Table of contents for November 2018 in Torque

On the long and winding road of my life as a motoring journo in Singapore, there were roadblocks, roadworks and detours that drove me to distraction. Luckily, I never crashed and burned like a crash test dummy caught in a fiery crash test, although I suffered some burnout along the way and was running on empty in the rougher rally stages. Thankfully, my 23-year vocation as writer/editor/ multi-purpose vehicle, which started as an occupation like any other and developed into a preoccupation like no other, has notched up decent creativity mileage. I’ve driven an amazing array of cars on the job, written so many automotive articles (some of which were probably not bad) and taken so many photos/videos (some of which were probably not bad, too). I’ve also done enough…

DURING a work trip two years ago, I had an interesting chat with a Jordanian journalist as we were being driven to the airport. He said that during a meeting with one of his advertisers, the client asked him: “Why should I support you?” Without missing a beat, he replied: “Because my words are what my readers and viewers will use when convincing or advising their family/friends about cars.” Hearing this, the client promptly signed another ad contract. Oh, if it were only that easy in Singapore. A decade ago, writing a good story that had context and drew on our personal experiences and expertise, was the biggest challenge we faced. We had to have great photos, too, but that was par for the course. Back then, this content made…

MY phone has begun to slow down. Badly. The battery is also haemorrhaging at an unstoppable, alarming rate, meaning that I rarely go anywhere untethered to a power cord, and live in constant anxiety at being punted back to the dark ages by a flashing red battery symbol. People have told me that deleting the gigabytes of accumulated detritus in my phone’s photography folder might salvage some life yet from the device, but I am loath to. Especially not after last Saturday, when I experienced the avalanche of intense, bittersweet emotions brought about by this strange, very human thing called nostalgia. My mum was clearing out the old apartment where I had spent my childhood years. Deep within its dusty bowels, she had unearthed a yellowed, flaky but very much…

DRIVETRAIN TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves CAPACITY 1498cc BORE X STROKE 73.0mm x 89.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 MAX POWER 129hp at 6600rpm MAX TORQUE 155Nm at 4600rpm POWER TO WEIGHT 118.6hp per tonne GEARBOX CVT with 7-speed override DRIVEN WHEELS Front PERFORMANCE 0-100KM/H 9.6 seconds TOP SPEED 180km/h CONSUMPTION 17.9km/L (combined) CO2 EMISSION 127g/km SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs REAR Torsion beam, coil springs BRAKES FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs TYRES TYPE Dunlop SP Sport 2030 SIZE 185/55 R16 SAFETY AIRBAGS 2 TRACTION AIDS ABS, VSA MEASUREMENTS LENGTH 4051mm WIDTH 1694mm HEIGHT 1668mm WHEELBASE 2530mm KERB WEIGHT 1088kg TURNING CIRCLE 10.6m BUYING IT PRICE INCL. COE $97,999 (no VES rebate/surcharge) WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km MOST COMMODIOUS CABIN, BIGGEST AND MOST FLEXIBLE BOOT, BEST ALL-ROUND VISIBILITY HIGHEST PRICE, LEAST REFINED…

Sportswear has come a long way from its original purpose as functional clothing for athletes. Today, sportswear must not only serve a purpose. It must be stylish and comfortable, too. This trend is something that Kappa knows very well. In fact, the Italian label’s heritage is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for contemporary lifestyle. Kappa is well-known for its 222 Banda tracksuit, which first appeared at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA. The 222 Banda tracksuit was the firm’s first with a vertical sequence of Omini logos running down the sides. Today, Kappa’s 222 Banda tracksuit is well-known in the world of sports, fashion and pop. Kappa’s Banda line is comprised of apparel such as hoodies, shorts and t-shirts, along with shoes, too. Meanwhile, Kappa’s Authentic line of…

CHRISTOPHER TAN Chris analyses how autonomous vehicles will impact marketing, car designers and the COE system (pg 12). JEREMY CHUA What keeps motoring writers going is encouragement from readers, says our associate editor (pg 14). LYNNTAN She feels that the getting-there is as much fun as the road-trip destination itself (pg 18). DR KONG YONGYAO His mother’s discovery of a “time capsule” toy car transports the grownup Dr Kong back to his childhood (pg 20). SARJEET SINGH He was supposed to be in Crazy Rich Asians as a “calefare” chauffeur driving a Toyota Vellfire (pg 22). DR ANDRE LAM EDRIC PAN TOH YONG CHUAN TONY TAN LIONEL SEAH SHREEJIT CHANGARTOH…

THE cast of Crazy Rich Asians included me. I auditioned and was chosen to play Colin’s (Chris Pang) driver. The local casting company had asked me about the car I owned, the bikes I rode, and whether I could walk, talk, dance, swim et al. These had something to do with matching my skills to the movie character. With my salt and pepper hair, I thought I could have played Nick Young’s (Henry Golding) father, who was not seen in the movie but mentioned. I could have kissed Michelle Yeoh. ‘I WAS IN THE MOVIE FOR A GOOD THIRTY SECONDS – ENOUGH TIME TO BE TALENT-SPOTTED FOR THE LEAD ROLE IN THE SEVENTH MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.’ But the casting folks thought I looked more like a chauffeur. Perhaps they were right.…

