Search Results

If I’m honest, I never really liked the Huracán when it first came out. I’ve always felt that it was overshadowed by the shock and awe that came with the Aventador, and it just felt like the “replacement” for the outgoing Gallardo.

That prejudice changed the day I went for the Huracán Spyder launch back in 2015. There, I met up with a nice chap called Stephen Winklemann, who graciously showed me around the car. Never heard of him? Maybe you should brush up on your Lamborghini history.

New

One Last Drive - Celebrating 10 Years of the Lamborghini Huracan

Has it already been a decade? Well, time flies when you’re having fun, especially if that fun is in a Lamborghini Huracan.

If the sheer magnetism of the DB12’s power, ravishing aesthetics, and lavish comforts aren’t quite enough to captivate your senses, Aston Martin Singapore has just released another ace up its sleeve: the DB12 Volante.

This open-top incarnation of what’s affectionately known as the world’s first Super Tourer (a delightful hybrid of ‘supercar’ and ‘grand tourer’) recently made its grand debut.

Happenings

Aston Martin DB12 Volante Debuts in Singapore

IN Aston Martin, DB12, Volante, Debut, Singapore

How do you make the already gorgeous Aston Martin DB12 even sleeker? By chopping off its roof, giving you full access to its bi-turbo V8.

I’m sure most of us here have either owned at least one Gran Turismo game, had memorabilia of the franchise, or have at least tried the game at a pop-up racing setup in a mall.

An icon and signature piece of the PlayStation console, Gran Turismo has touched the hearts of millions since its inception.

Happenings

A Heartwarming 25th Anniversary To Gran Turismo

IN Gran Turismo, Gran, Turismo, 25th, Anniversary, Franchise, Racing

Can you believe Gran Turismo is already 25 years old? Yes, that video game you probably played growing up.

New

BMW i4 eDrive40 review: A 4gone Conclusion?

IN BMW, I4, Saloons, Luxury saloons, EVs, Electric cars, Reviews

The i4 is BMW’s first EV saloon, but is it worth a look compared to its other four-door rivals?

But first, let me backtrack a bit. No doubt you’re here reading this because you saw the main picture and were intrigued by it. You’re probably wondering: why the heck would anyone want to bring a family MPV to a trackday, the least sporty kind of car imaginable?

Motorsports

I brought a 7-seater MPV to Sepang Circuit and didn’t die

IN Mitsubishi, Grandis, MPV, Sepang, Trackday

It’s not what you drive that matters, it’s how you drive it

Billed by Bridgestone as a semi-slick tyre and its first-ever dedicated tyre for trackdays, it’s nonetheless homologated for road use. But as you can see from the photos, it has an extremely aggressive tread pattern which you probably wouldn’t want to get caught with in the rain.

Happenings

Bridgestone heats up trackdays with new Potenza Race tyre

IN Bridgestone, Potenza Race, Tyres

Bridgestone’s new Potenza Sport has already proven faster than main rivals in independent testing; Potenza Race to go even quicker

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.

New

BMW M340i xDrive: Formerly known as Prince

IN BMW, M, M340i, XDrive

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

For a rather rounded-edge SUV, those downward-sloping headlights and signature pointy Alfa Romeo grille combine to give the Stelvio Veloce a fierce face, akin to a shark stalking its prey.

Large air inlets at the bottom of the front bumper add to this fiery countenance, with the adaptive cruise control sensor housed in the right-side inlet.

A clamshell bonnet with power creases on either side rounds off the top of the front-end.

Around the side sits a solitary black ‘Veloce’ badge on the muscular front fender, reminding one that this is a pretty hot variant of Stelvio.

Letting the eyes drop downward, one can’t help but notice the recognizably-Alfaesque telephone-dial 20-inch rims. Shod with 255/45 R20 Michelin Latitude Sport 3 tyres, this combo offers nice ride pliancy combined with generous levels of grip in the beating rain.

New

Exciting la Famiglia | Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce

IN Alfa Romeo, Stelvio, Veloce, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Stelvio Veloce, EuroAutomobile

Higher-riding handling-machine, and also a family-hauler.

So, any drivetrain differences?

Unfortunately, no. Power output stays the same, with 244 bhp and 353 Nm of torque from the 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-pot. This means a 6 second century sprint, up to a 240km/h top speed.

The lack of drivetrain updates isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering how well it already drives. Its Nürburgring-developed chassis is nicely balanced between performance and comfort, despite the fixed dampers (Stinger GT gets electronically adjustable units). What’s lovely is how the suspension absorbs mid-corner bumps, ensuring that the chassis stays planted with no nasty surprises.

New

Adding to Excellence | Kia Stinger 2.0 GT Line

IN Kia, Stinger, Kia Stinger, GT Line, Cycle & Carriage Kia

Kia’s already-excellent Stinger gets a mild facelift and quite a bit more equipment inside, but the price tag grows, too.

Joining the existing Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car and Mercedes-AMG C 63S Estate medical car, the pair from Gaydon will make their debut at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this Sunday.

