Tabla de contenidos para December 2016 en Torque

You worked hard all year and it’s time to be good to yourself. A luxury watch is the perfect reward. The high-quality, innovative models from Seiko push the design limits of the traditional timepiece and are practical, making them ideal for everyday wear. ASTRON GPS SOLAR WORLD-TIME NOVAK DJOKOVIC LIMITED EDITION Worn by tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and made for jet-setters, the Astron GPS Solar uses the power of light to connect to a GPS network and automatically adjusts, at the touch of a button, to every time zone on earth. The timepiece also incorporates caliber 8X22, a notable advance in Seiko’s GPS Solar technology; a slim, rose gold case; a simple, dark mother-of-pearl dial for an understated look; and a refined black crocodile leather strap. Each limited edition watch…

-Benz contractor” segment next year when it launches its X-Class line of premium pickups. The X-Class will have two versions: Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer. As their monikers indicate, the former is aimed at buyers who want a vehicle that makes them stand out, while the latter caters to customers who require greater off-roading ability. Although the X-Class is a luxury vehicle, it will have body-on-frame construction, which is less comfortable than a monocoque. All-wheel-drive is standard, and the range-topping model will be powered by a turbo-diesel V6 motor. Mercedes says that the X-Class will have a payload of at least 1.1 tonnes and a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes. That’s the equivalent of carrying a Volkswagen Polo while hauling two E-Class saloons.…

Kids can now get “behind the wheel” of a speedy Bentley, following the launch of the remote-controlled 1:12 scale Continental GT Supersports model. The car’s intricate details, such as its front seats and dashboard, are impressive. It even has rubber tyres for better traction around living room floors. Although this toy car is battery-powered, its electron usage is no better than a regular Bentley’s petrol consumption. Driven at full tilt, this scaled-down Continental has less than an hour’s worth of juice.…

HOW TO PARTICIPATE ? Tell us which of the 12 Christmas presents you’d like to receive and you just might get it – if you’ve been nice this year! Limited to one wish per person (if more than one wish is received, only the first wish will be accepted). Send us your wish by 22 Dec 2016. Winner for each day’s present will be announced daily on our website, starting from 25 Dec 2016. Log on to www.torque.com.sg/promotions…

CROSSOVERS and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are the fastest-growing car segment in the world. Station wagons have been around longer, though, and can be considered as the precursors to crossovers. But wagons have fallen out of favour with the crossover-crazy market. Even Volvo, a wagon pioneer with over six decades of family estate heritage, has had to adapt. The company now offers a range of modern SUVs (XC60 and XC90) and high-riding Cross Country crossovers. In my opinon, there’s still much to like about estate cars. They drive like saloons, with better handling and lower fuel consumption than equivalent SUVs. Estates’ luggage capacity is also similar to that of SUVs. But wagons generally look less purposeful than their sports-utility counterparts. Volvo, the king of family wagons with over six million…

BACK when I was a silly little boy, I was scared of department store mannequins. In the week after I saw them for the first time in Oriental Emporium, I suffered daily nightmares of being chased by unseeing mannequins down an endless flight of stairs. Decades later in 2016, my old fear of mannequins has been replaced by new respect for their high-tech relatives working in the crash test departments of car companies. Because I witnessed a crash test conducted by Toyota at its Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre. About half of the 1600 crash tests carried out by Toyota in Japan last year were done at this facility, located in Shizuoka Prefecture’s Susono City. Two crash test dummies were on the front seats of the stationary fourth-generation Prius, which was hit…

Following the launch of the original M3 in 1986, the M division’s cheeky engineers created the M3 Pickup. Based on the E30 M3 Convertible’s body, which had part of the roof “chopped” off to create a flatbed, it made the task of hauling goods around the factory cooler and speedier. The M division also pondered how to get younger customers to experience their ultimate driving machine. In 1996, they produced an M3 Compact. Based on the “baby” E36 3 Series Compact, a three-door liftback, the M3 Compact delivered scintillating performance. It had the same 321bhp engine as the M3 Coupe, but weighed 150kg less. In 2000, the M division unveiled their version of a scorching station wagon – the E46 M3 Touring. But before petrolheads could get their hopes up…

MINI has unveiled the all-new Countryman, the brand’s largest model to date and its contender in the competitive crossover segment. The latest Countryman is substantially larger than its predecessor. Its length has grown by a whopping 200mm, while its wheelbase has been stretched by 75mm to improve cabin space. The lengthened wheelbase has not only increased backseat legroom, but also allowed wider rear doors for easier ingress/egress. Roominess aside, the Countryman is also more practical than before. Its enlarged cargo hold now offers 450 litres (rear seats up) and 1309 litres (rear seats folded), an increase of 100 litres and 139 litres respectively. For outdoorsy buyers, there’s a Picnic Bench option – a flexible surface that folds out of the boot to provide a “bench” for two. Meanwhile, drivers can…

