As a bread-and-butter car brand, Hyundai might be one of the boldest out there.

They might be going with the trend of electrification, with the Ioniq Electric and Kona Electric; at the other end of the spectrum though, they’ve the same number of models with a stonking 3.5-litre V6 engine.

Aesthetically, too, Hyundai’s latest Sensuous Sportiness design identity boldly takes innocuous family-mobiles and adds dramatic styling. In late 2020, this made its debut on Singapore roads with the new Avante. It instantly became the clear choice for someone whose emotional side wanted a boldly-styled car, while their rational side called for a sensible sedan.

Hyundai’s now put the new design identity to work on their crossovers… If you ask me, it’s turned out even better with the Tucson’s rugged proportions!

An exterior with funkiness

Cover the large H on the front grille and park it in a carpark; the Tucson will stand out from everyone else even without a bright paint colour, and 80% of drivers won’t be able to identify its make and model.

Switch the lights on and it’ll be an even more arresting sight. Hyundai’s new tech is dubbed the Parametric Jewel Hidden Lights, which aims to organically connect the radiator grille and headlights. Visually, it appears that the extremes of the grille light up, though they’re just the DRLs that have been integrated.

Round the back, the equally angular taillights are joined by a full-width LED light bar. Cleverly, the rear window wiper hides away under the rear spoiler, and plays peekaboo when activated.

An interior with flair

Hyundais of recent times have been known for their premium interiors, and the Tucson is no exception. Everywhere you touch is covered in leather or soft plastic, with the centre stack finished in piano black. There’s also a fabric-like finish on the upward-facing surfaces, providing a pleasant transition between materials.

Standard equipment is, in current Hyundai fashion, extremely generous. There’s an 8-inch infotainment screen with the regular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Families with multiple drivers will also appreciate the fully-electric memory seats for both front occupants.

Shut the doors, and the well-insulated cabin keeps most road noise out. Pair this with the ventilated seats that keep your rear end cool; now, long drives in the Tucson will end up more comfortable than one might expect.

A drive with fervour

The Tucson is no N-badged car, but there’s still some pep for a family SUV. The turbocharged engine and hybrid system combined is good for 227 bhp and 265 Nm, resulting in a respectable 8-second century sprint.

Sure, it doesn’t have Mercedes-AMG GLB 35 levels of sportiness, but the Tucson handles curves and bends with aplomb. Steering is quick and predictable, and it takes rather violent driving before the standard-fit Michelin Primacys start screaming for help.

Drive it as the engineers intended, and the Tucson will impress with its usability and road manners. ​The peppy engine tackles overtaking manoeuvres with ease, and the suspension soaks up bumps like they don’t exist. Driving normally also means that you’ll get within spitting distance of the claimed 20.8 km/l fuel economy. That’s helped along by the car’s ability to cruise in full electric mode, even over highway speeds.

A rational purchase

With how it looks, feels, and drives, I’d be inclined to say that the Tucson is the perfect family car. But, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that the non-hybrid Tucson exists, especially when it’s S$10,000 cheaper.

At this price point, there are other options from European manufacturers too, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq. What that gets you, however, are base models with an equipment list less generous than the Tucson’s.

If you’re after an SUV that looks stylish, drives well, and feels plush inside — all while beating everyone else off the lights — the Tucson Hybrid can be yours for S$184,999.

Looking for more car reviews like this? We’ve got you covered!

We’re no strangers to the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB Evo platform. Having driven the 8th-gen Volkswagen Golf and the 4th-gen Skoda Octavia, it’s now turn to sample Audi’s version of the triplets. Ok, technically they’re part of a quadruplet, as the SEAT Leon’s just arrived in Singapore.

Look at the price of the A3 (S$187,635 as of December 2021), and you might balk at how much more it costs over its platform-mates. With that price tag, it puts the A3 S$30k over the Golf, and nearly S$50k over the Octavia!

But, bear with me. View it from a different viewpoint — despite its humble underpinnings, the A3 Sportback isn’t a regular hatchback, but a premium one.

That means that it isn’t going up against the Golf, nor the Octavia, for that matter. What Audi is pitching the A3 against are stalwarts of the luxury car scene; Mercedes-Benz, with the A-Class Hatchback, and BMW, with the 1 Series.

