Indice dei contenuti per September 2015 in Torque

With their sleek, aerodynamic forms, Formula One racecars are immediately recognisable from any distance. Their distinctive designs are the result of hours and hours of testing in state-of-the-art wind tunnels. The materials used to shape these fabulous cars aren’t common either: Carbon fibre reinforced plastic, or CFRP, is one such material that’s used extensively in race cars and even aviation. For optimum racing, they’ve got to be light enough for speed, stiff for maximum control, yet strong enough to withstand stress from the G-forces imposed upon the cars. A composite material consisting of carbon fibre surrounded by a plastic matrix (resin), CFRP has five times the strength of steel, but with only half the weight. And in the event of a crash, it is strong enough to absorb the shock…

Lexus has showcased a way for a car to reflect how excited a driver feels. The project features an RC F coupe covered in electro-luminescent paint, which glows in response to electric charges that are applied to it. The intensity of the electric charges is determined by equipment that measures the driver’s pulse rate. However, even if this concept becomes an actual option, it’s unlikely to be approved here by the Land Transport Authority, which will probably view it as a distraction to other motorists.…

Porsche Asia Pacific celebrated the nation’s 50th birthday and the 30th anniversary of Stuttgart Auto as the brand’s official agent in Singapore by organising The Porsche Circuit, which took place in July. Held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, the event not only showcased the German carmaker’s models but offered activities for the whole family, too. Said activities included the local launch of the 911 Carrera 4 GTS, the extreme 911 GT3 RS and the Cayenne SG50 Exclusive Edition sports utility vehicle, of which there are only 10 units. The one-of-a-kind 911 Turbo S SG50, which was also on display, was eventually sold. Motorsport fans were given the chance to meet Earl Bamber, one of the three Porsche drivers who won this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.…

So named because it was Porsche’s 550th design project, the 550 Spyder is a racing-oriented roadster introduced in 1953. It helped to put the marque on the international motorsport map and inspired the first Boxster Spyder, which hit the road in 2010. Five years later, the same “lighter, sportier” formula has been applied to the current Boxster to create another Spyder (pg 60) for the hardcore driver. AND ALSO • LEXUS NX200T vs LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT vs VOLVO XC60 • PEUGEOT 508 1.6 vs OPEL INSIGNIA 1.6 • KIA CARENS vs CHEVROLET ORLANDO • VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN • BMW X1 • AUDI Q3 • JAGUAR XE…

THE French have always been famous for making stylish and quirky vehicles, whereas the Germans are more known for creating sensible but not always exciting cars. When Peugeot launched the 508 saloon four years ago, it was a shock to many. But the jolt wasn’t because Peugeot had produced a mid-size saloon (the 508 replaces the smaller 407 and larger 607 models) – it was the fact that instead of looking avant-garde, the 508 actually has a conventional design that attracts rather than alienates buyers. The Opel Insignia, launched in 2009, was also a breath of fresh air. Its “blade” styling language was not only unique but dynamic, too. It made older Opel models look staid, and caught the eye of buyers. But while the 508 was available with a…

FIVE years in the making, the second-generation BMW X1 looks like a proper sports utility vehicle, and a handsome one at that. With design elements of its bigger siblings, the X3 and X5, it returns a drag coefficient of only 0.29 (depending on the model variant). The original X1, launched in 2009, looks disproportionate, somewhat like a jacked-up station wagon when viewed from the stern. The first X1 found over 730,000 buyers worldwide. Don’t bet against that number being beaten by the second X1, as it has more of everything – more room, more powerful and efficient drivetrains, more interior practicality, and a more commanding driving position made possible by the 53mm-taller roofline. The X1’s new engines are transversely mounted and therefore intrude less into the cabin than the earlier…

