Cycle & Carriage Singapore announced the launch of local sales for the smart #1 Pro+ and the smart #1 BRABUS at VivoCity today.

The smart #1 Pro+ is priced at $207,000 (inclusive of COE), while the smart #1 BRABUS will start selling at $242,000 (inclusive of COE), for the first 20 units.

The two all-electric, intelligent, premium compact Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) will be Smart Automobile’s first electric vehicles (EVs) to be sold in Singapore, since Cycle & Carriage Singapore was appointed as their general distributor in January 2024.

Designed by Mercedes-Benz’s Global design team and engineered by Smart Automobile’s research and development team, smart’s all-EV portfolio will be riding on the crest of the green mobility wave in Singapore.

Mr Wilfrid Foo, Managing Director, Cycle & Carriage Singapore, said, “We are excited to bring the smart #1 to the Singapore market. smart represents a new definition of premium EVs, bringing together the best of the East and the West through its ingenious design language and innovative engineering.”

“We envision that the smart #1 will appeal to the discerning consumers who are familiar with the Cycle & Carriage ethos, and have a deep, refined appreciation of premium craftsmanship, thoughtful interior, and exterior composition, as well as cutting-edge technology.”

Taking place at Vivocity from now till 28 April 2024, the smart #1 roadshow goes beyond a traditional automotive pop-up at a shopping mall.

The inclusion of interactive lifestyle booths called Smart Active, smart Beats, and Smart Style, aims to showcase how this EV integrates seamlessly with urban culture and complements the spirit of co-creation.

These activities, including photo booths, workshops and silent disco, are organised in collaboration with brand partners, Beats by Dre and Puma Golf, as well as Smart’s renowned merchandise label, Smart Idea.

At the launch event, smart announced the first batch of ‘smart Inspiring Creators’, including actress Sheila Sim, Kiss92 radio host Daphne Khoo, entertainment industry veteran Paul Foster, and musician Daniel Sid.

These inspiring trend-setters will echo the vision of the smart by embodying the spirit of co-creation. The car will also be a feature at the Sunset Cinema event which will take place at Tanjong Beach, Sentosa from 25 April to 12 May 2024.

Check out our previous article for more information, or head down to Vivocity to see and experience the smart #1 up close.

Photo Credits: smart Singapore, Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!

Let’s start with the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid. Porsche has combined a new plug-in hybrid system with a significantly revamped 2.9-litre V6 biturbo petrol engine that by itself puts down 304hp.

Combined with the plug-in hybrid system, total output rises to 470hp and 650Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from 0-to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 280 km/h.

Pure-electric range increases to 96-kilometres in the WLTP cycle.

The standard equipment of the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid includes 19-inch wheels, black brake callipers and matrix LED headlights.

A high-resolution HD matrix LED lighting system is available as an option.

Its more powerful sibling, the Panamera 4S E-Hybrid also has a 2.9-litre biturbo six-cylinder engine that, by itself, delivers 353hp.

Total output with the plug-in hybrid system rises to 544hp and 750Nm of torque.

0-100km/h is dispatched in just 3.7 seconds, and top speed arrives at 290km/h.

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid sports 20-inch wheels in Panamera AeroDesign, silver Sport tailpipes and red brake callipers. Brake callipers in Acid Green and Black are optionally available.

The Panamera 4S E-Hybrid brakes with ten-piston brake callipers at the front as standard.

Alternatively, the PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake), with 440-millimetre discs up front and 410-millimetre discs at the rear, is available in conjunction with 21-inch wheels.

Greater electric range, faster charging speed, better throttle response and better driving performance is what this new-generation of plug-in hybrid system brings to the Panamera.

At a gross 25.9 kWh, the new high voltage battery provides around 45 per cent more capacity in a comparable space. Also new is the 11kW on-board AC-charger that shortens charging time to two hours and 39 minutes.

Not only is charging performance improved, but so is output. With 190hp and 450Nm of torque, the completely-new electric motor offers significantly more power than its predecessor.

