Tabla de contenidos para June 2016 en Torque

Over the past 100 years, BMW has been setting the benchmark in terms of automotive innovations. The sixth-generation BMW 7 Series has proven this yet again, with breathtaking new technology that includes gesture control for the iDrive system, Remote Control Parking via the BMW Display Key and a 7-inch tablet integrated into the rear armrest. Said tablet not only controls communications and infotainment, but cabin functions such as lighting, too. The latest 7 Series also features Traffic Jam Assistant, which takes over the burden of driving in heavy traffic. When activated, it maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front and brakes the 7 Series to a complete standstill without any input from the driver. As with all great leaders, BMW continues to push boundaries. The carmaker recently showcased…

The Ford Mustang is one of the world’s most iconic cars, but it was only last year – 50 years since the first model was introduced – that the car was exported globally. The current-generation Mustang is also the first one available as a right-hand-drive model. Ford’s moves have paid dividends. According to IHS Automotive, the Mustang was the bestselling sports coupe globally in 2015, with 110,000 coupes and 30,000 convertibles sold. It was also the only sports coupe that racked up more than 100,000 registrations last year. The Mustang that will be sold here is powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre 4-cylinder. The car is currently being homologated and should be available soon.…

Production of the Mazda MX-5 has exceeded one million cars, further cementing the model’s position as the world’s best-selling and most successful roadster to date. As Mazda’s halo model, the MX-5’s history spans 27 years and four model generations. However, this roadster is unlike archetypal halo models, which are ridiculously powerful and unattainable. Instead of raw power, the MX-5 is known for being fun to drive because of its light weight and delightful handling. Add affordability and bulletproof reliability to the mix, and it’s easy to see why this car continues to endear itself to enthusiasts.…

“AT MINI, WE HAVE A “CAN DO” ATTITUDE AND WE’RE MORE FLEXIBLE WITH OUR CORPORATE IDENTITY.” WORKING for a German firm might seem stifling, especially if you’ve been with a company with a more laid-back culture. Peter Medalla, however, says that although Germans are known for being serious and precise, they’re also very passionate about their work. He should know – the 43-year-old, who hails from the Philippines, has been with BMW Group since 2005. Peter began his career with the organisation as a sales manager for BMW Philippines, before moving up to the post of sales director in 2006. Three years later, he was assigned to BMW Indonesia as vice-president of sales and marketing. In 2013, Peter became vice-president of sales and dealer development. But he wasn’t there for…

ENTHUSIASTS on a $100k-long “shoestring” cannot afford a seriously quick high-performance machine, but they can certainly acquire one of these popular and sporty options we’ve gathered. The coolest-looking contender in this story is the Hyundai Veloster, which has a unique three-door layout and a fastback-style tailgate. Although this is the non-turbo version (which costs $18k less than the turbocharged Veloster), keen drivers will still appreciate its aggressive design that intimidates fellow boyracers. Also boasting plenty of road presence is the alien-like Nissan Juke, whose design inspirations included motorcycles and rally cars. The Adventure variant tested here comes with coloured trimmings, but a plainer and less “adventurous” version is available for $6000 less. Sure to appeal to everyday petrolheads is the evergreen Honda Jazz in jazzier RS spec. Its 1.5-litre engine…

THE name F-Pace suggests something fast that’s related to Jaguar’s racy F-Type. But any aesthetic link between the 1310mm low F-Type sports coupe and the 1651mm tall SUV is limited to the gorgeous graphics of the LED tail-lights. Still, the F-Pace is one of the most stylish European SUVs right now, and its styling is attractive in any colour, even ah beng bronze (or Halcyon Gold, to give the paint job its official name). Size-wise, the F-Pace sits between Porsche’s Macan and Cayenne, and BMW’s X3 and X5. But the Jaguar’s alloy wheels go up to a whopping 22-inch, bigger than any of its rivals’. Those dramatic big wheels do not destroy the ride quality of the F-Pace, which traverses the tarmac like an elevated XE saloon – quietly and…

THIS is the junior MPV model positioned below Ford’s new S-Max (pg 86). The Grand C-Max is based on the Focus, the American automaker’s international model available in various flavours, with the triple-chocolate version being the 350bhp Focus RS (also new to town). Too bad the Grand C-Max looks like vanilla. Plain vanilla, without any toppings… in a simple white cup, with a flimsy wooden spoon. Even the blueberry blue paintwork of the demo car fails to lift the styling, which rides on the thin line between ugly and ungainly. Admittedly, it’s a tricky job to make a compact three-row people-carrier look stylish (just look at BMW’s 2 Series Gran Tourer), because the interior dictates the exterior. The occupants sitting inside the multi-purpose vehicle are the priority, not the observers…

