Inhaltsverzeichnis für March 2018 in Torque

OVER consecutive weekends in January, I drove two cars which bookended Volkwagen’s recently facelifted Golf range – the TSI base model and the GTI (okay, okay, I know the GTI is the bridesmaid to the Golf R, but still it’s almost the range-topper). And what the experience drove home, more than anything, was just how well-conceived and fundamentally right the current Golf is. The seventh generation of VW’s stalwart hatchback has always been a favourite (it was, after all, the Straits Times Car of the Year 2013), but over the years, with familiarity and the car’s growing ubiquity, we’ve come to take it almost for granted. So the TSI, with its newly downsized 1-litre three-pot engine, was a useful reminder of the Golf’s inherent qualities. Those qualities being an airy…

WHAT exactly is a fastback? It is a saloon with a tailgate (like a large hatchback) instead of a notchback boot lid, and the rake of the rear windscreen is sharper (hence “faster”) than that of the front windscreen. The fastback format looks good and provides a practical boot. These three fastbacks, however, offer more than just practicality. With their strikingly stylish designs and potent engines, they are also capable grand tourers. The Volkswagen Arteon is aimed at fashion-conscious drivers. With its dramatic, almost artistic styling and muscular 280hp powertrain, few would suspect that the Arteon’s platform is actually a stretched version of the one that underpins its conservative Passat sibling. The Arteon’s German rival in this story is the Opel Insignia Grand Sport, which is bigger and smarter than…

 WHEN the turbocharged 2.5-litre 718 Cayman S and its Boxster roadster sibling are already a hoot to drive, what more can we expect from the top-dog GTS editions? Sharper handling and faster track times, of course! “THE 718 CAYMAN GTS WILL FIND FAVOUR WITH HARD-DRIVING PETROLHEADS WHO LIKE TO HIT THE RACETRACK.” In the 718 Cayman/Boxster GTS, the 2.5-litre turbo flat-4 engine from the S version has been reworked with higher-airflow intake ducts and optimised variable turbine geometry (VTG) to practically eliminate turbo-lag. Power and torque are up 35hp and 60Nm over the previous, naturally aspirated 3.4-litre flat-6 Cayman/Boxster GTS. Interestingly, both GTS Porsches are power-rated at 365hp, with maximum torque of 430Nm – just 15hp and 10Nm more than their S siblings. That’s not a whole lot more ponies…

TWO years ago, Aston Martin released the DB11 V12, its first all-new car in 12 years. Now, the carmaker has launched the DB11 V8, the “entry-level” model in the DB11 lineup. While the 5.2-litre V12 in the first DB11 is an Aston Martin engine, the 4-litre V8 in this model, along with the whole neural network that runs it and the electronics, is from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division. It is the key piece in the technical partnership between Aston Martin and Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. If you like the breakthrough styling of the new DB11, the good news is that there are only subtle differences between the V8 and V12 models. For instance, the wheels have the same design, but the ones on the V8 have a unique alloy…

If you want to give your relatives more unique CNY goodies this year, then you may want to have a look at Din Tai Fung’s Taiwanese offerings. For instance, instead of the usual pineapple tarts, surprise them with some Steamed Custard Buns (right), which have the Chinese word for “prosperity” on them. Executives who want to impress clients without busting their expense accounts could check out Tablescape Restaurant & Bar, which serves modern European cuisine, alongside a variety of cocktails and craft beers. Tuck into hearty dishes such as the $86 800g US Porterhouse steak for two (left) or Norwegian Fjord Trout, before ending the meal with sweet treats from the Dessert Trolley. The restaurant is located in Grand Park City Hall. Diners who want a lighter reunion meal for…