It can also regenerate at the rate of up to 88kW when decelerating, aiding the plug-in hybrid system’s electric-only range.

Panamera E-Hybrid models always start in purely-electric E-Power mode. Once the state of charge of the battery is under a certain minimum value, the system automatically switches to Hybrid Auto mode, which adapts the operating strategy to the current driving situation. This is further optimised by car and navigation data to maximise electric-only efficiency.

All Panamera variants come with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). In the E-Hybrid models, Porsche Active Ride active suspension, that adjust their settings up to 13 times per second, can be added to offer optimised traction and cornering performance with a high degree of comfort.

The Panamera’s extended standard equipment includes ParkAssist with Surround View and a cooled smartphone tray for wireless charging with up to 15 watts. Options such as rear-axle steering, Remote ParkAssist, Passenger Display and air quality system are also available.

The Executive body style with a longer wheelbase is also available in Singapore only in conjunction with the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid variant; options such as the four-zone automatic climate control or a larger centre console are included as standard.

Prices in Singapore will be announced at a later date, and deliveries are expected to start in the second half of 2024. For more information, contact Porsche Singapore.

Photo Credits: Porsche

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

Readers familiar with this writer would know that I prefer wagons or estates to sedans. And so, writing with great glee, I’m thrilled to share with you that there will be a wagon version of the BMW 5 Series for this generation.

This is the sixth BMW 5 Series Touring, born out of the eighth-generation 5 Series. Code-named G61, as opposed to the G60 sedan version, the official launch in Germany, many other European countries and Japan will begin in May 2024. Other markets are set to follow in June 2024.

Compared to its predecessor, the new G61 is 97mm longer at 5,060mm, 32mm wider at 1,900mm and 17mm taller at 1,515mm. This 5’er Touring has the longest wheelbase in its class, increasing by 20 millimetres to 2,995 millimetres.

For the first time, the 5’er Touring will be available as a battery electric vehicle (EV or BEV), and headlining the EV segment is the i5 M60 xDrive Touring.

Two electric motors powering all four wheels put down a searing 517hp in standard mode and a scorching 601hp in My Mode SPORT.

The century sprint is done and dusted in just 3.9 seconds, and top speed is a claimed 230km/h. WLTP range is said to be 445-506km, and the battery pack can be charged at up to 205kW at a suitable DC fast charger.

If that’s too much excitement for you, the i5 in eDrive40 Touring guise sports just a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, and puts down 313hp in standard mode and 340hp in My Mode SPORT.

0-100km/h is dispatched in a claimed 6.1 seconds and the i5 eDrive40 Touring will run all the way up to 193km/h. WLTP range is said to be between 483-560km. Again, the battery pack can be charged at up to 205kW at a suitable DC fast charger.

If a full EV is not your cuppa just yet, there’s also a plug-in hybrid 530e Touring, which will be available with rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive.

A two-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine producing 190hp and 310Nm of torque is paired with an electric motor that produces 184hp and 250Nm of torque. This then totals 299hp and 450Nm overall, and no, it’s not a straightforward addition of numbers.

0-100km/h comes and goes in 6.4 seconds. On electric power alone, one can drive at up to 140km/h with a claimed WLTP range of 84-96km for the rear-wheel drive variant and 79-89km for the xDrive version.

Finally, there’s the 520d Touring in both rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive guises. With 197hp and 400Nm of torque from its two-litre inline four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, 0-100km/h is dispatched in just 7.5 seconds.

Both variants also feature 48-volt mild hybrid technology, and WLTP fuel economy is claimed to be 5.3–5.9-litres/100 km for the rear-wheel drive variant and 5.7-6.2-litres/100 km for the xDrive version.

No details yet on a 520i petrol-powered 5 Series Touring, which would be applicable to Singapore’s market, but we’ll bring you more once the local launch happens. If it happens, we expect it to be the same two-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder putting out 190hp and 310Nm of torque as found in the G60 5 Series sedan.

