Search Result

AMG has been open for the last couple years about the new C63 ditching the glorious V8 and switching to a plug-in hybrid setup with even greater performance, but until now we’ve not known exactly how it would hit those targets. As a petrolhead, the headline is pretty bleak. But from a tech point of view, it makes for some genuinely fascinating reading.
Happenings

This is the new 4cyl Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, AMG, C-Class, C63 AMG, Super saloons, Wagons, Performance hybrids

Half the engine, half the fun?


We're not surprised at all. In fact, we'd have been quite disappointed if the e-tron GT didn't win. At what's dubbed the
Happenings

Running Rings Around Everyone Else with Audi e-tron GT's 2022 World Car Awards Win

IN Audi, E-tron GT, World Performance Car Award

e-tron GT's win brings in Audi's fifth World Performance Car Award


The Lexus ES250 F Sport, it would seem, is one answer: take the historically least sporty Lexus saloon - the FWD Toyota Camry-based ES - and apply a racy garnish to it. And in case you thought this was just some cynical window dressing, there’s some legitimacy to it: a couple years ago I interviewed the ES’s Chief Engineer Yasuhiro Sakakibara, who said the current-gen ES was engineered to be a sharper drive than before to cover some of the ground lost when the RWD Lexus GS was discontinued.
New

Lexus ES250 F Sport review: Purpose Undefined

IN Lexus, ES, Lexus ES, ES250, Lexus F, Sports sedans, Luxury sedans, New cars

For decades the Lexus ES has been saddled with something of an old-man image; can racier F Sport mods put the spring of youth in its step?


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.


A good starting point is the driving position. This is of course highly subjective as the driver’s size and body type makes a big difference. For this writer’s 1.8-metre frame at least, the front seats are perfectly supportive. More crucially perhaps is how the car’s most crucial touchpoints – the steering wheel, gear lever, as well as the pedals – fall readily to hand and feet. Like putting on a tailored jacket, the driver immediately feels comfortable, familiar, and ready to go. This imparts a sense of confidence to explore the limits of the car. The positioning of the steering wheel and gear lever is underscored by also being nicely weighted for feedback that feels sweet and positive.
New

Sweet spot for entry performance | Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid

IN Suzuki, Swift, Swift Sport, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Swift Sport, ZC33, ZC33S, Champion Motors

The entry point for performance driving begins with this supermini. Does its mild hybrid drive hinder or enhance the experience?


As a result, it’s not surprising that we almost never get the chance to present to you, dear readers, the kind of daydream-inspiring metal that our UK counterparts regularly do; today is different, however. Apart from the VW Golf GTI and Honda Civic Type R, no other cars can lay claim to being as indelible a part of the 21st Century hot hatch zeitgeist as the reincarnated Mini and the Renault Megane RS. The three generations of each have generally been fabulous even in standard form, but it’s their apex, most focused iterations that have most vividly captured the imagination - the John Cooper Works GPs in the British/German corner, and the R26.R and Trophy Rs in the French one.
New

The Winners’ Circle | Mini JCW GP & Renault Mégane Trophy

IN MINI, JCW, JCW GP, MINI JCW, MINI JCW GP, Renault, Megane, RenaultSport, Renault Megane, Renault Megane RS, Megane RS

We round up two of the rarest hot hatch icons in Singapore - the MINI JCW GP and Renault Mégane Trophy - in search of the ultimate front-wheel drive thrills.


Did you say hybrid + turbo power? Yup. No more 1.6 NA engine, the new car is a 1.4 BOOSTERJET turbo-charged engine with a 48V lithium-ion battery, Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) and 48V-12V (DC/DC) converter that helps to reduce fuel costs and lower CO2 emissions.
Happenings

Champion Motors Launch Suzuki Swift Sport at KF1 Circuit

The new Suzuki Swift Sport is now officially here via the authorised distributor, Champion Motors. We bring you the important need-to-know stuff.


That’s where the S60 T8 R-Design comes in. It’s the most powerful Volvo you can buy today, with the sort of on-paper figures that might give warm sports saloons like the Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43 a right old scare: 402hp, 640Nm of torque and 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Except, the S60 doesn’t follow your traditional sports saloon recipe. It’s a plug-in hybrid you see, which means a twin-charged 315hp 2.0-litre engine driving the front wheels, and an 87hp electric motor powering the rears. And that, I’m afraid, is the S60’s undoing as a performance car.
New

Plugged In | Volvo S60 T8 R-Design

IN Volvo, S60, Volvo S60, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, PHEV

402hp makes the new S60 T8 plug-in hybrid the most powerful Volvo ever sold in Singapore. But is that enough to make it compelling for keen drivers?


Any privileged petrolhead will tell you that while track-focused machines like a Porsche GT3 or a Lotus Exige are simply out-of-this-world to pilot, their lack of practicality just makes them useless as everyday cars.
New

Roads Not Included | Audi RS4 Avant

It loses the naturally-aspirated V8, but the new force-fed V6 still makes the latest RS4 a superb drive.


With the M DCT ‘box, the M2 Competition completes a standard standstill to 100 km/h sprint in 4.2 seconds (4.4 seconds with a 6-speed manual) - not that far off the Porsche 911 Carrera S (PDK) which needs 3.9 seconds, just for comparison’s sake. Top speed has been electronically limited to 250 km/h; but surprise, surprise, the car can be combined with the M Driver’s Package to raise the top speed to 280 km/h.
Happenings

Welcome the new BMW M2 Competition!

