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Gone is the dynamic ‘swoosh’ that ran down the side, with the new car sporting a cleaned side profile. There’s now a single straight line that connects the bonnet to the taillights, in contrast to the sloping roofline. The outgoing model’s coupe-inspired styling is now made even more coupe-like, with an increased rear windscreen rake. This results in a much more fastback-like side profile that mimics the Civic Hatchback. Interestingly, Honda claims that the steeper windscreen hasn’t adversely affected rear-seat space, perhaps thanks to the additional 20mm in wheelbase.
Happenings

New Honda HR-V (Vezel) Revealed

IN Honda, HR-V, Vezel, Honda HR-V, Honda Vezel, Kah Motor

The latest Honda HR-V has been completely redesigned, and gains Honda’s new e:HEV hybrid powertrain.


At the rear, a larger three-dimensional rear combination light replaces the old tapered ones. The front and rear blinkers are now also equipped with a sequential turn signal lamp as standard.
Happenings

New Honda Odyssey here in Singapore

The face-lifted 2021 Odyssey adopts Honda’s new direction in having a cleaner and less fussy front end and some interior updates.


The car we have here today is no RS model though. In fact, it’s the base model engine spec available for the A4 Avant. This 2.0-litre turbocharged estate pushes out a decent 148 hp and 270 Nm of torque and is the only model available for the A4 Avant.
New

A Worthy Wagon | Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI

As much space as a mid-sized SUV, with the driving dynamics of a sporty sedan. There’s lots to like about Audi’s new wagon.


Back then, it arrived with a 1.0-lire turbocharged engine (amusingly named “Boosterjet”) that gave it an enthusiastic character and made it heaps of fun to drive, but with the revisions to Singapore’s Vehicle Emissions Scheme tax/rebate structure this year, that’s been swapped out for a hybrid model which falls into the maximum rebate tier for its green credentials.
New

Toys and Joys | Suzuki Swift 1.2 Mild Hybrid

IN Suzuki, Swift, Hybrid, Suzuki Swift, Swift Hybrid, Champion Motors

The perenially popular Suzuki Swift gains a tiny bit of hybrid power, but it is the lively handling and generous safety equipment that will put the biggest smile on your face.


This isn’t an all-new car of course, nor is it even a facelift (that comes next year, when the Countryman gets new headlights and Union Jack-themed taillights just like the rest of the Mini range, as well as new digital displays). But though it looks no different, the 2020 Countryman JCW’s updates run far deeper than facelifts conventionally do. With 306hp and 450Nm now on tap, the new Countryman JCW has made gains of 75hp and 100Nm over the 2019 model - a full one-third more power and torque than before. That’s all courtesy of an updated version of the B48 2.0-litre turbo engine, which is now in the same spec as you’d find in the BMW M135i, M235i, and X2 M35i. As a result, the 0-100km/h time drops from 6.5 to 5.1 seconds, and it’s powerful enough flat-out to warrant a 250km/h electronic speed limiter. It’s rather a different beast to drive now, and finally feels special enough to justify its existence (and its price tag).
New

Rally the Troops | Mini Countryman John Cooper Works

IN MINI, Countryman, JCW, John Cooper Works, MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works

The biggest and most expensive Mini you can buy gets a lot more power for 2020, finally giving it performance that’s worthy of the JCW name.


Happenings

The different flavours of BMW Luxury

IN BMW, GKL, GKL Range, BMW 7, 7 Series, BMW 8, 8 Series, BMW X7, X7, Luxury Cars

BMW Luxury motoring is defined in 3 different ways as shown by these flagship models.


But wafting comes at a cost (usually in excess of seven figures). To make it more accessible to the rich-but-not-as-rich businessmen, premium brands like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar have made it their life-long aim to produce flagship models that can emulate that smooth road-yacht feel.
New

Magic Carpet Ride | Audi A8 Mild Hybrid 3.0 TFSI

For the longest time, the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series have topped the luxury barge segment's market share. Can Audi's new A8 steal some sales with this new party trick?


Happenings

MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition Cooper S

Only 5 MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition Cooper S models will be made available in Singapore.


This then, has the all-singing, all-dancing full-blooded AMG powerplant for the family of Mercedes cars that bear the letter ‘A’; A-Class, CLA and GLA. The 45 series of AMG cars is the entry point to what some might consider as a ‘proper’ AMG as the engines come from a “one-man, one-engine” production line where the finished power unit bears a plaque with the name and signature of the technician who put the mechanical masterpiece together. My compliments then, to Alexander Kasarez who built a fine motor for our test car. In this instance however, it is technically a “one-woman, one-engine” production. Here’s to Girl Power!
New

Sense of Occassion | Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupé

IN Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, CLA, CLA 45S, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45S

The most powerful 2.0-litre car you can buy adds a touch of practicality to make it a more useable daily proposition.


However if you really want the full warp drive experience, there’s a sequence of setting the car up first: put it in Sport Plus Mode, hold the brake firmly with your left foot, and nail the accelerator to the carpet with your right foot until “Launch Control Activated” shows up in the driver’s display. This then sets the electric motors to unleash a maximum combined total of 571hp and 650Nm of torque when the brake pedal is released. The rest of the time, the Taycan 4S’ power output reverts to a more sustainable 490hp.
New

The Future Is... Here? | Porsche Taycan 4S

IN Porsche, Taycan, Taycan 4S, Porsche Taycan, Porsche Taycan 4S

Much has been said about the higher-end Taycan Turbo and Turbo S. This entry point to an all-electric Porsche however is probably the best real world option.


