But between the 207 and the 208, there was a rather long pause for a successful Peugeot model. And during that period, two generations of the Honda Jazz hit our market and succeeded, COE prices went up and 10-year loans are no longer possible.
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Could This Be The Magic? | Peugeot 208 1.2(A)

IN Peugeot, 208, 1.2, Pug, Peugeot 208 1.2, Compact hatchback, Hatchback, 5-doors, French hatch, AutoFrance

The diesel 208 that debuted in 2013 struggled in terms of local sales, but could this updated petrol version change Peugeot's luck?


The new face kept things pleasant, with new headlamps featuring an LED strip to keep up with the current trend that was first started by Audi. Paired to an aggressively styled front grill, surprisingly this new face somewhat grew on me after spending almost a week with the Elantra. At the rear, it gets a pair of newly designed tail lamps; taking cues from its bigger Sonata sibling, this resembles a, well, pair of eyes looking down on you especially at night...
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Ignore Me Not | Hyundai Elantra Elite

IN Hyundai, Elantra, Elite, Elantra Elite, 1.6-litre, Hyundai Elantra, Korea, Sedan, Saloon, Family sedan, Komoco Motors

Yes it’s no attention grabber but the updated Elantra still impresses in other ways


This isn’t the first time Porsche is digging into its classic catalogue of model names. The 2008 Boxster had a special edition model dubbed the RS 60 Spyder - which was based on a 718 RS 60 Spyder that competed in the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring.
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Porsche 718 Boxster S 2.5 PDK

Faster than ever and still brilliant to drive. But has the new Boxster compromised? We tell you


Recently, Porsche hosted the Porsche World Roadshow 2016 at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, with more than 280 participants from across Asia provided with a unique Porsche driving experience — us included. During this one-day programme, we put the array of Porsches through braking, slalom, vehicle handling exercises, and an off-road experience.
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BP Was There: Porsche World Roadshow

IN Porsche, Porsche World Roadshow 2016, PWRS, 2016, Sepang International Circuit, SIC Sepang, Porsche Asia-Pacific, 911, 718 Boxster, Panamera, Cayenne, Macan

We went (a little) mental in the upgraded Sepang track with a bevy of Porsches


Back then Audi launched the 1.8-litre TFSI variant alongside the 3.2-litre V6 quattro first, before they decided to quietly introduce the 2.0-litre TFSI quattro.
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Periodic Table | Audi A4 2.0 TFSI quattro

IN Audi, A4, Audi A4, B9 A4, TFSI, Quattro, Audi A4 TFSI quattro, 2.0 TFSI, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles

This bigger-engined A4 comes with all the bells and whistles you'd need, surpassing Mercedes-Benz's and BMW's offerings


Depending on your luck, the response would usually differ. It ranges from a simple smile, to a ‘thanks man’ and the most extreme, a rather lovely ‘just shut up and move along’. When I’m on the receiving end, I’d usually smile then say ‘thanks for that’ and then mutter something Jamaican (I think); but deep down inside I really am longing for coffee.
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I Like My Coffee Black | Mercedes A45 AMG

IN Mercedes, AMG, Mercedes AMG, A45 AMG, A45 AMG, German hot hatch, Cycle & Carriage Industries, Daimler Southeast Asia

The second version of Mercedes's A45 AMG is here with more power - is it too much?


It didn’t take long for this car to garner attention. At the first bus stop after exiting the local dealer’s showroom, teenage boys were pointing at the car. Ahh… Looks like I have some celeb moments to look forward to. On top of that, taxi drivers were whipping out their smartphones, taking photos of this car whenever the light turns red at junctions.Unfortunately the fairer sex seem unimpressed, probably because of how oddly styled the i3 is. It looks like a small MPV + hatchback + mini fridge all rolled into one; so gentlemen, don’t expect to attract ladies with this car. Unless you’re Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling…
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Living With The BMW i3

IN BMW, I3, I, BMW i3, BMW i3 Range Extender, Electric cars, Performance Motors Limited, BMW Asia Group

All that talk about electric cars got us very curious — we tried living with one over a weekend


Out on the expressway, the refinement level is definitely at an all-time high. Unwanted noises, particularly from the engine, are very well masked out of the cabin. Then to make things even better, VW slapped on a set of premium Dynaudio speaker system. If one of VW’s major intentions here were to provide an enjoyable cabin for all occupants, then it must be said they’ve done a swell job.
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More Than A 6-Pack? | Volkswagen Passat Variant R-Line

IN Volkswagen, VW, Veedub, Passat, Variant, Passat Variant, Volkswagen Passat Variant, Wagon, 2016, R-Line, 2.0-litre, TSI, DSG, Volkswagen Centre Singapore

It's cheaper than an E-Class equivalent, but delivers almost similar quality with a friendlier price tag - is the wagon Passat's job already done, and VW has nothing to worry about for this class?


It’s no surprise that they are saying the same thing about the latest 911 too. Because the mid-life facelift on the 991-generation has gone through some major mechanical changes and is now turbocharged. Yes, all of them will be force-induced and we can all say goodbye to the days of naturally-aspirated 911s.
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May The Force Be With You | Porsche 911 Carrera S

IN Porsche, 911, 991, Turbocharged, Stuttgart Auto, Porsche Singapore

There’s a reason why the Porsche 911 is still one of the most desirable, iconic sports cars of all time; it never sits still.


Yes, you’ve probably read our previous review of the more affordable 1.5-litre Cooper version; in local context, that would outsell this Cooper S version just based on economical reasons (cheaper road tax, insurance and fuel economy).
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New Club In Town | MINI Cooper S Clubman

IN MINI, Mini, Clubman, Cooper S, Cooper S Clubman, MINI Cooper S Clubman, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, Turbocharged, Eurokars Habitat, BMW Asia

There's an additional door gained but with bootspace still smaller than a regular wagon, could the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine be its saving grace?