DRIVER’S LICENCE 15 VISITS TO SPAIN KEVIN CHIN His most recent trip there was one of the most exciting, because he went to check out this hot new “cat”. REMEMBER the Jaguar X-Type? Neither does Jaguar, it seems. At the media launch of the new XE in Spain, no mention was made of the British firm’s last contender in the compact executive saloon segment – which goes to show the impact, or lack thereof, made by the Ford-derived X-Type. After almost £2 billion ($4.2 billion) of investment that includes two new factories, 2300 new jobs, a new vehicle architecture and two new engines, Jaguar is back for another stab at a segment currently dominated by the Germans – BMW with its 3 Series, Mercedes with its C-Class and Audi with…

AS a tiny yet incredibly roomy, low-priced two-door passenger car for the masses, the original 1959 Mini Minor was technically far superior to most cars of its era. The car’s simple little 4-cylinder 8-valve 848cc engine (no overhead camshafts) shares its oil with the sump-mounted 4-speed gearbox, the chassis is sprung on variable-rate rubber springs, and the 10-inch wheels are mounted on hubs with basic drum brakes at all four corners. Maximum speed of the 34bhp Mini is catalogued at 116km/h. Formula One constructor John Newton Cooper (1923-2000), whose racecars won the 1959 and 1960 Formula One World Championships, realised that the Mini possesses innate handling qualities thanks to its front-drive traction, low centre of gravity and compact dimensions. With the cooperation of BMC (Mini’s manufacturer), John’s Cooper Car Company…

TUDOR FASTRIDER BLACK SHIELD A matt black ceramic monobloc watch tracking the movement of time at the speed of night, this is a fantastically fast ride for the wrist. $6580 LUMINOX A1143 TONY KANAAN It’s like wearing a checkered flag on your wrist – a “flag” that is Swiss-made, water resistant to 200m and equipped with micro gas tubes. $1979 HUBLOT BIG BANG FERRARI KING GOLD CARBON With its 45mm gold case, bespoke carbon fibre bezel and 18K red gold occlusions, this mega watch is fit for a Grand Prix king. $66,600 TISSOT PRS 516 EXTREME Almost an automotive product, this watch boasts smooth “bodywork”, a sophisticated “dashboard”, a “tyre rubber” strap and a 12-spoke “alloy wheel” behind. $1930 AZIMUTH CRAZY RIDER This unusual 100-unit collaborative project with Russia’s Nika…

1 IT CHARGES LIKE A SMARTPHONE A BMW i-Wallbox comes complimentary with your BMW i3. And it works just like your iPhone’s charging dock. To juice up your car, simply plug it in just as you would your smartphone, and it will be charged up from nought to full in around eight hours. 2 JUICE IT UP WHILE YOU SHOP With more than 40 public charging station located in over 25 central locations island-wide, you’ll always be assured of a boost whenever your BMW i3 needs it. Reserved for electric cars only, there’ll always be an available lot for you. 3 RANGE RANGER The typical Singaporean drives an average of about 55km a day. The BMW i3 is capable of 150km on a full charge. That’s enough to let you…

Towkays in a perpetual hurry could consider the Audi S8 Plus, the brand’s most powerful saloon to date. The “Plus” comes from this limo’s sizeable power increase of 85bhp and 50Nm over the S8 model. Engine enhancements to the S8 Plus included optimising the turbocharger’s inner geometry and modifying the exhaust valves. The turbocharged 4-litre V8 now kicks out a mighty 605bhp and 700Nm, enabling it to blast from standstill to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds, or 0.3 of a second quicker than the S8.…

AN SUV (sports utility vehicle) driven by outdoorsy suburbanites in Singapore will never encounter rocks, rivers or mountains. Instead, they’ll need to contend with kerbs, “ponding” and multi-storey carparks. This makes them more like urban explorers, as opposed to jungle adventurers. Lexus is hoping to capture more of these outdoorsy buyers with the NX200t. In addition to its aggressive design, this vehicle also promises a sporty drive with its turbocharged motor (the first Lexus model so equipped) and a comfy ride with its well-appointed cabin. Taking on the Lexus in this shootout is Volvo’s XC60. Although it’s the oldest model here and the only one without all-wheel-drive, this car has nevertheless benefited from updates to its cabin (snazzy new instrument meters) and powertrain (more ponies and a new gearbox with…

