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The MD’s Pledge “This is a big milestone for the BMW brand, as customers in Singapore now have the power of choice when it comes to the BMW X3,” said Mr. Christopher Wehner, Managing Director, BMW Group Asia. “Customers have three drivetrains to choose from – internal combustion engine, PHEV and EV. Depending on your lifestyle, where you live and the infrastructure available to you, we have something for everyone.
Happenings

iX3 is the icing atop BMW Group Asia’s 7-year electrification cake

IN BMW, IX3, PHEV, EV, Singapore

Customers in Singapore now can choose which drivetrain they prefer


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 latest car that has gotten our blood pumping in a way that no other car has for a really long time is the Toyota GR Yaris. Depending on who you ask, you might get a different answer as to what makes it special.
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Instant Classic | Toyota GR Yaris

IN Toyota, Toyota GR, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Gazoo Racing, GR Yaris, Toyota GR Yaris

We’ve driven this much-lauded supermini, and the hype is real. Prepare to want one.


But I’m guessing the RS6 caters to owners who would be in their late ’40s or mid to late ’50s. These guys have enough money to buy whatever they want, and probably already have (or had) whatever they fancied (think Ferrari 488, Porsche GT3 or McLaren 600LT), but want something that works daily that won’t give them a headache or a backache, yet makes a statement about their choice in cars.
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A Class Of Its Own | Audi RS6 Avant

What do you get when you’re fortunate enough to own a stable of supercars but need a practical daily driver that’s just as quick and ‘showy’? The Audi RS6, of course.


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.


It all began with conversation about how our friend's recently-acquired BMW 728i (E38) was an excellent mile muncher. Before we knew it, Google Maps was pulled out, and these words set us past the point of no return.
The Pit

Eh, let's drive to Bangkok

IN Road trip, Thailand, Bangkok, Cross-border, Bmw, E38, 7 series, 728i

Random dinnertime banter very quickly turned into a 3,700 kilometre roadtrip... in a classic German luxobarge.


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.


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.


Is there more power? Many changes have been made to make the GR 86 same but better. For starters, the new 2.4-litre lump makes 35 bhp more than the outgoing 2.0-litre, now producing 232 bhp and 250 Nm. As in the new BRZ, peak torque in the GR 86 is available from a much more usable 3,700rpm.
Happenings

Toyobaru Toyota Twin Revealed

IN Toyota, GR86, Toyota GR86, Toyota GR, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Toyobaru, Borneo Motors

Toyota's refreshed rear-drive coupe has launched, with the same 2.4-litre flat-4 as its related Subaru twin – but a few minor differences.


The what now? The Scala and Kamiq, the two latest compact-sized offerings from Skoda. Meaning “ladder” in Latin, the Scala is supposed to represent the Skoda brand scaling new heights, according to the official spiel. It’s a hatchback marginally larger than a Volkswagen Golf, but smaller than the company’s staple offering, the Octavia liftback sedan.
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Czechs and Balances | Skoda Scala and Kamiq

IN Skoda, Scala, Kamiq, Skoda Scala, Skoda Kamiq

Two new compact contestants to Singapore’s car market provide buyers new entry-level options in the Skoda range.


In the car world, examples that come to mind are the Mercedes-Benz G-wagen, or in years past, the Bugatti EB110 Supersport, Subaru WRX STI Spec-C, Mitsubishi Evolution VII, Lancia Delta Integrale, or Alfa Romeo SZ - all cars that are highly prized by collectors, yet you cannot call any of them “classically beautiful”. In the case of the M3 Competition Sedan and M4 Competition Coupé, their huge front grilles serve a functional purpose. The cooling requirements are substantial for a twin-turbo engine that makes 510hp and 650Nm of torque in any part of the world where temperatures can reach in excess of 50-degrees Celsius.
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M and Ms | BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition

IN BMW, M3, M4, BMW M3, BMW M4, Performance Motors Limited

The latest dynamic duo from the BMW M division arrive in Singapore to offer two distinct flavours of performance.


Joining the existing Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car and Mercedes-AMG C 63S Estate medical car, the pair from Gaydon will make their debut at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this Sunday. Aston Martin Vantage safety car It’s not easy staying in front of Lewis Hamilton on an F1 circuit, thus the Vantage safety car has been fettled with by the engineering team to improve track performance and lap times. Power is now up 25 bhp to 528 bhp, but torque remains unchanged at 685 Nm – although “sustained for longer” in this application. The transmission has also been improved, giving “a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts”.
Happenings

Safety in Numbers

IN F1, Formula One, Safety Car, Medical Car, Aston Martin, Aston Martin Vantage, Aston Martin DBX, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-AMG GTR, Mercedes-AMG C63S

For the first time in the history of Formula One, there’ll be two official Safety and Medical Cars – from both Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG.


Inevitably, owners of the traditional 3-door MINIs will move on to other stages of life. This might necessitate un-fun stuff, like two extra doors and a full-sized cargo area. Sacrilegious it might be to the MINI purists, but there’s no denying that the Countryman filled a segment at its debut 10 years ago. Since then, the Countryman has seen a second-generation model launched, which moved it to the BMW UKL platform that’s shared with the BMW X1. Now though, it’s been facelifted with some choice design changes and nifty new tech inside.
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Smartened Up | MINI Countryman Cooper S

IN MINI, Countryman, Cooper S, MINI Countryman, Countryman Cooper S, MINI Countryman Cooper S, Eurokars Habitat

Subtle exterior design changes and modernised interior equipment make the MINI Countryman better than ever.


