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To: Mr. Tomomi Nakamura, Chairman and CEO, Subaru Corporation, Japan From: Concerned Automotive Journalists, Content Creators & Enthusiasts 22 March 2022 Honourable Sir, We recently learned of Subaru’s decision to not launch an STI version of the VB-generation WRX because, “as the automotive marketplace continues to move towards electrification, Subaru is focused on how our future sports and performance cars should evolve to meet the needs of the changing marketplace and the regulations and requirements for greenhouse gasses (GHG), zero emissions vehicles (ZEV), and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ). As part of that effort, Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification. In the meantime, a next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform.” With the automotive world moving toward electrification, we comprehend Subaru’s decision with heavy hearts. However, and with respect, we also feel that this time period is the perfect opportunity for one last hurrah for the hallowed Subaru WRX STI fully-powered by a turbocharged internal-combustion engine (ICE). The VA-generation STI has cemented its place in history as the last STI with the venerable turbocharged EJ-series engine, one that’s well-known for its famous and characterful boxer burble that has also solidified its place in the ears, minds, hearts and souls of Subaru-enthusiasts specifically and automotive-enthusiasts at-large worldwide. The current WRX sports the new FA24DIT boxer-4 engine. We believe with Subaru Technica International’s expertise being bestowed upon the FA24DIT for that one final hurrah, a truly memorable VB-generation can be produced to give the petrol-powered STI a brilliant send-off, hopefully with at least 350hp from the showroom floor. You may be aware that manufacturers such as Porsche have collaborated with Siemens to develop e-fuel, a synthetic petrol that promises a lower environmental impact than even EVs. With developments such as this in mind, maintaining the continuous development and production of ICE drivetrains may eventually turn out to be beneficial for Subaru. Perhaps the ICE STI line may be considered as a very small output outfit? The strong secondary market for cars from the 1990s and early 2000s is a big indicator that there is still a big demand for these cars. Therefore, we respectfully request that Subaru Corporation’s decision be reconsidered in favour of an FA24DIT-based VB-generation STI. One last hurrah not just for the STI, but for all petrolheads worldwide. Thank you for your time and consideration. Truly, Joel Tam Sheldon Trollope Jonathan Lim Vivek Max R Ignition Labs / Burnpavement / AutoApp
Happenings

Open Letter to the President and CEO of Subaru Corporation, Japan

IN Open letter, President, Ceo, Tomomi nakamura, Subaru, Wrx sti, VB, Internal combustion, Petrol


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.


The Mazda CX-60 may be a 'tame' family hauler rather than a fire-breathing rotary sports coupe, but it still piqued more than a bit of interest here at the office. That's because the platform the CX-60 rides on, which will go on to underpin a number of Mazda's larger future offerings (including the next-gen Mazda 6), has the engine mounted longitudinally, which means… … wait for it… … a rear-wheel drive mechanical layout!
Happenings

Launched with a Buzz | Mazda CX-60 PHEV SUV

IN Mazda, CX-60, SUV, Hybrid

Kodo, Ma, Kaichou, Musubu, Hacho and Kakenui for you, Takumi-san?


But while they might not be as affordable as the 1 Series Hatchback, nor as ubiquitous as the 3 Series saloon, nor as eco-friendly as the electric iX3 SUV, nor as luxurious as the flagship 7 Series limo, the 2 Series Active Tourer and Coupe are still vitally important to the brand in their individual ways: BMW 2 Series Coupe
Happenings

Why the 2nd-gen 2 Series Active Tourer and Coupe are the most important new BMWs in Singapore

IN BMW, 2 Series, Tourer, Coupe, Singapore, New

They’re neither the cheapest nor the most advanced BMW models, but the new 2 Series compact MPV and coupe are vital for the brand. Here’s why.


Punny name aside, the ID Buzz is something the market has demanded for two decades now: a charming retro-styled spiritual successor to the beloved VW Kombi (as it was known in this part of the world). With its bluff, upright stance, two-tone paint and oversized VW badge on its nose, the ID Buzz’s links to its legendary ancestor are plain to see.
Happenings

The VW ID Buzz is a reborn hippie van for the electric age

IN VW, Volkswagen, ID Buzz, EV, MPV, Van, Kombi, Type 2, Microbus, Retro

The iconic Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus returns as a modern electric MPV and commercial van


The new-gen 2022 WRX will not be getting an STI version, a shock announcement by Subaru USA has revealed. As has been the case for most of our favourite cars and nameplates being culled or unrecognisably altered in recent years, electrification is to blame.
Happenings

The Subaru WRX STI is dead

IN Subaru, Impreza, WRX, WRX STI, RIP

Fans of the legendary Boxer burble, look away now.


