And there I was, spending hours under the scorching sun sampling an array of Porsches with the guidance of world-class Porsche driving instructors. The resulting sunburn didn’t really matter when you’re up close and personal with some of Stuttgart’s finest.

‘Porsche World Road Show’ (branded PWRS for short) is the German marque’s ‘touring’ test-drive programme, which travels around the world in order for participants from all walks of life to sample the current crop of Porsche models. It has currently been hosted in five continents and over 40 countries, particularly in territories without a Porsche Experience Centre. 

The 2023 Porsche World Road Show Singapore is intended to act as the catalyst for Porsche’s 75th Anniversary activities in Singapore. This event also puts owners and prospective customers alike behind the wheel of the current crop of Porsche models, giving them a taste of what their cars can do when pushed to the limit.

Since Singapore does not have a proper race circuit, Porsche had to settle for the grounds of the Changi Exhibition Centre for their festivities. Credits where it’s due, they did an absolutely smashing job.

With a combined output of over 10,000 bhp, the 26 cars brought in for PWRS Singapore are flown in from Germany and are left-hand-drive registered units. These were scattered throughout the 4 stations erected around CEC, which included closed-circuit handling, off-road, launch control and a shalom course.

Porsche understands the need to drive cars hard, which is their way of interpreting how you can appreciate their cars better. Funny humour these Germans, but one I can definitely get behind. 

Hence, this fleet of German knights is reserved solely for the PWRS tour. This means you can thrash them around to your heart’s content. The only things hotter than the ground temperature that day were the brakes on those demo cars. 

Part of the festivities also features a convoy-led on-road session, done in Singapore registered right-hand-drive unit. This provides ample demonstration that the cars aren’t just rubber shredding machines, but are also dignified city cruisers when dialled down.

On to the real stars of the show. Porsche brought out its entire toy closet for us to enjoy, which included multiple variants of the 718 and 911, Macan and Cayenne, and the all-electric Taycan. They even brought out some of their more hardcore brutes, such as the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and the latest generation 911 GT3 RS.

This event also served as the launch of the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS in Singapore. Sadly, attendees were unable to get behind the wheel of this winged beast, as it had instructor-driven duties for the handling course.

Ultimately, while the Porsche World Road Show was an absolute blast, the cars were not the only highlight of the event. The people that attended the event alongside me were like-minded individuals who share the love of squealing tyres and unnecessary g-forces, and these are the folks who made the event so much more memorable.

This is something which a brand like Porsche exemplifies extremely well. Regardless of nationality, age or background, Porsche is an entity that connects petrolheads together, evoking a sense of belonging that revolves around the iconic sportscar brand.

If this is how we kick-start the celebrations, I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!

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Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven) & Adrian (@adrianvanq)

MINI is kickstarting its next generation with the MINI Cooper Electric, the now iconic 3-door that prioritises electric driving fun. 

Originally launched in 2020, growth in sales saw the all-electric MINI Cooper SE becoming by far the most popular MINI model, with over 43,000 units being sold worldwide last year.

One out of five MINIs on the roads globally is now electrically powered. This was recently demonstrated too by the production anniversary of the one-millionth MINI 3-door of the current fourth generation.

Two variants will be available at launch. The base MINI Cooper E will punch out an output of 135 kW (180 bhp), while the faster MINI Cooper SE bumps that figure up to 160 kW (214 bhp). The lithium-ion battery is packed underneath the floor, enabling a lower centre of gravity that influences optimum road holding and weight distribution, while also increasing the vehicle’s stability and agility.

MINI is known for its hallmark go-kart feeling, and the MINI Electric continues that trend. Continuous advancement in the areas of technology, efficiency and power delivery reflects the careful handling of the popular MINI model’s tradition-steeped history.

Prospective customers can rejoice too, as the battery capacity in the MINI Cooper E has now increased to 40.7 kWh, while the MINI Cooper SE makes do with an even bigger 54.2 kWh capacity. This gives the new models a predicted range of between 300 and 400 kilometres, a big bump from the current generation.

