Sommaire pour August 2016 de Torque

At the rate that technology is progressing, it is easy to imagine that cars in the future will be autonomous. Drivers will become passengers, who will then be able to work or relax while the vehicle does all the driving. The BMW Group, however, remains steadfast in its philosophy and commitment to intensifying Sheer Driving Pleasure, and the Vision Next 100 concept car is a testament to this. In the Vision Next 100 concept, the conventional instrument panels and displays no longer exist. Instead, they are incorporated into the front windscreen, which now functions as a giant display for the driver. The interior itself will be built using mostly recycled or renewable materials. This is in line with BMW’s leading position as the world’s most sustainable carmaker. Technology-wise, artificial intelligence…

Aimed at younger drivers, Citroen’s new C3 is probably the most offbeat and colourful contender in the European supermini segment today. The C3’s daytime running lights resemble the C4 Picasso MPV’s, while its doors feature the Airbump panels found on the C4 Cactus. The C3 has an optional two-tone paint scheme, with its roof available in one of three hues. The C3’s interior comes in one of four design schemes, which Citroen calls Ambiences. Depending on the one chosen, certain parts will be painted or wrapped in textile or TEP lining. The cabin’s most unique feature is ConnectedCAM Citroen, a built-in full-HD camera. Positioned behind the rear view mirror, it lets drivers snap photos or shoot videos for up to 20 seconds at a touch of a button. For security,…

BMW Designworks collaborated with Puma to create the X-Cat Disc, a sneaker inspired by the German manufacturer’s shape-shifting GINA concept car. The shoes are constructed using lightweight and breathable materials with a metallic finish. The upper portion is tightened using Puma’s Disc system, which is perfect for folks who find tying shoelaces a little too troublesome. Said system only requires the wearer to turn a knob on either shoe, which pulls a series of wires to tighten the material and create a snug fit around his or her foot.…

VOLVO having China’s Geely as its parent company may have initially set tongues wagging as one of the more unlikely automotive industry takeovers. Six years on, this arm’s-length relationship has worked remarkably well, with Volvo returning from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability, and for the first time ever, exceeding 500,000 units sold worldwide, in 2015. The brief to Volvo was simple: Keep within budget (Geely plonked US$11 billion to turn the Swedish automaker around) and stick to developing modular technology for Scandinavian-flavoured premium cars. Even the company’s new R&D Centre has remained at Gothenburg to ensure no dilution of Swedish innovation. Last year’s well-received XC90 SUV was the first Volvo production car to roll out from this union. If that was anything to go by, the follow-up S90 luxury…

JAGUAR has had a real renaissance in recent years, having taken the fight straight to the Germans. But the Brits didn’t have an answer to Germany’s performance divisions, and could only look on as Mercedes-AMG, BMW M GmbH and Audi Sport cranked out some pretty awe-inspiring motors. Now, Jaguar has provided an answer – SVO, short for Special Vehicle Operations. SVO extends Jaguar Land Rover’s quest for success to the upper end of the premium-performance spectrum. So far, the revved-up new department has created four special models – Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport SVR and Range Rover SV Autobiography, and Jaguar’s Project 7 (see sidebar on pg 71) and F-Type SVR, the subject of this review. Extreme machines coming out of JLR’s SVO have the initials SV added to their…

“FOR SOME DRIVERS, THEIR DOG’S COMFORT SEEMS TO BE A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN SAFETY.” IF you have a dog, there will be some point when you have to transport it in a vehicle – whether it’s for a medical appointment with a veterinarian (which your pet probably dislikes) or an outing to somewhere interesting (which your pet probably loves). Some people bring their dogs everywhere, whenever possible, and have made car trips part of the weekly or even daily routine for their furry friends. It’s second nature for you to belt up and to ensure every passenger in the car does the same. But what about your dog? In Singapore, owners’ methods of transporting dogs are as diverse as the dog breeds and the makes/models of the motorised transport in…

1_Frequent business travellers looking for something lighter than an ultrabook could consider the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, which weighs in at just 696 grams. Running Windows 10, this 12-inch tablet has a claimed operating time of 10.5 hours and its batteries can be fully recharged in 2.5 hours. $1698 2_Touted as the first modular smartphone in Singapore, the LG G5 has a removable battery, which can be either swopped for another battery, camera or audio player module. $988 3_Complement the G5 with the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition. Apart from telephony and fitness tracker functions, this timepiece also caters to fashionistas with a variety of face designs that can be downloaded from Google Play. $588 4_Your holiday memories can become truly immersive when they’re captured with Samsung’s Gear 360. Featuring…

