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Enter the new Forester XT. With a 2-litre ‘Direct Injection Turbo’ flat-four putting out 240 bhp and 350 Nm, the car will sprint to 100 in 7.5s and top out at 221 km/h. And, this being a crossover, the long-travel suspension should be able to soak up the bumps quite decently. The perfect replacement for newly minted dads needing something more family-friendly than their hopped-up WRXes?

Happenings

A Real Trailblazer

IN Subaru, Forester, XT, Turbo, X-mode, AWD

No, not that honking great GM SUV; Subaru’s latest offering has the pace to be a real scorcher.

...ok, I remember saying I'll be nice, so let's start with the good points. It's a handsome car. It looks like a smaller version of its older brother, the bulky but aggressive Subaru Legacy. Also, it looks way better than the model it replaces, Subaru has gone back to adding some mild fender flares to accentuate the wider stance. Still, it's no award-winning design.

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Are You Imprezed? | Subaru Impreza 1.6

IN Subaru, Impreza, 1.6, Boxer

Subaru's new bread and butter sedan could not be launched at a worse time. High COEs and a market filled with many more alternatives. It has to be really special to stand out.

When Lexus launched the first RX in 1998, the model created the Luxury Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment in the automotive industry. The RX offered the proposition of the first ever car that combines all the flexibility, practicality and durability of a SUV with the handling, performance, refinement and ride of a luxury sedan.

Happenings

New Range Of RX And GS Hybrid Added To Local Lexus Line Up

IN Lexus, RX, RX 270, RX 350, RX Hybrid, GS, GS Hybrid, Borneo Motors

Following the success of the GS model launched earlier, Lexus adds the genre favourite RX... and introduces a green GS.

From all walks of life. Cars line up for transponder testing.

Happenings

Zerotohundred.com TimeToAttack 2012 Round One

IN Zerotohundred.com, TimeToAttack, Event, Sepang

As the official media for Singapore, we were proud to witness some of the fastest cars around Sepang at the first round of Zertohundred.com's TimeToAttack, two of which flew our local colours.

Johan van Tongeren's Impreza began its life in early 2000. But as the white paint fouled up after ten years, Johan decided to spruce it up himself and gave it a name:

Readers' Rides

The Barracuda | Subaru Impreza WRX GC8

IN Subaru, Impreza, GC8, Holland

Johan's Barracuda isn't just a rolling art display, it is built like a tank with all the firepower too!

Incorporating a full-width, aerodynamic spoiler for improved high speed stability, the lower bumper’s flared extremities house deeply rebated fog lamps. Both upper and lower grilles feature a sporting, F SPORT-specific mesh design.

Happenings

Face-lifted Lexus RX Range With F Sport Package To Arrive In Q2

IN Lexus, RX, F Sport, Borneo Motors

Making its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on 6 March 2012, the face-lifted RX range, consisting of the RX 270, RX 350 and RX Hybrid, is set to arrive in Singapore in Q2 this year.

For most part, the Veloster drives very well. The steering feels accurate, there’s little body roll, the brakes are strong and assuring, the gearbox swaps between cogs smoothly even when you’re doing it the “+/-“ way. And there’s good composure while roving bumpy roads at speed. Importantly, with or without traction control working, the front suspension does a grand job of transferring all the power to the road without undue tricks (what understeer?).

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Avant-Garde | Hyundai Veloster MPI

IN Hyundai, Veloster, MPI, GDI, Hyundai Veloster, Komoco Motors

In a surprising twist, Hyundai put some design verve into their groundbreaking coupe; those looking for the latest (but affordable) fashion accessory should look here…

Happenings

MINI Releases News on John Cooper Works Countryman

IN MINI, Countryman, MINI Habitat, Cooper S, John Cooper Works, BMW Asia

Powered by a newly developed four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 218 hp, the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman will come standard with the ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.

Happenings

Swift Club Singapore Special Meet

IN Suzuki, Swift, Swift Sport, Champion Motors,

Ever seen a horde of Suzuki Swifts thunder down the highway? Last saturday was one such day that saw more than 70 Suzuki Swift and Swift Sport owners convoy down the ECP for a rather special meet-up.

Happenings

Subaru Club Singapore Meetup

IN Subaru, WRX, Club, Meetup

The Subaru Club in Singapore, which comprises of mainly Imprezas, WRXs and Foresters had an evening meetup recently. We were there to snap some photos and catch up with the guys.

Classics

Subaru WRX GC8

IN Subaru, WRX, GC8

If there is one name that ALL car enthusiasts will surely know, it is the Subaru WRX. Such has been the success of this road-going rally-bred machine. It all started with the GC8...

