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Electric Vehicles (EVs) are undoubtedly the future for the automobile – at least for the next decade anyways, until governments and manufacturers come around to e-fuels… However until then, if or when, the car industry is firmly committed to producing EVs. Like everyone else, I’m all for anything that is an improvement over whatever it replaces and so EVs ticks almost all the boxes. One very big box that remains unchecked, however, is the business of charging. If you are an apartment dweller like me, who doesn’t have regular access to a personal wall box or is using your EV for a road trip, then you’ll know that you have to set up an account with the charging provider, and store your credit card number. And since there are several operators, it would be prudent to hold several accounts to minimize the chances of not being able to charge your EV when need to. Oh, on road trips, charging stops have to be planned lest you be stranded with a dead EV. Compare this with the convenience of refuelling conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars. The drive down the I-5 to Los Angeles takes you through one of the most uninhabited places in California. Yet, you could still find a gas station with no more than 25 miles between them. You can drive up to any station, use any method of payment, including cash – imagine that, fill up and be on your way for the next 400 miles or so. All in 10 minutes or less. While EV charging technology is getting faster, and over time will be more common, the business of paying for the charge is ridiculously complicated to paying at the pump. No amount needed, just hand over your money and go. How is this progress? Okay, I’m sure someone is working on making EV charging more convenient. Wake me up when September ends. Testing the hybrid theory Until charging an EV becomes as convenient as refuelling, perhaps hybrid cars will be relevant in the sense that they offer all the advantages of an EV without the drawbacks. This proved to be the case when I drove a 2023 BMW 330e from Los Gatos to Los Angeles. The car was chosen on the assumption that its 107hp electric motor would be sufficient for pottering around the city while the 181hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine would have the legs to handle the endless stretches of Interstate Freeways without breaking a sweat. Working in tandem with the electric motor, there’s a combined output of 288hp and 310Nm at its driver’s disposal. Over 300 miles or so of interstate driving, the motor, along with regenerative inertia and braking would have plenty of time to charge up the batteries so I essentially could cruise in the city.
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2023 BMW 330e xDrive: The Really Easy e

IN BMW, 330e

A drive from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles shows why plug-in hybrids still make sense in a growing EV world.


Today, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have taken over as the car of choice and so unsurprisingly, the BMW X3 has become one the brand’s best-selling models. Although the 3 Series/4 Series are still the brand’s best-selling models in 2021 with 490,000 units sold, the X3/X4 range is closing in with 414,000 units finding homes last year.
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BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport

IN BMW, X3, XDrive30i, M Sport

Some timely updates and upgrades are set to keep one of the brand’s best-sellers at the top of its game.


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.
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BMW M340i xDrive: Formerly known as Prince

IN BMW, M, M340i, XDrive

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


For a rather rounded-edge SUV, those downward-sloping headlights and signature pointy Alfa Romeo grille combine to give the Stelvio Veloce a fierce face, akin to a shark stalking its prey. Large air inlets at the bottom of the front bumper add to this fiery countenance, with the adaptive cruise control sensor housed in the right-side inlet. A clamshell bonnet with power creases on either side rounds off the top of the front-end. Around the side sits a solitary black ‘Veloce’ badge on the muscular front fender, reminding one that this is a pretty hot variant of Stelvio. Letting the eyes drop downward, one can’t help but notice the recognizably-Alfaesque telephone-dial 20-inch rims. Shod with 255/45 R20 Michelin Latitude Sport 3 tyres, this combo offers nice ride pliancy combined with generous levels of grip in the beating rain.
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Exciting la Famiglia | Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce

IN Alfa Romeo, Stelvio, Veloce, Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Stelvio Veloce, EuroAutomobile

Higher-riding handling-machine, and also a family-hauler.


The Ponte Vasco Da Gama. It is the second-longest bridge in Europe, spanning more than 17 km in length, the bridge connects Lisbon with Montijo, where we will be crossing from in our BMW X1 xDrive25d.
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Finding Portugal WITH THE BMW X1 XDRIVE25D | Day Two

We cross one of Europe's longest bridges in day two of our Portugal road trip.


All in all, it proved to be an eye-opening day for us. As we conclude our short road trip tomorrow, we’re told that we will be making our way across some interesting roads. More of that in our 'Day-Two' story soon!
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Finding Portugal with the BMW X1 xDrive25d | Day One

IN BMW, Xdrive, X1, Portugal, SUV, XDrive25d, Travel

There’s no better way to discover what a country has to offer than to explore it by car. We grab the keys to the BMW X1 and do just that.


A trend that’s set to stay.
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BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport | A Tad Excessive

IN BMW, X3, XDrive30i, BMW X3, BMW X3 xDrive30i, M Sport, BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport, SUV, Sports Activity Vehicle, Performance Motors Ltd, BMW Asia, 2018

BMW’s well-loved X3 returns with even more muscle - but will local consumers bite, and let history repeat itself?


