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Which brings me to the BMW 320i coupe. Driving it is like being in the small pool. It is fun to be in. Like many models that came out of the Bavarian marque's production line, it handles brilliantly, and thanks to its handsome and stylish lines it feels sporty enough to make you feel like you're piloting something quite special.

New

First Stroke To Style | BMW 320i CoupÃ©

BMW straps their entry-level four-cylinder engine to their handsome 3 Series CoupÃ©. But does it still deliver a full BMW experience without their signature six-cylinder powerplant?

Motorsports

Two In A Row From Pole!

IN F1, 2011, Sepang

The Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday 10 April 2011 at the Sepang International Circuit saw Sebastian Vettel win his second race in a row ahead of Jenson Button and Nick Heidfeld.

Happenings

David Coulthard Thrills Bukit Bintang Shoppers

IN Red Bull, David Coulthard, F1, Sepang, 2011

The Red Bull Speed Street event marked the first time that a F1 car sped down Malaysia's main shopping strip.

The JK Racing Asia Series consists of 18 races on six weekends in the 2011 season. On three occasions the JK Racing Asia Series will support Formula One Grand Prix, in Malaysia, Singapore and the newly built circuit in India. Two weekends will be held during the Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) in Malaysia and Indonesia, with one weekend held in Guangdong during the Hong Kong Autosport Challenge (HKAC).

Motorsports

JK Racing Asia Series Driver Lineup And Mentor Announced

IN Formula BMW Pacific, JK Racing Asia, 2011

The JK Racing Asia Series is off to a flying start after the introduction of the 2011 Driver lineup ahead of the Season Opener this weekend in support of the 2011 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

Motorsports

Sebastian Vettel Victorious At Melbourne

IN F1, 2011, Melbourne

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel started the new Formula One season with a flawless race from pole to finish to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport’ mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission. Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar said: “The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a wider market and we hope it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia. It’s been a while since Lotus created an automatic and we’ve spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience.” Khun Seree Rakvit, President of Niche Cars Lotus, and sole authorised dealer for Lotus in Thailand, commented: “We are honoured to present the Evora IPS to the region at the Bangkok Motor Show. Having an automatic version of the popular Evora model is a great addition to the portfolio as it complements the current Lotus range perfectly.”

Happenings

Asian Debut For The New Evora IPS At The Bangkok Motor Show

IN Evora, Lotus, IPS, Bangkok Motor Show

The Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) and the Evora Enduro GT concept have made their first appearance in Asia at the 32nd Bangkok Motor Show.

The uncomplicated overall design is accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wrap around windscreen and asymmetric sunroof design, the front and rear dot-style LED head and positioning-lamps. This juxtaposition of simple and complex is a common trait of many traditional Korean art and craft. Asian Celadon-style pottery, in particular, was a major influence on the car’s styling — with the pottery’s asymmetric form lending itself to the sunroof design, and the typical jade coloring giving Naimo its unique exterior finish. Kia’s design team also made use of innovative technology features to give the car a premium feel and to ensure the car’s exterior remained uncluttered. For example, Naimo has no traditional wiper blade on the windscreen — instead it employs a high-intensity air jet at the base of the windscreen that performs an ‘air wiper’ function. Conventional door mirrors have also been replaced with miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars.

Happenings

Kia Naimo Electric Concept Stars In Seoul

IN Seoul, Motor Show, Kia, Naimo, EV

Making its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show, the Kia Naimo electric concept car combines Korean heritage with innovative modern features.

Motorsports

Hirvonen Triumphs In Sweden

IN WRC, Sweden, 2011

Finland's Mikko Hirvonen held off the challenge of six-times champion Sebastien Loeb to clinch victory in the season opener in Sweden.

Happenings

Stuttgart Auto Triple Celebrations; Donates $250,000 For Needy Students

IN Porsche, 911, Carrera, GTS

Local Porsche dealer sets new sales records, celebrates 25th anniversary as Porsche dealer and unveils the all-new 911 Carrera GTS.

For starters, the races will be screened at various locations in the heartlands, from shopping malls to food outlets. Keeping up with the pace of technology, races will be broadcast in full high-definition and 3D formats.

Happenings

SingTel: Fast Is Amazing

IN SingTel, F1, 2011, Formula, One

After making the announcement that they will continue as Title Sponsor for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix for two more years, what does Singtel have in store for us this year?

The wet tyre is used in case of heavy rain, while the intermediate is for a damp or drying track. The supersoft provides plenty of speed at the expense of durability, while the soft tyre lasts a bit longer but is still more biased towards performance. The medium tyre is a balanced compromise, while the hard tyre is the most durable of all. Seeing how the teams use the different characteristics of these tyres as part of their strategy will provide a vivid spectacle this year, designed to please the crowds.

Motorsports

Pirelli Shows Its Colours Heading To Australia

IN Pirelli, Tyre, F1

Italian firm Pirelli embarks on the first season of a three-year agreement to supply Formula One with tyres, has revealed the six different tyre colours that will be used throughout the season.

On the move, the driving characteristic of the MiTo isn’t what it seems to be. You may opine initially that the ride sways more towards the soft side, but when you set its DNA system from “Neutral” to “Dynamic”, you can feel the MiTo stiffen up and provide a reasonable amount of grip that is both sharp and rather precise. Pity the factory-fitted Bridgestone Turanza ER300 tyres that don’t seem to cooperate as they tend to screech and struggle for grip when pushed hard, killing your enthusiasm when shooting in hard into a corner. When it comes to the brakes, the anchors on the MiTo — standard with ABS and EBD - are assuring and offers respectable stopping power with no feeling of brake fade which is useful at hauling all that 1,145kg to a complete halt.

