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  • Borneo Motors, part of the UK-based Inchcape PLC, sees the new Lexus Boutique and Toyota World as a testament to Borneo Motors ‘Customer 1st’ track record, and promises to exceed the high benchmark expected of both the Lexus and Toyota brands.
    DOCUMENTED: 14.06.2013 | 09:36 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Borneo Motors' Revamped Showroom Opens

    The new Lexus Boutique and Toyota World promises a whole new experience for customers

    Earlier this week, Borneo Motors (Singapore) Pte Ltd opened the doors to their brand new Lexus Boutique and Toyota World. The revamped sh ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Toyota, Lexus, Borneo Motors, Lexus Boutique, Toyota World, Leng Kee Road
    • Borneo Motors, part of the UK-based Inchcape PLC, sees the new Lexus Boutique and Toyota World as a testament to Borneo Motors ‘Customer 1st’ track record, and promises to exceed the high benchmark expected of both the Lexus and Toyota brands.
    • The new Lexus Boutique has been designed to exhibit the brand’s core values of delivering exhilarating automotive luxury, through its current and new product line-up and ‘Omotenashi’, the Lexus way of bespoke hospitality.
    • The new Toyota World, on the other hand, will elevate the Toyota Brand experience to new heights, epitomizing the brand’s ‘Kaizen’ mantra for continuous improvement towards a peace of mind for customers.
  • The Auris is an altogether more intriguing proposition, one that some of you readers might recognize as having a more European flair. It joins the growing number of designed-in-Europe cars like the Hyundai i30 and i40, Nissan Juke and Qashqai, and FN Honda Civic Type-R. This is great news, because cars bound for Europe are usually engineered to a higher degree, thanks to their stricter quality demands.
    DOCUMENTED: 07.06.2013 | 07:46 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The New Toyota Auris And Vios

    Two new models are launched; one to carry the torch passed on by its predecessor, the other seeking to make inroads in a new sector of the market.

    With cars so expensive these days it’s now more important than ever that the manufacturers’ products offer something really s ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Toyota, Auris, Vios, UK, Thailand, Launch, Revamp
    • The Auris is an altogether more intriguing proposition, one that some of you readers might recognize as having a more European flair. It joins the growing number of designed-in-Europe cars like the Hyundai i30 and i40, Nissan Juke and Qashqai, and FN Honda Civic Type-R. This is great news, because cars bound for Europe are usually engineered to a higher degree, thanks to their stricter quality demands.
    • Like previous generations, the new Vios is once again made in Thailand, but this time doing away with its friendly, rounded face in favour of a much more angular, aggressive look. Under the new sheetmetal, the drivetrain is carried over unchanged from the old car, meaning a 1.5L engine with 107bhp, a 4-spd auto and 0-100 time of 12s. Hardly inspiring figures, but you can’t argue with 6.3l/100km and a $5,000 CEVS rebate.
    • The interior sees a different dashboard design, with the most notable change being the instrument cluster’s shift from the top of the dashboard to the more traditional position in front of the driver. Rear passengers are also well catered for, with a flat floor and slimmer front seats ensuring greater legroom, while the boot is a competitive 476 litres, large enough for 4 golf bags.
  • Pricing for the Wraith starts from $1,258,888 without COE, before options. First deliveries to local customers are expected to commence in the last quarter of 2013.
    DOCUMENTED: 04.06.2013 | 12:57 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Don’t Be Spooked…

    For decades the Rolls-Royce name has been a byword for luxury, opulence and comfort. With the new Wraith, the British marque is gunning for sportiness too.

    Photos: Jonathan Lim First revealed to the world at the Geneva motor show, the Wraith has now made its Southeast Asian debut here in ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Rolls-Royce, British, V12, Wraith, Luxury, Coupe, Rolls
    • Pricing for the Wraith starts from $1,258,888 without COE, before options. First deliveries to local customers are expected to commence in the last quarter of 2013.
    • Of course, everything is relative. The most sporting Rolls in the world could never hope to be as focused as even the cushiest Ferrari. That said though, what cannot be disputed is the Wraith’s place in the company’s history: this is the most powerful car ever to roll out of the gates at Goodwood.
    • With 624bhp on tap and 800Nm from a mere 1,500rpm, the Wraith will waft its occupants to 100km/h in 4.6s before being reigned in at 250km/h. Compared to the Ghost, the smallest Rolls currently in the range, measures in at 130mm shorter, with a 183mm shorter wheelbase, 43mm lower height and 40mm wider track.
  • What makes it even more significant locally is that the E-class is the bread-and-butter of a range that’s topping the charts of a shrinking new car market. That success isn’t likely to stop soon, based on what we’ve seen of this new, facelifted version.
    DOCUMENTED: 28.05.2013 | 22:19 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    E Stands For Evolution

