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!

Using windscreen wipers when the heavens open up is a foregone conclusion. Newer cars come with rain-sensing wipers which automatically activate when the celestial sprinkle starts, which pretty much means set and forget it.

The problem here is that with the set-and-forget mindset, people simply forget that their wiper blades are a regular service item, only to be frustrated by streaks and uneven wipes that impede outward vision during rainy weather.

The follow-on problem is that people also forget that their vision was marred post wet-weather drive, and go about their business as usual until the next inclement weather episode.

Frustrate-and-forget. Rinse and repeat.

When to Change

Let’s start with the obvious. If your wiper blades are well and truly worn, and/or leave streaks and un-wiped patches in its swept area on the windscreen, it is high time to change them out.

This would also be true if the blades are chattering and/or squeaking badly while wiping.

However, it’s best not to let things get to this stage, as worn blades can also lead to windscreen damage by instilling scratches that might require highly specialised polishing to remove at best, or a windscreen replacement at worst. Windscreens ain’t cheap folks.

If your vehicle is always parked outdoors under the elements and susceptible to fallout from trees, industrial sources and the like, consider changing your wiper blades when streaks start to show or every year, whichever comes first.

Remember, it isn’t just wiping that deteriorates blades. So do sun and associated heat and UV exposure, and accumulated debris along the blade that can cause it to deteriorate faster.

Otherwise, consider changing the blades when streaks start to show or every two years, whichever comes first. This will allow you to retain better forward visibility during wet weather and will also protect your windscreen from scratches.

Types of Wiper Blades

The most common and affordable is the conventional type.

These types of wipers have a cartridge comprising two shorter suspension arms built into a longer bridge that holds the actual blade to the windscreen. The benefit of the conventional type is twofold.

One is that the entire cartridge together with the blade can be replaced, which makes things much more convenient.

The other is that blade inserts can be purchased and replaced on the existing cartridge if preferred, offering a more cost-effective replacement solution. Usually, the cartridge can last many years, which means cost-savings on inserts.

The other common and newer wiper blade is the flat type.

Flat-type blades have tensioned metal within that supports the blade. This is why when the arm is picked up off the windscreen, flat type blades tend to resemble a bow. This means the blade can better conform to the curvature of the windscreen and is much more effective at wiping.

Furthermore, a flat-type blade has an aerodynamic spoiler integrated into its form. At highway speeds, this integrated spoiler causes the blade to press down with greater pressure and be more effective at wiping since the blade does not lift away from the windscreen.

There is a third type called a hybrid blade, which uses the best features of conventional and flat-type wipers.

The blades themselves can be made of natural or chloroprene rubber, or even silicone. While there is raging debate online on which of these is best, consider the recommended change interval and use whichever suits your wallet.

Wiper Care

Let’s say you’ve just had a set of brand-new blades installed. How do you take care of them so that they’ll last the distance?

A good rule of thumb when washing your car would be to lift the wiper arms off the windscreen and run your wash media (sponge, mitt, etc.) over the blade itself to remove accumulated debris.

This would help remove any road grime picked up from daily driving and make the blades more effective during rain.

During day-to-day usage, it’s best if you can check for debris on and under the wiper blades, and clear them out before setting off. This is especially so when parked in an open carpark.

Neglecting to do this is what causes streaks on the windscreen when the wipers are at work. Accumulated debris can permanently deform and/or damage the blade, or even scratch the windscreen, so spend a minute to clear the junk.

“Wipers are an important safety feature and something our Service Ambassadors check on every time we pick up your car for servicing en route to the workshop (among other checks and observations).

Our advice is not to compromise on a low-cost item that plays such a big part in our unpredictable weather. Ensure original or good OEM ones are used for effectiveness and a longer lifespan.”

– Kenneth Yeo, General Manager, AutoApp

Overlooked Wipers’ Assistant

Banish any thoughts of squeegee elves magically appearing and dancing on your vehicle’s bonnet while they sing and clean the glass. The most overlooked wipers’ assistant is actually the windscreen washer fluid.

Keep the washer fluid reservoir topped off for the unfortunate times when a bird decides to drop a strategically-aimed bomb out its backside, or when mud from the road is flung up by another vehicle onto your windscreen.

Premixed windscreen washer fluid is available for purchase at most petrol stations and car-accessory shops, and you’d only need to top off the reservoir. Some cars have their rear windscreen reservoir in the boot, so consult your owner’s manual as to the actual location(s).

Due to premixed washer fluid containing glycol, alcohol and/or surfactants, one may not want to use this due to the paintwork stains they can potentially leave behind. In this case, use straight distilled, de-ionized or reverse-osmosis water to reduce the amount of potential stains on paintwork.

Stressed Out?

Well, don’t be. AutoApp can handle all of your car’s servicing needs and keep you updated along the way. Wiper replacements can be scheduled together with your regular servicing, and we’ll even remind you when they’re due for replacement.

Our panel of partner workshops are carefully curated to offer the most optimal and timely servicing solutions for your car. We’ll also remind you when your next servicing is due so that you don’t have to worry about getting it done on time.

Other safety-related and maintenance checks such as the wear of brakes and tyres are checked during servicing with Autoapp.

The Invisible Wipers

Here’s some bonus content, which is probably the most important aspect of windscreen wipers’ efficacy. By getting rainwater to roll off your glass, your wipers will have a much easier time. No, it’s not voodoo or black magic.

The main phenomenon that obscures vision during a downpour is that rainwater sticks to a vehicle’s glass, be it the windscreens or side windows.