DRIVETRAIN TYPE Inline-3, 12-valves, turbocharged CAPACITY 998cc BORE X STROKE 73mm x 79.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1 MAX POWER 110hp at 5500rpm MAX TORQUE 160Nm at 1700-4000rpm POWER TO WEIGHT 117hp per tonne GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select DRIVEN WHEELS Front PERFORMANCE 0-100KM/H 10 seconds TOP SPEED 190km/h CONSUMPTION 17.5km/L (combined) CO2 EMISSION 132g/km SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs REAR Torsion beam, coil springs BRAKES FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs TYRES TYPE Bridgestone Ecopia EP150 SIZE 185/55 R16 SAFETY AIRBAGS 6 TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP MEASUREMENTS LENGTH 3840mm WIDTH 1735mm HEIGHT 1495mm WHEELBASE 2450mm KERB WEIGHT 940kg TURNING CIRCLE 9.6m BUYING IT PRICE INCL. COE $78,704 (no VES rebate/surcharge) WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km LOWEST PRICE, SPORTIEST-SOUNDING ENGINE, NIMBLEST HANDLING SOFTEST RIDE, NO DEDICATED SPORT MODE, LEAST POSITIVE…

Torque On The Move may be over, but the games and challenges can continue at Saint Games, Singapore’s first video games café, which is located in Kallang Wave Mall. Saint Games has a diverse range of titles and consoles, with genres ranging from action to sports to driving and even cooking! Challenge your friends to an exciting football match in one of the FIFA titles. Or get your adrenalin pumping by racing around the world’s most iconic racetracks in an exotic car in one of the Gran Turismo or Forza games. You can even get in a workout or two by grooving to the beat in the available dancing games, which include Just Dance 2018 and Dance Central Spotlight. Or get your band together and jam in Band Hero or…

LAST November, Toyota Motor announced to the world that it wants to be known as a mobility company, and not just a car company. It did so with the launch of its Start Your Impossible campaign, partnering the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to tell the world that it makes more than just cars. In September this year, the Start Your Impossible campaign was introduced to Singapore at a huge event underscored by Toyota agent Borneo Motors naming local Olympics gold medallist Joseph Schooling as its brand ambassador. Toyota is not the only one heading in this new direction. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen have gone into the car-sharing space. Audi has rolled out its on-demand business, where consumers can rent an A3 hatchback or TT coupe for…

WHAT sets a road trip apart from any ordinary commute is the fact that the journey matters as much as where you are headed. During the hours you spend in the vehicle’s cabin with your travelling companions, you get to give one another your undivided attention. You swap stories, share music, pass snacks around, take turns at the wheel, and basically just spend some quality time with everyone on board. The reality, however, might well be everyone in the car connecting with their devices rather than one another, especially with data roaming rates being affordable these days. Nevertheless, during lulls in whatever form of “in-car entertainment” chosen, I like to gaze out of the window, looking mindlessly at the natural and man-made landscapes that pass us by. Without fail, my…

DRIVETRAIN TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves CAPACITY 1496cc BORE X STROKE 74.5mm x 85.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO 14:1 MAX POWER 114hp at 6000rpm MAX TORQUE 149Nm at 4000rpm POWER TO WEIGHT 106.7hp per tonne GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select DRIVEN WHEELS Front PERFORMANCE 0-100KM/H 10 seconds TOP SPEED 184km/h CONSUMPTION 18.5km/L (combined) CO2 EMISSION 123g/km SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar REAR Torsion beam, coil springs BRAKES FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Drums TYRES TYPE Toyo Proxes R39 SIZE 185/60 R16 SAFETY AIRBAGS 6 TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC MEASUREMENTS LENGTH 4060mm WIDTH 1695mm HEIGHT 1495mm WHEELBASE 2570mm KERB WEIGHT 1068kg TURNING CIRCLE 9.8m BUYING IT PRICE INCL. COE $90,188 (no VES rebate/surcharge) WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km MOST RESPONSIVE DRIVETRAIN, CUSHIEST BACKSEAT, BEST RIDE QUALITY NO PADDLE SHIFTERS, REAR DRUM BRAKES,…

DRIVETRAIN TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves CAPACITY 1987cc BORE X STROKE 80.5mm x 97.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13:1 MAX POWER 168hp at 6600rpm MAX TORQUE 205Nm at 4800rpm POWER TO WEIGHT 113.1hp per tonne GEARBOX CVT DRIVEN WHEELS Front PERFORMANCE 0-100KM/H 9.2 seconds TOP SPEED 190km/h (governed) CONSUMPTION 14km/L (combined) CO2 EMISSION 138g/km SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar REAR Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar BRAKES FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs TYRES TYPE Dunlop SP Sport SIZE 225/50 R18 SAFETY AIRBAGS 8 TRACTION AIDS ABS, VSC MEASUREMENTS LENGTH 4495mm WIDTH 1840mm HEIGHT 1520mm WHEELBASE 2640mm KERB WEIGHT 1485kg TURNING CIRCLE 10.4m BUYING IT PRICE INCL. COE To be announced WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km SUPERLATIVE FIT AND FINISH, CAPABLE CHASSIS, POWERTRAIN’S HIGH REFINEMENT SLIGHTLY DETACHED STEERING FEEL, PLAIN-JANE TAILPIPE, SMALL…