Inhaltsverzeichnis für November 2015 in Torque

MAYBE, MINISTER I can imagine myself behind the wheel at the (fantasy) Ministry of Private Transport, if our Government ever decides to put a car guy in charge of car-related policies. Naturally, my first task as the newly minted Minister of Private Transport would be to order my personal vehicle. Nothing fancy, of course, but it should have at least 200bhp and decent acceleration, so I wouldn’t be late for my Meet-the-Motorists sessions held at multi-storey carparks. My next task would be to shift the punitive car taxes from ownership to usage. Passenger cars will no longer cost an arm and a leg to buy, just a hand and a foot, but they’ll be costly to drive during off-peak hours and extremely expensive to drive during peak hours. I’ll leave…

Little Landie fans can now go off-roading in their very own Land Rover Defender pedal car, whose design is based on the current (and outgoing) Defender model. Built by hand, each pedal car has an aluminium body and features an interior trimmed in leather. Budding off-roaders will be able to traverse rougher terrain, thanks to the rubber tyres and spring suspension. The car even has a parking brake and can be ordered with a personalised licence plate. Obviously, no COE is required, but acquiring this Land Rover will require parents to fork out an estimated $21,296.…

RICHARD Rawlings comes from a pedigree of petrolheads, and the refined fuel courses through the veins of the 46-year-old. Like his father, the inspirational figure in his life, Richard had always worked to realise his passion for cars. By age 14, he popped his car-ownership cherry with a 1974 Mercury Comet. Since then, not only did many vehicles come and go, he also went into the transcontinental Gumball 3000 and Bullrun rallies, and won – twice in each case. He even holds the world record for covering the 4524km Cannonball Run from New York City to Los Angeles in 31 hours and 59 minutes, at an insane average speed of 141km/h. These days, Richard can be seen on Discovery Channel’s Fast ‘N’ Loud: Demolition Theatre, a reality series that tracks…

TO non-petrolheads, an automobile is just a machine that takes you from point A to point B. But because petrolheads see cars as living beings, they automatically assign a sex to them. How does a car qualify as male or female? Well, it has to do with human gender stereotypes, particularly when it comes to aesthetics. A hulking Hummer and rugged Land Rover Defender, for instance, are definitely males, for they’re like warriors of old who conquer inhospitable terrain. Despite its wide “hips”, a Porsche 911 is masculine, not feminine. Although said model in the animated movie Cars is female (Sally Carrera), the 911 drives more like a Teutonic stallion than a German mare. Some American muscle cars are a bit tricky. The square-jawed Dodge Challenger is definitely male, but…

The Mercedes-Benz GLK is a robust all-terrain vehicle that’s larger and tougher than the GLA. Upright, squarish and serious, the GLK looks more comfortable in rugged places than in urban areas, and comes across as a utility tool rather than a luxury item. But its replacement, the less squarish and serious GLC (pg 60), prefers ritz to rocks. AND ALSO • AUDI A1 SPORTBACK 1.0 vs MINI ONE 5DR 1.2 vs VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.2 • FORD KUGA vs MAZDA CX-5 • NISSAN QASHQAI – NEW VERSUS OLD • VOLVO XC90 D5 • AUDI A6 3.0 • MAZDA MX-5 1.5 • BMW 7 SERIES…

DRIVER’S LICENCE 50 TARGET AGE TO BE A TOWKAY KEVIN CHIN After sampling BMW’s newest tycoon saloon, he aspires to own one before he becomes too old. ONE of the standout cars for me last year is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. As far as self-drive limousines go, its exceptional opulence is an eye-opener for someone more used to economy-class motoring. I could see why it is the default choice for business leaders in Singapore. Aiming to knock the S-Class off its prestigious perch is BMW’s new 7 Series flagship. Excellent dynamics aside, the outgoing model has always lacked the grandeur and immense comfort of the S-Class. But this sixth-generation model promises to change all that. Top-of-the-line cars like these let manufacturers show off their most advanced technological wares, and the 7…

HUBLOT BIG BANG UNICO MAGIC GOLD Hublot not only put its own movement into this monster collectible, it also developed a proprietary “golden” material for the case. $56,100 TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY This robust “retro hero” is inspired by Tudor’s Submariner reference 7922 from 1954, yet has up-to-the-minute technical features. $POA URWERK UR-105 TA The avant-garde watchmaker’s “Turbine Automatic” timepiece is like a space-age exoticar for the price of a new Toyota Corolla. $121,100 MB&F HM X Created to mark the brand’s 10th anniversary, this special edition boasts grade 5 titanium, a three-dimensional horological engine and a Sellita geartrain. $47,500 CASIO EDIFICE RED BULL RACING EQB-510RBM-1A Thanks to its high-quality materials and high-tech features, this limited edition turns every time check into an action-packed F1 pit stop. $749 MANUFACTURE ROYALE…

