Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Torque

 IT would take us a day to explain Singapore’s car industry to a foreigner who just landed here. “IN THE FUTURE, THERE SHOULD BE REGULATIONS THAT ALSO REQUIRE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A CAR TO BE RECYCLABLE.” When he finally understands how the COE scheme and car-related taxes work, he will, in all likelihood, conclude that Singapore should be the last country where an automaker should attempt to sell cars. Paul de Courtois, however, is confident of BMW’s continued success in Singapore. The 45-year-old Frenchman, who arrived seven months ago, remains unfazed by the unique facets of our motoring trade. In fact, being assigned to head BMW Group Asia, which oversees 13 regional markets, was on his career wish list. Paul’s 20-year career with the German carmaker started in the…

 OVER the past few years, I’ve read a number of e-mails from folks who are keen to write for Torque. APART FROM SKILLS AND PASSION, THIS JOB ALSO REQUIRES DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND DESPERATION. I do not doubt their enthusiasm and passion for automobiles. In fact, I’m elated to know that despite Singapore having the most expensive cars in the world and the Government’s push towards a car-lite nation, there are still many petrolheads here. Not too long ago, I was also an enthusiastic applicant vying for this job. I thought that an undying love for cars along with decent writing and driving skills were the only qualifications it required. It didn’t take long for reality to sink in. Within my first week, I had received hundreds of e-mails, and there…

“BMW AND MINI WILL MAKE 2018 AN EXCITING AND ELECTRIFYING YEAR FOR CAR BUYERS.” Ever wondered why the New Year is always so eagerly anticipated? It’s because the New Year is a chance to start afresh. Resolutions are made and plans are put into action. For car buyers, the New Year also heralds the beginning of numerous car launches, and the prospect of acquiring a new set of wheels. For BMW and MINI fans, 2018 is going to be a very exciting and electrifying year. If you’re in the market for an SUV, BMW’s all-new X3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will definitely appeal to you with its enhanced refinement, greater technology and safety, and heightened performance. SUV buyers seeking greater flair and athleticism will be drawn to the all-new BMW…

In the second-closest finish yet in our ST-Torque Awards, which were inaugurated in 2010 as Singapore’s most prestigious accolades in the motor trade, Lexus’ LC500 luxury coupe pipped the Peugeot 3008 by just two points in the scorebook and parked at the top of the podium for ST Car of the Year (COTY) 2017. In respectable third position is the Volvo XC60. The closest finish in the history of our ST-Torque Awards was in the 2014 edition, where BMW’s i3 electric hatchback edged out the Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousine by just one point. Lexus’ 2017 COTY victory is also a triumph for Japan, because the LC is the first Japanese car to win since 2010. Of the past seven winners, four are German (Porsche in 2011, Volkswagen in 2013, BMWs in…

Enthusiasts who want to document their next road trip from more dynamic angles could consider acquiring the DJI Mavic Pro. Apart from being able to record 4K video and capture slow-motion footage in full-HD, this drone also has an ActiveTrack function, which offers four different subject tracking modes. The Mavic Pro has a flight time of up to 27 minutes and a maximum operating distance of seven kilometres. And with a flying speed of 64.8km/h, it’s pretty fast, too. $1569.…

Samsung 65” QLED TV worth $6,399 Introducing the world’s first 100% colour volume certified TV – the groundbreaking Quantum Dot technology in Samsung’s Q7F QLED TV delivers perfect 100% colour volume measured to DCI-P3 Standard. Its wide colour range is almost unmatchable, and once you see the real world on a QLED, you’ll never settle for less. With its high dynamic range (HDR1000) playback, the Q7F reveals details that used to stay hidden in dark shadows or get whitewashed by brightness. And with its great viewing angles, you’ll enjoy the same viewing experience anywhere within your space, without colour distortions. Lenovo Yoga 920 Notebook worth $3,299 Featuring its trademark 360-degree hinge, the Yoga 920 is slim and elegant, yet tough and versatile. Enjoy the stunning 4K clarity of its wide-angle…

Goodbye, 2017. Hello, 2018. And hello to you, Torque reader. Thanks for reading this magazine in whichever format you prefer – print, digital, online. You can also meet the Torque team of writers and editors, including me, face-to-Facebook. Our social media page (www.fb.com/torque.singapore) is where we share automotive tidbits and run our unique contests – “Guess The Car!”, “Caption The Photo!” and “Caption The Video!”. Take part, win prizes and have some fun. You can also engage with fellow gearheads on our Facebook page by posting your comments. Complaints are also acceptable and compliments are most appreciated. Lavish praise is welcomed with open arms and the popping of mini champagne bottles taken from my little refrigerator. Hopefully, the unofficial Torque fridge will be shifted from Media Centre to News Centre…

For years, cars have existed at polar opposites of the dynamic spectrum, unable to be reconciled into a machine both of cossetting sumptuousness and athleticism. Sports cars were sports cars and luxury cars were yacht-like and cumbersome. Then the question was asked: Who can make a dancer and sportsman from the mouldings of a limousine? Porsche duly responded. With a reputation for being the industry’s pre-eminent sports car maker, Porsche created the Panamera. The second-generation Panamera brings with it the benefits of continual re-evaluation and reinvention, yet remains steadfastly true to the pillars of the brand. From its contoured and aerodynamic silhouette, you immediately perceive the dynamic resolve of a seriously capable sports car. Sink into the driver’s seat and your attention is drawn to the traditional centrally placed analogue…

