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Thanks to its lightweight construction (composite body panels on top of a tubular spaceframe chassis), the Twin’Run weighs just 950kg, and can hit 100km/h in 4.5s before topping out at 250km/h. The car sits on 18-in wheels, with double wishbone suspension and Ohlins shock absorbers all around.
Happenings

Run For Miles

IN Renault, TwinRun, Concept, V6, Race

This is the French at their loony best, stuffing a big V6 into the rear of a tiny car. And what did they do with it after that? Thrash it round a track, of course!


What makes it even more significant locally is that the E-class is the bread-and-butter of a range that’s topping the charts of a shrinking new car market. That success isn’t likely to stop soon, based on what we’ve seen of this new, facelifted version.
Happenings

E Stands For Evolution

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes, E-class, Wagon, Launch, E200, E250

It's a strange country we live in, where Mercedes is the best-selling brand, ahead of all the ordinary car makers. And this, the E-class is its most important model.


When BMW first introduced the F10 M5, many complained about the relative lack of exhaust noise as compared to its V10-powered predecessor. Sure, it may give one less aural pleasure, but the performance gains more than made up for it. However, in terms of aesthetics, BMW still has some way to go before the F10 could look anywhere near as good as its grandfathers.
Happenings

BMW Updates The M5 For 2014!

IN BMW, M5, Competition, F10, 5-series, V8, Turbo

BMW’s flagship performance sedan gets a nip and tuck


So what did BMW do to improve on the excellent 5-er? As with any self respecting German Automaker, BMW added more luxurious features and a lot more power to the car. The turbocharged V8 in the 550i makes 45 bhp more than the outgoing 5-er. The extra power means that the car is capable of launching itself towards the horizon and hit 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, which is not too far off what the M5 can achieve. All engines are mated to an eight-speed auto, although a six-speed manual is offered as a no cost option on some models. Keeping in tune with downsizing trends, BMW has inserted a new, entry-level diesel powerplant in the F10 shell. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4 cylinder in the 518d produces 143 bhp and 360 Nm of torque.
Happenings

BMW Refreshes The 5-Series For 2014

IN BMW, Facelift, 5-series, F10

BMW adds a diesel, refines its interior


The
Happenings

What The F?

IN Lexus, GS, F-SPORT, Kirk Edmondson, Borneo Motors, LFA, IS-F

We sit down with Kirk Edmondson, General Manager - Brand Management for Lexus Asia Pacific Division, and chat about what Lexus is doing with their F-SPORT range.


New

Beetle Juiced | Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI

IN Volkswagen, Beetle, 1.4 TSI, Supercharged, VGS

With some added power, the otherwise cute Volkswagen Beetle is now quite the road beast.


Not quite enjoying the same full-fledged performance status as its R models, R-Line is instead more akin to BMW’s M-Sport: appearance packages for its ordinary models to look like their more sporting stablemates. As such, the Tiguan R-Line features body-coloured front, rear and side skirts with a purposeful looking rear diffuser, as well as a roof spoiler and new 19-inch ‘Mallory’ alloys with beefy 225/40 tyres.
Happenings

Two Special VW SUVs Land Here!

IN VW, Volkswagen, Tiguan, Touareg, R-Line, R, SUV, Edition, X

Both the Tiguan R-Line and Touareg Edition X arrive to mark significant milestones in each model’s history.


Happenings

A 'Selfish' Celebration

IN Lamborghini, Bull, 50, Anniversary, Birthday, Gift, Egoista, Selfish, V10, De Silva, Concept

The Raging Bull turns 50 this year. We weren’t expecting it when the Veneno was unveiled at Geneva, and we certainly weren’t expecting this, the Egoista.


To be fair though, the Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept isn’t all max power and unhinged lunacy. In fact, the thinking behind it is fairly inspired – using Audi’s racing experience to shed massive amounts of weight: the car weighs just 1,111kg, 300 less than the TTS on which it’s based.
Happenings

Superleicht

IN Audi, TT, Quattro, Concept, Worthersee, Festival, Lightweight, TSI

Like a Superleggera, but German. The Audi Audi TT Ultra Quattro Concept makes Lamborghini's (and indeed everyone else's) efforts at a lightweight special seem completely inadequate.


With a top speed of 300 km/h, the car also is equipped with huge brakes. In order to slow down the GTI, Volkswagen uses ceramic brake discs all around with 380 mm discs in front and 356 mm at the rear. The are housed behind fat 20
Happenings

Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept

IN Volkswagen, Design Vision GTI, Concept, W12, Golf

Wolfsburg builds a 503 bhp monster! Dubbed the Design Vision GTI, it's giving us flashbacks of a certain 650 bhp Golf.


Sit yourself inside the Cayman, and you'll find that this is one sports car that is easy to get comfortable in. It may be low slung, but the seats are comfortable and visibility all round is excellent. Materials used in the cabin are of high quality - what else would you expect from the Germans. That being said, the Boxster S we have in our company stable is starting to show signs or wear, even the plastic areas we hardly come into contact with are beginning to scratch off. No chance of a long term test with this Cayman though, so we wouldn't know how it's interior will stand the test of time.
New

So Good It Hurts | Porsche Cayman 2.7 PDK

IN Porsche, Cayman, PDK, Coupe, Eurokars, 2.7

The new Porsche Cayman is seriously good. In fact, it's definitely the best drive I've had this year so far. So why am I still missing the previous one?