To illustrate the unique benefits of each Lexus hybrid, the crowd was invited to learn more about Lexus Hybrid technology with interactive touch-screen applications presented on tablet computers and LCD screens. The crowd favourite was the 3D Car Projection Show on the new CT 200h which is the first of its kind in Singapore. For this leading edge technological showcase, Lexus created an indoor theatre-style enclosure especially for the event. The 3D Car Projection Show was repeated every ten minutes and anchored the multi sensory Progressive Luxury Experience for guests.

Happenings

Lexus Defines The Progressive Luxury Experience At Paragon

IN Lexus, Hybrid, Borneo Motors

Lexus recently held the Progressive Luxury Experience (PLE) showcase at the Paragon Atrium from 30 April to 2 May 2011.

While Outbacks of the past look like jacked-up station wagons, the XV looks refreshingly different. Designed around the “Protren” (Professional tool and trendy design) concept, it looks good with the hexagon grille, winged motifs and hawk-eye headlights.

Happenings

Subaru Shows Its Crossover Concept

IN Subaru, XV, Concept, Boxer, Outback

From the company that gave us Symmetrical All Wheel Drive, this concept looks promising!

What you need to take note of however is the uninspiring note coming from the bonnet. If you are the sort who is used to hearing the warble of V8s or whirr of force-fed power plants, you might probably just drop your jaws… in amusement. But hey, it is a hybrid after all — the smoothness and seamless operations (both lump and box) is a given. The fact that it starts and idles quietly is also pretty amazing. By the way, the CT200h can be driven solely on a fully charged electric motor at speeds of up to 45km/h before the petrol engine actually kicks in, vibration-free.

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Surprise Of Sorts | Lexus CT200h

IN Lexus, Hybrid, CT200h

A Lexus hatchback? Hybrid? Nope, your eyes are not playing any tricks...

The kit's extent of the performance increase is dependent on the selected shift mode of the automatic transmission. In “Eco” mode the maximum power output of the engine remains unchanged but peak torque jumps from standard 620Nm to 690Nm between 1,600 and 2,400rpm. Upon switching to “Manual” or “Sport” mode the increase in torque is accompanied by an increase in maximum power output from 258hp to 313hp at a low 3,600rpm.

Happenings

Brabus Eco PowerXtra D6S Meets Euro VI Standards

IN Brabus, Eco, PowerXtra, D6S, Mercedes, Euro VI

Can you make an eco car faster? Brabus, a high-performance aftermarket Mercedes tuning company, can.

Happenings

WRX Competition Winners Slug It Out At Hobby East

IN Best WRX, WRX, Subaru, Singapore, Contest, Modified, Hobby East

It was a fun-filled afternoon as the winners of our WRX competition met up to compete on a different playing field altogether - this time, it was on a slot-car race track.

They not only anchored a quirky 1.3L engine in its bay, the car gulps on petrol like how a deprived Asiatic elephant does to a river. You have little time to realize that you are coughing up nearly two dollars for every six kilometres, and you are rivaling in proximity to that black Chrysler cab.

Classics

Rotary Heaven | Mazda RX-7 FD3S & FC3S

IN Mazda, RX-7, FD3S, FC3S, Rotary, 1.3, RX-8, Efini

Our freelance writer laments at the practicality of RX-7s of old, but celebrates the fact that they were never made for that anyway!

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Innocent By Association | BRABUS B20

IN BRABUS, Mercedes-Benz, B20, Singapore, Black, AutoVox, First Automobile Premium

The three-pointed star has always been a typical 'big boss' car. It is almost impossible to shake that image off, unless you're clearly too young to be one, but then you're likely to be "his son".

The main factors assessed in the Safety category are the availability of active and passive safety systems and the degree to which vehicles are fitted with these systems as standard without any surcharge. Mercedes-Benz took first place in this category. The Product Strength/Vehicle Quality category incorporates the results of 500 recent vehicle tests, includes those of external safety organizations such as the TÃœV and DEKRA reports and of the ADAC breakdown statistics. Mercedes-Benz also did outstandingly well in this category.

Happenings

ADAC AutoMarxX: Mercedes-Benz Is GermanyÂ´s Strongest Brand

IN ADAC AutoMarxX, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is most successful brand since the introduction of AutoMarxX, capturing first place a total of 12 times.

Happenings

New Lexus RX 270

IN Lexus, RX 270, SUV

Borneo Motors is proud to present the new RX 270, a new 2.7-litre luxury SUV added to the highly popular Lexus RX range.