 THE very first owners in this club are HSEQ manager Dicky Fadly, 33, who owns an orange Veloster, and Edrick Sum, 33 (who has since sold his green Veloster and left the group). "Hyundai has improved tremendously through the years, breaking away from its Pony days." Four years ago in 2012, they hooked up with 11 other Veloster lovers to form the original committee and register the club, supported by Komoco Motors. The current, passionate president is Siti Aishah, 39, an education officer. All five variants of the Veloster are present in the club's fleet, with the full range of paint jobs (such as Sunflower Yellow, Electrolyte Green, Vitamin C Orange and, naturally, Veloster Red). The Veloster Turbo comes in even fancier colours -- two shades of grey, a funky…

 OFFICIALLY, Leslie Chang runs watch distributor Big Time and is also the previous president of the Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA). "The Matrix still rides well and its engine remains responsive." Unofficially, the affable 53-year-old is an ambassador at large for Hyundai cars in this country, because he put his Korean won where his mouth is, having bought/used more Hyundais as private transport than (possibly) any other motorist in Singapore -- eight in total. Leslie's personal ride (at time of writing) is a seven-year-old Azera, the 3.3-litre V6 saloon that was the most expensive (or rather, least inexpensive) model in the local Hyundai lineup at one stage. He bought his unit, a Komoco management car, in 2010. He also had a 2.7-litre V6 Tucson then, in which he tackled the…

HND-12 Enduro Combining elements of an off-road motorbike and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) isn't a new idea -- Nissan did it with the Juke. What sets the Enduro apart is its racier two-door layout, versus the Juke's five-door configuration. The Enduro also looks more rugged, thanks to its high ground clearance, muscular fenders and side-skirt step bars. It has a high-tech side, too, with digital cameras in place of wing mirrors. In the boot, there's a drawer-style compartment for stowage flexibility. Vision G If Hyundai wanted to take on the Bentley Continental GT, its contender would be the Vision G, the first luxury coupe from its premium division, Genesis Motors. Indeed, this "Korean Continental" bears some resemblance to Britain's Conti GT, especially when viewed from the rear. The concept's…

The fastback boasts increased road presence thanks to its larger dimensions. The car’s wheelbase, which is 30mm longer, also results in better legroom. Drivers will find the improved cockpit to be more user-friendly than the older model’s. Touch-sensitive controls have replaced most of the numerous hard keys, and the instrument panel, The Porsche Panamera has always been better known for its performance instead of its looks. But that’s set to change following the launch of the new second-gen model. Like its predecessor, the latest Panamera looks like a supersized 911 coupe. But this time, it has sharper lines and a more resolved rear end, which might placate critics of the previous model. save for the tachometer, has been digitised. Highlighting the model’s athletic abilities are the initial variants available –…

If you’ve ever wanted to drive a “sports car” onto the greens, you can now do so with the Mercedes-Benz Style Edition Garia Golf Car. The cart’s name is as long as its list of unique features, which include a large, curved glass windscreen, carbon fibre roof and a spoiler that doubles as a golf bag holder. Other useful touches include a storage tray for golf balls, a refrigerator beneath the bench seat and a 10.1-inch “tablet” that can display vehicle information, the golf course’s layout and the player’s scorecard.…

“IT IS SUCH A SPECIAL BRAND, AND THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, TO BE THE BEST IN WHAT WE DO.” THIS man is as Italian as they come. Born in Italy with a passion for Italian motors, Andrea Baldi has two of the most collectable Italian motorcycles – a classic 1950s Vespa which his grandfather gave him and a 1974 Ducati Scrambler 450. Andrea studied Industrial Engineering at the University of Bologna and after graduating, it was not unexpected he would start his career in Italy’s Motor Valley. First off, in 2001, was with Ducati Motor Holding in Bologna. He remained there until 2008 when he was posted to Shanghai, China to oversee sales in the Asia Pacific region. The opportunity to work with a four-wheel Italian superbrand came…

SUPERMINIS are great city cars because they are highly manoeuvrable and efficient. They’re also fun to drive if equipped with perky powertrains. Aiming to perk up petrolheads is the facelifted Peugeot 208, which now has a petrol engine and conventional automatic gearbox. It promises more driving thrills than its predecessor, which has a turbo-diesel engine paired to a robotised manual transmission. Eager to demonstrate the delights of its turbo-diesel drivetrain is the Renault Clio. It’s also the largest hatchback here, so it has the potential to be roomier than the rest of this foursome. The Ford Fiesta is the smallest hatchback with the smallest motor in this story, but it nevertheless wants to be a big player in Singapore’s supermini segment. One of the major players in the same segment…

