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And there I was, spending hours under the scorching sun sampling an array of Porsches with the guidance of world-class Porsche driving instructors. The resulting sunburn didn’t really matter when you’re up close and personal with some of Stuttgart’s finest.

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On The Ground: Porsche World Road Show 2023

IN On The Ground, Porsche World Road Show, 2023, Porsche, World, Road, Show, PWRS

More than 20 Porsches unleashed behind closed doors with no restrictions on them? That’s what the Porsche World Road Show is all about.

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.

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

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.

Believe it or not, the McLaren P1 is now 10 years old, and Mclaren is celebrating its first decade anniversary since the P1 first appeared at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. This was also coincidentally 60 years after Bruce McLaren founded the firm.

Exclusive and highly desirable (due to limited numbers) when it was first revealed, the McLaren P1 sold out within mere months, and all 375 cars were allocated soon after and sent to the far ends of the globe.

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McLaren celebrates 10-year anniversary of the P1

IN McLaren, Celebrates, 10-year anniversary, P1

The McLaren P1 pioneered electrification in supercars 10 years ago when it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show.

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.

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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.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are undoubtedly the future for the automobile – at least for the next decade anyways, until governments and manufacturers come around to e-fuels…

However until then, if or when, the car industry is firmly committed to producing EVs. Like everyone else, I’m all for anything that is an improvement over whatever it replaces and so EVs ticks almost all the boxes.

One very big box that remains unchecked, however, is the business of charging. If you are an apartment dweller like me, who doesn’t have regular access to a personal wall box or is using your EV for a road trip, then you’ll know that you have to set up an account with the charging provider, and store your credit card number. And since there are several operators, it would be prudent to hold several accounts to minimize the chances of not being able to charge your EV when need to.

Oh, on road trips, charging stops have to be planned lest you be stranded with a dead EV.

Compare this with the convenience of refuelling conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars. The drive down the I-5 to Los Angeles takes you through one of the most uninhabited places in California. Yet, you could still find a gas station with no more than 25 miles between them.

You can drive up to any station, use any method of payment, including cash – imagine that, fill up and be on your way for the next 400 miles or so. All in 10 minutes or less.

While EV charging technology is getting faster, and over time will be more common, the business of paying for the charge is ridiculously complicated to paying at the pump. No amount needed, just hand over your money and go. How is this progress?

Okay, I’m sure someone is working on making EV charging more convenient. Wake me up when September ends.

Testing the hybrid theory

Until charging an EV becomes as convenient as refuelling, perhaps hybrid cars will be relevant in the sense that they offer all the advantages of an EV without the drawbacks. This proved to be the case when I drove a 2023 BMW 330e from Los Gatos to Los Angeles.

The car was chosen on the assumption that its 107hp electric motor would be sufficient for pottering around the city while the 181hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine would have the legs to handle the endless stretches of Interstate Freeways without breaking a sweat. Working in tandem with the electric motor, there’s a combined output of 288hp and 310Nm at its driver’s disposal.

Over 300 miles or so of interstate driving, the motor, along with regenerative inertia and braking would have plenty of time to charge up the batteries so I essentially could cruise in the city.

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2023 BMW 330e xDrive: The Really Easy e

IN BMW, 330e

A drive from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles shows why plug-in hybrids still make sense in a growing EV world.

Happenings

Toyota's AE86 Icon Revived With New Hydrogen and Electric Variants

IN Toyota, AE86, Hydrogen, Electric, BEV, Concepts, Tokyo, Auto, Salon, 2023

Gas Gas Gas... but not really. Toyota is showing us once again that saving the planet doesn’t necessarily mean giving up fun and exciting cars to drive, as shown by these AE86 concepts.

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

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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

Amongst most inner automotive circles, whether they be of professional or pop-culture variety, the R33 Nissan Skyline, produced between 1993-1996, is somewhat referred to as the ‘black sheep’ of the Skyline family.

Critics often compare it to a toned-down passive version of the R32 which preceded it, and then it was made worse by the model which superseded it - the legendary R34, probably the most renowned Skyline model of all time.