“I PROCEED TO MAKE MYSELF COMFORTABLE, BEING A TEMPORARY LADY OF LEISURE AND ALL THAT.” PEOPLE say that we’ll always remember our firsts – first trip overseas, first kiss, first car. My list of memorable firsts also includes my first chauffeur-driven experience, which took place when I was a mere teenager. It was during our initial three months in junior college, and a bunch of us from the same secondary school were attending Chinese New Year celebrations at our alma mater. One of my classmates had the privilege of being chauffeured to and from school daily, and she very generously offered to give us all a ride. To be honest, I cannot recall how luxurious the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was, nor what a treat it was to be sitting in a…

Petrolheads may not like them, but the success of petrol-electric hybrids means they’ll continue to be around for a long time. Lexus, for instance, has sold more than a million hybrid vehicles since its first model, the RX400h, debuted in 2005. Lexus hybrids, however, only make up about 12 percent of parent company Toyota’s total hybrid sales to date, which number more than eight million vehicles. Lexus currently offers 10 hybrid models, five of which are available in Singapore. In 2015, the brand’s hybrids comprised 33 percent of its total sales here.…

SOMETIMES in life, you may find yourself sharing much in common with a particular person, but there are enough differences between the two of you to result in contrasting personalities. A common thread shared between two people (or vehicles) doesn’t mean there’s no room for individuality as well. Take these two cars here, for example. On the surface, the Renault Kadjar and Nissan Qashqai appear to be very much alike. Both are relatively compact crossover-type SUVs, catering to the lifestyle set with their practical design and useful setup. Under the skin, they’re related, with both of them using the same Common Module Family platform that will underpin a variety of Renault-Nissan products in due course. The two cars also share a “United Nations” background – the Qashqai is a Japanese…

“PORSCHE HAS GIVEN ITS HUGELY POPULAR ROADSTER A COMPREHENSIVE MID-TERM UPDATE AND A DEED POLL.” MOST people would throw a big party to celebrate a landmark birthday. But Porsche is marking the 20th anniversary of its hugely popular roadster, the Boxster, by giving the car a comprehensive mid-term update… and a deed poll. Instead of being known simply as the Boxster, the car has been renamed the 718 Boxster. Predictably, the Boxster’s hardtop brother is now known as the 718 Cayman. That numerical prefix pays homage to Porsche’s lightweight mid-engine 718 sports car, which enjoyed lots of racing success in the late 1950s and early 1960s. And therein lies a clue as to the biggest change Porsche has made to the new Boxster. Like the old 718, the latest Boxster…

“BEING A WEEKDAY, OUR CONVOY OF PASSATS WAS SPARED THE TRAFFIC JAMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAUSEWAY.” IT was a two-day media drive to Kuala Lumpur (KL), organised by Volkswagen to promote their latest Passat range. Half a dozen Passats, from the standard-spec 1.8-litre saloon to the generous-spec 2-litre Variant wagon, were made available for the classic Singapore-KL road trip. Being a weekday, we were spared the traffic jams on both sides of the Causeway. Our convoy of Passats made the crossing without a hitch. Together with my co-driver, I was initially assigned the Passat Variant R-Line. Being half-awake at the crack of dawn, I opted to occupy the passenger seat and poke around the cockpit. Immediately noticeable was the interior’s premium feel. From the high-grade materials and Nappa…

THE most suitable type of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) today is lithium-ion. They have the highest specific energy among all batteries, good high-temperature performance and easy recyclability of components. Depending on the power control system, an EV’s batteries can be recharged (when the vehicle is stationary) using a plugged-in grid supply of single-phase 240V or three-phase 415V. Grid-based charging is necessary for EVs, except those that run on hydrogen fuel cells. On the move, EVs have the capability to recharge their batteries to some extent. This is achieved by what is known as “regenerative charging”, which happens during braking or coasting/ slowing-down. Unlike the internal combustion engine, whose energy flow is unidirectional (fuel to wheels), an EV can reverse the direction of its energy flow, from wheels to batteries.…

WHEN I was asked to review a BMW 7 Series equipped with a bodykit, large alloy wheels and a host of other modifications, I must admit that my first thought was: “Bet it looks terrible.” Before you start accusing me of being presumptuous and unfair, let me explain. In my years as a motoring journalist, I have seen many modified cars, and the few occasions where the subject of my story was a large luxury saloon like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8, I was never impressed with what I saw. Bodykits and luxo-barges don’t mix. It’s like trying to combine oil and water, or insisting that Formula One rivals Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton become bosom buddies. Limousines should be left as they are. If you really have to,…

TESLA ET CETERA CHRISTOPHER CHUAH I am an avid reader of your magazine. I live in Australia and come to Singapore regularly, as my wife is Singaporean. In Australia, I subscribe to Wheels and Motor , but when I’m in Singapore, Torque is my motoring magazine of choice. After reading your February edition, I’m curious that Tesla is not in Singapore. Tesla is rolling out in Australia and challenging our traditional view on combustion engines Down Under. Given the fact that Singapore is an environmentally conscious country, has there been any demand for electric cars like Tesla’s that take performance to the next level? Torque Thanks for your e-mail, Christopher, and for choosing Torque as your motoring magazine…