Eleanor Eng (far left) and Lim Boon Hai will be considering Bridgestone tyres, thanks to the $100 vouchers they won in the lucky draw. FEW motorists will realise this, but the average tyre’s contact patch – the area that’s always in contact with the road – is only as big as the palm of their hand. Contact patches influence a car’s acceleration, cornering and braking performance. That’s asking a lot, given their size. Participants picked up pointers such as these at our Breakfast With Torque in September, which was held at the cosy Portico restaurant along Alexandra Road. Guests that morning also discovered just how important it is to keep their tyres correctly inflated from Bridgestone’s technical manager, Dennis Lee, who cautioned participants against over- and under-inflating their tyres. The…

Q1 benefits What are of the larger tyres? They usually have wider contact patches and provide better grip. Q2 those Why are with more grip noisier? They have stiffer sidewalls and need to be pumped to higher pressures. Q3 tyres Do comfort offer less grip? Yes. This is because they have more pliant sidewalls, which flex more during cornering. Q4 symmetrical How do and asymmetrical tread patterns differ? Symmetrical patterns are better for comfort, while asymmetrical ones are suited for higher performance. Q5 should How often I be checking my tyre pressures? Once every two weeks, and always prior to a road trip.…

CHRISTOPHER TAN He says that Singapore should wake up to the idea that vehicular testbeds are wasteful and rather pointless (pg 26). DR ANDRE LAM He made his way to Norway to test Bentley’s 2016 Continental GT model range – his report from Oslo will be in our next issue. KEVIN CHIN Our non-towkay believes that BMW’s latest flagship (pg 62) is finally polished enough to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. SHREEJIT CHANGAROTH Our mechanical engineer explains the science behind air suspension (pg 84), which equips many upmarket cars. EDRIC PAN He talks about the “COE cars” our kids will be lusting after, two decades from now (pg 32). LYNNTAN Doing the school run in an ever-changing lineup of cars can be exciting for her daughter, but a reality check…

CONFESSION time. When the wife isn’t around, I can’t resist whipping out the iPad and spending an intensely pleasurable half hour or so gazing at forbidden fruit and, yup, indulging some lustful fantasies. Which invariably leaves me feeling guilty and remorseful thereafter. Yes, Sgcarmart does that to you. The ads I find myself most drawn to are the “COE car” ones, particularly those for 1990s or early-2000s machinery. Probably because that’s the period when my desire for performance cars bore the most inverse relation to my ability to afford one. Mazda Efini RX-7, Honda Integra Type R (DC2), BMW M Coupe, BMW M5 (E39), Mercedes 190E 2.3-16, Alfa 156 GTA wagon, VW Golf GTI Mk1, Subaru WRX (GC), Lotus Elise S1, Coupe Fiat – each of these has caught my…

1. TWO LIGHTNING STRIKES Luminox has added another “aircraft” to its squadron collection, the P-38 Lightning Automatic 9400 series. The distinctive twin-boomed, twin-engined P-38 is a World War II veteran and one of Lockheed Martin’s finest fighters of all time. The two new “airborne” Luminox watches (9401, priced at $2027, and 9461, at $4397) have a dial font inspired by the instruments in the P-38 Lightning, a cushion-shaped 44mm stainless steel case, water resistance to 200m, a genuine leather strap and the brand’s signature Night Vision Tubes. 2. BRITAIN’S OTHER “BIG BEN” Breitling has released a 500-piece limited edition as a tribute to Bentley’s motorsport victories with the Continental GT3 racecar. Simply named as the Bentley GT3, the racy chronograph sports a black titanium case, black rubber strap, rotating pinion…

THEY say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that may well be true for Singapore’s history of vehicular test-beds. First, what is a test-bed? According to Wikipedia, it is a platform for conducting rigorous, transparent and replicable testing of scientific theories, computational tools and new technologies. We have been test-bedding all sorts of vehicles in the past two decades, from fuel-cell Mercs and biofuel Smarts to fleets of electric and diesel cars (yes, we needed to test-bed diesel vehicles). Before coming to Singapore, most of these vehicles had already been tested elsewhere. So we were by no means “conducting rigorous, transparent and replicable testing of scientific theories”. Ostensibly, our intention was to find out how these vehicles performed in the local context. And for that,…

FOR most parents and their children, the daily school run is a routine affair that runs like clockwork – same time, same place, same car. My child’s school run is no different, except the car bit. She gets picked up in a different car every so often that I notice quizzical looks from some parents. They do not know that these are cars I’m test-driving. My daughter was one of two lucky young participants who won a crossword puzzle contest at the recent Porsche Circuit event held to mark SG50 and the 30th anniversary of Stuttgart Auto. The prize was a special opportunity to be ferried to and from school in a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, with a Porsche Carrera Cup Asia racer behind the wheel – Ro Charlz Skyangel.…

