Tabla de contenidos para November 2016 en Torque

Honda has left boyracers in a tizzy following its reveal of the almost production-ready Civic Type R prototype. Compared to its regular brethren, the Type R looks like it’s been given a massive dose of automotive steroids. Apart from the carbon fibre bits on its bodykit, the Civic Type R boasts huge air intakes, a bonnet scoop and enlarged wheel arches housing 20-inch wheels. At the rear, there’s a sizeable spoiler and a unique tri-exhaust system. Driving enthusiasts, however, will be more excited about the turbocharged 2-litre inline-4 under the bonnet – the most powerful Type R engine to date. It delivers 310bhp and 400Nm to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. We expect the Civic Type R to reach Singapore in the fourth quarter of 2017.…

Going on a road trip alone no longer has to be a lonely endeavour, especially if you’ve got one of Toyota’s Kirobo Minis. This robot fits in the palm of your hand and is only 10cm tall when placed in a sitting position. When the Kirobo Mini is connected to a dedicated app via Bluetooth, it will engage the user in conversation based on information it has gathered, and can even memorise a user’s likes and dislikes. The robot is also programmed to recognise and interpret facial expressions, and adapt its tone and gestures accordingly. Kirobo Mini has a maximum “talk time” of 2.5 hours and takes three hours to recharge fully. In Japan, the Kirobo Mini retails for 39,800 yen ($530). There is a 300 yen ($4) monthly subscription…

ONCE upon a time, the premium German carmakers badged their models according to engine capacity. A Mercedes E280, for instance, was an E-Class with a 2.8-litre engine, and a BMW 318i was a 1.8-litre 3 Series. Nice and logical. Then for some reason around the mid-1990s, the Germans decided to base the model number on a “deemed” engine capacity pegged to the car’s output, rather than the actual engine capacity. The first instance I can recall of this practice was the 1995 E39 BMW 523i, which despite its name, had a 2.5-litre straight-6, not a 2.3-litre. BMW, perhaps out of embarrassment at the slightly underwhelming 170bhp of their ultimate driving machine, had opted to “downbadge” it. At that time, no other BMW models were similarly afflicted – a 520i was…

WHEN it comes to Japanese crossovers today, no model is more popular in Singapore than the Honda HR-V (or its evil twin, the Vezel). Recently upgraded, the HR-V now has a stronger and more efficient motor that enables it to qualify for a $5000 CEVS rebate. Unchanged, however, is the Honda’s roomy and comfy cabin. Like the HR-V, the Nissan Qashqai is also one of the most popular crossovers in Singapore. The Qashqai aims to impress buyers with its suite of technologies, such as Active Trace Control and Active Ride Control, which enhance both safety and handling. Ready to display its handling attributes, too, is the Suzuki Vitara – the only contender here with all-wheel-drive. Apart from its ability to go off-road away from the concrete jungle, the Vitara can…

“THE 570GT MAKES LIFE IN THE MCLAREN FAST LANE MORE LIVEABLE.” JUST last year, I was introduced to McLaren’s “affordable” 570S at Portugal’s Portimao racetrack. This year, McLaren held the party closer to Singapore by introducing the 570GT at Malaysia’s Sepang racetrack. The newcomer and the closely related 570S belong to the McLaren Sports Series, which is positioned below the McLaren Super Series of 650S and 675LT. The Sports Series models offer a mid-mounted twin-turbo V8, an aluminium body, a carbon fibre chassis and a local price tag of below a million bucks. The 570GT looks almost identical to the 570S, but eagle-eyed observers will spot the differences – the “flying buttresses” of the rear pillars have been removed, the rear windscreen has been redesigned to double as a glass…

FAMILY men who find themselves in the Volkswagen showroom shopping for multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) have four models to choose from – the Sportsvan, Touran, Sharan and Caddy. Apart from the Sportsvan, which is a five-seater, the rest of the models are seven-seater MPVs. This makes the Sportsvan the odd one out – and not just within Volkswagen’s range. The majority of MPVs that are sold in Singapore are of the seven-seater variety. We’ve placed the Sportsvan alongside the Touran because under VW’s roof, the latter is the former’s closest rival. Both MPVs, which we tested in Highline and Comfortline trim respectively, are essentially separated by a pair of seats and a price difference of $11.5k (at time of writing). Otherwise, the two VW MPVs have a lot in common. Both…

 DESPITE initial resistance from the Formula One teams against adopting some form of hybridisation, KERS has since become a standard feature in state-of-the-art F1 racecars. “TODAY’S F1 RACECAR IS POWERED BY A SINGLE-TURBO 1600CC V6 WITH TWO ELECTRICAL MOTOR GENERATOR UNITS.” The concept of kinetic energy recovery is often misunderstood, because brake energy recuperation suggests that the brakes somehow convert mechanical force to electrical power. Perhaps in a convoluted sense, but the actual process doesn’t work that way. Think about braking and deceleration as negative energy relative to acceleration. At the instant the accelerator pedal is released or the brake pedal is depressed, the KERS instantaneously couples the powertrain to an electricity generator or, in some setups, a mechanical flywheel. This creates a load on the motor and supplements engine…

