream of becoming a manufacturer of sports cars was now born.

Right from the start, Lamborghini and his very young engineers showed an immense passion for innovation and a desire to disrupt the dogmas of the sports car world. These values, which still form the cornerstone of the company today, would lead to the birth of legendary cars such as the Miura, Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago. Lamborghini literally invented the supercar.

Happenings

Lamborghini celebrates 60 years as an icon

IN Lamborghini, Celebrates, 60 years, Icon

Automobili Lamborghini is filling its 60th anniversary with a full schedule of exhilarating events.

I say revisited, but in actuality, it was my first time behind the wheel of a Jimny. Having heard a lot about this mini off-roader and having watched a few YouTube videos, I thought I knew why Jimny-owners liked it so much.

Nope.

Not until that pleasantly-surprising day.

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Plucky Revisited with the Suzuki Jimny 1.5

IN Suzuki, Jimny

Flexin' baby!

Lamborghini returns to the ice in Livigno with Esperienza Neve, a yearly event which sees guests test-drive some beautiful machinery.

Hosted in the beautiful setting of the Alps, this event is accompanied by Lamborghini Accademia drivers, including Factory Driver Leonardo Pulcini and numerous Super Trofeo drivers.

Happenings

Ice & Snow Meets Raging Bulls - Lamborghini Esperienza Neve 2023

IN Lamborghini, Snow, Ice, Esperienza, Neve, 2023, Driving

Ever wanted to hoon some ice-cold Lamborghinis around an ice circuit?

Nestled in the little-known region of Umbria, Italy, is Miataland. The name is about as obvious as it gets. Miataland is home to the world's largest private collection of Mazda MX-5. Yes, we don’t know why someone would be so committed to the petite Japanese roadster.

While most car collections are usually museum exhibits and only taken out on special occasions, the generous people who run Miataland actually want you to touch the cars. Hell, they'll even let you take them out for a drive.

Happenings

Miataland Is The World’s Only Mazda Themed Resort Getaway

IN Miataland, Mazda, Resort, Getaway, Italy

Take the largest private collection of Mazda’s classic roadster in the world and couple that with a resort, and you get an automotive haven where dreams come true.

The name previously existed on one of BMW’s most potent compact performance cars. It would take a very special car to be able to properly wear the CS title again, and thankfully it seems that BMW has done it. What they have created, is a formidable four-wheel-drive monster.

This limited-edition road-worthy track weapon shows off an uprated version of the BMW M3’s 3.0-litre turbo straight 6, producing an extremely respectable 542bhp. That’s 39 horses more than the ‘standard’ M3 Competition, and now the M3 CS has the same output as the BMW M4 CSL. Couple that to a plentiful supply of torque, which is rated at 650Nm, and you get a potent street weapon.

Happenings

BMW Launches New Limited-Edition M3 CS

IN BMW, M3, CS, Limited, Edition, Reveal, Launch

BMW has revived an old badge for a new car, and boy is it an exciting one. This is the brand-new BMW M3 CS.

New technical regulations will result in future Formula One cars to compete with a new combustion engine, which will be able to run with fully sustainable fuels. For greater efficiency, these engines will be paired with a 469bhp electric motor.

With Formula 1 regulations set to change once again in 2026, owing to more stringent rules and environmental concerns, this leaves a gap for new teams and manufacturers to enter.

Audi has already confirmed their entry for the 2026 season with Sauber, and now Ford has just announced that it will also be returning to the big leagues.

Happenings

Ford Is Making A Comeback To Formula 1

IN Ford, Red Bull, Formula, One, 2026, Season, Partnership

In a new partnership with Red Bull Racing, the American giant will be supplying hybrid power units to both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams from 2026 onwards.