    It's a strange country we live in, where Mercedes is the best-selling brand, ahead of all the ordinary car makers. And this, the E-class is its most important model.

    The Mercedes E-class has long been a mainstay on our roads, Singaporeans lapping up every new generation of them thanks to the three-poin ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, E-class, Wagon, Launch, E200, E250
    • What makes it even more significant locally is that the E-class is the bread-and-butter of a range that’s topping the charts of a shrinking new car market. That success isn’t likely to stop soon, based on what we’ve seen of this new, facelifted version.
    • Unveiled recently in front of about 500 guests, the first thing that strikes you about the new E-class is the seeming disappearance of the quad-headlamp setup. Instead, the LED daytime running lights are now shaped to continue that “four-eyed” look. The taillamps, too, have been given a new look with LED strips. For the first time in an E-class, customers will have two different looks to choose from – the Elegance trim line retains Mercedes’ classic upright grille with the star on top, while Avantgarde cars have a sportier look, with the large star in the middle of the grille.
    • As ever with a Merc, safety is one of the top priorities, and the E-class can be had with a whole host of active and passive safety features which Mercedes dubs “Intelligent Drive”. They include features that can recognize if the driver is getting fatigued, ‘read’ street signs and display them in the car as reminders, detect if the car is drifting out of lane and, if necessary, apply the brakes to tug the car back in line, and one that can even automatically apply the brakes if there is an obstruction ahead, be it another car, pedestrians, or cross-traffic.
  • The
    DOCUMENTED: 22.05.2013 | 08:46 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    What The F?

    We sit down with Kirk Edmondson, General Manager - Brand Management for Lexus Asia Pacific Division, and chat about what Lexus is doing with their F-SPORT range.

    Photos: Lexus Singapore With 25 years of involvement with the Lexus brand, Kirk Edmondson is the man to talk to if you have any ques ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Lexus, GS, F-SPORT, Kirk Edmondson, Borneo Motors, LFA, IS-F
    • The
    • When asked about the maturity of the F-SPORT brand, Kirk admits that F-SPORT is still young. Other more established brands like BMW's M have a longer history of products, and a rich heritage in racing and motorsports.
  • DOCUMENTED: 21.05.2013 | 07:33 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Beetle Juiced | Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI

    With some added power, the otherwise cute Volkswagen Beetle is now quite the road beast.

    Photos: Joel Tam Would you call the 1.4 TSI of the Volkswagen Beetle juiced? Well, yes and no. Yes because this particular car is no ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Volkswagen, Beetle, 1.4 TSI, Supercharged, VGS
    • Instead of writing some boring old tripe about the Beetle and ‘stealthily’ inserting sycophantic platitudes about the halcyon days of the Type 1 and how it sparked off a lineage of coupes powered by boxer engines at the rear like a doe eyed fan boy, I shall refrain from that and go straight to the point about this car’s performance and what it can actually do.
    • In terms of looks, this car resembles its 1.2 TSI sibling, sporting the same dynamic, sporty and masculine look to make it appealing to both sexes but yet at the same time features additional ‘go-fast’ bits such as the rear spoiler and bigger chromed out 18-inch retro styled Disc rollers, dat y'all be flossin' wit when ridin'.
  • Not quite enjoying the same full-fledged performance status as its R models, R-Line is instead more akin to BMW’s M-Sport: appearance packages for its ordinary models to look like their more sporting stablemates. As such, the Tiguan R-Line features body-coloured front, rear and side skirts with a purposeful looking rear diffuser, as well as a roof spoiler and new 19-inch ‘Mallory’ alloys with beefy 225/40 tyres.
    DOCUMENTED: 20.05.2013 | 08:38 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Two Special VW SUVs Land Here!

