Inhoudsopgave van May 2018 - Torque

Parents disturbed by their children’s backseat bickering would be foolish to overlook QuarrelKancel, Skoda’s innovative noise-cancelling headrest system launched on April Fools’ Day as an exclusive option for the Karoq SUV. The Czech tech solution to the problem of sibling squabbles during a car ride was conceived by Skoda’s Professor Si Lence and his colleague, Dr April Furst. QuarrelKancel uses special speakers built into the front headrests, which monitor and respond to the in-cabin child decibel level. When activated by the harried daddy via the infotainment screen’s “Shhh!” button, the technology generates unique sound waves which block out the bickering and allow the parents seated in front to continue the road journey in relative peace. QuarrelKancel also has an automatic mode, which listens for the first signs of a juvenile…

WHEN Ferrari introduced the California convertible in 2008, its aim was to entice new buyers to the marque by offering a less hardcore model, albeit one powered by a naturally aspirated 4.3-litre V8. In 2014, the California was replaced by the California T, which has a smaller but more powerful turbocharged 3.9-litre V8. Seventy percent of buyers of these two models were first-time Ferrari owners, which indicated that the Prancing Horse was on the right path. Replacing the California T is the Portofino, which takes its name from a pretty fishing town on Italy’s west coast. It is interesting how the name of an Italian fishing village sounds more seductive than a US state. The California T was criticised for its lack of aggressive looks, so the designers gave the…

“FOR ALL ITS TUNING BY RENAULT SPORT, THE MEGANE RS IS STILL A PRACTICAL FIVE-DOOR HATCHBACK.” IF you think the 1.6-litre Megane GT is a little mild-mannered for a performance hatchback, fret not. The real McCoy, the Megane RS (Renault Sport), will return to Singapore by the middle of this year. Based on the current Megane, the third-generation RS version gets a downsized 1.8-litre turbocharged engine instead of the previous 2-litre turbo unit. Why so? Apparently, to comply with more stringent exhaust emissions and fuel efficiency standards. This is the same Nissan-Renault Alliance 1.8-litre motor in the mid-engine rear-drive Alpine A110 halo sports car, but boosted in the front-wheel-drive Megane RS to produce 280hp (up by 28hp) and 390Nm (up by 70Nm). That’s a lot of power and torque, even…

Should headlamp bulbs be replaced regularly? I have noticed, especially over the last five years or so, a huge variety of shapes and colours. It seems that white light is the current fashion in headlamps, as are wavy strips of light. Can I upgrade my car’s exterior lights to these fanciful and bright bulbs? Automotive light bulbs, whether exterior or interior, need to be replaced only when they are blown. They do not require periodic replacement. The current technology in lighting is LED (light-emitting diode). Prior to this, the gas-discharge lamps, commonly known as xenon or HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps, were state-of-the-art. These gas-discharge units are still popular today, although the LED versions are fast taking over as the top choice. The main advantage of these two technologies is their…

SKODA OCTAVIA 1.0 $117,900 ON THE ROAD This fastback can be seen as an alternative to the new Volkswagen Jetta, which is still unavailable as a right-hand-drive model. Pragmatic buyers will enjoy touches that include a brolly bin beneath the driver’s seat, wireless smartphone charging and a boot with a maximum capacity of 1580 litres (rear seats folded). With a turbocharged 1-litre engine delivering 114hp and 200Nm, the Octavia might be the most car for the money in its segment. RIVAL: RENAULT MEGANE SEDAN ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO $395,800 ON THE ROAD This Italian sports saloon is ready to take on entrenched German rivals such as the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63 S. The rear-wheel-drive Giulia QV is armed with a turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 that punches out 510hp and 600Nm,…

It was April Fools’ Day, so Honda UK played the fool and chopped the top from its most popular SUV to create the CR-V Roadster. Completely unrelated to the S660, a little Honda roadster sold in Japan, the alfresco CR-V has no roof whatsoever, so its fabric canopy can only be a “fitment” of imagination. According to the vehicle’s imaginary project leader by the name of Eipurirufuru (“April Fool” in Japanese), “This CR-V opens up an entirely new non-existent market. Our sales target is somewhat conservative to start with, at zero cars, but we are confident that once the minor glitches are ironed out, such as the lack of roof and the fact it is totally structurally unsound, the CR-V Roadster will fly out of showrooms.” The closest thing to…

We all know the wonderful feeling of walking into the car showroom on a gorgeous weekend morning to welcome your new family member. When you take delivery of your new Volkswagen, it marks the beginning of a beautiful relationship between a driver and his car. But you both won’t be alone on this journey, because Volkswagen will also be there with you, every step of the way. Every Volkswagen is built to the highest standards of mechanical integrity, and in your hands, your baby is impeccable, beautiful and dear. She is unblemished, and you want her to remain pristine forever. Apart from the standard five-year warranty and three-year servicing programme, Volkswagen also offers a comprehensive suite of carefully tailored aftersales packages to keep your car in showroom condition. Said packages…

AT last count, the second-generation Porsche Panamera is available in no fewer than 15 variants, which are spread across the regular Panamera (fastback), Panamera Executive (long-wheelbase) and Panamera Sport Turismo (estate) models. Buyers are seriously spoilt for choice. At the top of the Panamera Sport Turismo range is the Turbo S E-Hybrid variant. Although it is a station wagon, Porsche would rather that you don’t refer to it as such, or even call it an estate or shooting brake, as these terms are used by other German carmakers for their wagons. Inspired by the 918 Spyder hypercar, the Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo has a twin-turbocharged 4-litre V8 with 550hp that’s paired to a 136hp electric motor. Together, they have an output of 680hp. The electric motor is also capable…

