Tabla de contenidos para February 2017 en Torque

The Lunar New Year is a big occasion for the Chinese community. Beyond the feasting and festivities, it is significant because it symbolises an auspicious beginning. Lunar New Year is also a time for shopping and reunion dinners, and the best ways for families to accomplish these are with the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and BMW X5. Now, don’t be fooled by the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s compact appearance. There is plenty of space for everyone and their belongings in this seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle. With a luggage capacity between 645 and 1905 litres depending on the seat configuration, and an additional 80 litres under the boot floor, you will have no problem bringing home all those cartons of mandarin oranges and New Year goodies. The BMW X5 comes…

The first thing a motorist sees in an automobile is its design. Before he or she can even touch or drive it, a car’s styling would’ve already influenced his or her opinion. So a car’s looks must not only attract drivers – it must convey the brand’s identity and values, too. Without a design philosophy, a manufacturer’s models will have no character, and will be seen as mere appliances. Mitsubishi understands the importance of having a strong and distinctive design language. The Dynamic Shield, which is the face of current and future Mitsubishi models, is a perfect example of this. The Dynamic Shield features bold chrome streaks on either side of the grille shielding the Three-Diamond mark to create a 3D suggestion of motion. Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield espouses two of…

FEW folks would disagree that the Toyota Corolla Altis is the all-time most popular family saloon in Singapore. The model, which is renowned for its reliability and frugality, is the top choice among buyers looking for a trusty runabout. The current Corolla Altis has built on these strengths with its more attractive design and improved driveability, which it needs to compete with its two rivals in this story. Hot on the heels of the Toyota is the Hyundai Elantra. Introduced last year, the Elantra eschews the curviness of its predecessor for cleaner lines and a bolder face. To further impress buyers, the Elantra is also roomier and more refined than the old one. These traits will worry Toyota and Honda, which will undoubtedly remember that the Elantra (then known as…

“THE IONIQ IS MORE USER-FRIENDLY THAN THE PRIUS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR A NON-HYBRID DRIVER TO FIGURE OUT.” TAKING on an established competitor is a Herculean task, for a contender must prove that he is not only up to the challenge – he must actually defeat said rival in order to make a name for himself. If the challenger fails, he will probably be derided as unworthy, unprepared and foolish. But if he’s lucky, history will remember him fondly and praise him for his valiant, albeit unsuccessful efforts. Ruling the world of petrol-electric hybrids is the Toyota Prius, the undisputed king of “green” cars. Introduced in 1997, the first-gen Prius is the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. But back then, the automotive world was very different. Sports utility vehicles (SUVs)…

 THE mere thought of driving a roadster with its roof down in Singapore’s perpetually muggy climate is enough to make beads of sweat form on my forehead. “THE 718 BOXSTER’S HANDLING ABILITIES ARE MORE CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING.” Chalk that up to my being used to working in a perpetually chilly office. To me, the only time to get sweaty is during a workout, not during a drive. These two rear-wheel-drive roadsters, however, make me sing a different tune. For them, I’ll happily swop my long-sleeved shirt and jeans for a T-shirt and bermuda shorts. The Mazda MX-5 and Porsche 718 Boxster are quite similar – both have soft-tops and are powered by 2-litre engines. But each has its own special recipe for delighting drivers. The MX-5, like its forebears, is a “purer”…

AUDI Q2 $165,800 ON THE ROAD Aimed at young suburbanites, the smallest SUV in Audi’s range comes in a variety of hip hues, such as Tango Red and Vibrant Coral Orange. Interior options include a 10-colour LED lighting package and a two-tone dashboard. The sole model for now has a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, but a second variant with a turbocharged 1-litre motor will arrive in Q2. RIVAL: MINI COUNTRYMAN SUBARU IMPREZA $106,800 ON THE ROAD Available in saloon and five-door hatchback models, the latest Impreza offers more room and refinement, thanks to its new platform that better mitigates NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Two engine options are available: a 1.6-litre flat-4 with 114bhp and a 2-litre flat-4 producing 153bhp. Both are naturally aspirated and are paired to the brand’s all-wheel-drive…

Torque awarded trophies to the 10 “Best In Class” winners in the ST-Torque Awards 2016, including the coveted Straits Times Car Of The Year 2016 award, which was won by the Volvo S90. For the sixth year running, Torque – a monthly motoring title published by SPH Magazines – has partnered with The Straits Times (ST) to select the best cars of the year, based on a robust voting system that sets the standard for automotive awards in Singapore. The contenders were rated against their typical rivals based on nine criteria: performance, handling, ride, build quality, efficiency/ economy, ergonomics, styling, value for money and the X factor. The awards ceremony was held…

WE live in an era where everything is fast and furious – food service, internet connection, escalator speed. We are all also expected to eat faster, move faster and respond to messages sooner. Fast cars are a different story, of course – we love them for a myriad other reasons than because they can get us to our destinations in less time. When we need to take a break from everyday life at breakneck speed, we have a getaway. When you’re on holiday and not rushing to meet deadlines, time takes on a whole new meaning. It is no longer about accomplishing as much as possible in a day (or maybe it still is, with all that shopping, sightseeing and dining to do). When you’re not battling time and timetables,…