Aston Martin Vantage safety car

It’s not easy staying in front of Lewis Hamilton on an F1 circuit, thus the Vantage safety car has been fettled with by the engineering team to improve track performance and lap times. Power is now up 25 bhp to 528 bhp, but torque remains unchanged at 685 Nm – although “sustained for longer” in this application. The transmission has also been improved, giving “a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts”.

Happenings

Safety in Numbers

IN F1, Formula One, Safety Car, Medical Car, Aston Martin, Aston Martin Vantage, Aston Martin DBX, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-AMG GTR, Mercedes-AMG C63S

For the first time in the history of Formula One, there’ll be two official Safety and Medical Cars – from both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG.

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?

New

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!

With the exposure brought by professional drivers around the world blurring the line between racing in the real and virtual worlds, it’s clear that sim racing is here to stay, and we hope, expand further in 2021 to offer more aspiring racers an alternative path into a racing cockpit.

Happenings

From couch to cockpit: why sim racing isn’t child’s play

IN Porsche, Sim racing, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, E-sports, Gaming, Simulators

Growing manufacturer support highlights how much sim racing has grown in 2020, with Porsche Asia Pacific recently concluding its first eSports racing tournament.

All that said however, if you miss out on an opportunity to acquire your very own special edition MINI, fret not. Personalisation is at the core of the MINI spirit, and there are still hundreds of combinations of paint, wheel, upholstery, trim, and accessory options to ensure that no two MINIs are ever identical.

Happenings

Here’s why a MINI Special Edition could be the special addition to your motoring life

IN MINI, Cooper, Countryman, Clubman, Convertible, Hatchback, Cooper S, Special ediitons, Limited editions, Eurokars, Singapore

MINIs are all about that feel-good factor, and what could feel better than knowing you’re driving a real rarity on the roads?

The Ponte Vasco Da Gama. It is the second-longest bridge in Europe, spanning more than 17 km in length, the bridge connects Lisbon with Montijo, where we will be crossing from in our BMW X1 xDrive25d.

New

Finding Portugal WITH THE BMW X1 XDRIVE25D | Day Two

We cross one of Europe's longest bridges in day two of our Portugal road trip.

And being a direct competitor to the Golf it definitely is. You see, not many actually realized it but this 2.0-litre V40 T4 bridges the gap between the Golf 1.4 TSI Highline and Golf GTI in terms of both power and price. Case in point: The $131k Golf 1.4 TSI whips out 123 bhp/200 Nm and the $165k Golf GTI some 227 bhp/350Nm. This $152k V40 T4 gives you 187bhp/300 Nm. Get what I mean?

New

Volvo V40 T4 R Design | Surprisingly Cool

IN Volvo, V40, T4, R Design, V40 R Design, Wearnes Automotive, Hatchback, Hatch, Wagon, 2018

A new engine has been fitted into the V40, but can that raise its profile as a sporty hatchback now?

For 2018, the turbocharged NX — the other being the hybrid variant — gets a new identity. Previously called the NX 200t, it is now officially known as the NX 300.

New

Lexus NX 300 F-Sport | New Day Beckons

IN Lexus, NX, NX 300, Lexus NX 300, SUV, Facelift, Update, Turbocharged, F-Sport, Lexus NX 300 F-Sport, 2018, Borneo Motors

The NX has gotten some updates to keep up with times, but will it remain relevant to buyers who are already spoilt by choices?

Now Range Rover seem to have taken the same approach.

New

Range Rover Velar HSE R-Dynamic | Up The Incline

IN Land Rover, Range Rover, Range Rover Velar, Velar, SUV, Off road, Jaguar Land Rover, 2017, Wearnes Automotive

Finally something from Range Rover to go head-to-head against the well-loved Macan S — but will consumers embrace it?

1. Who, or what started you on karting?

I went for holiday in Phuket and visited a go-kart track with my dad who took me around on a two-seater kart. It was quite slow compared to the ones here, but I really enjoyed it and loved the speed even though my dad is quite a bad driver. I cried when we had to go, and really wanted to get my own (go-kart).

When we got back to Singapore, he bought me a secondhand kart. From then on I just practiced a lot at the old track in Jurong — I did a lot of hours and really enjoyed it.

Motorsports

Karter Conversations - Part 1

IN Go-kart, Kart, Karting, X30, X30 Southeast Asia, KF1, KF1 Karting Circuit, Alex Brown

In part one of this three-part series, we speak to Alex Dimano Brown who competes in the Junior category of the X30 Southeast Asia Championship.

7. Do the daytime-style floodlights help you, or are they of no help?
(Daniel) I don’t think it changes (the situation) too much — the lighting’s pretty good; you get some darker spots but the darkness won’t ever be the cause of a crash.

Motorsports

Taking the taste test

IN F1, Red Bull Racing, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Durian, Singapore GP

Red Bull Racing's drivers - Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen - try the king of fruits.

Let's manage some expectations first - you’re never going to get a car that looks like a 911, as this is a 4-door sedan. So for now, this is as good as it gets. Well maybe the newly launched Sport Tourismo is better. But for a sedan, this works nicely.

New

Porsche Panamera 3.0 PDK | Subliminal

The new Panamera is simply sublime. I wasn't a big fan of the previous model, but this - this is perfect.