BMW has unveiled its all-new 5 Series, its latest contender in the executive saloon segment. Similar to the recently launched Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which looks like a smaller S-Class, the 5 Series is very much like a junior version of BMW’s flagship 7 Series. This resemblance, however, is more than skin deep. Like its bigger brother, the 5 Series comes with the latest iDrive infotainment system, which can be controlled via rotary dial, gestures or the touchscreen. The 5 Series can also be equipped with more advanced optional features, such as Remote Parking, which lets drivers manoeuvre the car into parking spaces using the car key. For during long drives or in traffi c jams, the 5 Series can be further specified with Active Cruise Control, and the Steering and Lane…

Fancy buying your tyke a Mercedes-AMG GT or AMG GT S for a fraction of their actual cost, and without COE? Well, you actually can thanks to BIG, a German toy company that’s known for making Bobby cars. The Bobby-AMG GT and Bobby-AMG GT S have steering wheels modelled after their actual counterparts. The only differences between the two are that the former is painted in classic silver, while the latter comes in AMG Solarbeam and has LED daytime running lights as standard. However, unlike the full-size models, these cars have an “engine output” of 2fp (foot power).…

“I HAD LOTS OF FUN LEAVING SPORTS CARS IN MY DUST WHILE DRIVING A CHEVY SPARK EV!” TO say that Joachim Sell has the world on his shoulders is not an understatement. The 47-year-old German not only oversees car sales in 16 markets, he also looks after the sale of parts and accessories, and the retail of Opel components to other GM (General Motors) brands. Joachim, who has a master’s degree in industrial engineering, (a combination of business administration and mechanical engineering), is very much into cars. However, prior to joining Opel, he was working as a consultant at another company. Joachim’s foray into the automotive industry only began in 2003, when he started working in Opel’s European aftersales division. He then moved to the firm’s strategic business development division,…

 IT is common for first cousins to bear some resemblance to one another, whether it’s the shape of their face, eyes or nose. “THE SPORTAGE HAS NIMBLER HANDLING, WHILE THE TUCSON IMPRESSES WITH ITS EVEN HIGHER LEVELS OF REFINEMENT.” But while this is true for people, it is a different matter altogether for automobiles. Hyundai and Kia, for example, are sister companies whose models share platforms, but each brand’s cars look distinct. Side by side, the Tucson and Sportage are as different as night and day. I find the Tucson, with its sleeker headlights and sharper lines, to be more attractive than the Sportage, which is more squarish and has a front end that you’ll either love or hate. Only when you look closely at both cars’ rear ends will…

  “THE SUNDERLAND-BUILT Q30 IS IN ESSENCE A REBODIED MERCEDES-BENZ GLA.” BEHOLD the Infiniti Q30, the first foray by Nissan’s premium brand into the hatchback segment. Except that it’s not quite what it seems. The press release coyly makes no mention of the car’s provenance, but once you’re inside, there is no escaping the fact that the Sunderland-built Q30 is in essence a rebodied Mercedes-Benz GLA. The clues are there the moment you settle into the cabin. The seat adjusters mounted high on the doors, the dainty little gearlever and practically all the minor switchgear, from the electric window controls to the steering-mounted buttons, will feel oddly familiar to anyone who’s driven a recent Merc car. Another dead giveaway is the trademark chunky column stalk mounted on the left, controlling…

TOYOTA SIENTA $109,888 ON THE ROAD This snazzy-looking seven-seater MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) is more convenient than its first-gen predecessor, with a 55mm lower floor for easier ingress/egress. Unlike the Japan-made models sold by parallel importers, the Indonesian-made units retailed by official agent Borneo Motors have rear air-con vents, making them more comfortable for occupants in the second and third rows. RIVAL HONDA MOBILIO MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS CABRIOLET PRICE ON APPLICATION The first topless model in the brand’s C-Class range is roomier and more luxurious than BMW’s 4 Series Convertible, as it has a larger and classier cabin. Its soft-top provides impressive sound insulation, but it surprisingly takes the same time (20 seconds) to open and close as the three-piece folding hardtop of the 4 Series. RIVAL BMW 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE PORSCHE…

Hyundai hopes to become synonymous with high-performance models following the debut of its N Concept RN30. Based on the new i30 hatchback, the RN30 is a track-only model powered by a turbocharged 2-litre 4-pot that churns out 380bhp and 451Nm. To cope with these figures, most of the engine’s components are forged, rather than cast, for enhanced durability. Helping the RN30 stay glued to the tarmac are its all-wheel-drive system, electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) and aggressive bodykit. Track-day enthusiasts will also love the image-stabilised gimbal cameras on the A-pillars and the exterior camera attached to the centre fin on the roof that can record their exploits. Hyundai is expected to introduce a less extreme, road-going version of the RN30, which will join the i30 lineup and rival the Volkswagen Golf…

