Dickson Auto Group, a Singapore-based automotive dealer, recently announced the launch of an in-person live auction for used cars. The system differs from the traditional process which involves selling a vehicle to a used-car dealer or dealing it on a used-car sale platform.

Instead, this vehicle will be evaluated by Dickson first, then auctioned off to a pool of used-car dealers who bid behind closed doors, with the highest price then being passed on to the seller.

To ensure fairness to the seller, a pre-sale inspection by Dickson is done for each car, which it claims will offer “a fair quotation based on current market prices and overall vehicle’s condition”. If the owner agrees to the offer presented to them, that sum will be paid to them first.

The auction for each vehicle lasts only for 60 seconds, with the dealers bidding on computers in a centralised auction hall. The vehicle owner can observe the process from a private viewing room behind the hall.

If your vehicle crosses the auction block and the final price exceeds this sum, the owner will be paid the difference, minus fees. Alternatively, in a situation where the auction price is below the agreed price with Dickson, then the owner does not need to pay the difference.

“Vehicle owners often face difficulties in getting the best prices… They may be disappointed when a pre-agreed selling price is subsequently reduced when they are ready to sell their vehicle,” said Mr Kim Wah Boon, founder and chief executive of Dickson Group.

“Buyers, on the other hand, may worry that the condition of the vehicle is not up to their expectations when they collect it. These uncertainties and lack of transparency can affect the entire experience.”

The pictures shown here are from a media demo, with the first rendition of the auction happening on July 18 2023. Dickson plans to hold them every fortnight. As for bidders, Dickson claims there are “over 100 car dealers” listed in their inventory. Only dealers registered with the company are eligible to participate. Unfortunately, this system is only B2B for now, with no indication of whether Dickson will eventually open it up to B2C customers.

Whatever the outcome, innovations like this are an interesting way to spice up the used car market in Singapore.

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The M Club of Singapore, Singapore’s leading owner’s club for BMW M and M Performance vehicles, has recently welcomed Eurokars Auto as a new 2023 Platinum Sponsor.

Enacted in 2010, the owners club is currently the only local BMW M car club recognised and supported by both Performance Motors and Eurokars Auto.

The club actively organises a wide variety of gatherings, including regular drive events both in Singapore and up north. Owners also enjoy exclusive access to events and corporate deals provided by the yearly Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsors.

Club members also occasionally receive invitations to special events, including private viewings of the latest BMW M vehicles. The partnership with Eurokars will allow owners to know more about the dealer, as well as the opportunity to learn more about Eurokars Auto’s services, including a visit to the Eurokars Group Integrated Aftersales Facility.

Eurokars Auto has already supported a few events for the club this year. These include M Club’s Dinner and Dance 2023 cum Annual General Meeting, Breakfast drive to Malacca which facilitated over 50 cars, and even a 4D3N Track Night and Holiday Drive for 50 cars.

The inauguration was commemorated by Mr Ong Pang Yang, President of the M Club of Singapore, and Mr Jason Lim, Managing Director of Eurokars Auto Private Limited.

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Following the success of its current crop of models, the Polestar 4, the marque’s latest coupe-SUV, is poised to make its global debut on the 18th of April 2023 at the Shanghai Auto Show.

The Polestar 4 is the newest model in Polestar’s revamped lineup, and it’ll be featured alongside the Polestar 3 SUV and facelifted Polestar 2. 

Not much has been revealed at the moment, but the new coupé-SUV will borrow design elements from Polestar’s concept vehicles.

It is also rumoured to be the brand’s newest and fastest vehicle when it enters production, even trumping over the current king – the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor with the optional Performance Pack. So expect a dual motor setup with lots of instant torque to boot.

The Polestar 4 will probably stay in the limelight until the hotly-anticipated Polestar 5, which is the marque’s upcoming flagship 4-door GT, claims its spot when it debuts sometime in 2024.

“Polestar 4 is not simply a modified version of our first SUV,” says Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, “Instead, we reconsidered the entire design to create a new breed of SUV coupé.”

If the current models are anything to go by, we should be looking forward to good things when the reveal happens on the 18th. Watch this space.

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Lexus is poised to debut an all-new LM MPV at the upcoming 2023 Shanghai Auto Show. This marks the second generation of their flagship MPV, and according to the Japanese carmaker, the new “flagship people carrier” will be the first LM model to join its European model line-up.

Not much has been revealed, but two teaser images were released, giving us some (used strongly here) of what it will look like. Even with this tiny preview, the next-generation model is set to look quintessentially Lexus, a detract from the original LM which was based on and is a near-identical copy of the Toyota Alphard. The original LM was offered with either 4 or 7 seats, the former masquerading as a limo shuttle of sorts. Two powertrain options powered the MPV, and buyers could opt for either a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder hybrid or a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6.