    Both the Tiguan R-Line and Touareg Edition X arrive to mark significant milestones in each model’s history.

    Volkswagen has certainly been going from strength to strength lately. Not only has its dominance in the WRC been a great bit of marketing ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : VW, Volkswagen, Tiguan, Touareg, R-Line, R, SUV, Edition, X
    • Not quite enjoying the same full-fledged performance status as its R models, R-Line is instead more akin to BMW’s M-Sport: appearance packages for its ordinary models to look like their more sporting stablemates. As such, the Tiguan R-Line features body-coloured front, rear and side skirts with a purposeful looking rear diffuser, as well as a roof spoiler and new 19-inch ‘Mallory’ alloys with beefy 225/40 tyres.
    • The interior features similar touches, like Vienna’ leather seats, aluminium sill plates and stainless steel pedals. The flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel is shared with the one in the Golf R and is adorned with R badges, as are the headrests of the front sports seats.
    • Unlike similar offerings from some other companies, the Tiguan does at least have a bit more muscle to go with the beefed-up looks, courtesy of the Golf GTI’s 210bhp TSI engine. Coupled with the 7-spd DSG gearbox, the SUV can hit 100km/h in a brisk 7.3sec.
  • At the rate he was driving, it didn't take long for us to be back at the Audi Centre's lobby. Short it might have been, the preview drive was enough to whet our appetite for the full review we look forward to do soon. We'll share more then!
    DOCUMENTED: 08.05.2013 | 06:29 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Audi RS 4 Avant Preview Drive

    The RS 4 has landed! Audi invited us to get a taste of one of the first few units that breathed Singapore air. How could we refuse?

    To give the RS 4 a proper welcome, Audi Singapore got Audi R8 LMS Cup driver Alex Yoong take the media out on a preview drive in the supe ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Audi RS 4, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles, Alex Yoong, Avant, V8
    • At the rate he was driving, it didn't take long for us to be back at the Audi Centre's lobby. Short it might have been, the preview drive was enough to whet our appetite for the full review we look forward to do soon. We'll share more then!
    • But we're not in an R8 today. We're in the family car actually, a really, really fast one. Audi is arguably the master of fast estates, or 'Avant', as they would call it. Beginning with the RS 2 Avant which they developed with a joint venture with Porsche, they've been building ferocious wolves in sheep's clothing for the past 10 years.
  • Called the Jetta Special Edition, the car gets a full bodykit for the front, rear and sides, 18-inch Preston alloy rims, chrome tailpipes, tinted windows and aluminium pedals. Mechanically it’s identical to the Jetta and Jetta Sport, with a choice of 122 or 160 bhp 1.4 TSI engines, mated to the familiar 7-speed DSG gearbox. The $10,000 CEVS rebate applies for the Jetta SE too.
    DOCUMENTED: 07.05.2013 | 07:13 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Hitting The Gym And Working Out

    The Jetta’s always been a competent performer, with this sporty new variant, Volkswagen is hoping to enhance its appeal and win new hearts.

    Huge space, fuel-efficient engines, and a premium badge? Given these qualities, it’s not surprising the VW Jetta was Singapore&rsqu ... MORE

    • Called the Jetta Special Edition, the car gets a full bodykit for the front, rear and sides, 18-inch Preston alloy rims, chrome tailpipes, tinted windows and aluminium pedals. Mechanically it’s identical to the Jetta and Jetta Sport, with a choice of 122 or 160 bhp 1.4 TSI engines, mated to the familiar 7-speed DSG gearbox. The $10,000 CEVS rebate applies for the Jetta SE too.
    • The car was launched just last Wednesday, May 1st, and is on sale from $123,300 with COE. Not a bad choice if you want to stand out from the crowd.
  • As before, two engine options will be available, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK gearboxes. The base Cayman has a 2.7-litre flat 6 with 275 bhp, while the S shares its 3.4-litre engine with the 991 Carrera, albeit in a different state of tune, producing 325 bhp. Thanks to stop-start and direct injection, Porsche claims a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency, bringing the figures to 7.9km/l and 8.4km/l for the base and S models.
    DOCUMENTED: 01.04.2013 | 11:07 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Arrival Of The New Cayman

    Evolution is once again the name of the game at Porsche, with the launch of the 2nd-gen Cayman and Cayman S.

