Then there is the space. The front bucket seats are rather huge and do eat into the rear legroom, but they still leave enough margin for three adults to be seated comfortably. As a wagon though, the boot space is substantial and it will swallow up a whole lot of things.
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RS Is For Rudolf's Sled | Audi RS 4 Avant 4.2 FSI

IN Audi RS4, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles, RS, Avant, V8, 4.2 FSI, Christmas

Audi's RS 4 Avant is one cracking wagon. An astonishingly fast car that is the epitome of 'vroom and room'. But how does it perform as Santa's helper? We put some antlers on and find out.


Honestly though, I only had a brief encounter with the standard M5. And I did not fancy it; there’s just something, which is missing in this car. In fact, it feels so incomplete I fell in love with the Jaguar XF-R instead. Now, that’s one understated cat; it isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed but it has that big-engined, gangsta’ in a suit vibe. And that cabin, my word, is so pleasant I am more than willing to move in there instead. Really.
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Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger | BMW M5 Competition Pack

IN BMW, M, M5, Sedan, BMW M5, CP, Competition Pack, Munich Automobile, BMW Asia

Yeap, it was already fast enough; and now it’s even faster. Oh, the monstrosity…


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Stylishly Potent | Volkswagen CC R-Line

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, CC, R-Line, DSG

If you want to go fast in style, the CC R-Line is definitely one worthy candidate; watch out boyracers!


It's technology on wheels. Audi has always taken much pride in being technologically ahead of the competition. The A8 is proud to be one such example. As the first mass-market car with an aluminum chassis, all A8 models have utilised this light weight construction for years. Marketed as Audi Space Frame (ASF), 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of this technology. This, plus the fact that it features cylinder deactivation tech (as seen on Bentleys) and full LED lighting in and out of the car, sets it apart from its closest rival, the BMW 750i.
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Superbly Subtle | Audi A8L 4.0 TFSI

IN Audi, Audi Centre, A8, 4.0 TFSI, Premium Auto, Audi Singapore

Audi's flagship sedan means business. It may be a little over half a million quid, but at this price, nothing comes close in terms of pace and grace.


Cliche as it may sound, power is nothing without control, and if great handling is what you want, handling is what you get. Upon plonking yourself hurriedly in the driver's seat, and fretting about your future wives reaction, ooops a typo there, 'wife's' I mean (bit of a Freudian slip eh?) the first thing you’ll want to do is push the Start button, and with that, the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine burbles into life with a bassy note to boot. The next button you would want to push would be the 'Mode’ button next to the gear lever and select from the available settings of Comfort, Normal, Sport, Eco and Individual. The changes affect the suspension, steering and throttle response of the car and in Sport, performance is aplenty as the car settings are adjusted to be more dynamic. In fact mashing the accelerator is a treat, as the car resonates with a rich burble and a near instant response that eggs you on to push it harder. And with the reworked and improved sport suspension, grippy Continental ContiSportContact 2 tyres and a steering wheel that offers great feedback, indulging in a bit of necessary spirited driving results in your best man going
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Golly, That's Insane! | Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI

IN Volkswagen, Golf, GTI, Mk7

The all-new Mk 7 Volkswagen Golf GTI has got it all covered as the best all rounder hot hatch. Pavement burner or wedding car, the GTI does it all!


Well, it seems my worries were unwarranted. This week alone, I spotted three 4 Series coupes on our roads, and I heard of at least two other people who have ordered one for themselves. Yup. All this, during high COEs and challenging loan regulations. It boggles my mind.
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The Best 4 Now | BMW 435i Coupe

IN BMW, 4 Series, 435i, Performance Motors

If you're looking for a German coupe-class car that will satisfy both the 'groom' and 'vroom' demands you have, search no further, BMW's 4 Series will fit the bill.


Now, the arrival of the Kuga is also a timely one… Yes, despite the fact that (a) COEs are high and the change in policy makes every car buyer shed a tear or two and (b) banks are not obligated to grant you your wish, the Kuga gives a new option for those looking at the Qashqai/Tiguan 1.4 TSI/3008/Tucson/Sportage/CX-5/ASX/XV/Grand Vitara/RAV4 (my, my, my isn’t that quite a list) - who are all not exactly new in our market - a new candidate.
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Making Sense? | Ford Kuga Titanium

IN Ford, Kuga, Compact SUV, Ford Kuga Titanium, Regent Motors,

A tax-friendly Kuga arrives, so should the Tiguan worry?


Let's take a look at this not-so-subtle Edition One-specced A45. With it's rear wing, side canards and matt black livery, this little car looks fast without even moving, if a little ostentatious. That said, without the Edition One add-ons, the A45 could pass off as a regular A-Class with a Sport kit. Only upon closer inspection, will you notice the
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A Star | Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

IN Mercedes-Benz, A45, A Class, Hatch-back, AMG

The A45 is Merc's entry-level AMG model. But there's nothing basic about this premium hot hatch at all.


The 1.8 TFSI aside, what we have here today is the ‘entry-level’ variant: the 1.4 TFSI. Yes it shares the same powerplant as the Golf, but somewhat this one feels - and I swear it isn’t psychological - smoother. And of course, this is a good thing (and expected), considering the almost $44,000 (equivalent to a five year old, highly-spec’d Fiat Bravo T-Jet, egad!) separating the two. Hmm… You can’t help but wonder whether that significant difference in price between the two is justified – after all, the Golf and this new A3 is, technically, the same car.
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Table Top | Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI

IN Audi, A3, Sportback, TFSI, 1.4, Audi A3, Premium Automobiles

The entry level A3 has so much going on for it; surprise, surprise, surprise...


