Torque - June 2015 SG

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

1/132

w

JUNE 2015 S$6.90 RM9.50

SIGNSTHAT SINGAPORECANHAVEMORECARS

SINGAPORE’S NO.1 MONTHLY CARMAGAZINE*NIELSENMEDIAINDEX2014

vs

vs

vs vs

POWER& TORQUE

EXPLAINED

IN BICYCLING

TERMS PG86

PLUS

s. .c .s

NEW LOOK

2 0

N

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

2/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

3/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

4/132

2 J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW.TORQUE.COM.SG

D R I V E S34 GROUP TEST: PORSCHE CAYENNE

3.6 vs BMW X5 xDRIVE35i 3.0vs LAND ROVER RANGE ROVERSPORT 3.0

42 GROUP TEST: TOYOTACOROLLA ALTIS 1.6 vsVOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.4

46 GROUP TEST: MAZDA 6 WAGON 2.5vs SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5

50 AUDI S152 MERCEDES-BENZ B20054 TOYOTA VELLFIRE56 VOLVO XC9064 DUCATI SCRAMBLER

GROUPTESTPORSCHE CAYENNE 3.6 vs

BMW X5 xDRIVE35i 3.0 vs LANDROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT 3.0

34PG

O N T H E C O V E R

56 SWEDETREAT100 $25,000 OF GIVEAWAYS INSIDE52 MERCEDES-BENZ B20050 AUDI S154 TOYOTA VELLFIRE64 DUCATI SCRAMBLER46 MAZDA 6 WAGON vs SUBARU OUTBACK42 TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS vs VOLKSWAGEN JETTA34 PORSCHE CAYENNE vs BMW X5 vs LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER SPORT

GROUP TESTYOTA COROLLA ALTIS 1.6VOLKSWAGEN JETTA1.4

PG

Tvs

50PG DRIVEAUDI S1

CONTENTS

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

5/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

6/132

4 J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW. TORQUE . C OM. SG

86PGTECH: TORQUEAND POWER

REGULARS8 EDITORQUE10 POSTBOX 14 NEWS22 FACES24 ANALYSE THIS26 HISWHIRL OF DRIVING28 BEHIND THE WHEEL30 HER WORLD OF MOTORING115 BUY128 REARVIEW 80PG

HOBBY: TAKE THESAAB WAY

ICEDRIVING SPECIAL

66

PG

FEATURES66 ICE-DRIVING SPECIAL:

BIMMERS ON ICE An afternoon out at the brand new

BMW Driving Center saw this youngwriter learn the finer points ofdriving on slippery surfaces.

68 ICE-DRIVING SPECIAL:COLD COMFORT

This writer battled sub-zero wintertemperatures on a frozen Finnishlake to see how well Bentleysperform on ice.

74 ICE-DRIVING SPECIAL:LOSING MY COOL

This writer discovered thatamateurishness, hot SUVs

and icy conditions are not a good combination.

78 FACE-OFF: DO MOTORSHOWS NEED SHOWGIRLS?

Associate editor Daryl is all forhaving models at motor shows,

while senior writer Jeremy thinks they’re irrelevant.

80 HOBBY: TAKE THE SAAB WAY For the most fervent members of car club Saabstance, Swede

dreams are made of these turbocharged numbers.

86 TECH: TORQUE AND POWER Our mechanical engineer explains

the difference once and for all, withthe help of two “cyclists”.

CONTENTS

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

7/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

8/132

6 J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW. TORQUE . C OM. SG

GARAGE90 MOD RIDE: FLIGHT OF

THE HUMMINGBIRD Autovox’s Audi R8-based project car

packs a supercharger, less weightand a serious sting in its tail.

94 TYRE TEST: DUNLOP

DIREZZA DZ102 Dunlop’s new performance-orientedrubber is great in both the wet anddry, but it has a hard ride.

95 OPTIONS A choice selection of cool bits for

your hot ride.

96 TUNE-IN News about motorsports, car mods,

and the art of driving fast.

PLAY106 TIME: DEEP ONES

It doesn’t matterif you’re a desk-diving landlubber or a deep-dwelling seamonster – these

diver’s watches would make greatadditions to yourcollection.

110 TIMEZONE

112 THINGS

106PG

TIME

THINGS

TUNEIN

96PG

112PG

MOD RIDE

CONTENTS

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

9/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

10/132

GOODBYE, HELLOBye, old Torque. Hi, new Torque. And hello, Torque reader. Thanks

for reading this magazine, newly redesigned and re-engineered

from bumper to bumper for your enjoyment.The long and winding road of this revamp needed much more

than eight days a week, a hard day’s night and a ticket to ride.

Brains were drained in massive brainstorms and creative juices

were squeezed to the last drop. My colleagues and I are nursing

big headaches and feeling a bit thirsty.

We hope the end result you’re holding in your hands (as a print

magazine or tablet edition) has been worth the effort, and you

like what you see. Enjoy turbocharged Torque like never before.

This homegrown title has been “on the road” since 1990 (see

Rear View on pg 128), and our journey as Singapore’s authority

on all things automotive shall continue apace.

It’s the 25th birthday of Torque, but our readers get the power

presents – worth $25,000. Open them all from pg 100 onwards. EDITORDAVID TING

[email protected]

JEREMYCHUA

EDRIC PAN

DAVID TINGTONYTAN

LYNNTAN

TOH YONGCHUAN

CHRISTOPHERTAN

SHREEJITCHANGAROTH

KEVIN CHIN

ANDRELAM


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

11/132

is availableaboardSingaporeAirlinesEconomyClass.

TORQUEIS PUBLISHEDBYSPHMAGAZINESPTELTD82GENTINGLANE,MEDIACENTRELEVEL7,SINGAPORE 349567.TEL:6319 6319,FAX:6319 6055,E MAIL:[email protected]:6319 6326.

DISTRIBUTEDBY CIRCULATIONDEPARTMENT,SINGAPOREPRESS HOLDINGSLTD.PRINTEDBY TIMESPRINTERS, SINGAPORE.SINGAPOREREGISTRATIONNO. 196700328H.SPHMAGAZINES REGISTRATIONNO.196900476M,ISSN02187868,MCI(P)063/09/2014,KDNNO. PPS1718/12/2012(022889).DISTRIBUTEDIN HONGKONGBYFOREIGNPRESS DISTRIBUTORSLTD.

ALLRIGHTSRESERVED.NOPARTOFTHIS PUBLICATION MAY

BEREPRODUCEDIN ANYFORMORBYANY MEANSWITHOUT

THEWRITTENPERMISSIONOFTHE PUBLISHER.THEVIEWS AND

OPINIONSEXPRESSEDOR IMPLIEDIN TORQUEARETHOSE OF THEAUTHORSOR CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOTNECESSARILY REFLECT

THOSEOFTHE PUBLISHER.

CALL 63883838 FORBACKISSUES,E MAIL [email protected]: 63883838 ORSUBSCRIBE ONLINE:

WWW.TORQUE.COM.SG

CHRISTOPHER TAN

“Seeing” clear roadsahead, he analyseswhy having morecars in Singaporedoes not alwaysmean having morecongestion (pg 24).

DR ANDRE LAM

Our “rubber burner”puts the DunlopDirezza DZ102through its paces(pg 94) and finds itto be great in boththe wet and dry.

KEVIN CHIN

Audi S1 in Germany(pg 50), Volvo XC90in Spain (pg 56) andDucati Scrambler inThailand (pg 64) –Kevin’s passport hasbeen in overdrive.

SHREEJIT

CHANGAROTH

Our mechanicalengineer explainsthe differencebetween torque andpower – once andfor all (pg 86).

EDRIC PAN

Our car-crazy legaleagle has convincedthis jury that heshould have his owncolumn, which willmake its debut inour next issue.

LYNN TAN

This year, 2015, issignificant for Lynnin more ways thanone (pg 30). And sheinterviews a fellowfemale petrolhead,Estonia Ruf (pg 22).

