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Anyone personally familiar with this author knows that his eyes light up when the topic of estate cars aka station wagons comes up, especially when the conversation inevitably leads to performance estates. Heck, his first ever review at Burnpavement was an estate! Which then brings us on to the topic of the day... BMW's latest iteration of its bonkers M3, the G81 M3 Touring. But first, a trip down memory lane. Estates, or Touring in BMW-speak, are not unfamiliar to the M-division boys and gals. Back in the mid-1990s, they brought us the very first M car in estate guise, the E34 M5 Touring.
Happenings

BMW's M3 Just Became Much More Practical

IN BMW, M3, Competition, G81, Touring, Estate, Station wagon

Wagon lyfe yo!


With seven hybrid models in its stable at the moment, Toyota has the largest lineup of full electrified cars (so not counting mild hybrids) in Singapore, making it perhaps the best-placed car brand to support such an initiative. These models span almost the entire range of body styles and sizes, from the compact Yaris Cross SUV, to the Camry sedan, to the Harrier and RAV4, and the Prius+ and Alphard MPVs. By the time the programme launches next year, the hybrid range will be bolstered by something altogether more eye-catching: the Toyota bZ4X SUV, the company’s first EV, which was previewed during the MoU signing event.
Happenings

Toyota’s first EV is coming next year, but you can’t buy it

IN Toyota, BZ4X, EV

Instead, the Toyota bZ4X will be part of a car sharing scheme in Tengah New Town


With a dearth of knowledge in Singapore on EV systems in general, the students faced a bigger challenge building the R22e than usual. While the teams in charge of the chassis, aerodynamics, and suspension tuning had the benefit of their predecessor’s experience and data to guide them, those in charge of the electric powertrain found themselves thrown in the deep end. From programming the motor controller to even proper safe handling procedures for high-voltage electrical components, there were a lot of lessons learnt in the R22e’s journey, which has implications not just for NUS’s FSAE team, but eventually for the automotive sector in Singapore, particularly once the students enter the workforce.
Happenings

Say hello to Singapore's first home-grown electric race car

IN NUS, FSAE, Motorsport, EV

The NUS FSAE team’s R22e is more than just a speed machine, it’s a stepping stone to building EV know-how in Singapore’s auto sector.


What other body style gives you both car-like driving dynamics and all the practicality a car owner could possibly need? None. Nada. Only a wagon can.
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Perfection | Skoda Octavia Combi RS 2.0 TSI

I start all my wagon reviews by saying this: “If you’ve been reading Burnpavement articles for some time now, you’d know that I’m a wagon fan.”


And it’s getting serious, with many of the biggest car manufacturers throwing their hat in the ring. Take Porsche for instance. Back in 2017, it made the decision to leave the World Endurance Championship, which it had dominated for the prior three years, to focus on Formula E. And aside from running its two Porsche 99X Electric Formula E cars, it even has the Taycan Turbo S performing safety car duties for since the start of this season.
Motorsports

Here’s five reasons why you should check out Formula E

IN Formula E, Porsche, Motorsports, EV

A weekend with the TAG Heuer Porsche team at the Jakarta Formula E race taught us a thing or two about how this engine-less series is more exciting than you expect.


The SUV in question is the Škoda Kodiaq vRS. The latter suffix is the Czech carmaker’s performance sub-brand, not unlike BMW’s M division or Mercedes-AMG. Perhaps, Škoda parent company Volkswagen’s GTI range might be closer to the concept of vRS. Speaking of which, vRS apparently stands for “victory Rally Sport” and the other fun fact is that the vee in vRS is actually supposed to be silent! So it’s simply referred to as, ‘RS’. In fact, in Škoda’s official communications, the the v is omitted altogether. It seems that not only is the ‘v’ silent, it’s invisible, too.
New

Bear market: Skoda Kodiaq vRS review

IN Skoda, Kodiaq, RS, VRS, SUV, Performance SUV

Skoda’s renown vRS performance line expands to its flagship SUV


Well, just drive whatever you have, of course! That's what happened at a recent gymkhana open practice session organised by Singapore Auto Gymkhana Group (SAGG).
Motorsports

If this Honda e can race, so can you

IN Honda, E, EV, Gymkhana, Motorsport

It’s not what you drive that matters, it’s how you drive it.