Recently - and quietly too - a nameplate that was once a local favourite has returned: The Ford Focus.
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King Of The Crop | Ford Focus Hatch 1.0 EcoBoost

IN Ford, Ford Focus, EcoBoost, Focus, Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.0, Turbocharged, 3-cylinder, Hatchback, Regent Motors

Ford returns, now with a new force-fed powerplant that should put a smile on budget-conscious buyers — but can it steal the limelight from the Golf?


But suddenly the Germans decided they wanted to be part of the party too. Along came the Mercedes-Benz ML, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. The Japanese didn’t want to lose out too, churning out more modern versions of their ‘Jeep’ — the Mitsubishi Pajero suddenly won’t look out of place at the driveway of Marina Mandarin, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado became a status symbol and, later on, Nissan’s Murano became the choice of soccer mums.
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Coming In Late | Mercedes-Benz GLC250 4MATIC

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, GLC250, 4MATIC, Mercedes-Benz GLC250 4MATIC, SUV, Daimler South East Asia, Cycle & Carriage

Is Mercedes-Benz's super late entry into this segment a good or bad thing? Or has the X3 and Q5 sorted it out already?


Suddenly along came this new RX, which is a definite far cry from what it began with. Lets just focus on the exterior first — a radical and ferocious face that could scare road-hogging gits. Just look at the amount of details, how the slit-eyed headlamps, one-piece spindle grill with chrome frames, creased bonnet and stylishly designed foglamps all seem to come together brilliantly; compare it to the current X5, Q7 and XC90 and I’m sure the trio look less exciting. Boring, even.
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Moving Forward | Lexus RX200t

IN Lexus, RX200t, RX, Lexus RX200t, Turbocharged, SUV, Luxury SUV, Borneo Motors

Despite being a pioneer in the luxury SUV segment, the Europeans have always given a hard fight to entice drivers - is this new RX able to lead?


With 123 bhp and 200 Nm worth of torque available courtesy of a 1.4-litre turbocharged TSI powerplant mated to a 7-speed DSG ‘box, the Golf Variant is a surprisingly eager sprinter; flooring the accelerator could still cause the front two wheels to wheelspin off the mark. Well, it’s ok to be a little juvenile every once in a while.
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Wagon Special 4: Volkswagen Golf Variant

IN Volkswagen, Golf, Variant, Wagon, VW, Veedub, Volkswagen Golf Variant, 1.4 TSI, R-Line, Volkswagen Centre Singapore

With the Golf successfully dominating the hatchback segment, can this wagon variant do the same?


This is certainly the case with the Hyundai Accent, one of the cheapest new cars you can buy today. It may have a bargain basement price (relatively speaking; you still have to pay for COE after all), but you certainly won’t be scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel if you had one. More importantly — for us at least — an Accent in this spec ensures exclusivity that supercars can only dream of, for one glorious reason: peer into the footwell and you’ll see a weird 3rd pedal on the left; grab the gearlever and you’ll notice it can move from side to side in addition to back and forth, and has numbers etched into the top. Yup, this humble little sedan has a manual transmission, something not even Ferrari offers these days!
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Sticking To The Good Stuff | Hyundai Accent 1.4 GL (M)

IN Hyundai, Accent, Manual, Review, Singapore, Sedan

Low-slung, sleek styling; fat tyres and stiff suspension; a powerful engine and breakneck performance - these are all qualities the Hyundai Accent does not possess. So what’s it doing on BP?


Anyway out on the expressway, the Clubman behaves in a very gentlemanly manner with the engine spinning below 2,500 rpm at 100 km/h — which means engine noise is barely intruding. Heck, Mini’s engineers also ensured wind noise is kept to the barest minimal, making themselves heard only near three-figures region. Somehow this compliments the style as well — style and refinement rarely come hand in hand for cars below $150k.
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Wagon Special 3: MINI Cooper Clubman

IN MINI, Mini, Clubman, Cooper, Cooper Clubman, MINI Cooper Clubman, 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, Turbocharged, Eurokars Habitat, BMW Asia

Into its second modern iteration, can the new Clubman break into the mainstream market and be a volume seller?


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


Just like this new Volvo V40 T2. While the Swede calls it a hatchback, the exterior style clearly meant it deserves to be called a wagon instead. So for those of you wanting a hatchback with the general style of a sporty-looking pseudo wagon, this should be right down your alley.
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Wagon Special 1: Volvo V40 T2

IN Volvo, V40, T2, Petrol, Turbocharged, Volvo V40 T2, Wearnes Automotive

The most affordable Volvo money can buy right now, it opens the door to premium motoring — does it work like what the label says though?


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French Accent | Renault Kadjar 1.5 DCI

IN Renault, Kadjar, 1.5, Diesel, Turbo, SUV, Wearnes Automotive

It's French yet it's not; the new Renault Kadjar is now a compelling choice for SUV buyers because it mixes a good drive with Japanese reliability


Based on Audi’s new MLB-Evo platform (first found in the new Q7), the new A4 is as much as 120kg lighter than the outgoing model. Although it really does not look it, the car has also grown in size, 25 mm longer and 16 mm wider to be precise. The model we tested is the Design trim which comes with extra chrome trimmings and the sportier 17-inch alloy wheels.
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Suit Up | Audi A4 1.4 TFSI S-tronic Design

IN Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles, Audi, A4, Sedan, Saloon, 1.4 TFSI, Turbocharged, MLB-Evo, Singapore

Audi's new A4 is here and despite not looking very different from the model it replaces, the executive sedan has actually been reworked rather extensively.



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