    Following in the footsteps of its drop-top Boxster sister, the Cayman has finally landed in Singapore. Unveiled to the media and invited ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Porsche, Cayman, S, PDK, Boxster, Coupe
    • As before, two engine options will be available, with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK gearboxes. The base Cayman has a 2.7-litre flat 6 with 275 bhp, while the S shares its 3.4-litre engine with the 991 Carrera, albeit in a different state of tune, producing 325 bhp. Thanks to stop-start and direct injection, Porsche claims a 15% improvement in fuel efficiency, bringing the figures to 7.9km/l and 8.4km/l for the base and S models.
    • Depending on engine and options, the new car is up to 30kg lighter, despite growing in length and width, and putting on larger wheels. The longer wheelbase and wider track should improve the car’s agility, as well as giving it better composure when tackling bumpy roads.
    • With the 911 moving upmarket, the Cayman has had room for more luxuries. Adaptive cruise control is an option for the first time, maintaining the distance to traffic in front, as is Porsche Torque Vectoring and electromechanical power steering.
  • No need to hunt for a parking lot or wonder where to go, the Basement 2 car park is dedicated to receive you. Just pull up at the service reception bay and a service advisor will attend to you promptly. He will then run through the areas that your car will be worked on for the day, and proceed to give you a cost estimate.
    DOCUMENTED: 28.03.2013 | 04:39 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Audi Service Excellence 'Test Driven'

    They could have sent out a press release saying that they've got a great aftersales service program. But Audi went one better and invited us to experience it for ourselves.

    Photos: Audi Singapore So you're an Audi owner. Or maybe you'd like to imagine yourself as one. Well, Audi has decided you ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Audi, Audi Centre, Aftersales, Service, Premium Auto
    • No need to hunt for a parking lot or wonder where to go, the Basement 2 car park is dedicated to receive you. Just pull up at the service reception bay and a service advisor will attend to you promptly. He will then run through the areas that your car will be worked on for the day, and proceed to give you a cost estimate.
    • Good news if you own an A8, an S, an RS or an R model, because you get a dedicated service advisor who will give you the exclusive attention. This is a great initiative not just because the aforementioned models belong to rich owners, but more so because the cars deserve to be managed by someone who understands the nuances of these top of the line models.
  • DOCUMENTED: 15.03.2013 | 11:37 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Beetle: Now With Added Poke

    VW Singapore bolsters the Beetle range with a more powerful 1.4 TSI twincharged engine that packs 160 bhp.

    While 1.2 litres of displacement may be a great figure for a passenger car (cheap road tax!), and 105 bhp and 170 Nm sufficient power and ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : VW, Volkswagen, Beetle, TSI
    • To help cope with the increased power and torque going through the front wheels, the Beetle 1.4 comes equipped with the XDS electronic locking differential that premiered on the Mk 6 Golf GTI, while larger, 17-inch rims and a rear spoiler beef up the car's looks.
    • Inside, the large swathe of body-coloured trim remains on the dashboard, steering wheel and doors. The interior also sees the addition of paddleshifts for the multi-function steering wheel, an integrated infotainment and navigation touchscreen, keyless entry and start-up, dual-zone climate control, Park Distance Control with front and rear proximity sensors, and finally a trio of dash gauges for turbo boost pressure, oil temperature and lap times (a VW Sport Chrono Package, if you will).
  • The stats, though, really do make for quite some startling reading. The 6.3-litre V12 is a development of the unit from the F12 Berlinetta, but massaged to produce 790 bhp at a screaming 9000 rpm. Coupled with Ferrari's HY-KERS (HYbrid-Kinetic Energy Recovery System), the LaFerrari manages a grand total of 950 bhp and 970 Nm of torque, eclipsing the McLaren by about 50 bhp, and murdering the Porsche's 785 bhp. As a result, 0-100 km/h is done and dusted in less than 3 sec, 0-200 in less than 7 and 0-300 in 15 sec. The mighty Bugatti Veyron SS, with around 200 bhp more, can only manage those benchmarks in 2.5, 6.7 and 14.6 sec respectively.
    DOCUMENTED: 13.03.2013 | 12:46 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    The New LaFerrari - LaAwesome, Or 'Come On lah'?