It’s an SUV that’s slightly larger than its first model here, the Model 3 saloon. As you can tell from the pictures, their styling is essentially identical, because the two share the majority of their components: as much as 75% according to electrek.co.
Happenings

Tesla Model Y now on sale in Singapore

IN Tesla, Model Y, EV, SUVs

Order books have opened for Tesla’s compact SUV


The 3 will be the biggest hitter in the Polestar food chain for the foreseeable future. Where the 2 is a performance executive sedan aimed at the Tesla Model 3 and indirectly, the Audi A4/BMW 3 Series/Mercedes-Benz C-class segment, the 3 will be a large SUV about the size of a Porsche Cayenne or Volvo XC90. In terms of direct all-electric competitors, it goes up against the BMW iX, as well as the forthcoming EV version of the Range Rover Sport. No details yet on its figures, but it’ll have a dual motor drivetrain (one on each axle), and a battery pack good enough for 600km of range. In due time, it’ll be able to drive itself, introducing “autonomous highway piloting powered by the best-in-class LiDAR sensor from Luminar and centralized NVIDIA computing power”. Fancy.
Happenings

Polestar's third act is a luxury electric performance SUV.

IN Polestar, EV, SUV, Electric vehicle

Polestar unveils their new luxury electric performance SUV, due to go on sale in October 2022. We take a closer look at the Polestar 3 here.


But while the T1’s performance was otherworldly (supposedly able to pull 3Gs of downforce at 240km/h), sadly it suffered a raft of high-profile reliability issues at the worst possible moment: when the demonstrators were in the hands of the media (most memorably on Fifth Gear and Top Gear). Caparo had intended to make 25 T1s a year, but in the end only 15 were ever sold.
Happenings

Here are 3 more road cars spawned from the world of F1

When road cars are "inspired by F1", it's usually just lip service. Here are three that take the claim very seriously


Back in the '80s, during F1's original turbo era, Porsche was an engine supplier, providing McLaren Racing with a 1.5-litre twin-turbo V6. But before putting it into the race car, it had to be tested, and for that, McLaren and Porsche stuck it unmodified into a 930 Turbo test mule. This white prototype - largely unmodified save for 17-inch RUF wheels, a front bumper from the 930 Flatnose, and a taller whaletail engine cover with extra vents - was kept secret by McLaren until it surfaced in the middle of last decade.
Happenings

These 3 F1-engined road cars beat the Mercedes-AMG One to the punch

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes, AMG, One, Hypercar, F1, Formula One, Porsche, 930 Turbo, McLaren, Yamaha, Ferrari, F50

The Mercedes-AMG One isn’t the only car with a Formula One powerplant. Here are a few that came before it.


As the pinnacle of motorsport, F1 holds an appeal to carmakers like no other. To win at F1 means you can make absolutely the best car in the world, and ever since the series switched to turbo-hybrid engines, one team has dominated, winning eight championships in a row: Mercedes.
Happenings

The F1-engined Mercedes-AMG One is finally here

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes, AMG, One, Project One, Hypercar, F1

No other car has ever translated “Formula One for the road” quite so literally


Billed by Bridgestone as a semi-slick tyre and its first-ever dedicated tyre for trackdays, it’s nonetheless homologated for road use. But as you can see from the photos, it has an extremely aggressive tread pattern which you probably wouldn’t want to get caught with in the rain.
Happenings

Bridgestone heats up trackdays with new Potenza Race tyre

IN Bridgestone, Potenza Race, Tyres

Bridgestone’s new Potenza Sport has already proven faster than main rivals in independent testing; Potenza Race to go even quicker


With the new Unlimited range by German wheel manufacturer BBS however, that’s about to change. Under this new “one size fits all” philosophy, BBS Unlimited wheels will only be made in one bolt pattern - 5x117.5. The wheels then mount up via adapters that match the car’s bolt pattern.
Happenings

BBS unveils universal wheel that’s “suitable for all vehicles”

IN BBS, Wheels, Aftermarket, Car modding

A step change for the aftermarket?