The new MINI Cooper Electric built in the same BMW Leipzig Group Plant together with the MINI Countryman. 

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Instead of bending to the industry and creating another SUV, Lexus’s new flagship limo-of-sorts is a proper MPV. Nice!

The second-generation Lexus LM will be launched in over 60 countries worldwide, including for the first time in Europe and Lexus’s home market of Japan. According to Lexus, the car is seen as “reinterpreting chauffeur-driven personal mobility”.

I mean, it only takes a few glances into the rear cabin to know they mean business. Just look at all that space in the back – this is why an MPV is superior size-wise compared to a conventional luxury SUV. 

Lexus will offer two seating configurations for the LM. You can either have a fairly standard-looking seven-seater or splash the cash and double down on the luxurious four-seater. The latter is decked with fully-reclining captain’s chairs in the back and more legroom than first-class seats.

Oh, you wanted entertainment? Well, the four-seater variant also comes with a suite of amenities, with its piece-de-resistance being a 48-inch HD television for rear occupants. Other trinkets include a fridge, fold-out tables, a 23-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system and a dimmable partition between the driver and passengers. You know, if you didn’t want your chauffeur spying in on your conversation.

Oh, and there’s a feature dubbed Climate Concierge which uses infrared sensors to scan the temperature of the rear passengers and adjusts the air conditioning automatically. Instead of, you know, adjusting it yourself.

But, should you want to do just that, there are five selectable Climate Concierge modes – Relax, Dream, Focus, Energise and My Original. I’m assuming Energise is the full-blast option? All modes are bestowed with Toyota/Lexus’s ‘nanoe-X’ technology too, which ‘adds microscopic water particles which can inhibit viruses, bacteria and allergens. It supposedly also provides a moisturising effect on human skin and hair. Interesting.

“This is not a repurposed van – the LM is in every regard a dedicated passenger vehicle, in its own right,” Lexus stated. This is very good news indeed.

Powering the new LM is either a 2.4-litre inline 4-cylinder turbo hybrid with eAxle, or a 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder hybrid with either front-wheel drive or an E-Four all-wheel drive setup. There’s also adaptive suspension, aluminium body panels to reduce weight and ‘noise-reducing wheels and tyres’.

The rims in question can either be 17-inch or 19-inch forged alloys, and there’s active noise cancellation in the cabin to really drown out the outside world.

The outside is the most underwhelming bit of the Lexus LM, looking similar to the standard crop of MPVs that ply our roads every day. Of course, there’s no need to look at the outside of the LM while you’re enjoying its many internal luxuries, so that shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most.

Will it come to Singapore? We’re not sure, but hopefully one of the 60 countries listed in Lexus’ global campaign includes our sunny little enclave.

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Porsche Singapore has just announced that the Singapore instalment of the Porsche World Road Show (PWRS) will be happening from the 19th to the 23rd of May 2023 at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC). 

Organised by Porsche AG, the renowned event has since been held in over 45 countries, including our immediate neighbours Malaysia and Jakarta. This is also in line with Porsche’s 75th-anniversary, and PWRS Singapore will kick start the celebrations here in Singapore with a fleet of Porsche vehicles brought in directly from Germany.

Guests attending the upcoming event will be able to get up close with 26 different Porsches that cover the brand’s entire current portfolio. Expect models like the Cayenne and Macan SUVs, Panamera, Taycan, 718 Cayman and numerous iterations of the brand’s signature 911.

Apart from being able to take these cars out on track, another highlight of PWRS Singapore 2023 will be the debut of the 992-generation 911 GT3 RS. This is Porsche’s latest hardcore track-focused Porsche 911, engineered to tear up any track it fancies.

It features a naturally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-6 heart that produces a peak output of 525bhp when it screams to 9,000rpm.

For those interested, tickets for the Porsche World Road Show Singapore 2023 are available from S$688, and you book yourself a slot by checking out the link here.

