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SUVs have seen a huge market shift in recent years. What was once a tool that can traverse harsh terrains without breaking a sweat has now transformed into city-dwelling 'Chelsea Tractors' that disintegrate at the first sign of anything other than tarmac.

There is still a rare bunch of SUVs that can scale a rock face at your earliest convenience, but most of the crop have since become jacked-up people carriers festooned with new tech and creature comforts. They might not be good offroad, but consumers are opening their wallets in droves to drive off the lot in the latest and greatest in tall luxury. So what if you wanted both?

Well, the obvious choice would be to get something like a Range Rover or G-Wagon, but what if you wanted something patriotic?

Well my friends, let me introduce you to Jeep’s all-new Grand Cherokee.

Go big or go home

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Jeep Grand Cherokee - Downsized Detroit Fighter

IN Jeep, Grand, Cherokee, Downsized, Detroit, Fighter, Burnpavement

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a smorgasbord of American engineering, resulting in a premium SUV that fits surprisingly well on our roads.

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.

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.

Here it is in all its stunning glory, the G81 M3 Touring. With 510hp and 650Nm of torque, 0-100km/h is dispatched in just 3.6 seconds while offering enough space for that Ikea and Giant shopping run. What's not to love? This will likely be the swansong of the pure internal combustion engine (ICE) M3 though, so strike while the iron is hot.

Subaru WRX Sedan & Wagon

Happenings

11 Petrolhead-Apropos Highlights of the Singapore Motorshow 2023

IN Singapore Motorshow, 2023

We're glad to see our local Motorshow back after a three-year hiatus, still with offerings for the hardcore petrolhead

Happenings

McLaren Artura Lands in Singapore Amid Legacy Showcase

IN McLaren, Artura

New kid on the block surrounded by greats from years past.

Ferrari is aware of the implications such a car would have on its purist sports car image, which is why it’s gone to great lengths to convince us all of the Purosangue’s authenticity. For starters, Ferrari doesn’t actually call the Purosangue an “SUV” or even a “crossover”, merely, acknowledging that it’s “the first ever four-door four-seater car in the Prancing Horse’s history”. Then there’s the name: “Purosangue” translates from Italian as “thoroughbred”.

Happenings

Hold your horses! It’s the Ferrari Purosangue

IN Ferrari, Purosangue, SUVs, Supercars, V12

It may be an SUV, but Ferrari wants you to think no less of its latest 725hp V12 creation.

For the new 2023 Range Rover Sport, that involved driving nearly 300m up the spillway of the Karahnjukar Dam in Iceland, against a torrent of water moving at 750 tonnes/min, and up a 25-degree incline. The danger of getting it wrong? A 90m drop off the end of the spillway into the valley below.

Happenings

The 2023 Range Rover Sport splashes down with a dam impressive debut

IN Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover

The new Range Rover Sport proves its mettle by driving up the spillway of an Icelandic hydroelectric dam

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The Smart Performance Sedan | Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 TSI

As a big fan of the Skoda brand, I was a little let down by the previous-gen VRS. But the latest one has made up for it.

The pinnacle 7 Series electric vehicle (EV), is called the i7 M70 xDrive. M70, you know, because the familiar M60 designation is now apparently considered too pleb-like to grace the bootlid of BMW's flagship sedan EV.

Seven!

Happenings

7th heaven: new BMW 7 Series heads down Electric Avenue

IN BMW, 7 Series, I7, G70, Luxury

Electric drivetrains and 8k displays are just some of the highlights in the all-new flagship BMW 7 Series’ quest to be The Best Car in The World

Porsche has made itself a leader in this space, but there are plenty of other car brands that can benefit from this technology. Has there been any interest from anyone else in the car industry that has reached out to you to potentially partner on this? Or is it only Porsche and the private sector at the moment?

There are some talks with other car and motorcycle manufacturers who are interested in such fuel, but in the beginning we will not have the volume to support the world. In principle there is interest, and although we see ourselves as pioneers in this direction, we hope that others will follow.

