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Lamborghini has once again set the automotive world abuzz with the introduction of the Urus SE. What sets the Urus SE apart is its groundbreaking plug-in hybrid technology, marking a significant evolution in Lamborghini's storied lineage.
Happenings

Lamborghini Unveils New Urus SE

IN Lamborghini, Urus, SE

Lamborghini has unveiled its first-ever plug-in hybrid SUV, the Urus SE, and it comes to town with a load of upgrades.


The new drivetrain is set to feature in its next plug-in hybrid replacement after the Aventador. Aside from the fact that it will be the marque's first plug-in hybrid, the main highlight statistic of the model, codenamed LB744, is the fact that it will get an output in excess of 1,000bhp. What’s more, the LB744 is the first supercar to be fitted with a 100% carbon fibre front structure. Carbon fibre is also used for the front cone structures to ensure added safety, plus a substantial reduction in weight. This car will also be different from the Lamborghini Sian, which pioneered the use of electric power in any raging bull courtesy of supercapacitors. The LB744 would instead be run with lithium-ion batteries.
Happenings

Lamborghini reveals information on plug-in hybrid Aventador replacement

IN Lamborghini, Information, Plug-in hybrid, Aventador

The time has come to retire Lamborghini’s legendary combustion V12 engine, and the Italian marque has revealed fresh details on its replacement.


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.


Main concerns Topping the list were beliefs that EVs are difficult to charge and lack of range as compared to their petrol-powered brethren. Despite this, an overwhelming 87% of respondents indicated reduction in carbon emissions as a key benefit of EVs. 65% noted increasing number of government incentives, and 59% pointed to the financial savings when compared to using petrol. “It is encouraging to see the growing appetite for electrified vehicles, and that Singaporean drivers understand the benefits of owning an EV,” said Ms Preeti Gupta, Corporate Affairs Director & Sustainability Lead, BMW Group Asia. “With a 27% increase in EVs purchased in 1H 2021 compared to all of 2020, it is clear Singaporean drivers are ready to integrate electrified vehicles into their daily lives. However, based on our research, we still have work to do when it comes to educating consumers on charging and range.” What drives EV adoption rates 64% of respondents pointed at a longer warranty period of up to 10 years, while 58% noted good aftersales service would motivate them to purchase an EV for their next car. Following closely behind were performance at 55%, build quality at 43% and technological features at 42%. Government incentives and EV uptake 72% of respondents said government incentives and access to public charging facilities were most likely to influence their purchase of an EV, while 70% noted access to home-charging being important. The usage of EVs was more predominantly weighted toward running daily errands with 62% of respondents, while 40% would commute to and from work and 33% would enjoy weekend leisure trips in an EV. “Today’s electric vehicles have more than enough range to support daily driving needs,” said Ms Gupta. “The average Singaporean drivers commutes 55km/day, and many electric vehicles allow them to drive anywhere from four to eight days without requiring a recharge.”
Happenings

Almost half of Singaporean drivers want to buy electrified vehicles …

IN BMW Group Asia, Study, Survey, PHEV, EV, Electrified vehicles

… a study by BMW Group Asia shows.


Drive it like a HEV, and the battery charges itself up with regenerative braking. This turns energy typically wasted during braking, into useful electric charge for the battery that can be used in future. Got access to an EV charging point? You’ll also be able to juice the battery up for a bit of extra electric go.
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Bit of Both | Volvo XC40 T5 Recharge PHEV

IN Volvo, XC40, Volvo XC40, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, PHEV

Volvo’s latest XC40 Recharge PHEV crossover provides a semi-EV experience, but works best if you have a private charging point.


That’s where the S60 T8 R-Design comes in. It’s the most powerful Volvo you can buy today, with the sort of on-paper figures that might give warm sports saloons like the Audi S4, BMW M340i, and Mercedes-AMG C43 a right old scare: 402hp, 640Nm of torque and 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Except, the S60 doesn’t follow your traditional sports saloon recipe. It’s a plug-in hybrid you see, which means a twin-charged 315hp 2.0-litre engine driving the front wheels, and an 87hp electric motor powering the rears. And that, I’m afraid, is the S60’s undoing as a performance car.
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Plugged In | Volvo S60 T8 R-Design

IN Volvo, S60, Volvo S60, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid, PHEV

402hp makes the new S60 T8 plug-in hybrid the most powerful Volvo ever sold in Singapore. But is that enough to make it compelling for keen drivers?


