Joel Tam, Author at AutoApp

by Joel Tam 2 April 2026

AutoTalk – A Conversation on Design, Technology and the Future of Driving

There’s a moment when you stand in front of the new BMW i3, and suddenly, everything just clicks. No, not in a dramatic way. More like a quiet realisation that something has definitely shifted. The proportions feel right, the tech feels intentional, and somehow, despite everything being new, it still feels like a BMW. Over conversations with Norman Wiebking, Stephan Durach and Oliver Heilmer, it becomes clear that this wasn’t accidental. Getting the ...

by Joel Tam 2 April 2026

Featured, International, Lifestyle, News, Tech

I Stepped Inside The Factory That Will Build The New BMW i3

Visiting Munich again felt familiar to me. It carries the history of the BMW brand in a way that’s hard to miss (or forget). But stepping into their renovated plant for a preview was especially exciting; it felt like catching something just before it fully comes to life. We were told that we were among the first to witness the plant's operations. The second batch, to be exact. So there was ...

by Joel Tam 1 April 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Volvo EX90 Electric Ultra 106 kWh Review

The one that quietly does everything right. Having spent years in advertising, I remember a line from a former creative director who once described the Volkswagen Golf as the Rolls-Royce of hatchbacks. It was clever because it captured something deeper than specs. It spoke about completeness. These days, “Rolls-Royce” gets thrown around quite freely. Footballers, watches, even kopi machines. It has become shorthand for something that does everything well, with a sense ...

by Joel Tam 30 March 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Land Rover Defender 110 P425 X-Dynamic HSE 7 Seat Review

It’s been more than five years since I first drove the Defender First Edition, and I remember coming away impressed by how successfully Land Rover had reimagined the iconic nameplate. The new Defender managed to keep its rugged DNA while becoming far more comfortable and usable as an everyday vehicle. Fast forward to today, and the Defender continues to evolve. One of the latest developments sees the Defender 110 (not to ...

by Joel Tam 21 March 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, Tech

What does a BMW smell like? Inside the Odour Lab at BMW Plant Munich

An odour is defined as a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one. Or a lingering quality or impression that attaches to something. Step into BMW’s Odour Lab in Munich, and that definition takes on a more human dimension. Because smell, more than anything else, is emotional. "Going into the Odour Lab, I expected a facility that creates a signature scent for the brand. The reality couldn’t be more different." The things you don’t ...

by Joel Tam 20 March 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

AutoTalk – Nils Hesse, VP Product Sustainability of BMW

The unseen part of BMW’s Neue Klasse: Why sustainability starts before the car exists When BMW talks about the Neue Klasse, the conversation usually leans towards the obvious. Range, charging speeds, performance, and digital interfaces. The things you can see, measure, and compare. But after speaking with Nils Hesse, BMW’s Vice President for Product Sustainability, it became clear that the more interesting story begins much earlier than that. Before the car is designed. ...

by Joel Tam 18 March 2026

Featured, International, News

World Design Premiere Of The BMW i3 – 5 Reasons Why It Will change The Game

There’s a shift happening in the EV world. Yes, the Chinese brands moved early, with faster systems, better charging, and sharper digital experiences. But the new BMW i3 feels like the point where that changes, at least for the Munich-based brand. 1. It’s not the first Neue Klasse car, and it’s definitely not the last The Neue Klasse technically begins with the iX3. That’s where the platform debuts.But the i3 is where ...

by Joel Tam 12 March 2026

Featured, Food, Lifestyle

A Fresh Take on Breakfast at Performance Motors

About a year ago, we sat down with the team at Performance Motors to sample their breakfast menu as part of PML's BMW Experience. The idea was simple but thoughtful: give customers something a little more enjoyable while they waited for their cars to be serviced. Fast forward a year, and the team has revisited the menu, refining it with a few new additions and tweaks to better serve their customers. What's ...

by Joel Tam 28 February 2026

Featured, Local, News

Stamford Tyres Opens Singapore’s First Pirelli-Branded Store

Stamford Tyres has just added another milestone to its retail network, officially opening its first Pirelli-branded Store at Caltex Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim. Attending the launch earlier today, it was clear that this isn’t just another tyre shop with a few Pirelli flags erected around the shop. This is a fully branded collaboration space. One that's been designed to bring together Pirelli’s performance identity with Stamford Tyres’ long-standing service reputation. This new outlet ...

by Joel Tam 12 February 2026

Featured, Local, News

Singapore Revises PARF Rebate Schedule and Cap in Budget 2026

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced changes to the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate structure, which will take effect for cars registered from 13 February 2026 onwards. The move, unveiled as part of Budget 2026, tightens the rebate percentages and halves the maximum rebate cap — a shift that will affect owners who deregister their vehicles early, and could influence decisions around keeping or replacing cars. What’s Changing PARF rebates reward ...

by Joel Tam 11 February 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Toyota Vios Hybrid 1.5 Review

The Toyota Vios has always played a very specific role in Singapore. It has been the dependable one. The practical one. The car families recommend, the one ride-hailing drivers trust, the one that quietly gets on with life without needing applause. But exciting, it is not. This new version, however, surprised me more than I expected. In fact, I kept finding myself saying, “Eh, not bad leh,” which in local speak is ...

by Joel Tam 10 February 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

MINI John Cooper Works Cooper 3-dr Review

Hot hatches are supposed to shout. They should bark on start-up, crackle on lift-off and generally behave like they had too much sugar before leaving the factory. Which is why the first surprise with the latest JCW Cooper is this. It doesn’t. Fire it up, and you are met with… a slightly louder-than-normal exhaust note. But otherwise, it's civilised, polite, almost suspiciously well-behaved. If you closed your eyes, you might think you ...

by Joel Tam 10 February 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Audi Q5 S Line Review

There is a reason you see quite a few Audi Q5 models (across the generations) on the road. For years, it has quietly been the brand’s global best-seller, the default answer for buyers who want something premium, modern and not from 'the other two brands'. But does the new model still deliver? In this day and age of 'bargain' SUVs from the east, it's getting harder to make a case ...

by Joel Tam 10 February 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Audi A6 Sportback e-tron Review

The A6 Sportback e-tron brings me back to a time when driving an Audi felt wonderfully straightforward. I still remember the mid-2000s, when the brand began rolling out its TFSI engines. The cars were quick without being intimidating, efficient without feeling dull, and beautifully engineered, making you feel like a better driver than you probably were. You got in, pointed it at a road, and everything just worked. Somewhere along the way, that ...

by Joel Tam 10 February 2026

Featured, Latest Cars, Reviews

Cupra Terramar 1.5 eTSI Review

There is something quite charming about a brand that prioritises looks above everything. Cupra has always leaned into drama. Sharp surfacing, moody lighting, copper highlights everywhere. The Terramar continues that theatre, except now it wraps the attitude into something family-sized and daily usable. I spent my time with the 1.5 eTSI mild hybrid, which, on paper, may not scream headline numbers, but in real life, especially in a cramped city ...