Shared drivetrain

Under the bonnet of the A3 is the same drivetrain as the Golf and Octavia’s. It’s the now-familiar mild hybrid 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, with 148 bhp and 250 Nm. The 48V mild hybrid system saves fuel while coasting, and functions as a torque-fill for low-speed acceleration.

While they’re identical on paper, the A3 feels sportier in the real world. Acceleration around the city is quick and creamy, with an eagerness that’s slightly MINI-like. This makes it a bit harder to keep your right foot in check, unless you’re perfectly fine with straying from the claimed 20.8 km/l fuel economy figure.

Show the A3 some high-speed corners and it (unsurprisingly) remains composed and planted. Through tighter corners, you can chuck the car in with some er, enthusiasm and it’ll get through fine. Replace the factory-fit Pirelli Cinturatos with some P-Zeros and you should have even more fun.

Unfortunately, what lets the A3 down in the handling department is its rather vague steering setup. Leave the car in ‘Comfort’ and the steering seems unnervingly light, pop it into ‘Dynamic’ and it becomes needlessly heavy. Either way, the front wheels never really quite communicate exactly what they’re up to. Slightly unsettling, especially over unfamiliar b-roads.

Shared interior… not

Ok, before you yell at me, yes, there are similarities with the interiors of its siblings. There’s that unmistakable gear selector that looks like a rabbit’s tail, and the lighting controls that are now near the door.

Now, the differences. For starters, the infotainment screen in the Audi has been neatly integrated into the dash. Controlled either on-screen or with the iPod click wheel-esque dial next to the gear selector, the infotainment has the usual Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay functionality.

Unlike the Golf, climate control thankfully hasn’t gone digital, with a row of satisfyingly click-y switches under the infotainment screen. Oddly, these switches don’t offer any backlighting, which made them slightly tricky during my first night with the car.

Connectivity-wise, there are two USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad at the bottom of the centre stack. The rear passengers get another pair of USB-C ports, located below the rear air-con vents.

All around the interior, the A3 offered markedly higher quality materials as compared to its siblings. From the stitched steering wheel, to the dash plastics, to the stylish door handles – it all reminded you that this was a more premium product.

Then, there’re the seats. The S-Line sport seats cost just S$100 more, but the way they cocoon your body make them worth every single cent. There’s more – not only are the seats beautiful and supportive, they’re sustainable too! Up to 89% of the textile used in the A3’s interior comes from recycled PET bottles, with over 100 1.5-litre PET bottles used in each car.

Should I buy one?

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz A180 and BMW 116i, the A3’s unmistakably more expensive. Even overlooking the A3’s humble underpinnings, the Mercedes and BMW both offer more brand appeal.

But, what the A3 has going for it is its power output — over 40 bhp more than the BMW — and refinement, something the Mercedes didn’t particularly excel at.

So, the A3 Sportback might be slightly more expensive to purchase, but it’s well worth the extra dough. Combining Volkswagen reliability with a sporty character and premium interior, it’s my pick for a premium, fun hatchback.

Looking for more car reviews like this? We’ve got you covered!

If you’ve been following the Burnpavement.com Facebook page (well done you!), you’d probably have seen our post brought to you live from the media preview of the new BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. A year after the two-door variant nosed into the market, its more practical sibling has arrived!

So, what’s new?

Unsurprisingly, it’s largely similar to the 4 Series coupe. The wheelbase is 5mm longer than the coupe, and there’s an extra 30 litres of boot space.

The front end shares the same prominent double kidney grille as its Coupe and Convertible siblings with full LED headlights. However, the Gran Coupe does get flush-fitting door handles for a cleaner side profile.

Racy M trim come standard throughout the range, starting with the 420i MSport which features MSport body styling and suspension. Go one level up and there’s the 430i MSport Pro, which adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, and M Sport brakes, amongst other goodies.

Spring for the top of the line M440i xDrive and you’ll get body styling bits that easily distinguish it as an M model (including the customary M badges, of course). It’ll also come standard with an M Sport limited-slip differential, which is electronically controlled.

What drivetrains are available?