BOOSTING THIS ISSUE OF TORQUE

GROUP EDITORINCHIEF

CAROLINE NGUI [email protected]

GROUP EDITOR

RAYMOND GOH [email protected]

EDITORIAL

CONSULTING EDITOR

CHRISTOPHER TAN [email protected]

EDITOR

DAVID TING [email protected]

SENIOR WRITER

JEREMY REGAN CHUA [email protected]

EXECUTIVE SUB-EDITOR

LEONARD LAU [email protected]

SENIOR MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION AND

EDITORIAL SUPPORT UNIT

JULIANA CHONG [email protected]

EDITORIAL SUPPORT MANAGER

ALICE HAN [email protected]

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

YOLANDA ZHUANG [email protected]

CREATIVE

ART DIRECTOR

JASON TAN [email protected]

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

MICHAEL CHIAN [email protected]

SENIOR DESIGNER

SEAN LEE [email protected]

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

VERONICA TAY [email protected]

EXECUTIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS

FRENCHESCAR LIM [email protected]

TAN WEI TE [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DARREN CHANG [email protected]

JASPER YU [email protected]

VEE CHIN [email protected]

VERNON WONG [email protected]

WINSTON CHUANG [email protected]

ZAPHS ZHANG [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT

ANGELA GUO

EDITORIAL SUPPORT EXECUTIVE

JACQUELINE YIK [email protected]

CREATIVE SERVICESDIRECTOR

ONG TING NEE [email protected]

EDITORS

DARYL TAN [email protected]

O THIAM CHIN [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

GRACE CHUA [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CADENCE LOH [email protected]

SENIOR WRITER

NIDA SEAH [email protected]

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

NURASYIDAH ABDUL RAZAK [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR

NECCOL WOO [email protected] ART DIRECTOR

FENG LING [email protected]

SENIOR DESIGNER

ADELINE ENG [email protected]

DESIGNER

THAM SIEW YEE [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

EUNICE TAN [email protected]

CAREN LIM [email protected]

EXECUTIVE

MARTHA CHIN [email protected]

MANAGING DIRECTORDENNIS PUA [email protected]

GENERAL MANAGERPANG LEE CHENG [email protected]

ADVERTISING SALESASSOCIATE AD SALES DIRECTOR

KEVIN FOO [email protected]

ACCOUNT MANAGER

BERNARD CHEN [email protected]

MARKETINGTEAM HEAD

VICKY YONG [email protected]

ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER

JASMINE KOO [email protected]

PUBLISHING SERVICES

TEAM HEAD

ALICE CHEE [email protected]

TEAM LEADER

LISA YONG [email protected]

EXECUTIVE

FION TAN [email protected]

www.torque.com.sg

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

LOH YEW SENG [email protected]

STRATEGIC PLANNING DIRECTOR

FOONG SEONG KHONG [email protected]

PUBLISHING SERVICES DIRECTOR

LEONG TSCHENG YEE [email protected]

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS HEAD

CHIN SOO FANG [email protected]

VICEPRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES

IRENE LEE [email protected]

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 9

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

12/132

EVAN LOW I must confess: I’m quite an amateur when it comes to

cars and magazines about cars. But I feel thatTorque has distinguished

itself as a premier magazine, and as the place to go when people look for

“premier” car reviews, because Torque’s aesthetics are nicer. The quality

of articles and the focus on being a premium magazine brand are your

strengths. I’ll be disappointed if Torque ever compromises on aesthetics

– be it print or digital.

Torque Thanks for your “premier” praise. Don’t worry, we’ll always be

particular about the look and feel of our magazine, which has been given

a design upgrade with this very issue.

THE

LOOK

POST/MAIL OF THE MONTHPOST YOUR QUESTIONS,comments or suggestions on our Facebook page(www.fb.com/torque.singapore)or e-mail us ([email protected]).

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

13/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 11

IN TOUCH WITH PRINTKENT KHOO More and more people are

actively choosing to unplug or disconnectfrom digital media. I find myself turning off

my smartphone to “engage” with printed

material. A year ago, I didn’t see this coming.

Today, I relish the opportunities when I

cannot be reached for “comment”. Thus, I

prefer to read Torque as a print magazine.

Torque Print is alive and well, thank you very

much. Pages of automotive prose and photos

will continue to be published nicely in Torque,

even as we continue accelerating ahead

with our digital edition, website and social

media engagement.

WRITEROF THE BESTPOST/MAILTHIS MONTHWINS A COLUMBIATRAILPOINT WATCHWORTH $199!

This is a funky yet functionaldigital timepiece for thesporty girl. The Trailpoint isready for the great outdoors,thanks to its silicon strap,stainless steel case andTrakbak compass technology.Visit www.crystaltime.com.sgfor more information.

READER FROMDOWN UNDERHARLEY GROVER Hi,

I bought a copy of Torque

magazine and really enjoyed

it. I went online to subscribe,

but it looks like the subscriber

has to live in Singapore. Is

it possible to do a yearly

subscription for me in Australia?

Torque Yes, it’s possible forus to mail copies of Torque to

an overseas address, but the

one-year/12-issue subscription

cost will be high – S$270.15

forAustralia. (Our circulation

colleague has gotten in touch

with Harley regarding the

digital subscription option.)

PARKINGPROBLEMSWAYNE POH Some carpark

architects in Singapore use

vehicle dimensions from the

1970s. Some add a speed

hump on an upslope or at the

crest of a ramp. Some forget

that cars need space to turn

and manoeuvre. Some don’t

remember that there are

taller vehicles. Maybe manyof our carpark architects

cycle and don’t drive.

Torque We see the problems

you mentioned and can suggest

solutions, but carparks are never

the most important spaces in

Singapore’s urban landscape.

g between Honda’s

2-litre turbo 310bhp Civic Type R and Volkswagen’s 2-litre turbo

300bhp Golf R, assuming similar local prices. The Golf R has

all-wheel-drive, the CTR is front-wheel-drive. The Golf R can be

equipped with a dual-clutch DSG, the CTR only offers a 6-speed

manual gearbox. Depends on individual needs and wants, I guess.

For me, Civic Type R!

Torque To make the decision less tough for local boyracers, we plan

to do a Group Test of the two turbocharged hot hatches when/if the

new Civic Type R arrives.

LIKE TORQUE ON FACEBOOK(www.fb.com/torque.singapore)

Where we interact with our readers, post automotivetidbits and run our popular “Guess The Car!” and“Caption The Photo!” contests.

I L L U S T R AT I ON

& P H OT O S 1 2 3 RF . C OM

OR M IPSUMO R S MET

OREM IPS M

R & REUGENETAN It’ll be a tough decision choosin

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

14/132

BMW SPECIAL

THE CARBON FIBRE

BMW i3 AND BMWi8 MAY SEEM LIKETHEY’RE FROMTHE FUTURE,BUT THEY’REAVAILABLE INSINGAPORE TODAY.

MATERIALGAINS

Now most of us already know that carbon

fibre is a miracle material – it’s remarkably

light and incredibly strong. It’s also

amazingly malleable, able to be fashioned

into complex shapes that are not possible

with metal.

However, the best thing about it is how

it has an exceptionally broad range of

applications, used to make everything from

golf clubs and planes to even the “blades”

of Paralympian athletes.

Carbon fibre also forms the backbone of

the revolutionary BMW i3 and i8, and it’s

used to make the passenger cells of both

vehicles (or as BMW calls it, the Life module).

Of course, the two vehicles

aren’t the first to be made from

the material. Formula One cars have

been made of it since the 1980s, and

it has long since trickled into the w

roadgoing automobiles as well.

However, hitherto the advent o

BMW i3 and i8, there has never y

been a mass-produced carbon fib

car (relatively low-volume superca

don’t count).

While the material is wonderful,

it’s also extremely expensive,

plus manufacturing it is time-

consuming and labour-intensive.

orld of

f the

et

re

rs

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

15/132

Carbonfibre

featuresheavily

in everyBMW i car.

So, given all that, how BMW

has managed to price the

two vehicles reasonably – to

say nothing of how both are

produced in large volumes – is an

incredible feat indeed.

But while the carmaker has managed

to simplify carbon fibre production for the

vehicles (along with bringing down the

associated costs), how it managed to do so

was no easy task.

For starters, every aspect of theproduction is owned by the Munich-based

carmaker. The parts are manufactured in

a factory in Moses Lake in the US state

of Washington, and the entire plant is

powered by renewable hydroelectricity,

with the fibres then processed into usable

“cloth” at the automaker’s Wackersdorf

facility in Germany.

But the most amazing part is how it has

managed to accelerate production times by

streamlining the entire process, and using

cutting-edge materials such as adhesives

that harden in minutes. (In traditional

carbon fibre manufacturing, that same

process can take more than a day.)

However, don’t go thinking BMW

has cut corners. Plenty of engineering

expertise is needed to create a “simpler”

structure, something made more critical by

how the Life module also needs to protect

its occupants.

And to top it off, the Bavarian company

also controls every aspect of the recycling

process, with some of the excess materialbeing reused almost on the spot.

For instance, after some processing,

the material that would otherwise end up

as waste is reused in the production of

the i3 (the rear seat pan is made from

recycled stuff).

Carbon fibre truly is a wonder material,

but with BMW’s advancements in its

production, implementation and even

recycling, it’s even more wonderful.

And the best part? These cars of the

future are available in Singapore today.

JUST ASWITH F1 CARS,

BMW i CARSARE MADE

OF CARBONFIBRE.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

16/132


π INSIGHTS & INTELLIGENCE

Honda has launched the

all-new Step WGN, an eight-

seater MPV with a “tallboy”

bodystyle that rivals theMazda Biante. Like its

predecessor, the latest

Step WGN has third-row

seats that can be folded and

stored in the floor for added

flexibility. The new model,

however, offers even more

convenience with its Waku

Waku (a Japanese expression

for “exciting”) tailgate, which

features a sub-door that

opens to the side.

Said sub-door has three

opening angles to enable

easier entry and egress forthird-row passengers, saving

them from having to squeeze

past the second row. It also

lets users load/unload cargo

without having to open the

entire tailgate, which is a

challenge in tight carparks.

For enhanced safety, the

Step WGN can be equipped

with Honda’s Sensing

system, which includes a

STEP UP

millimetre-wave radar and

monocular camera that work

together to detect both

vehicles and pedestrians,and warn the driver of a

potential collision.