Enter the range-topping 1.5 Luxe e:HEV model, which features a 1.5-litre engine mated to a hybrid powertrain for a mix of fuel economy and effortless acceleration. Newly developed for the Jazz, this e:HEV system combines a petrol engine with two powerful drive motors; however, unlike a typical hybrid vehicle, the engine and electric motor operate independently.
Happenings

The all-new Honda Jazz arrives in Singapore

IN Honda, Jazz, Honda Jazz, Kah Motor

Honda’s most-loved little hatchback gets revamped and electrified


No other single letter in the automotive industry packs as much history, success, passion, and performance as M, something that’s clearly evident in BMW’s own tagline: “M. The most powerful letter in the world.” Naturally, all BMW M models follow the company’s alphanumeric naming structure, which is brilliant in its logic and its simplicity. But for such special memorable vehicles, BMW M cars deserve to be known by more than just a number. The following M words best define the lineup of BMW M today: BMW M2 Competition - The Mischievous one
Happenings

M. The most powerful letter in the world

IN BMW, BMW M, Coupes, Sports sedans, M2, M3, M4, M5, M8

If you have a powerful and iconic reputation, you don’t need whole sentences to tell your story. Just one letter will do.


Similarly, when it comes to tyres, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a brand that was completely new to me. Davanti, is a relatively new UK-based tyre company which designs and develops its products in Great Britain.
The Pit

Silent Screamer | Davanti DX640 Tyre Review

Psst! Want to know the best-kept secret in Ultra High-Performance tyres? Prepare to be pleasantly surprised by the Davanti DX640.


“Sportiness” may be one of the most overused marketing cliches in the automotive world, but given Toyota’s recent form with the GR Supra, GR Yaris, and LC500, we’ve got plenty to be optimistic about in the new IS. Stay tuned for our review coming soon.
Happenings

The sportier and sexier new Lexus IS launches in Singapore

IN Lexus, IS, Lexus IS, IS300, IS350, Sports sedans, Luxury sedans, Car launch, New cars

Aggressive new looks back up a more thrilling drive in the heavily updated Lexus IS; prices start from S$199k


It’s available as both a 1.5-litre Cooper, or a 2.0-litre Cooper S, and they cost S$161,888 and S$180,888 with Certificate of Entitlement (COE) respectively. Both engines are fundamentally the same as in the outgoing Countryman, save for some tweaks to clean up emissions.
Happenings

Facelifted Mini Countryman now in Singapore from S$162k

IN Mini, Countryman, Crossover, SUV, Local news, Car launch

Mildly tweaked looks, more digital displays, new taillights and new paint options are the highlights for the updated maxi-Mini


The Bentayga Speed gets several exterior styling cues to hint at its performance credentials, including dark-tinted grilles, headlights, taillights and wheels. More obvious tell-tale signs of the 626 bhp that lurk beneath the bonnet are the body-coloured side skirts, larger rear spoiler, and large oval tailpipes.
Happenings

Nip, tuck, and electrification: the new Bentley Bentayga

IN Bentley, SUV, Bentayga, New cars, Car launch

Bentley’s first model under their Beyond100 plan is the extensively redesigned Bentayga luxo-SUV


Known internally as a Life Cycle Improvement (LCI), the G30 BMW 5 Series has received such a comprehensive list of updates that it is, for all intents and purposes, a new model. Similarly, the G32 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo has been simultaneously refreshed to provide customers with a longer, five-door alternative.
Happenings

Executive decisions: The New BMW 5 Series and BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo

IN BMW, New 5 Series, New 6 Series GT, 530i M Sport Edition, 630i Gran Turismo, M Sport, Digital Key, Executive cars

With both cars featuring a host of styling and technology updates, the only hard choice left is to decide between the new BMW 5 Series sedan or BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo fastback.


With the exposure brought by professional drivers around the world blurring the line between racing in the real and virtual worlds, it’s clear that sim racing is here to stay, and we hope, expand further in 2021 to offer more aspiring racers an alternative path into a racing cockpit.
Happenings

From couch to cockpit: why sim racing isn’t child’s play

IN Porsche, Sim racing, Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, E-sports, Gaming, Simulators

Growing manufacturer support highlights how much sim racing has grown in 2020, with Porsche Asia Pacific recently concluding its first eSports racing tournament.


Style and substance That’s not all. All that vroom and room is packaged in a dashing form. Every Porsche SUV has a commanding road presence. With a wide stance and design elements from the front to the rear fenders that echo the 911, there is no mistaking the profile of a Porsche SUV.
New

Five reasons why a Porsche SUV is the perfect luxury car to own

IN Porsche, Singapore, SUV, Cayenne, Macan, Stuttgart Auto, Eurokars

To say that Porsche created a class of its own in the SUV world is an understatement. Since the launch of the Porsche Cayenne in 2003, car makers everywhere have been trying to play catch-up!


The official figures are 181 bhp, 270 Nm of torque and a 0-100 km/h timing of 7.3 seconds. But in reality, the car feels a lot more lively than the numbers suggest. But the beauty of it all is that the fine handling characteristics of the MINI have been retained and the little electrified hatch is still a fun runabout to pilot. Taking it around a series of bends feels like you're driving an electric go-kart (with music and air-con!).
New

Electrified hot hatch | MINI Cooper SE

IN MINI, Electric, Singapore, Hot hatch, EV, MINI Cooper SE, Cooper, SE

The new MINI Electric, or otherwise known as the Cooper SE is proof that the new era of electric cars is here to stay.



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