• 100% ROAD–TESTED 12/ DEC The Honda NSX-R turned 24 this year (14 for the revised 2002 model pictured here). Like its predecessor introduced in 1992, the last NSX-R is a lighter, faster and even racier version of Japan’s groundbreaking sports car. Its special features include a blueprinted 3.2-litre V6 engine, a “hard-tuned” suspension, carbon fibre aerodynamic parts and a purposefully modified cockpit. The most appropriate colour for Honda’s classic performance flagship would, of course, be Championship White – right down to the headlight garnish and 17-inch forged alloy wheels. Also available in white is the new-age NSX, reviewed on pg 62. AND ALSO • OPEL ASTRA SPORTS TOURER vs PEUGEOT 308 SW vs VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT • HONDA JADE RS vs SUBARU LEVORG GT-S • VOLVO V90 • VOLKSWAGEN…

BEING a parent means greater responsibilities and endless children’s activities. And if you’re a parent with pessimistic friends, you’ve undoubtedly been told numerous horror stories about how your life is going to become unbelievably dull once you start having kids. For instance, those friends have probably mentioned that your sex life is going to become non-existent, and that the concept of having time for yourself will remain just that – a concept. If you happen to be a petrolhead, you’ve probably been told something even more horrifying – that you should do the “right thing” by trading in your coupe/convertible/saloon for a family-friendly MPV (multipurpose vehicle). Now, MPVs are definitely more practical when it comes to ferrying families. Getting your kids in and out of their child seats, for instance,…

“ELEVEN DYNAMIC SYSTEMS WORK IN TANDEM TO GIVE THE NSX OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT DRIVE MODES.” IT has taken Honda a quarter of a century to unleash a sucessor to its legendary NSX supercar. And the new car is as complex as the first car was simple. There are 11 dynamic systems working in tandem to give the 2017 NSX optimal performance across four different drive modes. The car also has about a dozen vents, intakes, diffusers and spoilers on its busy yet elegant body to minimise wind turbulence and lift, including a couple which “cleans up air around the wheel before guiding it along the side of the car towards the rear side intake”. And there are 10 heat exchangers to keep things under its aluminium skin cool.…

In addition to physical mannequins, Toyota also uses its own computer programme to simulate the human body in a vehicle collision. Known as THUMS (Total HUman Model for Safety), its development started in 1997 and the first version was introduced in 2000. Upgrades in 2008, 2010 and 2015 made THUMS progressively more useful in its simulation of bodily injury and biological response. THUMS AM50 (adult male 50th percentile), for example, represents an average-build 35-year-old man who’s 175cm in height and 77kg in weight. He’s able to adopt a sitting or standing posture, so he can be an occupant in the cabin of a vehicle caught in an accident or a pedestrian who gets hit by a car. The virtual pain inflicted on the digital individual is in the form of…

MY family and I have been on driving holidays in USA, Europe, Australia and Malaysia, but the recent Volkswagen media drive to Malacca was the first time that we were on a “working” road trip together. Since the VW cars that the journos were test-driving on this trip comprised people-movers such as the Sharan, Touran and the newly launched Caddy and Caddy Maxi, as well as the Golf Variant and Sportsvan, it was good that we brought along the very people cars like these are supposed to impress – our family and friends. Despite the early start and extended entourage in tow, everyone arrived on time at our starting point, Volkswagen Centre Singapore. Driving through immigration has always been the part that I dread most on any Malaysia road trip,…

1_Made from cotton twill, the retro-looking Iron Block shirt and its patches resemble mechanics’ shirts from yesteryear. Its design is definitely one that boyracers will love. $159 2_The Trenton Mesh Riding Jacket keeps you cool in our steamy weather, and helps protect you from mishaps with its reinforced shoulder and elbow areas. You’ll look cool wearing it, even if you’re standing still. $319 3_Add some edginess to your casual Friday ensemble with these Black Label slim fit jeans, which sit just below the waist and feature a narrower fit through the legs. $149 4_Stay warm on rainy weekends with the Genuine Classic long-sleeve tee, which has contrasting sleeves and an embroidered logo to give it added pop. $119 5_Make your better half swoon by wearing the Trademark Logo v-neck tee,…

“POST/MAIL OF THE MONTH” POST YOUR QUESTIONS, comments or suggestions on our Facebook page (www.fb.com/torque.singapore) or e-mail us (magtorque@sph.com.sg). REDUCING DINGS PETER LOON Singapore is one of the most expensive places in the world to own a car, and the last thing we want to see on our brand new ride is a coin-size ding from some careless driver or passenger who swung the door of an adjacent vehicle a little too wide. The problem is, our cars are getting bigger, yet our carpark lots haven’t grown in space. In fact, some carparks are getting even smaller! How about asking all the car dealers to equip the doors of their newly registered cars with protective silicon mouldings? These are cheap and discreet, and also completely transparent, so they’ll suit any…

Volkswagen has given the Mk 7 Golf a major update, nearly five years after the model debuted. The restyled exterior features new bumpers and redesigned headlamps, with LED headlights replacing the xenon units previously used. Inside, the Golf can be specified with an infotainment system that features a 9.2-inch screen and gesture controls. Other new options include Traffic Jam Assist, a semi-autonomous system that can take over driving duties at speeds of up to 60km/h. Hot hatch fans will be more excited about the GTI models, which have received power boosts. The GTI is now good for 230bhp, or 10bhp more than before, while the GTI Performance kicks out 245bhp, or 15bhp more than the preceding model. Complementing this added performance is VW’s new 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which will eventually…