At the rate he was driving, it didn't take long for us to be back at the Audi Centre's lobby. Short it might have been, the preview drive was enough to whet our appetite for the full review we look forward to do soon. We'll share more then!
New

Audi RS 4 Avant Preview Drive

IN Audi RS 4, Audi Singapore, Premium Automobiles, Alex Yoong, Avant, V8

The RS 4 has landed! Audi invited us to get a taste of one of the first few units that breathed Singapore air. How could we refuse?


Called the Jetta Special Edition, the car gets a full bodykit for the front, rear and sides, 18-inch Preston alloy rims, chrome tailpipes, tinted windows and aluminium pedals. Mechanically it’s identical to the Jetta and Jetta Sport, with a choice of 122 or 160 bhp 1.4 TSI engines, mated to the familiar 7-speed DSG gearbox. The $10,000 CEVS rebate applies for the Jetta SE too.
Happenings

Hitting The Gym And Working Out

The Jetta’s always been a competent performer, with this sporty new variant, Volkswagen is hoping to enhance its appeal and win new hearts.


A mismatch though it may be, the engine is still a great unit. It produces just 94bhp, which admittedly isn’t fantastic, but makes up with 230Nm of torque. That’s more pulling power than some NA 2.4-litre engines! An even bigger selling point though, is its cleanliness – just 99g/km of CO2. Perhaps this why only this engine is being imported here – it gets the maximum $20,000 CEVS rebate, a useful saving in Singapore’s problematic car market. And naturally, being a diesel, fuel consumption is excellent too; I managed just under 17km/l over 370km of not-particularly-economic driving.
New

Call Of The Jungle… | Peugeot 208 e-HDi

IN Peugeot, 208, 1.6 e-HDi, Diesel

… The urban one, that is. Peugeot’s latest baby has landed and, curiously for this end of the market, it’s a diesel!


Exterior-wise, the car looks pretty much looks like a mix of the Grand Turismo and a shrunken Quattroporte; the combination has produced a car that is dotted with sleek lines and sexy curves. The same cannot be said about the car’s rear end; the Kia Cerato-esque lights just do not fit the curvature of the Maserati bodyshell.
Happenings

Ghibli Is Ready To Take On The Middle-Weight Champs!

IN Maserati, Ghibli S, Diesel, Quattroporte baby, Luxury,

Maserati shrinks the Quattroporte and slaps in a V6 diesel.


Let’s talk about the exterior. Visually, the car looks pretty much the same as the standard E class. But squint a bit harder, and you will notice that the car is slightly longer, gaining 140 mm of rear legroom. To make sitting in the rear even more comfortable, the front passenger seat can be electronically adjusted from the rear passenger area. Currently, the car is confined to China only. Various trim levels are available. The launch car shown at the show is called the Sport Sedan version and has been fitted with a more aggressive looking front end with a big three pointed star on the grille. If you want something classier, you may opt for the Sedan trim, which ditches the large grille-mounted badge for one standing on the bonnet. The low-beam headlamps are LEDs as standard.
Happenings

Mercedes stretches the E for China

Revised long wheel base E-class launched at Shanghai Auto Show


New

The Baby Benz Grows Up | Mercedes-Benz A200 Urban

IN Mercedes-Benz, A200, A Class, Hatch-back

Mercedes-Benz calls it the “rebel” of the family. Like most rebels, they may have some traits that you'll admire about them, but most prove to be very hard to live with.


Alas, BMW hasn’t made any mention of engine options or vehicle dynamics or anything at all to do with actual driving – the X4 is for now still officially a Concept, intended to show how the production version will look. Looking at the X3 though, engine options should be carried over directly. That means the turbocharged four and six cylinders as found in the xDrive20i, 28i, and 35i.
Happenings

First reveal of BMW X4

IN BMW, X4, SAC, Concept, Shanghai, SUV

BMW lifts the wraps off its new ‘SAC’ ahead of its premiere at the Shanghai motor show


New

Mercedes-Benz CLS350 Shooting Brake

IN Mercedes, CLS, Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Chrysler

Mercedes may have launched this stylish looker here under the radar. But in our opinion, it should have been the star of the CLS range.


With that, say hello to the new C4 Picasso. Previewed earlier this year in Geneva by the Technospace concept, the production version doesn’t look like it’s changed one bit, save for the non-body coloured rims. According to Citroen, the egg-shaped cab-forward shell (geddit? Shell? Egg? Never mind) is 40mm shorter than the old car, yet has a 55mm longer wheelbase for added legroom. The new Picasso has also shed 140kg in the quest for lower CO2 emissions.
Happenings

Art For All The Family

IN Citroen, C4, Picasso, MPV

MPVs don’t usually have a right to look stylish, but Citroen clearly disagrees.



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