Happenings

Everything you need to know about how Porsche wants to save combustion engines with eFuels

IN Efuels, Synthetic fuels, Porsche

Porsche has just invested S$100m to produce synthetic fuels in Chile, with additional plants planned for USA and Australia.

Happenings

Toyota GR Supra to get manual transmission

IN Toyota, Supra, GR Supra, Gazoo Racing, Save The Manuals

Toyota goes doubles down on the #savethemanuals movement, but what does this mean for BMW?

And now, they’ve made a new one, though sadly, it’s also to be the last V12 Vantage Aston says they’ll make. And you can’t buy one either, because they’ve already sold every single one of the 333 cars they’re making.

Still, not like you or I could ever have afforded one anyway, and the fact it’s all snapped up doesn’t detract from this being probably one of the last pure-ICE new cars we’ll ever be celebrating.

Happenings

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage marks the end of an era

IN Aston Martin, Vantage, V12, Supercar, GT

Not only is this the final time we’ll see a V12 in an Aston Vantage, it’ll sadly also be one of the last times we’ll see a car maker cram a bit engine in a small car.

Factor in the current COE price of $82k and the M340i comes within striking distance of the $376,581 Audi S4, also an all-wheel drive 3-litre turbocharged sport sedan that makes 353hp and 500Nm of torque. Altogether, that’s good for an electronically-limited 250km/h top speed and 4.7 second sprint from 0-100km/h. Compelling?

Moreover, even though it still sports a straight-6 turbo engine, the M340i is now available in Singapore only with all-wheel drive, or xDrive as BMW calls it. Cue moans and groans from hardcore BMW enthusiasts.

Since the regular G20 has already been covered in a previous article, we’ll simply focus on what makes this an M Performance vehicle.

The Important Bits

The M340i features bulging intakes up front, which sets it apart from the regular 3er and makes that front-end look sharper and meaner. Don’t be deceived by those slim headlights though – they’re up there with the best that we‘ve tested.

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BMW M340i xDrive: Formerly known as Prince

IN BMW, M, M340i, XDrive

True commitment to (most of) BMW’s traditional values is needed

No matter, the A3 got a pass for the rest of the (rather competent) package. ‘The S3 will be better,’ I thought, and boy was I right.

Stealth Rocketship

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Potent Weapon | Audi S3 Sedan

IN Audi, S3, Audi S3, S3 Sedan, Premium Automobiles

There’s no need to give up hot hatch thrills even after you’re all grown up.

So, to embrace this (unavoidable) future of electric mobility, we rocked on down to electric avenue EV Weekend. Held at The Forum in Resorts World Sentosa, the event is Singapore’s first-ever EV showcase with ten cars on display. Happening from now untill 12th December both physically and virtually, you can either pop over to RWS or visit the brands’ virtual showrooms here.

The event not only showcases the latest EVs under one roof, but also includes information corners on how you can transition from an ICE vehicle to an EV. You can also learn more about Singapore’s upcoming EV infrastructure, and the future of electric mobility in Singapore.

The road to the future is electric, and here’s what we saw when we took a stroll down it:

BMW iX

Happenings

We Rock Down to Electric Avenue

IN EV Weekend, EV, Electric Vehicles

Ok, catchy title aside, it’s actually Singapore’s first-ever EV Weekend. We check out ten hot electric vehicles, including the latest BMW iX!

Being the sole tyre supplier to Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship - as well as having a presence in almost any racing series you can think of - you know the company has pedigree and the technical know-how to make a world-class tyre, whether on the road or off it.

But with a lineup of tyres to suit cars and SUVs of any size and budget, knowing which model to choose can be a bit of a black art (and not just because they're black!). So to help ensure you get the most out of your Pirelli tyre, here’s a quick guide:

P ZERO (PZ4)

The Pit

Picking the perfect Pirellis for your car

IN Pirelli, P Zero, Cinturato, Scorpion Verde, Pirelli tyres, Tyres, New tyres

As one of the world's leading tyre manufacturers, Pirelli makes a wide range of products to suit nearly any car. But which one will bring out the best in yours? This handy guide breaks it down.