The new LM is expected to continue this trend, which possibly hints at the reveal of the fourth-generation Toyota Alphard as well.

We’ll have to wait till the official reveal to get the full updates. Watch this space.

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Accompanying it will be a wide range of new and future products that promise to exceed expectations. These include two other concepts designed to meet the diverse mobility needs of consumers in China.

A new EV concept model designed and made for China will take centre stage alongside the Nissan Max-Out. Both offer exciting and confident driving experiences that are tailored to a broad range of lifestyles and needs while supporting Nissan’s future global plans and ambitions.

Maxed out for the future

The Nissan Max-Out was first revealed in 2021 as a digital concept, and it illustrates the future of Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term vision to meet consumer, environmental and societal needs in a truly sustainable manner.

Now a physical reality, the convertible concept promises to deliver a new driving experience with superlative stability and comfort.

Nissan will also showcase electrified vehicles featuring all-electric and e-POWER powertrains. These vehicles embody the company’s approach to changing how cars are powered, driven and integrated into society, and show how Nissan is committed to making vehicles that will be at the forefront of innovation.

The 20th Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition will be held from April 18-27 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. We can’t wait to see what Nissan has in store for us all.

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Alfa Romeo has had a rocky few months at the end of 2022, having to go on a temporary hiatus due to a distributor change. Come 1st April 2023, the Italian marque finally has a new home here in Singapore.

The brand will now be represented by Capella Auto, a division of the Komoco Group. This was confirmed after news broke out that EuroAutomobile would lose distributor status for Alfa Romeo in Singapore. Since Komoco Holdings already distributes Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, it seems fitting that Alfa Romeo joins the ranks of these Stellantis-owned brands.

A new showroom and service centre, which will be located at 1 Chang Charn Road, are poised to start service soon, as Capella Auto officially begins operations.

If you’re an existing Alfa Romeo owner, fret not! You may register your vehicle’s ownership with Capella Auto to receive the latest updates from the firm. Prospective customers can also head down to the new Alfa Romeo showroom from 1st April 2023 onwards to check out what they have on offer.

Opening hours for the showroom are between 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (Monday to Saturday) and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Sundays).

Operating hours for the service centre are from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (Mondays to Fridays), and from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (Saturdays). The service centre will be closed on Sundays and public holidays.

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Toyota made a big splash at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, revealing a whole host of new cars and technologies. Exhibits like the 24-hour Le Mans winning car and the new 2024 Prius are cool and all, but what really stole the show was this special debut revealed by none other than Toyota president Akio Toyoda himself.

Keen Initial D fans will instantly recognise the pair of AE86 Corollas, with one in Trueno guise and the other a Levin. What’s so special about these two cars you might ask? Well, the pair were showcased with brand new hydrogen fuel cell and electric powertrains, a game-changer for the automotive industry.

Electric powerplant

The electric powertrain Levin, dubbed the AE86 BEV Concept, borrows a roster of parts from other Toyota models. An electric motor from Toyota’s Tundra Hybrid, a lithium-ion battery pack from the new Prius plug-in hybrid, and other parts from the Toyota and Lexus hybrid range. 

Sugar, spice, and everything nice.

Delivering tofu in silence

The other AE86, based on the Trueno body style and dubbed the AE86 H2 concept, feels more at home with the general petrolhead, The car still retains its legendary 4A-GE heart, a real gem of the retro JDM world.

But, what’s really amazing is the fact that instead of petrol, the engine has been retrofitted to burn hydrogen, with the hydrogen being supplied from a Toyota Mirai tank at the back.

Nostalgia meets technology

Toyota really knows how to make us automotive enthusiasts happy, and both cars retain their original factory looks on the inside. They even have fully-functional manual transmissions complete with three pedals, although there isn’t mention of how this manual system actually works. Roll cages, bucket seats made from recycled materials, plus other retro trinkets in the cabin, and it’s almost like this rolled off the factory floor in the 80s.

Unfortunately, Toyota has not disclosed other details of the cars, which probably means mass production of these concept cars is an unlikely outcome. However, these show that Toyota is capable of producing fun cars with sustainable powertrains, and these proofs of concept restore faith in what is effectively a sea of boring EVs.

Mr Toyoda himself mentioned that achieving total carbon neutrality cannot be done just by simply depending on new electric vehicles. The total percentage of BEVs on the roads today only accounts for roughly 1/20 of the total number of vehicles worldwide today, and this number won’t increase that quickly.

Mr Toyoda finishes off by saying that these AE86s can be potential options for owners in the future, being able to swap out their traditional powertrains should stricter government laws about fossil fuels get enacted.

Carbon-neutral power sources without sacrificing driving fun. Way to go Toyota!

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