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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!


Special LEGO premiums will be given out with every test drive during the promotion period. Customers who buy a new Volkswagen Jetta, Passat, Touran or Sharan will each receive a three-item LEGO gift pack worth over S$150, containing an item exclusive to Volkswagen – the LEGO DUPLO Train Activity Set. Two contests with great LEGO prizes on offer will feature on Volkswagen Singapore’s Facebook page, starting this weekend. The first – ‘Tag the Wagen’ – will see LEGO Legends of Chima Speedorz sets worth S$29.90 each being given out daily to winners from 16 November to 1 December 2013. This will be followed up by a ‘Guess the number of LEGO minifigures’ contest running from 5 to 15 December 2013, for which the grand prize is a LEGO Volkswagen T1 Camper Van set worth $199.90.
Happenings

Volkswagen Singapore And LEGO Singapore Build A Partnership For Christmas

IN Volkswagen, Lego

Car buyers will have an extra reason to visit Volkswagen Centre Singapore (Alexandra) from 16 November to 1 December 2013.


The Golf gained a total of 504 points, the highest ever for an import model. It also scored 131 points more than the second-placed car. At the award ceremony, Shigeru Shoji, the President of Volkswagen Group Japan, commented: “We are very much pleased that the Golf becomes the first import car which gained the grand prize in 34 years of Japan Car of the Year history. This honour has been awarded to all the people who supported Volkswagen in Japan over the past 60 years.” Among numerous other awards, the new Golf has also won the Car of the Year, World Car of the Year, and Golden Steering Wheel titles this year.
Happenings

The Golf Captures The Japan Car Of The Year Award

IN Volkswagen, Golf, Japan Car Of The Year

For a country that prides itself on manufacturing some of the world's best cars, the German made Golf has made history by being the first non-Japanese car to win this award.


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?


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...


Many of the sophisticated solutions being applied for the very first time to an in-range car in the 458 Speciale, including its advanced active aerodynamics, will become a standard feature of all new Ferraris in the future. Flanked in the Maranello marque’s range by the multi-award-winning 458 Italia and 458 Spider, the new mid-rear-engined V8 berlinetta was designed to boost both performance and driving emotion to unprecedented levels, yet simultaneously guarantee smooth, effortless control in all kinds of situations.
Happenings

Something Speciale This Festive Season!

IN Ferrari, 458, Speciale

The Ferrari 458 Speciale makes its debut in Singapore!


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.


The newly launched Multimedia receivers continue to boast functional features that make them easy and convenient to use. With Bluetooth® connectivity, users will be able to enjoy the luxury of hands-free calling and stream high-quality audio wirelessly through their receivers. All new models launched also come with MIXTRAX, a Pioneer technology which creates a unique nonstop listening experience by seamlessly transitioning between songs with DJ-inspired effects such as cross-fading, high-pass filter, and phaser, allowing users to turn any car into a roving cool club.
Happenings

Pioneer Unlocks The True Power of Smartphone Connectivity in the Car

IN Pioneer, DVD, Multimedia receivers, Iphone, Android, Connectivity, MP3

Got an Android phone or the new iPhone 5S/C? Pioneer has launched a new line of Multimedia receivers that will allow connectivity with it to your car!


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 announcement of Loeb’s participation adds to the fevered anticipation building ahead of the Macau race, which sees the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia return to the Guia Circuit as part of the celebration of the 60th running of the Grand Prix. Loeb may be new to Macau’s 6.2km Guia street track, but he does have experience of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup both as a driver and a team boss in the Porsche Carrera Cup France, and on a city circuit. In 2012, he won the two Porsche Carrera Cup France rounds held around the streets of Pau. Earlier this year, Loeb made his debut at the pinnacle of Porsche one-make racing – the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, contesting both the Spanish and Monaco rounds. Having conquered the world of international rallying, Loeb has turned his remarkable talent to circuit racing. When he arrives in Asia, he will be met by a Porsche Carrera Cup Asia brimming with both experience professionals and young talent, several of whom have previous experience at Macau. All eyes will be on the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this November to see whether the world’s most successful rally driver can beat his formidable rivals and conquer the Guia Circuit to take a coveted Macau victory.
Motorsports

Sébastien Loeb Confirmed For Macau Grand Prix Invitational

IN Porsche, Carrera, 911, PCCA, GT3 Cup Car

Porsche China has announced that nine-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb will make his Porsche Carrera Cup Asia debut at the end-of-season invitational at the Macau Grand Prix.


BP: Hi Mr Winkelmann, first and foremost could you tell us more about Lamborghini's motorsports initiatives and how it could benefit the company's branding and customer relations efforts? SW: In terms of motorsports, Lamborghini has moved beyond just having driving experiences on the race tracks. We have recently initiated a double pronged approach worldwide, with two different levels. One of them is known as the Esperienza, which quite simply translates into an experience. This is for our prospects - potential customers and fans that dream of owning their very own Lamborghini one day, and through the Esperienza, their dreams of driving one is instantly fulfilled. The Esperienza allows them to experience the brand and the cars, and to understand how easy it is to drive these cars. The other one is the Lamborghini Academy, which is a customer program that allows us to impart a slew of driving skills that range from safety driving to discovering a potential race car driver to participate in the Super Trofeo series, which is a one make race for gentleman drivers. Through these two initiatives, the prospects and customers learn much more about the cars and what they can do with it than by driving it themselves. These initiatives also create a family atmosphere for the existing Lamborghini owners, and help forge a bond between the company and its customers, thus enhancing the relationship. What we aim to do is tell customers and prospects that it is all about the emotion and the passion for the brand and the products when it comes to owning a Lamborghini. And as mentioned earlier, the Super Trofeo allows one to drive a Lamborghini race car on a F1 track while being watched by family, friends and other spectators, and this series is being held in three regions of Northern America, Europe and Asia. Last but not the least; we have our own GT3 initiative, which is a development of a race-ready Gallardo GT3 that will be driven by professional drivers to compete in FIA’s new GT3 category.
Happenings