Mild hybrid technology has been introduced, but unfortunately only on the M440i xDrive for now. A 48V starter-generator provides an extra 11 bhp when needed, working together with the 374 bhp/500 Nm 3.0-litre 6-cylinder.

The 420i and 430i models make do with a new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder without mild hybrid tech. These engines produce 184 bhp & 300 Nm, and 245 bhp & 400 Nm respectively. All models across the range come standard with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. The 430i and M440i models do get an additional ‘Sprint’ function, for maximum performance while overtaking.

How’s it drive?

We were tossed the keys to the M440i xDrive for a quick one-hour drive. While you’ll have to wait a while longer for a comprehensive review, I’m pleased to report that even with the more practical bodystyle, it still drives as you’d expect a BMW to.

The abundance of M badges would have you expect an M-car experience with the shouty exhaust and overrun pops. But the M440i is anything but that – it’s calm, refined; luxurious even (if you leave the adaptive dampers in ‘Comfort’).

With over 50 bhp more than the previous-generation F36 Gran Coupe, it’s got plenty of poke. Power delivery comes smoothly and elegantly, so much so that you get to license-losing speeds without realising. Non-stop rain plagued the entire duration of our testdrive, but the xDrive all-wheel drive system worked beautifully to put the power down without fuss.

There wasn’t the chance to put the M440i through its paces at South Buona Vista Road, but the long sweeping corners on our test route suited the grand tourer character of the car perfectly. Enter the corner at mildly ridiculous speeds, put even more power down at the apex, exit the corner and glance at the speedo, then check the rear-view mirror for police presence…

Cool, how much is it?

Prices start at S$273,888 for the 420i M Sport, going up to S$330,888 for the 430i M Sport Pro. To get yourself into the range topping M440i xDrive we had a go in, it’ll set you back S$409,888.

All models of the 4 Series Gran Coupe are now available for you to have a poke around, at Performance Motors Limited and Performance Munich Autos showrooms.

Anything electric?

Well yes, glad you asked! The fully-electric BMW i4 will join the 4 Series lineup sometime next year, in line with BMW’s push to electrification. This will give BMW customers one extra option, in addition to the i3s hatchback and iX3 SUV that are presently on sale.

This article was first published on Burnpavement.

So you’ve read futr’s EV guide and now want to go electric – well done you! Unfortunately, you’ve looked at all the spec sheets, and it’s just a bunch of acronyms when it comes to charging.

We understand that it can be daunting, but think of EV chargers as phone chargers. There’s mini-USB, micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightning. Some phones use micro-USB, while newer models use USB-C – but they all do the same thing, which is to charge your phone battery.

It’s the same thing when it comes to EVs, except that most EVs come with two charging ports compared to the single one on your phone. The two most common charging connectors available in Singapore are the alternating current (AC) Type 2, and the direct current (DC) CCS2.

Just like how you can’t plug a micro-USB cable into a phone that uses USB-C, it’s important to know what charging port (or ports) your EV supports. Here’s our handy-dandy guide with everything you need to know about EV charging in Singapore.

Different types of charging ports

AC charging port | Type 2

If you take a peek at any EV in showrooms right now, there’s a pretty high chance you’ll spot one of these connectors on them. They’re known as Type 2 connectors, and they transmit power through 7 connecting pins at up to 43kW.

At that rate, charging your EV to 100% with a Type 2 AC charger should take approximately an hour.

Examples of some EVs that support the Type 2 AC standard include the MINI Electric and Mercedes-EQ EQC.

DC charging port | CCS2

Something that’s fast becoming common even on lower-priced EVs, this chunky connector gets your EV juiced up quick. They’re known as CCS2 connectors – CCS is an acronym for Combined Charging System – and transmit power through 5 connecting pins at up to 120kW. More commonly though, CCS2 chargers transmit power at 50kW.

Assuming an output of 50kW, charging your EV to 100% with a CCS2 DC charger should take just under an hour.

Examples of some EVs that support the CCS2 DC standard include the Porsche Taycan and Hyundai Kona EV.

DC charging port | CHAdeMO

If you aren’t quite into EVs, you’d be forgiven for not knowing what connector this is. Just two EVs sold in Singapore use this connector, thus they aren’t quite as widely supported as the Type 2 and CCS2 connectors.