On the inside, the first item of note is the BMW Curved Display. Its 12.3-inch Information Display and the Control Display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches form a fully digital display network. BMW Operating System 8.5 makes its appearance in the 5’er Touring.

New sports seats are fitted as standard. The steering wheel is now flatter at the bottom. There’s also an optional BMW Interaction Bar.

The 5’er Touring has a completely vegan interior as standard. The seat surfaces in the Veganza version are also optionally available with a decorative quilting. Further optional equipment includes BMW Individual Merino leather upholstery in several bi-colour variants.

Other highlights of the optional equipment programme include the panoramic glass roof and the Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System with up to 18 loudspeakers.

This new 5’er Touring offers more space and noticeably more leg, shoulder and elbow room, especially in the rear, as well as optimised acoustic comfort. Good for those family road trips up north, and I don’t just mean to KL. Think further afield, to the land of tom yum.

A wider luggage compartment opening combined with a low sill makes it easy to stow large items of luggage. This is why I love wagons. They ride lower like sedans, and have lots of practicality similar to SUVs.

With the rear seatbacks up, 570-litres of boot space is available.

Remotely unlock the 40:20:40 split rear seatbacks from the luggage compartment, drop them all and 1,700-litres of Giant- and Ikea-swallowing capaciousness opens up.

Storage compartments under the load compartment floor provide space for the luggage compartment partition net, luggage compartment cover and charging cable for the all-electric and plug-in hybrid models.

Being a BMW, expect technology up the wazoo, such as the optional Driving Assistant Professional including Steering and Lane Control Assist and Distance Control with Stop & Go function.

Park Assistant is standard, while the optional Parking Assistant Professional enables automated parking and manoeuvring up to 200 metres that’s controlled from outside the car using a smartphone.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, folks. More to come, stay tuned.

Photo Credits: BMW

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

7 minutes 3.121 seconds or 6.179 seconds quicker than the regular 718 Cayman GT4 RS around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That’s what the Manthey Kit brings to the table, and will be available from Porsche Centres worldwide.

First up are the addition of functional aero parts. In front, flaps and new air curtains with a wheel arch Gurney flap, and a new carbon underbody with diffusers increase downforce on the front end.

At the back, there is an 85mm wider rear wing that features a new wing blade and larger endplates, which work together to increase rear downforce. This new wing assembly is four-stage adjustable to tailor aero to different driving situations. To withstand this increased downforce in the rear, the bodywork of the rear engine cover is reinforced with a carbon-weave finish. At 200km/h, with the rear wing set to Performance, total downforce increases from 89kg to 169kg.

Adding to the aero effects are the CFRP aero-discs on the rear wheels, which help to smooth airflow and cut down on turbulence.

Next up is suspension. Together with Manthey, Porsche has developed a special coilover suspension with an inverted set-up that can be adapted for the track. The spring struts can be adjusted to four different positions, and tool-less adjustments are available for rebound and compression. Spring rates in front have gone up 20 per cent. Not to worry if your GT4 RS has a front-axle lift system, for there is a version of the coil-overs for this as well.

Stainless steel braided brake lines are also a part of the Manthey Kit to offer much more precise and even braking. Need more hardcore in your GT4 RS? Specify the optional racing brake pads, which offer a particularly constant friction coefficient over a wider temperature range, and enjoy more consistent braking on track.

Other optional upgrades are also available to suit one’s palette. Illuminated door sill guards with the Manthey logo can be specified to personalise the car visually. Towing loops are also optionally available, designed especially for the track. A specially designed CFRP rear spoiler attachment, which is finished with carbon weave, is attached to the standard rear spoiler, and further increases downforce on the rear axle by around four per cent in combination with the bigger rear wing. Optional louvres or wheel arch vents finished in carbon weave in the front wings are also available to match the look of the Weissach package.

The Manthey Kit will be sold by Porsche Centres worldwide, and its launch in Europe is expected to be in December 2023 with other markets following thereafter. Country-specific pricing will be listed in the accessory finder. Ready to kit out your 718 Cayman GT4 RS for even more hardcore track days?

Photo Credit: Porsche

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!