Now, it's looking to make a revival of sorts of that golden era, with the Prodrive P25. That’s a reference to the number of years since the Subaru Impreza World Rally Car (the 2-door one, not the 4-door Impreza 555 Group A car) hit the stages in 1997.
Happenings

22B, or not to be? That is the question, as Prodrive previews 400hp Subaru Impreza 22B STi restomod

IN Subaru, Impreza, STI, 22B, Prodrive, WRC

The Prodrive P25 will be a modernized tribute to Subaru's '90s widebody icon


The collective brainchild of Ken Block and BBi Autosport, the Hoonipigasus was built to be the fastest overall at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA, which celebrates its 100th running this year. BBi has had several class wins on Pikes Peak in various 911s and Caymans, so if anyone can pull this off, it's them. Starting with a Porsche 964 as a base, BBi stuffed a 4.0-litre flat-six out of a 911-gen Porsche GT3R racing car behind its rear seats to make it mid-engined, then gave it two massive turbos (the biggest ones that turbo maker Garrett has ever made) and all-wheel drive. It runs on methanol, revs up to 9,600rpm, and produces 1,400hp at sea level.
Happenings

The 1400hp Porsche 911 “Hoonipigasus” is Ken Block’s latest insane ride

IN Ken Block, Porsche, Porsche 911, Hoonigan, Pikes Peak

And he’ll attempt to conquer the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in it too.


For the new 2023 Range Rover Sport, that involved driving nearly 300m up the spillway of the Karahnjukar Dam in Iceland, against a torrent of water moving at 750 tonnes/min, and up a 25-degree incline. The danger of getting it wrong? A 90m drop off the end of the spillway into the valley below.
Happenings

The 2023 Range Rover Sport splashes down with a dam impressive debut

IN Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover

The new Range Rover Sport proves its mettle by driving up the spillway of an Icelandic hydroelectric dam


The VRS (or RS) has long been the brand's performance hero car. Adopting the VW family's 2.0-litre turbocharged power unit used in the Golf GTi, it was always seen as the
New

The Smart Performance Sedan | Skoda Octavia RS 2.0 TSI

As a big fan of the Skoda brand, I was a little let down by the previous-gen VRS. But the latest one has made up for it.


The 911 SC is the second of four special “Heritage Design” 911s that will be made by Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur, all limited edition and each paying tribute to a different iconic decade of Porsche style. The first was 2020's 911 Targa Heritage Edition (below, right), which was a throwback to the 1950s and the Porsche 356, while the SC here takes inspiration from the early 911s of the ‘60s and early ‘70s. The next two models are due in 2024 and 2026.
Happenings

The Porsche 911 Sport Classic is the retro manual RWD 911 Turbo of your dreams

IN Porsche, 911, 911 Sport Classic, 911 Turbo, 911 SC, Savethemanuals

This limited edition model by the Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur programme is the most powerful stick shift Porsche 911 ever made


Today, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have taken over as the car of choice and so unsurprisingly, the BMW X3 has become one the brand’s best-selling models. Although the 3 Series/4 Series are still the brand’s best-selling models in 2021 with 490,000 units sold, the X3/X4 range is closing in with 414,000 units finding homes last year.
New

BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport

IN BMW, X3, XDrive30i, M Sport

Some timely updates and upgrades are set to keep one of the brand’s best-sellers at the top of its game.



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