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  • Thank god the Mayans got their doomsday predictions wrong. We'll now get a taste of some JCW action before we die. Mr Neil Fiorentinos, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia says that “The latest MINI John Cooper Works model continues to make driver’s heart beats faster with its even quicker responses and stoke their admiration with significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions”. I look forward to agreeing with him on this.
    DOCUMENTED: 16.01.2013 | 09:57 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    MINI John Cooper Works Range Goes Auto

    MINI's John Cooper Works range of baby performers are now available with an automatic transmission.

    I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate MINI on their beautiful quintuplet babies. They have decided to enter the Singapore ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : MINI, Coupe, MINI Habitat, Cooper S, BMW Asia, John Cooper Works
    • Thank god the Mayans got their doomsday predictions wrong. We'll now get a taste of some JCW action before we die. Mr Neil Fiorentinos, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia says that “The latest MINI John Cooper Works model continues to make driver’s heart beats faster with its even quicker responses and stoke their admiration with significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions”. I look forward to agreeing with him on this.
    • This is the kind of performance that you can expect - 211 bhp @ 6,000 KW rpm with torque of 280 Nm @ 5,100 rpm with the over boost activation. You will hit 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, and onto a top speed of 238 km/h. Do keep in mind, it weighs only 1,215kg, so the power to weight ratio is just short of amazing.
    • To keep these cars drivable, all John Cooper Works models come with a standard specification list that includes a Sport setting which allows the driver to tweak the car’s throttle responses and steering characteristics, particularly powerful brakes, the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system including DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control) for the driven axle, plus 17-inch light-alloy wheels and grippy runflat tyres.
  • Now, the 5-Series Gran Turismo. From this angle, the first similarity we drew in our mind is the BMW X6 - a coupe-like SUV. Sure, it does have the handsome F10 5-Series Sedan face, albeit a slightly bigger grille and more aggressive styling.
    DOCUMENTED: 08.03.2012 | 16:57 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Who Am I? | BMW 535d Gran Turismo

    Never before have we been puzzled by a name for new car. It suggests a two-door heritage, sexy and fast. Can this new crossover on the block live up to the claims?

    Photos: Low Fai Ming Some of you may understand the connection of the title to Jackie Chan's "Who Am I?". For those who ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : BMW, 535d, Gran, Turismo, Diesel, Caltex, Techron D
    • Now, the 5-Series Gran Turismo. From this angle, the first similarity we drew in our mind is the BMW X6 - a coupe-like SUV. Sure, it does have the handsome F10 5-Series Sedan face, albeit a slightly bigger grille and more aggressive styling.
    • With the sloping
    • Perhaps the side profile will help you understand the mash-up design. We can imagine the endless nights that the designers spent trying to blend the SUV, wagon, coupe and sedan shapes together. It's not ugly, but there are some rear angles that we probably will take some time to getting used to.
  • To give you a good idea of the full range, you can start by visiting DC Shoes' first flagship store in Singapore, which also boasts the biggest Ken Block range in all of Asia. With plenty of Gymkhana tees, hoodies and Ken Block's driving shoes, does it sound like a drivers-only haven? Nope!
    DOCUMENTED: 13.10.2011 | 19:19 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    A Look At DC Shoes' Flagship Store At ION Orchard

    If you're a big Ken Block fan and have some ideas of having a Rally Ford Fiesta, how about some apparel to go with the look?

    If you're wondering what is DC Shoes, it's a brand that specializes in footwear for extreme sports that ranges from skateboarding ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : DC, Shoes, ION Orchard
    • To give you a good idea of the full range, you can start by visiting DC Shoes' first flagship store in Singapore, which also boasts the biggest Ken Block range in all of Asia. With plenty of Gymkhana tees, hoodies and Ken Block's driving shoes, does it sound like a drivers-only haven? Nope!
    • One of the displays isn't just a seasonal prop. If you're an avid (and hip) cyclist, you'll instantly recognize the orange DC & SE Racing P.K. Ripper Fixed Gear bike – or fixie, for those in the know. The rest of the store space is packed to the max with a wide range of apparel and trendy accessories such as backpacks, caps, key chains and even kids clothes!
    • Did we mention that this store boasts the biggest Ken Block range in Asia? The Ken Block Collection consists of tees, shoes, hoodies as well as caps!
  • Although it has already been more than a year, the TTRS isn’t exactly a hit among keen drivers here. You don’t know what to blame it on – that it initially came in only a 6-speed manual transmission? The boot size a joke? It looks similar to the entry-level TT? The price? All of the above? Sure, the clutch needs some getting used to and the gear changes isn’t as special as the 1 M’s, but look beyond that and you get a piece of Audi heritage in this car. A 5-cylinder 2.5-liter turbocharged heart, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission gives you 340bhp at 5,400rpm, and – like the 1 M – 450Nm from 1,600rpm.
    DOCUMENTED: 07.09.2011 | 08:01 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The Weekday Track Cars | BMW 1 M Coupe, Audi TTRS Roadster, Porsche Cayman R

    Let’s just cut to the chase. We are gathered here today for one, just one, purpose only – to see which one is the best 300+ bhp German-made daily track car.