For Jonathan Zhang, being an ordinary car dealer does not cut it. The 21-year-old recognised the demand for a facility specialising in hybrid electric vehicles and seized the opportunity to set up hevshop, Singapore’s first hybrid electric specialist hub. Just like the hybrid segment in Singapore, hevshop is a young but growing company that prides itself in its expertise with hybrid electric vehicles. As hevshop’s director, Jonathan took some time out from his busy schedule and spoke to Torque about his growing company. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SPECIALISE IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES? It all began in 2004, when my father’s company was dealing with hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius. He realised that the maintenance issues that cropped up from hybrids were not being handled appropriately by workshops.…

ASK any motorist to name a hybrid model and he or she is likely to mention the Toyota Prius, which is the world’s most well-known petrol-electric hybrid. Introduced in 1997, the Prius is now into its fourth generation and has been consistently successful. No other mass-market hybrid model has been able to usurp its “green” throne. Toyota, however, has been looking over its shoulder since Korean carmaker Hyundai unveiled its lineup of Ioniq models, which it hopes will supercharge the hybrid segment. Said lineup actually refers to the three powertrain options available to buyers, because the only Ioniq bodystyle is a five-door liftback. The Ioniq is available as a full electric car (see sidebar, Entirely Electric Ioniq, on pg 79), plug-in petrol-electric hybrid or petrol-electric hybrid, which we tested. If…

What are some of the safest ways to transport “Rover” in a “Land Rover”? The choices depend on the size and shape of your car, the size and temperament of your dog, and individual preferences (including the pet’s). Experts say it is safer for the dog, and less distracting for the driver, if man’s best friend is ferried in the back of the cabin instead of the front, especially when there’s no one else accompanying the furry passenger. Using a dog crate or carrier is one of the best ways to keep your dog safe en route. These come in all sizes and are made either of durable plastic or painted metal, with a sturdy mesh door at one end and a carrying handle on top. The crate must be…

Penang Culture has introduced several new dishes to celebrate the chain’s fifth anniversary in Singapore. Said dishes include hearty Salmon Assam Laksa and sinful Crab Meat & Salted Egg Fried Kway Teow (above). Penang Culture’s outlets are located in Century Square, Changi Airport Terminal 2 and JEM. If you love having brekkie at any time of day, you could consider O’Coffee Club’s recently launched all-day breakfast menu, which includes staples such as French Toast ($7.90) and Eggs Benedict ($10.90). If you have a large appetite, order the Waffle Stacker ($19.90, above), which features scrambled eggs and Mangalica bacon sandwiched between three waffles. Teochew cuisine fans will be glad to know that Paradise Teochew, which started with a restaurant at Singapore Swimming Club, now has a second location in Scotts Square.…

 How do you envision Komoco to be 10 years from now at its 40th anniversary? "Our cars that we sell must have the workhorse capability." I'm 70, not young anymore. It's been my duty to try and bring the younger people in. I'm giving them more responsibilities. Our overseas ventures are doing well. I think the ship is quite steady. We know what's coming, and we just have to be ahead of the game. As long as we can provide a good product at the right price, that would be acceptable. Our objective is to sell to family members -- they keep the car for some time, and then they come back to buy the next one. We have worked quite well with that strategy. But like everything else, volume…

 THE newly elected president of Komocosponsored ECS, financial consultant Ng Zhao Wei, just turned 26. The boyish bachelor may be the youngest leader of any motoring organisation in Singapore, having cut his teeth as the club's well-liked vice-president and hardworking helper in the logistics sub-committee. "We have members from almost all walks of life, each with skills that can build a nation." Like the Elantra, the man is sensible and disarmingly honest. "If the whole club were to be thrown on a deserted island, we'll probably survive, because we have members from almost all walks of life, each with skills that can build a nation," he quipped. He's quite the salesman, too. "Buy an Elantra and join the club for the experience of a lifetime, not forgetting all the privileges!"…