Opel is a German expert in compact station wagons, with over 50 years of practical experience across 10 model generations – five Kadetts (A, B, C, D, E) and five Astras (F, G, H, J, K), all performing honest workhorse duties to the best of their abilities. The first one is the Kadett A Caravan, which made its debut in 1963. The latest one is the Astra K Sports Tourer, reviewed on pg 56. AND ALSO • HONDA JAZZ RS vs HYUNDAI VELOSTER vs NISSAN JUKE • RENAULT KADJAR vs NISSAN QASHQAI • NEW VERSUS OLD – AUDI A4 • JAGUAR F-PACE • VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTE • FORD GRAND C-MAX • PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER…

AUDI’S B8-generation A4 was unveiled in 2007, and hung around for eight years while BMW’s 3 Series, Mercedes’ C-Class and upstart competitors from Lexus (IS) and Infiniti (Q50), arrived all shiny and new. About time, in other words, for the Audi A4 to be shiny and new once again. Unlike its rear-drive rivals, the A4 continues to have its front wheels driven, with quattro four-wheel-drive available for higher-spec/cost versions. Nevertheless, over the four previous generations of A4, sufficient numbers of buyers have prioritised unassuming luxury over smoking rear tyres to make the A4 the best-selling model in Audi’s stable. In case you didn’t pay attention to the commercials, the latest B9-generation A4 has emerged from Ingolstadt bristling with new technology that includes an aluminium-intensive platform and a fantastic (but not…

GIVEN the inherent practicality of a station wagon, it is strange that local motorists, most of whom are quite pragmatic, wouldn’t even consider one when shopping for a new car. This is true of most couples, who upon starting a family, immediately think about acquiring an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). But if you have two kids and simply need a bigger boot for children’s accoutrements, then a wagon/estate is adequate for your needs. And between an estate and an MPV, it is pretty obvious which one is going to be more fun to drive. If you’re a parent who happens to be a bit of a petrolhead, this point will resonate with you. If mid-size station wagons aren’t your thing, there are compact options, such as the Peugeot 308 SW and…

the fields of manufacturing and vehicular aesthetics, but also in terms of SUV culture. The previous Grand Vitara is made in Japan and styled like a traditional off-roader, with a “backpack” spare tyre. The new model has a flat-tyre repair kit instead, which saves weight but might not save your skin in the middle of nowhere like a full-size fifth tyre could. Both Suzukis can be specified with a variety of outdoorsy accessories (original or aftermarket), such as skid plates, fender extenders and roof racks. But only the old one came with a choice of five-door and three-door bodystyles (Champion Motors sold just the five-door version). The older, second-generation Vitara had more variants, 10th year, so any comparative comments on my part have to be taken with a pinch of…

“OVER TWO WEEKS AND 1700KM, THE S-MAX WAS OFTEN (OVER)LOADED BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.” IT is a handsome car, the S-Max. A slightly lower roofline and slimmer headlamps make it look even sportier than its already sleek predecessor, while at the rear, more crisply styled tail-lamps set the new car apart. The rising window-line kicks up sharply at the rear to create a teardrop-shaped side-window profile, the windscreen pillars have been moved backwards to allow for a more distinct bonnet, and a more pronounced shoulder line removes even the slightest hint of slab-sidedness. There is a strong resemblance to the previous S-Max, except that the new model looks edgier, lower and sportier. It’s quite a looker, and there was no shortage of admiring glances and double takes during its…

CLAW-SNAPPING PARTY Lobster lovers can get their fill of Maine lobsters at Lime, which is located in Parkroyal On Pickering. The restaurant’s Lobsterfest promotion features dishes such as the Lobster Bisque Risotto and Lobster Salad With Wasabi Aioli (above). Lobsterfest is available daily from 6:30pm to 10:30pm and ends on June 19, 2016. FLOWER POWER Diners searching for Cantonese dishes with a floral twist could check out Mitzo Restaurant & Bar, whose Ode To Spring and Ode To Spring II menus contain dishes such as Poached Noodles With Crab Meat in Saffron Sauce (above) and Jasmine Xiao Long Bao. If you’re looking to beat the heat, the bar offers cool tipples such as the Lolita Julep and Empress Sour. Mitzo Restaurant & Bar is at Grand Park Orchard. STICKY &…

BMW M2 COUPE $276,800 ON THE ROAD This entry-level M model’s performance is a match for its more powerful siblings’. The car’s turbocharged 3-litre inline-6 motor delivers 370bhp and 465Nm, enabling it to hit 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. The M2 Coupe’s relatively smaller size and lighter weight also make it more fun to drive than the more muscular M4 Coupe. RIVAL MERCEDES-AMG CLA45 PORSCHE 911 TURBO $794,698 ON THE ROAD This revamped sports car is the most powerful Turbo ever, with higher boost pressures increasing its output by 20bhp to 540bhp and reducing its century sprint time from 3.4 seconds to a supercarrivalling 3 seconds. The car now also features Dynamic Boost, an anti-lag system that improves throttle response. RIVAL AUDI R8 V10 OPEL ASTRA PRICE ON APPLICATION This all-new…