Part of the BMW iPerformance range, the 530e is a 2-litre turbocharged petrol-powered sedan that packs a plug-in battery pack. Combined, the car will push out a smooth delivery of 249 horses and 420 Nm of torque. This is good enough for a speedy 6.2 seconds century sprint and a top speed in excess of 230 km/h.
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Charged Up Yet? | BMW 5 Series 530e

IN BMW, 5 Series, 530e, Electric

With an increased number of charging stations on our island, are we finally ready as a nation to support electric-powered cars?


Quite recently, BMW went slightly aggressive. They’ve launched a range of plug-in hybrid variants for their popular 3 Series, 5 Series and even 2 Series.
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BMW 225XE iPerformance Active Tourer | Would You Like A Piece?

IN BMW, 2 Series, BMW 2 Series, 225xe, BMW 225xe iPerformance, IPerformance, BMW Active Tourer, 2 Series Active Tourer, Performance Motors, Beemer

A host of issues, in terms of infrastructure on our island, is still largely in limbo - so why would you still want a sub-$180k plug-in hybrid from BMW?


Powered mainly by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, that on its own, pushes out a decent 181 bhp and 290 Nm of torque. But coupled with the huge battery that sits under the rear boot, the combined power output is a rather heady 252 bhp and a cumulative torque figure of 420 Nm. This enables the hybrid 3-Series to hit 100 km/h from standstill in 6.1 seconds and propels it to a 225 km/h top speed.
New

BMW 330e iPerformance | Electrifying

We test the first model in BMW’s performance range - the 330e packs some hybrid punch while retaining its 3-Series drive characteristics


The first man in Singapore to receive the BMW i8 is Mr. Alan Lim, Managing Director, from Chuan Lim Construction Pte Ltd. During the delivery ceremony, Mr. Lim expressed his excitement in becoming the first person in Singapore to own a BMW i8. “I am elated to be the first to collect the new BMW i8 here in Singapore. I have been waiting for this remarkable vehicle to arrive after having read about the wonders and specifications of this electric car. This amazing BMW i8 is a gift to my wife”, he said.
Happenings

First BMW i8 In Singapore Delivered To Owner

IN BMW, I8, BMW i8, Sports Car, Plug-in hybrid, BMW Asia, Performance Motors Ltd

Mr Alan Lim is the first to take delivery of BMW's i8 plug-in hybrid sports car


On paper, both the speed requirement and the circuit length (22 km) put the feat within the all-electric EV range Toyota quotes for Prius Plug-in, performance designed to meet the day-to-day driving demands of urban commuters. In theory, the distance could be covered without a drop of petrol being used.
Happenings

Toyota Prius Sets New Nurburgring Record

IN Toyota, Prius, Prius Plug-in hybrid, Hybrid, Nurburgring, Nordschliefe

… For fuel economy, that is. Toyota took its Prius Plug-in hybrid to the track, setting out to show how little fuel it could use on a single lap of the notorious Nordschliefe.


In Singapore, with a dominant market share, Borneo Motors is currently the leader in hybrids, offering the widest range of hybrid models in various segments. The Prius C, being the leader in the hybrid segment, topping the charts with 33.6% market share since its launch in Feb 2012 and has grown the segment.
Happenings

Toyota Reveals Line-Up For 2013

IN Toyota, Borneo Motors, 86, RAV4, CEVS, Auris, Yaris, Avanza

Toyota shares with us their host of new exciting models and wallet-friendly cars for the year ahead.


The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be presented at the 2011 Geneva motor show. A production-ready car, the V60 Plug-in hybrid has carbon dioxide emissions of below 50 g/km. The car can be driven on diesel power alone, as a diesel-electric hybrid, or as an electric-only car - technology that no other manufacturer can currently offer. The plug-in hybrid, which will be launched on the market in 2012, is the result of close cooperation between Volvo Cars and energy supplier Vattenfall.
Happenings

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid Is Three Cars In One

IN Volvo, V60, Hybrid

Volvo presents the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid - the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.



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