This isn’t an all-new car of course, nor is it even a facelift (that comes next year, when the Countryman gets new headlights and Union Jack-themed taillights just like the rest of the Mini range, as well as new digital displays). But though it looks no different, the 2020 Countryman JCW’s updates run far deeper than facelifts conventionally do. With 306hp and 450Nm now on tap, the new Countryman JCW has made gains of 75hp and 100Nm over the 2019 model - a full one-third more power and torque than before. That’s all courtesy of an updated version of the B48 2.0-litre turbo engine, which is now in the same spec as you’d find in the BMW M135i, M235i, and X2 M35i. As a result, the 0-100km/h time drops from 6.5 to 5.1 seconds, and it’s powerful enough flat-out to warrant a 250km/h electronic speed limiter. It’s rather a different beast to drive now, and finally feels special enough to justify its existence (and its price tag).
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Rally the Troops | Mini Countryman John Cooper Works

IN MINI, Countryman, JCW, John Cooper Works, MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works

The biggest and most expensive Mini you can buy gets a lot more power for 2020, finally giving it performance that’s worthy of the JCW name.


Happenings

The different flavours of BMW Luxury

IN BMW, GKL, GKL Range, BMW 7, 7 Series, BMW 8, 8 Series, BMW X7, X7, Luxury Cars

BMW Luxury motoring is defined in 3 different ways as shown by these flagship models.


Available at launch (and shown in these pictures) is the Morgan Plus Six, a 3.0-litre six-cylinder two-seater roadster with a starting price of S$415,888 without Certificate of Entitlement; NB Auto has confirmed that the Plus Six has cleared the Land Transport Authority’s homologation process.
Happenings

British sports car maker Morgan arrives in Singapore

IN Morgan, Singapore, Sports cars, New cars, Launch

355hp, S$415k (w/o COE) Morgan Plus Six heralds the 112-year old company’s first-ever official presence here; S$325k Plus Four to follow in Q2 2021.


What are your top 3 achievements in 2020? Our greatest achievement in 2020 was having BMW recognised in Singapore as the second top-selling car brand, and the best-selling among premium brands. In addition to moving up three positions, from 5th to 2nd, our market share increased to 9.8%, the highest market share of any BMW NSC worldwide.But that’s not all. We maintained segment leadership in the Philippines for the second year in a row, and also secured premium segment leadership in Indonesia after 15 years (as of YTD December 2020).Finally, sales in the region increased for both BMW and MINI brands across their model range. Our luxury models – 7 Series, 8 Series and X7 – increased by 15% and sales of BMW M and M Performance models increased by 14% in Singapore. Specifically, in the Philippines and Vietnam, luxury model sales increased by 63% and 48% respectively compared to 2019.  For MINI, we witnessed extremely strong growth compared to 2019 with our xEV models (+63%), Performance JCW models (+116%), and the new MINI Clubman (+74%).None of this would have been possible without the relentless ongoing support of our strong partners in all markets.
Happenings

“10 questions to…”

Challenges. Successes. Mr. Christopher Wehner, the Managing Director of BMW Group Asia shares how he has taken the BMW Group Asia region to new heights.


This then, has the all-singing, all-dancing full-blooded AMG powerplant for the family of Mercedes cars that bear the letter ‘A’; A-Class, CLA and GLA. The 45 series of AMG cars is the entry point to what some might consider as a ‘proper’ AMG as the engines come from a “one-man, one-engine” production line where the finished power unit bears a plaque with the name and signature of the technician who put the mechanical masterpiece together. My compliments then, to Alexander Kasarez who built a fine motor for our test car. In this instance however, it is technically a “one-woman, one-engine” production. Here’s to Girl Power!
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Sense of Occassion | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupé

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, CLA, CLA 45S, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S

The most powerful 2.0-litre car you can buy adds a touch of practicality to make it a more useable daily proposition.


However if you really want the full warp drive experience, there’s a sequence of setting the car up first: put it in Sport Plus Mode, hold the brake firmly with your left foot, and nail the accelerator to the carpet with your right foot until “Launch Control Activated” shows up in the driver’s display. This then sets the electric motors to unleash a maximum combined total of 571hp and 650Nm of torque when the brake pedal is released. The rest of the time, the Taycan 4S’ power output reverts to a more sustainable 490hp.
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The Future Is... Here? | Porsche Taycan 4S

IN Porsche, Taycan, Taycan 4S, Porsche Taycan, Porsche Taycan 4S

Much has been said about the higher-end Taycan Turbo and Turbo S. This entry point to an all-electric Porsche however is probably the best real world option.


This is precisely what a sporty coupe should be. If it doesn’t excite, set tongues wagging or get fingers pointing, what’s the point? Enthusiasts of all ages can name any number of BMW coupes that made cars and driving exciting for them. The iconic cars inspire even until this day. So what does the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe have in common with some of its best-known predecessors? 328 – The Original
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The FANTASTIC 4: Iconic BMW coupes that shaped the brand

IN BMW, BMW 4, BMW 4 Series, BMW Coupes

Over the decades, BMW has produced some truly inspiring coupes. How does the all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe build on the legacy of its forebears?



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