    Years of planning, research, testing and teasing have led to this. The War of the Hypercars is upon us and Ferrari wades into battle with the biggest arsenal. It's gonna be an exciting year ahead...

    Sorry about the title, couldn't help myself. You have to admit though, Ferrari's name for this car just leaves it so open to Sing ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Ferrari, LaFerrari, Geneva, Hybrid, Hypercars
    • The stats, though, really do make for quite some startling reading. The 6.3-litre V12 is a development of the unit from the F12 Berlinetta, but massaged to produce 790 bhp at a screaming 9000 rpm. Coupled with Ferrari's HY-KERS (HYbrid-Kinetic Energy Recovery System), the LaFerrari manages a grand total of 950 bhp and 970 Nm of torque, eclipsing the McLaren by about 50 bhp, and murdering the Porsche's 785 bhp. As a result, 0-100 km/h is done and dusted in less than 3 sec, 0-200 in less than 7 and 0-300 in 15 sec. The mighty Bugatti Veyron SS, with around 200 bhp more, can only manage those benchmarks in 2.5, 6.7 and 14.6 sec respectively.
    • The hybrid system on its own contributes 160 bhp and 270 Nm of torque, and actually features two motors - one to assist the engine and the other to power the ancillaries. The batteries can be charged in two ways: using regenerative braking, like in F1 cars (or the Toyota Prius), or in situations where the engine produces more torque than can be effectively deployed (e.g. during cornering). All in, the whole HY-KERS system weights just 140 kg, 62 of which belong to the batteries.
    • As you'd expect, the chassis is made entirely of carbonfibre. Four different varieties, in fact, all hand-laminated and autoclave-cured by the same team that builds the F1 cars. In an effort to maximise torsional rigidity, the seat position is fixed into the chassis, the steering wheel and pedal box being adjustable instead, the end result being a driving position akin to that of a single-seater racing car. The batteries are also integrated into the chassis, in between and underneath the seats to lower the car's centre of gravity. Sadly (or maybe thankfully), “hybrid” needn’t necessarily equate to “eco-friendly”; with 330 g/km of CO2 produced, the LaFerrari is unfortunately not eligible for a CEVS rebate (not that that would put off potential buyers)…
  • The new Mazda 6 has adopted the 'KODO – Soul of Motion' design theme the most. Inspired by the movements of the cheetah in the wild, the new model features the signature wing grille, the new family face of Mazda. Headlamps incorporate LEDs and a new halo ring light, while linking the face to the side character lines and onwards to the signature tail lights.
    DOCUMENTED: 10.03.2013 | 16:56 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Mazda Launches The New Sexy 6!

    The Mazda TAKERI and SHINARI (sounds like sushi) concept cars were great. The actual car while not as wild, is certainly a worthy interpretation. But will it sell as well as its predecessors?

    Photos: Mazda Press 

Probably the first car to be launched after the government announced some stringent measures for the automo ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Mazda, 6, SkyActiv
    • The new Mazda 6 has adopted the 'KODO – Soul of Motion' design theme the most. Inspired by the movements of the cheetah in the wild, the new model features the signature wing grille, the new family face of Mazda. Headlamps incorporate LEDs and a new halo ring light, while linking the face to the side character lines and onwards to the signature tail lights.
    • Inside, the driver-oriented cockpit has a clean and consistent look. Interior parts and finishings have a quality look and feel with faux polished aluminum for parts like the door handles and gearshift knob. Soft materials adds to the sophistication in the cabin.
    • Two engine options have been specced for local cars. The 148 bhp SKYACTIV-G 2.0 direct-injection petrol engine features a 13:1 compression ratio and a specially designed 4-2-1 exhaust system and enhanced fuel spray properties to support the high compression. The new SKYACTIV-G 2.5 direct-injection petrol engine with 189 bhp adds a balance shaft to offset the added vibration from the most powerful SKYACTIV engine to date. Both engines are mated to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed automatic transmission.
  • Ok, so we've driven it on curvy italian sweepers, but how does it fare on our local roads. We grab the keys to a Golf Sport which packs 140 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The 1.4 TSI turbocharged engine will enable the Golf Sport to hit 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds from standstill, and onto an impressive 212 km/h, where roads allow.
    DOCUMENTED: 25.02.2013 | 06:19 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Hole-In-One | Volkswagen Golf Sport 1.4 TSI

    Volkswagen scores a hole-in-one with the new Golf. We drive it, only to find out that it has just bagged the coveted Car of the Year award. We couldn't agree with the judges more.

