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Happenings

Porsche Announces Singapore Porsche Experience Centre, Set To Open In 2027

IN Porsche, Singapore, Porsche Experience Center, Centre, 2027

The new Singapore Porsche Experience Centre in 2027 will be the 11th in the world when it is completed, offering a haven for petrolheads to experience everything Porsche.

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Former F1 World Champion Jenson Button Unwinds in Singapore with a Series of Exhilarating Experiences

IN F1, World Champion, Jenson Button, Singapore, Burnpavement

Jenson Button embarks on a relaxing vacation with a twist, as part of a collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board.

The 2023 M2 is arguably BMW’s best new car on the market today. It’s quick, balanced, communicative, and still a thoughtful daily driver. All of the sugar, spice, and everything nice things you’d expect from a small car wearing the M badge.

But here's the million-dollar question - can it conquer the track? You see, these M cars were born for the track, it’s in their blood (M standing for Motorsport, after all). Does this M2 live up to its ancestry, or is it just another posh toy with a “fancy” badge?

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Road Tripping: BMW Buriram Track Experience With The BMW M2

IN Road Tripping, BMW, Buriram, BMW M2, Burnpavement

One of BMW’s greatest M cars gets even better.

As Jaguar boldly embraces an all-electric horizon, we bid a bittersweet adieu to the iconic 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that has graced the majestic F-Type. This transition, while promising a greener future, also marks the end of an era that has thrilled us with symphonies of power and performance.

But fear not, for Jaguar is determined to preserve the soul-stirring essence of its final combustion-powered masterpiece. In a move that truly warms the heart, Jaguar has gifted the British Library with a treasure trove of sound recordings from the F-Type V8, ensuring that the captivating exhaust notes of this mighty beast echo through time for generations to come.

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Jaguar Is Preserving The F-Type’s V8 Sound At The British Library

IN Jaguar, F-Type, V8, Sound, British Library, Burnpavement

The Jaguar F-Type R's V8 soundtrack has been preserved, so future generations can experience and savour it. Nice.

When you think of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, what do you picture? I’m pretty sure the majority of you will think of large cruisers rolling along against a picturesque backdrop, with good-looking guys and gals dressed in leather and denim apparel.

Performance? Not the first word that comes to mind. Style? Most definitely.

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On The Ground: Harley-Davidson Dirt, Road & Track 2023

IN On The Ground, Harley-Davidson, Dirt, Road & Track, 2023, Burnpavement

This year’s rendition of the Harley-Davidson Dirt, Road & Track experience is a conglomerate of thumping engines, loud exhausts, and smiles all around.

During the Meetup, you'll have the convenience of parking your vehicles right outside Stamford Tyres' workshop, making it easy for you to jump right into the action.

Happenings

Revving Up Fatherhood

Bridgestone is hosting a special meetup for dads at Stamford Tyres on Saturday, 17 June 2023, and you're invited!

This open-top beauty is the ultimate counterpart to the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, and let me tell you, it's a force to be reckoned with.

Under the hood of the 718 Spyder RS lies a six-cylinder boxer engine that pumps out 493bhp and 450Nm of torque. This powertrain, which also propels the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racing car, is equipped with a lightweight stainless steel sports exhaust system that delivers an exhilarating soundtrack. Plus, you get to hear it even more, now that the roof is gone.

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All-new Porsche 718 Spyder RS Is The Ultimate Cruising Machine

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to feel the wind in your hair and experience pure exhilaration with this monster - the all-new 718 Spyder RS.

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.

Since its unveiling in 2019, the Model Y has become the best-selling electric SUV in the world, and is currently one of the safest cars on the road thanks to perfect 5-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). With Tesla’s latest addition to its fleet, it marks a critical step in the company’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy in the city.

Happenings

Tesla Begins Model Y Deliveries in Singapore

IN Tesla, Model Y, SUVs, EVs

Tesla’s long-awaited compact sports utility vehicle finally hits the roads here.

Ok, so it isn’t a full-fat M car like the M3 or M5, but rather a warmed-over M Performance model, like the M340i and M440i. Hence the double digit number in the M badge, and the demure bodywork.

Still, with the ease with which electric drivetrains develop power, the i4 M50 is the brawniest model in the 3/4 Series range… For a very short while at least. One of its driving modes is called Sport Boost, which unlocks the car’s full 400kW/544hp and 795Nm of torque for up to 10 seconds at a time, a fair bit more than the M3 and M4 Competition’s 510hp and 650Nm. Otherwise, the i4 M50 normally puts out 350kW/476hp, and 730Nm.

Happenings

BMW i4 M50 launched in Singapore

IN BMW, I4, EV, BMW M

The first all-electric model from the company's performance sub-brand made its local debut at the BMW M Driving Experience

With my curiosity seriously piqued, I headed to my two favourite B-roads at night, and this was when my eyebrows nearly joined the pole star (that’s the one in outer space, not the one from Sweden).