They’re known as CHAdeMO connectors – a unique abbreviation of ‘CHArge de MOve’. Originally proposed by the Japanese CHAdeMO Association, these connectors are found mostly on Japanese-brand EVs or EVs sold in the Japanese market. As rapid chargers, CHAdeMO transmit power through 10 connecting pins at up to 50kW.

Examples of some EVs that support the CHAdeMO DC standard include the Lexus UX 300e and Nissan Leaf Electric.

Looking for charging stations

Petrol stations

Petrol stations now aren’t just a place to fill your ICE vehicle up.

Fuel giants Shell and Caltex have now deployed EV charging points to cater to the growing EV population. You can now juice your EV up in just 30 minutes or so at Shell Recharge or Caltex-SP Group charging stations, which are equipped with both Type 2 AC (43kW) and CCS2 DC (50kW) connectors.  

Buildings

Sometimes, you just need to juice up your EV while you unwind with a coffee or at the gym.

That’s where charging networks SP Group and Greenlots come in, providing EV charging stations within malls and buildings. The former, operated by electricity company Singapore Power, operates Singapore’s largest public EV charging network with over 340 points.

These chargers offer a variety of connectors, including Type 2 AC and CCS2 DC at different power outputs.

Emergency chargers

Accidentally ignored the warning lights and managed to run your EV completely flat? If you own a BMW i model or Hyundai EV, you’re in luck. Local BMW dealer Performance Motors and local Hyundai dealer Komoco Motors operate a roadside emergency assistance service that comes to the rescue of stranded EV owners.

It’s not designed for routine charging, however. Both emergency services will give you just enough juice to get to the safety of the nearest EV charging station.

Future plans?

ABB Terra 360 Fast Charger

We recently got wind of this new EV charger, which claimed to be the “world’s fastest” (their words, not ours!).

Manufactured by global tech firm ABB, the Terra 360 is a modular charger that can simultaneously charge up to four EVs at once. To achieve this, it’s got a maximum output of a whopping 360kW, perfect for a quick juice-up. ABB says that the Terra 360 can deliver 100km of range in under 3 minutes, and can fully charge any EV in 15 minutes or less. Impressive…

Unfortunately, the charger is just about to launch in Europe at the end of this year. EV drivers here will only get to experience this next year, when it’s officially rolled out in the Asia-Pacific region.

Charging in condos

Don’t live in landed property? You’ll soon be able to charge your EV even if you live in private apartments such as condominiums. 

We’ve just received news from the rather appropriately named EV Charging Technology (EVCT) that should make EV-driving condo dwellers happy. EVCT, a Singapore-based EV technology startup, has gotten approval from the LTA under the EV Common Charger Grant scheme. 

This means that they’re able to install EV chargers in your condo, wirelessly networked to their Juice+ app. With this app, you’ll be able to book a charging slot and remotely monitor your EV while it juices up.

This article was first published on futr.

Need help getting your EV charged? WhatsApp AutoApp at 91-028-028 and book our EV charging service now!

When it comes to maintaining a car, people typically fall into one of two camps.

In one camp are the purists, who believe that their cars’ designers and engineers know best. They choose to replace parts with original items, enjoying the car as designed. In the other camp, however, are the enthusiastic modifiers — those that believe that anything and everything can be improved further. Lighter parts, larger wheels, stiffer suspension; the list goes on.

Certainly, car modification isn’t a binary thing. There are some car owners more, uh, enthusiastic than others. If you’re just starting out on the car modification process, you would probably want to take it nice and easy. So, to help you along, we’ve put together this list of what we consider basic car modifications; things that can be done in a few hours, without additional approval from the authorities.

Wheels and tyres

Swapping out your wheels and/or tyres are the most basic of car modifications in Singapore. Whether it’s to make your car look better with larger wheels, or to fit more performance-oriented rubber, new ‘shoes’ are a must for most drivers.

Before going out and buying the largest wheels that’ll fit, there are some considerations to keep in mind. Larger wheels equate to a larger contact patch; while generally a good idea, there are pros and cons to them.