A 1:1 scale McLaren is out of reach for most petrolheads, but if it’s 1:43 scale models we’re talking about, then you could easily fill your dream garage with a fleet of fast Macs. McLaren is offering enthusiasts the chance to do just that with the launch of its comprehensive scale model collection. Each model is designed to closely resemble the actual car. The F1, for instance, replicates details such as steering wheel controls and the gold-lined engine cover. Those who want something a bit more special should consider the limited-production 1:18 scale 570S, which comes in Vermillion Red. Prices start at $96, and if you place your order now, your new McLaren supercars might even arrive before Christmas.…

BMW’s latest 7 Series, especially in 750Li form, is a formidable car indeed. But apart from its compelling 450bhp turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine, this limousine also offers a luxurious lounging experience for rear seat passengers. We asked lawyer Sarjeet Singh and his wife Ida, who works as a manager, to put the 7 Series’ pampering abilities to the test. Not surprisingly, this dynamic couple had plenty to say about their experience, which also led them to conclude that being chauffeured in a 7 Series is just as good as being in the driver’s seat. What did you think about Ambient Lighting? Were the colour options to your liking? Sarjeet Singh (SS): It really created a different mood relative to the colour chosen. From an upbeat, disco-like neon blue to a…

STATION wagons are the most practical option for buyers who need more cargo space than what a saloon or hatchback can offer, but aren’t keen on getting an SUV or MPV. The most established station wagon model in this story is the 308 SW, which has been available in Singapore since last year. Apart from its head-turning design, this Pug also offers a roomy interior and a dynamic drive. Also throwing its hat into this ring is the Opel Astra Sports Tourer. Improvements over its predecessor include a snazzier cockpit, better performance and a more spacious cargo hold. The newest contender in this segment is the Volkswagen Golf Variant, which is aimed at driving enthusiasts, because it comes standard with the R-Line package that includes trimmings such as bigger wheels…

“THE V60 IS SMALLER AND SPORTIER, WHILE THE PASSAT VARIANT IS ROOMIER AND MORE REFINED.” IF you think that station wagons are only meant for staid drivers, you probably haven’t visited the car showrooms along Leng Kee and Alexandra Road within the past decade. Station wagons/estates are no longer the unexciting cars of yesteryear that were usually owned by tradesmen. In fact, most estates today are as dynamic-looking as their saloon counterparts. And station wagons aren’t just practical haulers – they can be quite sporty, too. The “Viking” in this story is the Volvo V60 T5. Although it was first introduced five years ago, a timely facelift has helped ensure that it still looks relevant. The Volvo’s curvy silhouette remains striking, while its slimmer grille and redesigned headlamps have made…

“THE FIRST-GEN M3 HUMMED, ROARED AND VIBRATED, SIMULTANEOUSLY FILLING AND TITILLATING MY SENSES.” ASK a petrolhead to name his favourite sports cars and you can be sure that a BMW M3 is on his list. To understand what makes the M3 so compelling is to understand what makes enthusiasts tick. When BMW first introduced the M3 in 1986, the car immediately took the automotive world by storm. With its responsive motor and precise handling, the coupe is a blast to drive. It is equally at home on both the racetrack and regular roads, making it suitable for everyday use. Indeed, the M division even produced four prototype M3 variants (see box story Four Of A Kind) that would’ve enthralled enthusiasts seeking both performance and practicality – had they gone into…

THINK of Bali and you’ll instantly visualise sunny beaches populated by tourists, and vacation villas surrounded by lush scenery. It’s a dream Asian destination for people seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. But a driving holiday in Bali? It’s not an activity that comes to mind immediately, given Bali’s reputation as a place for rest and relaxation. If you’re up for it though, Bali offers some pretty fascinating sights and intriguing roads. And MINI Adventure 2016 opened my eyes (behind sunglasses, of course) to what Bali has to offer should any traveller decide to take the island holiday route less travelled. The itinerary was simple enough. The journos would touch down at Ngurah Rai International Airport and be ferried to lunch and a pre-event briefing.…

Log cake lovers looking for a sweet ending to their Christmas dinner could consider Conrad Centennial Singapore’s new offerings, which include Buche de Noel Coffee Hazelnut Macchiato and Royale Hazelnut Crunch (above), a tempting blend of chocolate truffle mousse and a hazelnut-flavoured nougat centre. Prices start at $62. Couples in search of a romantic dining venue during the holidays could check out The Knolls. Located in Capella Singapore, the establishment, which overlooks the sea, is offering dishes such as Foie Gras with Orange Marmalade, and Roasted Barramundi with Yuzu Grenobloise and Leek Compote (above). If you enjoy quaffing heady brews while wolfing down delectable meals, check out Alchemist Beer Lab in South Beach. Apart from its wide beer selection, this restaurant also offers tapas-style dishes such as Sticky Thai Chicken…