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Update 16 April 2024: You just gotta love the Italians. After having been launched as the Alfa Romeo Milano, an Italian government official declared that the use of the name 'Milano' is banned by law. So folks, here we have the Alfa Romeo Junior. Compact controversy indeed! Sean and I were having a chat about Alfa Romeo the other day. I mentioned that if it was not for the fact that sedans and hatchbacks don't sell as well today, Alfa Romeo would build a hot-hatch successor to the Giulietta if they had their own way.
Happenings

Compact Controversy - Launch Of The Alfa Romeo Junior

IN Alfa Romeo, Alfa Romeo Junior, Alfa Romeo Milano, Compact, Controversy, Giulietta, Hot hatchbacks, Is the, Junior, Milano, Mito, Successor

The <s>Alfa Romeo Milano</s> Alfa Romeo Junior is the Giulietta and Mito hot hatchbacks' successor.


For the longest time, the Volkswagen Golf has been the benchmark for hatchbacks, and if our impressive drive in the new Golf Mk8 was anything to go by, I’d say it still holds the crown, for now.
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Gloves off | BMW 1 Series 116i Luxury

Luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes have been criticised from time to time for ‘lowering’ their standards when making entry-level models. Is this one of them?


What, made by aliens, was it? Well, not the “little green men” sort of alien you’re thinking of (unless the workers in Honda’s Suzuka factory wear green coveralls), but fans of Doctor Who would certainly appreciate one of the Jazz’s best-loved qualities since its inception: its TARDIS-like ability to swallow up more stuff than its exterior dimensions would suggest.
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Going That Extra Mile | Honda Jazz Hybrid

IN Honda, Jazz, Hybrid, Jazz Hybrid, Honda Jazz, Honda Jazz Hybrid, Kah Motor

The Honda Jazz has always been an economical little car, but this new hybrid version is little short of miraculous.


What’s new underneath? Having debuted in Europe last year, the fourth-generation Audi A3 is finally in Singapore in both the Sedan and Sportback bodystyles. The latest A3 has been improved both inside and out, and is built on the new MQB Evo platform that that’s shared with the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf. It’ll be safe to expect the same sporty yet comfortable ride that the previous generation A3 was known for, but even that’s been made even better. The latest model gets a sophisticated new chassis, replacing the old model’s rear torsion beam suspension with a multi-link setup.
Happenings

We accidentally previewed the all-new Audi A3

IN Audi, A3, Audi A3, All-new A3, Premium Automobiles

The all-new Audi A3 has arrived in Singapore… and we managed to get a sneak preview! Here’s all that’s new and exciting about Audi’s latest offering in the compact segment.


Paired to a 6-speed manual (!) transmission in the Kona, the 1.0-litre was a mightily capable engine. A brilliant mix of engagement and efficiency, it was no Kona N, but still managed to brighten your commute a bit.
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Downsized but Decent | Hyundai i30 Hatchback 1.0 Turbo

IN Hyundai, I30, I30 Hatchback, Hyundai i30, Hyundai i30 Hatchback, Komoco Motors

Hyundai’s shrunk the engine of the popular i30, but the equipment list has remained properly sizeable.


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.


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.


Enter the range-topping 1.5 Luxe e:HEV model, which features a 1.5-litre engine mated to a hybrid powertrain for a mix of fuel economy and effortless acceleration. Newly developed for the Jazz, this e:HEV system combines a petrol engine with two powerful drive motors; however, unlike a typical hybrid vehicle, the engine and electric motor operate independently.
Happenings

The all-new Honda Jazz arrives in Singapore

IN Honda, Jazz, Honda Jazz, Kah Motor

Honda’s most-loved little hatchback gets revamped and electrified


The new Cooper sports refreshed LED head lamps and incorporates daytime driving lights and turn indicators. At the rear, creative Union Jack tail lamps hark back to the MINI’s English roots, and never fail to make people go “Waaaahhhh, so cool!”
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Good Enough | MINI Cooper 1.5 3Dr

This is good enough. If I had to sum up my review in fours words, those would be the ones I’d use.


Stylish ambient lighting can also be customised to suit your mood. Choose from a palette of colours or just click on the various preset themes to be surrounded by a light display within your luxurious cockpit.
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A Class Hatch | Mercedes-Benz A-Class A200 Progressive

IN Mercedes, A-Class, A200 Singapore

The new A-Class continues the the success of the old one and goes one-up to be even better.


SP Group — the main electrical grid operator in Singapore — addressed the first issue in June last year with the announcement of its plans to build the largest public electric vehicle charging network by next year. A whopping 1,000 of such charging points are slated to roll out in locations with high traffic such as residential estates, shopping malls, industrial sites and business parks.
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Renault Zoe Electric | Electric Avenue, Part 1

IN Renault, Zoe, Renault Zoe, Electric, Electric Vehicle, EV

Renault’s little electric hatchback offers eco-friendliness with some style


And being a direct competitor to the Golf it definitely is. You see, not many actually realized it but this 2.0-litre V40 T4 bridges the gap between the Golf 1.4 TSI Highline and Golf GTI in terms of both power and price. Case in point: The $131k Golf 1.4 TSI whips out 123 bhp/200 Nm and the $165k Golf GTI some 227 bhp/350Nm. This $152k V40 T4 gives you 187bhp/300 Nm. Get what I mean?
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Volvo V40 T4 R Design | Surprisingly Cool

IN Volvo, V40, T4, R Design, V40 R Design, Wearnes Automotive, Hatchback, Hatch, Wagon, 2018

A new engine has been fitted into the V40, but can that raise its profile as a sporty hatchback now?