First, the good. With larger & wider wheels, you’ll experience better road-holding and enhanced grip, bringing with it better handling. However, the increased tyre width and wheel weight might negatively impact fuel consumption and ride comfort.

For a comprehensive guide on swapping out your wheels and tyres, check out our Tyre Basics 101 guide!

Suspension

So you’ve fitted sporty performance tyres that offer more grip, but they’re being let down by your car’s roly-poly suspension. Time to get a suspension system that matches your tyres’ performance…

If you’re on a bit of a budget, lowering springs reduce your car’s ride height by a preset amount. As their name suggests, these suspension springs primarily serve to reduce the gap between the tyres and wheel well. However, they reduce your car’s centre of gravity as a nice bonus, which should mitigate the annoying roly-polyness.

Feeling a bit spendy? Replacing your car’s factory suspension with a set of coilovers will do wonders to the way it handles. They’re a customisable (and often adjustable) suspension setup that provides a lower ride height, stiffer damping, and even increased camber.

Waiting to get the most out of your factory suspension before upgrading? Our suspension guide shows you five telltale signs that your suspension components are at the end of their lifespan.

Brakes

Now you’ve gotten the basics sorted, it’s time to look at how efficiently you come to a stop. How fast your car slows down is just as important – if not more important – than how quickly your car accelerates.

There are many components to a brake system, including the calipers, pads, and hoses. Typically, the latter two are where you should start if you’re after better stopping performance and brake feel. Common upgrades include high-performance brake pads with a metallic or ceramic compound, together with stainless-steel brake hoses that minimise expansion under pressure.

What if you want even more braking performance? You’ll need to start looking at aftermarket packages that swap the caliper and discs out for larger units. With larger calipers come more pistons (typically 4 or more), increasing the clamping force of your pads against your discs.

Air Filter / Intake

With your wheels/tyres, suspension, and brakes done, it’s time for a bit of fiddling about in the engine bay. Swapping an air filter or installing an air intake is such a beginner-friendly task, you could simply do it yourself at home!

The simplest way to extract a bit of extra performance is with an aftermarket drop-in air filter. These filters are the exact same dimensions as your factory paper air filter, but are of a different material; typically cotton gauze or stainless steel mesh. As an added benefit, these filters can be washed and reused.

If you’re after a bit more performance, an open pod filter or aftermarket air intake system might be more suitable. Typically eliminating your factory air intake, these aftermarket air intake systems are redesigned. The goal? To draw larger amounts of cool air from outside the engine bay into your combustion chamber.

As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to avoid purportedly ‘universal’ air filter or intake systems, and instead go for something that’s been specifically designed for your car.

Not ready to zhng your car, and prefer to keep things as-is? Read our other maintenance articles to help keep your car in tip-top shape!

The wraps have just been pulled off the facelifted Volkswagen Tiguan, the German brand’s most popular SUV. The second generation Tiguan has been on sale since 2016, but this facelift aims to keep it fresh and connected.

What’s new?

Up front, the Tiguan has been given a new stoic-looking face that resembles its larger Touareg sibling. There’s a new and wider radiator grille, a higher bonnet line, and a redesigned front bumper. Behind, the ‘Tiguan’ badge is now centrally positioned below the Volkswagen roundel, together with a new ‘4MOTION’ badge to match.

Volkswagen’s infotainment system has historically been one of the more intuitively laid-out ones. With this facelift, they’ve now updated it to keep up with the rest of the pack. With the latest MIB3 (Modular Infotainment Matrix) infotainment system, natural voice control comes as standard. Of course, you’ll also be able to access apps such as Google Maps, Waze and Spotify through the touchscreen.

Climate controls have also been digitalised, with a panel of touch sliders and touch buttons to adjust the AC. Though you now need to glance at them before making adjustments, the touch sliders are thankfully easy to use even while on the move.

What’s new under the hood?

It’s been refreshed not just outside but inside too, with a new 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. This makes 187 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic.

Of course, what’s an SUV without some off-road credentials? The engineers at Wolfsburg have put quite a bit of effort into the new Tiguan, with a new all-wheel drive system and an off-road driving mode selection.

