Sommaire pour July - August 2019 de Torque

Founded over 35 years ago, Konig is one of the most recognisable brands in the highly competitive alloy wheel industry. While many manufacturers have come and gone, Konig has gone from strength to strength and their continuity and success can be attributed to a couple of key factors. As the company is staffed by car enthusiasts who live, eat and breathe the automotive tuning lifestyle and who are also knowledgeable when it comes to the latest in alloy wheel design and manufacturing technology, Konig always comes up with fresh, trendy alloy wheels. Konig’s line-up of alloy wheels comprises several collections which are sure hits with car enthusiasts Konig’s Main line comprises the largest number of models to fit a variety of cars and for all needs and requirements. From tuner…

IS the latest 911 Carrera S Cabriolet a true sports car, or a compromised poseur? Ragtops are typically the more glamorous versions of two-door coupes. But beneath their eye-catching appeal is the extra weight from bracing and roll bars that compensate for the lower structural integrity due to the lack of a fixed roof. Like its predecessors, the car’s design is a case of evolution rather than revolution. There are discreet styling cues that distinguish the new 911 Carrera S Cabriolet from the older one. It is a tad bigger overall, although its wheelbase remains unchanged at 2450mm. Within the more pronounced fenders are mixed tyre sizes (20 inches in front and 21 inches in the rear), which is a first for a standard 911. The 911 Cabrio’s front and…

WHEN the first-generation Nissan Leaf first broke cover, its otherworldly looks immediately polarised opinions. Its bulbous shape ensured that it looked like no other car on the road. Some found it cute. But many did not find it appealing. The previous Leaf arrived in Singapore in 2012 as part of a test-bedding programme. Torque drove it and found it to be a pleasant, albeit quirky car. Although zippy, the older Leaf has a very limited range. It was rated for 150km, but under local driving conditions, we could only safely eke out 100-110km. The latest Leaf, however, is claimed to have more than twice the range (311km). Its more conventional design is also more attractive than before. We subject this electric hatchback to a comprehensive review by three Torque regulars:…

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG FROM $287,900 ON THE ROAD Bigger is clearly better for the hulking Volkswagen Touareg, a philosophy that extends to its MacBookrivalling 15-inch infotainment screen inside. It’s the cheapest of the Audi Q8/Lambo Urus/BentleyBentayga/Porsche Cayenne family but doesn’t lose out on goodies, with the top-spec R-Line getting matrix LED headlights, air suspension, all-wheel steering and semi-autonomous Traffic Jam Assist. RIVAL: AUDI Q8 MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS FROM $178,888 ON THE ROAD With the tagline “Justify nothing”, you know Mercedes-Benz is seriously upping the game on its new B-Class to take on all would-be sport tourers. It certainly looks the part, on the outside at least, with the new third-generation getting a lower roofline and lengthened wheelbase. There’s also a more comfortable ride and airier-feeling cabin, but the equivalent BMW 2 Series…

For the last 15 years, ŠKODA has been a main sponsor of the world’s most famous cycling race – the Tour de France. Taking place over three weeks, the 3500km Tour de France features flat roads and mountain passes. Victory requires enduring commitment and absolute passion – qualities that are synonymous with ŠKODA. Said Alain Favey, ŠKODA’s board member for sales and marketing: “ŠKODA and cycling go hand in hand.” After all, ŠKODA’s success story began with the production of bicycles back in 1895. Closer to the present, ŠKODA recently announced that it will be the main partner and vehicle partner for the Tour de France until 2023. One such ŠKODA model that will be part of the Tour de France is the brand’s flagship Superb which serves as the…

IF the sport utility vehicle were food, it’d be a plate of mixed rice or cai png – a large heaping of everything you want on one plate, leaving you satisfied that you got your money’s worth. By contrast, sedans are more subdued. They’re more like a plate of nice, inoffensive chicken rice, good enough to make a nice meal and fill you up. That doesn’t mean the sedan has gone out of favour. On the contrary, the Mazda 6 and Skoda Superb show there’s plenty of life left in them – and a bright future too. As of print time, the Mazda 6 2.5 goes for $149,888 while the Superb costs a smidgen more at $149,900, both with COE. In the Japanese corner, Mazda’s “Kodo” design language is on…