    Photos by Low Fai Ming The one that you can drive to the office in and not garner too much attention. The one that you can drive to t ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Audi, BMW, Porsche, TTRS, 1M, 1 Series M Coupe, Cayman, Cayman R
    • Although it has already been more than a year, the TTRS isn’t exactly a hit among keen drivers here. You don’t know what to blame it on – that it initially came in only a 6-speed manual transmission? The boot size a joke? It looks similar to the entry-level TT? The price? All of the above? Sure, the clutch needs some getting used to and the gear changes isn’t as special as the 1 M’s, but look beyond that and you get a piece of Audi heritage in this car. A 5-cylinder 2.5-liter turbocharged heart, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission gives you 340bhp at 5,400rpm, and – like the 1 M – 450Nm from 1,600rpm.
    • So some of you might be wondering why on earth a roadster is slotted among the other two coupes. Well to be honest, it’s because with a roof up/roof down option, the TTRS Roadster should - without a doubt - promise a far more superior driving experience. Try to imagine, you're driving fast along a straight road with your shades on while the canvas roof is down, then braking and downshifting, some steering input, engine and exhaust screaming in all its glory, tyres scrubbing, wide grin on your face as you negotiate one chicane to the other. Makes driving the TTRS less forgettable, doesn't it? Plus, let’s not deny how the Roadster version looks far sexier than the Coupe.
    • The 1 M doesn’t need any formal introduction. It’s the latest “baby M” to arrive on our shores, and it packs the punch with the right packaging to justify why it’s selling like hot cakes. Under that beefed up compact body, you get a chassis and engine that – just by looking on paper – have enough firepower to eliminate any other potential competition. In case some of you have forgotten, its chassis came from the E30 3 Series, suspension from the E90 M3 and last but not least, BMW’s ubiquitous 3.0-liter six-cylinder, twin-turbo’d heart. Promising ingredients, even more so when you have 340bhp (at 5,900rpm) and 450Nm (from as low as 1,500rpm) worth of torque to play around with… And a 6-speed manual transmission. Yup, 1 M and TTRS has almost similar figures; “Deliberate coincidence”, I say.
  • How did Ken's range of driving and racing shoes come about? It came about when Travis Pastrana was going into rally racing.
    DOCUMENTED: 19.08.2011 | 22:21 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Ken Block's Sole Solutions

    If the shoe fits, it doesn't mean that it's the ideal footwear for spirited driving. We find out more from Ken the man himself!

    DC Shoes and rally driver/internet superstar Ken Block have just released the fourth instalment in the Gymkhana series, this time blastin ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Ken, Block, DC, Shoes, Pro, Spec, 1.0, 2.0
    • How did Ken's range of driving and racing shoes come about? It came about when Travis Pastrana was going into rally racing.
    • What are the differences between casual, driving and racing shoes? Ken says,
    • Ken added,
  • First, we look at the 508's hungry pride mates with gaping grilles - that design highlight that seem so synonymous with Peugeot is gone. If you keep staring at it hard enough, you can also see the similarities of this new car to the older 406. We feel that the 508 has pretty “restrained” looks, which does make it a good-looking car.
    DOCUMENTED: 05.08.2011 | 16:45 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The Glamour Of The Pug | Peugeot 508 Turbo Allure Plus

    Can this new lion on the block challenge the current crop of executive sedans? Or will it be destined to be the second runner up?

    If you are looking for a big executive sedan, no one will blame you if you flip through brochures printed in Japan or Germany. Let's ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Peugeot, 508, 1.6A, Turbo, Allure, Plus
    • First, we look at the 508's hungry pride mates with gaping grilles - that design highlight that seem so synonymous with Peugeot is gone. If you keep staring at it hard enough, you can also see the similarities of this new car to the older 406. We feel that the 508 has pretty “restrained” looks, which does make it a good-looking car.
    • Inside, the air of quality makes its presence felt. The seats feel supportive and the steering wheel feels great to hold. The materials used throughout the cabin are nice to touch, with switches giving good tactile feedback. While the sprinkling of chrome trimming adds a touch of class, this cabin does have a few French touches. For instance, the well labeled indicator and wiper stalks have big shift paddles mounted in front of them and it gets a little busy on the steering wheel, with buttons and rollers.
    • The beefy pillars do put a small dent on all-round driving visibility. Still, there is a good sense of space in the cabin which can seat four in comfort, with five at a tiny pinch. There is good room for heads and legs, with our only complaint with the boot. The opening is rather small the the space isn't class-leading, but it can still swallow pretty much any luggage you can throw at it.
  • Butterfly opening doors give easy access to a 2+2 cabin that blends simplicity with technology. It has a minimalist, ‘stripped out’ feel, including a new expression of Saab’s driver-focused layout and a world debut for Saab’s innovative IQon infotainment and communications system. In true Saab tradition, there is also a surprisingly versatile cargo deck. “The PhoeniX establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design,” says Jason Castriota, Saab Automobile’s Executive Design Director. “It symbolizes a renaissance of the innovative spirit and passion that drove Saab to build its first car. We’re now taking the visual DNA forward with what we call ‘aeromotional’ design, adding emotion, power and fluidity. This design aesthetic will shape and differentiate future models in the Saab portfolio.”
    DOCUMENTED: 07.03.2011 | 13:58 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Saab PhoeniX Concept: The Future Is Already Here

    Sleek, innovative and exceptionally efficient: the Saab PhoeniX concept car showcases design features and technologies which will shape the next generation of cars from Saab.