The all-wheel drive system gets a few choice acronyms – XDS (Electronic Differential Lock), ASR (Traction Control), and EDTC (Engine Drag Torque Control). What this basically means is that as you drive along, an electronic brain monitors what each wheel is doing. If any single wheel needs more power (or less), it gets exactly what’s required, resulting in better cornering and stability.

The off-road driving mode selection lets you tell the car exactly what kind of surface you’re on. This way, the maximum potential of the all-wheel drive system can be exploited! A little rotary dial behind the gear lever lets you select between four modes — On road, Off-road, Off-road Individual, and Snow. Sounds like all you need, really.

So, to show just how capable the updated Tiguan is, we were taken to Sarimbun Camp so the good folks at Volkswagen could prove it (and to experience it for ourselves)!

Does it actually handle off-road stuff?

In short, yes. We were handed the keys to the Tiguan Elegance, with 19-inch wheels and simpler body styling. Arguably, it was a bit more off-road ready than the R-Line, with its 20-inch wheels and bodykit.

Popping it in ‘Off-road’ mode, the Tiguan took the crests, dips and trenches of the course with no sweat. Steep decline ahead of you? Hill Descent Control (that little green icon on the right) engages automatically when it detects a grade of 10% or more, gently guiding you down by modulating the brakes.

Even crossing a trench diagonally seemed simple with the 4Motion system, which quickly detected we had gotten into a pickle. It quickly sent power to the FR and RL wheels which were still on the ground, powering out easily.

Cool, so how much does it cost?

The new Tiguan is available in two trims, the Elegance and R-Line. While the Elegance we drove came with sufficient kit, you do get some extra niceties with the R-Line, such as a heads-up display and adaptive dampers.

The Elegance goes for S$179,900, while the higher-specced R-Line goes for $193,900. Both prices are correct as of October 2021, and are inclusive of COE.

For more on the latest cars, read our other reviews here.

It’s inevitable that you get plenty of advice (solicited or otherwise) when buying a new set of tyres. Go for the cheapest, some might say. Go for the one with most grip, say others. Contrary to popular belief, choosing tyres requires more homework than just looking at prices.

Out there, there are several types of tyres that you might be offered, depending on what car you drive. Common tyre types include fuel-saving eco tyres, or comfort touring tyres. For the more spirited drivers out there, there are high-performance tyres, and even track driving tyres. If we get even more specialised, there are the comfort SUV and off-road tyres. Due to our urban landscape, however, the latter aren’t particularly common.

Now that you’re aware of the tyre types, you can decide which works best for your needs and preferences! Do you prioritise fuel economy? Or perhaps you’re set on a whisper-quiet tyre that’ll let your baby sleep easier on roadtrips? Once you have a good idea of what’s important to you, choosing tyres now become much easier.

To get you started, we’ll run you through the various tyre types on the market. Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, it should cover the bases for over 95 percent of drivers in Singapore!

Comfort & Touring Tyres

Touring tyres are suitable for those who place a high priority on quietness and comfort. They’re the most common type of tyre, offering a good balance of characteristics to cater to the majority of drivers. They perform equally well in the dry and wet, and are suitable for most cars.

Typically, comfort & touring tyres are engineered with noise dampening technology to reduce road noise and increase comfort. However, more enthusiast drivers might find comfort & touring tyres too soft and roly-poly.

Examples of comfort & touring tyres include the Bridgestone Turanza range, or the Michelin Primacy range.

Eco-Friendly Fuel Saving Tyres

Eco-friendly tyres are suitable for multiple groups of people. Those who want to reduce their environmental impact, or those looking to get more out of each litre of petrol. They’re the second-most common type of tyre, offering good performance on wet roads. As such, they’re suitable for most cars, but are commonly used on hybrid and electric vehicles.

Eco-friendly tyres are first and foremost engineered for low rolling resistance performance, to allow maximum mileage with minimum fuel consumption. However, this may in turn reduce dry weather performance.

Examples of eco-friendly fuel saving tyres include the Bridgestone Ecopia range, or the Yokohama BluEarth range.

High-Performance Tyres

High-performance tyres are suitable for those who demand good handling and response, as well as stability at high speeds. Although they cater to a specific audience, high performance tyres are increasing in popularity due to the performance they offer.