 FOOTBALL is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 3.5 billion fans. That's half of the world's population. Hyundai has been a FIFA World Cup "player" since the 2002 season. And the most watched sporting event is the World Cup, which is held every four years. In 2014, about 3.2 billion viewers, or three times the population of China, "spectated" at the final match between Germany and Argentina. There's no question that being a World Cup sponsor equals international recognition. Hyundai began running with the ball in 1999, when it signed a deal with football's global governing body, FIFA, to sponsor 13 tournaments, including the 2002 World Cup. As the official automotive "player", Hyundai supplies the vehicles used during the tournament. That means teams from Germany, Japan…

Hyundai laid the groundwork for its future growth by acquiring fellow Korean automaker Kia Motors in 1998. 1990s WHILE economies were still recovering from the Asian financial crisis, Korean electronics giant Samsung made several breakthroughs. The firm was the first to mass-produce digital televisions, and went on to corner the TFT-LCD market. With its crystal-clear digital TVs, the Korean electronics giant leapt ahead of the Japanese, who had been dominating the home entertainment scene. Hyundai, meanwhile, laid the groundwork for its future growth by acquiring Kia Motors, which was insolvent then. One could say that Hyundai's capabilities and potential were doubled following this massive move. Popular K-dramas and talented Korean celebrities turbocharged the Hallyu wave in our region. 2000s THIS was the decade that really put South Korea on the…

GOOD (PETROL)HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS WONG WENG TUCK Hello, Torque . As a petrolhead, it isn’t surprising to be very interested in cars. But after reading an article by Weather Underground, Atmospheric CO2 leaps into uncharted territory: 408 ppm , it got me thinking – humans are screwing up the Earth. My suggestion is to indicate the real-world fuel economy, yearly carbon emissions and annual fuel costs in the specs sheets of the cars tested in your magazine, based on the average distance clocked by a motorist in Singapore. In big, bold numerals. Hopefully, this would make more buyers aware of the environment and steer some petrolheads toward greener cars. In addition, a feature on mainstream hybrid cars would be welcome, too. It may…

Audi is targeting well-heeled and style-conscious suburbanites with the Q2, the smallest sports utility vehicle (SUV) in its lineup. At 4.2 metres long, it is slightly longer than its funky rival, the MINI Countryman. But size aside, Audi hopes that the Q2 will win over buyers with its customisation options. Components such as the car’s grille, lower bumper edges, wheel arches and C-pillars are available in three versions, depending on the trim line chosen. Despite being the “baby” of the range, the Q2 can still be specified with higher-end goodies such as Audi’s virtual cockpit, adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist. Engine options for Singapore haven’t been finalised, but the turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder producing 116bhp and turbocharged 1.4-litre 4-pot with cylinder-on-demand technology delivering 150bhp are the most likely to…

When you think of Mitsubishi, you think of trusty and reliable cars like the Lancer, which has served many generations of drivers. But did you know that the carmaker is also at the forefront of developing the futuristic automotive technology that you’ll find in the vehicles of tomorrow? In fact, you can find these technologies in a Mitsubishi you buy today. Today’s models feature cutting-edge engineering such as MIVEC, INVECS, ETACS and RISE, and you can expect even more from the brand in the years ahead in terms of bold design and advanced technology, while it still retains its Mitsubishi identity to move and surprise its customers. Enthusiasts will be familiar with MIVEC, or Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control. First introduced in the Mirage in 1992, this system aims…

AS a kid, I loved Tomica die-cast cars, they were my favourite playthings. Even the beautifully illustrated little boxes they came in were special – yellow-and-black for models of Japanese cars, blue-and-white for foreign cars. And that delicious tingle of anticipation each time I opened a new box to reveal the model inside remains etched in my memory. I would build cardboard garages to house my Tomica models, create dioramas around them, and even modify them by adding spoilers, wings or other add-ons carefully fashioned from little scraps of paper. These days, I sometimes buy Tomica models for my two boys, aged 10 and 7. They love the little cars, too, gleefully crashing them into walls and flying them off tabletops with abandon. So when I was in Tokyo with…

ACROSS three model generations since 1998, the Toyota Prius has been the international poster car for ecomotoring, from the US to the UK and every pollutive metropolis in between. The famous green machine might not have saved the planet, but it certainly saved plenty of fossil fuel along the way. Other petrol-electric hybrids have tried to park on the same global eco poster, such as the Honda Insight, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Toyota’s own Lexus CT200h. But only the Prius C, an entry-level 1.5-litre hybrid hatchback, managed to get near to the clean and green parking spot reserved for the Prius. The latest-generation Prius looks dramatically different from the third-generation model, whose styling is an evolution of the version before. The latest look is nothing less than a revolution –…