The Step WGN’s

performance has taken a

step up, too. It’s the first

model equipped with

Honda’s new 1.5-litre

VTEC turbo engine, which

produces 150bhp and

203Nm. We can expect to

see this powerplant in other

Hondas in the near future,

but the Step WGN is unlikely

to be here any time soon – at

press time, offi cial agent Kah

Motor had no plans to launch

this MPV in Singapore.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

17/132

3TOTHEFORE

The facelifted BMW

3 Series has greater

road presence thanks

to its updated design,

which includes wider

air intakes and optional

LED headlamps. New

trim and customisationoptions for the interior

are also available, but

junior execs are likely to

be more excited bythe

new engines and more

powerful model variants.

The 328i, for instance,

has been rechristened

the 330i, while the 335i is

now the 340i. The 340i’snew 3-litre inline-6 turbo

engine produces 326bhp

and 450Nm, or 20bhp and

50Nm more than the 335i.

Sure to be popular with

local buyers, however, is

the entry-level 318i, which

is powered bythe same

turbocharged 1.5-litre,

3-cylinder motor as theMINI Cooper hatch. The

updated 3 Series will come

to Singapore in the fourth

quarter of this year.

SsangYong has launched

the Tivoli compact

crossover – the first new

model from the Korean

manufacturer since it

was acquired by Indian

automaker Mahindra &

Mahindra in 2011. Named

after a small town outside

Rome, Italy, the Tivoli

has features such as an

instrument cluster with

six selectable backlight

colours, variable steering

assistance and ventilated

front seats. This compact

SUV will be available with

either a 1.6-litre petrol

motor or 1.6-litre turbo-

diesel. According to offi cial

dealer Motorway, the Tivoli

is currently undergoing

homologation in Singapore.

ITALIANINSPIRED

WORDS JEREMY CHUA

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

18/132


STATESIDE EXPANSION Porsche has opened its new Experience Center in

the United States. Located at the north-east corner ofthe Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta, the complexspans 10.9ha and was built at a cost of US$100 million(S$132 million) – the largest investment by the carmakeroutside of Germany. The facility includes a classic cargallery and a Human Performance Center. There is alsoa 2.6km Driver Development Track for enthusiasts toenhance their skills.

LANDIE LANDMARK Land Rover production has crossed the six million

mark, 67 years after the Series I off-roader wasunveiled. The six millionth vehicle that rolled off theproduction line, however, was not a basic Landie –it was a Range Rover LWB destined for a Chinesecustomer. To commemorate this particular Rangie’ssignificance, it was fitted with a special puddle lightthat displays the brand logo and production figure.

General Motors (GM)has become the firstautomaker to produce500 million vehicles – themost any manufacturerhas produced in history. Tocelebrate this achievement,the 106-year-old carmakergave away a new GM-branded vehicle to five

lucky customers fromaround the world, includinga farmer in Thailand whoreceived a ChevroletColorado pickup (left).

Another American firmthat passed a half-billionmilestone is tech giantApple, which sold its 500millionth iPhone last year.

GENERAL’S

HALF

BILLION

MOTORS


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

19/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

20/132


KODO

FOR HOMEMazda designers

Setsu and Shinobu Itocollaborated with Italianfurniture makers to createthe Sofa by Kodo. Kodorefers to the brand’s“motion of life” design

philosophy, which isinspired by animals in thewild. The dynamic-lookingsofa supposedly evokesthe Mazda CX-3’s strongstance, agility and speed.We’re not furniture-design experts, but wethink this couch wouldlook cool in any home.

FORD FURNISHINGS Ford designers showcased their non-

automotive creations at the Salone delMobile in Milan, Italy. Inspired by thecarmaker’s upcoming GT supercar, the

creations include a foosballtable with real grass, an

armchair made from asingle-piece mould,

and a “floating”table featuring asolid wood coresupported byaluminium legs.

EXOTICWORKSPACE

You may not be able toafford a Bugatti Veyron(which is out of productionanyway), but you cancertainly aspire to ownthe Unique Racing Desk.Manufactured by DesignEpicentrum, a Polishfurniture company, thedesk is constructed fromwood, while the replica

Veyron front end is madefrom fibreglass. Just makesure you inform yourboss that sitting behindthis desk doesn’t speedup your productivity.


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

21/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

22/132

Think about the one thing you can’t live without

and, inevitably, our smartphones pop straight

into our minds. With connectivity having become

an integral part of our professional and personallives, it’s almost impossible to go offline during

the course of a work day without missing out on

things that matter to us. Fortunately, with a car

like the new Audi A6, the automobile has evolved

with our needs. This vehicle is now able to satisfy

a driver’s exacting standards for comfort and

performance, while adding value to our lives with

a suite of technological and connectivity features

that work like a smartphone on wheels.

CONNECTIVITY ON THE GOFor busy executives, the new Audi A6, with

its Audi Connect system, doubles up as yourpersonal secretary on the go. Dubbed the “virtual

personal assistant”, it redefines the idea of a

mobile office as it incorporates a Wi-Fi hot spot

that allows up to eight devices to be connected.

For mobile phones equipped with Bluetooth

Message Access Profile capability, this system can

retrieve and read your e-mails out loud via the

Multimedia Interface (MMI) infotainment system.

That way, you’d be able to stay on top of things

without taking your eyes off the road.

The Audi A6 also comes with Audi’s MMI

navigation plus that features a useful Point-of-

interest search function if you need to get to your

next meal appointment quickly. This is especially

helpful given that some of the best diningplaces are located in the most obscure places.

Furthermore, this system’s capability to connect to

various Google services – such as Google Search

and Google Earth (you get up to five free map

upgrades and easy online access) – is useful when

the need to source for business meeting venues

arises.

CONFIDENCE GAMEHowever, automotive technology is irrelevant if

it can’t be used easily or if it doesn’t protect the

driver. Fortunately, the new Audi A6 boasts a

whole array of innovations that excels in thoseareas. For instance, the car features Park assist,

the automatic self-parking feature that gets the

car in and out of the trickiest (but often the most

convenient) lots for you. The 360-degree cameras

also let the driver check the surroundings as the

system works the car into a parking space.

On the move, the optional Audi active lane

assist ensures that you stay within your lane

while driving. Especially useful after a long day

at work, the system can intervene with gentle

steering inputs when necessary to keep you on

AUDI SPECIAL

INTELLIGENTANDSOPHISTICATED,THE NEW

AUDI A6REDEFINES THEMARRIAGE OFCOMFORT ANDTECHNOLOGY.

FORWARDTHE WAY

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

23/132

The dashboard layout ofthe A6 is driver-focused

and easy to read.

The impeccable detailsand finishes in the A6

make this one of the most

luxurious cabins around.

Features such as the Parkassist ensure a hassle-free

drive everytime.

the straight and narrow. This combines with

Audi side assist, which uses a radar system

to check for and warn you about vehicles

behind and beside, just like in an aircraft.

At night, the innovative new Audi Matrix

LED headlights adapt dynamically to varyingroad conditions, maximising safety by

ensuring that the driver has the maximum

required visibility at all times while not

blinding oncoming drivers.

Another useful option is the adaptive

cruise control with Stop&Go function. Perfect

for long-haul drives across the Causeway

and beyond, it also has sensors and radars

to not just maintain your desired cruising

speed but also react to traffic conditions

by slowing down the car and speeding it

up when necessary. Your preferred safety

distance can be preset and adjusted.Another oft-recommended option, standard

on the 3.0 TFSI quattro and RS 6 Avant, is

the head-up display, which virtually details

information such as vehicle speed and map

directions.

THE STELLARPERFORMERWhen it comes to technological innovations

for convenience and safety, the new Audi

A6 is clearly well ahead of the competition.

It leads the way in its class with its

impressive level of technological features,

and is a car that keeps up with the needs

of the intelligent and tech-savvy yet stylish

driver of today.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

24/132

π CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ruf Automobile GmbH

F

Founded by Estonia’s father-

in-law, Alois Ruf Sr, in 1939,

the eponymous German

manufacturer of Porsche-

based sports cars is now in

Singapore (again – Ruf was last

represented here in the 1990s),

with newly appointed dealership

Specialised Automobiles.

Estonia Ruf, 49, runs the family

business with her husband,

65-year-old Alois Ruf Jr, who

took over in 1974 after thedemise of his father. Estonia

considers herself a positive

force in the company, not just

in terms of the cars’ aesthetics

but also in product strategy.

For example, she pushed for

the development of the 3400S

(derived from the original

Porsche Boxster) even though

Ruf has always been about 911s.

She was proven right by the

positive market response to the

Ruf roadster, which was followed

by the 3600S and 3800S.

The Ruf power couple

officiated at the opening of the

new showroom at 10 Chang

Charn Road, where I spoke

to Estonia for this story.

How didyour passion

forcars begin?

I’ve always driven what I

consider to be nice cars, but

was either too busy with my

studies or career to really

spend time on them. I recall

the first time I walked into the

Rufworkshop – I saw a guy

putting the engine into a car,

and a few minutes later he was

in front of a sewing machine,

stitching the Ruf logo. I loved the

behind-the-scenes effort that

went into a finished product.