Overall review on the game Gran Turismo 7 combines the best aspects from previous series iterations with new additions. So whether you are planning on racing competitively, trying to complete the dream collection, a fine-tuning perfectionist, a livery designer, a photographer, or even just an arcade advocate, features inspired by Gran Turismo's past, present, and future will pique your interest in cars.
The Pit

3 Things We Really Like About PlayStation's Gran Turismo 7

IN Sony, PlayStation, Singapore Review, GT7, Gran Turismo 7, Console, Gaming, Cars, Simulator, Driving,

Our first impression of Sony's latest cult driving simulator.


1932 Alfa Romeo P3 Tipo B
Classics

Be mesmerised by priceless classics drifting on a frozen lake at ICE St Moritz

IN Concours, ICE St Moritz, Classic cars, Drifting

A gazillion times better than Disney On Ice


Say hello to the Polestar O2. It's a 2+2 seater EV roadster concept that Polestar's CEO Thomas Ingenlath calls
Happenings

Live out your racing video game fantasies with the Polestar O2

IN Polestar, O2, Electric vehicle, EV, Roadster, Sports car

The Polestar O2 is an all-electric roadster concept with its own self-tracking drone


Fitted to a Toyota Supra in 255/35R19 (front) and 275/35R19 (rear) sizes, Tyre Reviews’ Jonathan Benson pitched the Continental SportContact 7 against nine other rivals, which included the Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Bridgestone Potenza Sport; the latter was the UHP category winner, as well as overall champion in Asia’s Ultimate Tyre Awards’ tyre test 2022, Singapore’s first empirical and scientific tyre test.
Happenings

Continental SportContact 7 wins Tyre Reviews’ 2022 UHP tyre test

IN Toyota, Supra, Tyre review, Tyre test, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin

Come for the in-depth tyre comparison, stay for the gratuitous oversteer


The electric premium crossover scored a total of 279 points, fending off a shortlist that was almost entirely comprised of pure EVs, a clear indication of the direction the automotive industry is trending towards. This is the first time that Kia, or any other South Korean car manufactuer, has won the prestigious title, and the third time for an EV.
Happenings

Kia EV6 wins European Car of the Year 2022

IN Kia, EV6, EV, Awards

Electric crossover takes the gong ahead of an almost all-EV final shortlist


“The need for different technologies to fit into a given environment or scenario across the world, is I think, the most rational and probably the fastest way to make an impact on the environment, globally,” said Lars. With the combination of products that offer customers the Power of Choice, along with a Managing Director who can comfortably adapt to a fast-moving conversation, it looks like BMW Group Asia is in very good hands indeed.
Happenings

Lunch with Lars: BMW Group Asia Managing Director

IN BMW Group Asia, Automotive news,

Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia effortlessly handles a wide variety of topics from Danish butter cookies to the challenges of a disruptive car market


Think winter sports and images of downhill skiing, snowboarding and bobsledding may come to mind... maybe even a few rounds of curling. How about going sideways on ice and snow in a Huracán instead? Well, when Lamborghini has a say in the matter, it decided to make that a reality with a return to the ice ring in the Italian ski resort of Livigno in February 2022. Cue mental images of raging bulls with ice skates strapped onto their hooves.
Happenings

Lamborghini Accademia Neve returns to Livigno 2022

IN Lamborghini, Accademia Neve, Livigno, Winter sports, Urus, Huracan

Take raging bulls by the horns and throw them into snow - oppa Lambo-style!


For me though, the Golf GTI has always been a bit of a letdown. Granted, most of my experience has only been with the Mk7 and Mk7.5, but for all the myth and legend surrounding those three letters, and the accolades heaped upon it by automotive media everywhere, most of my encounters with a GTI has left me feeling distinctly unenthused. As an unabashed lover of fast driving, hot hatches are definitely right up my alley, but the Mk7.5 just didn't serve up enough thrills. It didn't help that it debuted in something of a renaissance period for hot hatches, with the FK8 Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai i30N, Mk4 Renault Megane RS, and even its corporate cousin the Skoda Octavia RS245, all muscling in on the GTI’s turf.
New

1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back: Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8

IN VW, Volkswagen, Golf, Golf GTI, Hot hatch, Hatchback

Amongst hot hatches, it’s always been the VW Golf GTI that’s left BP’s resident racer, Jon, the coldest. Can the feistier new Mk8 change his mind?