With this mildly refreshed model, the 5 now sports an updated front and rear. The main difference is in the front apron, where it's now a bit more chiseled and shapely, giving the 5 a stronger, more aggressive face. On our 535i test-car, a set of elegant 19-inch rims filled the huge wheel arches perfectly - for the 5, I think nothing less than 19-inch wheels will do.
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BMW 535i Sedan Luxury

IN BMW, 5 Series, 535i, Sedan, Performance Motors

What you see here, is the latest face-lifted BMW 5 Series. No, really it is! I know the changes are subtle (maybe a bit too subtle), but as the saying goes: Don't fix it if it ain't broke.


Up close, the 5GT actually looks huge, both in length and height. My wife's first impression was that seemed to be in a similar class as the 7 Series. At almost 5 meters long, the measurements are not far off. Subtle changes to the front face and rear sharpen the look a bit. A set of large and sexy 20-inch wheels also add to the new modernized look. Smoothened and curvier lines help make the car look less chunky, and refreshed adaptive LED headlights are now standard on both the 528i and 535i.
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BMW 5 Series GT 535i

IN BMW, 5 Series GT, 535i, Performance Motors

Ever been in a situation where you found someone more attractive only after getting to know her/him better? Well, that was certainly the case with my encounter with the 5 Series GT, or 5GT for short.


Like the Toyota RAV4, the Mazda CX-5 seems to be struggling in sales compared to their German competitor, the Volkswagen Tiguan. But that's by no means any reason to knock it either of them. In fact, both Japanese models have upped their game and are very compelling choices.
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Mazda CX-5 Diesel

IN Mazda, CX-5, SkyActiv, Diesel, SUV, Eurokars

It's got the tech, the torque and the frugality. But can Mazda's diesel-powered SUV make a mark on Singapore's tough automotive landscape?


1. It's so roomy. You can fit five adults and three kids in there. Easily. The boot is reasonably spacious even with all the seats up. But with the last row folded down, you can have a picnic at the beach without getting out of the car!
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Volkswagen Sharan Diesel 2.0 TDI

IN Volkswagen Group Singapore, Volkswagen, VW, Sharan, TDI, Diesel

The perfect MPV. Period. Read on to find out why...


Okay back to the car… the 458 spider. It is ridiculously good, for the first time that after giving the car back, my Jag suddenly feels like it has lost a few cylinders. I was having pretty bad withdrawal symptoms for the next few days.
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N.GINE Archives | Ferrari 458 Spider

IN Ferrari, 458, Spyder, Ital Auto

The already sexy Ferrari 458 goes topless! Dr Kevin Co takes it for a spin to see if anyone notices the difference.


Against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo V40 and BMW 1-Series hatchback, the Audi A3 puts up a pretty good fight. Well-built (as always), blending sportiness and luxury through both design and technology, it makes for a very convincing package indeed.
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Audi A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI

IN Audi, Audi Centre, A3, 1.4 TFSI, 1.8 TFSI, Premium Auto, Sportback

Audi's sportiest A3 offers space, power and style. But is it riveting enough a package to lure buyers away from the sportier Golf GTI and the more stylish Volvo V40? We find out.


It has road presence, that’s for sure. In fact, it could even be mistaken for the X3 from a distance. While some might opine it has too much creases, most would probably agree that it makes the car appear rather muscular – like The Incredible Hulk before CGI came about (again, know what I mean?). And of course, BMW placed an emphasis on aesthetics as well: vents on both front fenders added some sportiness, and then the pairing of 19-inch alloys wrapped in 225/45 R-19 front and 255/40 R-19 rear Continental rubbers sums up the visual drama.
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Hole-In-One | BMW 335i GT

IN BMW, 335i, GT, BMW 335i GT, Gran Turismo, 3 Series, Performance Motors

Outgrown your GTI, eh? BMW has the answer for your next upgrade…


Essentially an A-Class underneath, the CLA looks like it had gone to a trendier tailor than its hatchback sibling. The four-door coupe is pretty avant-garde in styling, to say the least. The result is that some will like it, some will loathe it. That said, I've met more who find it 'progressively attractive'. Which is another way of saying
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Mercedes-Benz CLA 200 Urban

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, A-Class, CLA, 200, Urban

The CLA is well-priced and promises to be a car that doesn't conform to the norm. Is that necessarily a good thing? We find out.


The E250 Estate might not be as sharp as the 5 Series or A6, but looking at the average Mercedes audience, it is still up to the task when taking sweeping corners slightly faster. Body movements are well controlled and you don’t get any unsettling sensation from the rear suspension while doing quick lane changes.
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Real Estate Agent | Mercedes-Benz E250 Estate Avantgarde

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, E-Class, E250, Avantgarde

Two words – “Mercedes wagon” – when combined, sound like the epitome of boringness. But by golly, this new one comes with some pleasant surprises.


And this is the targeted buyers in the sights of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz; handsomely-paid, up and coming young executives upgrading to their first executive sedans; this bunch consists of Volkswagen Golf/Jetta, Lancer EX and FD Honda Civic owners who are always on the lookout for good deals (read: upgrade) in the segment.
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IS This It? | Lexus IS250 F-Sport

IN Lexus, IS250, F-Sport, Executive sedan, Borneo Motors

Lexus surprises the executive sedan world with its aggressive IS250 F-Sport. But can executives warm up to it in a German dominated market?


From the onset, the car impresses with its dashing good looks. The pre-facelift model was already a looker, but Mercedes obviously felt that the staid quad-headlamp setup was getting old, so they've revamped it with a modern and sleek singular design with integrated LEDs, while the rear tail lamps also get a refresh with new LEDs. Very nice.
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Sexy Star | Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe E250

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, E-class, Coupe, E250

We've been driving some really good cars lately. But few look as good as the new E-Class Coupe.



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