New

Ciao Di Nuovo | Alfa Romeo MiTo Multiair TCT

IN Alfa Romeo, MiTo, TCT

If you are a loyal fan of hot hatches, you would have noticed how this particular car segment is sometimes on a roll, but in most instances just plain quiet.

Motorsports

Biggest Field In History For Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

IN Porsche, 911, Carrera, PCCA, 2011

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is set for a record-breaking ninth season with an unprecedented 28 drivers signed for the region’s most prestigious GT championship.

McLaren GT Project Manager Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin piloted the new 12C GT3 on its first outings. These real-world tests follow months of virtual testing in the McLaren Simulator at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, which is also used to develop the 12C production car and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' Formula 1 cars.

Motorsports

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Breaks Cover To Complete First Test

IN McLaren, McLaren GT, MP4-12C

The first McLaren MP4-12C GT3 to be built by McLaren GT has successfully undertaken its debut tests at the MIRA proving ground facility and Silverstone Circuit in England.

The last time that a Red Bull Racing showcar performed in Singapore was back in February 2008 as a special item in that year’s Chingay Parade. It was the first time that the Singapore public had experienced the thunderous engine note of a F1 car, months before the inaugural Singapore night race took place in Marina Bay.

But even then, it was a mere sneak peek as the F1 car segment lasted barely five minutes before the Chingay Parade proper. This time round, the Red Bull Speed Street events will be fully fledged standalone showcar events lasting about an hour each, in which the public can expect manoeuvres such as short sprints, burnouts, engine breaks and donuts, which one won’t get to see often in actual F1 races.

This will mark the first time that Red Bull is organising a F1 showcar event in Malaysia as the blue and silver Red Bull was previously unavailable for sale in the country. The showcar event in Malaysia will take place along the entire stretch of Jalan Bukit Bintang starting from the Pavillion Mall to the Jalan Pudu junction, while the Singapore event will stretch from the Orchard Link junction to the Buyong Road intersection near the Istana.

The Austrian energy drink company, which is fast gaining in popularity amongst F1 aficionados thanks to the double championship winning feat of Red Bull Racing in 2010, is expecting crowds upwards of 100,000 spectators to line the 1km stretches along both shopping streets. To ensure that the safety of the audience is not compromised, safety measures and precautions will be in place in accordance with Red Bull Racing’s safety team.

A series of pre-event activations and tie-ups with retailers and malls in both countries can also be expected in the lead up to the events. Red Bull is also working closely with Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) to organise the event in Singapore.

Happenings

Red Bull Racing's F1 Showcar To Race Down Singapore And Malaysia

IN Red Bull, Racing, F1

Red Bull Speed Street events in April featuring former F1 driver David Coulthard will mark the first time that Orchard Road and Jalan Bukit Bintang will be closed for a motor sports event.

But I think your car has strabismus. Your engineers said that it helps to provide better aerodynamics and apparently they are the only ones who think so. And I reckon I’m right because your blokes at Malvern Link rectified the eye problem four years ago. We were all spot-on except you because being cross-eyed was never a gift especially when you have a recessed nose. It makes driving in the night a grueling task and you can’t have auto headlights as a factory option. That’s the precision you get with hand-built cars.

Readers' Rides

Oh Morgan! | Morgan Aero 8

IN Morgan, Aero 8

Our writer pens a 'letter' to Morgan as he reflects on his encounter with their bespoke supercar, the one and only, defectively flawless, Morgan Aero 8.

Modified

Singapore's Best Mitsubishi Evo | Entry Seven (7)

IN Mitsubishi, Evo, Cycle & Carriage, Singapore, Evo 9, Evo X, Evo 10, Turbo

This legendary Kawasaki Green Evo IX is certainly hard to miss. Then again, this 2-time Johor Circuit Drag-race champion is so fast, it MIGHT just be too quick for your eye. Monster? You bet!

Butterfly opening doors give easy access to a 2+2 cabin that blends simplicity with technology. It has a minimalist, ‘stripped out’ feel, including a new expression of Saab’s driver-focused layout and a world debut for Saab’s innovative IQon infotainment and communications system. In true Saab tradition, there is also a surprisingly versatile cargo deck. “The PhoeniX establishes a new reference point for the future of Saab product design,” says Jason Castriota, Saab Automobile’s Executive Design Director. “It symbolizes a renaissance of the innovative spirit and passion that drove Saab to build its first car. We’re now taking the visual DNA forward with what we call ‘aeromotional’ design, adding emotion, power and fluidity. This design aesthetic will shape and differentiate future models in the Saab portfolio.”

Happenings

Saab PhoeniX Concept: The Future Is Already Here

IN Saab, PhoeniX, IQon

Sleek, innovative and exceptionally efficient: the Saab PhoeniX concept car showcases design features and technologies which will shape the next generation of cars from Saab.

From the diagram above, we can now see why Car One is more likely than Car Two to hit X and this hypothesis is taken with the assumption that the driver has a normal average reaction time. If the driver is distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol, then he or she will have a longer than average reaction time to knock X down without having any chance of applying brakes at all.

Happenings

The Dangers Of Speeding

IN Speeding, Traffic Police

Have you ever wondered why speed traps and covert operations conducted by the Traffic Police are in place? That is because inappropriate speed is a danger on public roads.

Modified

Singapore's Best Mitsubishi Evo | Entry Six (6)

IN Mitsubishi, Evo, Cycle & Carriage, Singapore, Evo 9, Evo X, Evo 10, Turbo

Neatly decked out in a racy colour combination, this dashing street-tuned Evo X has the juice and the looks to make onlookers give a double-take!