Typically, high-performance tyres are engineered with innovative tread compound and pattern technology to maximise performance in all weather conditions. However, the aggressive tyre compound may negatively impact fuel efficiency.

Examples of high-performance tyres include the Bridgestone Potenza range, or the PIRELLI P Zero range.

Comfort SUV Tyres

Comfort SUV tyres are suitable for those who want the best of both worlds. They drive SUVs and crossovers, but still desire the quietness and comfort offered by comfort touring tyres. As the popularity of SUVs rise, these tyres with a good balance of characteristics for all-weather driving have correspondingly increased.

Comfort SUV tyres are engineered similarly to comfort touring tyres, with noise dampening technology. Designed specifically for SUVs, they augment the on-road manners of these typically off-road vehicles.

Examples of comfort SUV tyres include the Bridgestone Alenza range, or the PIRELLI Scorpion range.

Run Flat Tyres

Run flat tyres are suitable for those who would prefer a form of ‘insurance’ against unforeseen circumstances on the road. These tyres are less common, but usually come fitted as original equipment on premium brands such as BMW and Audi.

Run flat tyres are engineered with thicker, reinforced sidewalls that can be driven on even at zero tyre pressure. However, the firmer reinforced sidewalls do negatively impact ride comfort to a certain extent.

Looking to further simplify your tyre choosing process? Let our concierge do the work! We’re also an official concierge tyre e-tailer for Bridgestone tyres.

Bridgestone Tyre Singapore has just launched the new Bridgestone Potenza Sport, the latest flagship in its range of high-performance Potenza tyres. It’s been introduced with the tagline ‘Better Never Settles’, hinting at performance enhancements. Indeed, this latest addition promises to be better in various aspects, including high-speed stability and wet cornering.

Bridgestone has established a legacy with its Potenza performance tyre series, thanks to its storied racing heritage. Now, with the new European-developed Potenza Sport, they aim to set a new standard for premium sports tyres.

Succeeding Bridgestone’s flagship Potenza S007A, the Potenza Sport is targeted at discerning drivers of premium sedans, SUVs and coupes. Piloting high-performance cars such as the BMW M5, good all-weather grip and stability at high speeds are must-haves for them.

The Potenza Sport features various new and innovative technologies in tread pattern design, compound and construction. For starters, innovative 3D sipes have been applied to the tread pattern. This increases shear stiffness, as well as improves and enhances braking and abrasion resistance. Within the compound, an optimised formula is combined with innovative mixing technology to improve both wet and dry handling performance.

Several prestigious automotive manufacturers have also chosen the Potenza Sport as original equipment for their cars. At launch, the Potenza Sport has already been fitted as original equipment on Maserati’s new MC20 supercar, as well as Lamborghini’s track-ready Huracan STO. Bridgestone indicates that Original Equipment fitment for other car models will soon follow.

The Potenza Sport is now available through the AutoApp concierge tyre e-tailer and all Bridgestone authorised dealers. 59 sizes are available at launch, ranging from 17- to 21-inch fitments.

There’s a scientific study that’s proven men look up to eight years older with facial hair. You’ve definitely seen the meme — shave a bearded man, and boom — he becomes a kid.

Traditionally, MINIs are targeted at the young and young-at-heart. Funky colours, endless customization options, and cheerful styling. On this new facelifted MINI, however, they’ve taken all of those unique MINI features… and given it a goatee.

I’m sorry if you didn’t see it at first, but you certainly can’t unsee it now. Make no mistake, I quite like the new styling and feel it’s an interesting rehash of the typical MINI grille. But, could MINI, in their own unique way, be attempting to make it look more mature?

Now all matured

So we’ve addressed the new goatee on the front, which arguably is the most evident change on this facelifted model. The bumper has changed too, with a slightly more sporty overall design compared to the outgoing model. Gone are the separate foglights, now integrated into the LED headlight assemblies.

Inside, the One has been updated with the digital instrument cluster first seen in the MINI Electric, and a revised infotainment system. There’s also a new leather steering wheel with redesigned infotainment controls at a thumb’s reach. Unfortunately, these feel quite a bit more flimsy than the old circular buttons.

Keeping with the times, the One is now also fully connected with the nifty MINI App. This allowed me to lock and unlock the doors, switch the lights on, and even ventilate the car remotely!