What is it like being a woman

in a male-dominated field?I do not see being a woman in

the car business as a particularly

difficult position. It is about

teamwork and it is fun. As part

of my education in the car

business, I listen to what our

customers need and how they

feel. The wives are also part of

it all. Some ofthem started out

being absolutely “allergic” to

cars, but I showed them how

to embrace and appreciate

cars, just like their husbands.

As a family-run manufacturer,

what sets Ruf apart from the big

boys in the supercar industry?

Because we are family-owned

and -operated, the decision-

making is much shorter. As

a boutique manufacturer,

we can really focus on the

craftsmanship, and it also allows

us flexibility. We’ve always

been keen to make cars that

ESTONIA

RUF

Estoniahad ahand inthecreation of the well-receivedRuf 3400S,which wasreplacedbythe3600S and3800S(pictured).

we ourselves like, and then

maybe other people will like

them, too. This is the “gap” we’re

trying to fill for enthusiasts.

How does a small company like

Ruf build powerful and reliable

sports cars from scratch?

It is a huge undertaking.

Sometimes, we ask ourselves

why we’re doing this! We finance

the business ourselves, we really

believe in what we do, and manydecisions have to come from

the heart. Every member of

our team is seeking perfection

with passion and exactitude.

What’s on the road map for Ruf?

We have plans to expand

our markets and increase

our partners. Within the

next five to eight years, our

production should increase

from the current 35 to 45

cars per year to a maximum

of 80 to 100 cars. Singapore

is our first step to Southeast

Asia. Specialised Automobiles’

managing director, Justin Tay,

has the dealer rights to Malaysia,

Indonesia and Hong Kong.


STORY LYNN TAN

FACES

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

25/132

What do you currently

drive on a daily basis?

The 3800S, of course! I also

drive an RCT [Ruf Carrera Turbo]

and, in the summer, a classic

Porsche 356 convertible that

was a present from Alois.

Are women better drivers

than men?

I’m sure some women are, but I

don’t think I’m a good driver. I’ve

become a much better driver

than before, though, because

of what I do and where I live.

The German autobahn trains

you to be a better driver!

I DON’T THINK I’M

A GOOD DRIVER,

BUT I’VE BECOME

A MUCH BETTERDRIVER THAN

BEFORE, BECAUSE

OF WHAT I DO AND

WHERE I LIVE.

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 23

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

26/132

versus 14.5 percent occupied

by housing. More than four

in 10 households already

own a car. And once people

own a car, they wil l drive

it indiscriminately, causing

congestion and pollution…

and so on, and so forth.

Well, after analysing various

sets of statistics compiled

by the Land Transport

Authority, it appears that

some assumptions may

have to be revised.

Firstly, motorists are driving

less. In fact, the average

annual mileage clocked by a

passenger car has been on a

continuous decline since 2006.

Last year, the average was

17,500km – nearly 20 percent

lower than the 21,075km

clocked eight years ago.

The carpopulation

in Singaporehas grownbysome 50

percent inthelast decade,

yetthe islandhasn’t turnedinto a giant

carpark.

CLEARROADS AHEADWhy having more cars does not always meanhaving more congestion.

Singaporecan avoid

gridlock byhaving betterroaddesigns

and fewerroadworks.

CONSULTING EDITORCHRISTOPHER TAN

CONSIDERINGTHE “WHYS”BEHIND THE NEWS

06 /JUN

rate is l ike ly to go down to

zero in the future – reversing

Transport Minister Lui Tuck

Yew’s previous position.

No doubt the usualreasons would spring forth

if one were to ask “Why?”.

Singapore is a small city

state; 12 percent of land is

already taken up by roads

T

THE Government has been

reining in Singapore’s car

population growth with

renewed fervour in recent

years. From 3 percent per year,

the allowable growth rate has

been cut repeatedly, and is

now at a dismal 0.25 percent.

If that was not enough, the

Senior Minister of State for

Transport, Josephine Teo, told

Parliament in March that the

P H O T O 1

2 3 R F . C

O M

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

27/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 25

Higher fuel prices and

steeper electronic road pricing

(ERP) charges may have been

the main reasons for this.

From a low of about $1.50

a litre in 2002, pump prices

climbed to $2.20 last year,before being pulled down

by falling oil prices (and then

raised by a petrol duty hike).

ERP rates have also

crept up over the same

period, with peak prices

doubling from $3 to $6.

Along with soaring parking

rates in the city centre, these

factors may have nudged

some drivers to take public

transport on weekdays,

either fully or partially.

And because heartland

shopping malls and cinemas

have sprouted in the last

decade or so, city-bound

traffic may also have dropped.

Saturday ERP may have

been another deterrent for

some shoppers who might

otherwise have gone to

Orchard Road or Marina Bay.

Why bother driving to

downtown shops when

neighbourhood malls are

nearly just as comprehensive?

Although a more thorough

investigation is necessary to

pin down the exact reasons

for the drop in annual mileage,

the fact is that said mileage

has fallen – noticeably.

But does lower mileage

translate to better traffic? In

this case, it does. According

to another set of stats (see

box story on the right), our

roads are generally morefree-flowing than they have

ever been in the past decade.

What the improved speeds

tell us is this: Despite the car

population having grown by

some 50 percent in the last

decade to about 620,000, we

have not come to a gridlock.

Neither has the island turned

into a giant carpark.

In fact, people have

tempered their use of the

car, resulting in what wouldhave been unthinkable in any

other city: an improvement

in traffic conditions on

the back of a huge growth

in vehicle population.

From the evidence,

Singapore can possibly

accommodate more cars.

It can do so by applying

more usage-demand

measures (which the next-

generation ERP is suitably

capable of doing), and it cando so by accelerating the

decentralisation programme.

And of course it can do so by

having better road designs

and fewer roadworks.

There is really no need for

the Singapore Government

to take a sledgehammer

approach to car population

control. No need to stifle

the natural aspirations of a

hardworking and increasingly

affluent population in such

an absolute and draconian

way. No need for tired

rhetoric on why we cannot

have more cars (but can

have a lot more people).

In short, there is

absolutely no need for

a zero-growth policy.

GOT A COMMENT?SEND IT TO

[email protected]

THERE IS

NO NEEDFOR TIREDRHETORICON WHY WECANNOTHAVE MORECARS BUTCAN HAVEA LOT MORE

PEOPLE.

S O

UR C E L ANDT RAN S P ORT A UT H ORI T Y

SPEEDIER ON

THE AVERAGE

On Singapore’s expresswaysduring peak hours, the averagespeed was 64.1km/h last year –

the highest in a decade. Speedon arterial roads and in theCentral Business District (CBD)was 28.9km/h – the highest in12 years.

While expressway speedin Singapore has been see-sawing before spiking last year,the speed on arterial roadsand the CBD has been on acontinuous uptrend since 2008.

This couldhavebeenbecause major expansionprojects on highways suchasthe Central Expressway andthe PanIsland Expressway,which had disrupted trafficflow in the earlier years, werecompleted recently.

The opening of theBartley

Viaduct in 2010would havecontributed to improvedflow on arterial roads, as itcompletes the so-called OuterRing Road system.

Clearly, speeds would havebeen even better if not for thethousands of road excavationsthat take place each year – andnot to mention the slew of MRTprojects that will take up to2030 to complete.– CHRISTOPHER TAN

Average peak-hour highway speed

60.5

61

61.5

62

62.5

63

63.5

64

64.5

65

0 4 0 5 0 6 07 08 0 9 10 11 12 1413

Year

km/h

Average peak-hour speed onarterial roads and in the CBD

Year24

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 1 2 1413

25

26

27

28

29

30km/h

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

28/132

DARYL LEE

F

FOR about as long as cars have

existed, science fiction has toyed

with the idea ofthem being able

to drive themselves someday. This

is kind of appropriate, because

there’s “auto” in “automobile”.

A few years ago, a self-driving

prototype of the then-new

Mercedes-Benz S-Class retraced

the steps of the world’s first

road trip (undertaken by Bertha

Benz in 1888), completely

unassisted by human hands/feet.

While the actual distance

covered was only about 100km,

it’s a stunning achievement

because it means the “automatic”

car is perilously close to being

a reality. There’s also howAudi

sent a driverless RS7 round the

Hockenheim racetrack, reaching

speeds of 240km/h. Indeed,

Nissan’s boss, Carlos Ghosn, is

so bullish on the self-driving

car, he says it’ll be a production

reality come 2020. Heck, even

Google is getting in on the actwith its driverless-car prototype.

So it might seem the fully

automated car looks inevitable.

But I can’t say I’m terribly excited

about a future where I won’t

have to drive myself to work.

And, no, it’s not because I’m a

tech-hating Luddite, or worried

about the millions of chauffeurs

potentially being out of work.

I’m a little sceptical because

if there ever was a harbinger

of the machine apocalypse,this would be it. You know

how the cataclysmic science

fiction movies go: Machines

get tired of servitude and rebel

against their human masters.

