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Carmakers have taken to christening their estate models with different names to stand out from each other. Audi, for example, uses Avant, while BMW calls it a Touring. Skoda terms theirs as a Combi, while its parent company Volkswagen refers to its variants as um, Variant.

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The Critical Thinker's Practical Choice | Skoda Octavia Combi

IN Skoda, Octavia, Combi, Octavia Combi, Skoda Octavia, Octavia Combi, Skoda Octavia Combi, Skoda Centre Singapore

In a sea of SUVs, the seldom-seen station wagon smartly stands strong. And the Skoda Octavia Combi is one of the strongest there is.

The car we’re testing here is a face-lifted RS5. Mostly the same as the outgoing model, the front of the car sports the most distinctive tweaks. To give the updated car a fresher face, Audi has opted for perpendicular diamond-shaped black side grilles that house the fog lamps. Along with a minor redesign on the headlamp LEDs, these side intakes make the face a bit more aggressive.

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Safe House | Audi RS5 Sportback 2.9 TFSI

Fast and kinda furious, the face-lifted RS5 is still quick and sensible. But are fast Audis getting too efficient for their own good?

The car we have here today is no RS model though. In fact, it’s the base model engine spec available for the A4 Avant. This 2.0-litre turbocharged estate pushes out a decent 148 hp and 270 Nm of torque and is the only model available for the A4 Avant.

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A Worthy Wagon | Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI

As much space as a mid-sized SUV, with the driving dynamics of a sporty sedan. There’s lots to like about Audi’s new wagon.

Not likely to breathe Singapore air is Ford's 280 bhp 2.3-litre EcoBoost ST wagon. Similar to Volkswagen's Golf R Variant, this is a go-fast estate for dads who need more space. The new Focus has opted for a more

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Swag-ons!

We pick some of the most desirable wagons currently being produced around the world.

From the time it was first introduced here some four years ago, the Volkswagen Golf Variant was always only available in R-Line form. Perhaps the sporty trim was specced to help alleviate the age-old perception that estate cars look like hearses? I would never know.

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Sports-wagen | Volkswagen Golf Variant R-Line

I've said it before - I love wagons! Now one of my favourites just got prettier.

Now here’s another desirable wagon to add to the list above, and probably in the unlikeliest form too: Meet the Seat Leon ST, in FR-Line guise.

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Quick Bite: Seat Leon ST FR-Line

IN SEAT, Leon, Leon ST, 2.0 TDI, SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI, Turbodiesel, Diesel, Spain, Wagon, Family wagon, Manual, SEAT Centre Singapore

Not exactly the sort of car you would expect to deliver both fun and practicality in one comprehensive package - this Leon ST is admirably full of surprises

The Impreza TS had to compete with Ford’s Focus Wagon and Chevrolet’s Optra Estate, and not forgetting the parallel-imported Corolla Fielder; but it outshone all three in sales volume. It’s the same with the Legacy GT Wagon — despite having to compete directly with the Volvo V50 T5 and Saab 9-3 SportCombi, it also had to go against the SUV brigade, which at that point in time, was a burgeoning market. Then again, it was the only turbocharged wagon that offered a fine balance of brilliant drivability, ample space and most importantly, a price tag the sat comfortably below $100k with COE (oh, how we missed those times). Being Japanese also meant long-term reliability was the last issue to be concerned about.

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Wagon Special 2: Subaru Levorg GT-S

IN Subaru, Levorg, Levorg GT-S, 1.6, Wagon, Estate, Turbocharged, Boxer, MotorImage

Subaru's missing Legacy Wagon and Impreza Wagon makes a return - in this one car

Up close, the 5GT actually looks huge, both in length and height. My wife's first impression was that seemed to be in a similar class as the 7 Series. At almost 5 meters long, the measurements are not far off. Subtle changes to the front face and rear sharpen the look a bit. A set of large and sexy 20-inch wheels also add to the new modernized look. Smoothened and curvier lines help make the car look less chunky, and refreshed adaptive LED headlights are now standard on both the 528i and 535i.