The iconic Estoril track is 4.2 km long with two hairpins, a difficult chicane and a very long main straight, which means drivers experience an unusually broad range of speeds over one lap. It therefore rewards cars with a great breadth of ability, that combine fast acceleration with exceptional handling. Speaking about the benchmark time, Tiago Monteiro said, “We came here with a goal to beat the existing lap record set by the previous car but you can never take anything for granted — I mean it’s a lap record so it’s no easy feat. You have to have supreme confidence in the car to attack around Estoril, and the new Type R is just so powerful, smooth and confidence-inspiring. We beat the lap record, smashed the record actually.”
Happenings

Civic Type-R Sets Record At Estoril

IN Honda, Civic, Type-R, Civic Type-R, Honda Civic Type-R, FK8, FK8 Civic, Honda WTCR, Estoril, Tiago Monteiro, 2018

The new front-wheel drive record with a Honda WTCR driver at the wheel was set in a standard production car with road tyres


Want a fast Golf? There’s the Golf GTI. Need to go even faster? Say no more as the Golf R will definitely tickle your fancy. Want a big Golf? The Sportsvan is for you. Just want a simple Golf? The 1.0-litre Golf sounds like a perfect answer. Looking for a cheap Golf? Scour the used car market and you can choose from 6,753 different variants, cabriolet Golfs included. Or Eos.
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Hyundai i30 Hatchback | A Different Beat

IN Hyundai, I30, Hatchback, Hyundai i30 hatch, I30 hatchback, Family hatchback, Komoco Motors, 2018

This built-in-Europe family hatchback from Hyundai is destined for great things; beating the Golf at its game, perhaps?


The first compact MPV as we know it, is none other than the first-generation Renault Megane Scenic which was launched in late 1996 and underpinned by the Megane sedan. Developed as a car meant to be practical and enjoyed by the entire family, the Scenic has been in production for 22 years now. And today, we’ve got with us the newest fourth-generation Scenic.
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Renault Scenic 1.5T dCi Privilege | Taking the scenic route

IN Renault, Scenic, Renault Scenic, Wearnes

Renault’s latest compact MPV proves that frugal can still be fun


But then again if you were to scan through our market, the other options would include the Mazda 2, Mitsubishi Space Star and Nissan Note; yes, it’s the Japanese that are still dominating our market in the sub-S$95k segment.
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Seat Ibiza 1.0 EcoTSI | More Than Meets The Eye

IN Seat, Ibiza, Seat Ibiza, 1.0, EcoTSI, Seat Ibiza 1.0 EcoTSI Style Plus, Spain, Spanish, Seat Centre Singapore, 2018

Looking for a new set of wheels to run around town? Seat’s little hatchback here is worth a closer look


At launch, the Golf TSI debuts with a new 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged TSI engine, offering 108 bhp and 200 Nm of torque — 25 Nm more than the outgoing 1.2-litre TSI unit. Power increases are also seen in the Golf GTI and Golf R, now producing 226 and 286 bhp respectively.
Happenings

Hatchback icon gets perfected further

Volkswagen’s latest Golf is now available in Singapore


With this 252 bhp variant (the base model gets 190 bhp), Quattro is standard. The lovely new chassis platform known as 'MLB-Evo chassis' yields a car that is lighter, more playful and nimble on the road. Steering inputs are precisely executed and while a little on the light side, never feels vague. I’d dare say the combination of a strong power output and sublime handling almost makes this A5 quite S5-like! I enjoyed driving it more than I did the 3.0-litre S4.
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Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Quattro | Evolutionary

The second generation A5 is even better before. Based on Audi’s MLB-Evo chassis, the new car is both great to drive and practical to boot!


Happenings

VW’s Iconic Microbus Will Return

IN Volkswagen, ID Buzz, Volkswagen ID Buzz, Kombi, Microbus, Hybrid, Hybrid Electric, Electric, Concept, 2022

2022 will see the modern iteration of the once iconic Kombi model be put into production


The sporting intent of this car is very clear, what with the glossy black center grille connecting the LED headlamps and large faux air dam at the lower part of the front bumper. Oh and for the curious, the only difference between it and the sedan brethren, face wise, is the latter getting a standard chrome center grille.
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Honda Civic Hatchback 1.5 VTEC Turbo | Well Rounded

IN Honda, Civic, VTEC, Turbo, VTEC Turbo, Hatchback, Honda Civic Hatchback VTEC Turbo 1.5, 1.5 VTEC Turbo, VTEC Kicked In Yo, Turbo Powaaah, 5-door, Kah Motor, Honda Singapore

The hatchback version of Honda’s highly popular new Civic ticks all the right boxes, even for family men



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