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A JDM Gem And The Shoes It Wears - Nissan R33 GT-R 400R

IN Nissan, GT-R, R33, Nismo, 400R, Bridgestone, RE71

The Nissan R33 GT-R 400R was produced in extremely limited quantities, and it showed the world that apart from sensible and frugal cars, Japan could produce some incredible monsters as well.

Among the drivers, Mr Akio Toyoda himself, President & CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, and founder and team owner of ROOKIE Racing participated under the driver name “Morizo”. The Idemitsu Super Endurance race lasted 25 hours and was held in Thailand on December 17th and 18th.

This race was a significant milestone, as it was the first time that Toyota’s hydrogen technology has been used in a race outside Japan. Toyota’s main aim when participating in the Thailand 25-hour Endurance Race and Carbon Neutral Power Cup is to showcase the feasibility of carbon neutrality in motorsports. This was also a great opportunity for Toyota to demonstrate its multiple-pathway approach to accelerate its actions towards total Carbon Neutrality.

Happenings

Toyota ran a 25-hour endurance race... with hydrogen.

IN Toyota, Rookie Racing, Toyota Motor Corporation, Endurance, Race, Hydrogen, Sustainable

Toyota Motor Corporation recently participated in the Idemitsu 1500 Super Endurance 2022 race held in Thailand, showcasing what its future-focused technology can offer even in racing.

The Singapore Motorshow is poised to feature 24 different automotive brands spread out across two levels of the convention halls. Of which, Polestar will be making its first appearance at a local Motorshow and will be rolling out a new concept model at the event.

With the push for greener transport alternatives, electric and hybrid cars are expected to be the main stars of the 2023 show, in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

Happenings

Save The Dates: The Singapore Motorshow is Back in 2023

After a long three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Singapore Motorshow is back with a bang, taking place from 12th to 15th January 2023 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.

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Special Showcase of BMW M4 Competition 50 Jahre and M4 CSL in Singapore

IN BMW, M4 CSL, M4 Competition 50 Jahre, Singapore

Only from 6-14 December 2022, and is open to the public

Less than a week ago, burnpavement.com speculated that an off-road variant of the Porsche 911 was in the works when it announced that a pair of 911 prototypes successfully scaled the World’s Tallest Volcano in Chile, South America.

Today, the first images of what will be launched as the Porsche 911 Dakar next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show have been released. The name is a nod to the German sports car maker’s success in the Dakar Rally of 1986 where it entered the legendary 959.

Happenings

Off-road Porsche 911 confirmed: We were right!

IN Porsche, 911, Dakar, Los Angeles, Auto, Show, Reveal, Debut

Porsche 911 Dakar confirmed ahead of its Los Angeles Auto Show debut next week.

There used to be a time, up until the early 2000s, or thereabouts when you could tell you were driving a BMW just by how the steering felt and how the car handled. It didn’t matter which model you were behind the wheel of; 3, 5, or 7 Series, maybe even a Z4 or early X5, every model was united by an unmistakable steering feel and way the controls fell to hand.

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BMW M240i rolls back the years

IN BMW, 240i

This sporty two-door shows that the Bavarian automaker hasn’t forgotten how to make a great driver’s car

Happenings

McLaren Artura Lands in Singapore Amid Legacy Showcase

IN McLaren, Artura

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

We start with a name and a style that’s all too common in the modified car scene these days: Pandem/Rocket Bunny. They’re a line of wide body kits by a company called TRA Kyoto, brainchild of a certain Kei Miura. He designs, builds and sells kits for a huge variety of cars, from classics like the Nissan Fairlady Z and BMW E30, to JDM favourites like the Nissan Silvia and Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, to modern stuff like the Toyota GR Supra and Yaris, and even the C8 Corvette!

Happenings

Retro Havoc 2022 Highlights Part 1: Hunting for Speed

Retro Havoc: Encore Edition was our first car show in over 3 years, and boy was it great to be at one again. In this 3-part series, we bring you our highlights from the show, starting with the cars th