Table of contents for December 2018 in Torque

POST/MAIL OF THE MONTH POST YOUR QUESTIONS, comments or suggestions on our Facebook page (www.fb.com/torque.singapore)or e-mail us (magtorque@sph.com.sg). MOTORIST MONITORING SYSTEM ALAN YAU Driving is one of my favourite activities that I have dialled back since I came to Singapore. I grew up in the UK, where fantastic B roads were always around the corner and affordable performance cars were exactly that – affordable. However, there are many things in Singapore that I have learned to love and accept. The in-car unit, for instance, is brilliant! And the COE system, whilst hard to swallow, does achieve its purpose of keeping our roads from becoming carparks. I have a proposal that can help us make driving more enjoyable for all. We should implement a considerate/safe driving scoring system that monitors everyone…

Renowned Swiss watchmaker Tissot celebrates its 165th birthday this year and the brand has a rich history when it comes to crafting timepieces which celebrate its creativity and innovativeness. TISSOT HERITAGE PETITE SECONDE The Tissot Heritage collection comprises its 2018 new releases and it is a fine example of this philosophy as it consists of watches which were inspired by models of yore that testify to the exceptional skills and knowledge of its watchmakers. The inspiration behind the 42mm Tissot Heritage Petite Seconde is a timepiece which was part of the brand’s 1943 collection. That particular watch was designed to be a city watch with its hardwearing nickel-chromium alloy case, small yet distinctive seconds dial, and 27mm calibre which was a Tissot exclusivity. The Heritage Petite Seconde pays homage to…

SIX thousand and five hundred. That’s the number of components which Mercedes-Benz claims that is new in the latest C-Class. Another fact revealed by the German carmaker at the international media test drive in the scenic Moselle Valley in Germany: It’s the most extensive update in the history of the model, with over half the components being new. There were no less than 11 variants available at the event including the coupe, cabriolet and estate. However, it was the C200 Exclusive saloon that was the most interesting as it’s a mild hybrid. When it reaches Singapore at year’s end, it will probably be the most popular variant. Propelled by an entirely new engine, Mercedes-Benz has taken the downsizing route which is favoured by many brands, but the good news is…

THE very first Aston Martin DBS was supposed to be designed and built by an Italian coach builder named Touring. It had a patented lightweight metal construction technique under the tradename Superleggera, which means “super lightweight” in Italian. However, before it could begin production, Touring folded. The DBS was finally completed in the UK and launched in 1967. It was only in 2007 that we saw the DBS moniker again, this time as the ultimate variant of the DB9 model line. Coincidentally, both the 1967 DBS and 2007 DBS were featured in the James Bond movies of the time. The latest Aston Martin DBS carries the Superleggera name to symbolise its link with its ancestor, as well as to denote its lightweight status. Although the DBS Superleggera is derived from…

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SV 1.4 versus RENAULT SCENIC 1.5 versus TOYOTA PRIUS+ 1.8 TWO decades ago, the thought of buying an MPV was a depressing one for car lovers. Most models were bland and boxy-looking, with space and practicality being the main priorities. And in terms of performance and handling, these boxes on wheels were as about as exciting to drive as they were to look at. These three compact MPVs, however, not only boast snazzy styling, but pretty decent performance, too. The newest contender in our market is the Toyota Prius+. Replacing the popular Wish model, the Prius+ offers a versatile cabin (it’s the only seven-seater here) and an effi cient petrol-electric drivetrain. With standard 20-inch wheels and a relatively masculine design, the Renault Scenic tries to look more like…

FORGET the C63 saloon. The new Mercedes-AMG C43 four-door is better suited to Singapore roads. The 3-litre bi-turbo V6 engine has been carried over from its predecessor, but it now sports larger turbochargers and maximum boost pressure has also risen – from 0.95 bar to 1.1 bar. Gearchanges via the 9-speed automatic (also the same unit as the one used in the previous model) are also quicker, thanks to software tweaks. In Sport or Sport Plus mode, the gearbox responded with a textbook lesson on how fast, and direct, changing gears should be. It also didn’t matter if the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters were used or the transmission was left to do the gear selection automatically. The result was always one and the same. Zero to 100km/h is dispatched in…

SMART devices with cloud connectivity have become an inescapable part of our lives. Apart from smartphones, we also have Google Home. In the automotive world, cars are also becoming more sophisticated with models increasingly featuring technology powered by artificial intelligence (A.I.). The fourth-generation X5 is a good case in point. Within BMW’s lineup, it is the first model to showcase their latest operating system, OS 7.0, along with other modern gadgets. With this in mind, I half-expected Tim Cook to make an appearance at the X5’s Atlanta launch. But he’s probably too busy working on the next iPhone. So, instead of Apple’s CEO, it was BMW’s Project Manager for OS 7.0, Armin Distler, who presented it to us. OS 7.0 is just fresh from the oven and its full suite…