If your petrolhead loves both art and automobiles, they can indulge in both passions simultaneously with MINI’s Colouring Car Set and Kids Crafts Sets. The former lets kids build their own MINI out of paper and customise its “paint job” using colouring pencils, while the other helps children use empty domestic packaging like shoeboxes to create items such as a service station and car wash. Letting your children play with these kits is also a neat way of teaching them about the importance of reducing waste by reducing and recycling materials.…

If you think that accountants are boring, then you haven’t met people like Kevin Tan. The 40-year-old CPA (certified public accountant), who co-founded Connexions Corporate Solutions, is a car enthusiast with a passion for driving. Accountants are trained to delve into a company’s books and analyse figures. We asked Kevin to put his analytical skills to use behind the wheel of the latest 7 Series, so he could discover the cutting-edge innovations beneath its sublime design. Naturally, Kevin had plenty to share after spending some time with this dynamic limousine. How do you feel about the 7 Series’ design and proportions? Although it’s a large car, it doesn’t look awkward or unwieldy. In fact, it looks agile and sporty, and the lines on its body further enhance its strong and…

When a car model sells over 7.3 million units, you know it’s something special. First launched back in 1985, Hyundai’s Sonata was an instant hit the world over. Revered by automobile enthusiasts for its family friendly features and smooth ride, the Sonata sedan has evolved over the years, embracing industry advancements and maintaining its huge popularity. Each generation of the Sonata has surpassed the last. From improved aerodynamic design to new digital technology, enhanced engine performance to European style elegance, it has gradually built a reputation for excellence, safety and supreme style over the decades. The latest seventh-generation Sonata ups the ante with a fluid design and seamless performance. With a refined balance and sophisticated interior, the Sonata VIII offers superior drivability to the mid-sized market. In any family vehicle,…

Ford’s latest Focus RS hot hatch is hotter than usual, with its turbocharged 2.3-litre 4-cylinder powerplant producing 350bhp and 440Nm. The awesome American juice is squeezed to all four 235/35 R19 alloy wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. Zero to 100km/h is achieved in a blistering 4.7 seconds and the scorching top speed is 267km/h. But even this blue streak is less quick than the two hottest German hatchbacks in Singapore, the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45, which we compare on pg 56. AND ALSO • NISSAN QASHQAI vs SUZUKI VITARA vs HONDA HR-V vs MAZDA CX-3 • HYUNDAI TUCSON vs KIA SPORTAGE • MCLAREN 570GT • INFINITI Q30 • VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN & SPORTSVAN…

“THE RS3 RUNS THE A45 CLOSE WHILE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB OF BEING PLEASANT TRANSPORTATION.” DEAR neighbour, I apologise for waking you up at 6am. I had to go to work, as usual, but this time I drove one of the most antisocial hatchbacks ever made, Mercedes’ freshly updated AMG A45. Not that it hasn’t earned the right to shout. No sooner had Audi’s RS3 ascended the podium as the world’s most powerful hatchback, AMG’s renewed A45 arrived with 381bhp and 475Nm to flick the Audi down a notch. This it achieves with a violently turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, against Audi’s unique 5-cylinder producing 367bhp and 465Nm. Another technical distinction worth noting is the RS3’s centre differential, which has the ability to route 100 percent of torque to the rear…

The 1930s was a significant period in horological history where men began to ditch their pocket watches for something more practical – the wristwatch. After all, a watch worn on the wrist would be more accessible than one that was hidden in a pocket. So watchmakers began taking pocket watches and welding arches on each side of the case before looping a fine leather strap at the back. The Heritage 1936 by Swiss watchmaker, Tissot, harks back to those simpler days – a time where watches counted hours and seconds, not steps or text messages. The classic design takes inspiration from a timepiece in the brand’s 1936 collection, featuring a small seconds display at six o’clock, charming 24-hour markers on the chapter ring, and the heritage Tissot logo. The reimagined…

IT was Porsche’s Adventure Drive 2016, which took a group of journos, customers and prospects on a memorable road trip in Siem Reap. The exotic location is perhaps best known for its iconic Angkor Wat temple complex, a world-famous Unesco World Heritage Site and arguably the country’s biggest draw. But Siem Reap is also home to many other temples with equally long and interesting histories. Said temples are central to the wonderful cultural heritage that attracts curious tourists, who provide a significant source of income for Cambodia. Porsche’s choice of Siem Reap for its Adventure Drive was unexpected, but the venue’s combination of chaotic urban traffic and challenging rural landscapes was a great way to demonstrate the versatility of the Macan and Cayenne. This writer had to be versatile, too,…