Thailand has as many BMWs on the road as Singapore – about 45,000. Last month (February), some 400 of Thailand’s most interesting BMW cars were at the country’s biggest (and second) annual event for devoted Thai fans of the German car brand – Bimmer Meet 2. With Bangkok’s blazingly hot sun missing in action that Saturday, the weather was unusually cool. Even cooler was the variety of Bimmers gathered at the event venue, an open-air carpark at Wonder World Fun Park Ramintra. The location was a defunct amusement park, but the vehicles kept the visitors amused from afternoon till evening as they checked out the Bimmers in different shapes, sizes and colours; of all ages and eras; with or without modifications, accessories and add-ons. Food trucks kept the attendees fuelled,…

BMW already has five SUVs in its X family, but it is not quite done yet in vying for attention in the urban crossover segment. Currently in the works is the jumbo-sized X7, flagship model of the X lineup above the X5. Slotting between the popular entry-level X1 and the third-generation X3 is an all-new X2. Underpinning the newest X is BMW’s UKL2 platform shared with its upsized MINI cousins (Countryman and Clubman), its 2 Series Active/ Gran Tourer siblings and the X1. Unlike any other BMW SUV right now, the X2 has its own stand-alone design that is a cross between coupe and hatchback. Think Mercedes-Benz GLA, but sharper-looking. The X2 Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) is also the most compact member of the X family. Compared to the X1,…

THE story of the new Alpine (pronounced “al-peen”) A110 didn’t start when the brand was revived a few years ago (2012, to be exact). It began in 1962 when the A110 Berlinette, arguably the most beautiful model in Alpine’s relatively brief history, was introduced. The engineers and designers at today’s Alpine applied the original A110’s principles of compactness, light weight and unadulterated driving pleasure to the new model. However, to answer all sceptics who assume that this is a typical retro-to-modern marketing exercise, the latest A110 was designed and then made from the ground up by a passionate team of in the (Renault-owned) brand’s original Dieppe factory. Alpine has really focused on the word “light” with the A110. Thanks to lightweight aluminium construction, the coupe tips the scales at only…

YOU know you have a lot to live up to when you’re born into a family full of legendary siblings and ancestors. That’s exactly the kind of pressure that the Jeep Renegade is under. The Renegade is the most affordable member of the Jeep family. It is also the smallest and softest Jeep to date. That position used to be occupied by the Renegade’s next older sibling, the Cherokee, which can now breathe a little easier. There’s less pressure on the Cherokee now because most of the responsibility of growing the Jeep brand now rests on the Renegade’s shoulders. Now, you’re probably wondering why we’ve concluded that the Renegade is the soft-roader in the Jeep lineup, when it has such square and rugged lines. But behind that iconic Jeep grille…

BMW X3 FROM $242,888 ON THE ROAD The latest X3 is roomier and more refined than its predecessor, with new standard equipment such as an acoustic-glazed windscreen, wireless smartphone charging and gesture controls for the brand’s iDrive infotainment system. The biggest news, however, is that the X3 finally has a sportier variant called the M40i. Aimed at keener drivers, the M40i is BMW’s answer to the likes of the Audi SQ5 and Mercedes-AMG GLC43. RIVAL: MERCEDES-BENZ GLC-CLASS HYUNDAI i30 $96,999 ON THE ROAD This Korean hatchback aims to lure would-be Golf buyers away from the Volkswagen showroom with its combination of attractive pricing and punchy performance. While the previous i30 has a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine and a 4-speed automatic, the new model has a punchier turbocharged 1.4-litre that sends…

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS IDEA MICHAEL LIM Hi, I’ve been a long-time subscriber to your wonderful magazine and would like to make a suggestion. Do a survey/feedback with your current magazine subscribers concerning the reliability of their cars, the quality of the aftersales service for cars bought from authorised dealers, and common worries about certain car types. It’ll be interesting to see the collective responses published and note how the dealers respond to the data. Torque Dear Torque subscriber, thanks for your loyal support and intriguing idea. HELLO THERE, HELLA HANH DINH I’m writing on behalf of Hella Vietnam Co. Ltd, which is the Vietnamese subsidiary of the German automotive brand. We are in need of some monthly well-known car magazines written in English for office display purpose. And I…