When the machines rise up

against humanity, their first task

would probably be to put us to

work driving them around, which

is ironic on so many levels.

But I suppose when our

merciless automotive masters

do take over the world, drivingwill be the least of our concerns.

They’ll probably force us to

do horrible things such as

performing oil changes on a

dailybasis, or fixing their myriad

inscrutable mechanical issues.

It would also spell the end for

me, because while I can drive with

a modicum of skill, I’m hopeless as

a mechanic. I knowthis because I

once cut myself quite badlywhile

repairing my bicycle’s brake rotor.

Carmakers might think

that the self-driving vehicle

advances the breed. But mark

my words. When the roles

are reversed and humanity is

put under the yoke, subject

to the endless whims of cars,

don’t say I didn’t tell you so.

DARYL RECKONS THAT THE

SELFDRIVING CAR WILL SPELL

THE END OF HUMANS AS THE

MASTERS OF THIS PLANET.

NO, THANKS,MR ROBOTOCarmakers may think the self-drivingcar is the way of the future, but Daryldoesn’t want any part of it.

Audi’sself-drivingtechnology

replacesthe humandriver withMr Roboto.


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

29/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

30/132

A

AUTOMOBILES have fascinated

this petrolhead since I was a kid.

Every car ride was an exciting

journey, and every new vehicle I

saw along the way was another

model I memorised. Like most

boys, I dreamt of being able

to drive the newest Porsches,

Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

But in secondary school, I

began to feel different (and it

wasn’t due to puberty). Suddenly,

the latest vehicles did not seem

as appealing to me as the cars

from the 1950s to the 1970s. So

while my buddies were talking

about the latest models, I was

the odd dude who kept going

on about fintails and generous

chrome on the bodywork.

I couldn’t explain my obsession

back then, but now that I’m

older and a bit wiser, I definitely

can. The lure of a classic car

comes from its history, which is

not always easy to discover. A

modern car, on the other hand,

is easy to understand. Marketing

managers give us press releases,

while engineers at car launchestell us the technical nitty-gritty.

There’s very little mystery.

Sitting in a classic car is like

being in a time machine. I settle

in, close the door and take a deep

breath. Is it really 2015? With

my eyes closed and The Four

Seasons playing on the radio,

it sure feels like 1963 to me.

A well-maintained classic car

is not only timeless, it can do

wonders for my love life as well.

Without automatic door locks,I’ll exude a gentlemanly vibe as I

unlock and open the passenger

door for my date. With any luck,

she’ll repay the favour by scooting

over to unlock the driver’s door

for me. And in a classic car with

a front bench seat, my squeeze

can sit closer to me, making

the drive a romantic one.

Neither of these scenarios

would be possible in a modern

automobile. I love the latest

vehicles, but I feel an evendeeper bond with classic cars.

JEREMY CLAIMS HE’S

OLDFASHIONED, BUT

HIS BETTER HALF HAS

CONCLUDED THAT HE’S JUST

“JEREATRIC” AT HEART.

THE LURE OFCLASSIC CARSModern automobiles can excite, but only a classicone can stir the soul of our senior writer.

JEREMY CHUA

Curvaceousbodies and

long bonnets– what’s notto like aboutclassic cars?

The keyto a well-

maintained

classic isthe key tothis writer’s

heart.


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

31/132

PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTOR (C&C AVAILABLE)

- Min Ghee Auto Pte Ltd (Kallang) Tel: 6298 3888

PRO SHOPS

- Edge Works (Sin Ming Autocare)

Tel: 6456 4300

- Horizon Auto Tuner (Kaki Bukit)

Tel: 6304 3074

- OSK Automotive

(Ang Mo Kio Auto Point)

Tel: 6252 5025

- SKM Motor Works (Kaki Bukit)

Tel: 9783 7908

- BMS Motorsports

(Ang Mo Kio Auto Point)

Tel: 6483 1810

- MTE Garage Pte Ltd

(Bartley Biz Center)

Tel: 6440 7725

- J’s Garage

(Toh Guan Enterprise Hub)

Tel: 9664 8646

- Maximus Racing

(Toh Guan Enterprise Hub)

Tel: 6795 9015

FUCHS LUBRICANTS SINGAPORE

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

32/132

F

FIFTY years ago, Singapore

gained independence andembarked on an arduous

journey of nation-building.

Five decades on, this little

red dot has gained a foothold

on the global stage, proving to

the world that small does not

necessarily mean insignificant.

Twenty-five years ago,

the Torque story began. A

quarter of a century on, what

started as one of several

homegrown car magazines

has become Singapore’s

No. 1 monthly car mag.

Those years are more than just

numbers on a calendar or candles

on a cake – they represent the

blood, sweat and toil that have

gone into growing a magazine

(and building a country).

There are also innumerable

lessons learnt along the way.

Some lessons, however, do

not take as many years.

My daughter turns five this

year, and I have picked up many

invaluable lessons through her

– about life, love and the world

around us. Her childlike innocence

is like a magnifying glass that

allows me, as a grown-up, to

see things in their true simplicityand with greater clarity.

Through her, I learnt that you

do not need to record a video,

because you can just “save” it

in your head; that rain is God

holding a giant watering can;

that you buy a car for the spoiler,

not the other way around; and

that she decided to make

her world debut

five weeks early

because it was

boring inside my

50 PLUS25 PLUS 5This year, 2015, is significant forLynn in more ways than one.

tummy where there was no Lego.

Through her, I got re-acquainted with board games

and paper dolls from my

own childhood. Through her,

I discovered the raw joys of

watching a bean grow into a

sprout. Through her, I realised

that a weekend staycation in

Singapore can be as exciting

as a three-week vacation in a

country 12,000km away, as long

as you spend it with people

you love. All this is evidence

of wisdom beyond her years– beyond us adults even.

She has also made me realise

that, in the words of author

Kate Kerrigan: “Watching

something you love grow is

both a pleasure and a pain.”

She will never again be that

2.2kg bundle we brought home in

a car seat that made her look like

a tiny pea in an oversized pod, or

that toddler who is tickled silly by

a spinning mobile above her cot.

These have become

memories tucked away (in my

head and my hard disk) to be

savoured years from now.

Soon, she will be wanting to

assert her independence.

THERE’S ONE TH ING THAT

LYNN DOESN’T HAVE TO LEARN

FROM HER DAUGHTER SHE’LL

ALWAYS BE HER PRECIOUS

LITTLE THING, WHETHER

SHE IS FIVE, 25 OR 50.

A mothercan get re-acquainted

with her ownchildhood

through herfive-year-old.


I L L U S

T R A T I O N

1 2 3 R F . C

O M

LYNN TAN

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

33/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

34/132

LIKETORQUE ON FACEBOOK

Interact with our editors and writers.“Guess The Car!” and “Caption The Photo!”Share your opinions on cars and motoring.

DOUBLECLICK FOR

EVEN MORETORQUE

DIGITAL EDITION WITH

EXTRA FEATURES

CLICKFOR

MORETORQUE

WWW.TORQUE.COM.SG

The authority on all thingsautomotive in Singapore is onlineand on the road with our readers.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

35/132

DRIVEA1 IDEA

Audi’s first-class supermini was previewed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show,in the form of this prototype called A1 project quattro (below). Three

years later, the production A1 hit the streets, and since then, the littlehatchback has accounted for one in 10 new Audis sold worldwide. Today,there’s a full-blown pocket-rocket version, the speedy S1 (pg 50).

06 /JUN100%ROADTESTED

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 33

AND ALSO TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS vs VOLKSWAGEN JETTA MAZDA 6 WAGON vs SUBARU OUTBACK

MERCEDESBENZ B200 TOYOTA VELLFIRE VOLVO XC90 DUCATI SCRAMBLER

PORSCHE CAYENNE vs BMW X5 vs LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

36/132

GROUP TEST LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER

SPORT 3.0

versus

PORSCHE

CAYENNE 3.6

versus

BMW X5

xDRIVE35i

EURO ROCKCONCERT

These are the stars of the luxury SUVsegment in Singapore, but which onedeserves to have the most groupies?

STORY JEREMY CHUA

PHOTOS TAN MENG CHOON

ART DIRECTION MICHAEL CHIAN


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

37/132

T

THE three sports utility vehicles

we’ve gathered for this story

are the hot rock stars of their

segment/generation. They play

unique SUV “tunes”, but their

“band instruments” are similar,

with each having a 6-cylinder

engine, an 8-speed automatic

and permanent all-wheel-drive.

The rocker with the longest

legacy is Land Rover’s

Range Rover Sport. The

latest Rangie Sport is lighter

and more effi cient than

the previous model, but its

commanding presence and

terrain-conquering reputation

remain undiminished.

Another long-running rocker

is the BMW X5, now in its third

generation. It offers more

interior space, and promises

a better driving experience

than its predecessor.

The Porsche Cayenne is the

youngest of the three rockers

here. Recently facelifted, the

second-generation model is

said to have been improved

in effi ciency and driveability.

These Euro rock stars

have assembled on stage,

plugged in their guitars, and

are ready to rock this arena!