LET’S talk about the Volkswagen Golf. Not the gonzo ones you see on these pages; just the regular, run-of-the-mill one that seems to have slipped unnoticed but indispensably into everyone’s life, regardless of their station. The VW Golf is an easy car to describe. It has four wheels, and an engine tucked neatly away in front so the unapologetically box-shaped body, which is only slightly handsome, can accommodate you, your family and your dog. It is box-shaped, so much so that its door apertures are sensibly large and you’ll never hit your head getting in or out. Its steering wheel is the perfect distance away, the glass areas are generous, while the gadgets fall instinctively to hands and fingers. Everything about it is just right. Feels just right. When the…

TANK UP & CHOW DOWN Diners who wish to treat their mums this Mother’s Day can consider Stellar at 1-Altitude’s Mother’s Day seafood brunch. Tuck into fare such as Boston lobster, Fine de Claire and Lock Fyne oysters, Alaskan king crab and Hokkaido scallops. For meat lovers, there’s also a charcuterie station to satiate your cravings. Prices start at $95++ per person. Zouk now has an updated three-tier membership programme aimed at rewarding regulars and attracting newcomers. Apart from the Star, Sun and Kaleidoscope tiers (in ascending order of exclusivity and benefits), there’s also a Friends of Zouk card targeted at potential new members. Well-heeled Zouk members who also hold American Express Centurion and Platinum Charge cards will be given access to the exclusive Zouk Members Lounge. Harried executives seeking…

WRITER IN THE WORKS? IVAN TAN Based on the articles I have read from Torque , be it news stories or car reviews, most of the writings are a bit of the “6am news” with more of the “Larry King news”. From my point of view, it means that the substance of these articles gets more people talking about the past, present and future of the car industry. Since young, I have been interested in motorsports and cars. I look forward to the changes each and every year in the automotive industry. Last but not least, I have recently gotten my driving licence. I’m qualified as a probationary driver until December 2018. I would like to take this year as an opportunity to learn the role of…

Honda wasn’t the only automaker with a sense of humour marking April Fools’ Day last month. MG Motor and Seat also thought up funny, fake projects to provide comic relief in the serious business of selling new cars. MG announced a revolutionary new engine fuelled by alpaca poop in pellet form. Apparently the result of several years’ research, the poop-powered powerplant made its debut in the ZS, MG’s value-packed SUV. The British-Chinese car company said that it looks forward to the day when people resign horsepower to the history books and refer to alpaca power, a sustainable energy source that reduces vehicle emissions and reuses alpaca excrement. Equally revolutionary but less smelly is Seat’s Arona Copper Edition, which features a coin slot in the dashboard. Deposit a copper penny to…

THE short story Crocodile Shoes, by Jojo Moyes, is about a woman who ends up with a pair of crocodile-skin Louboutins after her bag accidentally got swopped at the gym. They were not the kind of shoes that she usually wears, but with a packed schedule ahead, she had no other alternative but to live in them for the day. Thanks to those shoes, she clinched a couple of deals on the same day because her clients could not take their eyes off those stilettos on her feet. The men were seduced by it, while the women were impressed. One female client of hers even commented: “You can tell so much about someone from what they wear.” Does the same apply to what you drive? Apart from the size of…

LIMOUSINES of yesteryear only needed to be excellent at pampering the owner while he or she was being chauffeured. But for today’s captains of industry who also enjoy being the captain of their luxurious land barge whenever their crewman (the chauffeur) is on shore leave, the limo also needs to be nice to drive. The all-new Lexus LS350 is up against very serious competition in this story, for both the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class were Best in Class winners in previous ST-Torque awards. So for this contest, the LS350 has brought a bolder design, enhanced driveability and advanced safety features to appeal to towkays. Like the Lexus LS350, the Mercedes-Benz S320L is also an “entry-level” limousine. But with a facelifted exterior and upgraded cabin that now includes wireless…

UNTIL now, buyers of Bentley’s SUV, the Bentayga, have had to choose between only two variants – the flagship 600hp 6-litre W12 or the more ecofriendly 429hp 4-litre V8 diesel. But with the introduction of an all-new downsized V8 petrol engine to the range, there is now a third option. However, where Bentley is concerned, downsizing is relative, since the new engine still boasts twin turbos and a 4-litre capacity, and delivers 550hp of power and 770Nm of torque. These numbers trail those of the range-topping W12, but in pure performance terms the new boy is not far off, lagging by a mere half-second to 100km/h (at a still-ridiculous 4.5 seconds) and being 11km/h slower all-out, at 290km/h. The V8 is also 15% more fuel-efficient and about 12% less polluting…

PARKED at the bottom of the local Audi price list is “R8 Spyder”, which is actually positioned at the top of the automaker’s model range. Similarly, the kind of driver who can afford one has probably reached the top of the corporate totem pole and is relaxing in his penthouse at the highest point of a freehold ivory tower. For the driver who lives in a leasehold condo and is still climbing the career ladder quickly, Audi has a ready alternative to the R8 Spyder – the TT Roadster, which is less spectacular but still sensational. It costs a quarter-million bucks, but the buyer would “save” more than $600,000 because he didn’t/couldn’t buy the R8 Spyder instead. The TT Roadster delivers more bang for the buck, too. Mathematically, Audi charges…

MAZDA , one of only a handful of independently owned and operated car brands left in the world, invited Torque for an Asean media tour, which included a winter drive at one of its two proving grounds in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Kenbuchi Proving Ground, located in the quaint town of Kenbuchi, is unique in that Mazda doesn’t own the premises but leases it from the town’s government for 30 to 50 days in a year. What this means is, apart from the fact that Mazda staff who run the facilities have become close to the townsfolk, the roads which traverse the proving ground that occupies a land area of 4.7 million square kilometres are public roads for the rest of the year. Therefore, driving on these roads is like…