Power comes courtesy of a 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 engine derived from the outgoing M5, but revised to feature newly developed turbochargers, ultra-efficient charge air cooling and increased fuel injection pressure, increasing power to 600 bhp and 750 Nm of torque, up from the F10-chassis M5’s 560 bhp and 678 Nm. The century sprint takes just 3.4 seconds, all the way to an electronically limited top speed of 250kmh. With the optional M Driver’s Package, however, the fun continues till the speedometer touches 305kmh.
Happenings

BMW M5 gets xDrive all-wheel drive for the first time

IN BMW, BMW M5, M5, Sedan, M GmbH, XDrive

New M5 offers greater everyday practicality with the debut of xDrive on the platform


You could also raise the car’s height at a touch of a button, placed just below the air-con controls — useful for some little off-roading fun.
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Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC Coupe | Get Up, Get Out

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, GLE, 4MATIC, GLE Coupe, GLE 450, 450, SUV, GLE 450 Coupe

It is Mercedes’s turn to enter the niche SUV-that-thinks-it-is-a-sports-coupe segment — is it as good as the established X6, or does it fail in comparison?


Which was why, historically speaking, Volvo’s XC90 was once the people’s champion; every family men and soccer mums loved it. It has the cabin space of a 5-room HDB flat, the pace of an executive sedan (you have the option of a 2.5-litre turbocharged and 4.4-litre V8) and best of all, an easy to drive demeanour. Volvo’s renowned safety and reliability summed up the package.
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Making Good Sense | BMW X5 xDrive35i

IN BMW, X5, SAV, SUV, XDrive35i, XDrive, Beemer, BMW Asia

The new X5 was introduced last year with a rather big V8 engine and that made its popularity limited, but now with a more sensible 3.0-litre engine will it be more appealing?


The latest version of the 4.4-litre engine at the heart of the X6 xDrive50i increases the predecessor model’s maximum output by 10 percent, to 450 bhp (+43 bhp), yet posts a 22 percent drop in average fuel consumption. The engine’s suite of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology now welcomes Valvetronic variable valve timing alongside its two turbochargers and High Precision Direct Petrol Injection, endowing the eight-cylinder engine with improved responsiveness and pulling power and also giving it extra efficiency.
Happenings

New X6 Arrives In Singapore

IN BMW, X6, XDrive50i, XDrive35i, XDrive30d, BMW X6, BMW Asia, Performance Motors

Second generation controversial X6 gets a new mature face and a host of improvements


But you cannot deny the fact that there are a few competent alternatives next to the X5. Prominently are Audi’s Q7, Porsche’s Cayenne, the Range Rover and even Volkswagen’s Touareg; they all offer the same proposition as the BMW.
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Beam Me Up, Scotty | BMW X5 xDrive50i

IN BMW, X5, SAV, SUV, XDrive50i, XDrive, BMW Asia

Does the flagship X5 have it all? We spend some alone time with BMW’s SUV to see whether it can be the segment leader


BMW's Advanced Diesel engines feature TwinPower Turbo technology, capable of generating high levels of torque for performance-minded drivers. At the same time, low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are also ensured. A key feature is the high injection pressure of up to 2,000 bars which is generated regardless of engine speed or amount of fuel being injected. In combination with the standard particle filter, the diesel models offered in Singapore already comply with the EU 5 emissions standard.
Happenings

Diesel 3 Series And 5 Series Debuts Here

IN BMW, BMW Asia, 3 Series, 5 Series, Diesel, 320d, 520d, 520d Luxury

BMW expands it's diesel portfolio, giving buyers more variety; next step needed is to educate and attract more to go down the diesel route.


Happenings

BMW Innovations Xpo

IN BMW, BMW Asia, Innovations xpo, Efficient dynamics, Event

Registered Burnpavement.com readers will get a chance to experience the technologies found in BMW cars at the BMW Innovations Xpo. They'll also get an exclusive preview of the new 1 Series.


Happenings

Innovation Isn't Just A Word. It's An Experience.

IN BMW, BMW Asia, BMW Innovations xpo, Efficient dynamics, Event

Burnpavement.com is privileged to be the only motoring publication to partner BMW Asia in this exclusive event. We have 15,000 active readers daily-only 200 of you will join us. Best to register now!


On the outside, the car is clearly more dashing than the model it has replaced. Large kidney grilles give an X5-like appearance, while the fog lamps have been raised, just in case you decide to submerge the car two feet underwater. Looking at our recent 'excessive water' issues, that might just happen.
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Xpectations Xceeded Xceptionally | BMW X3 xDrive35i

IN BMW, SUV, X3, Xdrive35i

More handsome than its predecessor (they couldn't do worse). Packed with a three litre TwinPower turbo charged motor pushing 306 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. What's not to like?



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