Engaging at heart

No matter the rationale behind the exterior restyling, the One is still a MINI at heart. Sure, the numbers on paper don’t elicit a reaction from most petrolheads. 101 bhp, 190 Nm, 10.6 seconds for the century sprint — let’s be realistic, it’s not even a warm hatch.

Chuck it into corners though, and the weedy power output numbers become irrelevant. Steering feel is sharp and communicative as you’d expect from a MINI, with barely any body roll, and the suspension at just the right amount of stiffness. This naturally makes the ride slightly stiff for daily driving, but nobody buys a MINI expecting it to ride like a 7-Series…

It’s this delightful combination of low power and great handling that makes the One a pleasant surprise. Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, they say, and it holds true here. Throw the car into a corner late and there’s no risk of understeer; get on the power early at exit and the 1.5-litre 3-pot buzzes excitedly to the 6,000rpm redline.

There’s no official word on software changes to the 1.5-litre turbo engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission. With my butt dyno though, there seemed to be a slight difference in mapping. My prior brief experience with a pre-facelift MINI One exposed a slightly sluggish and unwilling engine, necessitating sport mode before any fun was to be had.

More doors more practicality

MINIs are lifestyle cars at heart, but this doesn’t mean practicality has to take a back seat. The five-door bodystyle gives you four properly-sized seats (and the same number of doors to access them), and an additional 67 litres of boot space.

But being a practical car means it gets compared to the more mainstream offerings like the BMW 1 Series or Volkswagen Golf. At S$129,888 (as of August 2021), it’s priced just a tad higher than the roomier Golf.

What the MINI offers, however, isn’t just practicality, but balanced with a whole lot of fun and character added to the package. And if you’re willing to take that compromise, the mature, goatee-wearing MINI One 5-door might just be the perfect choice.

In the market for a new hatchback? Check out our reviews of the Skoda Scala and Honda Jazz too!

You have to admit, Kia has certainly come a long way. Back in the early 2000s, they churned out models like the stodgy Spectra; now, a stylish, tech-packed lineup. Establishing themselves as a formidable player in the automotive sector, the brand now has a new logo and brand purpose.

Movement That Inspires

Kia’s logo moves from the enclosed ‘KIA’ lettering to a stylised script that resembles a handwritten signature. It features a rhythmical, unbroken line, conveying the brand’s commitment to bringing moments of inspiration. The rising peaks of the letters embody their rising ambitions, as well as a symmetry that exudes confidence.

The new logo is part of a larger brand evolution, titled ‘movement that inspires’. Kia has also adopted this phrase as their new brand slogan. This reflects their new purpose of inspiring customers — through their products, services, and experiences.

Inspiring customers isn’t just about creating stylish cars. Kia intends to go beyond vehicle manufacturing, to creating mobility solutions that are sustainable in the long term. Some of these include electric vehicles, purpose-built vehicles, and even exploring sustainable production — through clean energy and recyclable materials.

Embrace Progress and Rise Above

First to wear the new Kia logo is the facelifted Cerato, which is now available for viewing in the showroom. Apart from the new badge on the nose, Kia’s best-seller has also been restyled inside and outside. The ethos that drives the sedan’s evolution is straightforward — ‘Embrace Progress and Rise Above’ — which it’s done excellently.

The signature Kia tiger-nose grille is now longer and more slender, flanked by LED head lights on either side. Around the back, LED taillights and the rear trunk lip spoiler seamlessly blend into each other.

New in the cabin is a 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The latter, as you might expect, offers the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Willing to splurge on the GT Line trim? You’ll enjoy a leather interior, heated and ventilated seats, a wireless phone charger, and an electrochromic rear view mirror.

Both the mid-tier EX and top-spec GT Line trim offer Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite of safety tech. This includes useful features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, and a Safe Exit Warning, amongst others.

Prices start at S$87,999 for the entry-level Cerato L, and S$97,999 for the mid-range Cerato EX. Want the bells and whistles? The full-fat Cerato GT Line goes for a rather reasonable $103,999.

Looking for a larger Kia family car? Check out our reviews of the Kia Sorento SUV and Kia Carnival GUV (Grand Utility Vehicle)!