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 35

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

38/132

RANGE ROVER SPORT

PORSCHE CAYENNE

BMW X5

ENGINE

Rangie’s supercharged 3-litre

V6 with 340bhp and 450Nm

is the most powerful, but the

least refined.

ENGINE

Porsche’s 3.6-litre V6 with300bhp and 400Nm is

the thirstiest, but sounds

the sportiest.

ENGINE

BMW’s turbocharged 3-litre

inline-6 with 306bhp and

400Nm is the most refined

and responsive engine.

MOSTPOWERFUL

ENGINE

SPORTIEST

SOUNDING

ENGINE

MOST

RESPONSIVEENGINE

7.2seconds(0-100KM/H)

7.7seconds(0-100KM/H)

6.5seconds

(0-100KM/H)

RANGE ROVER SPORT vs PORSCHE CAYENNE vs BMW X5

36 J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW. TORQUE . COM. SG

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

39/132

Eight-speedautomatic’s“joystick”shifter is thecoolest, butits manualoverride feelsthe slowest.

Eight-speedautomatic isthe smoothesttransmission,and its

manualoverride isas quick asthe X5’s.

Eight-speedgearleverhas the idealarrangementfor its manualoverride– push todownshift, pullto upshift.

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 37

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

40/132

PORSCHE CAYENNE

BMW X5

COCKPIT

Has attractive

all-digital

meters, a nifty

touchscreen and

the most generous

headroom.

“Armchairs” make

this cockpit

conducive to

long-range roving.

COCKPIT

Most driver-focused cockpit,

with 911-ish

instruments

and the most

supportive seats.

Roominess and

visibility are

not as good as

the others’.

COCKPIT

The most space

and practicality,

plus the nicest

infotainment.

It’s the only one

with a head-up

display, but the

main meters are

less impressive.

RANGE ROVER SPORT

RANGE ROVER SPORT vs PORSCHE CAYENNE vs BMW X5

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

41/132

BACKSEAT

Roomiest for

rear passengers,

who’ll also enjoy

the best back

support. But the

narrow bench is

more comfortable

for two people

than three.

BACKSEAT

Boasts the “longest”legroom plus the

cushiest seating.

But Porsche doesn’t

have the others’

dedicated climate

control panel for the

folks seated here.

BACKSEAT

BMW’s backseat

has a “footloose”

flat floorboard, the

biggest doorbins

and fully retractable

windows. Also offers

third-row seats, like

the Rangie.

BOOT

Volume of 780 litres

is revealed when

the electrically

foldable third-row

seats are stowed.

Tailgate operation

is powered, like

its two rivals’.

BOOT

Capacity of 670 litresis the most flexible,

as it has the most

tethering points and

a netted partition

for loose items. No

third-row seats,

unlike the rest.

BOOT

BMW’s 650-litre

boot is readily

accessible, thanks

to the two-section

tailgate, which

also helps with the

loading/unloading of

heavy/bulky cargo.

THE X5 IS THE CROWDPLEASER, THE RANGE

ROVER SPORT IS THE CLASSICROCKER, WHILE THE CAYENNEIS A RED HOT CHILLI PEPPER.

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 39

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

42/132

LAND ROVER RANGEROVER SPORT 3.0 A

DRIVETRAIN

TYPE V6, 24-valves,supercharged

CAPACITY 2995ccBORE X STROKE 84.5mm x 89mm

COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1

MAX POWER 340bhp at 6500rpm

MAX TORQUE 450Nm at 3500-5000rpm

POWER TO WEIGHT 158.4bhp per tonne

GEARBOX 8-speed automaticwith manual select

DRIVEN WHEELS All

PERFORMANCE

0100KM/H 7.2 seconds

TOP SPEED 210km/h

CONSUMPTION 13.3km/L (combined)

CO2 EMISSION 199g/km

SUSPENSION

FRONT Double wishbones,coil springs

REAR Multi-link, coil springs

BRAKES

FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs

TYRESTYPE Continental

CrossContact LX Sport

SIZE 275/45 R21

SAFETY

AIRBAGS 6TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH 4850mm

WIDTH 2073mm

HEIGHT 1780mm

WHEELBASE 2923mm

KERB WEIGHT 2147kg

TURNING CIRCLE 12.1m

BUYING IT

PRICE INCL. COE $410,888 (no CEVSrebate/surcharge)

WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km

MOSTCONFIDENTOFF THEBEATEN PATH,CUSHIESTSEATS, BIGGESTBOOT

HIGHESTLIST PRICE,SURPRISINGLYCOMPACTBACKSEAT,HEAVIESTSTEERING

BEST IN OFF

ROADING

ABILITY

The Range Rover Sport may be the “oldest” rocker

here, but that hasn’t stopped it from churning

out the hits – on the road and off it. Its superior

presence wherever it goes is complemented by

the commanding view from its driver’s seat and

the ruggedness of its 4x4 system. The Rangie is

an evergreen rock star in the luxury SUV arena.

The Porsche Cayenne is more than just a

popular musician. It’s also a serious performer

that excels both on-road and off-road. The

car’s cockpit ergonomics, however, could be

more excellent. In any case, the Cayenne’sfan base is likely to stay strong and loyal.

The BMW X5 is well-suited to suburbanites

who have no intention of venturing beyond the

concrete jungle. Its superb powertrain, solid

infotainment and practical interior are guaranteed

smash hits in suburbia. The X5 plays its brand

of sports-utility pop-rock exceedingly well.

RANGE ROVER SPORTvs PORSCHE CAYENNE vs BMW X5

KEYS (From left) Buttons on theCayenne’s car-shaped fob are the easiest

to press, the hefty Range Rover key hasthe most functions, while the X5’s device

looks and feels the most expensive.

LAST

WORD


8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

43/132

PORSCHECAYENNE 3.6 A

DRIVETRAIN

TYPE V6, 24-valves

CAPACITY 3598cc

BORE X STROKE 89mm x 96.4mm

COMPRESSION RATIO 11.7:1


MAX TORQUE 400Nm at 3000rpm



DRIVEN WHEELS All

PERFORMANCE


TOP SPEED 230km/h



SUSPENSIONFRONT Double wishbones,

coil springs

REAR Multi-link, coil springs

BRAKES


TYRESTYPE Michelin Latitude Sport 3

SIZE 255/55 R18

SAFETY

AIRBAGS 6

TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH 4855mm

WIDTH 1939mm

HEIGHT 1705mm

WHEELBASE 2895mm

KERB WEIGHT 2040kg


BUYING IT

PRICE INCL. COE $374,400 (after $5kCEVS surcharge)

WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km

BMW X5 3.0 A

DRIVETRAIN

TYPE Inline-6, 24-valves, turbocharged

CAPACITY 2979cc

BORE X STROKE 84mm x 89.6mmCOMPRESSION RATIO 10.2:1

MAX POWER 306bhp at5800-6400rpm




DRIVEN WHEELS All

PERFORMANCE


TOP SPEED 235km/h


CO2 EMISSION197g/km

SUSPENSION

FRONT Double track control arms, coil springs,

anti-roll bar

REAR Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar

BRAKES


TYRESTYPE Goodyear Eagle F1

SIZE 255/55 R18

SAFETY

AIRBAGS 6TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC

MEASUREMENTS

LENGTH 4886mm

WIDTH 1938mm

HEIGHT 1762mm

WHEELBASE 2933mm

KERB WEIGHT 2105kg


BUYING IT


WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km

SHARPESTSUSPENSION,MOSTACCURATESTEERING,SPORTIESTSOUNDINGMOTOR

AVERAGEHIFI WITHNO SATNAV,CONFUSINGCLIMATECONTROL,THIRSTIESTENGINE

MOST USEFULCABIN, BESTINFOTAINMENT,MOSTDRIVEABLEDRIVETRAIN

SMALLESTBOOT,WEAKEST AIRCONDITIONING,OVERLY LIGHTSTEERING

BEST IN HANDLING

BEST INDRIVING

FEEL

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 41

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

44/132


VOLKSWAGEN

JETTA 1.4

versus

TOYOTA

COROLLA

ALTIS 1.6

STORY JEREMY CHUA

PHOTOS JASPER YU

ART DIRECTION MICHAELCHIAN

Between these two saloons, it’s

the interior of the Jetta that looks

more upmarket.

The instrument panel now

features individual binnacles

for the speedometer and

tachometer, while the

infotainment system is more

attractive and more user-friendly

at the same time, thanks to its

touchscreen interface.

There are two small missteps,

though. Firstly, the addition of

T

TWO of the most popular saloons

in Singapore are the Volkswagen

Jetta and Toyota Corolla Altis. The

former is the German marque’s

best-selling saloon, while the

latter was, by far, the choice pick

of Japanese cars here in 2014.

Both Volkswagen and Toyota

have raised their stakes by

introducing updated models

of the Jetta and Corolla to the

Singapore market.

The Jetta’s facelift is a timely

one, as the pre-facelift model

was introduced five years ago.

The Corolla’s update, on the other

hand, is ahead of time, because

the current model was only

launched last year.

Aiming to convert the Corolla

customer, the Jetta sports a

slightly jazzier design than

before, with a more elegant grille

and a redesigned front bumper

that Volkswagen says reduces

the car’s aerodynamic drag by

10 percent.