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The car offers a first glimpse into Volkswagen’s future EV that will arrive in Europe come 2025. It is rumoured to start with a base price under $26,400.

Even though it is just a concept, looking at the photos it’s pretty obvious that this has already evolved to be more of a pre-production study rather than just a concept car that will never see the light of day.

Looks very similar to a Golf right? Hopefully, this doesn’t suffer the same fate as that of the ill-fated ID. Life, which was promptly shunned by the head honchos in Wolfsburg.

The Volkswagen ID. 2all is poised to be a very significant car for Volkswagen for two obvious reasons. The first is the projected price, which will open up a massive market for prospective EV owners. The other is the ID. 2all’s underpinning, based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB Entry platform. This means the production model will become the German marque’s first FWD MEB model.

And it has the specs to back it up as well

Rumoured specs of the Volkswagen ID. 2all include 166 kW (222 bhp), or about the same amount of power as you get in a base VW Golf GTI. Plus, with its EV drivetrain, it will probably accelerate quicker too from 0 to 100km/h. Neat.

While Volkswagen did not reveal the battery capacity, its targeted range is up to 450 kilometres (WLTP). Fast DC charging would enable a 10 to 80 per cent charge in just 20 minutes, while the option of charging up to 11 kW is available for AC stations. 

The styling is also a design study into Volkswagen’s new design language, based on the three pillars of ‘stability, likeability and excitement’.

Styling highlights include a LED full-width light bar, bulged wheel arches filled with frankly massive 20-inch wheels running 225/40 R20 tyres, hidden rear door handles, and a new C-pillar design which harkens back to the first Golf.

Smaller than a golf on the outside, bigger on the inside

The interior also has a sleek and simple design, with an uncluttered dashboard culminating in a bridge-type centre console. two big displays sit front and centre, including a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.9-inch digital cluster. A large panoramic sunroof dominates the roofline as well.

Other trinkets include a head-up display, a separate air conditioning control panel under the main screen (thank you!), and two large inductive charging interfaces for smartphones on the centre console.

New power seats with massage functionality are a welcome addition, with numerous USB-C interfaces spread throughout the cabin. If you wanted even more charging functionality, a fully usable 230V socket is included too, to power larger devices.

Thanks to the efficient packaging of the MEB Entry platform, the Volkswagen ID. 2all offers significantly more interior space than a traditional ICE Golf. Boot space is ample at 490 litres, and this increases to a cavernous 1330 litres with the rear seats folded (40:60 split). 

On top of that, the ID. 2all has a hidden stowage area under the rear seat with a capacity of 50 litres. This lockable compartment can accommodate larger devices such as laptops and tablets.

Overall, the ID. 2all is an exciting new proposition, and we cannot wait for what else Volkswagen has in store for the future.

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The Crown is a nameplate that is legendary in Singapore. Even if you never owned one, chances are you sat in one, as they were the taxi cab of choice back then. Reliable, tons of space, and bulletproof on the roads, the Crown always had a place in our hearts. They weren’t common on our roads, but they were grand beings that exudes luxury as they went by.

The ‘Crown’ designation made its initial debut back in 1955 as Toyota’s first mass production passenger vehicle created with Toyota’s own domestic technology. The DNA of “innovation and limit-pushing” led to the creation of the first independently developed luxury car after world war 2.

Decades later, this tradition has been passed down to successive models of Crowns, and the past 67 years has always been pursuing new values that are one step ahead of the times and loved by many customers. However, times have changed, and the Crown has become unable to fully meet the diversifying needs of its customers. Specifically, the SUV or crossover segment of the market.

Hence, when designing the new Crown, the development team thoroughly reexamined what “Crown” is, and as a result created four completely new models. In addition to the traditional saloon, there is a new Crossover, Sport and Estate.

Whichever one you prefer, the new series will be rolled out in about 40 countries and regions. Singapore is poised to be one of these markets

The crossover will be the first of the quartet to be rolled out, and you can expect to see them on the roads sometime in Q3 of 2023.

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