Lifestyle | AutoApp

by Sean Loo 5 June 2026

AutoTalk – Wang Yao and Christer Tan on Bringing Hongqi’s Vision of Chinese Luxury to Singapore

For decades, Hongqi has occupied a unique position within China's automotive landscape. Often regarded as the nation's most prestigious automotive marque, the brand has long been associated with state occasions, national heritage and a distinctly Chinese interpretation of luxury. Now, Hongqi is charting a new course beyond its home market. With the official opening of its Singapore showroom and the launch of its first right-hand-drive vehicles, the Chinese luxury manufacturer has selected Singapore ...

by Sean Loo 5 June 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

AutoTalk – Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Singapore

As the Singapore automotive industry undergoes one of its most significant transformations in history, Mercedes-Benz is preparing for one of the largest product offensives the company has ever undertaken. For Mercedes-Benz Singapore, the coming years will see a substantial expansion of both its combustion-engine and electric vehicle line-up, accompanied by new digital technologies, upgraded customer touchpoints and a renewed emphasis on ownership experiences. Leading this charge is Marcel Luis Mustelier Perez, President ...

by Joel Tam 5 June 2026

Car Maintenance, Featured, Interior, Lifestyle, Reviews

TRAPO HEX Car Mats Review

When I took delivery of my leased BMW X1, I already had a rough idea of the little changes I wanted to make to personalise it. The wheels and tyres were one. Original Equipment BMW bike racks were another. Then the floor mats were next. Floor mats are among the items most people rarely think about. They're there, they get dirty, and as long as they stay in place, most owners never ...

by Joel Tam 1 June 2026

Founder's Notes

Everyone Creates Content. Who Creates Context?

Running an automotive publication in 2026 is very different from how we did it when we started in 2009. Hmmm, as a matter of fact, my journey started earlier than that.I developed my first website, Burnpavement.com, in 2001.Long before social media, YouTube and AI, I was laying out magazine pages, teaching myself HTML and hand-coding websites one page at a time. I taught myself photography through countless books, magazines and hours ...

by Joel Tam 1 June 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, Reviews, Tyres

So This Is Why I Finally Agreed To Lease A BMW X1

Over the past 25 years, I have owned 29 cars. Only two of them were bought brand new. My first new car was a Mitsubishi Evo 9 GSR. The second was a Mazda2. Everything else was pre-owned. Perhaps it is the car enthusiast in me. Perhaps it is simply because I enjoy the hunt. There is something satisfying about finding the right used car, learning its quirks, making it your own and ...

by Joel Tam 25 May 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

AutoTalk – Rene Gerhard, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia

There’s something unexpectedly refreshing about speaking to Rene Gerhard. You sit down expecting another carefully polished corporate interview about electrification, premium mobility and the future of the automotive industry. Within minutes, the conversation drifts into Iron Maiden concerts, USB sticks full of ripped CDs, dogs, family memories, old BMWs and why he still refuses to stream music. He may be decked out in a suit, but Gerhard already feels less like ...

by Joel Tam 13 April 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People, Tyres

AutoTalk – Chen Ting (Thilo) on Focus, Ecosystems and the Future of Pirelli in Southeast Asia

When Thilo moved from China to Singapore in August 2025 to take up the role of Managing Director for Pirelli Asia Pte Ltd, he did not arrive with a grand plan about scale or domination. Instead, he spoke about focus. About ecosystems. About long-term trust. With 25 years in the automotive industry and a front-row seat to China’s explosive growth across SUVs, EVs and autonomous technology, Thilo brings both realism and conviction ...

by Sean Loo 4 April 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, Travel

Where Heritage Meets The Wild: Embracing the Impossible at the Defender Trophy APEC Regionals

The old-school overlanding formula for cars was simple enough: if it made you work, it must be authentic. Not with the new Defender Trophy though, as we discovered. There was a time when a proper off-roader had to feel faintly intimidating to earn your respect. It needed a touch of gruffness, a bit of heaviness in the controls, and the sort of mechanical stubbornness that reminded you adventure was never meant ...

by Joel Tam 2 April 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People, Tech

AutoTalk – A Conversation on Design, Technology and the Future of Driving

There’s a moment when you stand in front of the new BMW i3, and suddenly, everything just clicks. No, not in a dramatic way. More like a quiet realisation that something has definitely shifted. The proportions feel right, the tech feels intentional, and somehow, despite everything being new, it still feels like a BMW. Over conversations with Norman Wiebking, Stephan Durach and Oliver Heilmer, it becomes clear that this wasn’t accidental. Getting the ...

by Joel Tam 2 April 2026

Featured, International, Lifestyle, News, Tech

I Stepped Inside The Factory That Will Build The New BMW i3

Visiting Munich again felt familiar to me. It carries the history of the BMW brand in a way that’s hard to miss (or forget). But stepping into their renovated plant for a preview was especially exciting; it felt like catching something just before it fully comes to life. We were told that we were among the first to witness the plant's operations. The second batch, to be exact. So there was ...

by Joel Tam 21 March 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, Tech

What does a BMW smell like? Inside the Odour Lab at BMW Plant Munich

An odour is defined as a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one. Or a lingering quality or impression that attaches to something. Step into BMW’s Odour Lab in Munich, and that definition takes on a more human dimension. Because smell, more than anything else, is emotional. "Going into the Odour Lab, I expected a facility that creates a signature scent for the brand. The reality couldn’t be more different." The things you don’t ...

by Joel Tam 20 March 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

AutoTalk – Nils Hesse, VP Product Sustainability of BMW

The unseen part of BMW’s Neue Klasse: Why sustainability starts before the car exists When BMW talks about the Neue Klasse, the conversation usually leans towards the obvious. Range, charging speeds, performance, and digital interfaces. The things you can see, measure, and compare. But after speaking with Nils Hesse, BMW’s Vice President for Product Sustainability, it became clear that the more interesting story begins much earlier than that. Before the car is designed. ...

by Sean Loo 16 March 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

AutoTalk – Emanuele Carando, Global Marketing Director of Ferrari

At the recent regional launch of the Ferrari Amalfi, Mr Emanuele Carando, Global Marketing Director of Ferrari, outlined the thinking behind the two-model programme.

by Joel Tam 12 March 2026

Featured, Food, Lifestyle

A Fresh Take on Breakfast at Performance Motors

About a year ago, we sat down with the team at Performance Motors to sample their breakfast menu as part of PML's BMW Experience. The idea was simple but thoughtful: give customers something a little more enjoyable while they waited for their cars to be serviced. Fast forward a year, and the team has revisited the menu, refining it with a few new additions and tweaks to better serve their customers. What's ...

by Sean Loo 20 February 2026

Featured, Lifestyle, People

Japanese NEVs Expand Consumer Choice as Singapore’s EV Market Enters a More Competitive Phase

Singapore’s electrified vehicle market has moved swiftly from early adoption to rapid mainstreaming, with Chinese brands playing a prominent role in accelerating battery-electric uptake. However, industry leaders expect the next stage to be defined by wider diversification, driven by established automakers broadening their electrified portfolios and strengthening long-term ownership support. Phil Jenkins, CEO, APAC of Inchcape Ng Khee Siong, Managing Director of Inchcape Singapore At the Singapore Motorshow 2026, Inchcape unveiled six new New ...