Tabla de contenidos para June 2017 en Torque

THE BMW i3 IS A PURE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. Because the BMW i3 is powered solely by electricity, it has zero emissions. It also has greater driving range and is even more eco-friendly compared to hybrid or plug-in hybrid cars. Hybrid cars are powered by an internal combustion engine and electric motor. Although they can run on electricity alone, hybrids must still use their regular engine to charge their batteries and propel the vehicle. Plug-in hybrids are like hybrids, except they can be plugged in (hence their name) to charge their batteries. IT GOES THE DISTANCE. The latest BMW i3 has a realistic range of 200km compared to about 150km previously. That means you can drive from Changi to Jurong and back four times. That’s also more than Singapore’s rail network…

WHEN Lexus first launched the CT200h in Singapore in 2011, many wondered if the move was a mistake. Back then, buyers still felt that hatchbacks offered less car for their money because they didn’t have proper boots. The hatchback body style also appealed more to younger buyers, instead of the brand’s typically more mature and well-heeled clientele. But the CT200h was well-received, with the local agent receiving 70 pre-orders prior to its launch. Lexus even expected the CT200h to eventually account for a third of all its Singapore sales. Six years on, the CT200h’s success is evident in the fact that we still see them on our roads today. Facing off against the CT200h in this story is its first Japanese rival, the Infiniti Q30, which is built on the…

“THERE WOULDN’T BE ANY POWERSLIDES, TIMED TRIALS OR HANDBRAKE TURNS.” AT first, it seemed impossible for me to even crawl into the cockpit, let alone fit into the driver’s seat. But it was an opportunity not to be missed, so I had to challenge myself and brave the claustrophobia for at least one lap of the makeshift test track at Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC). The Shell Eco-marathon Prototype Car, as it is called, is a one-off vehicle specially designed and built to the specifications stipulated by the rules of the oil giant’s Eco-marathon, which is an annual international event that challenges engineering students around the world to design, build and drive the most energy-efficient car. Shell’s own version, like the Eco-marathon contenders, runs on three wheels and is clothed in…

1_ Your favourite motorsport programmes may just come to life through the Samsung Q9F. This 65-inch QLED television features 4K resolution and is claimed to accurately reproduce colours regardless of brightness level, while the slim bezel design helps ensure a seamless look when the appliance is wall-mounted. $8999 2_ Budding photographers thinking about their first DSLR camera could check out the Canon EOS 800D. Despite being an entry-level model, this shooter boasts a 24.2-megapixel APS-C image sensor, an ultra-quick 0.03sec autofocus capability and a variable-angle touchscreen. It even has Bluetooth connectivity so you can send images to your smartphone. $1049 (body only) 3_ Audiophiles searching for a classy-looking wireless speaker could consider the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay M5. Equipped with three tweeters, a midrange driver and a subwoofer, it supposedly…

ONE MILLION X TWO Two of the industry’s most iconic sports car numbers reached their 1,000,000 production milestone one after the other – Germany’s Porsche 911 last month and Japan’s Mazda MX-5 last year. The one-millionth 911 rolled off the production line in Zuffenhausen on 11 May 2017, about a year after the one-millionth MX-5 was produced in Hiroshima. The millionth 911 is a 3-litre manual 991-series Carrera S in Irish Green, with retro design features inspired by the original 911 from 1963, while the millionth MX-5 is a 1.5-litre manual Japan-spec ND in Soul Red, now with over 13,000 signatures on its bodywork collected during its one-year world tour of key markets. After their celebratory events and road trips, both cars will be kept in the museums of their…

FLIPPING through an old copy of the first motoring publication that I ever wrote for (a now-defunct title called Autonews), it dawned on me that car buyers now are getting a lot more for their dollar than they did 20 years ago. In that April 1997 issue of Autonews, a Mercedes-Benz E200 (of the then-new goggle-eyed W210 generation) was listed at $205,000 excluding COE. With the relevant COE (1601cc and above) hovering around the $60k mark, that made a total price of $265,000 or so. These days, Cycle & Carriage demands about the same amount for an equivalent W213-model E200 Avantgarde, but boot-lid badge apart, the two cars are hardly comparable. The 2017 E200, for instance, dishes up 184bhp from its turbocharged 2-litre engine, delivered to the wheels through a…

BABIES are adorable by default, and so are small cars such as the Opel Adam and MINI One. But being the entry-level models in their respective product families doesn’t mean they can get away with infantile behaviour on the road, childish amenities and immature engineering. These babies have to be well-developed urban runabouts, driven by adults who have to handle adult situations such as parking, traffic jams and motoring costs. The pocket-sized Opel and pint-sized MINI help to keep those costs as low as possible with their efficient little engines (1.4-litre and 1.2-litre respectively), which not only save on fuel bills and road tax, but also earn a CEVS (Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme) rebate of $10,000 that reduces their base price. The Adam is listed at just over $100,000 while…

Before the original CX-5 made its international debut in 2011, there was the Tribute. Mazda’s first stab at the compact-SUV segment was a joint project with Ford (which had a controlling stake in the Japanese automaker at the time), but it wasn’t exported from Japan to Singapore. Ford’s version of the Tribute, however, managed to “Escape” to the island in 2001. Christopher Tan, consulting editor of Torque, tested the car and called it “the cross-dressing cross-country runner that is a bit of this and a bit of that, but mainly, it’s a Mazda Tribute.”…