As speeds increase, the air that passes over the front windscreen with greater velocity causes the stuck-on rainwater to ripple, much like the ripples on the surface of a pond or lake on a windy day.

Do you recognise this exact scenario in the image below?

This phenomenon of water sticking to the glass and rippling more with speed is what causes your outward vision to be obscured during a downpour.

The solution, therefore, is to break the surface tension that causes rainwater to adhere to glass in the first place. This is where hydrophobic coatings come into their own, especially during torrential downpours that cause all and sundry on the road to shudder.

A hydrophobic coating breaks surface tension on the glass, causing water to bead up into droplets.

At lower speeds, these droplets are easily dealt with by wipers. At higher speeds, the air that passes over the windscreen literally ‘blows’ the droplets up and away, giving the wipers much less water to wipe.

Since there is no film of water adhered to the glass and rippling away with speed, you therefore enjoy a much clearer forward vision in the process to enhance safety.

AutoApp offers a service to prep and coat all the glass panels of your vehicle to make them hydrophobic. This is a thorough and involved process that takes around 1.5-hours to complete, and also includes cleaning the inside glass surfaces for clearer outward vision.

The coating lasts up to one year. Click here for enquiries.

Download AutoApp here. Leave the hassle to us. Let go, let AutoApp.

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

With COE prices skyrocketing to oblivion, new cars are becoming less obtainable to the majority of buyers. As such, they may be looking into either renewing their current car’s COE, or shopping in the pre-owned market.

While older cars tend to have lesser features, they can be just as reliable as their brand-new counterparts. As long as you don’t neglect regular servicing, they can happily pur along our roads for years to come. Here are some common faults that older cars tend to have, and how to avoid them.

Regular maintenance is key

With thousands of components working together in tandem, there’s so much that can go wrong in an engine, especially in older cars where components may be worn down. Thus, we feel it’s vital to get your older car looked at by a mechanic or workshop at least once a year.

The last thing you want is an unexpected problem to pop up when you are out for a nice drive. Being stranded at the side of the road is never a fun thing to experience, so to avoid this it’s always in your best interest to bring your car in for regular servicing.

Oil’s well that ends well

If you can’t remember the last time you changed your oil, go do it now. Healthy cars are regularly serviced, and arguably one of the easiest things to replace is engine oil.

Over time, oil can lose its viscosity, and you don’t want black sludge to be running around in your engine, clogging vital engine components. Worse still, if you do not have sufficient oil circulating in your engine, this can lead to overheating or accelerated wear and tear.

If you are unsure of what grade of oil to put in, consult your car’s owner’s manual for the recommended type. You can either take your car to a trusted mechanic or if you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, oil changes are a great way to enter the world of DIY auto repairs.

Keeping it cool

Your engine is making thousands of explosions a day to keep you moving down the road. Understandably, things will get pretty hot, which is why cars have cooling systems.

While it doesn’t need to be replaced as often, coolant is just as important as oil in an engine. Make sure your car is topped off with coolant, and it’s always good to keep an eye on your temperature gauge for older cars. If there are any leaks coming from your radiator or hoses, get them replaced immediately. Without cooling, your car may suffer catastrophic failures, and blown engine parts are not something you would want to deal with.

Timing is everything

Most modern cars have a timing belt or chain which ensures all moving parts of the engine run smoothly. But, improper maintenance or worn belts can kill your car’s engine in a matter of seconds.

As a general guide, timing belts need to be replaced every 100,000 to 150,000 kilometres, while chains are more robust and need to be changed less frequently, with each needing to be replaced only every 130,000 to 200,000 kilometres, depending on your engine or car.

This isn’t going to be a cheap workshop visit, but once you get it over with, you won’t have to worry about another one for years.

Invest in the best tyres and brakes

We’ve all experienced this before – you ran over something while driving and your tyre is now a shredded mess. You obviously need a new tyre, and you hesitate on spending hundreds of dollars on a reputable brand, so you cheap out and get a tyre with a questionable brand. You do save money now, but going cheap on essentials like tyres can cost you more further down the line.

Tyres are one of the most important parts of a car. These round pieces of black rubber are the only things connecting your car to the road and are built to be able to keep you safe, even in precarious driving conditions. While they are cheaper, off-brand tyres may wear out faster or unevenly. Plus, without proper certification, these tyres may not be able to work effectively in situations like emergency braking or aquaplaning. To stay safe on the roads, it is advisable to get tyre brands that are reputable.

This rule also applies to your brakes. They’re the only things that can stop your car effectively, and having sub-par brakes may affect your car’s effective braking distance in emergencies. If you love your car, pay a little more and get the best. Trust us, it can save you money over the long haul!

Don’t be afraid to drive it

Say you own an older, high-mileage car. Yes, it is going to have its quirks, but contrary to popular belief, driving your car regularly can actually prolong its life.

A car that’s driven regularly is definitely a happy car, and driving it can keep things like hoses and gaskets from drying out, while essential vehicle fluids like oil, and coolants keep metal parts sufficiently lubricated and cool.

If you neglect an old car for a while, chances are you’ll start seeing leaks, and it is not an enjoyable experience to frequently visit workshops. So do your car a favour, and drive it regularly.

Need easy and simple car maintenance?

Here at AutoApp, we have lots of specialists who are able to take care of your car’s regular servicing. Best of all, you don’t even have to do anything! Just book an appointment via our mobile application, and sit back and relax as our team handles all the nitty gritty for you. It’s that simple!

Check out what NOT to do with an automatic gearbox, and more car maintenance tips and tricks.