VOLVO’S latest XC90 is proof that the Swedish carmaker has moved itself upmarket. The seven-seater sports utility vehicle is not only larger and more spacious than its predecessor, it is also better equipped and more luxurious. However, given that this car is nearly 5m long and weighs a hefty 2.1 tonnes, I was sceptical as to whether the turbo 2-litre in the T6 variant would prove adequate. But with 320bhp and 400Nm on tap, said engine surprised me by moving this hulking SUV at a decent pace. Vehicles this huge, however, perform better when they are powered by a diesel motor, such as the one in the XC90 D5. The D5’s 2-litre turbo-diesel unit might only pack 225bhp, but it’s the substantial 470Nm produced at 1750pm that really counts. The…

THE Mercedes marque has been missing from the mid-size SUV segment, but has now filled the void with the debut of the GLC. Based on the current C-Class, the newcomer replaces the GLK, the company’s best-selling sports utility vehicle that was never made available with right-hand-drive. The sweeping lines of the GLC contrast against the boxy “mini GL” styling of the GLK. Most stylish when on 20-inch alloy wheels, the GLC looks purposeful from every angle. Its coefficient of drag is 0.31. From the rear, the car’s muscular shoulders and gentling sloping roofline make it look squat and lower than the BMW X3, its main rival. The rear LED lamps are trim and do not occupy much real estate at the back. The cabin is a very nice place to…

Speed. Precision. Endurance. These are the key traits found in racecars and their pilots. The Tissot PRS 516 reflects these characteristics with details such as its bezel and pushers, which resemble a steering wheel and an engine’s pistons. The retro-looking strap even features holes that are reminiscent of the steering wheels on old racing cars. “THIS TIMEPIECE USES THE NEW ETA A05. H31 MOVEMENT, WHICH BOASTS A 60-HOUR POWER RESERVE.”…

RIDE comfort and handling have an awkwardly inverse relationship. For instance, with the fitment of lower and stiffer springs that improve a car’s cornering capability, it’s almost impossible to improve its cruising comfort at the same time. In fact, suspension modifications in certain cases could cause a deterioration in both ride comfort and handling. Rarely, if ever, can these two dynamic characteristics be improved simultaneously. The two most critical components in a suspension are the spring and damper. In the most common design, the spring is made from a spring-steel rod formed into a helical coil – hence its name “coil spring”. The damper is an oil-filled tube with rod and piston, and serves to attenuate any oscillatory motion. Both these components are physically constrained to just one setting, which…

FRESH CATCH Seafood lovers who also love getting away from the city may wish to check out Smith Marine, a modern kelong-style restaurant located off the coast of Pulau Ubin. The eatery, which is only accessible via bumboat, offers diners the chance to catch their own fish, which will be cooked by the chef. Local favourites, such as chilli crab and lala bee hoon are on the menu, and diners can opt to have steamboat (left) as well. SIZZLING HOT Aimed at making steamboat fans happy is Happy Mookata, a Thai restaurant that offers meats such as black pepper beef and garlic pork. When it’s time to cool down, diners can temper the spicy flavours with the free flow of ice cream. Happy Mookata is located at Block 106, Clementi…

Owners of modern high-performance cars could consider the OWS Syntholube 5W-50, which is claimed to be ideal for vehicles with longer oil change intervals. Stay healthy in hazy conditions with the aid of the OWS Air Con Clean 888, which can eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria within five minutes of contact. Keep your engine humming with the help of the OWS Multilight 5W-40, which is formulated with Uberclean additives to reduce the buildup of sludge and carbon. Restore your car’s performance with the help of the Tunap Microflex 925, which is formulated with XFoam cleaning technology to clear harmful deposits from intake and exhaust systems.…

MERCEDES-MAYBACH S600 $800,888 ON THE ROAD Towkays searching for an exclusive limousine could consider this luxo-barge, which is longer and roomier than its “regular” S-Class siblings. Apart from the additional space, the car’s cabin is said to be the quietest in the world. This range-topping variant is powered by a bi-turbo 6-litre V12 that delivers 530bhp and 830Nm. RIVAL ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SERIES II EXTENDED WHEELBASE AUDI Q7 $361,600 ON THE ROAD This all-new seven-seater sports utility vehicle offers enhanced driveability compared to its predecessor, thanks to its lighter weight and lower centre of gravity. With new features such as rear cross-traffic assist and pre sense city, it will give its segment competitors a run for their money. RIVAL VOLVO XC90 VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN PRICE ON APPLICATION Targeting family men, this all-new…