Suburbanites who want to get away from our concrete jungle could check out Coastes, which is located in Siloso Beach, Sentosa. The establishment’s revamped menu now includes the Seafood Platter (above), Green Curry and Chicken Spaghetti, as well as hearty ciabatta sandwiches. For dessert, their offerings include the new Banana and Chocolate Pie or the Forest Berries and Cream Cheese Trifle. Italian cuisine fans could consider trying Pizza Express, which recently updated its menu. New items include handmade pastas such as Lobster & Crabmeat Ravioli, Strozzapreti Puttanesca and Garganelli Giardiniera. Pizza fans can try the Parma e Rucola (above), a delicious combination of mozzarella, passata, Parma ham, garlic oil and arugula. The restaurant is in Scotts Square. Oscar’s has “supercharged” their Sunday brunch offering to include a charcoal grille for…

FANTASTIC WRITE-UP NG YANG YEE I’d like to commend Mr Christopher Tan on his “Bitumen Betterment” article [Torque 2017 April issue]. Very insightful, sharp observations. Hope the LTA is reading it. I didn’t know that the Road Opening Coordination Committee exists – one can’t tell by looking at the sorry state of our roads. Potholes, worn road surface markings, badly planned temporary road diversions... These pose a danger to all road users. Many road signs are now covered by the foliage – a situation normally found in other countries. Torque (Christopher Tan) Thanks for your e-mail. It is clear to every road user that our road quality has deteriorated over the years, yet the LTA can say with a straight face that all is well. GOT JOB? MATT WEE…

“THE NEXT CAYENNE WILL BE LIGHTER AND MORE POWERFUL, FOR SURE.” EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PORSCHE THE 2017 Geneva Motor Show saw a good mix of saloons, hatchbacks, sports utility vehicles and sports cars. At the Porsche stand, the show stars were the new 911 GT3 and Panamera Sport Turismo. After the latter was unveiled, I noticed someone from the Porsche VIP delegation looking intently at the “shooting brake” variant of the second-generation fastback flagship. The gentleman is Michael Steiner, member of the Porsche executive board who oversees all research-and-development matters, and also chairs the shareholders’ committee of Porsche Engineering. He has a special interest in the Panamera because he led the development of the first model back in 2005. Steiner, 52, studied mechanical engineering at the Technical…

AS an enthusiast, you’ve probably wondered why many of your non-enthusiast friends are keen on getting a sports utility vehicle (SUV) despite its downsides, which include tricky handling in carparks and potentially higher fuel costs. But for regular motorists, an SUV’s higher stance, rugged styling and flexible cabin appeal to their sense of adventure, especially if their weekends are filled with activities such as cycling, hiking and wakeboarding. For these weekend warriors, a vehicle that complements their active lifestyle is more important than one that’s fun to drive. Promising more than just ruggedness is the 1.6-litre Hyundai Tucson Turbo, which has the punchiest powertrain in this story. The Tucson also has a roomy interior, which will undoubtedly attract family men. Hoping to convince enthusiastic drivers is the Tucson’s cousin, the…

ASK a mod enthusiast how much horsepower would be enough for a car, and he will reply, “There’s no such thing as too much”. I can see why that makes sense from their point of view. However, having too many ponies without a racetrack to unleash them on is actually a bad thing. Too much power can make a car undriveable on normal roads and in regular traffic conditions. Having too little power is also undesirable. Not having enough ponies makes overtaking dangerous. It could also worsen fuel economy, since the engine has to struggle to get the car up to speed. I’ve never driven an underpowered Porsche. Even entry-level models deliver more performance than what most drivers can utilise. Like most enthusiasts, however, I won’t say no to more…

WHEN it comes to road trips, it’s the journey and not the destination that matters most. After all, the experiences along the way also determine how much fun road trips can be. Great food, winding roads and the stories we tell each other all play a part in creating future memories. But the road can also be a lonely place should a breakdown occur when you’re alone. Our island may be home to many drivers, but one cannot assume that other motorists will always be ready to lend a hand. In an uncertain world, it’s great to know that drivers can count on the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA), the leading provider of roadside assistance services. Founded in 1907, AA has always been there to help motorists with anything from…

AUDI RS3 SEDAN PRICE ON APPLICATION The German carmaker’s smallest and most powerful saloon has a revised turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine that kicks out 400bhp, or 33bhp more than the previous unit. More importantly, the improved motor gives the RS3 Sedan a significant performance edge over the Mercedes-AMG CLA45. Apart from having 40bhp more than the CLA45, the RS3 also demolishes the century sprint in 4.1 seconds, or half a second quicker than its rival. RIVAL: MERCEDES-AMG CLA45 MASERATI LEVANTE FROM $390,000 ON THE ROAD The first SUV from the 103-year-old carmaker is aimed at tempting potential Cayenne buyers away from the Porsche showroom. Indeed, the Levante and Levante S models, which are powered by turbocharged 3-litre V6 engines, both offer more horsepower than the Cayenne and Cayenne S. If…