“PIRELLI HONED ITS SKILLS IN THE LABORATORY, ON THE ROADS AND ON THE RACETRACK.” Pirelli is a name recognised, admired and sought after the world over. The company lives always at the cutting edge, pushing at and expanding the boundaries of technology as its tyres challenge the limits of adhesion at racetracks and roads everywhere. Pirelli has a long history of production excellence and a relentless passion for innovation. Pirelli has spent 110 of its 146 years participating in the unforgiving arena of motorsport. PIRELLI’S BEGINNINGS In 1872, Giovanni Battisa Pirelli established his company in Milan. Pirelli was inspired by an interest in natural rubber and had a burning entrepreneurial curiosity at a time when the potential of rubber – and its seemingly infinite applications – was just being realised.…

Unless you have the luxury of owning more than one car, you have to make the one that you own count. Between fulfilling family commitments and satisfying the driver’s desires, usually one has to give, unless you have the new Mazda CX-9. Looking your best while juggling multiple duties can be a challenge, but the Mazda CX-9 makes it seem so effortless, with nary a stray hair or frazzled nerve. It is endowed with Mazda’s KODO – Soul of Motion design language that gives the CX-9 its athletic physique and planted stance, imbued with an air of elegance and sophistication. A large front grille and 20-inch wheels give it a commanding presence on the road. LED headlamps and tail-lights enhance its style factor. Takumi-Nuri body colours employ a unique painting…

“WITH THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OVER 30 DEGREES C AND THE SUN MERCILESSLY BAKING MY HEAD AND BACK, I KNEW I WASN’T GOING TO LAST VERY LONG.” FIVE years ago, my editor sent me on a road trip from Singapore to Malacca. Along the way, I would test-drive several diesel models from a particular German carmaker. I’m not going to name the brand, because till today, the mere mention of it sends shivers down my spine. Writing this column is a form of catharsis, I suppose. The assignment sounded easy at first. With several hundred kilometres to cover and different roads to experience, I thought I had the stories in the bag even before I left. All I could think about was the delicious fare awaiting me in Malacca – fare…

GUTS. Yup. It takes lots of it for a carmaker to organise a media drive for an SUV at a location where one of the most iconic tarmac rallies is held annually. The Tour de Corse, a round of the World Rally Championship, takes place in Corsica, an island blessed with gorgeous beaches and some of the best driving roads in the word. Jaguar did just that with its second SUV, the E-Pace, and it had every reason to do so. From the onset, the British brand designed the compact SUV to be sporty. The shape of the small SUV is inspired by the F-Type coupe, which is among the sexiest sports cars available today. The E-Pace follows suit with its longish bonnet (which ends at the brand’s signature oblong…

THANK heavens Mitsubishi has finally launched a model worth getting excited over. Ever since the mighty Lancer Evolution X was retired, the brand has had no sports cars or halo models to speak of. And for the past three years, the most visible Mitsubishi model in Singapore has been the Attrage, a budget saloon utilised by private-hire drivers. Therefore, impressing regular motorists was always going to be an uphill battle. In fact, most are unaware that Mitsubishi’s local lineup includes the high-tech Outlander PHEV, the world’s first plug-in petrol-electric hybrid SUV (sports utility vehicle). But with the Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi now has the potential to finally appeal to buyers, for it is the most compelling new Mitsubishi model available today. The Eclipse Cross, however, has nothing to do with the…

I am driving a nine-year-old Toyota Corolla Altis. I send my car for servicing every 10,000km at Borneo Motors. Lately, when I crank the motor to start, I find it rather difficult to get it started. I have to use full force with both my hands to start the engine. The mechanics at Borneo Motors could not find any fault with the system. They lubricated the keyhole, but after a day, the problem came back. What could be the cause of this problem? From your description, it appears that the problem is with the ignition key switch itself. This unit, which is at the steering column where you insert the key, incorporates electrical contacts for various functions, including main ignition, starter relay and also the steering lock. Difficulty in its…