IN BMW, M2, M2 Competition, BMW M2 Competition, Competition, M, BMW M GmbH, Hockenheim Silver, 2018

BMW’s M division claims a 'fresh benchmark' in the compact high-performance car segment with this one


James Pearman, Director of The Performance Company and Liberty Walk EU said, “The Performance Car Show in 2017 was such a success, we simply had to come back! We are planning something really special for our fans at the show, the first reveal of a special Aventador and the display of our unique Mustang.”
Modified

2018 Liberty Walk Aventador To Be Revealed

IN Lamborghini, Lambo, Aventador, Liberty Walk, Liberty Walk Aventador, 2018 Liberty Walk Aventador, Performance Car Show 2018

Liberty Walk EU to reveal bespoke Aventador and showcase unique Ford Mustang at Performance Car Show


Powered mainly by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, that on its own, pushes out a decent 181 bhp and 290 Nm of torque. But coupled with the huge battery that sits under the rear boot, the combined power output is a rather heady 252 bhp and a cumulative torque figure of 420 Nm. This enables the hybrid 3-Series to hit 100 km/h from standstill in 6.1 seconds and propels it to a 225 km/h top speed.
New

BMW 330e iPerformance | Electrifying

We test the first model in BMW’s performance range - the 330e packs some hybrid punch while retaining its 3-Series drive characteristics


The i30 N has been developed on the basis of three corner stones under the theme ‘Fun to Drive’: Cornering, Race Track Capability and Everyday Sports Car.
Happenings

One Hot Hyundai

IN Hyundai, I30, N, Hyundai i30 N, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center, Nürburgring, Namyang,

Hyundai presents a delicious kimchi which should entice the younger crowd - now lets see how it's priced


Well, to be honest though, all of us here at Burnpavement.com had gotten our fair share of … ahem… run-ins with the law while finding the limits of a performance car in our possession; after all, we need to learn as much as we could and then report it for your reading pleasure. Sometimes however, getting back to ground and throwing our biasedness — because we love that certain car, what else? — proved to be a mega challenge. (Somehow we still managed to.)
New

Ford Mustang EcoBoost | My (Not So) Little Pony

IN Ford, Mustang, EcoBoost, Turbocharged, Ford Mustang EcoBoost 2.3L, Ford coupe, America, Ford Malaysia, Auto Connexion

We went up north to sample the turbocharged Mustang in its natural habitat, and here’s what we’ve found (yieehaaw)…


Meanwhile, the best overall MPG figure from a conventional internal combustion engine car was 88.87 mpg (37.78 km/L), achieved by John Kerswill and Ian McKean in a Mazda 2 1.6d Sports Nav; this figure was an improvement of 5.77 mpg (2.45 km/L) over the manufacturer’s claimed figure, hence allowing them the title 'Best Outright MPG - Cars' category.
Happenings

Big Pony Wins Big

IN MPG Marathon, MPG, Fuel Economy Challenge, Ford Mustang GT, V8, Mazda 2 1.5d, Diesel, UK

In this fuel economy race, Ford's V8 Mustang had just beaten its manufacturer's claim


Like the standard car, the GT-R NISMO’s front end features a fresh face with a dramatic new bumper. However on this model, it is made entirely from carbon fibre to reduce weight. Then to help cool the car’s high-output engine, the dark chrome V-motion grille has been enlarged to collect more air; the redesign has been carefully shaped to improve airflow around the vehicle and generate a high level of downforce, while at the same time directing air around the wheels to improve the aerodynamics. The GT-R NISMO generates more downforce than any other Nissan production car to date, which results in exceptional high-speed stability.Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 delivering 592 bhp; the engine features a pair of high-flow, large diameter turbochargers used in GT3 competition, and power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch paddleshift gearbox. 
Happenings

Nissan Reveal GT-R NISMO's Europe and UK Prices

IN Nissan, GT-R, NISMO, Europe, UK, Nissan GT-R, Nissan GT-R NISMO, GT-R Nismo, R35, Godzilla

The high-performance car will go on sale November 1st


The new FuelSave Diesel replaces its predecessor, regular Shell Diesel at no extra cost. The new fuel features Active Efficiency Ingredients, which are designed to combust more quickly, thus capturing more of the energy in the fuel and increasing engine efficiency — literally giving you more bang for your buck.
Happenings

Go Further with the new Shell FuelSave Diesel

IN Shell, Diesel, FuelSave, Fuel, New

Shell Singapore launches its new formulation of diesel fuel, designed to help improve engine efficiency and longevity.


Previous successes in the World Car of the Year awards for Honda include taking the World Green Car of the Year crown in 2006 (Civic Hybrid) and then 2009 (FCX Clarity).
Happenings

Civic Type R In Top 5

IN Honda, Civic, Civic Type R, Hot-hatch, Honda Civic Type R, Swindon, UK, Honda of the UK Manufacturing, H, R

Honda's British-built Civic Type R is among the final five for the prestigious World Performance Car of the Year 2016 title; also the first Honda to have ever made it into the final


Happenings

Back To Basics

IN Toyota, S-FR, Lightweight, Sports car, Concept

Building on momentum of the GT86 Coupe, Toyota unveils a sports car concept that is even smaller and lighter than its already svelte bigger brother - enter the S-FR concept


Sadly, this, the Evo X Final Edition, will be the model's swansong. After ten, well, evolutions, its storied 23-year history will be coming to an end. There will not be a replacement for the current Evo X (which has been in production since 2007), as Mitsubishi wants to move towards increased electrification and hybridisation of its cars.
Happenings

The Final Evolution

IN Mitsubishi, Evo, Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Final

Break out the tissue packets and say a teary farewell; the Mitsubishi Evo as we know and love it is going the way of the dodo.



© 2015 BURNPAVEMENT