Alfa Romeo is a company any petrolhead wants to love, but in recent years has not been performing its best. The rear-wheel drive Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV, launched in 2015 and 2016 respectively, were meant to start a renaissance of sorts for the brand, but despite a warm reception from enthusiasts and the media, this limited two-car lineup was nowhere close to realising Alfa’s potential. With that in mind, CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato promised last year that the company would be launching one new model every year till 2026, and this, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, is the first of this product offensive. Tonale is a smaller brother to the Stelvio, aimed to serve the compact SUV segment. First shown as a concept in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, Tonale has finally taken shape in production form and we can’t wait to see it in real life when it’s expected to hit our little red dot’s shores around the fourth quarter of this year. Tonale’s dimensions are pretty compact too; at 4.53m long, 1.84m wide and 1.6m tall, Alfa Romeo says it “encompasses the uniqueness of Italian design and the original, contemporary style typical of Alfa Romeo”.
Happenings

Electrified and Tingling: Alfa Romeo Tonale Launch

IN Alfa Romeo, Tonale, Hybrid

Setting the ‘tonale’ for the future, the Alfa Romeo Tonale’s arrival in Singapore geared for Q4 2022.


Find a twisty road however, and it doesn’t take long to unearth the RS’s other talents. Whack the DCC up into sport, and the car becomes a highly effective, if slightly clinical, road devourer. The meaty yet quick steering is confidence-inspiring and makes accurate placing of the car an intuitive affair, and the body control lent by the DCC is exceptional. As with the RS245 and Mk8 GTI though, the crowning glory is the limited-slip differential, which mitigates any trace of untidy wheelspin as you power out of corners, a trait which the old GTI sometimes frustrated me with.
New

First Drive: 2022 Skoda Octavia RS

IN Skoda, Octavia, Octavia RS, Hot hatch, Sports saloon, Skoda Centre Singapore

The Skoda Octavia RS is back, and continues to offer the same incredible value and practicality. We take it out for a brief taster to see what it’s like


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.
New

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

IN BMW, IX3, M Sport, EV, Charging

Electric cherry popped


Factor in the current COE price of $82k and the M340i comes within striking distance of the $376,581 Audi S4, also an all-wheel drive 3-litre turbocharged sport sedan that makes 353hp and 500Nm of torque. Altogether, that’s good for an electronically-limited 250km/h top speed and 4.7 second sprint from 0-100km/h. Compelling? Moreover, even though it still sports a straight-6 turbo engine, the M340i is now available in Singapore only with all-wheel drive, or xDrive as BMW calls it. Cue moans and groans from hardcore BMW enthusiasts. Since the regular G20 has already been covered in a previous article, we’ll simply focus on what makes this an M Performance vehicle. The Important Bits The M340i features bulging intakes up front, which sets it apart from the regular 3er and makes that front-end look sharper and meaner. Don’t be deceived by those slim headlights though – they’re up there with the best that we‘ve tested.
New

BMW M340i xDrive: Formerly known as Prince

IN BMW, M, M340i, XDrive

True commitment to (most of) BMW’s traditional values is needed


In a joint statement released on 27 January, Formula One, along with Singapore GP (SGP), and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) made the announcement that F1 will return to Singapore for another seven years starting from 2022 – with a difference.
Happenings

Formula One to return to Singapore

IN Formula One, Grand Prix, F1, Singapore, 2022, Night race, Street circuit, Marina Bay

We’ll get to enjoy F1 cars tearing around our streets yet again from 2022 to 2028


If the car vaguely looks like a Volvo XC40, particularly from the front end, that’s probably because it mostly is Polestar started out as a performance sub-brand of the Swedish carmaker. The brand is under ownership of Geely Auto, which also includes Lotus, smart, Proton, and of course, Volvo amongst its 18-brand portfolio. The Chinese auto giant has deemed that Polestar be positioned as a standalone dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) brand. Getting on pole
New

POLE POSITION: Polestar 2 aims for Tesla Model 3

IN Polestar, EV, Sedan, Electric vehicle

The Volvo-spawned EV brand makes its debut in Singapore with Polestar 2, a compact sedan which offers something different from the popular American brand.



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