“THE C43 CABRIOLET MOVES WITH AUTHORITY AND ANNOUNCES ITS PRESENCE WITH ITS THROATY EXHAUST.” LIFE, as they say, is full of compromises. You cannot have everything your way. But we always want to have it all anyway. Hence the saying: “Having your cake and eating it, too.” Cars are full of compromises as well. Most coupes, for instance, are fun to drive, but they tend to be impractical and have a bumpy ride. Mercedes-Benz, however, seems to have eliminated the need for compromises with its new C-Class Cabriolet. This is the first time that a topless model is joining the carmaker’s C-Class range. The previous “C-Class Cabriolet” was actually the E-Class Cabriolet, which uses the platform of the last-gen C-Class. The C-Class Cabrio has plenty of road presence. It has…

It was the shortest and straightest of media test drives, deep inside Hyundai’s Namyang R&D Centre. But the few straight-line kilometres I drove in the Ioniq Electric told me a few things about the machine. It’s quick, sprinting from a standstill to 100km/h in around 10 seconds and then whizzing ahead to almost 150km/h (the top speed is 165km/h). The energy from the 88kW/295Nm electric motor and 28kWh lithium-ion polymer battery seems relentless. It’s a quiet accelerator, too. Of course, driven like a “batt” out of hell, this electric car is unlikely to reach its theoretical maximum range of 280 kilometres. Neither will the Nissan Leaf, for that matter. And I mention the key Japanese rival because it was the other model on the provisional specs sheet, which the earnest…

FORD FOCUS RS $202,888 ON THE ROAD This American hot hatch is now powered by a 2.3-litre 4-pot instead of a 2.5-litre 5-pot, but the former has 350bhp, or 50bhp more than the latter. The Focus RS is now also more surefooted, thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. But this hatchback remains strictly for enthusiasts, as it’s only available with a 6-speed manual. RIVAL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER $314,877 ON THE ROAD This mid-engine roadster offers even better bang for your buck following an extensive update. Swopping its naturally aspirated 2.7-litre flat-6 for a turbocharged 2-litre flat-4, the 718 Boxster gained 35bhp and 100Nm, and is nearly as quick from zero to 100km/h as a 911 Carrera Cabriolet, which costs $250k more. RIVAL JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE LOTUS EVORA 400…

"Those were happy times back in the 1980s and 1990s."  Your favourite part of the job? "I hope that Hyundai achieves more brand recognition." Albert Ho (AH): When we return the vehicles to satisfied customers, with their issues resolved. Chua Seng Huat (CSH): Meeting new people of different backgrounds and nationalities. William Chua (WC): Making sure that all cars sent in for servicing are returned on time. Ismail bin Taib (IT): Meeting regular customers who are now my friends. If you weren't in this line, what would have been your occupation? AH: Still vehicle-related, since that's my expertise. CSH: Taxi driver. WC: Construction industry. IT: Maybe a property agent. What made you stay with the same company for three decades? AH: Because Mr Teo has been a caring and…

 FORMED in 2005, TOC is believed to be the first of its kind in Singapore -- a society of SUV owners. It hit the road about a year after the original Tucson made its local debut as the smaller, nimbler sibling to the Santa Fe. "May TOC swing on for another decade and more!" The suburban newcomer was well received, and so was the new club's two-month membership drive, which netted close to 1300 sign-ups. The first TOC honcho was Anthony Tang, a motor trade veteran with two Harleys and plenty of road trip experience. Eleven years later, after inevitable attrition (Tucsons sold or scrapped), TOC has over 300 members today, led by current chief Dennis Chua, 42, a navy officer. The majority are married, so all the club's activities…

HYUNDAI has indeed come a long way from its early days as a basic manufacturer of equally basic cars. Today, Hyundai has an attractive variety of vehicles that meet various budgets, requirements and lifestyles. The local lineup starts with the Accent. It may be the entry-level model, but it doesn't look spartan. Both the hatchback and notchback variants possess the brand's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, and have stylish interiors, too. In the saloon category, the Elantra and Sonata are built to impress, with equipment levels that can exceed those found in rival models. Driving enthusiasts will be drawn to the Veloster, which is available in either spicy (non-turbo) or extra-hot (turbocharged) variants. With the Veloster's three-door layout, petrolheads get the best of both worlds -- the sportiness of a coupe…