Let it not be said that motorshows are dull: the hot rods we saw on display at this year’s Singapore Motorshow were anything but. From all-new race cars pushing the boundaries of tech, to love letters to classic machines of yore, here are our 4 favourite cars we saw at the show.
01 | BMW’s first M8 competition coupe
The BMW 8 Series welcomes its first competition coupe to the family, and it has been bestowed with the most powerful engine ever developed by BMW M for a production model: with a peak output of 625hp, the M8 Competition Coupe’s 4.4-litre V8 will take you from 0 to 100 km in just 3.2 seconds.
But you don’t have to be race-ready all the time. In-between your track sessions, the new M Mode button will enable you to toggle between three settings — Road, Sport, and Track — each altering what’s being shown on the head-up display and the level of driver assistance given. It’s massively adaptable, and drivers can control anything from the front-rear power bias and brake strength to the engine responsiveness and gearbox speed.
Inside, you’ll feel like you’re in a sports car, what with the M Sport seats in two-tone Merino black and Midrand beige balancing the fine line between sporty and garish. And if you really want to feel the wind in your hair, it’s also available in convertible form.
(Image: BMW Singapore)
02 | Porsche’s new Cayenne Coupe — and a love letter to its motorsport fans
Design-wise, Porsche doesn’t stray too far from the rulebook with its new Cayenne Coupe, though the iconic 911 flyline has been updated with an adaptive rear spoiler — something new for an SUV. The spoiler integrates itself harmoniously into the car’s silhouettes, but at 90km/h and above, it extends outwards to improve driving stability.
The Cayenne Coupe comes in three different flavours. Vanilla sees a six-cylinder, turbocharged engine with 340hp, though you can up the ante with the Cayenne S Coupe — its 2.9 litre V6 engine pumping out 440hp — while the top-of-the-line Cayenne Turbo Coupe’s four-litre V8 engine casually completes 0 to 100 in just 3.9 seconds.
We also got a glimpse at the new Porsche 935, a track-only model that’s one of only 77 worldwide — a real thrill for diehard Porsche motorsport fans. Many of the exterior’s details were a tribute to winning cars from Porsche’s motor racing history: the aerodynamically capped rims from the 935/78, the LED rear lights from the 919 Hybrid LMP1 and side mirrors that hail from the Le Mans-winning 911 RSR. That’s not to forget the 700hp, 3.8 litre six-cylinder twin-turbo engine that lurks under the hood, churning out the century sprint in just 2.7 seconds. The new Porsche 935 is a love letter to its racing heritage, and it shows.
(Image: Porsche)
03 | Audi’s first full-electronic production model, the Audi e-tron
If anyone ever doubted Audi’s commitment toward sustainable motoring, the all-new Audi e-tron should quell the naysayers. And if you’ve been mulling over whether to make the jump into electric cars, we’d say that the e-tron is one of the easiest ways to make the switch.
For one, it doesn’t look like a traditional electric car — that is to say, not incredibly outlandish — but instead bears Audi’s traditional, ever-recognisable aesthetics. A mere 10-minute charge is enough to take you 86 kilometers, long enough to make the trip from Singapore’s northernmost point to its southernmost thrice.
And the five different suspension modes make for five very different driving experiences. Dynamic mode gives you sharper responses, while Comfort mode shows off just how supple the e-tron can be.
(Image: Audi Singapore)
04 | Lexus’ LC Special Edition and its gorgeous new paintwork
Forget the boring all-black sedans and coupes of yore. For 2020, it’s time to slip into a shade that’s a little more risque — but still tasteful. Lexus has their colour game very much on point with their one-of-a-kind Nori Green Pearl LC Special Edition, which they showed off at the motorshow. But its beauty isn’t just on the outside: the two-tone interior in saddle tan and black amber make for all-round eye candy inside and out. With its 470hp naturally-aspirated V8, the coupe isn’t too shabby under the hood either.
Cars weren’t the only thing that Lexus brought along with them to the show. They also introduced their first-ever maritime machine in the form of the LY650, a labour of love between Marquis-Larson’s boat-building artisans and Lexus’ own Takumi craftsman. The result is a 65-foot, 3-stateroom yacht that wouldn’t be too out of place in a Bond movie.
And since Lexus prides itself on sustainability, all of its car models — from the aforementioned LC Special Edition to its new 2020 Lexus RX Luxury SUV — are also available in hybrid form. Who says going green isn’t sexy?
(Image: Lexus Singapore)