    Making its global debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show and based on a new architecture which will empower the next Saab 9-3 model, the Phoen ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Saab, PhoeniX, IQon
    • Butterfly opening doors give easy access to a 2+2 cabin that blends simplicity with technology. It has a minimalist, ‘stripped out’ feel, including a new expression of Saab’s driver-focused layout and a world debut for Saab’s innovative IQon infotainment and communications system. In true Saab tradition, there is also a surprisingly versatile cargo deck. “The PhoeniX establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design,” says Jason Castriota, Saab Automobile’s Executive Design Director. “It symbolizes a renaissance of the innovative spirit and passion that drove Saab to build its first car. We’re now taking the visual DNA forward with what we call ‘aeromotional’ design, adding emotion, power and fluidity. This design aesthetic will shape and differentiate future models in the Saab portfolio.”
    • The PhoeniX’s ‘aeromotional’ design theme is inspired by Saab’s aviation roots and draws expression from Ursaab, the prototype designed by aircraft engineers that spawned Saab’s first generation of cars. The entire form of the PhoeniX is seemingly molded by the wind. Tightly-wrapped by a liquid-like skin, the teardrop cabin resembles a dark ice block and appears to erupt from the center of the muscular bodywork. Two prominent ripples flow along the hood into the disguised windshield pillars, as if barely able to contain a powerful structure underneath. At the rear, the dark screen also bursts through the outer skin of the rear deck, The tapering form hints at the teardrop rear styling of Ursaab, while the ‘sawn off’, kamm tail echoes a form from Saab’s first coupé, the Sonett.
    • The low, frontal styling features a stretched interpretation of Saab’s signature three-port grille. A body-colored central wing is now dominant and, in keeping with the car’s minimalist design, LED headlamps are almost invisibly located at its tips. The new grille and hood forms are among the styling themes likely to be seen in future Saab production cars. Butterfly-opening doors provide enhanced access to the low-slung cabin. There are no visible door handles or mirrors to disrupt airflow, and small cameras on slim stalks provide rearward vision.
  • DOCUMENTED: 16.12.2010 | 05:46 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Innocent By Association | BRABUS B20

    The three-pointed star has always been a typical 'big boss' car. It is almost impossible to shake that image off, unless you're clearly too young to be one, but then you're likely to be "his son".

    While there is no real solution to that age-old problem, we do have something that will help a whole lot. The BRABUS B20. First of all, ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : BRABUS, Mercedes-Benz, B20, Singapore, Black, AutoVox, First Automobile Premium
  • DOCUMENTED: 20.10.2010 | 13:11 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    ZX1 Micro Oil Metal Treatment

    Your car's engine has about 2,000 parts that require lubrication - a very tough job left to your engine oil. But what if you could help it along, and at the same time get more out of your engine?

    ZX1 Micro Oil Metal Treatment is a friction eliminator. Often confused with being an oil additive for engines, it is in actual fact, a ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : ZX1, Extralube, Oil, Lubricant, Additive
  • DOCUMENTED: 30.09.2010 | 13:43 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Best WRX In Singapore | Entry Six (6)

    Full of one-off customised parts and one-and-onlys, this entry is classy clean but full of goodies, not forgetting that extensive ICE system!

    VOTING WILL ONLY COMMENCE WHEN ALL ENTRIES ARE FEATURED. • All information and specifications are provided by owners of the respecti ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Best WRX, WRX, Subaru, Singapore, Contest, Modified
  • DOCUMENTED: 27.09.2010 | 17:44 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    SINGAPORE GP “Shakedown” and SMSA Touring Car Championship

    On 4th and 5th September, 800 volunteer track marshals and senior officials from Singapore GP congregated at Johor Circuit for a full 2 day “shakedown” in preparation for this year’s F1.

    Photos: Jimmy Loh “Shakedown - A period of appraisal followed by adjustments to improve efficiency or functioning. adj.” ... MORE

    • Actually much more happens and more complicated scenarios are practised. Track marshals and officials are essential to ensure the safe and proper running of the Singapore GP. They are deployed at all corners of the track to monitor, guide and coordinate through the use of flag signals and lights.
    • In the event of an incident, they have to ensure the safety of the driver of the incident car and the rest of the competitors as they are the first point of contact on the ground.
  • DOCUMENTED: 01.09.2010 | 17:32 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    JDM Junkies | JDMST Meet Sydney

    We've hooked up with an Australian website, the-lowdown.com to bring you the performance and modified scene down under. Here is a look into the wild world of JDM rides in Sydney.

    Words: Ryan Lewis Photos: Daniel McKenna Since THE-LOWDOWN.COM launched back in March, we have talked constantly about putting on an ev ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : JDMST, Sydney, Australia, Skyline, Evo, MX-5