 Why should a compact SUV be a mere transportation appliance that’s practical and has a high seating position? “THE Q2 IS A PREMIUM COMPACT SUV FOR THE MODERN, THE ADVENTUROUS AND THE YOUTHFUL.” Surely it can be more. It can be something that you can look forward to seeing, approaching, sitting in, and piloting with vim and vigour. The Audi Q2 is that compact SUV. It is an expression of the driver’s personality, a machine of true uniqueness in which you can embark on the effervescent adventure of life. The Q2’s polygonal surfacing speaks of forward-thinking ambition and a nonconformist attitude. It exudes power, dynamism and presence, looking like nothing else on the road. Yet it is also unmistakably an Audi. Right at home amongst the glistening lights of the…

DRIVER’S LICENCE  300+ NUMBER OF SHEEP HE ENCOUNTERED CHRISTOPHER TAN Herds of grazing sheep are a common sight in the Crete mountains. Each animal wears a bell with its own pitch. As they run from the approaching Porsche, the sounds they make together is music. Sheep symphony if you like. “THE CAYENNE HAS BLOSSOMED INTO A SWAN, WITH A DESIGN THAT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE AN UPSIZED MACAN.” THE Porsche Cayenne was an unmitigated ugly duckling when it was hatched 16 years ago. Bulbous and lumpy, it was shocking that Porsche could have made such an un-Porsche car. But lo and behold, the public loved it, and before you could spell Zuffenhausen, the Cayenne had become a runaway hit – to the envy of all other sports car makers. The…

Off-road junkies who’ve always wanted a camera that can withstand the rigours of their adventures will be drawn to the Casio Eye GZE-1, which is literally a cross between a G-Shock watch and a camera. Operated via a smartphone app, the GZE-1 can survive a 4m drop, is water-resistant up to 50m, and can continue functioning at temperatures as low as -10 degrees C. $629 Your neighbours might think that an accident has occurred if they hear roaring engines and screeching tyres emanating from the Logitech MX Sound. With high-end drivers and rear-facing port tubes, these Bluetooth speakers can make your favourite tunes sound sweeter, too. $149 If you value practicality and flexibility in a car, then the Peak Design Everyday Backpack might be the knapsack for you. Apart from…

CHRISTOPHER TAN Our consulting editor talks about ensuring that autonomous vehicles are still safe when things go wrong (pg 18). LYNNTAN She says that gender inequality, be it on the road or in daily life, exists only if you let it get to you (pg 24). JEREMY CHUA Our senior writer says that the job of a motoring journalist in Singapore is a lot harder than it looks (pg 26). DR KONG YONGYAO He compares the 1.4-litre Audi Q2 with the 1.5-litre MINI Cooper Countryman (pg 52). EDRIC PAN He rediscovers the joys of an early-morning B-road blast in Malaysia with an Audi S3 saloon (pg 20). DR ANDRE LAM SARJEET SINGH TOH YONG CHUAN TONY TAN LIONEL SEAH SHREEJIT CHANGAROTH…

COME June 2018, women will be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, three years after they were given the right to vote. It is the only nation in the world where women are still forbidden to take the wheel, with the desert country’s authorities citing reasons such as it being inappropriate in Saudi culture or that male drivers would not know how to react to driving alongside women. Some even attribute promiscuity and the harming of women’s ovaries to driving. Even though there is no formal law banning women from driving, the Saudi government simply refuses to issue driving licences to them. Over the decades, many women’s rights activists had been arrested for campaigning against this inequality. Despite “guardianship” laws that give Saudi men power over their female relatives, the…

ANOTHER year has come to an end, and the editorial team has picked the cars that dilated our pupils, weakened our knees and set our hearts a-flutter. The newcomers of 2017 had to earn our points, too, in our robust ballot system. Our panel of judges use it to rate the shortlisted contenders against typical rivals and weigh their attributes against those of their peers. Said rivals would include other ST-Torque Awards finalists where applicable, such as having similar prices or competing in the same, specific market segment. On the scoresheets are the nine criteria which would be the most important to any reviewer/driver/ consumer in the wonderful world of cars – performance, handling, ride, economy/efficiency, build quality, ergonomics, styling, value for money and the X factor. The qualifying period…

Rustic food fans can consider The Summerhouse’s New Year’s Eve menu (above). Priced at $108++ per person, guests will enjoy a “farm-to-table” dinner with dishes such as Smoked Butter-Poached Red Snapper Fillet, Tajima Wagyu BBQ Short Rib and Uni Pasta with Ikura. If you like to tipple, there’s an option for a four-hour free-flow of prosecco. Seafood addicts who want to satisfy their cravings could head down to Summerlong in Robertson Quay. Try the seafood platter (right), which includes Alaskan King Crab legs, Red Carabinero Spanish Prawns, Norwegian Trout Tartare and Irish Oysters. These delectable delights are served with the establishment’s Marie Rose Sauce and Pimento Pepper Relish. Diners who need an enormous feast to satiate their equally enormous appetites might be tempted to check out D9 Cakery’s Festive Champagne…