    Photos: Joel Tam Having experienced the car earlier in Italy, we were thrilled to find out that Singapore was the first few countries ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, Golf, 1.4 TSI, TDI, DSG, Mk 7, 7, 1.6 TDI
    • Ok, so we've driven it on curvy italian sweepers, but how does it fare on our local roads. We grab the keys to a Golf Sport which packs 140 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The 1.4 TSI turbocharged engine will enable the Golf Sport to hit 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds from standstill, and onto an impressive 212 km/h, where roads allow.
    • Seated in the well-appointed interior and grabbing the new flat-bottom steering wheel, I'm reminded once again that this is a completely new model. Play around with the new touch-screen infotainment system and like me, you'll be completely impressed with what it can do. Aside from providing audio pleasure and assimilating a slick new navigation system, it also allows you to control the car's driving modes. You can select from a full range of settings that include Comfort, Eco, Sport, and even an Individual mode that allows you to input your preferences. Let's just stick to 'Sport' (what else?). I just wished that the 'buttons' had some graphics to go with it, currently they are just plain white empty boxes.
    • Based on the same lightweight MBQ structure as the new Audi A3, the new platform promises to help make the Golf bigger, lighter and even more refined than the already well-built model it replaces. It delivers what it promises, and more. The Golf is excellent to drive too.
  • The Tokyo Auto Salon that was held in Japan back in January was the largest one yet with a 30% space expansion over the previous years, and over 832 cars spread out over 8 halls, with a total of 28 million visitors.
    DOCUMENTED: 07.02.2013 | 07:55 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 Rolls into Singapore!

    It’s the first time that the awesome Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) comes to Singapore, but will it be as vibrant as the one in Japan?

    The Tokyo Auto Salon is among the largest auto exhibitions in the world, and for the first time, it is coming to Singapore. Being the top ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Tokyo Auto Salon, TAS, Singapore
    • The Tokyo Auto Salon that was held in Japan back in January was the largest one yet with a 30% space expansion over the previous years, and over 832 cars spread out over 8 halls, with a total of 28 million visitors.
    • Since its introduction, the Tokyo Auto Salon has grown to be more than just a motorshow; it is now a festival that features the custom cars; top musicians from around the world and talk shows hosting famous drivers and celebrities can be seen at the Tokyo Auto Salon. This would mean that there is something for everyone!
    • Of all the 832 cars exhibited in the Auto Salon, the top 20 tuner cars would be flown in from Japan to be exhibited in the Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 Singapore. There is an estimated list of 150-200 cars that would be displayed, with several local and custom cars from other countries.
  • DOCUMENTED: 06.02.2013 | 14:04 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    TimeToAttack Final Round

    2012 ened with a huge bang as Zertohundred.com closed their TimeToAttack series with a final round at the Sepang International Circuit.

    Photos: Low Fai Ming As usual, a bevy of fast cars from sports hybrids to super cars and even monstrous Time Attacks Machines, TimeT ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Zerotohundred.com, TimeToAttack, Event, Sepang
  • A total of 195 AMG Performance Centers were established in all central markets since 2008. A key component of the AMG brand claim
    DOCUMENTED: 04.02.2013 | 09:18 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    AMG Performance Centre Opens In Singapore

    Mercedes-Benz unveils the new AMG Performance Center, a dedicated division that will focus on enhancing the customer experience for the performance luxury brand.