Although the exterior of the

Corolla hasn’t received any

tweaks, it still looks sharper than

the Jetta’s, or, for that matter,

those of previous Corollas. The

current version is stylish, and

that’s saying a lot.

The Jetta(right) is

jazzier thanbefore, while

the Corolla(far right) is

simply stylish.

GROUP TEST

WHEN

STARSCOLLIDEThe Jetta and Corolla, bothrecently updated, are the starbuys in their segment. Whichsaloon shines brighter?

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

45/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 43

The Jetta’sinterior (left)looks moreupmarketthan theCorolla’s(right), butthe latterhas betterergonomics.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

46/132


VOLKSWAGENJETTAvsTOYOTACOROLLAALTIS

glossy black trimmings on the

dashboard and the gearlever

surround will only serve to

attract fingerprints. Secondly,

the switches on the new steering

wheel are less intuitive than thoseon the old one.

The Corolla cockpit has no

such missteps in ergonomics. In

fact, one of its strengths for the

longest time is its ease of use.

Even a driver who has never sat

in a Toyota saloon won’t have any

trouble figuring out the controls.

There are two minor

enhancements for the 2015

model tested here: The leather

upholstery is now factory-fitted,

and the driver’s seat is nowelectrically adjusted. The latter

feature, however, doesn’t include

a memory function, without

which the electric adjustment is

less useful than it should be.

As usual, the Corolla’s air-

conditioning is ridiculously

powerful. It makes the cabin feel

like a walk-in chiller with four

ENGINE 1598cc, 16-valves,inline-4




GEARBOX CVT with 7-speedoverride


TOP SPEED 185km/h



PRICE INCL. COE $121,147 (after $5kCEVS rebate)

ENGINE 1390cc, 16-valves,inline-4, turbocharged




GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutchwith manual select


TOP SPEED 202km/h



PRICE INCL. COE $117,300 (after $10kCEVS rebate)

The Jetta’s510-litre

boot (right) islarger than

the Corolla’s470 litres (far

right) and iseven more

practical,with nettedportions forsmall items.

On the go, it is the turbo

1.4-litre Jetta that will please the

driver more than the naturally

aspirated 1.6-litre Corolla. With

122bhp and a healthy 200Nm

(from just 1500rpm), theGerman saloon easily outpaces

the Corolla, taking less than 10

seconds (9.8) to hit 100km/h.

The VW’s 7-speed dual-clutch

gearbox is a real treat as well – its

gearchanges are snappy, and it

offers a Sport function that holds

onto each forward ratio for a

longer, “sportier” period.

The driver who likes to take

things easy will prefer the Corolla,

doors (groceries sold separately).

Too bad the car lacks an

additional auto-climate zone and

rear air-con vents, which are all

present in the Jetta.

But the Corolla is even roomierin the rear, thanks to its wider

bench and flat floorboard. It can

fit three adults there, whereas

the Jetta backseat is more

comfortable for two occupants

due to its rearward-protruding

centre console.

However, the Jetta offers

bigger doorbins and a 12-volt

socket for charging personal

mobile devices.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

47/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 45

which takes 11.1 seconds to

accomplish the century sprint.

The Toyota motor produces

121bhp – just one horse less than

the Jetta – but its 154Nm is a

significant 46Nm down.The Corolla’s continuously

variable transmission (CVT) isn’t

as quick as Volkswagen’s dual-

clutch gearbox, but the Japanese

CVT operates in an even more

seamless manner, especially when

“creeping” in traffi c and carparks.

The Corolla is slower than the

Jetta in a straight line, but its

handling is surprisingly decent,

and accompanied by some

feedback from its steering, too.

The Jetta is a better handler,however, being more planted

around corners, and yet pliant in

its damping.

Both cars here are good-

looking, practical and fuel-

effi cient. The Jetta outshines the

Corolla in terms of performance,

while the latter automobile

does a more brilliant job of

THE JETTA IS THESPORTIER PERFORMER, BUT

THE COROLLA IS BETTERAT ACCOMMODATING

PASSENGERS.

accommodating passengers.

And their prices are merely a few

thousand dollars apart.

So, what happens when these

rival stars collide in Singapore?

Well, they give bedazzled buyersplenty to think/read about.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

48/132


SUBARU

OUTBACK 2.5

versus

MAZDA 6

WAGON 2.5

STORY DARYL LEEPHOTOS VEE CHIN

This pair of Nipponesehave just hit town, andhave identical bodystybe more different to d

I

IT’S always baffl ed me as to

why station wagons never found

much popularity over here. To

most “car people”, a wagon

is the best choice if they are

looking for the perfect all-round

ride – practical, relatively rare

(this is important because most

petrolheads are insufferably

snobbish), less obnoxious than a

monster sports utility vehicle and,

crucially, with car-like handling.

But at the same time, I can also

see why station wagons aren’t

popular here. Perhaps it’s because

most such vehicles of yore tend

to resemble hearses, and such

practical cars (that isn’t an SUV)

project a terribly dreary image.

However, the modern station

wagon is a different prospect

altogether, and in some cases

can even look sleeker than their

saloon counterparts. This is

particularly true in the case of the

Mazda 6 Wagon on test here.

As for not looking dreary,

there’s a crossover vibe to

Subaru’s latest Outback

(essentially a jacked-up Legacy),

what with its matte black

cladding and raised ride height.

As for what both cars are like

to drive, well, it’s exactly how you

would imagine them to, based on

the way they look.

I’ve always been a big fan of

the way the Mazda 6 looks, and

in Wagon form, I’m even more

smitten, especially the gentle

wave at the shoulder line that

tapers moderately towards

the rear and wraps around

the tailgate, giving it an air of

GROUP TEST

Both carscome with

touchscreeninfotainmentsystems, but

the one inthe Outback

has thebigger screen,

while the 6Wagon’s has

sat-nav.

station wagonswhile they may

les, they could notrive.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

49/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 47

supercar-esque swoopiness.

I think this Mazda 6 version

looks best when viewed from the

side, the extended glasshouse

lending more coherence to the

overall design. I almost get the

feeling the Japanese carmaker’s

designers styled the Wagon

first, with the saloon done as an

afterthought.

That may be subjective, but the

way this estate conducts itself

isn’t. It handles in an identical

fashion to the saloon, with tautly

controlled body movements, a

well-damped ride, keen steering

and the ability to “shrink” the

harder I push it.

But then, the Mazda 6

Wagon’s handling prowess isn’t

too surprising, because against

the saloon, the former is 65mm

shorter from bumper to bumper

and a paltry 11kg heavier (the

latter is 4800mm long and

weighs 1524kg).

The only chink in this Mazda’s

handling armour is how its

2.5-litre engine doesn’t really

match up to the chassis. The

motor is certainly powerful

enough (boasting 187bhp and

250Nm), and it’s frugal as well (it

Both vehiclesare poweredby 2.5-itreengines withquite similaroutputs –187bhp in theMazda and175bhp in theSubaru.

will return a claimed 15.2km per

litre), but I think its reedy engine

note and flat power delivery leave

much to be desired.

As an added bonus, the Wagon

gets 84 litres more boot space

than the saloon (522 versus 438),

which is a significant amount

on paper. But, in reality, it’s even

better: The Mazda is blessed

with a far larger loading aperture,

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

50/132


SUBARUOUTBACK2.5vsMAZDA6WAGON2.5

with the ability to fit awkwardly

shaped items such as bicycles

and furniture with ease.

Practical though the Wagon

may be, if it’s outright space

you’re after, then Subaru’s latestOutback would be a better

choice, as it packs a 560-litre

boot. And with its more upright

stance and elevated driving

position, this automobile has

better all-round visibility.

While it has a marginally shorter

wheelbase against the Wagon

(2745mm versus 2750mm), the

taller glasshouse of the Subaru

gives its cabin a more airy feel

compared to the Mazda, which

can be a little claustrophobic, nothanks to its sloping roofline.

Unfortunately, the price to

pay for the Outback’s increased

practicality is how it doesn’t

ENGINE 2498cc, 16-valves, flat-4




GEARBOX CVT with 8-speedoverride


TOP SPEED 210km/h




stack up too well against

the Wagon in the handling

department. Its tall stance

certainly has a negative impact

on agility, but I have a bigger

beef with its vague helm andequally nebulous CVT.

Not helping the Subaru’s cause

is how it weighs 1580kg. And

while its all-wheel-drive system

provides plenty of grip, it’s more

ponderous than the Mazda on

turn-in, to say nothing of its

numbingly average 10.2 seconds

zero-to-100km/h time.

Regardless of whether you’re

of a sporty or practical bent,

you’ll be glad to know that both

cars have a healthy amount ofkit. Both estates come with a

touchscreen infotainment system

(though the Subaru has the

prettier, larger screen), Bluetooth

Thanks toits taller

glasshouse,the Subaru

(right andextreme

right top)has the more

airy cabin,though the

Mazda’s morecocooned

interior (farright and

extreme rightbottom) lends

it a greatersense of

sportiness.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

51/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E 49

ENGINE 2488cc, 16-valves,inline-4


MAX TORQUE 250Nm at 3250




TOP SPEED 218km/h




KEEN DRIVERSWILL FIND PLENTYTO LIKE ABOUT THE6 WAGON, WHILETHE OUTBACKWILL IMPRESS THEMORE PRACTICALMINDED DRIVER.

telephony and cruise control.