“IF I WERE TO DRIVE IT LIKE I STOLE IT, I PREFER THE LEON CUPRA; IF I WERE TO DRIVE IT LIKE I BOUGHT IT, I PREFER THE GOLF GTI.” VOLKSWAGEN’S Golf GTI has been the pocket-rocket benchmark for the working-class petrolhead in Singapore since the Mk 5 of 2003. In its current Mk 7 iteration, the go-go Golf is arguably the most complete car in its segment, with an excellent fun-functionality equation, great bang for the buck and “boyracy” good looks. But being the hatchback to beat means the VW Golf GTI is used for target practice by various competitors playing in the same arena – Audi with its S3 Sportback, Ford with its new Focus RS, Honda with its grey-import Civic Type R, MINI with its Cooper S…

“THE SEVENTH-GENERATION 5 SERIES IS PACKED WITH ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY.” GERMAN automaker BMW may well have unearthed a new target audience for the brand – the geek market. Because its latest 5 Series, the seventh generation of the marque’s longest-running model line, is so packed with electronic technology that you wonder if it needs its own substation to power it all. It has all the now-familiar driver aids like Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistant, collision warnings and Active Cruise Control. Essentially, it can drive you down the motorway on its own. To these it adds Lane Change Assistant, where the car changes lanes for you when instructed to (by your holding the indicator down for two seconds in the desired direction). Working in concert, these systems let the new 5…

 THE second question-and-answer article in our newly introduced Torque Shop series for 2017 is, like the first one, about troubleshooting old cars, which tend to develop problems as they accumulate ever higher mileage and experience increased wear-and-tear. The questions here are about the instrument panel’s warning lights which drivers dread. “THE QUESTIONS HERE ARE ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL’S WARNING LIGHTS WHICH DRIVERS DREAD.” When I start my car these days, the engine check light stays on for longer than before. Should I be worried? The engine check light comes on whenever the engine control unit detects a fault or an error. It could be something as simple as a leak in the intake air hose, or something a little more complex, such as the throttle position sensor. If the engine…

“I LOVE THE IDEA OF EFFICIENT ENGINEERING AND FORM.” DESIGNING the long-awaited successor to the Aston Martin DB9 was a monumental task, for the model has been the brand’s standard-bearer since its launch in 2003. For most people, the DB9’s sensuous shape and elegant lines are what come to mind (after James Bond) when Aston Martin is mentioned. Marek Reichman is confident that petrolheads will say the same about the DB9’s successor, the DB11, which was unveiled last year. The DB11, however, isn’t the first Aston Martin that Marek has penned. After the 51-year-old joined the carmaker in 2005, he was responsible for designing models such as the Rapide S saloon, V12 Vantage S and Vulcan, a track-only sports car. Marek’s career in automotive design began in 1991 at Rover…

“THE FIRST XF WAS JAGUAR ENTERING THE CURRENT CENTURY; THE SECOND XF IS JAGUAR’S NEXT STEP FORWARD.” THE first XF saved the company. The new XF takes the fight to the Germans It’s easy to understate the importance of the first-generation XF to Jaguar’s fortunes. Think of the British marque today and a picture of modernity comes to mind. Some of us, however, will remember the S-Type, a saloon that elevated frumpiness to the level of performance art. Back in 2007, even the company’s flagship XJ was a luxury barge that, despite being underpinned by an advanced aluminium structure, looked scarcely different than it did back in 1968. Having the Queen as Jaguar’s only remaining customer after she has outlived all current buyers was a real danger. Something had to…

“THE Q60 DRIVER HAS OVER 300 DRIVE PERSONALISATION COMBOS TO CHOOSE FROM.” NISSAN’S GT-R is a performance monster that’s overly powerful, blazingly fast and resolutely sporty. It has a two-door body with a highly tuned twin-turbo V6 engine. And the car is made carefully in the company’s Tochigi factory. Like the GT-R, the new Infiniti Q60 is also a coupe carefully made in Tochigi and has a souped-up V6 engine with a pair of turbos. But unlike the GT-R, the Q60 isn’t overly powerful, faster than a speeding bullet train and single-mindedly sporty. Instead, the two-door Infiniti offers invigorating and yet not intimidating performance, gift-wrapped in a stylish package. The exterior looks really good – arguably better than the Lexus RC (the Q60’s closest competitor) and definitely neater, with fewer…

1_ Brave those thunderstorms with one of these Aqua-coloured umbrellas, which can be used as a walking stick when closed. These brollies are also available in Grey and Lemon hues. From $72 2_ The Duffle Bag is ideal for outdoorsy folks looking for a water-repellent holdall to stash their gear in. The bag has seven pockets to help its user organise his stuff. From $144 3_ Your better half will love lounging around in a Women’s Word Mark Colour Block t-shirt, which has a loose fit and dropped shoulders for enhanced comfort. From $63 4_ Shoppers looking for a robust pouch can consider the waterproof Small Colour Block pouch, which is made from waxed canvas and has a rubberised bottom for enhanced grip. From $46 5_ Frequent fliers who need…

Delight your better half this Valentine’s Day by treating her/him to a five-course romantic dinner at 1919 Waterboat House. The restaurant, which is housed in a colonial building, serves contemporary European flavours, and has a rooftop with a sea view. The special menu, called Tu Es (which means “you are” in French), has dishes named after terms of endearment. The first course, Divine, is an amuse bouche that consists of truffle tofu, caviar cilantro and herb reduction. The second dish, Mon Tresor (My Treasure), features home-cured salmon, deconstructed guacamole and horseradish crème. It is followed by Nul Autre (None Other), which will tickle taste buds with ingredients that include prosciutto, brie, plum tomatoes and almonds. For the main course, diners can choose between Le Amour Ma De Vie (Love of…