    Photos & Press information: Mercedes-Benz AMG opened their doors to a new Performance Center here in Singapore. Gracing the open ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Mercedes AMG, V8, AMG Performance Center, Mercedes-Benz, C63, SLS, GT
    • A total of 195 AMG Performance Centers were established in all central markets since 2008. A key component of the AMG brand claim
    • Mr Huppenbauer added, “With this new AMG Performance Center, we hope to be able to attract and care for current and potential AMG customers.” The AMG Performance Center is primarily oriented towards customer contact, customer information and appreciation. The focus here is placed exclusively on products and themes of the AMG high-performance brand, and customers can explore first-hand the complete AMG experience and enjoy privileged access to the full suite of AMG cars.”
  • After passing through the checkpoints, the cars regrouped and blasted up the North-South Highway in unison. Sheldon and myself made a good effort to do our best in this challenge and kept throttle-discipline during the drive up, keeping in mind the only rule for the challenge; that the last car had to be no more than 5 minutes away from the first car, upon arrival at the end-point. Sheldon being the more experienced 'eco' driver, made use of both the cruise control and optimal rev count to keep the consumption as low as possible.
    DOCUMENTED: 01.02.2013 | 07:31 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Don't Just Speed, Feed!

    To Malacca and back. Over two days. With less than a tank of diesel. We join Volkswagen on an epic trip up north to sample good food and great cars.

    Photos: Low Fai Ming 'Mid-week madness' took on a new meaning when we embarked on a historic trip with Volkswagen on tuesday ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, TDI, DSG, Diesel, CEVS
    • After passing through the checkpoints, the cars regrouped and blasted up the North-South Highway in unison. Sheldon and myself made a good effort to do our best in this challenge and kept throttle-discipline during the drive up, keeping in mind the only rule for the challenge; that the last car had to be no more than 5 minutes away from the first car, upon arrival at the end-point. Sheldon being the more experienced 'eco' driver, made use of both the cruise control and optimal rev count to keep the consumption as low as possible.
    • Our car was the Passat 2.0 TDI with 140 bhp and a useful 320 Nm of torque. The figure to beat (or get close to) was the Passat's combined cycle of 5.2 l/100 km, and the challenge started once we turned out of the showroom. The gurus of driving holidays, Wheels For Fun, were our facilitators during the drive, and we convoyed through early morning traffic to make our way to the second link.
    • This wasn't just a driving trip though, as mentioned earlier, the road trip incorporated a food trail as well. Bak Kut Teh, Yong Tao Fu, and a host of other chinese and peranakan food fare, we had it all! Once we got to our hotel though, no time was wasted, we were immediately whisked away to our next 'eco' challenge, a mountain bike expedition to help burn away all the cholesterol we built up!
  • Well that engine is, along with the rest of the lineup, being phased out to make way for Audi’s potent supercharged 3.0 TFSI. But rather than the performance-tuned 333 bhp you'll find in say the S4, the Q5 has 272 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. Paired with Audi’s 8-speed Tiptronic transmission, it is the same quick-shifting unit you'll find on top tier Audi sedans. We would have loved for it to be mated to the S-tronic though, because the Q5 is a rather nifty handling SUV, and with all that power, it makes for a rather sporty drive.
    DOCUMENTED: 01.02.2013 | 04:52 GMT +8 | 0 COMMENTS

    Luxury Hatch On Stilts | Audi Q5 3.0 TFSI

    Audi bid's their naturally aspirated 3.2 V6 farewell, and the updated Q5 SUV impresses with a good drive thanks to a new 3-litre power-plant pushing 272 bhp and a hefty 400 Nm.

    Photos: Joel Tam The first-generation Audi Q5 had a good take-up rate around the world and here in Singapore too. Launched with two ... MORE

    ARCHIVED IN : Audi Q5, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles, SUV
    • Well that engine is, along with the rest of the lineup, being phased out to make way for Audi’s potent supercharged 3.0 TFSI. But rather than the performance-tuned 333 bhp you'll find in say the S4, the Q5 has 272 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. Paired with Audi’s 8-speed Tiptronic transmission, it is the same quick-shifting unit you'll find on top tier Audi sedans. We would have loved for it to be mated to the S-tronic though, because the Q5 is a rather nifty handling SUV, and with all that power, it makes for a rather sporty drive.
    • Our test car came with chunky five-spoke 20
    • Outwardly the Q5 gets very subtle changes. The Audi grille now has a hexagonal shape, keeping to the latest look from Ingolstadt. The lower S-line bumpers on our test car gets some additional details at the ventilation vents. Also new are the front and rear LED headlamps with modern looking daytime-running lamps.