Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Torque

ELECTRICITY is great. Flip a light switch and you can instantly see in the dark, or plug in your phone and it soon gets charged up. In the case of the Jaguar I-Pace, push your right foot and you instantly hit Warp Factor 9. Ok, not that fast. But the I-Pace is definitely more Millenium Falcon than F-16 Fighting Falcon. Created in a world where liquefied dinosaurs still rein king, Jaguar’s all-electric debutante stands out as one of a rare few electrically-powered beasts. Unfamiliarity of its ilk soon breeds curiousity. People look at it with askance. What is it? How do you drive it? Need petrol or not, ah? Shaped like a sports car but called an SUV, it’s a confusing dichotomy, but the vagaries of semantics aside, what’s clear…

THERE are two pure electric cars being sold in Singapore. One hails from South Korea and the other one comes from France. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is the first all-electric car to be launched by an authorised dealer in Singapore. It is the sibling of the Ioniq Hybrid, which arrived here in 2016. The Renault Zoe from has been available overseas since 2013, but it only arrived in Singapore last year. The biggest issue for those who drive electric cars is range anxiety – the persistent worry of whether there is enough battery power to reach the next destination or charging point. Hyundai says that the Ioniq Electric can manage up to 280km when fully charged. Renault claims the Zoe has a maximum range of 367km. But paper figures are…

RANGE ROVER SPORT PHEV FROM $412,999 ON THE ROAD The new Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), is the first in the British marque’s stable of cars to offer some form of electrification. Unveiled at the Singapore Motorshow 2019, the electric Rangey has a turbocharged 2-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine developing 295hp, paired with a 114hp electric motor for a total of 410hp. That gives the PHEV some legs: 0-100km/h is dusted in 6.7 seconds and it goes onto a 220km/h top speed. That’s some quick off-roading. ¦ RIVAL : PORSCHE CAYENNE E-HYBRID INFINITI QX50 FROM $195,800 ON THE ROAD As Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships, Zoe Tay is the face that launched the Infiniti QX50 at this year’s Singapore Motorshow. Now…

Cheaper cars almost always feature a less involving driving experience, and don’t come with much kit. But the bold new Kia Stonic turns that frown upside down with its combination of low price and high value. Modern, sleek looks and exciting driving dynamics keeps the Kia Stonic a world apart from the same-same crossovers plying the roads. Some cars come with several paint options in any shade of grey or black. Not only does the Kia Stonic come with those choices, but you can also select from a range of vibrant colours. Design isn’t the only thing going for the Stonic, with loads of kit inside to keep keen drivers occupied and their passengers sated. A sporty dashboard greets you upon your keyless entry to the cockpit, which features large,…

Imagine getting a puncture while you’re on your way to an important meeting. Or worse, having a puncture while driving along a dark and lonely road. These are scenarios that no driver – no matter how experienced – will ever want to encounter. Now, what if you could have a mechanic within your tyre itself – someone who can respond immediately to a puncture by automatically repairing the intruded surface. AIRTIGHT SOLUTION Pirelli’s SEAL INSIDE technology allows you to continue driving without losing air in the event that the tyre is pierced by up to 4mm. A protective sheath embedded on the inside of the tyre envelopes the external body and prevents a loss of pressure. The same rubber sealant that constitutes the sheath blocks the exit “wound” when the…

THE previous BMW 8 Series breathed its last breath in 1999. After two decades, it has returned. During its 20-year absence, the gran turismo (GT) badge of honour was passed to the second generation E63/E64 6 Series model that was produced between 2003 and 2010. Now that the fourth-generation 6 Series has morphed into a large fastback, the GT baton has been passed back to the new 8 Series, codenamed G15. The 8 Series looks like a bigger and more muscular 4 Series Coupe. But it is more streamlined, and cuts a sleeker and sportier profile than its smaller sibling. Its front headlamps are the slimmest in the BMW family. The signature kidney grille has been re-interpreted and refreshed. The 8 Series roofline is contoured like a “double bubble”, as…

ONE of the most satisfying aspects of car ownership is grooming your pride and joy. But if you’re a first-time car owner who doesn’t know where to begin, don’t fret. With the right products, a bit of elbow grease and an hour a week, you can keep your ride glowing. Start by buying a good-sized bucket and wash mitt. You can opt for a nice drying towel, but since this guide is geared towards the less particular, a synthetic chamois will be fine. If you live in an HDB flat like most of us do, don’t forget to have a coin purse filled with 20-cent coins for the washing bay water dispenser. Next, get a decent car shampoo, such as Armor All Ultra Shine Wash & Wax. As its name…

THE discreet N badging around the cabin tells the real story of the Hyundai i30 N. That’s N for the famed Nurburgring – and Namyang. If the latter is alien to you, it is to Hyundai what the Skunk Works is to Lockheed Martin – a place where seriously potent weapons are developed. The Germans, longtime Hyundai targets, have been crushing the company in the hot hatch stakes, and the company has had nothing to hit back with but with a stable of sedans, MPVs and SUVs. What better way to beat the Germans – than to hire a German? That thinking resulted in erstwhile BMW M head Albert Biermann being spirited away from Bavaria to help the Koreans conduct their own blitzkrieg. The competition is fierce. Volkswagen has its…

IT is no surprise that Audi chose an SUV format to introduce its first ever fully electric vehicle. This is after all, the largest growing passenger vehicle segment. Anyone looking to buy a new “car” these days will have more SUVs than saloons on the shopping list. What is truly surprising is that Audi chose oil-rich Abu Dhabi as the location for the e-tron’s world launch. The capital city of United Arab Emirates (UAE) controls 95% of the UAE’s oil, and not surprisingly contributes almost 70% of their whopping S$550 billion annual economy. Our introduction to the electric Audi begins at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s purpose-built high-tech sub-city that ironically relies extensively on renewable energy for the six square kilometer commercial complex. Masdar City is also home of the International…

How often should I wax my car? Some friends said that I only need to wax it once a year. Others said I should do it every three to six months. Is there a recommended frequency to follow? It depends on how often you drive and the conditions that your car is subjected to. A car that’s driven daily and spends its life in open carparks will require more frequent waxing than a car that’s driven less and usually parked in a sheltered space. Singapore’s hot weather, thunderstorms and bird poop can really wear down that layer of wax. The best way to tell if you need to wax your car is to run your finger along the body panels when the vehicle is cool and dry. Is the surface…