THERE comes a point in a family man’s life when he realises that his regular saloon is no longer adequate for the needs of his growing brood. It is at this point that he starts considering a seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle for his next ride. He would do well to consider the pair of Koreans we have here. The Kia Carens makes its much-awaited return to our shores as a 2-litre model after a lengthy absence, while the Chevrolet Orlando (which is built in South Korea despite the American name) hopes to beat the newcomer, with the Chevy’s strongest weapon being a road-tax-friendly 1.4-litre turbocharged engine. The latest Carens was actually launched overseas in 2013. Its local debut is two years late because of sky-high COE premiums, which made it unviable…

WHEN the Q3 was first launched here in 2012, it was offered in two variants, both powered by 2-litre turbo engines. The differences between them are their equipment levels and power outputs – the entry-level model has 170bhp, while the range-topping one has 211bhp. Three years later, the entry-level Q3 is now the Q3 1.4, which is not only less expensive, but more efficient, too. The top-end Q3 model (also facelifted) is still the 211bhp Q3 2.0. Apart from sporting a redesigned front bumper, the Q3’s overall design hasn’t changed. There are four new paint hues to choose from, and to emphasise the Q3’s premium-ness, the units sold by official agent Premium Automobiles now have LED headlights as standard. The pre-facelift Q3s were “only” equipped with Xenon headlamps. The new…

RALLY racing is special. For starters, aside from the relative comfort of the service park (rallying’s equivalent of the paddock in circuit-based motorsports), all the spectating has to be done alfresco. If the weather during my time in Porto at the Rally de Portugal was any measure, this meant enduring searing sunshine one moment and icy blasts of mountain-peak wind the next. That said, suffering the vagaries of nature was all part of the experience. And, really, if I were sipping champagne from the comfort of an air-conditioned lounge kilometres away from the action and having to, ahem, perform needful tasks in fixed facilities, it wouldn’t be in keeping with the spirit of rallying. Despite Porto throwing up some bipolar weather, I doubt its late-spring climate was hardly the worst…

1. SYMPHONETTE ORCHESTRA Longines has launched a stylish new collection for women. The quartz-powered Symphonette is available in four sizes (XS, S, M and L) and a variety of pretty designs. The oval-shaped case comes in steel, diamond-set steel, rose gold or diamond-set rose gold. The strap is either a black alligator affair with buckle or a steel mesh bracelet with butterfly clasp, and the different dial designs are all delightfully feminine. 2. UP TO THE MINUTE The funky Squarestreet Minuteman, available as a standard two-hand model or a quirkier one-hand version, now comes with more colour choices. Encasing the quartz movement is handmade Italian Mazzuchelli acetate, a quaint plastic composite with a lovely lustre. The strap can be either genuine leather or military-inspired Nato nylon. 3. THE RIGHT ANGLES…

STUTTGART Auto held its Porsche Driving Experience at the Sepang circuit recently and, admittedly, this was my first time experiencing Stuttgart’s finest on a racetrack. There were six models for participants to drive – the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the Panamera and Panamera S, the Cayman GTS, the 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet and the blistering 911 Turbo. The precision and versatility of the Cayman GTS were a revelation, but it was the sheer speed of the 911 Turbo that blew me away. It devoured Sepang’s faster sections like a bat out of hell, while its superb rear-wheel steering ensured it was also nimble in the bends. In my experience, the Panamera saloons and Cayenne sports utilty vehicle prove that Porsche’s heftier models can tackle racetracks as effortlessly as their sportier siblings,…

Ferrari has introduced the 488 Spider, the topless version of the 488 GTB and successor to the 458 Spider. Like its predecessor, the 488 Spider also features a retractable hard-top that deploys and closes in 14 seconds. For enhanced rigidity, this automobile is constructed using 11 different aluminium alloys and metals such as magnesium. According to Ferrari, the 488 Spider matches its coupe sibling’s torsional rigidity, and is 23 percent stiffer than its predecessor. This vehicle’s athletic prowess comes from its 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8. Producing 670bhp and 760Nm, it demolishes the century sprint in three seconds. That’s a searing 0.4 of a second quicker than the 458 Spider’s time. To complement, the performance, engineers heightened the car’s “soundtrack” by utilising components that include exhaust headers with longer, equal-length piping. Enabling…