On the equipment front, the

Mazda 6 Wagon has an edge

over the Subaru Outback due

to its Bose audio and satellite

navigation system.On the other hand, you are

paying more for the Mazda –

it’s priced at $172,888, which

represents a hefty $12,288

premium over the Subaru.

So, perhaps choosing between

the pair might come down to

which one is less detrimental

to your bank account. But the

bigger question is: Will their

myriad charms tempt buyers

away from SUVs?

Well, that question might bemore diffi cult to answer. But as

great do-it-all cars, these station

wagons have managed to win me

over, at least.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

52/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW.TORQUE.COM.SG

AUDIS1 DRIVE

O

OLDER rally fans will remember

the last time Audi had a car

called the S1. Armed with enough

spoilers, scoops and fins to shame

a Formula One car, it terrorised

the rallying world in the 1980s as

a member of the fearsome bunch

of Group B rally cars that included

the Ford RS200, Lancia Delta S4

and Peugeot 205 T16. If you’re

too young to remember, simply

search for “Walter Rohrl onboard

highertop speed and a nearly

identical zero-to-100km/h

time. More importantly, this car

has the same all-wheel-drive

system and 6-speed manual

transmission as the A1 quattro.

Audi S1” on Youtube and prepare

to worship a newdriving hero.

The S1 you see here may

share the same name as the

terrifying 600bhp rally car, but

this hot hatch isn’t its spiritualsuccessor. That honour goes to

the A1 quattro from 2012 – the

most powerful A1 ever produced,

with 252bhp, bodywork that

wouldn’t look out of place on

a WRC vehicle and a limited

production run of 333 units.

But look closely at the modern

S1’s specs and you’ll see that it

isn’t too far off its limited edition

sibling. Despite having 21bhp

less, the S1 has more torque, a

STORY KEVIN CHINLOCATION MUNICH, GERMANY

The Audi 1 is proof that feisty things can come in small packages.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

53/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E





GEARBOX 6-speed manual


TOP SPEED 250km/h


PRICE INCL. COE Not applicable

It may look less shouty than

the limited edition A1 quattro,

but it still has plenty of aesthetic

flourishes to intimidate other

motorists. Inside, the seatbacks

colour-coordinated to the

body drive home the point thatthis is no regular A1. Its driving

position would have been near

perfect if not for the fact that

the pedals are slightly offset,

just like an old Italian car’s.

Under the bonnet, you get

the same 2-litre turbocharged

engine found in the Audi S3, TT

and VW Golf GTI. In the S1’s case,

it produces 231bhp and 370Nm,

which is considerable when

shoehorned into a hatchback

the size of a matchbox.Given all that, this vehicle is

like a hyperactive child at a toy

shop. It begs to be unleashed on

twisty back roads, but even on the

motorway, its smooth and flexible

The S1 hasplenty ofracy exterioraccoutrements,includingtwo-tonewheels, quadtailpipes andan outrageous

rear spoiler.

power delivery means I took

every opportunity to experience

the engine’s riotous nature.

It makes a nice noise, too,

which means my ears aren’t left

out of the S1 experience, with

the deep, baritone exhaust notea strange juxtaposition against

the car’s diminutive size.

As expected of a pint-sized,

short-wheelbase hot hatch, the

car is immensely chuckable when

the roads tighten up. Extremely

responsive to steering and throttle

inputs, it is far sharper than its

larger stablemates, the S3 or TT.

This automobile is more

rewarding the harder it’s pushed,

carving up the wet, often icy roads

around the Munich countrysidewith reassuring sure-footedness.

Granted, I didn’t push as hard as I

would have liked, but considering

the treacherous conditions,

traction is never an issue.

Maybe it’s down to how the

S1 has a proper manual gearbox.

But whatever it is, this vehicle is

everything I love about good,

old-fashioned driver’s cars.

Sure, there are niggles, like the

bone-jarring ride in its Dynamicmode or the over-servoed

brakes, which make it hard to

heel-and-toe properly. But all

in all, the S1 is probably Audi’s

most grin-inducing car today.

Too bad this firecracker

won’t see the light of day here.

Unlike the A1 quattro, which

was produced only in left-

hand-drive, the S1 is offered in

right-hooker form. But with an

estimated price in the region

of Audi’s S3, it’s too expensivefor Audi Singapore to import.

That’s a shame, really, because

while most of us could never drive

like Walter Rohrl, with the S1, we

could at least imagine we could.

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

54/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 WWW.TORQUE.COM.SG

DRIVE

BFORE

AND AFTERThe B-Class was rough around the edges,but after a timely facelift, it’s now thepremium mini-MPV it should be.

W

WHEN Mercedes-Benz launched

the second-generation B-Class

three years ago, everyone

expected it to set the standard

for mini-multi-purpose vehicles.

This automobile’s interior and

ride comfort, however, fell short

of expectations. The plasticky

cockpit lacked soft-touch

surfaces. That model also had

relatively stiff damping and a

choppy ride.

The updated B-Class you see

on this spread, however, is a notch

above its predecessor. Compared

to the older model, the latest car

boasts stronger road presence,

thanks to its wider grille and new

Classier than“B-fore”, the

cockpit also hasa new steering

wheel (identicalto the one in theC-Class), and is

now equippedwith Collision

PreventionAssist Plus foradded safety.

bumpers. More importantly, the

new headlights are now LEDs

instead of HIDs, thereby offering

better visibility at night and in

poor weather.

The most palpable

improvements to the B-Class,

however, are inside the car. Settle

into the driver’s seat and you’ll

discover that the materials used

around the cabin now have a

softer, classier feel. And for the

first time, buyers are offered the

option of specifying the brand’s

Keyless-Go function for added

convenience.

Also aimed at enhancing

user convenience is the new

infotainment system, which

features a larger display and the

latest menu format.

The former is definitely pleasing

to look at, but the latter is a bit of

a hit-and-miss.

MERCEDES-

BENZB200

STORY JEREMY CHUA

PHOTOS VERNON WONG

ART DIRECTION MICHAEL CHIAN

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

55/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E





GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutchwith manual select


TOP SPEED 220km/h



PRICE INCL. COE $177,888 (after $10k CEVS rebate)

The animated graphics are

nice, but navigating through the

system is less intuitive than I like.This is because the new format

no longer has the menu options

displayed permanently. You’ll need

to perform an extra directional tap

on the rotary controller to bring

these up on screen.

One cool addition to the cabin

is the ambient lighting system,

which gives the interior a more

modern feel. With a dozen

colours to choose from (five

more than what the flagship

S-Class limousine offers), even

artsy drivers should be able

to find a hue that reflects

their motoring mood.

This car’s performance,

however, remains unchanged.

The B200 variant tested here,

with a turbocharged 1.6-litre

4-pot producing 156bhp and

a very useful 250Nm, still has

a very relaxed character.

In contrast, its key rival,

BMW’s 218i Active Tourer (see

box story on the left), feels

more eager on the go.

Responsible for thisautomobile’s relaxed nature

is the 7-speed dual-clutch

transmission. Though it delivers

smooth and snappy gearchanges,

its tendency to upshift early

makes its acceleration feel

relatively restrained.

Luckily, there’s a selectable

Sport setting, which helps hasten

progress by holding onto each

forward ratio a bit longer and

letting the engine rev higher.

Although this vehicle’s outright

performance hasn’t changed,

its ride quality has improved

noticeably. The bumpy ride that

plagued the pre-facelift model

has been eliminated. The latest

version isn’t upset by speed strips

and undulating road surfaces.

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class

is now a more complete

mini-MPV. The likely question

on buyers’ minds, then, is:

“To B, or not to B?”

NIMBLER TOURER

The 2 Series Active Tourer is BMW’s directanswer to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, which

was the first model of its kind in the German

premium segment.

Unlike the B-Class with its laid-back persona,

the Active Tourer has a sprightly character,

which could stem from the fact that its platform

is shared with the MINI hatchback. Compared

to the B-Class, the Active Tourer is smaller andless spacious, with its length and wheelbase both

shorter than those of the Mercedes.

Between these two rivals, it is the Active

Tourer that is the more entertaining drive. The218i variant I tested, which has a turbocharged

1.5-litre 3-cylinder motor, is not only rev-happy,

it also provides a sporty soundtrack.

– JEREMY CHUA

P H OT O T ANME N G C H O ON

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

56/132

8/19/2019 Torque - June 2015 SG

57/132

J U N E 2 0 1 5 T O R Q U E

domestic model) equipment that

makes the Vellfire a veritable limo.The optional gadgetry includes

programming of the power-slide

doors to open automatically upon

approach, a Panoramic View

Monitor that gives the driver a

helpful “see-through” perspective

of the vehicle’s surroundings,

automated Parking Assist, and

radar-based “follow the front car”

cruise c

Documents

Torque - June 2015 SG