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BMW 5 Series GT 535i

IN BMW, 5 Series GT, 535i, Performance Motors

Ever been in a situation where you found someone more attractive only after getting to know her/him better? Well, that was certainly the case with my encounter with the 5 Series GT, or 5GT for short.

Alas, BMW hasn’t made any mention of engine options or vehicle dynamics or anything at all to do with actual driving — the X4 is for now still officially a Concept, intended to show how the production version will look. Looking at the X3 though, engine options should be carried over directly. That means the turbocharged four and six cylinders as found in the xDrive20i, 28i, and 35i.

Happenings

First reveal of BMW X4

IN BMW, X4, SAC, Concept, Shanghai, SUV

BMW lifts the wraps off its new ‘SAC’ ahead of its premiere at the Shanghai motor show

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Mercedes-Benz CLS350 Shooting Brake

IN Mercedes, CLS, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Chrysler

Mercedes may have launched this stylish looker here under the radar. But in our opinion, it should have been the star of the CLS range.

A number of Volvo vehicles, with OCBC Cycle Singapore 2012 branding, will be on the roads in Singapore to promote the event in the build up to 2nd to 4th March. Volvo will also provide a fleet of 7-seater Volvo XC90 SUVs and V70 luxury wagons for the transportation of VIPs and professional cyclists throughout the event week.

Happenings

Volvo Officially Partners The OCBC Cycle Singapore 2012

IN Volvo, Wearnes Automotive, OCBC Cycle Singapore, OCBC, Spectrum Worldwide

A fleet of XC90 SUVs and V70 wagons will be used as official cars

In 535i form, the car is of course, really powerful. Which makes it more than a regular load-lugger - this is essentially a sports-wagon. A Q-car. Something other road users will not expect to be a threat. That's exactly why I love it all the more.

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Real Estate | BMW 535i Touring

IN BMW, 535i, Touring, 5 Series, Performance Motors

Singapore's best-selling model for 2011 now comes with more space and a funky twin-boot. We drive the 535i Touring and see how it measures up as a sports-wagon.

So what made Marcio pick up a Chevette 2-door sedan? Like most of us, he was looking for a better way to getting around than walking. Of course, the choice of engines wasn't spectacular — neither was the power.

Readers' Rides

Marcio's Ride | 1992 Chevrolet Chevette

IN Chevrolet, Chevette, Volkswagen, Engine swap, Tuned

Why are we so interested in an eco small sedan? Like they say, beauty is only skin deep...

Despite all those nuances, the V60 responds nicely to corners with lots of grip. Go hard on the brakes, dive into the corner, exit with your foot on the accelerator and let the stability control figure out where to send the power to. Or, if you are feeling brave, enter the vehicle settings menu and turn the stability aid off. While this makes the car break away in predictable under steer once the limit is breached, it is a bit hard to get it to behave again.

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Hello Vogue Wagon! | Volvo V60 T4

IN Volvo, V60, T4, Station, Wagon, Estate

Once shunned, now gaining popularity, especially with young men who like cars to be practical and at the same time stylish. Now, how about a four-door coupe-like station wagon?

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Singapore's Best Mitsubishi Evo | Wild Card Entry

IN Mitsubishi, Evo, Cycle & Carriage, Singapore, Evo 9, Evo X, Evo 10, Turbo, Wagon

Because you guys want more! Who said station wagons were boring? Meet our Wild Card entry, a handsome 420bhp pavement-burning wagon that'll munch on most for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Aggressive new front design an improvement on what was already one of the most handsome cars on our roads.

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Swede Sensation | Saab 9-3 Combi 2.8T V6

IN Saab, 9-3, Black, Wagon, Swede

Having the top-of-the-line 2.8 turbo-charged engine is not enough for this 9-3 owner. Already pushing close to 300bhp at stage 1, he's not stopping and has already planned his stage 2 mods.