Infiniti has launched the Q30, its first compact crossover. According to Infiniti, this automobile has an expressive interior and delivers a dynamic drive. The car’s final stages of testing and development were performed in Europe. When the Q30 comes to Singapore next year, we expect it to be powered by the same 2-litre turbo engine found in the brand’s Q50 saloon. The Q30 is likely to be priced close to rivals such as the Lexus NX200t and the other “Q” crossover – the Audi Q3.…

Thanks to its updates, the Volvo XC60 never betrays its age. It strengths lie in its host of safety features, solid feel and awesome seats. At press time, the XC60 is also $16k and $25k more affordable than the NX200t and the Discovery Sport respectively. This Swede SUV’s only bugbears are its unintuitive infotainment controls and high floor protrusion in the rear, which makes it awkward for the middle passenger in the backseat. Just as compelling as the XC60 is the Land Rover Discovery Sport. It’s a seven-seater SUV with terrain-conquering abilities that few can match. But its relatively heavy body and mud-plugging four-wheel-drive put a damper on its paved-road dynamics, while its two extra seats are really only suitable for occupants shorter than 1.5m. What the NX200t lacks in…

YOU are getting most of what makes its hardcore stablemate, the Cayman GT4, so special, at a more than $40,000 discount. Because Porsche has shamelessly cannibalised the GT4 to create this, the most focused and potent Boxster of all. The close relationship between the two cars is obvious at first glance, because the Spyder wears the GT4’s entire front end. This means a jutting, low-chinned front bumper dominated by three gaping intakes, and a horizontal slit-like air vent at the leading edge of the bonnet. These visually set the Spyder apart from the rest of the Boxster range. Underneath, the Boxster Spyder’s 3.8-litre flat-6 powerplant is identical to that of the GT4 (which nicked said engine from the 911 Carrera S). But because the Spyder lacks the GT4’s sideblades that…

OKAY, I can “die” now. Because I’ve ticked one of the items on my bucket list: a visit to the iconic Silverstone circuit in England. A former wartime airfield, Silverstone was first used for racing in the late 1940s. In 1950, it hosted the first official Formula One world championship race, cementing its place in the annals of top-tier motorsports. It underwent major redevelopment recently, but the classic corners – Stowe, Copse, Maggots and Woodcote – are all still there. I remember watching my first F1 race on TV when I was studying in Perth in the late 1980s, and recall the British Grands Prix so vividly because the races were always eventful and intense. To finally set foot on this fabled racetrack was a dream come true. Bentley is…

The Plantronics Voyager Edge SE offers up to six hours of static-free talk time, thanks to its noise-cancelling functions and three microphones. For added convenience, this Bluetooth headset also announces the caller’s name and lets users pick up calls with the “answer” voice command, or reject calls by saying “ignore”. It’s ideal for motorists who spend as much time talking as they do driving. $169…

BETTER PLACE Jack’s Place, a popular 49-year-old Singaporean restaurant chain with 17 outlets, has revamped its menu, decor and food presentation. Classic favourites such as Jack’s grass-fed beef cuts and Uncle Jack’s fish and chips are now parked alongside modern additions like curly truffle fries and spicy buffalo wings. The homegrown chain has also introduced Cola Café, which serves quick/light bites, desserts (such as cakes and Udders ice cream) and drinks (including coffee, of course, plus craft beers). BRUSSELS’ MUSSELS Brussels Sprouts has an ongoing (till December this year) $50 promotion for two pots (one main-sized and one starter-sized) of their mussels. The delicious choices include an SG50-inspired special with a different Asian-inspired sauce every month. Naturally, Belgian beer is the joint’s recommended tipple with which to wash down a…