Firstly, there is the Polestar 2’s seeming incomprehension of the concept of understeer. There were a couple of instances where I was pretty damn sure I’d overcooked my corner entry, but no, the car pretty much sailed into the bend once I lifted off the brakes - not even a moment’s hesitation waiting for the front tyres to regain their grip. Even with deliberately over-aggressive throttle application when exiting corners, the car settles into more of a four-wheel drift instead of washing out at the front end.

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[Opinion] The Polestar 2 completely changed my mind about EVs. Here's why.

IN Polestar, 2, Polestar 2, EV, Sedan, Opinion

For BP’s diehard and handling-obsessed petrolhead, the future of cars in an EV-only world looked bleak; but the Polestar 2 might just be his guiding light

Colleague Sheldon has already done a thorough lifestyle-review of the iX3 in full-glory 4K, so this article will concentrate on the rudiments of the EV experience from the perspective of a complete newbie – yours truly.

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An EV-newbie's Virgin Experience | with BMW iX3 M Sport Impressive

IN BMW, IX3, M Sport, EV, Charging

Electric cherry popped

How am I protected against COVID?
For one, the entire process is contactless. Bookings are done online and no one will accompany you on the test drive. Booking schedules are spaced out one hour between each booking to ensure that the whole process remains contactless – you will not meet the next test-drive party.

Happenings

Hyundai Rolls Out Contactless IONIQ Electric Test Drives

Imagine – no sales staff, no receptionist and no one to accompany you. Just go online, fill in your details, book a test drive and turn up at the appointed time.

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.

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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?

This time however, the LC 500 finds itself in a slightly different world. By the time COE and a few options such as an alloy wheel or paint colour of your choice are added the new 992-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, you’d be knocking on the door of $700k.

There is however, an even better reason to be considering this car, the LC 500 Convertible. If you want the purity of a naturally-aspirated V8 engine, this is the only game in town. To the uninitiated, this means that there’s less plumbing to get in the way of the exhaust noise to make its way out.

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A V8 to Savour | Lexus LC 500 Convertible

IN Lexus, LC, LC500, Lexus LC, Lexus LC500, Convertible, Lexus LC Convertible, Lexus LC500 Convertible, Borneo Motors

We may never get to hear a V8 unadulterated by turbochargers again. That alone is reason enough to buy this car while we still can.

So, any drivetrain differences?

Unfortunately, no. Power output stays the same, with 244 bhp and 353 Nm of torque from the 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-pot. This means a 6 second century sprint, up to a 240km/h top speed.

The lack of drivetrain updates isn’t necessarily a bad thing, considering how well it already drives. Its Nürburgring-developed chassis is nicely balanced between performance and comfort, despite the fixed dampers (Stinger GT gets electronically adjustable units). What’s lovely is how the suspension absorbs mid-corner bumps, ensuring that the chassis stays planted with no nasty surprises.

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Adding to Excellence | Kia Stinger 2.0 GT Line

IN Kia, Stinger, Kia Stinger, GT Line, Cycle & Carriage Kia

Kia’s already-excellent Stinger gets a mild facelift and quite a bit more equipment inside, but the price tag grows, too.

Drive it like a HEV, and the battery charges itself up with regenerative braking. This turns energy typically wasted during braking, into useful electric charge for the battery that can be used in future. Got access to an EV charging point? You’ll also be able to juice the battery up for a bit of extra electric go.

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Bit of Both | Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge PHEV

IN Volvo, XC40, Volvo XC40, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, PHEV

Volvo’s latest XC40 Recharge PHEV crossover provides a semi-EV experience, but works best if you have a private charging point.

The Vos difference

At Vos, customisation doesn’t just entail slapping on a lip kit and applying a different-coloured vinyl wrap. Customers who bring their cars to them can expect a bespoke experience, all the way from concept to execution.

The Pit

Veni, Vidi, Vos

IN Advertorial, Vos, Vos Automotive Styling

Just like how an architect might build you the house of your dreams, Vos Automotive Styling provides a bespoke solution to realise your automotive aesthetic visions.

But wafting comes at a cost (usually in excess of seven figures). To make it more accessible to the rich-but-not-as-rich businessmen, premium brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar have made it their life-long aim to produce flagship models that can emulate that smooth road-yacht feel.

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Magic Carpet Ride | Audi A8 Mild Hybrid 3.0 TFSI

For the longest time, the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series have topped the luxury barge segment's market share. Can Audi's new A8 steal some sales with this new party trick?

All that said however, if you miss out on an opportunity to acquire your very own special edition MINI, fret not. Personalisation is at the core of the MINI spirit, and there are still hundreds of combinations of paint, wheel, upholstery, trim, and accessory options to ensure that no two MINIs are ever identical.

Happenings

Here’s why a MINI Special Edition could be the special addition to your motoring life

IN MINI, Cooper, Countryman, Clubman, Convertible, Hatchback, Cooper S, Special ediitons, Limited editions, Eurokars, Singapore

MINIs are all about that feel-good factor, and what could feel better than knowing you’re driving a real rarity on the roads?