THE all-new A-Class is a more tempting proposition than its predecessor. It offers better performance, more advanced technology and more safety features than before. But only eagle-eyed buyers may be able tell it apart from the older model. Given the success of the preceding model, Mercedes didn’t do anything radical to the new one’s design. That said, the latest hatchback has slightly sharper lines and more angled headlights. Its front end is now reminiscent of the handsome CLS model, and still retains the “bling” or diamond-look grille. Despite looking similar to its predecessor, the A-Class has actually grown bigger. It is 120mm longer and its wheelbase has been stretched by 30mm to improve interior space. Mercedes engineers have improved the car’s aerodynamics, too. The drag coefficient is now 0.25 instead…

HAVE you ever had to look down at your instrument panel to check your speed while driving? When you do, you feel like you need some time to recalibrate your vision to look at the instrument panel, which can be distracting. In fact, your eyes need to readjust from the longer visual distance to the shorter distance – called “accomodation” – and then back again to the traffic around you. If you were travelling at 90km/h – the speed limit on Singapore expressways – you would have covered some 25 metres in that half a second it takes for your eyes to adjust. For cars equipped with Continental’s heads-up display (HUD), you’ll never have to look down at your instruments again. Information is presented directly in your line of sight:…

DRIVERLESS cars in movies like Minority Report and I, Robot used to transport me into the future. In the blink of an eye, the future has (almost) arrived. Most major car manufacturers already offer some form of semi-autonomous features in their cars that assist with a range of parking, lane-keeping and cruising functions among others. These are classified under autonomy Level 1 and Level 2, where the driver still needs to exercise varying degrees of control, but the vehicle is able to stay in lane, accelerate or brake to maintain a certain speed or distance with the vehicle in front, and apply emergency braking etc. Full autonomy without any human monitoring or intervention takes place at Level 5 when the vehicle is able to operate independently in every scenario and…

AT this moment, the Alpine A110 is, in all likelihood, the best little sports car you can acquire in Singapore. Yes, you read that right. And no, I am not exaggerating. Before we continue, here’s a quick Alpine (pronounced “al-peen”) history lesson. Alpine is a French carmaker that specialises in manufacturing sports cars and racecars. Throughout their history, they had a close association with Renault, which acquired them more than 40 years ago. History lesson over. Back to the present-day. Now, what makes a sports car awesome? This is a question that causes arguments (and perhaps the end of a few friendships) among petrolheads. All will opine that the car must evoke strong emotions. Some will say that it must have a powerful engine, manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive. Others will…

PORSCHE has differentiated the new Cayenne Coupe well from its more humdrum stablemate, the Cayenne SUV, creating a far more desirable machine. The Coupe’s 20mm lower roofline results in a sloping, racy profile and a nice pert rear. On that rear are two spoilers: a fixed roof-mounted one and a trick adaptive one which extends by 135mm above 90km/h. That sloped roof hasn’t compromised rear headroom as I could comfortably fit my 1.78m frame in the back. Taller people might struggle, however. Boot space has shrunk considerably to around 600 litres in the Turbo Coupe and 625 litres in the Coupe and S Coupe. Looking up from the two-seat rear (a three-person bench is a no-cost option), you either see sky or a sea of Alcantara if you spec the…

Some brands of car wax claim to be able to last a year. Is this true? If not, how long does it usually last? Also, what can I do to prolong the coat of wax that’s already on my car? Car wax is a hardy layer that protects your paint from contaminants and UV rays. Synthetic formulas can last for months at a time. Generally speaking, however, waxes are not as durable as ceramic coatings, which can last up to 12 months. For wax to last long, it must first bond with your paintwork. It also needs some time to cure after it is applied. To ensure that the wax bonds properly, you need to correctly prep the surface. Wash your car thoroughly and dry it. Run your fingers over…