When do I change my car’s brake pads? What should I use as a measure of wear – months, years or mileage? How can I tell if they need changing? The life of a brake pad is determined primarily by how hard it is used. The age of a car does not make a difference to how fast it wears out. If your driving style is generally fast acceleration, which demands hard and frequent braking, then the brake pads will wear out faster. A gentler driving style will of course prolong the life of the pads. Some drivers tend to brake each time the brake lights of the car in front light up. You can minimise braking by keeping your distance and modulating your speed. High speeds demand higher braking…

To many travellers, going on a tour is an efficient way of seeing a country in as little time as possible. But being on a tour bus with 40 other strangers for the next week or two might not be everyone’s cup of tea. A private tour sounds great, but these usually cost a lot, and are perhaps better for honeymooners. You could plan your own trip and make your own arrangements. That gives you the advantage of doing things on your own time. But that also means you’ll have to do all the organising yourself. If you haven’t thought of it yet, a road trip through a country is actually one of the best ways of experiencing everything it has to offer. The Korea AUTOVENTURE, for instance, is a…

IN THE BEGINNING “Every time a new car is placed on the market, the tyre engineers are given the far from easy task of creating its very own ‘tyre’, in other words an item that best accommodates the car’s specific requirements.” Apt words which were uttered in the late 1950s when Pirelli’s “Perfect Fit” – the strategy of tailoring tyres to suit a car – was first introduced to the motoring world. You can liken it to getting London’s best tailor to craft a bespoke suit which gently hugs all your curves. The final fit will be… well… perfect. Pirelli is, without question, the brand of choice when it comes to tyres for the prestige car sector. Interestingly, it wasn’t until 1966 that Perfect Fit took on a concrete form…

The iconic Volkswagen Golf has sold more than 33 million units since its debut over four decades ago. Continuous design refinements and technological innovations from generation to generation have kept the award-winning hatchback ahead of the pack. The Golf Variant station wagon and Golf SV compact MPV are welcome additions to the line-up. With each car based on the same ethos of the Golf as being value for money, the wider choice of body types will broaden its appeal to an even larger customer base. The Golf hatchback’s contemporised design and snazzy styling fits right into the lifestyles of active urbanites. Available in either Comfortline or Highline versions, the Golf’s compact package packs in an extensive list of exterior, interior and safety equipment. The Golf Variant is a versatile station…

We thought that this would be a straight comparison, but as it turned out, these three compact MPVs are clearly aimed at three different types of drivers. The seven-seater Toyota Prius+ has to be the top choice for families with three or more kids. The Prius+ and its extra pair of seats is also the most versatile, because when not in use, said seats can be folded to expand the available boot space. And with its proven petrol-electric drivetrain, the Prius+ has the clear advantage when it comes to economy and running costs, too. For all its flexibility, the Prius+ surprisingly isn’t very practical, for its storage points are rather small. And despite Toyota’s powerful air-con, we’re pretty sure backseat passengers would appreciate some rear air-con vents. We love the…

THE Nurburgring-Nordschleife. The legendary German circuit where all supercar makers head to with their prized models to try and set a lap record. In July this year, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ clocked a time of 6 minutes 44.9 seconds to wrest the record from the mighty Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The Aventador SVJ (Superveloce Jota) gets its name from the 1970 Lamborghini Miura Jota. Though that very first Miura Jota was developed from a standard Miura, a handful of Miura SV owners asked Lamborghini to perform that same conversion (which reduced weight by 400kg) on their cars and the “SVJ” moniker was born. Also worthy of note – “Jota” is Spanish for the letter J, which alludes to the FIA’s Appendix J, the set of regulations governing road cars used…

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SV FROM $115,400 ON THE ROAD This updated compact MPV now comes with new infotainment and assistance systems, and offers better visibility with its standard LED headlights and tail-lights. Two variants, both with a 123hp 1.4-litre 4-cylinder engine and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, are offered. The entry-level Comfortline features the Composition Media infotainment system with an 8-inch display, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Highline variant, on the other hand, has the Discover Pro system with a fully configurable 9.2-inch touchscreen, 10GB of internal storage and a 4 x 20-watt amplifier. RIVAL: RENAULT SCENIC SUBARU FORESTER FROM $105,800 ON THE ROAD The fifth-generation Forester is the first model to feature all four of the Japanese carmaker’s core technologies, which include EyeSight Driver Assist Technology – a package of safety features…