In Conversation With Stephan Winkelmann

IN Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, Super Trofeo

We recently had the privilege to sit down and have a chat with Stephan Winkelmann, president and chief executive officer of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. about Lamborghini at the Fuji Speedway.


Using Nokia's innovative collection technologies blended with a team of local experts with an intimate knowledge of local road networks and surrounding areas, the True II vehicle is a specially equipped vehicle used to collect and verify real time location data about buildings, street signs and roadways and then puts that information into HERE maps, which are used by Microsoft’s Bing, Windows Phone devices and cars throughout the world.
Happenings

HERE's True II Car

IN GPS, Mapping, Nokia, True II, Volkswagen

With Nokia's next-generation data collection vehicle called True II, high quality navigation maps can be built and kept fresh.


He continued, “At the same time, BMW is using the new nomenclature to latch onto the fine tradition established by its older sibling like the BMW 6 Series Coupé, which is a top-class coupé known for its stunning design, athletic elegance and driving dynamics.”
Happenings

BMW's 4 Series Set To Wow Local Buyers

IN BMW, 4 Series, Coupe, New, 435i, 428i

At an exclusive launch event held at the Red Dot Museum last Thursday, BMW Group Asia takes the cover off the new 4 Series


BP: Some people have said that the best racing drivers didn’t pass their driving tests on the first try - Jenson Button for example. How many attempts did you take to obtain your driver’s licence? Alain: I did the test when I was 18 years old, the normal age at the time, and passed on the first try. (chuckles) BP: What was your first car, and what’s your preference for your road cars you drive? Alain: I never liked driving sports cars. When you’re driving in Formula 1 you want something a little more comfortable. The first car I bought was an Opel Kadett GT/E, which was a rally car. Unfortunately, that was the only car I had an accident with. I was going quite slow to be honest, but it was on gravel, and my friend and I ended up going 30m down the (side of a) hill. I’d only had the car three weeks, so that was quite a bad experience! BP: I understand that your son is currently a test driver for Lotus. How is he going with that? With Kimi moving to Ferrari, might there be a spot for him next year? Alain: It is never impossible, because he has done a good job in the last two years, and spent a lot of time on the simulator. But being a development driver, he is very focused, and it is a different way of working and it is very good for the team. Being a race driver is going to be another different thing, with qualifying one lap or doing the start, (or) even if he races in endurance or other types of races. So it is two different things and I realised it and he knows it himself that it will be difficult for him to be chosen by the team but you never know. BP: All the best for that!
Happenings

A Meeting With The Professor

IN Renault, Alain Prost, Wearnes

Racing drivers live and breathe motorsports throughout their careers, but have you ever wondered what happens when they stop?


This milestone is a first in the Chinese market for the AMG Customer Sports brand and will provide a blueprint for future motorsport endeavours in the market. Erebus Motorsport’s series of firsts include having the first Gullwing delivered outside Europe, the first team one-two finish for AMG Customer Sports and added victory in the Bathurst 12 Hour to the 2013 Endurance Classics Grand Slam wins by the SLS AMG GT3 (Bathurst, the Dubai 24 Hour, the Nurburgring 24 Hour and the Spa 24 Hour - each with Bernd Schneider behind the wheel). The second Erebus Motorsport SLS AMG GT3 will be driven by experienced AMG Customer Sports pilot, Lance David Arnold. The 27-year-old partnered Hakkinen in a Gullwing on his previous visit to Zhuhai in 2011. Erebus Motorsport will be aiming to add to the 100-plus victories by the AMG Customer Sports program since its inception in 2011. The two event program will see Erebus Motorsport enter the support race to the 60th Macau Grand Prix in November.
Motorsports

Mika Hakkinen Joins Erebus Motorsport For GT Asia Series

IN Mika Hakkinen, GT Asia, SLS AMG GT3

Two times Formula 1 World Champion, Mika Hakkinen will join Erebus Motorsport for the GT Asia Series when it visits the Zhuhai International Circuit in China this October 11-13.


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.


As part of the launch, Red Bull Racing F1 driver Mark Webber made an appearance at NUS to catch up with the engineering students and Prof. Seah Kar Heng. The faculty received the driver with a warm welcome and managed to get some advise and encouragement from the Australian racer.
Happenings

Infiniti Offers Top Budding Engineers Work Placements In F1

IN Infiniti, National University of Singapore, Mark Webber, NUS, Red Bull Racing

In this chance of a lifetime, Infiniti is offering performance-driven engineering graduates an exclusive opportunity to work in Formula One via a new global talent search initiative.



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